Chapter 2: Asuka^2
Part 1: Aya-Nami
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Ayanami Rei
May 6th, 2015
Tokyo 3
Ikari Family Apartment
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It is with a sense of great excitement that I have awoken this morning and prepared myself for the momentous occasion ahead. The first thing I did after eating breakfast was to make myself presentable for my conversation with Asuka. I showered, properly dried my hair, and spent more time than I usually do at my small, but well stocked vanity in making sure that I am sufficiently
'prettied up'. The clothing I have chosen is both tasteful and ensures that my odd features are accentuated in a pleasing manner. While normally I am not quite so… 'high maintenance' as I've heard Misato-san put it, I did very much enjoy the expressions of surprise from Uncle and Shinji when I walked out earlier to retrieve PenPen from Misato-san's apartment.
I am feeling nervous and penguins are
very cuddlesome.
So it is with no little trepidation that I spend the next twenty minutes looking over myself in the mirror and keeping my eye on the time at the bottom corner of my computer. Because while this is not the first time I have been tasked with a public relations interview, this is the first time I've done so on my own accord.
Seeing that our agreed upon time has come, I connect to my friend's twitch channel and wait for the video to buffer-
"Heeeeey everyone! This is everyone's favorite giant mecha pilot
and gaming queen Shiki streaming live from aboard the USS
'Over the Rainbow' of the United Nations Pacific Fleet!" Asuka Shikinami Langley smiles and waves energetically at the camera, hand half hidden underneath the too large
EVA Unit 02.2 jacket.
"Sorry I missed the last few scheduled streams, but saving the world and all that comes first right? I haven't been able to tell you all about where I've been this last week and a half, but now that we're the better part of a day out from our destination, the brass have decided to lift the OPSEC ban on social media! I know, I know, how could those hardasses keep me away from my viewers? But trust me when I say that the wait was more than worth it! Say 'hi' Schrodinger!" Her
grin grows wider as she points out the formerly drab steel room that has been
covered in various posters and zooms the camera in on her
fluffy Norwegian Forest Cat who looks up from atop her bed with a plaintive 'meow' before jumping off to his own in disinterest.
As usual, her chatbox
explodes from her larger than average audience of 50,000 viewers.
Omg shiki goin to japan!
Holy shit! No way!
Go kick monster ass best girl!
Kitty cat! So cute!
Yooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, is that bad ass motherfucker that went all super hero on that kaiju gonna be on the podcast!?
OMG XDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXD do you know him!? IS HE Cute Shiki!?!?!?
It's with a self satisfied glance that Asuka leans forwards towards the camera. "And as some of you guys are already guessing in chat, I can confirm it! Your favorite twitch persona Shiki is currently sailing straight for Tokyo-3! And I bet you can't
guess who I managed to snag for this week's long overdue podcast! Everyone give a round of emojis to my childhood friend and fellow pilot, R-"
One fortifying breath and a mouse click later, I am connected to Asuka's computer, my own camera focused on...
"Wark?" PenPen looks curiously at my webcam and taps a flipper against it with a tilt of his head.
"... a warm water penguin? The heck?" Asuka blinks. "Rei? You there?"
"Bad. Be a good bird PenPen." I pat my lap and dutifully the small avian waddles his way into my arms, banishing my small frown of chastisement. "Hello Asuka. I apologize for missing your streams last week. Shinji was… not well."
At my explanation my brunette friend sports her own expression of worry for moment, biting her lower lip in concern. "Is he okay? He got rocked pretty hard by that creepy looking thing."
"Shinji is stronger than his slim physique implies. He and Uncle are recovering Grandmother's old cookbooks and having a male bonding moment." I say with a small smile as Asuka's downturned lips open and she blinks in incredulous thought at the mental image.
I too was surprised, but for other reasons. Usually Uncle worked weekends as well but had taken the day off so that he could be home with family.
It was a heartening feeling.
"Eh? Your scary old Uncle is cooking? The
supreme commander of NERV Japan. This is who you're talking about right? Not old man Fuyutsuki?" My friend says in confusion and links the
world famous picture of Ikari Gendo with his hands customarily folded and looking down menacingly at a crowd
during a press conference.
I distinctly remember him being very frenetic that day and had spent hours talking to himself in front of the mirror to practice his single line.
"All is going according to the foreseen scenario." He didn't even stutter once. I don't know how he faces so many cameras without so much as a nervous flinch. Although I believe that it did help that specific phrase was his answer for every question posed to him by the hundreds of reporters asking for further clarification.
A blink banishes the errant thought and I focus back on what Asuka had asked, frowning mutely. "Baking cookies, and yes." I narrow my eyes in further displeasure. "Uncle is not frightening. He is simply very shy."
I explain so, leaning forward with my hands
clasped in front of me and on top of PenPen's soft red crest causing him to make a small noise in protest.
Asuka palms her uncovered eye and mumbles to herself. "This is gonna turn into a meme real quick…
anyway, welcome to the podcast Rei! Everyone Rei Ayanami, Rei, Everyone!"
