And what's left is...

[bluesofpeace]

[Kaz is feeling a bit "down," one might say. There's a bit less of a bounce in his step, a more serious air surrounding him. He stands in the library, a heavy, dusty, worn leather-bound reference book in his hand. He turns the pages with care, gaze wholly focused through dark lenses on the pages before him

Comments

[fancy_shooting]

[Considering what Kaz was listening to on tape last time Ocelot saw him in a libary, Ocelot can guess what's in those pages. Or so he thinks.]

Wouldn't it be easier to read with the sunglasses off?

[Ocelot leans his shoulder against a bookshelf, watching Kaz from a few feet away.]

[bluesofpeace]

[Hey, those stains weren't made by him for once, okay?]

Hm? I can read it like this just fine.

[He raises his gaze to Adam once he's finished the sentence he was on. He leaves a finger pointed to the next word so he doesn't lose his place.]

What's going on?

[fancy_shooting]

I thought I'd see where you disappeared to. I figured it was either here or with that other Liquid.

[Once a stalker, always a stalker.]

[bluesofpeace]

I haven't been gone that long, have I?

[Turning his wrist, Kaz takes a look at his watch and finds out he's been in the library by himself for several hours. He lost track of time.]

No, I haven't seen him in a while. Did you need me for something?

[no_philanthropy]

[Oh, there's the fellow otaku he's been looking for!]

H-Hey, Kaz! What are you reading?

[bluesofpeace]

[Hey, just because he liked Tezuka...]

Hm? Ah, hey there.

[Kaz studies the page for another second before closing it.]

Just doing a little pleasure reading. There's a great deal of knowledge stored in these books, as I'm sure you know.

[This is not entirely the truth. Kaz is looking into the inner working of the Nexus, but this is information he swore he would share with Ocelot first and until he does, he won't be saying much on it to other people.]

[no_philanthropy]

[Just wait...]

Pleasure reading? [Hal smiles a little, recalling his last conversation with Liquid] Funny you should mention that...

I was wondering i-if you would like to watch some anime with me. T-To see how it's evolved over the years.

[bluesofpeace]

Why's that?

[Kaz raises his eyebrow a little then looks a bit more surprised at the engineer.]

Sounds interesting. Sure.

[He closes the book and starts slipping it back on the shelf before he pauses.]

... Tell me, will Liquid be there?

[comp_kunoichi]

Oh! Hello, Master Miller.

[Emma wasn't sure if this was the one she had chocolate fondue with, but she most certainly didn't forget that face.]

[There were a few books in her arms, the topmost being an Isaac Asimov novel.]

[bluesofpeace]

[Sneaking mission = success. Kaz gasps and quickly turns to face Liquid, greeting him with an expression that seems... conflicted?]

Actually, I am.

[Kaz sounds a bit insulted and his sentence carries an air of "shows how much you know about me."]

[bluesofpeace]

I am when there's a battle to fight.

[He sighs very softly and closes his book.]

Did you come here for some reading material yourself?

[bluesofpeace]

[It's surprising that he's not watching from the ceiling!]

[It takes Kaz a long moment to realize that the older gentleman is speaking to him and not someone else.]

[He looks Fox over quickly and tries to think of why he would be talking with him after his solid rejection. No answer is forthcoming.]

Are you looking for something?