Tempermental Breakdown

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Fashionable Feline transmits, "So anyways as I was saying. All the ladies can't keep their hands off of me. Why this one time this lady assaulted me for being so damn good looking. And this was no ordinary lady, she's the kind that's into those latex suits you see in human videos with slave mem."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Snake Man transmits, "Did she have sssnakesss for hair?"

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Fashionable Feline transmits, "No, but I think she might have roots on her hair, she was like one of those flower looking robots. I think she was a pussy willow."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Snake Man transmits, "Feh. Roots, not sssessxy. Snakesss, sssessxy."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Broadcast Ocelot transmits, "..."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Fashionable Feline transmits, "But she was into latex."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Snake Man transmits, "Too bad no sssnakesss."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "Look. I will make you a snake Jane at the earliest convienance."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Snake Man transmits, "Now if she had sssnakesss for hair and wasss into latex, that could be interesssting."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] God of War Gemini Man transmits, "Cute how he acts like he likes girls."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Snake Man transmits, "I like sssnake headed girlsss. Big deal."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Broadcast Ocelot transmits, "I like silence."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Ice Man transmits, "Then turn your radio off."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Spiral Pegasus transmits, "Since when did this turn into the Robot Master Family Hour?"

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Sewa transmits, "Like Medusa?"

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Fashionable Feline transmits, "Does she have snakes anywhere else?"

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Snake Man transmits, "She wasss nissce looking, from what I've ssseen in picturesss."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "How fruedian of you, Repliforce."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Snake Man transmits, "I sssaw thisss old move where she had a rattler tail. That wasss REALLY sssessxy when she rattled it."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] God of War Gemini Man transmits, "Snake, shut up."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Fashionable Feline transmits, "If you cut off the snakes do they grow back?"

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] BroadbandClassic Jet Stingray coughs a few times before speaking. "Coming from the man that wants to steal young reploid girls, DeVry? And Snake... Too much information for this channel."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "Gemini Man, can you two do me a favor and pour some cold water over, Snake Man?"

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "I have a purpose behind it, Repliforce. And since I am not presently connected to my manhood, it is purely 'honorable'."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "As honorable as vivisection can be."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] God of War Gemini Man transmits, "I'll kick his f****ng a** again for you. How about that?"

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "It is totally at your discretion, Gemini Man."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Dust Man transmits, "Who's talking about the Janes?"

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Ice Man transmits, "Awww, please don't Gemini. It's not right for brother to fight brother."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Snake Man transmits, "Shut up, Gemitwink. Now where was I... Oh yeah, rattlesss. Give thisss jane a rattler tail, DeVry."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Sewa mimicks Landon, "As honorable as slitting the throats of little children."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "I DO NOT APPRECIATE THAT!"

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Skyblade Eagle transmits, "You Mavericks are ones to talk about honorable."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "Perhaps you would like to try to capture me again, Sewa?"

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Fashionable Feline transmits, "Hey Landon, you could make good money by doing designer droids specified for your customers."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "I -greatly- enjoyed mutilating that fruity meerkat!"

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] God of War Gemini Man transmits, "I know that irritating voice."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Snake Man transmits, "Getting an echo from your twin again, hmm?"

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Sewa transmits, "Sure. Where would you like me to try to capture you? San Angeles? Eurasia?"

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Lifesaver transmits, "DeVry? Give it up. I know you want to kill little girls... Why I don't want to know nor am I going to ask."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] God of War Gemini Man transmits, "Someone I almost killed today."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Skyblade Eagle transmits, "You got lucky, jackass.."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Spiral Pegasus transmits, "I sense Enker's accord has gone out the window. *snorts*"

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Skyblade Eagle transmits, "Besides, you're still nothing compared to Bass."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Skyblade Eagle transmits, "And hell, I've had Mavericks hurt me more than that."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] God of War Gemini Man transmits, "I'm serene right now. And you're a liar. I won't ask you to tell me...how many died."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Dust Man transmits, "Nevermind..."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Sewa transmits, "Enker's 'accord' is just so he can abuse it."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Colonel transmits, "The forces of darkness are weak compared to any who fight in the name of justice."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "..."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Flash Man transmits, "...."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "*LAUGHS UPROARIOUSLY*"

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Flash Man transmits, "Losen the hat a little Colonel."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Fashionable Feline transmits, "I fight in the name of fish."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] God of War Gemini Man helps Landon laugh.