"Hello. Please excuse me if my english is not very inflective. I do not often have a chance to practice outside of the classroom." I quote my practiced line with great efficiency and as gracefully as two days of practice has drilled into me. I think I did that very well.
"Rei, your Japanese isn't much better either." So says my friend with a playful grin much to my growing inner horror.
This is not part of the script Asuka! You know I'm not good at ad libbing!
"This is true. But I have
been practicing." When in doubt smile demurely and respond to the topic at hand!
"Careful there girl, you're going to end up giving my viewers diabetes if you keep this up." Approves Asuka, poking her cheek to more prominently show a canine playfully.
"I have been told that being innocently cute is one of my charm points." I reply evenly, satisfied that this will be the end of the thrown away script-
"Innocent. Riiiiight. I still remember a certain someone charming the local store owners for free popsicles."
A spot of irritation floats up and I hold onto it for
later. It is time that I showed you that I have
improved upon my sense of humor! "I recall you did much the same Asuka. Did you not offload the majority of your chores onto Shinji when you realized he would not tell his father-"
Asuka is quick to sputter and wave her hands wildly in front of her screen with a panicked look.
"Ahahahaha!!! Let's not drag up the past eh? I'd rather not give Shinji ammo when he watches the stream later-"
"He doesn't watch your stream." I feign confusion, tilting my head in a manner that shows that I am simply making a rhetorical comment requiring the other party to respond.
"Eh? The
hell do you mean he doesn't watch my stream!?" The younger Langley sister
twitches and closes her uncovered eye whilst grinning in a very unhappy manner.
Knowing that I have Asuka drawn in like a particularly insistent penguin, I continue to lay down my quickly schemed ploy with an explanatory statement. "He still isn't very good at video games. His interests lie elsewhere."
Oh. She is
not happy.
"But…
grrrrrr baka-Shinji! Rei, I need you to
drag his ass into your room and get him on the podcast! I'm gonna have words with that stupid, no social media using, luddite!" Asuka is currently less her internet famous persona and is instead channeling a very real sense of hurt pride.
"He is currently busy with…" I act as if backpedalling to defend my cousin, but our childhood friend
bites down harder on her feelings.
"Don't care! That little punk thinks he can get away forgetting about me, he's got another thing coming!"
Now.
"Ah… he asks me often about you?" I respond,
tilting my head as if just remembering a previous event relevant to the conversation at hand.
"Hah?" Asuka has always been a girl influenced by her feelings of inadequacy. She has worked very hard to get where she is and has a habit of pushing people away rather than creating new bonds.
"He's was very excited to hear that you were being assigned to NERV Japan. He wishes to interact with you in person." So it is simple to deduce that when it comes to people that she actively shows care towards that Asuka quickly becomes flustered when a level of interest is
shown back.
Oddly enough she never expects it despite what a person would normally believe otherwise.
"I-in person? What do you mean by that?" The girl asks with a
slight hiccup at the beginning of her sentence. She tries to cover it up by ignoring it and quickly moving onto further questioning.
"Shinji has always been bad with communication when not speaking in a close environment. He tends to overthink what he should say." A thoughtful look passes over my lips. "I believe he desires to feel your 'heartbeat' when he speaks with you."
"
H-heartbeat!?" Asuka
squeaks, face flushed prettily. "Wonder Girl I swear to god if you're messing with me right now…"
Ah? I expected her to become flustered, but not quite so…?
"Have I been misleading in my words? I'm sorry. To clarify your childhood friend and my distant cousin, Shinji Ikari, wishes to reunite with you in a private setting and in person. In this way there will be no distractions or chance of misinterpretation through less physical methods of communication." I explain with real confusion tingeing my voice.
I had not even gotten to the end of my joke, but already Asuka was behaving as if I had?
…
I wonder how she'll react once I 'finish' my humorous dialogue with her?
"Shinji and I have looked forward to bonding with and sharing our many experiences with you, Asuka."
"I… guh… er…
Rei… I didn't…" My friend mumbles, looking away from the camera and scratching the side of her cheek in a manner very reminiscent of Shinji when he doesn't know what to say.
"You're still very cute. I would very much like to play with your hair again." I finish warmly, smiling and lightly petting PenPen.
Looking at the chat, I believe that my recollection and insinuation of our childish moments of playing
pretend has had the desired effect on Asuka who looks as if she can't believe I'd bring up something so embarrassing!
So exciting!
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat the fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck m8
Rei best gurl.
Waifu plz!
Damn this girl know what she wants!
So how related are you and your 'cousin'? Just curious :3.
Hey can you stream a three*USER HAS BEEN BANNED*
Look! I'm succeeding at social activity Uncle!
"I have already bought many hair care products and accessories. I'm sure with a bit of persuasion we can have Shinji join us for 'girl time' like we used to… Asuka?" I hide my smile, looking to the side surreptitiously.
Well,
maybe not so secretly.
"
God damn it Rei."
"?" I'm still not good at hiding my amusement it seems.
"You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
"Oh? Doing what on purpose?" I am unable to fully hide my grin and burst into a fit of giggles as Asuka growls in an exasperated, but still slightly frightening manner.
