obssesednuker
Commander of 10 Million Men
- Location
- In the Kremlin, activating Perimtr.
That rather assumes that the Incubators are a FAR descendant race and need AT Fields to sustain themselves. It's conceivable they might not be.
Advice and Trust [NGE]
That rather assumes that the Incubators are a FAR descendant race and need AT Fields to sustain themselves. It's conceivable they might not be.
Heavy Fuel
Ask me for anything but time.
- Location
- 1123.6563.5321
Well, after my last laptop died on me I'm finally back on. I just wanted to say, I have gotten largely caught up with everything and I've enjoyed pretty much all the stuff writeen in the thread. The Hangover, the latest updates on A&T, and now the Laserdisc Chronicles.
You know, it's a shame Evas weren't outfitted with mp3 players. "Hip to Be Square" would have been very appropriate for this battle.
I could see PILOT4 happening because of this. Asuka and Shinji wind up feeling so low from this Rei and Kaworu glomp onto them to comfort them, and things get a little wild. And that leads to the conflusing/conflicting desires they all have for each other in the time leading up to the events of The Hangover.
You know, it's a shame Evas weren't outfitted with mp3 players. "Hip to Be Square" would have been very appropriate for this battle.
I could see PILOT4 happening because of this. Asuka and Shinji wind up feeling so low from this Rei and Kaworu glomp onto them to comfort them, and things get a little wild. And that leads to the conflusing/conflicting desires they all have for each other in the time leading up to the events of The Hangover.
Ranma-sensei
Sorcerer
- Location
- Citrix Receiver
- Pronouns
- Weatherdependent
I don't - that Asuka and Shinji had an off-again-on-again relationship; the A&T versions will never have that kind.
BadRoad
a thousand miles
Asuka has a progressive axe. That's already a chainsaw on a stick.
Maybe the Incubators are what destroyed the FAR's civilization.
Comedy Omake #86 - Laserdisc Chronicles Genesis 0:14_EOE2
BG_Character_592
The Fisherman
- Location
- Australia
Of course, trying to mesh the PMMM universe into the Evangelion universe is gonna be kinda difficult, though I have a few ideas on how to incorporate aspects of it. Aspects a certain Nephilim could recognise.
But that's for the future. For the now, it's time for the last instalment in TLC: Genesis! The end of the world happens.
It was a while before the rains stopped. And Asuka was holding him throughout it.
"..how do you feel now my Shinji?"
"...better." He was calm, resting in her arms.
"Sometimes you need to just let that emotion out, y'know?" Asuka cooed. She knew the dangers of holding in emotion for too long.
"...i thought you would've been more upset about it, Asuka."
"...I should, shouldn't I? Considering it's my death. And I am upset about it, believe me. But honestly, I feel more anger than grief."
"...eh?"
"I would be angry about my horseshit performance, but considering no one even knew of the MP-Evangelion's capabilities, and I was running off batteries, I can give her the benefit of the doubt. It wasn't that bad a last stand, considering. Instead, I'm angry at not only the fact that Gainax decided to give me a spot of hope before literally tearing me to pieces, but also that my last stand literally accomplished nothing." She could evaporate a pool with how much anger she had.
"...That's fair enough. I.. I think the only person who had a good death so far is Misato, if you could call it that. At least she did it to protect me. Even though I didn't deserve it..."
"Hush you. She would've done that no matter what." Her anger dissipated. "And... I would've too. If it meant you were safe."
"...Asuka." He looked up into her sapphires. "I would do the same for you too. Even if it would devastate you."
"...it would devastate you too if I.. died. Won't it?"
"..Codependence is like that, but I wouldn't trade it for the world."
She gave a half hearted chuckle at that. "Well, guess we'll either have to keep living, or die at the same time."
"..That's not a great lesson."
"Not like this is a kids show, considering what we do. And considering our own show would probably be rated R18+."
An entertained huff. "When you put it that way Asuka."
She traced shapes in his chest. "So, wanna continue watching Shinji?"
He shrugged. "Don't see why not. Considering the movie isn't over yet. And how much worse can it get?"
"Instrumentality."
He sighed. "So worse then."
