nexus_sages | (no subject)

Entry tags:

dupes: yes

(no subject)

Kazuhira Miller has made himself at home at a cozy Nexus seating group. He pores over a spread of newspapers and magazines covering a plethora of universes and alternate Earth timelines. To one side, a text book on theoretical physics is opened to a chapter on string theory and a cup of black coffee has formed a puckered ring over Donald Trump's leering face on an issue of Time Magazine.

He lays his current paper flat on the adjacent coffee table, leans forward to rest his elbows on his knees, and loosely clasp his palms. "What's the strangest news you've ever heard? Or, if you'd rather: what world event would you say has affected you the most?"

Miller's head turns and points to a four-inch stack of glossy flyers. He sighs. "And ... while we're at it, when did newspapers become seventy-percent ads?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Wouldn't dream of it." Boss felt the roll and recovered quickly. So, that was how he wanted to play it, huh? Snake turned to grab Kaz once more in a strong CQC chokehold, whilst kicking the back of his legs to force him onto his knees. Boss had the upper hand so decided to use his free hand, whilst holding onto Kaz's neck, and take off his yellow scarf and tie it around his eyes. Now, he was blindfolded.

"You ok, Kaz?"

"Nicely done, old man," he rasps, even managing a choked laugh. Seems like he's just fine.

Miller responds to this development with a sharp blow to the elbow trapping his neck -- going for that pressure point. He then twists sideways and throws his weight back, trying to pin his opponent to the floor. Definitely embracing CQC's judo spirit.

The blindfold is a problem, though, as he tries to get his own lock on Snake's neck and arm by feel alone.

"Who are you calling old man?" Boss growled at that and managed to avoid Kaz's attempt to disable him in a judo hold and placed a firm hand around his neck and foot in front of the blond, tripping him. The blindfold was still on, so Kaz would have to think fast.

"Someone's getting slow sitting on their ass all day." He was teasing obviously.

"How old are you now, Snake? You gotta be creeping up on fifty," he finds time to quip. "Had to blindfold me to make it a fair fight."

He feels the loss of balance and decides the best course of action is to take his opponent down with him. He blindly swings an arm out to catch whatever he can of Snake, using his momentum and body weight to pull them both down on ... well, the poor coffee table, as it would happen.

The crappy, pressboard tabletop snaps in two under the force and Kaz's newspapers are tossed into the air dramatically.

"Not as old as you think." Boss growled, as he felt them both fall over with the combined weight onto the table. The snap was loud and Boss felt himself roll over, landing on Kaz, laughing softly to himself. "This reminds me of that shower fight we had back at MSF." He gave his friend a soft head bash with his own head.

"Alright, alright! Boss, I surrender. I'm not about to win against a legendary soldier, even if he is old as dirt," he taunts as he takes the opportunity to pull the scarf back down around his neck. He props himself up in the furniture wreckage, barely suppressing a wince.

"Back then, I thought you might change your mind about being my kaishakunin." He takes off his shades and gives them a once over, testing the arms and rubbing them clean with the end of his scarf before perching them back on his nose. "You were pretty goddamn pissed."

Old as dirt? Oh, Kaz, you'll be getting an extra jab in the ribs for that one. There's still life in the old dog as they say.

"You're too young to be be-headed, Kaz. No, I'm not gonna be your kaishakunin." Boss smirked at that and remembered the first time he had met the blond all those years ago. Times change but it seemed nothing could touch their friendship.

"Yeah. I can get pissed just like any other man."

Edited 2016-01-22 07:57 (UTC)

Kaz rises to his feet, boots crunching in the rubble of wood and periodicals. He extends a hand to help Snake up. It's hard to tell if the gesture is another taunt or a legitimate show of good will.

"I'm gonna make you regret that decision," he warns, although his tone is nothing but jocular. As usual.

"This place might throw us out if we damage anymore of their furniture." Boss joked whilst giving Kaz a knowing stare. Regret it, huh? Watch your words, Kazuhira Miller.

"So, what now? Had enough?"

"Jeez, Boss. Yanno ... we'd better stop the roughhousing before your arthritis flares up." There'll be no end to the old man barbs now.

