- Location
- Florida
Would be interesting to see a fic where Shinji was taken in by his grandfather, though I feel he'd end up worse off than canon.
Advice and Trust [NGE]
BadRoad
a thousand miles
That doesn't sound like an assumption a member of SEELE would make if he were concerned about the matter. I mean, how hard is it for someone behind a global conspiracy to send someone to go make sure his no-good son-in-law is actually looking after his son?
Someone did tell Gendo that piloting the Evas is tied to mental state right? Shinji and Asuka deeply love each other, but they're got unhealthy levels of codependency going on to the point where things could go Greek Tragedy levels of bad if they were separated or something happened to one of them. Add to that he's also got the following problems:
Considering that Yui had her own agenda that went against SELEE's (evidenced in her conversation with Fuyutsuki in Episode 21) along with Gendo having his own plans odds are that he didn't give Shinji over to his grandfather because he figured that the committee would attempt to indoctrinate the boy to turn him against his father or use him as a bargaining chip against him. By making Shinji desperate enough to have his father's affection, Gendo is able to manipulate him into piloting Unit-01. It wouldn't be too much effort for Grandpa Ikari to convince Shinji that Gendo manipulated his mother for his own sinister plans and then ensured that she'd die in the Unit-01 contact experiment when she found out.
I've contemplated writing what would happen if Fuyutsuki raised Shinji since he's something of an introvert himself (according to Episode 21) and was quite close to Yui. Gendo's fanatical jealousy towards anyone who gets between him and Yui (and Fuyutsuki was about as close to Yui as he was) would probably kill that idea.
- SELEE still has him on the hook for defeating all 17 Angels.
- SELEE doesn't like the performance of the Dummy Plug System and has already told Gendo not to use it as the sole means of controlling the Evas.
- Shinji and Asuka are both experienced pilots with the highest synch ratios and separating them will probably cause their synch scores to plummet.
- Rei is attached to Shinji and Asuka, and if you revert to a point before she knew about their relationship then her synch ratio plummets too.
- Kaworu is a known mole, relying on him too heavily is a risk and killing him tips his hand to SELEE too early.
- Hikari hasn't got much in the way of combat training and hasn't gone into battle without the more experienced pilots present.
Considering that Yui had her own agenda that went against SELEE's (evidenced in her conversation with Fuyutsuki in Episode 21) along with Gendo having his own plans odds are that he didn't give Shinji over to his grandfather because he figured that the committee would attempt to indoctrinate the boy to turn him against his father or use him as a bargaining chip against him. By making Shinji desperate enough to have his father's affection, Gendo is able to manipulate him into piloting Unit-01. It wouldn't be too much effort for Grandpa Ikari to convince Shinji that Gendo manipulated his mother for his own sinister plans and then ensured that she'd die in the Unit-01 contact experiment when she found out.
I've contemplated writing what would happen if Fuyutsuki raised Shinji since he's something of an introvert himself (according to Episode 21) and was quite close to Yui. Gendo's fanatical jealousy towards anyone who gets between him and Yui (and Fuyutsuki was about as close to Yui as he was) would probably kill that idea.
- Location
- Really? This field is required?
FTFY. Remember, Hikari has never been in combat in an Eva. During Bardiel she was protected inside the core and not in control, and all the others she was in quarantine or Kaworu was piloting instead.
Chapter 10.6
- Location
- National Capital Region, USA
Wow. It's been almost a month since the last 'story' update, thanks to the Christmas Special and the business of holidays and travel. I think I will be folding the Christmas Special into canon once I catch up to it timewise. Here's some important information being exchanged, Ritsuko making a gesture of apology, and the Box of Mystery is opened.
This one is for @WC-83, and other newcomers that I've lost track of in the last couple weeks. Speak up, if you're there, and I'll put you on the list I try to keep of readers.
Art? But of course!
Chapter 10.6
Choices and Sacrifices
+++
Misato took the pages Ritsuko had given her, laid them out on the table in front of her, and cracked her first beer open as she began to read them. If she was officially home for the day on Ritsuko's orders, she was dang well going to get her evening buzz started early. Especially if she had to read through Ritsuko's packed-as-ever writing.
