Not all who wander are lost... but I am (Maleficent)

Everybody had their tasks. Ocelot was assisting the crew in damage assessment of the ship. Quiet was out finding some higher ground to get a good overlook of the place. And Snake... well, he and D-Dog were out making 'friends'. He used the term friend loosely, as the man seemed to be having trouble looking directly at people without either making a face at their awkward appearance or getting the same look back for his own. However, it wouldn't take long for him to piece together that almost everybody here was here because of that same darkness that flooded his world.

Stopping by an alleyway, Snake slung his rifle back over his shoulder before crouching down to ruffle D-Dog's head and open up his communications screen. A steely blue eye would scan over the rather dismal outlook presented by Ocelot's report. Most of Snake's troops hadn't made it, and their supplies were drastically lowered. Starting all over from scratch yet again irked him. Even still, his still human hand would pet along D-Dog's head.

"Yeah, we'll get you some chow first. Can't be running around on an empty stomach, right?" He asks the canine, getting a tilted head in response. Snake is aware that D-Dog was only focused on the word 'chow' and the rest evaded him. Simpler minds had simpler appeasements, after all. And yet, the man's mind was quickly trying to assess his situation. He likely only had a week maximum before they might need to resort to theft. And by the way the people of Traverse Town acted, they were refugees as well. Mostly. He'd need to find some work and try to get the ship up and running to maybe move to a more... resource rich environment.

(Tag: Momo)

Scouting for new minions was always a hit and miss sort of deal, Maleficent had noticed, even in the desperate, refugee laden Traverse Town it was more often like finding a needle in a hay stack. Most were not so desperate as to go risking their lives for the little that Maleficent offered and to be honest she had little desire to offer them more if they were simply going to fall in battle and become mindless Heartless for her to control anyway. So instead she wandered through the First District again, looking for new faces she hadn't propositioned with her poisonous demands. 

The man with the dog was who caught her eye first, he looked as if he were fresh off of the wagon, as it were, and he was offering to get his pet food. If he were as fresh as he looked it was doubtful he had a single munny to his name, more likely another strange currency that held no value on these worlds. 

It would be rude to allow another's pet to starve, she thinks to herself, smirking as she wanders toward them. 

"My, my, and don't we look lost in this town of eternal night~" 

Venom had felt that sudden shift in the air, yet remained crouched by his companion. Even D-Dog was starting to get uneasy, though the man kept him still. While he may be poor in the loosest sense, he was still more than able to fill whatever this presence was with lead, if the need arised.

However, when spoken to, Snake stood and turned to face the source. His eye looked over this woman of darkness yet he was able to at least tell she was some kind of humanoid. A little pale, but not like those weird looking dog and duck people. He didn't go reaching for any weapons, though his right hand was still settled on the grip of his pistol.

"You could say that, yes." No point in lying to the first person who spoke with him, after all. From down below, D-Dog was glaring at the raven perched on the woman's staff. Not out of menace, just more of the canine urge to chase. "Don't suppose you can help out an old Snake like me, could you?"

Maleficent stared, watching the stranger's hand land on a similarly strange weapon and she frowned, she didn't favor those who would take her a threat before she could even speak to them properly. At least he was fast to change his tune. Diablo took the dog's staring as a threat all on it's own giving a hiss and caw before taking off to higher ground. Maleficent of course wouldn't allow the furry beast to attack her lovely pet but that didn't matter so much as it did that the bird was clearly uncomfortable near the soldier's dog. 

"I certainly could, of course all things do come with a price, including my aid." She gave a small smile," But I'm sure you can pay in one way or another. I am Maleficent." 

She started to walk back out of the alley, glancing back to the two of them. "Come along then." 

D-Dog would stare after Diablo, nearly shaking in want to chase. Luckily, it's a well trained wolf and settles beside Snake as the woman talks. Speaking of, the man slid his hand off of the pistol grip when she agreed to help. As was common in his trade, nothing really came free. He's used to such a thing though and wouldn't really dwell on it.

Her confidence was the winning part to Snake, making him at least willing to hear her out. A hand rubbed DD's ear slightly before he made a little 'hup' sound to make the wolf follow along.

"The name's Venom Snake. The other name would.. be an insult to ask someone like you to call me." He says with a bit of a grin. 'Big Boss' was a neat title, yes. But there was little to no point to try lording that over anybody who offered help. There was also a gentle nagging in the back of Snake's mind that the name was familiar. Something from a children's cartoon. Maybe he'd inquire if she was the same. Never-the-less, he follows along, exiting the alleyway.