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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?"

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"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."

"Between what you've told me about him and the choice of moniker, I'm gonna assume he'd definitely be a cat person."

He shrugs. "They're not bad as domesticated animals go. When I was growing up, we had a handful of strays in the neighborhood -- they cleaned up pretty well at the shipyard. Plenty of rats to be had."

"Yeah, I guess he would." He could sure move like one when he wanted and seemed to have nine lives. He had survived through moving from one faction to the next without as much as a scratch.

"Do you like cats, Kaz?"

"I've got nothing against cats, but they're a little too, uh... unreadable and aloof for me." That right there -- he's for sure gonna hate Ocelot.

Kaz jumps to the next step in that train of thought. "Dogs on the other hand ... I can't say I've had much experience with 'em, but they're usually better about earning their keep and show more appreciation."

He crosses his arms and raises an eyebrow. "Care to weigh in, Boss? I think I already know the answer, but you could still surprise me."

"We have a dog back at Diamond Dogs. DD. Ocelot trained him up from a puppy to aid me in missions." Boss loved DD and loved how loyal the dog was to him. "He might even replace you as my best friend, Kaz." He was joking, of course. There were things a dog couldn't do that a human could.

"What answer are you looking for?"

"Replace me, huh?" Miller smiles and rubs the back of his neck. "Hell, I wouldn't blame you. The mutt's probably way easier to deal with."

His head tilts to the side. "You're predictable: I know how much you value loyalty. Few things on this earth are as unquestioningly loyal as a dog."

"I would never replace you, Kaz. Nothing could. I'd miss all your useful advice over the radio." He offered his friend a fond smile. "Tell me to brush twice a day, huh?"

"Aww, Boss. Glad to hear I'm so useful," he says with a laugh, as much as he knows there's genuine sentiment behind it.

"Take a shower once in a blue moon, brush your teeth. I'm not asking a lot." He shrugs emphatically. "If you wanna keep chowing down on raw reptiles, you'll need to keep those teeth firmly in your skull."

"You're useful, Kaz. You're my right hand man, remember." Because he wouldn't have it any other way. "I don't plan on having my teeth smashed out anytime soon." He raised an eyebrow at that.

"A lot's depending on you, Snake. You gotta take good care of yourself."

He crosses his arms and arches an eyebrow. "I'm not always gonna be around to nag you about this crap."

"Don't talk like that, Kaz. We'll be around for as long as the world needs us." Boss looked at his friend for a moment before shaking his head. "I'd miss your advice over the radio."

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