002 | text | un: colt.saa | (slightly backdated to June 6th)

[shashka]

You know, with all the tension that's going on right now, I almost forgot that if my world was still around. it'll have been forty one years since D-Day. June 6th, 1944.

[ and that's a lie. he definitely wouldn't forget that day.

what's D-day, you might ask, if you're not from Earth, or it hasn't happened for you yet? well... to boil it down to the simplest (and perhaps slightly tinged with Soviet Propaganda) terms... ]

Back then, a country called the Soviet Union was about three years into what they called "The Great Patriotic War". Millions of their soldiers died on the front lines as they fought a war that would determine the fate of the world. On the Continent, they stood alone. That isn't to say that they didn't have allies, far from it. But those allies were across oceans and seas, and the only help that they might've look for that was a little closer had long since rolled over and admitted defeat. At least until D-Day, that is.

With international cooperation, the Soviet Union's distant allies were finally able to breach their enemies' defences, storming their beaches and opening up a second front. Heroes were made, and lifelong friendships were forged. Hell, even the French were finally able to take back their country. And one rumour has it that a kid or two was even born on the very beaches that they stormed.

[ well... just one kid. ]

Until, of course, the tide shifted, and a different kind of war began, where old friends became enemies, and killed each other for their distant leaders. But that's a story for another time.

[ after all, there's only so much you can oversimplify 20th century geopolitics. ]

I know when we first woke up, there were plenty of us from Earth, but I'm curious as to how many of us actually remember D-Day. Or, the Great Patriotic War, for that matter. How much do we really know about the people we talk to each day?

[ is he going to provide more information? no. does he care if anyone catches on? well... that'll be interesting if they do.

while he hasn't exactly been one for birthdays, he is interested to see if others might pick up on the post's deeper meaning. ]

Comments

text | c.fraser

[nineteenfortyfive]

It would be about twenty-five years ago, in my world. [Or a thing hundred of years in the future, but it's simpler to approach this as a woman of the late 60s.]

There are at least a few of us out here who remember that day.

[shashka]

You don't say. Were you also in the war?

[ he promises he won't call you "old" Claire. After all, he's forty-one himself. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

I was. I was a combat nurse. That war shaped all our lives.

[shashka]

How about that.

You'd probably be close to my mother's age.

[ not that he's intentionally trying to make you feel old, Claire. ]

[priorly]

How beautiful to be able to say it was my parents generation when you're too distant to glare at me.

Was your mother a nurse or a sun worshipper with terrible timing?

[shashka]

[ ...he's not glaring. he's definitely not glaring

(maybe he's totally glaring) ]

You're not that much younger than me, are you?

[ as to Prior's question... ]

Something like that, I guess.

[ well, technically, she was a combatant. but that's more information than he's willing to give right now. ]

[priorly]

Not that much? Why you could be my terribly degenerate 12-year-old father. I'm a 50's baby, baby.

Want me to come over with some candles to blow out?

[shashka]

Please, twelve years isn't that much of an age gap. You'll be forty before you know it.

[ Prior, he's really not appreciating this. ]

If you'd like. I also have a half-decent selection of alcohol, if you're so inclined.

text, un: anders

[judicia]

That's a good story.

I never took you for much of a patriot, though. So why's this day so important to you?

( He may not know anything about D-Day or the war, but he knows Ocelot and he knows there's got to be something more to it than just a major war victory. )

[shashka]

What can I say? I guess that I'm just the son of proud patriots.

[ he likes you, Anders, and he's sure he'll be able to figure out exactly what's going on. but that doesn't stop him from throwing in a big hint. ]

[judicia]

I guess so.

( Since Ocelot won't come out and say it, Anders isn't going to either. He gets the hint, though, that much is clear in his next question. )

What was your mother doing out on the battlefield?

private

[shashka]

[ Ocelot's not one to talk about himself. but for Anders, he supposes he can make a small exception. they know enough about one another, after all. ]

Fighting. She led an elite military unit, alongside my father. I wasn't lying when I said my parents were loyal patriots.