The third mouthful of beer froze in her throat as she flipped the first page over. The first page had been a dry, dense medical instructions about sleeping, eating, medical doses, all in NERV-speak and printed out. The second page was not. It was a handwritten letter from Ritsuko.
Misato,
I'm sorry. I've got a lot to apologize for, but this is my start. There is no other copy of this, and nothing is on any system. I don't think I need to say any more about how secure you need to keep this.
Rei's mind was wounded by that Angel. The attack got inside her head and hurt her, along with her own AT-Field damage. She needs peace and quiet for the next several days, away from people she doesn't know well and feel close to. So keeping her at your place, with only her friends allowed to visit, is actually the best thing we can do for her right now. She's on a fairly heavy dose of painkillers, at her own demand, but that's just treating the symptoms. She needs close contact with friends and people she trusts to heal from this.
I'll monitor her condition at the 1200 daily exams down here, but we need to keep her out of the Geofront and away from crowds as much as possible.
Misato's eyes narrowed. 'Out of the Geofront'? Why? Did the Angel they had in the depths there affect Rei's healing? 'What the Hell is really going on here, Rits?' She resumed reading.
And keep her away from Commander Ikari.
Misato put the letter down again. 'Well… Isn't that interesting? Why? You've been thick as thieves with the Commander forever, Rits. You were drugging the shit out of Rei for I don't know how long at his orders without a peep to me or anyone. Why the sudden shift? Maya? She's been as close-mouthed as you, but I can see you two are as tight as…as… as Shinji and Asuka, lately.'
"And you have no idea how hopeful it makes me feel, Rits, that it looks like there might finally be some daylight between you and Commander Got-My-Father-Killed," she muttered. She picked up the pages again.
She does not want to be near him, and I'm doing my best to help keep him away as much as I can. I'll do my best to doctor Rei's test results on my end so she doesn't show, but she's way off the new, elevated drug regimen that the Commander ordered recently. I'm going to do my best to slowly remove anything but the painkillers and hormone balancers from her daily dose, too. I owe her every favor in the book and then some for what she's done for me. Just keep her safe, surrounded by people she trusts, and let her tell you what else she needs.
The rest of this packet is mostly window dressing. It's not inaccurate, but this letter has all the really important parts. Just give Rei… care. It's what she needs to heal, and I am not the one who can or should do it. I don't deserve to.
I'll try to arrange time for us to speak freely soon.
Your friend, I hope,
Ritsuko
Misato picked up her beer and took a long, meditative swig. Then another. This was… interesting. Kaji needed to see this, soon. She pulled out her cell phone and sent him a quick text message flirtatiously suggesting drinks at her place. An equally flippant confirmation came back shortly.
She looked over at the Children. This wasn't going to be a chat for their ears, even with Kaworu's little admission that he had been sent by SEELE. But the Pilots had all vanished into the living room, and she could hear a low conversation going. If nothing else, she and Kaji could disappear into her room later, something that was fairly secure, though she knew Asuka would probably smirk at her a bit.
+++
"We have something important to tell you."
Rei, Kaworu, Shinji, and Asuka all blinked at each other. Rei recovered first from the synchronized statement. "You go first, Asuka. I think our revelation will be more… worrying."
"Ours is bad enough," Asuka said. She nudged Shinji. "Go ahead."
Shinji's face clouded. "My father knows. About us being together. At least some part. He threatened that if I ever disobeyed him again, he'd make sure we were permanently separated." His voice was cold and angry.
Rei went even paler. "No," she almost whispered. "I will not permit that. Your bond must be protected."
Asuka rubbed her arms. Despite being indoors, the room felt colder, and goosepimples ran up her arms. Suddenly, her t-shirt and shorts felt inadequate.
Kaworu nodded next to Rei. "We will do anything we must to prevent that, Shinji-kun. We swear."