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Colonel transmits, "Indeed, these fortune cookies you got me are great Iris and...oh, is this radio still on? *click*"

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Skyblade Eagle transmits, "..."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] God of War Gemini Man finally stops laughing.

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Ether Skunk transmits, "He says stuff like that, and yet he still maintains the capability to tear most of you a new one. Think about that."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Snake Man transmits, "We talking about DeVry or Gemini Man? Nevermind. They're both fruitcakesss."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Skyblade Eagle transmits, "Indeed."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Snake Man transmits, "Inconsssequential, piddly little sssoggy fruitcakesss that you ship around to a different relative each year."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] God of War Gemini Man transmits, "Snake Man wants beat up again."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Snake Man transmits, "Catch me firssst."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Ether Skunk transmits, "Be my guest. You guys seem to hate eachother just as much as everybody hates you, it's kinda nice."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Job transmits, "ooc All around the wily sphere gemini chased the Snake Man."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Snake Man transmits, "Then you'll probably get wasssted again and have to ssspend recouperation time watching my recorded memoriesss. Did you really like it that much?"

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Dust Man transmits, "Would that be by the Vodka or the Jack Daniels, Snake?"

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] God of War Gemini Man starts to tense up... "DAMMIT, SNAKE MAN!"

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Snake Man uploads an image to the channel: Snake pouncing on Gemini from the top of a repair chamber, with clear details of that intense moment of fearful realization.

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Ether Skunk transmits, "Yeah, he looks good when he's getting knocked on his aft, doesn't he?"

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] God of War Gemini Man transmits, "You know, Snake... If it came down to a popularity contest, I bet the Repliforce would rather Wily kept you."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Dust Man transmits, "I bet we'd all..."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Fashionable Feline transmits, "I'd bet a pair of antique Levi jeans."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Snake Man transmits, "That'sss no insssult. I want to be with the Massster."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] God of War Gemini Man transmits, "Our enemies are rooting you on. They'd rather have you around than me. I don't see how that works to your advantage."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Dust Man transmits, "I need a drink..."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Lifesaver transmits, "...Same here..."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Snake Man uploads another image, this one with a short animation: A close up head on shot of Gemini's face, with Snake's tail wrapped around his neck and the serpentoid's face in profile. Then Snakey's long forked tongue flickers out and slurps Gemini right up the cheek.

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] God of War Gemini Man transmits, "Yet he pretends he likes girls."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Lifesaver transmits, "...I always knew... *mutters*"

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Broadcast Ocelot transmits, "...Aight. I knew Aqua Man swung that way..."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Broadcast Ocelot transmits, "But you three? Now ah really haffi wonder wha' Wily was smokin', drinkin', and sniffin' when he made allyuh."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Snake Man snickers. "But Gemini, you tassste ssso good."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] God of War Gemini Man transmits, "Snake is a f****g pervert!"

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Metal Man transmits, "Aqua Man there is a sibling I'd love to cut off the family tree."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Fashionable Feline transmits, "So's 3/4 of the population on this planet."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Broadcast Ocelot transmits, "I dunno. You an' yuh other self look like yuh enjoyed it."

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Broadcast Ocelot is of course referring to Gemini.

[Radio: (F) Worldchat] Snake Man transmits, "Not like YOU aren't, Gemini."

The waldoes and mech fluid pull away from you, funneling outward as you terminate your healing process prematurely.

The repair chamber hisses open, revealing a partially restored Gemini Man.

Repair Bay [Skull Citadel]

This room holds all the equipment necessary to make complex repairs to Robot Masters. The floors and walls have been carved from stone, incongruously primitive when compared to the modern paraphernalia housed here. In one corner is the fully self-contained automatic repair chamber. Lining the edges of the room are medical beds of varying sizes. An island in the center of the room contains cabinets for materials and supplies as well as a basic tabletop reference console.

Metal Man [Armor] [RM]
Zestien [Red] [C]
Repair Chamber
The Dust Heap [TDH]

Obvious exits:
Blue Doors leads to Corridor [Skull Citadel].

Gemini Man STOMPS out of the repair chamber. "That's it."

You enter the Vehicle Bay [Skull Citadel].
Vehicle Bay [Skull Citadel]

The Citadels docking area is reached by entering the mouth of the giant skull on the outside of the fortress. The mouth/entrance is large enough to accommodate a vessel as large as the Bonnes Gesellschaft. If the entrance alone is that large, you can imagine how vast the bay itself is. Robot Master ships, ground vehicles, ride armors, and construction mechs occupy most of the wall-mounted refueling stations at the moment.

