LIGHTS WE BURN HAVE ALL FADED OUT && p, Sahl

[muddymutt14]

The warmth of the sun was but a memory now. How the bright yellow rays illuminated the sky, and felt warm on one’s skin. How it would go down in the magic hour, of twilight, to be replaced by the tranquil air and calmness of the night. It was distant, and it was a fond memory. It was a simple day, a regular day. Just training at Credenhill with his juniors, doing some PT, when suddenly... it was dark. It was blackened like the night. Eyes went wide and anarchy swarmed the place. The Scottish captain attempted to get everyone calm, because, ey, the sun went missing.

Now his large hands ran against the stone walls of the 141’s bunker. It was warmed by the earth and by nuclear power. Even if he wanted to stay on the surface, he couldn’t. Everything was frozen up there. Here? Here it was nice and warm, but he didn’t appreciate living under the Highlands. Blue eyes focused on the stone walls, unsure of what to feel. On the stone wall was a picture. Not of the 141, but of the 22nd. Who all died because of you. Soap violently shook his head, attempting to get rid of the dark thoughts.

And the youngest one there? He brushed back his dirty blonde hair as emerald luminaries shine, digging something out of a chest. He had a huge, cheeky smile on as he found a favorite game of his... Battleship! Roach nearly squealed upon seeing it, and he sat down at a nearby table, getting it all set up. That’s when he swore he could’ve seen someone. ”Hiiiiya! Wanna play Battleship with me? It’s fun!” Came the American-accented call.

[member=2531]sahloknir[/member]

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[sahloknir]

Price frowned as he watched Soap. He'd been keeping an eye out more than usual after the sun's disappearance. It was rather harsh times for everyone and especially for the 141. It has almost defaulted now for him to worry about MacTavish. While he cared for the group rather equally, MacTavish came to be like a son to him and so he worried like any father would. Stepping beside the captain, he placed a hand on his shoulder. "You alright?" he asked lowly.

Ghost laid on his back, staring at the ceiling as he twisted a knife in his hands. Sitting the bunker was boring as hell and even worse, he left him to think more than anything. At times, he was afraid the hallucinations would start again and he would be forced to find anything to distract himself. This usually meant annoying Soap until the Scotsman either stormed away or punched him. It was better than freezing to death on the surface, though. After so long without the sun to warm the ground again during the day, it was inhabitable on the surface. He still wore his sunglasses, though. And the mask was rarely taken off. Upon hearing Roach's call to play a game, he blinked and glanced over. With a sigh, he swung his legs over the cot and sat up, chucking the knife at the wall. It bounced off and clattered to the floor while Ghost clapped his hands together. "Why not!" he said, cheerfully, though there was a hint of sarcasm, that was just Ghost bein' Ghost. He stood and sat across from Roach, crossing his arms.

[muddymutt14]

Feeling a touch was odd to him still. He was never one for physical affection, even with as something as small as a hand upon a shoulder. Plus, he was a tad taller than the old man. Soap gently used his other hand to take Price’s off. That old man seriously needed to worry about himself more. ”Yeah, yeah, Price. I’m fine. How are you doing though? You know... since the sun disappeared.” In truth, he wondered if it ate away at the other captain, having to check in on his soldiers all the time.

Roach would never know his predicament, so he still wanted to have fun with the officer like nothing had happened. Which was exactly why he got battleship out. He watched as Ghost chucked the knife into the wall, which, admittedly, scared the Smerican a tad. And he watched Ghost’s reaction, clasping his hand together and being all sarcastic! Roach gave a pouty face, ”Sir, you’re a meanie! If you didn’t want to play, you could have told me! And to think, I was gonna show you the ‘dog room’ after this.” Ah, yes, long story short, when the sun vanished into thin air, Roach got Truck, Meat, and Royce to help him steal a bunch of military dogs and some from local shelters. He put them in a big area called... the dog room.

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[sahloknir]

Price let Soap remove his hand, understanding his wish, but it didn't mean he worried any less. "If you say so." And that was his way of saying he didn't believe the younger soldier, but he wasn't going to press the issue for now. He crossed his arms and shrugged. "'m fine. As good as I can be with the fuckin' sun gone. Though, I am afraid we'll all start looking like the ghost over there under his mask." He nodded in the direction of the two set up to play a game. He chuckled when the masked man flipped him off without even glancing at them in response. Price looked back to Soap. "I wonder what the hell even happened 'nd how long we're gonna live in this darkness."

"Oh, is ickle Roach's feelings hurt?" Ghost taunted, setting his hands on the table and leaning forward. "Sorry, I'll try to be more gentle next time." He spoke with an obvious condensing tone. He snatched a battleship pegboard and spun it around, flipping the game open. "Course I wanna play, idiot." It was pretty common now for Ghost to regularly insult the team, keeping all the mushy affection shit for when they were actually about to die. Which luckily rarely happened. He glanced up, flicking his sunglasses up for a moment to glare at Roach, "And you don't show me the damn dog room after this, Sanderson, I'm gonna fill your bed with itching powder." He dropped the sunglasses back over his eyes and stared at the American from behind them, waiting for him to start the game.

[muddymutt14]

Soap sighed at Price’s words. Yeah, Price didn’t believe him. Nothing new there. He nervously ran a shaky hand through his Mohawk, listening to his father’s answer. At the mention of Ghost, he looked over. His heart pounded for a few seconds, so he looked away, chuckling at Price’s comment as well. ”Ah yeah, old man. Shame it happened, but I think we’re stuck like this forever. As far isn’t gonna appear in the middle of nowhere.” He made a “tch” sound, shaking his head.