"
REI!"
"I'm sorry. The opportunity was too fortuitous to ignore." Yet a question still remains."But why
were you so flustered? I had simply thought to bring up embarrassing childhood events that I have not yet been able to fully recall in detail?"
Asuka looks away and palms her face while fanning her other hand at the screen rapidly. "N-nothing! It's nothing! Anyway what's with the penguin?" She masterfully changes the subject while muttering to herself about 'blue haired trolls' or some such nonsense.
Someone so versed in fantasy games should know that trolls are hairless? But that is not the question she asked.
"He's the pet of the Operations Director. She happens to live next door and leaves him with us on the weekends she works. I thought that having a 'mascot' would bring you more viewers much like Schrodinger does." I say and point towards Asuka's cat, her camera automatically tracking the grooming ball of soft looking fur.
"Mrow?"
"He is also very cute. So fluffy." So
Floof. "I want to hold him. I will trade him for PenPen." I hold the penguin from under his flippers and offer him to my friend.
Her contemplating expression shows a happy, future promise working in the back of her mind. "... we can talk about that when I get there. So how much longer is Shinji going to be busy? I'd like to at least have him make an appearance on the podcast."
"I suppose that wouldn't be too bothersome to his bonding time with Uncle. A moment please." Standing up with PenPen held securely in my arms, I turn away from the camera to open the door to my room before calling out loudly
"Shinji."
"Yeah? What is it Rei?" My cousin calls back from the kitchen, the scent of baking cookie dough pleasantly hitting my nose.
"Asuka wishes to speak with you." I reply, poking my head out the door to meet with Shinji's blue windows to soul from down the hall.
As expected, he looks
suitably uncomfortable.
"H-huh!? Asuka!? O-oh man, you guys are livestreaming aren't you? Hold on I've still got flour all over me and I'm wearing the joke apron you got-" He attempts to undo his frilly pink apron with dough caked hands when
Uncle appears behind him.
"Do not be a fool my son. Young Shikinami is your friend is she not? She will understand your state of disarray." So says Uncle Gendo with a clear, disposable plastic gloved hand on his son's shoulder. "Now come, it has been some time since I have spoken with her. It would be rude not to greet her."
"F-father, wait! She's livestreaming-" Shinji
attempts to push back against his father, but is instead dragged into my room by his unrelenting grip.
"It is of no consequence. Let the world see that
we are only human."
"C-commander Ikari!?" My brunette childhood friend
goggles, jaw dropped open in disbelief.
As nonchalant as ever, Uncle waves without any noticeable change in expression.
"Greetings Asuka. It has been many years-"
"WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU WEARING!?!?" The red haired german/american/japanese girl shouts with a wide eye. The eyepatch she wears over her left,
perfectly functioning orb, glows a bright blue, showing her agitated state.
When I asked her about it before in a private conversation she sputtered and said that it was a streaming prop before ripping it off and tossing it onto her bed.
"An apron. Is that cause for concern?"
"
IT'S PINK! WITH FRILLS!" Asuka
screams incredulously, pointing her finger through her webcam.
Her hat falls slightly askew.
Behind her Schrodinger mewls, licks his paw and curls back up in his cat bed. Shinji on the other hand looks as if the
world is about to end.
I
really want to
hold him.
Uncle's expression doesn't change, but the light glinting off of his orange sunglasses seem to brighten a shade. "Hrm. I see. Perhaps you are worried that by presenting myself in effeminate clothing, it will cause the people of the world to form a less than respectful opinion about NERV? Asuka, please. You must believe more in the youth of this world. Now more than ever do people understand that tolerance is a faded concept and that
Love is the true answer to hate and bigotry-"
"What? No! That's not the, I mean… it's
YOU Commander Ikari! You can't, that apron, leader of NERV-
scary bearded man!" She sputters and
points in a manner that makes her previous declaration clearer.
"Ah. How foolish of me. You must be shocked that I, the frightening and coldly rigid supreme commander of NERV Japan am wearing a frilly pink apron?" He says with a soft smile as Shinji covers his face next to him in shame.
"
YES!"
"It was a gift from my niece. It would be shameful of me to not wear it out of embarrassment despite her humorous intentions. Besides."
Commander Ikari crosses his arms, tilts his head back, and brings up a hand to adjust his glasses with two dough covered fingers.
"Real men wear pink." Declaration made Commander Ikari dramatically turns around and exits my room, the front of his frilly pink apron swaying in the sudden breeze.
So cool.
"... Hi Asuka." My cousin sighs and says with an exasperated
smile. "I've missed you."
Said girl's face goes through several shades of red from Shinji's declaration and sputters nonsensically before
her stream disconnects.
"... ah? Did her internet go out?" Shinji asks me in confusion and I can only shrug in reply.
*Bzz! Bzz!*
Blinking and wondering who it could be I pick up my phone only to see a short message on my chat app. It reads...
"Idiot! Stupid! Dummy!" - Asuka SL
"Was it something I said?" My cousin wonders and I can only shrug in reply.
Asuka was always a little strange.
From the ocean, the sun stirs