Wood Man [Normal] [RM]
Snake Man [RM]
Skull Shuttle [RM]
SS Dreadskull [RM]
Wilyworm [Quicksilver Earthworm]
Space Capsule 2 [RM]
Wilymachine [Seismic Earthworm]
Construction Mech [Temjin] [RM]
Construction Mech [Apharmd] [RM]
Construction Mech [Specineff] [RM]

Obvious exits:
Descending Stairwell leads to Great Hall [Skull Citadel].
Ascending Stairwell leads to Command Center [Skull Citadel].
Bay Doors leads to Egypt.
Blue Doors leads to Teleporter Room [Skull Citadel].

Gemini Man stomps up the stairs. He looks like he's just yanked himself out of a repair session; he's still got some dents and scratches on him. He does not look at all happy: so much for serenity.

Guts Man comes walking in all beat up, you'd expect him to be all pissed off or something, but he's smiling.

Wood Man sits there in a corner of the bay, on the floor, a big sombrero on his head, fork of d00m by his size, the Log snoring.

Guts Man enters the Great Hall [Skull Citadel].
Guts Man has left.

Snake Man is lying stretched out under the skylights on top of one of the refuling stations. He watches the activity down below while listening idly to the radio banter.

Gemini Man is indeed looking for Snake Man. ...Suddenly he has energy to burn. He flickers his optics all around the bay, especially the tops of the vehicles.

Snake Man is luckily not on any of the vehicles. He spots Gemini down below, and crouches closer to the hot metal surface.

A low growl builds in Gemini Man's throat...he doesn't see him, so, he moves toward the stairs.

Snake Man sends a radio transmission.
Snake Man sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "I sssee you, but you can't sssee me..."

Snake Man activates his stealth mode.

Gemini Man's optics start to flicker around wildly. His hands shaking, he puts them in front of his eyes... and starts shouting. "SNAKE: that's a BAD IDEA! I do NOT WANT to blow up everything in the vehicle bay!"

Wood Man zzzsnks, "No, I don't want to go into the lumber mill! I'll be good! Don't tie a damsel to me!" With this start, he looks about, woken by Gemini's shouting.

[Radio: (A) Masters] Snake Man transmits, "Then don't. Sssimple asss that."

[Radio: (A) Masters] Wood Man transmits, "Don't do what?"

[Radio: (A) Masters] God of War Gemini Man transmits, "You're p***ing me off, Snake. STOP IT."

Gemini Man seems to be shaking profusely, his eyes very tightly shut and his hands clenched...just...standing there.

Snake Man watches Gemini down below with a mild expression, not that anyone can see it.

[Radio: (A) Masters] Snake Man transmits, "Besssidesss, how do you know I'm in the vehicle bay? I could jussst be watching with a Sssearch Sssnake and be elsssewhere, you know."

Wood Man slowly raises his hat with his fork. "Now what's going on? Calm down. You look like the time Mister Jimmy stopped up a guyser."

Gemini Man starts.... to slow...down. He very carefully drops his hands, though his eyes are still shut. He looks...strung-out. "I know. I know," he says aloud. "You don't seem to GET IT, SNAKE," he says. Wasn't talking to Wood Man after all. "It's not FUNNY to RILE me up. IT IS VERY STRESSFUL FOR EVERYONE."

[Radio: (A) Masters] Snake Man transmits, "Yesss, my, my that pendant hasss made you a tesssty one, hasssn't it. Oh dear."

Snake Man receives a radio transmission.
[Radio] You send Snake Man a direct message: "For all you know I might be stuck like this forever. Is it still funny when you think about THAT?"

Snake Man sends a radio transmission.
Snake Man sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Then I'll get to torment you forever, jussst like I alwaysss have. I jussst have to be careful that you can't do anything about it, jussst like you alwaysss haven't."

Wood Man finally gets up with the help of his fork. "Now it seems to me that you're angry." He cautiously makes his way towards Gemini.

Gemini Man opens his blood-red eyes, and screams, "WELL OF COURSE I'M F****G ANGRY!"

[Radio: (A) Masters] Snake Man transmits, "Temper, temper."

Wood Man takes a few hops back, gripping his trident, just in case. "Well, I always tell my hardhats to count to ten, then try to explain."