"Thank you, Kaworu-kun," Shinji smiled weakly. "I… I don't know. If I ever have to… if it ever comes up again, I'm just going to have to make sure my next 'insubordination' is really worth it. And I'm still going to find a way to see Asuka again."
"Damn skippy you are, baka mine," Asuka growled. "Fuck whatever your stupid dad thinks, you and I are not going to be split up." She wrapped a possessive arm around his waist and pulled him close. "I'll hijack Unit-02 and come find you if I have to. Mine." She pecked his cheek.
Shinji smiled weakly, and squeezed Asuka back. He looked back to Rei and Kaworu. "We went over what he told me word by word, and noticed he didn't say exactly how much he knew, or for how long, but… we're going to be… cautious. If he doesn't know just how much we need each other, and how much we really are together, maybe… he doesn't really know as much as I'm afraid of." He took a deep breath. "Ok, that's us. What was your thing, Rei?"
Rei shot a look at Kaworu. "Nagisa was… sent here by SEELE."
Shinji's eyes widened. Asuka went rigid. "What?" she hissed.
"They sent me, as their… spy. Their tool. I… owe them no loyalty. I will not be following their orders, nor telling them anything but lies if they try to contact me. You are my friends. I will not do anything that might harm either of you, Shinji, Asuka." He turned his head to look at Rei. "You either, Ayanami. One way or another."
"You… belonged to SEELE… and you never said a thing until now?" Shinji said, his face now expressionless. "...why?"
Kaworu looked increasingly anxious. "I… I was afraid to. SEELE kills to keep its secrets. I know that much. I… I would have spoken up if it was needed to keep you safe, but… knowing some of what I know could get you both killed, even as Eva Pilots." He looked rapidly between their stony faces. "Please, believe me! I… my loyalty is here, with you and Ayanami! I won't allow myself to do anything that will harm you!"
"You knew, and said nothing?" Asuka said, low and harsh. "From what Shinji's mother has told him, SEELE is like every conspiracy theorist's worst nightmare: Behind every part of the disaster parade the world has gone through since Second Impact, able to puppet governments and the UN like it was nothing, and their goal is nothing less than the end of the fucking world. How dare you not tell us?! How long have you known?!"
"…I don't know," Kaworu said, looking down. "That's… there's more to it. I do not have any memories past six months ago. I have no memories of parents, or anything beyond the lab where SEELE kept me, preparing me to come here."
Shinji and Asuka shared a look. They turned to Rei, who nodded.
"He's telling the truth. I can vouch for his words. If you can't trust him, trust me," the bluenette said. "We've told Major Katsuragi all this. There are still aspects we cannot discuss, but… please believe me when I say we want to, and intend to when the time is right. I… we do not wish to… conceal or lie to either of you. We withhold things because we fear for your safety if we do not." Rei tentatively stepped forward, lightly putting her hands on Shinji and Asuka's shoulders. "You know… how much you mean to me. How I feel."
Neither the Second or Third Child looked very happy. "I… Rei, you knew about this? When?!"
Rei flinched and stepped back, her hands dropping. "Shortly after his arrival. I… was going to tell you things later that day. He pointed out you knowing them could result in your deaths. I… reluctantly agreed not to speak, for your safety."
Asuka and Shinji looked at each other again, longer this time.
"Please," Rei whispered. "I… I love you both more than anything. I… want to tell you everything."
Shinji stepped forward, and pulled Rei back into a hug again. "It's… alright, Rei. We do trust you. If you say Kaworu-kun is trustworthy, that's enough."
Asuka joined the embrace. "We'll… take a bit to process this. But you know how we feel too, Rei. We trust you. We know you'd do anything for us, and we for you."
Rei almost slumped in relief. "Thank you. I've been… afraid, that this might… that you might hate me. I'm still afraid you might, when I can finally tell you everything."
Asuka snorted gently into Rei's hair before letting go and stepping back. "Rei, unless you're about to reveal you're the Devil himself and about to open the gates of Hell next month, I think we'll forgive you. We know how bad Commander Asshole has abused you. We know you were his unwilling puppet. We're not going to hold that against you."