~
"Here comes the lovebirds." Kaji mused.
"Feeling better you two?"
They nodded. "Asuka helped a lot."
"And not in that way."
They sat down as the group chuckled. "Lets see just how bad it gets."
"Considering the world ended in the first finale, it's got a pretty low bar to clear." Kaworu mused.
~
"and then I go and say that..." Asuka lamented.
The movie ended. The group sat in silence as the screen shifted to static.
"...that's it?" Asuka whispered in disbelief. "After all the schiesse it puts us through, it leaves us off with that?!"
Asuka slowly craned her head to Misato, who gave a nod.
A series of events happened in the silence of the room. She would first get a beer from the fridge and down it, throwing it out the balcony door and off the balcony once she was done with it.
A distant shattering could be heard as she gracelessly unplugged the various cables coming from and to the television. With seemingly no effort she hoisted the larger than average CRT up, trundled over to the balcony, and threw it off like it were a bag of trash. The cacophony of shattering glass and popping capacitors were the only thing to break through the miasma of silence.
She gave a begging look to Shinji, and they quietly retired to their room.
It was only then that a loud and pained scream came out, whether it came from Shinji or Asuka, or both, was hard to tell.
"...poor kids."
"...I feel we should take our leave now. It's getting late. And I want to hold Rei."
Misato nodded, understanding. "You don't have to come in tomorrow, if you don't want to."
He bowed. "Thank you Misato."
They left.
A cigarette drooped from Kaji's mouth. "...what the hell was that?!" He finally found some appropriate words to describe the clusterfuck he just watched. "What on Earth just happened?"
"Instrumentality. And it was fucking. traumatising."
"Our universe was never that fucked though. The first half was killing everyone to beat Shinji into an insane pulp, and the second half was literally the end of the world at his hands."
"And that's what would've happened had we not done anything about it Kaji." She grabbed him by the arm. "Now come. I need hugs."
~
Shinji continued to tremble. "...why did i do all that to you? why- why did everyone.. die? why... why didn't mother help me..."
"Shh... it's not you Shinji. That'll never be you."
"...i know..." He murmured, through her chest. "...i-..i know..."
She continued running a hand through his hair. She could tell the movie did a number on her poor lover. He had stopped crying a while ago at least, though that was mostly because he had just become so drained.
"Shh... I'm here. I'm alright. And I love you more than anyone else. Don't let that damned show tell you otherwise. I loved you before that, and I will continue loving you after that, until the day I die. Okay Shinji?"
Sniffles, and a few more sobs came out of the pained soul. "..thank you, Asuka.. for putting up with me..."
"Shh..." She continued running a hand over him, holding him close to her. "Rest my baka." She kissed her forehead, and looked into his misty eyes. "we have the rest of our lives together, don't we?"
Shinji nuzzled towards her warmth. "...you'd make a good mother, Asuka..."
That managed to get to her. A few tears came out at the complement.
She continued running a hand through his hair as he fell asleep, her breathing comforting Shinji.
"..and you'll be a great father one day, Shinji."
She fell asleep in short order.
~
"...it's interesting to see how Instrumentality would've happened."
"Yeah. I wouldn't want it to happen to our world, not when there's so many great things here. Like you, Kaworu."
They too elected to go to the comfort of their bed early, so that they may hold and be one with each other. Not in the sexual sense; after what happened, even Rei with her... drive, didn't feel like it. Felt it was disrespectful.
"Although it helps we can pretty much become one without going through the stresses of Instrumentality."
"...I feel that's one of the better aspects of Instrumentality. The becoming one. But compared to how much it would cost everyone, and us. It's not worth it. Plus, considering we don't need Instrumentality to become one in body and soul, and I don't want to become one with anyone else but you, Kaworu."
"We're already are one, aren't we?"
"Indeed we are. And that's as close to Instrumentality in this world that I want." She continued holding him close. They would often meld together slightly whenever they snuggled for the night, of course it helps they often went to bed with nothing but each other and (on most nights) a smile. They loved it though, it gave them a comfort nothing else could. Which was great for nights like these, when they both needed some serious comfort.
"...that movie really sucked for Asuka and Shinji, didn't it?"