[ why a pregnant woman thought that was a good idea is another question entirely. but the Boss had just been that good. ]

text | un: BishopRunout

[poolhall_killer]

That was almost 250 years ago. My organization was one of the few that had books on wars in the 20th century, as little remained intact after the Crusades.

[shashka]

The Crusades, huh.

I'm guessing these ones didn't have to do with Holy Wars in the Middle East?

[poolhall_killer]

They did not.

The Crusades I'm referring to ended recently, a little over ten years ago. Beings known as Gears nearly destroyed humanity entirely, and it took 100 years to subdue them.

voice; un: theon

[reek]

[ Theon hasn’t gotten smarter, but he’s gotten more perceptive. He’s had to, when everything can be used as an excuse to cause him more torment.

These names and places mean nothing to a man of Westeros, but he thinks he’s caught the truth of the reason behind this post. Between the history of a place he's never seen, there's a statement that serves no purpose. ]

You only had to say it was your name day.

[ A bit of a bold statement for Theon as he is now, but he can’t help but feel a little triumphant. Months of knowing next to nothing about this man, and now he knows something. Thanks, buddy. ]

private voice

[shashka]

[ well, would you look at that. looks like his "best friend" had gained something from all of his experiences. which is why Ocelot rewards him with his voice. he doesn't quite use his normal voice, opting instead for a more pronounced Russian accent, instead of the American cowboy twang he'd perfected, but nevertheless... ]

Not bad, kid.

[ said with nothing but the utmost warmth and condescending affection. ]

[reek]

[ He wants to laugh. Is that what you’ve sounded like this entire time? No wonder you never speak. He has better control than that now, but he would recognize an accent like that, so he can confirm that they’ve never met face to face. Or so he thinks. ]

Thank you.

[ He doesn’t really mean it, not when the tone on the other end of this conversation is so condescending and still calling him “kid”. It just seems like the proper response, and the only one he has that doesn’t involve anger or a jape that might be a step too far.

Embarrassed by your old age? ]

Why hide it?

text ; un: armstrong

[wallofbriggs]

History is written by the victors, yes? Makes me wonder how the last fight at home would have been thought of by future generations.

[Or maybe she's more concerned with how often certain names would be recalled.]

[shashka]

That so? You interested in sharing a little about it?

[ what can he say? he loves learning about different worlds (and different people for that matter) ]

[wallofbriggs]

The short answer is we fought god.

text | un: Crusader08

[panzersoldat]

It's been a very very long time since then for me. I would hope that those from that time would not hold any ill will for me for being German. We learned about it, just as we learned many other things.

Did you know that my parents met the day the Wall came down? My mother was from the East and my father from the West. They were but young teens then.

[ He shared because Ocelot shared. ]

We should have a drink. To those who came before us. To heroes and patriots. To 40 years of defying the odds. I will buy.

[shashka]

That's still about half a decade in the future for me. You know, if we're being technical, you'd be young enough to be my grandson if we were still back home.

[ of course, he'd talked to Ana and Jack about their world as well. so he knows some of the basic events of what happens in their "future". would it be the same as his would've been? well, now we'll never know. ]

I'd never hold you being German against you. After all, you aren't French. And you know, I always enjoy your company. And DD's been missing you.

[panzersoldat]

[ He has to laugh because he knows he's simultaneously older and younger than this man. ]

I would be proud to be that. But I prefer being your friend more.

And no. I'm not anything remotely French. I might have looked at a baguette once, but nothing more than that. I am very German and I have a lot of good beer for you. So I will come over. I will come with beer and treats for DD and treats for you as well.

After all, you have much to celebrate, ja? It's not everyday you turn 41.

text; un:ANoble

[rosebyanyother]

I think I remember reading something about it. But of course, I'm not really the demographic for your question.

[Definitely nowhere near "from Earth".

Also, even if there hadn't been responses before his that hinted at the real point of Ocelot's message, Peter is a sharp cookie.]

Are you doing anything to celebrate?

[D-day. Or his birthday. Take your pick.]