Kaworu's smile was sad. "Miss Soryu, I feel the same as Ayanami. I hope you will be as forgiving of me when we can finally tell you all we know. You and Shinji-kun… you give me more hope than I ever thought possible that SEELE will be stopped."
Shinji's smile was faint, but present. "It's… Kaworu-kun, my own mother was part of SEELE. I'm… dealing with it. And you've fought beside us and tried to protect Rei in this last fight. We can give you a little benefit of the doubt. You're one of us."
Kaworu flinched slightly. "I… thank you, Shinji-kun. I… I need to go. I'll see you all tomorrow morning." He turned for the door and quickly walked that way.
Rei followed him. She caught him just before he left out the door. "Wait."
He stopped, but didn't turn around. "Yes?"
"Use the box. Tonight. I know it will be bad."
"I…"
"Use it, stupid fish. That's an order. What is in that box will help you fight the Call, and…" Rei hesitated. "I do not mind you seeing it. As much. Anymore. Just… don't mention what is in there to anyone."
Kaworu still did not turn. "'One of us', he said, Ayanami. That… I hate that voice inside me right now. The one that wants to go down there. He… he trusts us. He trusts me. He's willing to…"
"Yes," Rei said quietly. "That is part of why I love them both. They are… hope. Life. Acceptance of even us. Even the chance of being loved. So I order you to use the box tonight. So that you can have the strength to keep fighting the Call, and stay their friend. And… mine."
He did look back over his shoulder this time. "…Thank you, Ayanami. I… I am glad you are my friend. I… I wish more and more every day that I was not… who I am, so I could… ask you out again."
Rei was still and silent for a moment. "…hope is powerful, Kaworu. Use the box, and think about… hope. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Ayanami."
The door hissed closed behind him.
+++
Kaworu hugged his arms around his knees and stared at the wall. He'd been like this for hours, ever since he'd left Major Katsuragi's apartment.
He'd wanted to stay. He really had. He could have had dinner with them, possibly, and spent a couple more hours with Rei and the others. It probably would have been nice, even with the grating of their AT-Fields on his. People who wanted to see him. Friends.
Her.
He could feel their presence and Light above him, the notes of their Songs a warming melody that helped keep a bit of the loneliness at bay.
His eyes fell once again on the box she had given him. It sat on one of the boxes of his clothes, beside his futon.
And as they'd expected, the Call was bad tonight. Tempting, beguiling… the promise of an end to his pain and loneliness were very, very seductive tonight. By either demanding Ayanami fulfill her promise to end him, or by breaching Terminal Dogma and uniting with his source. He would not let the latter happen. Not while he still had strength. But it was increasingly clear to him that the only other course was the former. Ayanami was the only one with the knowledge and power to end him quickly and permanently. But… she demanded he try something else. He looked at the box again.
She'd said it was 'hope.' He sorely needed that tonight.
She'd told him to. It was right there.
He reached for the box and picked it up. He carefully opened it.
The glory of the full moon washed over him.
+++
This one is for @WC-83, and other newcomers that I've lost track of in the last couple weeks. Speak up, if you're there, and I'll put you on the list I try to keep of readers.
Art? But of course!
Chapter 10.6
Choices and Sacrifices
+++
Misato took the pages Ritsuko had given her, laid them out on the table in front of her, and cracked her first beer open as she began to read them. If she was officially home for the day on Ritsuko's orders, she was dang well going to get her evening buzz started early. Especially if she had to read through Ritsuko's packed-as-ever writing.
The third mouthful of beer froze in her throat as she flipped the first page over. The first page had been a dry, dense medical instructions about sleeping, eating, medical doses, all in NERV-speak and printed out. The second page was not. It was a handwritten letter from Ritsuko.
Misato,
I'm sorry. I've got a lot to apologize for, but this is my start. There is no other copy of this, and nothing is on any system. I don't think I need to say any more about how secure you need to keep this.