"..Everyone was caught in the crosshairs of this movie, Kaworu. Everyone Shinji knew and loved died during it, sapping at his already depleted sanity."
"...that's what they wanted. He was to be so badly broken he'd accept Instrumentality with open arms."
"Except he didn't break, in our world. We all helped pick up the pieces of one another and fix most of our issues before it got to such a point."
"And we've been reaping the benefits ever since."
Rei pondered, feeling his heartbeat. "...I still find it odd that them not getting together resulted in the worst possible scenario."
"If we look beyond the show as being us, we can see how the director wanted to tell a story about how damaged we all were, and how pushing one another away only leads to ruin."
"...so the moral of the story is to find someone you love and bonk like there's no tomorrow?"
He burst out laughing. "Considering this story would make any literary major gush, that's merely one of many possible things to take away from it."
"Well, it's what I will take away from it." She nuzzled into his chest. "I wouldn't think getting in bed with someone would prevent the end of the world though, would you Kaworu?"
"I wouldn't think so too, but our world works in mysterious ways. I suppose it's a form of breaking down the barriers between people, so that they may understand one another better."
"..so Instrumentality is basically a giant orgy?"
"...well, when you put it that way, it doesn't sound too great does it?"
"Good fish."
~
The morning sun vanquished the horrible night, and filtered in through the blinds of Shinji and Asuka's room. They stirred.
"...Shinji~" Her hand automatically went to his hair. "How're you feeling?"
"..Better." He gave a soft smile, looking up into her sapphires. "Helps you held me through the night."
"Like it eh? Now you know how I feel every night you hold me close, to your chest."
He nuzzled. "...it's a really nice feeling. Might have to do it more often."
"Obviously not just because there just so happens to be breasts on my chest, right?"
Somehow he only just realised where his head was resting.
"Oh stop blushing my baka, I know you like it. You're a man after all. No need to be embarrassed at what comes naturally~" She humoured, continuing to run her hand over her head, not really allowing it to lift from his questionable position. Of course she kinda enjoyed it too.
"...yeah. It's comforting, oddly enough."
"Maybe it's a subconscious desire for your mother?"
"...not helping Asuka..." He squeaked, his incandescence noticeable.
She giggled. "I'm only teasing ya Shinji~" She messed his hair. "Though in all seriousness, you do sound much better, compared to how you were yesterday."
A nod, blush fading. "I feel much better too. I don't want to see those discs again in my life, but I feel much better."
"You don't regret watching them though, do ya?"
"Not at all. If anything it made me appreciate just how great our lives are. And not just our lives, but pretty much the lives of everyone we know and love."
"Yeah. Kinda sucks to see us get shafted like that, but now I can really appreciate how good I have it in this life." Asuka gave an amorous giggle. "Maybe I can show you that appreciation and perk you up a bit more as well~"
"You do know Misato is probably up and about." Her lover cautioned, even though he really wouldn't mind.
She chuckled. "If it'll ease your mind, I'll go out and have a look, okay?" She slid out from under Shinji, to his disappointment, and snuck around the house like a cat.
Empty bedroom. Good start.
Missing TV, expected. Missing Laserdiscs, somewhat expected.
Note on bench.
'TO THE TWO LOVEBIRDS: Kaji and I have got business at NERV, taking Laserdiscs there. You guys are off for today. Expect us back by 1930, if we catch you doing it when we get home you two owe us ramen! And not from that street vendor that gave me gastro!!
<3 Misato'
She looked at the wall clock. 0700 hours. Day off, no TV and no adult supervision.
The cat having eaten the canary, she strolled back to their room. "So is Misato around?"
She answered his question by taking off her shirt and throwing it across the room.
His initial blush at the sudden exposure quickly gave way to a grin as she continued. "I'll take that as a decisive yes."
"Heh, knew you'd like that. My pervert Shinji~"
This was the life indeed.
~
Ritsuko and Maya finally had some time alone. Normally they'd be in each others arms (and pants), but it's been several days since they last had a look at their pet project. Mad scientists they were, they'd put experiments first.
