(Alright, I got off my lazy ass. Let's move things along, then. The ending
is within my grasp.)
Long Story Short (Revisited)
And so they all sat down in the far-from-clean living room, Snake and Meryl seated on the couch, Campbell and Otacon pacing back and forth and tossing the occasional glance to the two. More or less an interrogation session. Campbell started the show with a hesitant "Whose child is it?"
Meryl, who had finally come out of hiding after a few hours of the worst sleep she'd had in weeks, peered up at her uncle through fiery locks and spoke meekly, "Snake's." Otacon immediately offered a hopeful "So it IS snake's child?" Naturally, the statement was packed with the man's inquisitive nature.
Snake, who had his arms folded loosely over his chest, merely closed his eyes and waited for the answer to come to light. Granted, he could simply TELL them, but for some reason he just couldn't bring himself to do it. Meanwhile, Meryl simply nodded slowly at the question.
"So then what, David, is the problem here?" Campbell's hoarse tone somewhat demanded of Snake. As his eyes opened slowly, Snake's icy voice cut through the pause like a razor. "Wrong Snake, Roy." He knew the implication hit home when an expression of grave shock froze over Campbell's features, and the best he could do to reply was "Oh . . ."
Otacon too, had no words that would suit his current mood. Rather, he simply ceased his pacing and allowed his shoulders to somewhat droop. "I see . . ." The scientist mouthed, nothing audible managing to make it through.
And so there they sat, silence encompassing the room, eyes downcast as they waited for somebody to shatter it. Too much to hope for, of course.
Things eventually righted themselves, as after several minutes the Colonel gathered the courage to say a meek "I'm terribly sorry to hear that." Otacon merely showed his sympathy by nodding, and Snake placed an arm around his girlfriend. He sighed, certainly not hiding it. "Yeah, and I guess I should be the one to say it most . . . I've been really horrible to you for the past few days, and I feel just-" He cut himself off, actually stammering as his mind fought with itself over just which word to use. In a democratic vote of ninety-nine brain cells to one, he blurted out with a passion of self-loathing, "Stupid. That's how I feel. And I'm really, truly sorry for it. I love you, and we both know it, I'm sorry for hurting you like that."
Snake, genuinely being apologetic. One of the things Campbell had rarely seen during his lifetime, usually Snake found some way to rectify whatever he was doing- the man could come up with an excuse for mass-murder, so hearing this from him of all people was both a shock and a relief. Mainly the latter at the moment.
Meryl meanwhile, simply nodded, managed a weak but true smile, and buried herself in the man's shoulders. Not as if it was one of those movies where all's better when everyone talks it out, she had things on her mind.
Namely, the matter of life or death for a certain unborn child.
Long Story Short (Revisited)
And so they all sat down in the far-from-clean living room, Snake and Meryl seated on the couch, Campbell and Otacon pacing back and forth and tossing the occasional glance to the two. More or less an interrogation session. Campbell started the show with a hesitant "Whose child is it?"
Meryl, who had finally come out of hiding after a few hours of the worst sleep she'd had in weeks, peered up at her uncle through fiery locks and spoke meekly, "Snake's." Otacon immediately offered a hopeful "So it IS snake's child?" Naturally, the statement was packed with the man's inquisitive nature.
Snake, who had his arms folded loosely over his chest, merely closed his eyes and waited for the answer to come to light. Granted, he could simply TELL them, but for some reason he just couldn't bring himself to do it. Meanwhile, Meryl simply nodded slowly at the question.
"So then what, David, is the problem here?" Campbell's hoarse tone somewhat demanded of Snake. As his eyes opened slowly, Snake's icy voice cut through the pause like a razor. "Wrong Snake, Roy." He knew the implication hit home when an expression of grave shock froze over Campbell's features, and the best he could do to reply was "Oh . . ."
Otacon too, had no words that would suit his current mood. Rather, he simply ceased his pacing and allowed his shoulders to somewhat droop. "I see . . ." The scientist mouthed, nothing audible managing to make it through.
And so there they sat, silence encompassing the room, eyes downcast as they waited for somebody to shatter it. Too much to hope for, of course.
Things eventually righted themselves, as after several minutes the Colonel gathered the courage to say a meek "I'm terribly sorry to hear that." Otacon merely showed his sympathy by nodding, and Snake placed an arm around his girlfriend. He sighed, certainly not hiding it. "Yeah, and I guess I should be the one to say it most . . . I've been really horrible to you for the past few days, and I feel just-" He cut himself off, actually stammering as his mind fought with itself over just which word to use. In a democratic vote of ninety-nine brain cells to one, he blurted out with a passion of self-loathing, "Stupid. That's how I feel. And I'm really, truly sorry for it. I love you, and we both know it, I'm sorry for hurting you like that."
Snake, genuinely being apologetic. One of the things Campbell had rarely seen during his lifetime, usually Snake found some way to rectify whatever he was doing- the man could come up with an excuse for mass-murder, so hearing this from him of all people was both a shock and a relief. Mainly the latter at the moment.
Meryl meanwhile, simply nodded, managed a weak but true smile, and buried herself in the man's shoulders. Not as if it was one of those movies where all's better when everyone talks it out, she had things on her mind.
Namely, the matter of life or death for a certain unborn child.