Snake Man receives a radio transmission.
[Radio] You send Snake Man a direct message: "You like footage...Snake? Hm? I'll show you some footage." (Starts outputting, as intensely as he can, that image of his first night of power, from his own point of view, every second of his fight with Snake...that moment, when it seemed as if Gemini was going to succumb to fear, and lose... all the way up until the end, and a first-person perspective view of Gemini rending Snake completely apart, tearing him with his bare hands.)"

Gemini Man, shaking all over, says, carefully, "Snaaaaaake Man..."

Snake Man sends a radio transmission.
Snake Man sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Yesss, yesss. Big deal. You beat me up with the power of your little toy. It gave you a temper and the power to ussse it. But there'sss one thing it didn't give you: it didn't ssstop my ability to push your buttonsss, now did it?"

Wood Man goes back to relying on how he handles his minions. "Now, that's good. Let it out, calmly. Did he steal your comic collection? Won't share any fries? What?"

Snake Man grins wolfishly down at Gemini as he looks like he's about to make some kind of spectacular explosion.

Snake Man receives a radio transmission.
[Radio] You send Snake Man a direct message: "Oh, I'll THROW you a F****NG party. You know, EVERYTHING pushes my BUTTONS now, Snake. TARNISHED SILVERWARE PUSHES MY G****MN BUTTONS! It's no big TRIUMPH to tick me off anymore! THE F*****NG UN KNOWS THIS, BUT YOU WANT TO BE MY ENEMY?!"

Snake Man sends a radio transmission.
Snake Man sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "True. But I can get away with it. I know you too well, brother dearessst."

Gemini Man lifts up his arm and punches out a single, searing blast of plasma. "HE STILL F***KING EXISTS!"
You miss Wood Man with your Generic Ranged attack.

Wood Man sends a radio transmission to Snake Man.
Snake Man receives a radio transmission.

[Radio: (A) Masters] Snake Man gives a hissing chuckle, but nothing more.

Snake Man sends a radio transmission.
Wood Man receives a radio transmission from Snake Man.

Wood Man is nearly caught unawares by that shot, but luck has it, the fork of d00m saves Log again. After Wood looks to see where that shot landed, Woodsman frowns at his younger twins. "Now that was uncool. You need to calm down, stop letting that pendant rule you, and for Wily's sakes, use your indoor voice!"

Gemini Man speaks in short, hushed bursts. He sounds like an upset mental patient. "Everybody says, don't listen, to the pendant. Everybody says, don't let, it control you. Everybody says, be calm. Nobody knows, how hard, it is, to stop myself, all the time, from doing..." Breath, breath, "Very very bad things, something, very very bad."

[Radio: (A) Masters] Snake Man actually sounds sincere, "Poor Gemini. I feel pity for you."

[Radio: (A) Masters] God of War Gemini Man transmits, "You don't know, Snake. You, don't know."

Wood Man thinks it over. "Sometimes, I think those pendants are actually curses." His sombrero nerps. Of course, Mister Tom has an idea. "Well, should we at least take it to the training room? Maybe they have a sim-snake..."

[Radio: (A) Masters] Snake Man transmits, "I am not upssset that I never resscieved any of them."

Gemini Man doesn't seem to be paying that much attention to Wood Man's idea. After a moment, his breath grows short again, and he drops to his knees...puts his hands over his hand, and...sort of...rocks.

Wood Man frowns and well, sort of doesn't know what to do. "Er, there, there. It'll be alright. I have faith in you. Pendant or not, you are still my brother, and Wily is still your father."

At that last statement, Gemini Man issues a loud, cracking sob.

Snake Man ponders for a moment. He's trying to hate Gemini like he said he did and take some joy out of his pain. He really is. But... He just can't do it. With a final thought that he's probably going to regret it, he bunches for a leap, and then launches himself off the refuling unit. With a midair somersault, he lands silently on the floor, dropping into a crouch to cushion his landing. Then he stands up, not 10 feet from Gemini. "Well?"

Wood Man looks up from comforting Gemini to Snake Man. "What do you have to say for yourself?"

"Go away." Red eyes appear, Cheshire-like, out of thin air, and Gemini Man drops down to his knees behind himself, sets his own, holographic hands on his solid form's shaking, rocking shoulders. "We don't NEED it, right now, Snake. Can't you see he's SICK?"