R&D had a breakthrough with those discs. Apparently, all that crystalline superstructure recovered from Ramiel was the perfect substrate for a foreign disc replica. The only issue was now compressing the laser to consumer sizes and consumer levels of dangerous radiation. I.e., none.
Reviving the stagnant home media market can wait though, as they admired their x-ray machine. A custom cathode ray tube, made specifically for such a high resolution. Sure there were some differences between interlacing and pixels, but a colour LCD of that magnitude would've been outside the acceptable limits for cost. Plus, right now the only thing that mattered was seeing just what the video was, the quality of said video was never even considered by the two.
"And I thought that disc reader we made was bad." Ritsuko muttered in amazement.
The screen was a good 56 inches across. That was determined to be the sweet spot between 'large enough for the gun' and 'not large enough that it blows up'. A crane was required to move the heavy lead lined box (they learned from their first foray that it's important to block dangerous radiation) from the bowels of R&D to their lab, where it initially broke the table it was set down on. They eventually had to drag in a large slab of rebar reinforced concrete to plop it on. A few large capacitors scattered on the box were the only thing to break the Soviet aesthetic of the TV, mainly due to the fact they needed to be easily replaceable. The TV was honestly nothing more than a tube, some supporting electrics and a thick piece of glass, once again reliant on the Magi for controls and even to switch the damned thing on.
"Why is it that everything we make ends up being some kind of abomination of the Gods?"
Her Sempai shrugged. "If it looks stupid but it works, it's still stupid, but it works. We can worry about aesthetics when the consumer can get their hands on it."
"This thing is barely suitable for us. How on Earth will it ever be suitable for consumers?"
"Well, consider our 'UltraDisc' player. That started off as some several cubed metre box that spewed ultraviolet everywhere. R&D managed to fit that into the case of an gutted Laserdisc player, which was their size goal."
"Even though it still spews ultraviolet everywhere." Maya deadpanned.
"That's a minor flaw, they should be able to fix it so it complies with those damn consumer regulations." She donned a welder's mask. "Shall we begin?"
Maya donned hers as well, taking station at her terminal so as to monitor things. "Lets."
"First phase, applying power now." The lights flickered and dimmed as a clunk signalled the start of a large transformer.
Outside their lab, a red strobe activated. The personnel walking past it decided to quicken their pace when they realised it meant 'Possibly dangerous radiation'.
"Power draw is a considerable amount, but the reactors are keeping up."
"Continuing to phase 2 then. Routing power to gun."
The buzzing of the capacitors filled the room. One of them burst into flames. "Aborting sequence. Reverting to phase 1." The mad scientist barely acknowledged, using a pair of blacksmith's tongs to take out the burning cap, dousing it in a trough full of similar barbecued capacitors. She took another identical cap out of a filing cabinet full of at least 50 of the same capacitor, and reinstalled it into the machine, not even bothering to power it down completely. "Restarting phase 2."
This time the capacitor didn't explode. Maya read off the status screen. "Power levels nominal, temperature within acceptable boundaries, fire suppression system primed."
"Final sequence." The lights went out for a brief moment as the comically large switch was flipped.
The gun started firing. Slowly the screen filled with mute static.
"Abomination 02 has activated." Maya said, tongue in cheek. "Ionising radiation somehow on safe levels."
"Running test patterns."
Coloured bars and various patterns flashed over the screen. Ritsuko kept herself busy optimising the image. Eventually the image quality was considered acceptable enough.
"Tests complete. I think we're finally ready to see what the Magi dug up from those discs."
"About time I reckon. What are we waiting for, lets see it!"
The video started playing.
"...Khara?"
"...oh fuck. Oh fuck."
Ritsuko immediately went for her phone. "GET ME THE COMMANDER. NOW."
~
"..how do you feel now my Shinji?"
"...better." He was calm, resting in her arms.
"Sometimes you need to just let that emotion out, y'know?" Asuka cooed. She knew the dangers of holding in emotion for too long.
"...i thought you would've been more upset about it, Asuka."
"...I should, shouldn't I? Considering it's my death. And I am upset about it, believe me. But honestly, I feel more anger than grief."
"...eh?"