Rei's mind was wounded by that Angel. The attack got inside her head and hurt her, along with her own AT-Field damage. She needs peace and quiet for the next several days, away from people she doesn't know well and feel close to. So keeping her at your place, with only her friends allowed to visit, is actually the best thing we can do for her right now. She's on a fairly heavy dose of painkillers, at her own demand, but that's just treating the symptoms. She needs close contact with friends and people she trusts to heal from this.
I'll monitor her condition at the 1200 daily exams down here, but we need to keep her out of the Geofront and away from crowds as much as possible.
Misato's eyes narrowed. 'Out of the Geofront'? Why? Did the Angel they had in the depths there affect Rei's healing? 'What the Hell is really going on here, Rits?' She resumed reading.
And keep her away from Commander Ikari.
Misato put the letter down again. 'Well… Isn't that interesting? Why? You've been thick as thieves with the Commander forever, Rits. You were drugging the shit out of Rei for I don't know how long at his orders without a peep to me or anyone. Why the sudden shift? Maya? She's been as close-mouthed as you, but I can see you two are as tight as…as… as Shinji and Asuka, lately.'
"And you have no idea how hopeful it makes me feel, Rits, that it looks like there might finally be some daylight between you and Commander Got-My-Father-Killed," she muttered. She picked up the pages again.
She does not want to be near him, and I'm doing my best to help keep him away as much as I can. I'll do my best to doctor Rei's test results on my end so she doesn't show, but she's way off the new, elevated drug regimen that the Commander ordered recently. I'm going to do my best to slowly remove anything but the painkillers and hormone balancers from her daily dose, too. I owe her every favor in the book and then some for what she's done for me. Just keep her safe, surrounded by people she trusts, and let her tell you what else she needs.
The rest of this packet is mostly window dressing. It's not inaccurate, but this letter has all the really important parts. Just give Rei… care. It's what she needs to heal, and I am not the one who can or should do it. I don't deserve to.
I'll try to arrange time for us to speak freely soon.
Your friend, I hope,
Ritsuko
Misato picked up her beer and took a long, meditative swig. Then another. This was… interesting. Kaji needed to see this, soon. She pulled out her cell phone and sent him a quick text message flirtatiously suggesting drinks at her place. An equally flippant confirmation came back shortly.
She looked over at the Children. This wasn't going to be a chat for their ears, even with Kaworu's little admission that he had been sent by SEELE. But the Pilots had all vanished into the living room, and she could hear a low conversation going. If nothing else, she and Kaji could disappear into her room later, something that was fairly secure, though she knew Asuka would probably smirk at her a bit.
+++
"We have something important to tell you."
Rei, Kaworu, Shinji, and Asuka all blinked at each other. Rei recovered first from the synchronized statement. "You go first, Asuka. I think our revelation will be more… worrying."
"Ours is bad enough," Asuka said. She nudged Shinji. "Go ahead."
Shinji's face clouded. "My father knows. About us being together. At least some part. He threatened that if I ever disobeyed him again, he'd make sure we were permanently separated." His voice was cold and angry.
Rei went even paler. "No," she almost whispered. "I will not permit that. Your bond must be protected."
Asuka rubbed her arms. Despite being indoors, the room felt colder, and goosepimples ran up her arms. Suddenly, her t-shirt and shorts felt inadequate.
Kaworu nodded next to Rei. "We will do anything we must to prevent that, Shinji-kun. We swear."
"Thank you, Kaworu-kun," Shinji smiled weakly. "I… I don't know. If I ever have to… if it ever comes up again, I'm just going to have to make sure my next 'insubordination' is really worth it. And I'm still going to find a way to see Asuka again."
"Damn skippy you are, baka mine," Asuka growled. "Fuck whatever your stupid dad thinks, you and I are not going to be split up." She wrapped a possessive arm around his waist and pulled him close. "I'll hijack Unit-02 and come find you if I have to. Mine." She pecked his cheek.
