nysalogs | an old cowboy went riding out

[ after discussing a certain job with 76, the two of them had arranged to meet in a relatively isolated area, close to the Institute. Ocelot understood his partner's potential reservations about certain aspects of the job (working with Cree, for example), but still, he knew the other man would've never passed up the opportunity to get more information on the Institute. as for Ocelot...

well... it's been a while since he's done a good, old-fashioned political assassination.

on his end, Ocelot didn't take much from what the Gilded Cage offered them, opting for his own revolvers instead. his preference is stealth, and while he's never been quite as good as John had always been, he still managed to assassinate a heavily-guarded CIA Director. with a smirk on his lips, he looks over to his "partner". ]

You ready?

[ this was going to be fun. ]

[ It's always strange to return to Olympia, but these days 76 doesn't have any difficulty getting into the city. He's part of Voss' special little group, which means that no one is going to give him trouble if he keeps to himself.

Granted, he is here to commit yet another crime, but he's pretty sure that he and Ocelot can manage it without sounding the alarm. He wouldn't have agreed to do this if he didn't understand the risks involved; he's decided it's worth the potential gains.

This will be his first time infiltrating the Institute, so to some extent he'll be following Ocelot's lead. 76 is in full gear, with his sidearm on hand as usual. He's hoping he won't have to use it.

At Ocelot's question, he nods. ] Lead the way.

[ here's hoping 76 wouldn't have to use his. as for Ocelot? he's definitely planning on firing at least one shot. not that he's intentionally looking to upset his current comrade, but some things have to be done.

he nods, directing him closer to an Institute entrance that he's managed to scope out. ]

Guard duty's on rotation. We should be in the clear for at least the first level, but once we get in deeper, it's a bit more of a mystery to me.

[ maybe a little blinder than he'd like, but that was part of the challenge, wasn't it? ]

[ 76 would rather not go in blind if they had that option, but clearly they don't. He's sure that Ocelot would have uncovered as much information as he safely could without drawing attention, so he'll just be grateful that they're in the clear for the start of this, at least. Oftentimes getting inside is the hardest part. They shouldn't have to worry about any technologically advanced security systems, at least. ]

Then we'll just have to be careful. The further we can get without sounding the alarm, the better.

[ The entrance looks clear, so they should get a move on. It's quiet in this spot, but there's no telling when someone might walk by. One more thing, though... ]

We need to collect samples, right? Cree give you anything for that?

[ ah, so it's this question. he knew eventually he'd have to figure out how to tell him. ]

...I've got a slightly different objective than you.

[ he's debated long and hard how much to tell Jack about this particular tidbit. on one hand, he could keep it entirely from the man, slip in, and get the job done. but, at the same time, he had to admit that he actually liked Jack.

so, he settles for a half truth. ]

It could get messy.

[ it would get messy. ]

[ So this is what Ocelot had been hinting at during their text conversation. It's something he hadn't thought was safe to talk about even on a secure line, which means that "messy" is probably an understatement.

76 narrows his eyes behind his visor, lifting his arms to cross them over his chest. He doesn't like the sound of this. Whatever Ocelot has been asked to do, it's bound to draw attention. ]

If we're gonna do this, we need to be on the same page. No beating around the bush.

[ It's not too late for him to pull out, as much as that would frustrate him. But going in not knowing all the details doesn't sit well with him either, and it seems like it's going to take some extra pressure to get Ocelot to come clean. ]

[ ah, so this was how it's going to be. he shouldn't have even given him that much, really, but it was his own damn fault. he liked the other man far more than he'd like to admit. he supposes that he could come up with another lie, but...

instead, he shrugs. ]

You don't trust me?

[ does he look like the type of man that would betray a friend and ally? if he did, would he be as good of a spy as he is? ]

Cree wants a change in management in the Potions Department. The man's the only one with access to Evras' personal projects.

[ as to whether he lives or dies? well... that depends on just how useful any information he has might be. it might be easy to kill him, but things could get interesting. ]

I'm not big on trust in general.

[ It's honestly nothing personal, but Ocelot must realize that trusting a spy would be particularly foolish for 76 to do. He's downplaying whatever Cree asked him to do, softening the language so that it doesn't sound as bad as it probably is; 76 can tell because Gabriel used to try the same thing.

Does he care what happens to someone working closely with Evras? Not particularly. It's the lack of clear communication that bothers 76, and he clenches his jaw as accepts that he won't get any more out of Ocelot. ]

I assume we're splitting up once we're deep enough inside, then. Any plans for extraction?

[ and Ocelot actually laughs at that. he supposes that if there was one significant difference between John and Jack, it was that Jack didn't seem quite as blindly trusting as his oldest and closest friend. ]

Smart man.

[ as for what they would do next... he pulls out one of his revolvers, giving it a quick spin. ]

Get in, get out. Try for as few casualties as possible, and don't give anyone a chance to call for backup.

