With a human body returned to him, Raiden was enjoying the sensation of – well, having sensation at all. That wasn’t to say that he was entirely unfeeling as a cyborg – heavens, no –, but it still wasn’t close to having the feel of the real thing.
Particularly with food. First thing Raiden did after waking up with his muscular, fleshy bod again was running out and grabbing a hot dog. A good ‘ol one from a stand, just like they had in New York. …Though more than a few of those had been crushed by Arsenal Gear when it hit. After that, it was straight to a coffee shop. Raiden had been fed through packets for energy, and the occasional sip of Gatorade when he could afford it. But now – now he could finally enjoy the taste of a good mug again. Not that he could buy a drink in a mug here – he was sure it’d just be the same old paper cups – but regardless he was happy to imagine the taste. And he was even more happy – though it was less “happy” and more of a “what the hell, I thought you were dead” feeling. Which was entirely appropriate, all things considered.
“Snake!” Raiden called out in a surprisingly smoother voice than he was used to. “Oh, Christ – how long has it been? You look a dozen years younger. Where – where the hell have you been?”
It was pretty apparent from those first few words that Raiden wasn’t exactly expecting to meet Snake here. To be entirely frank, he wasn’t expecting to see anyone he knew in this city, especially after several months of solitude.
Snake jumps at the sound of the voice that calls out to him. Oh, God. Raiden. The kid had been roped into this thing too? Ah, well-- after what he had been through in the Big Shell incident, Snake figures the kid deserved a little R&R. Turning his head and offering a wave, he nods at the VR soldier, offering a slight wave to the younger man.
“Raiden. Didn’t expect to see you here.” Raises an eyebrow. What the hell does he mean, a dozen years younger? He looks the same as he did the last time they met. Raising an eyebrow, he takes the Lucky Strikes cigarette out of his mouth and taps it out over the railing.
“Not sure what you’re talking about. It hasn’t been a week since I’ve seen you. How long have you been here, anyway?” Maybe this Raiden was from a different point in the timeline than he was-- though he looked much the same, there is a potential that he was a year or two older than the last time Snake had seen him. He doesn’t have the heart to ask him about Rose-- it was coincidence enough that they were both here at the same time; the odds that Rose or Colonel would show up were astronomical.
“I’ve been around. Working with Otacon on the anti-Metal Gear association. How are you holding up after Big Shell?”