Shinji smiled weakly, and squeezed Asuka back. He looked back to Rei and Kaworu. "We went over what he told me word by word, and noticed he didn't say exactly how much he knew, or for how long, but… we're going to be… cautious. If he doesn't know just how much we need each other, and how much we really are together, maybe… he doesn't really know as much as I'm afraid of." He took a deep breath. "Ok, that's us. What was your thing, Rei?"
Rei shot a look at Kaworu. "Nagisa was… sent here by SEELE."
Shinji's eyes widened. Asuka went rigid. "What?" she hissed.
"They sent me, as their… spy. Their tool. I… owe them no loyalty. I will not be following their orders, nor telling them anything but lies if they try to contact me. You are my friends. I will not do anything that might harm either of you, Shinji, Asuka." He turned his head to look at Rei. "You either, Ayanami. One way or another."
"You… belonged to SEELE… and you never said a thing until now?" Shinji said, his face now expressionless. "...why?"
Kaworu looked increasingly anxious. "I… I was afraid to. SEELE kills to keep its secrets. I know that much. I… I would have spoken up if it was needed to keep you safe, but… knowing some of what I know could get you both killed, even as Eva Pilots." He looked rapidly between their stony faces. "Please, believe me! I… my loyalty is here, with you and Ayanami! I won't allow myself to do anything that will harm you!"
"You knew, and said nothing?" Asuka said, low and harsh. "From what Shinji's mother has told him, SEELE is like every conspiracy theorist's worst nightmare: Behind every part of the disaster parade the world has gone through since Second Impact, able to puppet governments and the UN like it was nothing, and their goal is nothing less than the end of the fucking world. How dare you not tell us?! How long have you known?!"
"…I don't know," Kaworu said, looking down. "That's… there's more to it. I do not have any memories past six months ago. I have no memories of parents, or anything beyond the lab where SEELE kept me, preparing me to come here."
Shinji and Asuka shared a look. They turned to Rei, who nodded.
"He's telling the truth. I can vouch for his words. If you can't trust him, trust me," the bluenette said. "We've told Major Katsuragi all this. There are still aspects we cannot discuss, but… please believe me when I say we want to, and intend to when the time is right. I… we do not wish to… conceal or lie to either of you. We withhold things because we fear for your safety if we do not." Rei tentatively stepped forward, lightly putting her hands on Shinji and Asuka's shoulders. "You know… how much you mean to me. How I feel."
Neither the Second or Third Child looked very happy. "I… Rei, you knew about this? When?!"
Rei flinched and stepped back, her hands dropping. "Shortly after his arrival. I… was going to tell you things later that day. He pointed out you knowing them could result in your deaths. I… reluctantly agreed not to speak, for your safety."
Asuka and Shinji looked at each other again, longer this time.
"Please," Rei whispered. "I… I love you both more than anything. I… want to tell you everything."
Shinji stepped forward, and pulled Rei back into a hug again. "It's… alright, Rei. We do trust you. If you say Kaworu-kun is trustworthy, that's enough."
Asuka joined the embrace. "We'll… take a bit to process this. But you know how we feel too, Rei. We trust you. We know you'd do anything for us, and we for you."
Rei almost slumped in relief. "Thank you. I've been… afraid, that this might… that you might hate me. I'm still afraid you might, when I can finally tell you everything."
Asuka snorted gently into Rei's hair before letting go and stepping back. "Rei, unless you're about to reveal you're the Devil himself and about to open the gates of Hell next month, I think we'll forgive you. We know how bad Commander Asshole has abused you. We know you were his unwilling puppet. We're not going to hold that against you."
Kaworu's smile was sad. "Miss Soryu, I feel the same as Ayanami. I hope you will be as forgiving of me when we can finally tell you all we know. You and Shinji-kun… you give me more hope than I ever thought possible that SEELE will be stopped."
Shinji's smile was faint, but present. "It's… Kaworu-kun, my own mother was part of SEELE. I'm… dealing with it. And you've fought beside us and tried to protect Rei in this last fight. We can give you a little benefit of the doubt. You're one of us."