[ after all, it wouldn't look good if a guardsman and one of Olympia's "terrorists" were caught together, leaving a trail of bodies in their wake, now would it?

if they were lucky, no one would even know they were there. ]

[ It's hard to say what Ocelot finds so funny about 76's lack of trust, but now isn't the time to get into it. Ocelot doesn't seem bothered by hearing that he isn't yet fully trusted (and in fact, even admits that it's a good move), so they can move on.

They seem to be on the same page when it comes to remaining undetected, at least. 76 imagines that Ocelot has just as much to lose, if he were caught doing something like this. They need to be clean in their methods. If someone does spot them, they might not have the luxury of keeping them alive, if it means they'd talk. ]

All right, sounds good.

[ 76 can see that Ocelot's holding a small pack filled with the containers that they'll need to put the samples in. He reaches his hand out. ]

I'll take that. Then we can go.

[After that last message, there is silence from Reinhardt's end for a while. He doesn't text and drive after all. So the next time Ocelot heard from him is a loud knock on his door.]

As promised,I am here, mein freund!

[and when he opens the door, he'll find the huge man standing there with a warm smile on his face and a keg of beer on one shoulder. What Rein promoses, he delivers.]

[ well. that certainly is a lot of beer. still, Ocelot smirks. ]

You think that's enough for the two of us?

[ he may be quite a bit smaller than the other man, but he is still a Russian. who has undergone drug resistance training. ]

[There's a laugh and a shake of the head. He's German. His pride won't let him get drunk on so little. He hopes. He asked for their best. It's a special occasion after all.]

We'll just have to find out, ja? Now, where can I put this so I can free my hands to give my favorite boy a treat. [The dog. He means the dog.]

On the table is fine.

[ and, as if on cue, DD rushes over, eager to see the older man. ]

DD!

[ and just like that, he stops, moving into a sitting position, with his tail still wagging fiercely. ]

[To the table it is. He just walks right on in to plop that huge heavy keg onto the poor table. Reinhardt he made it look light, but it makes a tremendous thud. But now his hands are free he immediately goes for DD, pulling out one of those special dog cookies he always has on him.] A knight keeps he promises.

[He gives a very fond pet before he turns to go into his pockets again. He comes out with a small cigar case. Inside is a few fat Nysa-style cigars.] I know it's not much, but a present if you want it. [He doesn't even know if Ocelot smokes, but it's traditional.]

Edited (Fuck html) 2018-06-27 14:39 (UTC)

[ and cigars. of course. he can't help but smile a little to himself. ]

Rarely. But, I have a friend who will appreciate them even more.

[ but for a man who says he rarely smokes, he still manages to produce everything that's needed in less than a minute.

still he'll light a cigar in commemoration. but the rest would be saved for if when John finally woke up. ]

[ Reinhardt doesn't feel insulted that Ocelot decided that his gift would be mostly saved for someone else. It's his now. He can do with it as he pleases. He's just glad that he picked out something that the man could get use out of, even if it's to make someone else not Ocelot happy.

He still smiles a little when the man at least lights one up. Reinhardt won't join. He might be a smoker if he had a pipe and no more use for his lungs. But as it is, it makes him happy to see his friend enjoy it. He had made certain it wasn't anything weird in the cigar. ]

I'm glad. And I'm glad you let me come over. No one should spend their birthday alone. [ Not that he's not counting DD. DD is best company. He should know. ]Not when there is beer to drink with friends. [ He's got the keg tap ready to go. It's as simple as using his strength to shove it into the barrel. He doesn't need the fancy Oktoberfest mallet. Just raw muscle does the trick. ]

As it goes in my country, O'zapft is.

[ despite not being much of a smoker, the smell of the cigar smoke brings out a certain level of nostalgia, though not one that he'd particularly like to admit. ]

I don't mind, but the company is welcome.

[ and certainly, he'd spent more than a few of his birthdays alone, keeping vigil over a man that might never wake up. ]

And, as we might say, за ва́ше здоро́вье.

[ There's a hearty laugh from Reinhardt and he shakes his head. ] I'm not even going to try that one! But we are going to try this.

[ He brought large mugs as well. He's really very prepared. This is for a friend. He's pulling out all the stops. And because he knows what he's doing, he's going to pour Ocelot the first beer. A nice draft with just the right amount of foam before handing it over and filling his own. ]

To another year past, mein freund. May you look as good as you do now when you reach my age.

[ he sets the cigar aside carefully, before picking up a glass. ]

If I look as good as you, I'll be a happy man.

[ some men weather age exceedingly well. Reinhardt is definitely one of them. ]

Edited 2018-06-27 17:45 (UTC)

You flatter me, Ocelot. But you know it doesn't take two eyes to see that you are well on the way to that. [ He can only hope he's still around when the man hits 60 to see it. Knights don't tend to live as long as he has. But that's a morose thought on what's supposed to be a happy occasion. ]

You'll forgive me for not singing I hope. I don't want your ears to bleed. Though a few of these might change my mind. [ He'll lift his beer to drink, a contented sound coming from his throat as he does. It's still not his favorite, but it's as close as he can get here. ] You'll have to tell me what alcohol you like and next year, I'll be more prepared and make sure you get it.

an old cowboy went riding out

for soldier: 76

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Birthday shenanigans

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