the_campus | sorry I tl;dr'd oops

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sorry I tl;dr'd oops

[In one vacant hallway laid a single, elderly man. He was propped up against one of the walls, legs sprawled out in front of him and arms limp at his sides. His head was drooping downwards and if one quickly passed him by, they might think he was dead. However, if they stopped to check up on him they would notice his slightly labored breathing. He eventually lifted his head, a gloved hand burying in his short hair as he gave a grunt of pain; his head was pounding, his vision swimming. The fluorescent lighting of the campus hallway was harsh, burning into his single eye and making him cringe.]

Wh... where am I?

[He managed to slur out, his throat dry. His tongue darted out to wet his chapped lips and he squinted, trying to make sense of the surrounding area. He was confused. Was this what the afterlife was really like? Empty hallways with labeled doors to who knows what? It shocked him to know that he was actually somewhere in the first place. He hadn't been the religious type, couldn't say if there was a Heaven or Hell, so he had assumed that when he died, that was just it; he would be dead and his physical body would just eventually turn to dust while the only thing left of him was a memory. In the back of his mind he had assumed that, if there was indeed a plane of existence after death, he most likely would have spiraled down into the very pits of hellfire and brimstone. He couldn't possibly be in Heaven, could he? Heaven was fluffy clouds and big pearly gates.

He shook his head, trying to clear his mind. He had died where he came from, so wherever he was now he was stuck with it, wither he liked it or not. He shuffled around a bit in his sitting position, seemingly having trouble controlling his extremities, before managing to stand himself up, legs wobbling a little and he placed a hand upon the wall. His brain was still a little foggy, but was starting to clear and his eye narrowed in thought. He distinctly remembered waking up in what appeared to be an infirmary, recognizing those sterile white sheets anywhere. He had quickly made his way out of the bed, shaking and tripping over himself as he burst out of the room and down the hallways before collapsing there until he had awoken just now.

This sudden flood of recent events made him frown. If he had woken up in a hospital bed, did that mean he hadn't died after all?

No. He had died, he was sure of it, and so he was left with the same questions from earlier, with seemingly no one around to answer them. Maybe he could find someone who could.]

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[Lucky for him, there's a small child(?) not too far from where he started, looking at vending machines. It shouldn't be too hard to get his attention, as intent as he seems to be on counting... cards? Did he get those from the machine?]

[Big Boss surveyed the space around him, almost instantly spying a young boy with strange looking hair down the hall. He hesitated slightly, still unsure if his heavy limbs would carry him forward, but he took a few small steps, keeping his hand against the wall to hold himself up a bit. Thankfully, he was successful, and so he continued onward.]

You there, boy--

[He called, approaching the child standing at the vending machines. His expression was unreadable.]

Do you happen to know where this is?

[Yugi is ruffled at the call of "boy" -- he's not a kid, dammit! -- but when he sees who called out, the anger immediately fades. Both because of the man's obvious age, and his state.

After a brief hesitation, he goes over, stopping just sort of him.]

Ah, we're on some sort of school Campus right now. Are you okay?

[A brief look of what appeared to be shock crossed his face before settling back into the seemingly calm expression.]

A school campus...? Hm. I see. And I'm fine. Just a bit disoriented, I suppose. Tired.

[He chuckled a little, though there wasn't much humor in his stare.]

[He doesn't seem entirely convinced, but, well, what can he do? His fingers go to drum on the top of the puzzle around his neck in the nervous habit.]

Ah, well, maybe you should sit down for a while? [He glances over at the tables behind him. Can the man make it?]

...If you need help...

I do appreciate your concern, but I will be alright. Something this small cannot stop me, I've braved worse.

[His lips twitched upwards in a small smile, his unoccupied hand moving up to tap the eyepatch upon his right eye in some form of joke. Losing his eye had been so long ago, however, and now he didn't really think much of it.]

Edited 2013-09-02 03:46 (UTC)

If you say so. Are you thirsty or anything?

[Even if he insists he'll be fine, Yugi still wants to help him. He looks like he really needs it.]

[He looked thoughtful for a moment, mulling over what the boy had said, even though it wasn't a hard question.]

I suppose I would like a drink, yes... er, what is your name?