Kaworu flinched slightly. "I… thank you, Shinji-kun. I… I need to go. I'll see you all tomorrow morning." He turned for the door and quickly walked that way.
Rei followed him. She caught him just before he left out the door. "Wait."
He stopped, but didn't turn around. "Yes?"
"Use the box. Tonight. I know it will be bad."
"I…"
"Use it, stupid fish. That's an order. What is in that box will help you fight the Call, and…" Rei hesitated. "I do not mind you seeing it. As much. Anymore. Just… don't mention what is in there to anyone."
Kaworu still did not turn. "'One of us', he said, Ayanami. That… I hate that voice inside me right now. The one that wants to go down there. He… he trusts us. He trusts me. He's willing to…"
"Yes," Rei said quietly. "That is part of why I love them both. They are… hope. Life. Acceptance of even us. Even the chance of being loved. So I order you to use the box tonight. So that you can have the strength to keep fighting the Call, and stay their friend. And… mine."
He did look back over his shoulder this time. "…Thank you, Ayanami. I… I am glad you are my friend. I… I wish more and more every day that I was not… who I am, so I could… ask you out again."
Rei was still and silent for a moment. "…hope is powerful, Kaworu. Use the box, and think about… hope. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Ayanami."
The door hissed closed behind him.
+++
Kaworu hugged his arms around his knees and stared at the wall. He'd been like this for hours, ever since he'd left Major Katsuragi's apartment.
He'd wanted to stay. He really had. He could have had dinner with them, possibly, and spent a couple more hours with Rei and the others. It probably would have been nice, even with the grating of their AT-Fields on his. People who wanted to see him. Friends.
Her.
He could feel their presence and Light above him, the notes of their Songs a warming melody that helped keep a bit of the loneliness at bay.
His eyes fell once again on the box she had given him. It sat on one of the boxes of his clothes, beside his futon.
And as they'd expected, the Call was bad tonight. Tempting, beguiling… the promise of an end to his pain and loneliness were very, very seductive tonight. By either demanding Ayanami fulfill her promise to end him, or by breaching Terminal Dogma and uniting with his source. He would not let the latter happen. Not while he still had strength. But it was increasingly clear to him that the only other course was the former. Ayanami was the only one with the knowledge and power to end him quickly and permanently. But… she demanded he try something else. He looked at the box again.
She'd said it was 'hope.' He sorely needed that tonight.
She'd told him to. It was right there.
He reached for the box and picked it up. He carefully opened it.
The glory of the full moon washed over him.
+++
Ultra Sonic 007
Trying to keep things simple~
- Location
- Colorado
You tease.
You tease.
/you keep hyping us up
//and some will be inevitably disappointed by the actual reveal
///has American television taught you nothing?!
////
samdamandias
Apprentice Plane Wizard
Is this a bad time to point out that before the Fall, the Light-Bringer was the first among angels? (Technically, this means that Kaworu is the Devil if he's the reincarnation of the First Angel.
)
Always Late
Lacking in coffee, sleep, and brains
- Location
- Ohio
Shinji and kaworu's feminine looks are expected, but Asuka looks particularly mannish in this.
... how do I put this that doesn't come across as really skeevy and pervy?
That dress was not properly fitted for Rei. It looks about three sizes too small. And am I the only one who thinks the artist made Rei's breasts a bit big?
Aaaand the couple now know there are secrets being kept from them by their closest confidant.
But they accept her, and by extension Kaworu.
Can't wait until they learn just how bad off Rei is.
That's got to have Rei sweating.
*looks up at dress photo*
Well, they're not nudes, but with how much of Rei's surprisingly large breasts are spilling out it's not too far off.
Jim Starluck
CO, ICS Vanguard
- Location
- Cincinnati, OH
Interpreting this to mean it is a pic of Rei's naked ass and you can't tell me otherwise.
- Location
- Really? This field is required?
HAH! Irony.
- Location
- Spain
Xomniac
Clockwork Purveyor of Prose and Originality
I think that 'tragedy' might be the more appropriate terminology in this case. Big, fat, honking tragedy.