Roach poured firger at Ghost’s further tauntings. Plus, how— how rude! Simon really needed to work on that. “Whatever.” He replied, actual slight anger in his voice. That’s when he saw Ghost flip the two seniors off. “H-hey! Don’t flip the captains off!” The Sergeant nearly screeched, but suddenly Ghost has taken the battleship board, filling it in. Roach did the same, laughing at the comment about itching powder. “Ah well... two dogs had a litter a couple months ago. Turning eight weeks today. Mom’s a German Shepherd, Dad’s a Caucasian Shepherd. You can get a pup there to keep with you if you want... okay, but you start.”

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[sahloknir]

"A real damn shame. But I wouldn't so sure. If it's disappeared for absolutely no reason we can figure, it can come back the same way." It was weird talking about it, like it was some group of enemies rather than the damn sun. The thing that warmed their planet, that they've more or less seen their whole lives. Then it was just gone one day? It felt like a sci-fi book. Price watched Soap carefully before moving to sit at another table in the room, leaning back in the chair. He reached into his shirt's pocket, pulling out a cigar. "Want one?"

Maybe Ghost did need to work on being a nicer person, but that wouldn't happen anytime soon. He was okay with putting up the appearance that he didn't give a damn about anyone but himself. He was already focused on his board when he'd flipped the captains off so when Roach was screeching about something, he glanced up and made a quiet noise of confusion before the words registered. He stared for another few seconds before laughing and shaking his head. "What're you gonna do 'bout it? Report me to the captain?" He broke into another fit of laughing, quieter this time as he returned his focus back to his board. "Eh, really? I fink I'll take a look. Uh, G23."

[muddymutt14]

Soap gave a nod of agreement, following Price to the table, lazily sitting. He didn’t like that the sun was gone, either. It was like they spoke about the sun as if an enemy. Soap attempted to relax, but he couldn’t. He watched Price pull out a cigar... and something changed in him. His once somewhat relaxed body stiffened and his icy blue eyes went wide. He remembered the 22nd. That fateful day where he and his comrades lay wounded on the broken bridge. Zaekhaev wanted revenge for his dead son, a death that John could not stop. He watched as the bullet entered Gaz, and he watched helplessly as Griggs tried to drag the already wounded then-Sergeant  to safety, and he watched a bullet pass through his head. His gaze whisked towards Price, who had a cigar in his mouth, and being wounded, sliding that M1911 towards him. And he shot Zaekhaev. He ended it. But he saw people try to resurrect Price... he cried out to him, like a son to a father... it didn’t work. Years formed in his eyes as she shook and shivered, his breath hitching. “P-p-p-Price...” Was the one word he managed to choke out weakly.

Why did Ghost think it’s funny?! But report him— no way. “Are you crazy? I’m not getting myself in trouble too.” Roach whispered. And truth be told, he was a little creeped out by the laughing. His gaze grew worried, emerald eyes narrowed somewhat. Oh... oh. He hit the helipad. Great. “Uhm... hit... A1?”

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[sahloknir]

Price watched Soap's body language change and his smile was lost, lowering the offered cigar and resting his hand in his lap now as his brows furrowed. What'd he do? He glanced down at the cigar before hastily discarding it and pulling his chair closer to Soap's, the legs scraping loudly against the floor. "Son, I'm sorry. I didn't mean..." Mean to do what? It was quite obvious what had happened. Jeez, he was stupid. He reached out again, placing a hand on Soap's shoulder a second time.

Ghost snorted, rolling his eyes behind his sunglasses. Roach was definitely something, but that's what made it so fun to have him around. As childish as the American could get, it rarely bothered Ghost, easily the next most childish soldier in their group. Although, he had a ton of issues piled onto that, so it could also be just another coping mechanism. "Ha. Miss." He pressed a red peg into the top board, showing where he'd hit Roach's whatever-ship. "G6." He glanced over momentarily when the chair scraped against the floor, and his gaze lingered for a moment, but he wouldn't ruin Roach's game so he just stayed put and decided to worry about Soap from afar.

[muddymutt14]

Soap has barely heard Price’s words. It sounded like the older captain was underwater. He heard the table legs scrape loudly against the floor, but to him, it wasn’t loud. It was quiet. He moved his head, lowering it. He wanted that scene out of his head so badly. That’s when a warm touch radiated hear into his shoulder. It was comforting for the tense man. Eyes drifted towards him, and Soap blinked. Was that what he needed...? “D-don’t apologize... thank you.” he whispered.

Seeing Ghost tilt his head, Roach looked over that way. Father son time. He didn’t want to disturb that, as worried as he was for the captain. He turned to the other childish soldier, frowning and shaking his head as he pressed the white peg into the board. That was followed by a sigh upon the number, but it was a sigh of relief. “Miss. E3?”

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[sahloknir]

Don't apologize. No one ever wanted anyone to apologize. No one was allowed to say 'sorry' and no one was allowed to take the blame. Soap was the most guilty of that. Price shook his head. "I will apologize. I should be more careful. Are you alright now?" he asked.

Ghost threw his hands in the air dramatically, "A miss!?" He smacked himself, shaking his head. "And you got a hit. Damn you." He moved a red peg to the small submarine before turning his head up against to look at Roach, whether or not the other soldier could actually tell where he was looking. "G4."