Ah, I'm Yugi! Muto Yugi! What's yours?

[Definitely Japanese, this kid. He's smiling a little now, though.]

I see. I... once had a friend who was half Japanese.

[His expression remained neutral, but the look in his eye showed something of an inner sadness.]

They call me "Big Boss", Muto-san.

[Yugi notices that sadness, and his own eyes soften further.]

Did you lose him somehow?

[The name makes him blink in a bit of confusion, but it's quickly replaced by embarrassment from the respectfulness shown. Really, -kun would've been fine! He's just a teen, after all...]

A-Ah, nice to meet you, Big Boss-san.

I suppose so. I hadn't spoken to him in the longest time and what do I find recently? He's been dead for nearly ten years.

[He shook his head, smile a little bitter.]

It's nice to meet you, too, Muto-san. You're a very helpful young man, I appreciate this.

Oh, that must have been horrible. [How do you feel about some strange kid actually being empathetic towards you?

He actually beams a little at the young "man" comment, though, then realizes something he's forgetting.]

Ah, it's no problem! Wait here a second.

[Yugi goes down to one of the vending machines until he finds the drink one, snagging a bottle of water from it and bringing it over.]

Here.

[He didn't make any more comment on his friend, simply nodding to Yugi when he said to wait. He stood there a little awkwardly, feeling a strange sense of relief flood into him when the boy approached him again. This time a small, real smile spread on his withered face.]

Thank you, Muto-san.

[He took the bottle gratefully, twisting open the cap and taking a sip, the cool water feeling like heaven for his dry throat.]

I know it's just a water bottle, but I promise to repay you.

Ah, you don't have to. I don't mind.

[Because, well...]

We're all trapped here together, so... it's best if we help each other and try to make friends, right?

Friends...? I don't particularly understand why you'd want to befriend a bitter old man like me.

[He chuckled a little, looking a little awkward. He didn't actually have any friends anymore. The idea felt foreign.]

You don't seem bitter to me. You've been really polite the whole time! And just because you're an old man doesn't mean you shouldn't have friends.

[Give up now, Big Boss. This kid is the walking personification of The Power Of Friendship, you'll cave sooner or later.]

[This young man was too friendly and kind, it was growing harder and harder not to just indulge him. He sort of reminded him of Chico, in a way. He had that same vibrant energy.]

I... suppose that is true.

So... I'll be your first friend here! How's that?

[The old man sighed, staying quiet for a long moment before a small smile spread on his face.]

I wouldn't mind it, no. I suppose it would do me more good to create allies then enemies here, hm?

What have we here?

[The smell of cigarettes and the sound of heels foretells her arrival as she approaches.]

Old man, you look like you should be in the hospital.

[Said old man glanced up to the woman standing before him, his expression blank, no indication of whether or not he was annoyed by her calling him such a name.]

I already was, made my way down here. I'm fine, perhaps just dizzy.

[This man... something about him is troublesome. He doesn't look like a magus, but the calmness is eerie. Reminds her of Araya.]

Not that it matters too much, but you might have been more comfortable staying there. The floor looks pretty cold.

I would rather not. Trust me when I say I would be more comfortable moving about. I am not one to stay somewhere for too long.

[Big Boss shook his head.]

And I have slept somewhere worse than the floor.

How pitiful... Well, it can't be helped, I suppose.

[She moves to sit beside him for a moment, tucking her suitcase underneath her legs.]

I doubt you'll be exploring much here.

I see... a young boy came by earlier, told me that this is some sort of school building. Is it not very large?

[He questioned, turning his gaze to the woman briefly.]

Tiny, as schools go.

[Taking a draw on her cigarette before responding, she speaks almost languidly, as if this is entirely ordinary.]

Half of the doors are inaccessible, too. I haven't been outside yet.

[The man's eyebrows furrowed in thought, a frown slowly spreading across his face. That must mean that at least half of the building was off-limits, considering the large amount of doors he saw in just this hallway alone.]

Tell me, what is the point to being here exactly?

If I knew, do you think I'd be here? I'm a little old for school, in case you didn't notice.

[Her tone was dry as she leant back, lost in thought for a moment. As the most likely possibiliy, she'd say it was-]

-trap. This place. It's a trap.

I'm fairly certain I noticed.