Snake Man looks upon this scene impassively for a moment. It's hard to read expressions on that reptillian face. Then he heaves a sigh, and his gaze switches to Wood Man. He states simply, "Leave usss. We will work out what needsss to be worked out among ourssselvesss."

Wood Man looks at the hologram, then to Snakes, back to the hologram, and back to Snakes. "As much as I'm worried, there's nothing stronger than the bond tween squadmates." Wood uses his fork to push himself up, and Woodsman watches Snake as he walks out of the bay. "Be kind to him, brother."

Gemini Man's holographic image starts trying to massage the shoulders of the original. When Snake speaks, he looks up. Yes, he IS effected, too, and his glare shows it. "What, you'll TALK to me now? That's f****g BIG of you."

Snake Man just stands there, he holds his palm up and half extended. He simply waits and takes the verbal abuse.

The twin doesn't seem to understand Snake's gesture, only his silence. "YEAH. That's what I THOUGHT." He increases the pressure on the shoulder-rub. "THIS'll make some really good footage for your scrapbook, huh? Tomorrow you can hold a f****ing viewing. I can see it now. Hell, you could charge ADMISSION. Everybody watch Gemini Man FLIP OUT."

Snake Man makes a weak attempt at humor. He even smiles, a little. A genuine smile, if a little faltering. He's not used to it. "Gemini, I think everyone'sss been watching you flip out for yearsss. I think it'sss time we had a dissscusssion. One that'sss long overdue. And can it with the clone and look at me yourssself."

Gemini Man slowly....slowly...stops rocking, and looks up. He stares, out of the top of his eyes, under the shadow of his helmet, his hands still firmly clenched onto his own head. The clone watches, too, looking at Snake, curious and skeptical. The look on the original's face...it's...very similar to a look Snake's very familiar with: that look of fear. But it doesn't seem to be fear of Snake Man that's causing Gemini Man to shake, this time.

Snake Man's expression falls back into its normal perimeters, only at the moment it somehow doesn't seem quite so blank and cold. He extends his hand out further, a clear invitation to grasp it, should Gemini so desire.

Gemini Man darts his look back to his clone, questioning, and the clone takes a moment to ponder, then, nods. Then, Gemini Man accepts the hand.

Snake Man uses the steady grasp to help Gemini to his feet. Then he nods at one of the tables nearby. "Have a ssseat?"

Gemini Man takes another furtive glance at the holoclone. The clone's eyes narrow, but...he nods, then, fades out, in a reverse manner from how he appeared...eyes last, eyes still lingering. Gemini Man, still a bit unsteady, walks over to a chair, sets himself down in it.

Snake Man takes the seat across from the table, so that he's sitting eye to eye only two feet away. He doesn't even look at the pendant that glimmers on Gemini's chest. He simply rests his chin on his palm and says nothing for a long moment. Then he asks, "Do you want to ssstart, or shall I?"

Gemini Man, reflexively, reaches his hand up to that pendant, rubbing on it, as if to push it deeper into his chest, to silence his fear. "Start."

Snake Man has to think for a moment about what he's going to say, even though he requested this conversation. But finally he starts out with, "I want you to know that I don't hate you." There. He's said it. But he continues anyway. "I couldn't hate you if I tried."

Deep down...through being possessed...through having two personalities...through the debate about whether or not he's got a soul...Gemini Man, is, in fact, an android. And Snake's statement: does not compute. Gemini's eyes scan back and forth for a moment, like he's looking for data he can't find. Then, he looks right at Snake, and just, shakes his head, rapidly, back and forth.

Snake Man sighs, and waves his gun arm. "It'sss jussst a lame figure of ssspeech humansss ussse. I wasss referring to our conversssation in medbay not too long ago. But that'sss besssidesss the point. I wanted you to know that I don't hate you. Nor do I think you're an idiot or any of the other thingsss I've probably sssaid for yearsss." He lapses into silence for a moment, perhaps to judge Gemini's digestion of this information, perhaps because he hasn't quite figured out how to follow it up yet.

Gemini Man pauses for a long time, while this sinks in. Then, he whispers, "...Really?" He shakes his head again. "No, of COURSE, really. I-- I don't blame you, Snake. I don't. If-- If there was someone who...was just, AFRAID of ME, by course of habit... I'm the same way; I wouldn't be able to resist; I would--" He takes the hand off the pendant, and scratches his fingers against his throat. He thought he'd gotten used to it, but...at the moment, that artificially intimidating voice coming out of his mouth sounds...very odd. He clears his throat, not that it will make a difference, and he knows this. "I thought you thought I was a JOKE."

