Cobra Barracks

[unsurpassedjoy.livejournal.com]

(Attention Cobras, Snake, and those brave enough to risk it)


The Boss was quite use to moving from base to base, and in all honesty, there was very little difference between Russian Barracks and American barracks. They both had that same drab feeling of uniform efficiency. Life on one military base was generally like life on another military base, regardless of location.

Her morning routine generally included a rather long run around the facilities but she decided deviate from her usual morning activities for a few days until the men on the base got use to the idea of her being around.

Instead she decided to check up on Jack before going to locate Volgin. She needed to have a talk with Snake to clear things up. And, unfortunately, she also needed to corner Major Ocelot and get information from him.

There was also the fact that she would probably need something other than her American Uniform to wear, but that was low on the priority list.

Comments

[naked-snake.livejournal.com]

Snake had to wonder why it was natural to want to work so hard for something instead of it being easy. It didn't make sense, though challenges provided the only way one could improve.

And when it was all based on survival of the fittest...

It made some sense, then.

"We'll see if he listens to me," he said with a smirk and a shrug. He was surprised the young man hadn't tracked him down yet to give him a tongue lashing for the stunt he'd pulled the day before, but maybe the kitty was still licking at his wounds.

They'd run into each other eventually.

Snake was pleased to see how empty the mess hall was. Nodding to his mentor, he moved away from her so that he could quickly grab a tray and gather some food.

[unsurpassedjoy.livejournal.com]

"I think he will," She said, smiling at Snake. He had grown up a lot since the last time she had seen him. The Joy moved at a more relaxed pace as she grabbed a tray to get food.

Partly because she was really not in any hurry, and partly because she did not look forward to more Russian military food. Then again, American military food wasn't any better.

"What do you think of Groznyj Grad so far, Snake?"

[naked-snake.livejournal.com]

What was there to think of it? It was a base--there wasn't anything particularly special about it, as far as he knew. Then again, he hadn't exactly seen much of the base. He wasn't sure if he was allowed to simply go wandering around. Certain areas probably required specific authorization levels and so on...

He shrugged. "I haven't seen much." He didn't want to speak badly of the place, since he wasn't sure what The Boss' feelings on it were. He didn't enjoy any of the people thus far--the German and the Cobras had irked him more than anything, but he knew his mentor would frown if he mentioned that.

No, it was best to keep quiet. With his tray full of food, the soldier quickly sat down at a table and started to eat.

[unsurpassedjoy.livejournal.com]

Had Jack always been this... withdrawn? Perhaps apathy did suit him best, but that wasn't how she remembered him... then again, it had been several years.

"I think The Fury is starting to accept you." The Joy said quietly as she sat down at the table as well. "They take some getting use to..." She smiled fondly, remembering when she had first gotten them all together.

They were difficult to deal with on their own sometimes, but all of them together... It was a wonder that the Unit had grown as close as they had. Family...

"Do you want to be a Cobra, Snake?" It was best to ask him before she tried to start the process. "You're my student, and if you didn't know it already, my Cobras often called themselves 'The sons of The Boss'... they're like family to me." Voyevoda paused for a moment to let it sink in before continuing.

"Because you trained under me, you have the right to be a part of that family as well." Honestly, she didn't think her Cobras would give him much of a choice. The Fury seemed oddly insistent in his own way that Jack become part of the family.

[naked-snake.livejournal.com]

It was true that he wasn't always quite so quiet, but being in another country, expected to conform to the Soviet way... It put him on edge. He would have been a bit more vocal if he could have spoken of his some of his complaints about the place and the people in it, but he wasn't sure if The Boss would approve of that... And he didn't want her thinking badly of him.

"Accept me? He doesn't exactly know me," he responded with a frown. Then again, who did? Well... if there was anyone, it was The Boss. Maybe she would understand the cosmonaut's behavior, but he certainly didn't.

As for her question, it was difficult to answer. The truth was that he didn't exactly want to be part of that group, but he wasn't sure if she would really consider him at part of her family if he didn't. However, being a Cobra seemed like a lifelong commitment... And he was only planning to be here as long as the mission required it. (Then again, he had no idea what was happening with that... And this limbo he was in was making him more and more uneasy.)

"I..." He sighed and stared down at his food. Where the hell was his appetite? "I don't. Not really." He was wincing inwardly, worried about how she'd respond. He didn't want to lie to her, but he didn't want her scorning him, either.

[unsurpassedjoy.livejournal.com]

The Joy nodded slightly, staring intently at Jack and doing her best to figure out his emotions, as hidden and suppressed as they were.

"I understand," It was a big thing, really. Her Cobras had given a vow to follow her till the day that they all died. And the way they had said it gave the impression that they firmly believed they would one day follow her on a mission from which there would be no return.

Particularly with that sad smile The Sorrow had on his face as he said it. The Boss blinked slightly as she looked away from Snake towards a window. It was raining outside, heavily.