[He sighed inwardly, wishing know he hadn't wasted that last cigar tucked in his jacket when he was at the graveyard. Of course, he hadn't expected to suddenly be whisked away and alive again somehow.]

A trap? Hm. Are you saying this is, perhaps, a random act of kidnapping? I have no idea who you are, I've never seen you in my life and I do not believe anyone related to me knows you, either. Are we just two useless pawns selected by chance?

Useless? Hm. What an insulting person I've happened to stumble upon. It'd have to be a pretty good 'random act' to snatch me up. I've been on the run from people with this level of power for a long time.

[No, though perhaps the second part is right. Pawns... This place is surely something of a game someone is playing. If it had been an Enforcer who'd caught up with her, there'd be no question they'd have made themselves known. But this place... Someone was up to something.]

Most likely, there is something to you and I that the people behind this have seen and wish to obtain. Or perhaps this is all just a game to them.

[Big Boss gave a dry, barking laugh, a few coughs rattling in his lungs, but he easily shrugged them off.]

Oh, I was not insulting you. Don't be so petty. And perhaps. But what could they, whomever they are, possibly want with a frail old man like me? I have long since had my day in the sun.

Haha! Isn't it a modern-day woman's nature to be petty?

[She flashes him a grin, shaking the hair out of her face.]

It beats me. But people aren't always what they seem.

Isn't that for you to decide, my strange new acquaintance?

[He rose an eyebrow, shaking his head.]

Do you happen to know just how many people are here, by any chance?

[Laughing a little, she took a drag of her cigarette.]

I'm Touko. Touko Aozaki. Sadly, I've just arrived myself, so I don't have the slightest idea. But I've seen a fair few people around. Fifteen or more.

Well, Touko, you may call me Big Boss.

[The man nodded, remaining quiet as he listened to what she had to say.]

Only fifteen? I'm sure there are bound to be more than that, this isn't that small of a building. I wonder, do more keep showing up?

[Dr. Hunter darted toward the elder man when he saw him collapsed on the floor. He was a doctor above all else (most days).]

Are you alright?

[The man was still breathing so that was a good sign. Navit didn't recognize Big Boss just yet, seeing how, in his world, Big Boss was a woman. But, nonetheless, his big brown eyes looked with concern.]

Yes, I am fine.

[He waved the other man off, keeping himself up by using the wall for support. He took a deep breath or two before finally looking up at the person before him. He blinked, staring at the man for a moment; for some strange reason he looked awfully familiar. By the way he dressed, this man was most likely a doctor or a scientist. The way his eyes were, though, were what gave him déjà vu.]

[Navit frowned initially when he was pushed away, adjusting his clothes while still observing the older man. To him, there was also something familiar. The eye patch, the style of clothing, his age... But this wasn't Big Boss. This was obviously a man. He missed his mother-figure then, putting some hair behind his ear.]

Do you need help going somewhere in particular? I am a doctor.

[He took notice of the fact that this man looked at him with almost the same shock and surprise and filed that in for later to ask about. He shook his head at the man's question.]

No, I'm not going anywhere in particular, I will be fine. Thank you for your concern. I'm just a little light-headed.

[Dr. Hunter paused then nodded, respecting the other man's wishes not to be helped. The word 'stubborn' floated in his mind.]

Are you... [Navit changed his mind. There was no way this man was connected to Big Boss.] in the mood for coffee? I wouldn't mind the company.

[[While Big Boss was busy in his own monolog, a soup can rolled towards his direction, with a hat firmly on what would normally be considered the top of the can. It halts once it bangs into Big Boss, only to firmly sit upright.]]

[The old man reacted when he felt something bump into him, nearly putting himself into a strange defensive position, before he saw what it was. He blinked in confusion, eyebrow raising and a frown settling in.]

What...? A soup can?

[[Yes, a soup can... A soup can that suddenly has a face growing out of it, resembling that of Roy Campbell.]]

Soldier, identify yourself!

[Big Boss stared at this soup can for a very long time. Was he hallucinating? He had to be.]

...Big Boss.

[He wasn't quite sure why he responded to this vision, but he was curious, he could admit that much at least.]

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sorry I tl;dr'd oops

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Oh good, more Metal Gear characters. <3

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