Kaz adjusts his rumpled fatigues and reties his scarf more to his liking. He does this with practiced motions that somehow don't reek too much of preening, but they totally are.

"Maybe something easier, huh? Like a little target practice?" What is this, a crafty segue?

Arthritis? Really, Kaz. You're making him out to be an old man in a chair or something. There's still plenty of life yet in this old dog. Boss just shot him a knowing look and smirked softly. He knows you're joking, Kaz.

He also notes how much time you spend adjusting that yellow scarf of yours. All for the girls, huh? Or is it something else?

"We could. Or we could train in stealth tactics. Got any cardboard boxes around here?"

"What? You think I should start going out on stealth missions?" he says with a laugh.

"I mean, I could pull it off ... so long as I don't have to wear a sneaking suit." He scratches at a side burn thoughtfully. "Naturally, I'd look great, but those things have gotta chafe like nobody's business."

"I don't think you've got the right body for it yet, Kaz. Too skinny." He was teasing the blond about his body and how much he liked to show it off. "You have to have the muscle mass for the suit to fit perfectly around you." Snake felt one of Kaz's biceps and smirked.

He rolls his eyes behind the sunglasses and bats away the probing hand. "Too skinny? Trying to deflate my ego, Boss?

"I still get out and run drills with the men!" he counters, "And, you know, high-protein foods are a major drain on the coffers. Kinda hard to build muscle mass when there's not enough lean meat on the menu."

He'd never seek to deflate that massive ego of yours, Kaz. He's just joking, honest. "I know. I've seen you flaunt those abs of yours." He likes them too.

"Maybe I should hunt some animals to bring fresh meat in. Crocodile? Snake?"

"What, missing your old diet? Sounds a little weird if you ask me -- eating your own namesake."

Miller rubs his chin. "But you know, that's actually not a bad idea. I might send a unit out along the Reventazón and see if they can bag a few gators. It's supposed to taste like chicken, right?"

"I can't say I miss the taste of snake and crocodile that much. It was all I could get at the time." He smiled at that. He remembered the forests and jungles complete with alligators, snakes and a variety of other tasty things. "Why don't you try some, Kaz. Don't be afraid to try something new."

"Hey, I'll try anything once! Saute that gator meat and toss it in a yellow curry, done." He mimes some of this culinary action, then rubs his palms together.

"Jesus. I'm actually working up an appetite just thinking about it. It's uh, easy to forget to eat around here. So much to take in."

"You'd actually try some gator? I'm not sure I believe you, Kaz. I would have thought rations and instant noodles were more your thing." He wondered if you'd enjoy the taste of wild flesh. Yet, you seem eager enough to try it. Boss frowned.

"Hngh...maybe one day when I kill a gator for food I'll give you some. But, you have to eat some raw because that's the real taste."

"Raw...?" he winces at that suggestion. "I mean, I appreciate raw, fresh fish, but I'll take your word on gator. I try not to chow down on things that are known to carry bacteria and parasites. It's gotten me this far in life."

Miller's attention returns to the forgotten papers and he begins tossing them into a more orderly pile. "You get to do much hunting where you're at now?"

"Yeah, raw. I had to for the Virtuous Mission. There was nothing else to eat." He remembered that even if it was near twenty years ago for him. Those sort of memories last a life time.

"Not so much hunting but more Fultoning the animals."

Snake gets an incredulous look. "Really, Boss? And then what? You keep 'em as pets? It's hard enough maintaining sanitation standards with soldiers around, much less livestock."

"It's better than that, Kaz. Every animal I Fulton out of the battlefield we gain GMP on. We can also use some of the animals for food to feed our troops. It was actually you who suggested it be a good idea to save those animals caught in conflict." He means he older you.

"Huh! Kudos to future me." Miller is more than happy to take credit for decisions he hasn't made yet!

"Animals are a good morale boost, too, if Nuke is any indication. Kinda funny seeing tough soldiers lose their shit over a cute cat."

"Don't let your head get too big otherwise you won't be able to get out of this room." He smirked. Better not get a big head, Kaz.

"Wonder what Ocelot will think if he sees a cat."