Snake Man makes a dismissive gesture with his gun arm. "No, you're not a joke, nor do I think of you asss one. Esscept when you freak out when I'm about to do sssomething to you. Then it'sss funny. But again, that'sss besssidesss the point."

Gemini Man somehow, for some reason, starts to chuckle. He goes back to clutching fiercely at the pendant, and, softly, nervously, he laughs. "That's damn ironic. ...Because I think that everybody else is a joke." He then lifts that same, left hand up, and buries his face in it. "I'll never beat you at ANYTHING, Snake. Not even being the bigger person."

Snake Man grins across the table at Gemini, a little of the predatory nature creeping in. "You didn't think that I wasss a joke."

Gemini Man looks up again; he doesn't seem phased, anymore, and he rests his hand on the table. "Oh, you were a joke," he says, nodding. "You were a joke played on ME, by the Doc."

Snake Man shrugs. He knows this, and it doesn't phase him either. "Sssomeone hasss to go around putting you in your plassce, I sssuppossse."

Gemini Man nods. "Exactly. And I'm gifted with a GREAT sense of irony, just so I wouldn't be BLIND to it." He snickers a little. "Damn, that was smooth, wasn't it? Just brilliant. ...And now you can't do that job anymore." He looks down at the table, and mumbles something, something intending to be internal, but that Snake's sensitive hearing will nonetheless pick up. "I wish I could trust you."

Snake Man can of course hear it. But he decides not to comment on it. Gemini will tell him if he wishes. Instead, he simply shrugs. "Who'sss to sssay? Although this isss sscertainly different than before, when jussst being in the sssame room with me would give you the shakesss."

Gemini Man reaches up and taps his hand on the pendant again. "Yeah, it's...different. Maybe I can learn to stop being angry at you, too." He frowns. "Or, maybe...it'll go away...and things will just go back to normal."

Snake Man grins at Gemini again. It's predatory, but there's some humor too. "I'd like that."

Suddenly, the pendant flares into brilliant red, and Gemini's eyes to match. He clenches his hand onto the artifact. "You don't tell ANYONE about what happened tonight, Snake. ANYONE. If I see you and Guts Man laughing over it with a bowl of popcorn tomorrow, I'll tear out your teeth and throw them into the garbage disposal. YOU UNDERSTAND?"

Snake Man draws back, a bit taken aback by the sudden temper flare up, but he's never been afraid of Gemini, not even when he got the pendant, and he's certainly not now. He simply looks evenly across the table at his sibling and asks, "Do you think I would?"

Gemini Man speaks through a clenched throat. "I... don't... know."

Snake Man says, "Isss that what you sssaid you couldn't trussst me about?"

Gemini Man 's eyes open wide; caught by surprise by the question, he answers honestly. "No."

Snake Man sits back, leaning on the back of the chair as he swings his feat up onto the corner of the table. "Hmm. Ressst assurred I will not be sharing our little dissscusssion with anyone. Did I not asssk Wood Man to leave usss alone?"

Gemini Man nods. "All right." He forces a small smile. "...Thanks. Snake."

Snake Man shrugs. "No problem. I do want you to realize that when you have a problem that I can perhapsss help sssolve, I am here for you. You are my teammate." He pauses a moment, and then forces it out, nearly mumbling "And my brother."

Gemini Man's smile broadens slightly, and he stands up. He lets go of the pendant, and offers Snake Man a shake of that non-weapon hand. "Brothers."

Snake Man stands up himself before staring a long moment at Gemini's hand, still wary of that outburst earlier. Then he takes it in his own.

Gemini Man grips onto Snake Man's hand, and shakes it. Then, suddenly, Gemini's mouth twists up into an impish grin. With no better warning, he slams his face into Snake's, catching his mouth in a full-on kiss. Then, he leans back, and lets go of Snake's hand, almost tossing it back at him. "Annnnd a mutual couple of perverts, too."

Snake Man jerks back at the sudden movement, but not quite fast enough. He wipes the back of his hand over his mouth. Then he shakes his head. "I guess ssso. Yhyeak!"

Gemini Man spits a little bit, himself. "Pt. Uck." Never actually tasted that venom before; he hopes it won't make him violently ill, but he tries not to let the worry show. He snickers, and throws Snake a wave, then, turns around. "It's getting late. So...see ya."

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