- Location
- Really? This field is required?
Literary irony is often tragic.
- Location
- Volksstaat Hessen, Deutsches Reich
Well, as the EvaGeeks forum has found out in meticulous analysis, she is in fact better developed than Asuka
While I'd tend to agree for the simple fact that Kensuke has shot them, we don't know for sure...
Anyway. I wonder if this truth piece by piece isn't going to bite Rei in the ass. Because, yes, Asuka and Shinji will be forgiving and accepting... but will they be so repeatedly? If they find out who Rei really is... I have no doubt they'll accept her for who she is, but won't they be disappointed that even when they had a big reveal last time, she still hadn't told them everything?
JohnnyAdroit
Freelance Physicist
- Location
- Spacetime anomaly, Southern California
I am now immensely curious as to how "damn skippy" translates into Japanese and/or German (which will be interesting as the Teutonic people don't even have a word for "fluffy").
Also, apropos of nothing other than going to an aquarium, I must present this discovery:
The unicorn tang!
Rei: ...
...
...
I have no words.
Rei: ...
...
...
I have no words.
- Location
- Volksstaat Hessen, Deutsches Reich
*eyebrow twitch*
Anyway. "Flauschig"
Since its both fl- might even be cognates."Damn skippy", though... yeah. Well, she was speaking Japanese at the time
In German, maybe something like "Aber hallo!" (literally: But hello), though that doesn't quite sound as determined...
- Location
- Edinburgh
They took the news about Kaworu better then expected although I suppose there is something to be said for when the person comes and admits things themselves rather than them finding out through some other means. It's nice to see their bond at a point where they can take that news and not overreact to it but instead resolve to help and support him.
I do wonder what they'll do when they find out the full truth about Rei/Kaworu but at the same time I think depending on how they find out things should be fine. They know Rei/Kaworu have a big secret so they're at least prepared for something huge.
Still intrigued as to what's in the box. Gotta agree with the above, Glory of the full moon, gotta be a pic of Rei's ass
Although discounting anything pervy I'm wondering if it isn't just a note, maybe something as simple of a confession of love from Rei or something. Rei would want to keep that secret for the moment and not want to talk about it and yet it would also help Kaworu through the pain of the call.
I do wonder what they'll do when they find out the full truth about Rei/Kaworu but at the same time I think depending on how they find out things should be fine. They know Rei/Kaworu have a big secret so they're at least prepared for something huge.
Still intrigued as to what's in the box. Gotta agree with the above, Glory of the full moon, gotta be a pic of Rei's ass
Although discounting anything pervy I'm wondering if it isn't just a note, maybe something as simple of a confession of love from Rei or something. Rei would want to keep that secret for the moment and not want to talk about it and yet it would also help Kaworu through the pain of the call.
- Location
- Denmark
- Pronouns
- She/Her
1nb4 it's literally just a really nice picture of the full moon and 'teh rei' scrabbled somewhere on it.Still intrigued as to what's in the box. Gotta agree with the above, Glory of the full moon, gotta be a pic of Rei's ass
- Location
- Edinburgh
Haha, or a picture of the moon with a cartoon Rei in the middle and the words "IT ME LOL"
The Englanderish
Schrödinger's Kuudere Kitty Caliph(a)
- Location
- Califat de Chats
FTFY
Funny story...
... And what in the fuck is that supposed to euphemise?
- Location
- USA
Or a music box, playing that song, with a perfectly innocent face shot of Rei? Or maybe that dress pic, or something very like it?
grommile
nasty-minded old cynic
- Location
- NERV-Mercia
- Pronouns
- Traditional/Animate
Weeeeelll, for certain values of "Devil" and "Hell" that could reflect the original plan
- Location
- Volksstaat Hessen, Deutsches Reich
More even, as I just notice. "Next month". And only Armisael and Tabris are left. Stands to reason that according to Gendo's plan, "next month" actually IS when she's supposed to "open the gates of hell".Weeeeelll, for certain values of "Devil" and "Hell" that could reflect the original plan