"I would be angry about my horseshit performance, but considering no one even knew of the MP-Evangelion's capabilities, and I was running off batteries, I can give her the benefit of the doubt. It wasn't that bad a last stand, considering. Instead, I'm angry at not only the fact that Gainax decided to give me a spot of hope before literally tearing me to pieces, but also that my last stand literally accomplished nothing." She could evaporate a pool with how much anger she had.
"...That's fair enough. I.. I think the only person who had a good death so far is Misato, if you could call it that. At least she did it to protect me. Even though I didn't deserve it..."
"Hush you. She would've done that no matter what." Her anger dissipated. "And... I would've too. If it meant you were safe."
"...Asuka." He looked up into her sapphires. "I would do the same for you too. Even if it would devastate you."
"...it would devastate you too if I.. died. Won't it?"
"..Codependence is like that, but I wouldn't trade it for the world."
She gave a half hearted chuckle at that. "Well, guess we'll either have to keep living, or die at the same time."
"..That's not a great lesson."
"Not like this is a kids show, considering what we do. And considering our own show would probably be rated R18+."
An entertained huff. "When you put it that way Asuka."
She traced shapes in his chest. "So, wanna continue watching Shinji?"
He shrugged. "Don't see why not. Considering the movie isn't over yet. And how much worse can it get?"
"Instrumentality."
He sighed. "So worse then."
~
"Here comes the lovebirds." Kaji mused.
"Feeling better you two?"
They nodded. "Asuka helped a lot."
"And not in that way."
They sat down as the group chuckled. "Lets see just how bad it gets."
"Considering the world ended in the first finale, it's got a pretty low bar to clear." Kaworu mused.
~
Complementation
S: "Looks like that bar isn't being cleared. I think this is it."
M: "Appears so."
Kaw: "..is your body decaying Rei?"
R: "Yes... I think it is due to being in the vicinity of Lilith, and her field. And.. possibly because my soul being splintered so much, she was starting to lose a hold on her body."
Kaj: "And you didn't react at all?"
R: "Considering all I would want at this point was oblivion, an arm wouldn't be too much of a big deal."
A: "...You can do that?"
Kaw: "Indeed, as Nephilim we can do that, or allow others to do that."
A: "...gives a whole new meaning to becoming one, doesn't it? I'm sure you guys would do that all the time if you knew."
R: "Oh we know."
~
Ascension
S: "...that's the last of my sanity flying out the fucking window."
M: "The Lance? How the fuck did it get back? I thought it would still be in Lunar orbit!"
R: "...tree of life. He will become the Tree of Life."
Kaw: "SEELE's plan."
A: "Jesus, they really are a cult."
Kaj: "...was that the original intention of the MP-Eva?"
Kaw: "Yes. They were to bring about Third Impact, according to SEELE. I would imagine they still had that in their programming."
A: "They could lay off the biblical references at least."
~
Kabbalah
S: "W-what are they doing now?"
Kaw: "Their S2 organs. Fuyutsuki is right. Third Impact is imminent."
M: "That's that damn pattern in Gendo's old office!"
R: "The Kabbalah. An esoteric Judaic method of explaining God. I could examine it further, but I will need 18 hours to do so."
A: "...well, so much for the world then. At least it's this abomination of a world instead of ours."
Kaj: "It would be interesting to see the outcome at least, without going through it ourselves. Research purposes."
M: "...holy shit it really is happening." She watched on. "What are they doing?"
Kaw: "Releasing the Black Moon."
They looked on in awe as the Black Moon was released from its Earthly domain.
A: "..Is that what the Geofront is."
R: "Yes. It's Lilith's egg. Where all life came from, and where all life will eventually return."
~
Home
R: "It appears my hypothesis will be correct."
A: "About time you decided for yourself Rei."
M: "Go Rei, going against Gendo like that."
S: "As she said though, it's practically the 12th hour already."
A: "Man it's actually really satisfying seeing him beg like that."
Kaw: "...so you merge with Lilith."
R: "I had Adam within me. The forbidden union of Adam and Lilith, with me as a vessel. And with me controlling it."
Kaj: "...it begins then. The end of the world."
They gaped in awe as Lilith body became Rei.
