ruffians | → call me out

[ A wise decision to not leave that question hanging — Ocelot has already opened his mouth around a snarky response when Reno continues, bringing the conversation back to the severity of the situation. It is quiet. Too quiet. They should've come across a beast by now, if not another survivor. ]

You're right. [ As unsettling a confession as the topic they're discussing. ] Something must've happened... they can't just have brought us back to a deserted city like this.

Wonder if something fucked up.

[He cants his head thoughtfully, remembering one of the Scientists (Javaid?) saying something about them not having a lot of control over who showed up. He never placed much stock in it then, too many coincidences. And now? The odds of Ocelot showing up within a couple of days of him, out of the millions of people they had to choose from? Hell, even hundreds if they're only picking out of people who'd been here before.

It seems like more than just random chance that they'd stick him here with the person who has probably caused him more stress than any other person in at least five years. Feels to him like someone made a choice.]

Or maybe they're going for round two. Harry was here a while before anyone else turned up the first time around.

[ It does seem rather Machiavellian in nature, bringing the two of them together in an otherwise empty city, especially considering their history. You don't need to be a fan of tinfoil to start cooking up conspiracy theories for that one. He holsters his revolver slowly, as if daring a toothy beast to jump out of a broom closet, proving that Reno isn't right. ]

And was it this quiet when he was here alone? I could perhaps... perhaps buy that we've been brought in as preliminary guinea pigs, but shouldn't there be something trying to kill us?

I can't remember a day here without an ugly beast.

Every monster I ever came across came from someone's home. None of them were native.

[He takes a moment to make sure he's remembering that right, he doesn't remember anything he cared to pay attention to that someone didn't recognise. Which still doesn't entirely disprove what Ocelot's saying - far as he's aware, most Earth folks didn't come from a version with monsters unless they were embroiled in some supernatural shit, but Gaia's rife with the fucking things. Can barely move out in the plains for some beast or other trying to bite your face off.

It lends credence to the idea that this isn't an accident, in his opinion.]

If it was a side-effect of bringing us here, this place should be full of Sagahins and Cactuars. [He's still holding on to the gun, ready in case something does leap out that them. Scanning the room as he speaks for some indication that he's wrong.] Doesn't do a whole lot to kill my paranoia.

[ That's news to him. Something he probably should've investigated way back when but could never be arsed to contemplate. Monsters were monsters, regardless where they came from. Then again... ]

Like a nuclear bomb's gone off... [ They wouldn't, would they? ]

[There's so many questions and no one to ask. He knew how it worked last time around, and he was finally starting to get a foothold on the way to circumvent it. Reno frowns, tugging on his earring while he thinks it through. There's no one else here, no sign of anything. Even if he had any idea where the Scientists had been, there's every chance they've moved since then.]

We need a setup for the short term before we start figuring out what to do about this... Situation. [It's abrupt, the way he says it. He just knows he'll drive himself crazy trying to deal with that on top of what an emotional roller-coaster the day's been so far.] No use in doing much else if we're dying of dehydration every week.

[ He nods in response, stiffly. He's usually the man holding all the cards and not having the first clue about what's going on is... unsettling to say the least. That said, he's not about to curl up in a corner and give up on life — of course not. He wouldn't be Major Ocelot of the ~~Ocelettes~~ GRU if he did that. Having Reno around to help sort out this mess is actually somewhat comforting. At least he knows the man isn't a complete idiot. ]

I take it they taught you some actual survival skills during whatever training it is you've had? [ Not too concerned about himself. He's no Naked Snake, but he can take care of himself well enough in a pinch. ]

Some. [He cants his head with half a smirk.] Turks aren't exactly the "camp in the woods for a week" type, but two years in this shithole made up for most of the gaps in my knowledge.

Too bad we don't have anyone who can magically generate clean drinking water... unless you've been holding out on me? [ Mister Zappy-zaps. ]

[Ha.] Hate to admit it, but my many talents don't extend quite as far as miracles.

[ He pulls a disappointed face. It's not very convincing. ] You're a lot less interesting to me now.

That cuts deep. [Reno's expression of hurt is similarly unconvincing.] I don't know how could I possibly go on.

Then I assume a fainting couch is top priority? [ Such a smirk. ] It's a shame. You could do a lot of damage with miracles like that.

[A snort and a shake of his head.] Trust me, I've given it serious thought. Some people could really do with the, ah... Impetus to change their lives.

[By being dead, for instance.]

[ If that's not a good change, he doesn't know what is. ]

I don't get it with you people and your special powers. Never quite utilizing them to their full potential...

Their "full potential"?

[What are you talking about.]

I had a... let's call him superior for lack of better word. He had a similar power to yours and although he got creative with it, I never felt like he did as much as he could.

[ There's a sadistic undertone here. A newly awoken interest for the finer points of torture. ]

[Reno cants his head looking for Ocelot's meaning, but he recognises that tone. He doesn't have quite the sadistic streak that the people he seems to attract do, but he'd be lying if he said it wasn't in him.]

Officially speaking I obviously have no idea what you're saying to me right now. [A slight smirk; Ocelot clearly has no idea of the full gamut of what Reno has available to him.] Hypothetically though? There's endless applications. Especially if you just happen to have a restore on you.

So you have been holding out on me? [ Seriously, why haven't they had this conversation before? So much time to kill. ]

Can't just spill all my secrets in one go for a pack of cigarettes and some bandages, can I?

[You've gotta pony up at least a bottle of scotch for that.]

C'mon, I did more for you than that, didn't I?

Oh yeah. You gave me a lot of great headaches too.

You're welcome. [ This smirk on his face is not a good smirk. ] I seem to recall helping you out in more intimate ways.

[It takes a special kind of awful to make Reno feel physically uncomfortable, and even moreso to make him show it. Which he does, briefly raising his eyebrows and recoiling slightly before he gets his expression back under control, pulling it down from "uncomfortable" to "wilful misunderstanding."]

Are you making another offer to kill me? Because I'm not that hot on finding out if that whole "traumatic resurrection" thing is still in play right now.

That would be a waste of bullets. [ And as light as his tone is, there's something very real about that statement. That was a good reaction though. Very satisfying. ] Don't tell me you don't remember?

you are the actual best

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I a-paw-agize.