Not for the first time she wondered if The Sorrow had known, even then, and agreed anyway. "I didn't expect you to say yes."

Jack was too pure, too young to be a Cobra. He hadn't yet learned what it was to carry an emotion of his own into battle. To embrace the strengths and weaknesses inherent to emotions.

[naked-snake.livejournal.com]

She understood. But did that meant she liked the answer? Then again, picking apart everything she said was just going to give him a headache. Or perhaps an ulcer. Neither of which he particularly wanted.

Even if Snake didn't understand everything about what it meant to be a Cobra, he knew enough to realize that it was a lot of him he'd have to give to his mentor. Then again, so many others had been willing... Why wasn't he up to it?

And why had she expected him to refuse? He frowned, not exactly pleased with the situation, even if she hadn't been disappointed. He picked at his food and decided that a change of subject might be a good idea.

"Any plans for the day?" He hoped there was. He didn't like having nothing to do, especially when he felt like he was supposed to be accomplishing something. But he was simply waiting for her word at this point... Or maybe someone from back home would get in contact with him.

It was becoming more and more obvious that his life was based on listening to the instructions of others.

[unsurpassedjoy.livejournal.com]

"I need to speak with Volgin, and probably Major Ocelot as well. You can accompany me if you wish, if not, I suggest you get familiar with the base. The Fury informed me that there are a surprising number of under ground tunnels and similar interesting things..."

"But don't wander off too far, I might need you to help me with a few things later." Like sabotaging the shagohod, for instance. That was a big job, and while it could be done single handed, it would be simpler with help.

She had eaten all she wanted of the less than appetizing food. "Snake... stop worrying. I'm not unhappy with you for not wanting to be a Cobra. Being a Cobra or not, it doesn't change very much." That was more or less true, she would likely continue to see him in the same manner if he was a Cobra or not.

"I know I've practically turned your world upside down in the last twenty four hours." Strange, earlier she was thinking how much he was changed, now he reminded her of how he was when she first started training him.

She leaned forward until her forehead was almost touching his. "If you really want something to do, why don't you go ask The Fury what he thinks about the Shagohod? Just don't be surprised if he entertains fantasies of seeing it blown up and on fire." A subtle message in there, hopefully whatever sabotage occurred would be a lot less obvious than that.

[naked-snake.livejournal.com]

Tunnels? It might be a good idea to look into that if he ever had to sneak around the place--or sneak out. Still, if The Fury knew about them, who knew how many other people did as well? It had to be better than sneaking above-ground, though. "I could come with you," he replied with a shrug. "I'm not sure what parts of the base I'm allowed to be in and what parts I'm not." Usually that wouldn't be a problem, but Snake tended to end up in high-security places without meaning to because he was naturally quiet and inconspicuous.

Help her with a few things...? "Like what?" He didn't see any harm in asking if she had mentioned it. No one was paying them much attention, anyway.

Dammit, why did she have to be so good at reading him? He sighed and nodded. If there wasn't much difference between being a Cobra and not being one, then he'd much rather not be one. Signing himself into a group like that would have felt... suffocating.

"I'm used to that sort of thing," he replied. Getting his world turned upside down tended to be part of the job description. Things often went the way he expected them to. At least she was here this time.

"Why would I want to go talk to him?" he asked with a scoff, resisting the urge to pull away from her as she leaned in. "I'd rather go with you or wander around on my own... So long as I know where I can or can't be."

[unsurpassedjoy.livejournal.com]

She was almost disappointed that Jack hadn't managed to string together the clues that she'd dropped. Then again, he did alternate drastically between dangerously insightful and painfully dense.

"You might like to get to know him. It was just a thought. Despite his eccentricities The Fury is always a good person to have as an ally. He's also quite intelligent, a genius even... but don't tell him I said that, he has enough of an ego already."

She got up from the table. "But you're welcome to come with me if you like. I would enjoy the company." It had been so long, she really had missed her youngest.

"When we talk to Volgin, we'll find out what parts of the base are off limits."

[naked-snake.livejournal.com]

Strangely enough, he hadn't eaten much. It wasn't that the food was bad. He didn't mind it that much. He'd just been occupied with other things and with the conversation. He stared down at the food and took a few quick bites before standing.

As much as The Boss spoke well of The Fury, Snake wasn't sure if he liked him. All he'd done thus far was irritate him. Maybe he took some getting used to, but Snake didn't have the time or effort to put into that. He also didn't care enough to bother with it. Though he got the feeling that no matter what he did, the cosmonaut would probably bother him.

Going with her seemed like the best idea at this point. He'd wanted to meet Volgin, anyway. "When was the first time you met him?" he asked curiously. They had seemed to know each other pretty well back on that bridge...

He wouldn't be nervous about it. That would be stupid.