002 | In which Liquid is banned from Sprout Tower for life | Video/Action for Violet

[liquidation]

[When the vid feed turns on, it shows Liquid standing against the vast blue of the sky,  statuesque and impassively looking outwards, as though he was a king surveying his domain.  There is strength in the line of his shoulders and the set of his jaw.  This has clearly been staged, because no one looks like this without careful planning and a keen sense of melodrama.  Anyone who knows this guy and what he's like should be running for the hills right now, because every single inch of this is screaming I'M GOING TO RANT AT YOU UNTIL YOU LIKE IT.]

If there is anything that I have learned in my life, it is that all creatures endeavor to thrive.  Life itself is the constant struggle against all the forces that would seek to extinguish it.  All creatures, from the smallest to the greatest, abide by this principle-- even humanity.

[If you're still here, you are either brave or stupid.]

In the course of this, it is inevitable that conflict would arise.  Friction between those who would strive for the same goals.  There are only so many resources, after all, and there are so many who would wish to possess them.  It is immaterial whether that resource is food, energy, or dominance-- there is only so much to go around.  Only those with the will to take them will prevail.

[Liquid being some kind of stupid Nietzsche wanna-be social Darwinist is hardly surprising.]

War is this struggle at a macroscopic level.

[Is everyone taking notes?  There will be a test.  Everyone take out your notebooks and start taking down everything Professor British McDipshit says.]

But here, this principle is violated.  There are petty criminal undertakings and minor disturbances, but there has been no war.  In a world where every creature is a walking weapon, instead of being used in combat, they are treated as pets.  This is a world that is innocent of the true nature of warfare-- it merely plays out the simulacrum of it with its glorified dogfighting.  Like children playing with toy guns, it is unaware and uncomprehending of what it mimics.

[He smirked, and there was something feral about the set of his teeth.]  I think it is high time that this innocence be lost.  I think it is time to show this place the true meaning of--

[There was a brown and white blur, a squawk, a yell, and Liquid got nailed in the face by a passing Pidgey.  The 'gear that was recording this fell, as did Liquid, and-- wow holy shit he was high up.  Looks like he was taking the fast way down from Sprout Tower.]

Comments

[liquidation]

I believe we've already established that, Emmerich. I'm not sure why I continue to waste my breath in telling you.

[vulpesvivus]

Because you like to hear yourself talk.

[liquidation]

[Shooting right for the ego, aren't you, Otacon?]

And what does it say of you, that you keep listening? Enamored of the sound of my voice, are you? I'm flattered.

[vulpesvivus]

[He can't help it, that's a hell of a target.]

What, you'd prefer it if no one listened to you at all?

[liquidation]

I am impossible to ignore, Emmerich.

[That was true, at least.]

[vulpesvivus]

Yeah, no kidding.

[Otacon, did you just roll your eyes at him? When did you get sassy? 8|]

But you know, tolerating you and listening to you aren't the same thing.

[liquidation]

And what's your point?

[You're assuming that he cares if people like him, which he doesn't. Except for Big Boss because DADDY WHY DON'T YOU LOVE ME]

[vulpesvivus]

[Siiiiigh.]

My point is wouldn't it be easier to talk to someone rather than run to the nearest rooftop and shout like an idiot when you have something to say?

[liquidation]

...Emmerich, you can't pontificate from ground level.

[vulpesvivus]

...I can't believe that was something you actually just said like it made sense.

[liquidation]

It makes perfect sense. If you're on ground level, how is anyone supposed to know that you're saying something important and aren't just a common raving lunatic? Why do you think that people stood on soapboxes to address a crowd, or that politicians stand on stages? Height implies importance and authority, my good doctor.

[vulpesvivus]

You were standing on a tower! In what universe is that even remotely the same thing?!

[liquidation]

The greater the importance and authority, the higher the stage, Emmerich. Why shouldn't I stand on the highest of all?

[EVERYONE PAY ATTENTION TO ME]

[vulpesvivus]

Because there's a line between 'standing on a soapbox' and 'being a raving lunatic', James--pretty sure it crosses from one to the other after about two floors up.

[liquidation]

The line between genius and lunacy is often thin, Emmerich. There are plenty who would say that you were mad for creating such a magnificent machine as REX, but that was only because they could not appreciate its beauty. Those that condemn what I would speak of are those who do not understand it.

[vulpesvivus]

The point you were trying to make is a whole other subject. Right now all I'm saying is 'don't make your point somewhere that a Pidgey's going to run into you'.

[liquidation]

...

[Okay, yeah, that was a pretty good point.]

I wonder how high those things can fly.

[vulpesvivus]

You're not going to deliver a speech while standing on Mk. IV.

[liquidation]

All I have to do is get above their maximum height and I won't have any problems. It can't be more than a few hundred feet.

[Because Liquid's solution to getting hit by birds was to go up higher than the birds.]

[vulpesvivus]

No one would be able to hear you, James. Not to mention the lack of oxygen, and the fact that even you would break a lot more than your nose if you fell.

[liquidation]

Clearly I would have to broadcast it. And in the absence of any annoying things to hit me, I shouldn't have to fear falling.

[He'll figure out the oxygen thing later. In all likelihood, anyway, he was like Batman and could breathe in space.]

[vulpesvivus]

I'll say it again: you're not delivering speeches from Mk. IV.

[liquidation]

I would assume that there are other ways of getting to that height, Emmerich.

[vulpesvivus]

I'm not going to help you, and don't say I didn't warn you when you break your spine.

[liquidation]

So long as there is a world left to conquer, I shall still draw breath, even if I did fall.

[Determinator to the extreme.]