~
Melanin
Kaw: "...this is oddly beautiful."
R: "This was not Gendo's plan. This would have been my plan had things gone south to such an extent, however. Become Lilith, and give control to one of you. Preferably the most mentally stable of you."
Kaw: "It wasn't SEELE's plan as well."
Kaj: "The end will be all the same though, won't it? No matter the scenario."
Kaw: "Unless Shinji could cancel it somehow."
S: "...I honestly don't think he will, if he could."
The show's Shinji lost the last bit of sanity he didn't even know he had, as he saw the GNR.
S: "...especially now."
A: "That was planned? I thought I couldn't hate all of them more than I already did, but here we are."
M: "Hang on, now what are the MP-Eva doing?"
R: "I am assuming direct control of them."
S: "Which really isn't helping my mental state."
R: "You would not have been able to do anything anyway Shinji. Not with the stigmata."
A: "How the hell can you lose even more of your sanity from where you were?"
S: "I don't even know, but the show managed somehow."
Kaw: "...I'm there?"
R: "...maybe your soul became one with Adam when you.. were ended. Who then became one with me."
Kaw: "...at least I'm with you, in the end."
S: "...it would help me accept Instrumentality at this stage I imagine. Considering you were the only one to give me love in this show, Kaworu."
Kaw: "...and thus the Tree of Life is reborn."
R: "And with it the fate of mankind. In Shinji's hands."
S: "...we should probably say goodbye to this world then, cause I sure as well wouldn't want to live in it at this stage. At least I look peaceful. For once."
~
Sandcaste
A: "...so now we've returned to the metaphysical world."
R: "I would have assumed most of Instrumentality would have to be told through Shinji's perspective, like how the first finale was set purely in the metaphysical."
Kaw: "Indeed, especially since he was given the keys to the machine."
A: "...You're building a sandcastle?"
M: "As a young child would."
S: "I wouldn't remember this even if it did happen in this world though. It seems like a minor thing to remember."
A: "Oh... that was an analogy."
Kaj: "This whole show's an analogy of something."
S: "...i remember the feeling though. Not having a mother that young. Always felt a bit like an outcast."
R: "...there's something Freudian about those hills."
M: "Another analogy. This movie loves them."
A: "...man your childhood was complete shit Shinji." She wrapped an arm around him, and held him.
S: "Like every one of us... It's in the past now though. Can't do much about it at this stage."
A: "The memories though."
S: "Yeah. They stay..."
~
Relations
A: "...we never did that in the show, did we?"
S: "With our relationship? No."
M: "And Shinji still gets to see me get at it with Kaji..." She grumbled.
Kaj: "Surely that's not the worse thing about all this?"
M: "..It isn't, but it's still bad."
A: "And I don't know what I'm going on about, not getting that whole 'physical connection' stuff."
S: "Maybe cause you never had it in this show?"
She shrugged. "That makes sense I suppose. Don't know how good it is until you try it out."
Shinji in the show continued being viciously ripped apart.
A: "...why is she doing that to you?"
S: "...she knows." He had his head in his hands.
~
Fall until I stop this world
S: "..and he still doesn't get it. He never opened himself up to anyone, and he thinks everyone is against him as a result."
A: "...at least you got it pretty early on Shinji."
S: "..Good thing I did, seeing how completely fucked things got."
M: "...now it's just you two."
R: "Considering your track record in this show."
A: "...I can't believe I'm being like that."
Kaw: "We can't even know if it's you, or the you in Shinji's mind, Asuka."
A: "It's still a me though. I can't believe Shinji saw me this way..."
The show's Asuka pushed and scalded Shinji.
A: "...I would never hurt him like that." She spoke coldly to herself. "That bitch."
S: "She's not you Asuka."
A: "...i know. why didn't I help you? i mean, i can see why she didn't, but why?"
~
No Reply
Cold hands wrapped tight around Asuka's neck, suspending her.
S: "...no..." He softly murmured, in complete disbelief. "..why would they m-make me do that."
Asuka choked out a sob. "...i can't believe I made you do that."
S: "...n-not your fault." He held onto Asuka.
