Aside from that, the story would be very heavy on manipulation and focus on the greater picture, which is why Shinji can't bring himself to care beyond an impersonal level so that he can keep up with the game that his father and Seele are playing.
That is actually just what I was thinking. In fact... let's try this.
I wanted to write a Birthday bit for Asuka, and then someone mentioned KSK... so let's do it. Livejam, writing as we go. First up, KSK's first backstage appearance.
Backstage #9 - KSK Backstage
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"There is just too much irony in this," Sayaka said, putting her feet up on the table in front of the tiny couch in Kensuke's trailer.
"Hmm? In what?" Kyoko asked without looking up from her tablet.
"Having two straight girls playing the lesbians, and the gay guy playing the straight dude."
Kensuke snorted and kept paging through the script on his own tablet. He was holding it over his head and reading upside-down, thanks to his head being in Kyoko's lap. "I believe the Director did mention it as one of those things that gives him a headache, so at least it wasn't deliberate on his part. I'm here because I nailed the audition, I'm fairly sure. And to be fair, you two make a
darling couple, and I'm very happy to have you both as my Sassy Straight Friends."
Sayaka rolled her eyes. "Very funny, Mister 'I Have A Huge Fanclub From My Indie Days'. It is so not fair that
you never seem to have trouble finding a date on weekends. Aren't
we cute?"
"Yeah, but half the fanbase of
this project thinks we really are a couple," Kyoko said, paging through her script. "And it encourages the hype to let them think it, which is why the three of us are sitting here in Ken-chan's trailer trying to convince them we're all shaking the bedframe."
"Again, to be fair, you both are lovely, and if I was into girls I
would be sweetly and tenderly seducing you both right now," Kensuke said cheerfully. "Alas, I am far, far too gone under the gayroller to look upon either of you with amorous desire, so must content myself with lusting after Nagisa and Ikari, not that I think I'll ever pry either of them away from their ladies. To soften my disappointment, I do have a date tonight with one of the guys from
FREE! Mmm, swimmer's bods..."
"Quiet down, mister Broadway star. You are
such a stereotypical stage actor, too." She sighed. "The things I do for this project. You may have nailed the audition, Ken-chan, but Kyo-chan and I are here since we're currently popular thanks to that magical girl series. We need to branch out some, and I'm just worried we'll get typecast as 'those two lesbians' or something. I mean, the production values in our last movie were sky-high, but the writing just didn't do nearly as much justice to our characters as it should, and-"
Kyoko sighed. "Oh dear, there she goes again." She tapped at her tablet again. "This is why I'm looking through scripts, Sayaka. I
am looking for more parts for both of us. Not that we're an indissoluble unit, but I
do like working with my BFF. You know I'd be all over you if we were gay, dear."
Sayaka ducked her head. "Alright, I'll stop griping about that movie. It's just sad when no-budget indie projects have better writing than the giant sequel movies to a hit series."
"You'll probably be able to coast on the revenues from that magical girl show and this thing for years," Kensuke pointed out. "I'm still digging for new parts anyhow, since acting is my life, but you two will be set either way." He reluctantly sat up, slow enough that Kyoko had plenty of warning to move her arms and tablet out of the way.
"We're still looking too," Sayaka said. "I had our agent call Aleph's people. I heard there might be some small parts opening soon in her Kerisgame franchise, or some other Exalted project she's got fingers in."
"I wish we'd had the wits to get a part in Panopticon when it was doing open casting. I can't
believe Soryu got that part! Look what it turned into!" Kyoko huffed. She looked curiously at Kensuke. "Hey, where are you going?"
Kensuke finished pulling a fresh shirt on and smiled over his shoulder at her. "Got to get ready for my date! It's a pure shame to keep prime beefcake like Hazuki waiting long." He opened his closet and started digging through it.
Sayaka sighed again. "We are cute, popular, and half the fanbase thinks we're bi. Why is it hard for
us to find dates? How is it that we have a harder time finding dates than
Pen Pen? Seriously, that penguin
always has some hot model on his wing when there's a press event or something!"
Kyoko shrugged. "He's just got that suave British charm, and the Oxford accent. I mean, it
is pretty hot. And he's smooth as Hell, too..." She trailed off, staring into space.
"It also helps that he's the Director's drinking buddy and even
Gendo Ikari seems to think he's a cool guy. I..." Sayaka paused, eyes narrowing. "Kyo-chan, what the Hell are you thinking about?"
Kyoko snapped out of her fugue and blushed. "Nothing!"
Sayaka gave her a very suspicious look. "You were thinking about trying a little penguin for yourself, weren't you?"
"No! I..." Kyoko practically shrank into the couch cushions. "....ok, maybe I was. But he's so
cute! And that accent! Plus, I mean... he
does keep getting all those girls, so he must have
something, right?"
"Ooooh, you
go for that gusto, Kyo-chan!" Kensuke said, laughing as he put on an expensive looking pair of tailored trousers. "Do it! And tell me
allllll the details when you get back! I'm kind of curious too. Sadly, Pen Pen is as straight as you two, so I'll never know myself, but if you don't mind a little gossip between friends..." He waved as he opened the trailer's door and left.
Sayaka shook her head. "I cannot
believe you're thinking about it, Kyoko
."
Kyoko opened her mouth, then hesitated. "...you're mad I thought of it first, aren't you?"
Butter wouldn't melt in Sayaka's mouth. "That's immaterial! I am merely concerned with-"
"You totally are. But hey, we're besties, right? Let's
both go ask him," Kyoko offered, her fang winking as she smirked at her friend.
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"And that's it for today. See you in the morn, old bean." Pen Pen nodded politely to the Director. "Ladies, shall we?" He offered a wing each to Sayaka and Kyoko. They each took one, giggling in embarrassment at their own audacity. The three walked off in high spirits, already chatting animatedly.
Director Strype rubbed his face and sighed. "I swear to fucking Alien Space Bats, this project is getting weirder by the second."
Rei Ayanami ran by, wearing only a bikini and rainbow bodypaint. "I AM THE SPIRIT OF LOVE AND I ADORE PANCAKES!" She was maintaining a good lead ahead of Shinji and Kaworu pursuing her with large nets.
"Note to self:
Drink heavily," he muttered. "Ikari! Where are you keeping that bong?! I need some mellow, stat!"
"Everything's coming up
Gendo!" a distant voice answered.
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Next, some Birthday stuff!