Rei held onto Kaworu's hand as she was reminded.
Kaw: "...this will be the last nail in your coffin, you realise. Instrumentality is inevitable now."
S: "...that twisted world deserves to die."
What is your hand for?
A: "...it sounds like it will."
M: "...I agree with Shinji. there's nothing left for us in that world."
What is your heart for?
Kaj: "...and in the end, it doesn't even matter."
Kaw: "With the end comes a new beginning. They are one and the same. This is what Shinji wanted."
R: "...and that is what I will give to him."
Why are you here?
A: "...so this is it then?" She was still in disbelief. "we get to see how this world ends?"
S: "...it appears so."
A: "...good. let it burn." She cooly spoke, still holding Shinji. "it's not our world. after all that happened to us, it deserves to end."
~
Infinite Zero
A: "...the Magi can handle the Geofront ascending to space?"
S: "...that's actually kinda impressive. Why on Earth would they need programming to do such a thing?"
M: "..Obviously Instrumentality was planned for a long time."
Angelic light spread out all over the surface, and Lilith ascended. A look of motherly love on her face.
Kaw: "...This is beautiful. The music just adds to it as well."
Kaj: "Never thought the end of the world would look so beautiful. They must've gone all out."
A: "...probably to make up for the previous ending."
~
Tumbling Down
Lilith's wings extended, and the Chamber of Guf opened.
Kaw: "Where all life comes from, and all life returns."
R: "Everyone will return home.."
S: "...those are souls, aren't they?"
Kaw: "Yes. All her children will return to her, where they shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
A: "...this is what you mean by guide."
R: "Yes. It was a theory between us. I would have served as a guide to the souls of the Earth, had Instrumentality come to pass."
M: "And you can appear as anyone?"
R: "It appears so, if it would help them accept their fate. Otherwise I would have just taken them."
They watched on as the bridge personnel were raptured.
Kaj: "...at least they had a last little moment of happiness. Well, almost all of them. Shigeru looks like he was scared shitless."
Kaw: "It was the soul that mattered."
~
Tumbling Down
Kaj: "Man, Keel's more machine than actual human at that point."
A: "And it seems commander asshole will get to see your mum again."
S: "At least now he's admitting how much of a crappy father he was."
M: "He sounds similar to you Shinji. With how he was, and with how you were before you and Asuka got together."
S: "Even though I don't ever want to be like him."
*chomp*
A: "...ouch. That was a bit vicious of your mother Shinji, even for him."
M: "He had it coming though, considering Mrs Ikari had a front row seat to it all."
R: "...I am three here?"
Kaw: "...you must've never accepted those other aspects of you into you."
~
Tumbling Down
M: "What are the MP-Eva doing now?"
Kaw: "..Sacrificing themselves. They will become the energy needed to create the Anti-AT Field, for Earth."
A: "...everyone."
R: "Yes. Everyone."
They looked on in complete awe as that base Earth was flooded in the primordial ooze of life, the desperate wailing of humanity filling the room as their souls were liberated, through license of their mother. Holy fire enveloped the amber surface as the countless billions of souls from all Lilithian life returned home.
Kaj: "...this is incredible."
A: "...it's chilling."
Kaw: "It's an odd thing to consider beautiful, is it not? They really outshone themselves crafting this piece of art."
R: "Indeed. It's art. The world has ended, and yet there is still beauty to be found in how it ends."
S: "..it kinda loses its magic when you realised that this could've been us."
M: "...still though. Gotta give credit where credit's due. This is probably the best rendition of the end of the world i've seen."
A: "..I hate to admit that too."
~
Beyond Alive
A: "...okay, what the hell is going on now?"
Kaw: "Godhood. Shinji has become omniscient. I believe he is currently feeling everything from everyone."
M: "And all their problems it sounds like."
S: "...more than that it sounds like."
A: "Hang on a minute, why did it suddenly go live action?"
Kaj: "...Holy shit, how did they get actual footage of this place?"
R: "It's almost certain Japan exists in the world this comes from too."
A: "This is very clearly Tokyo-3 though. I see this on the damn train!"
Kaw: "...the movie is copyright 1997. Even if Second Impact did occur on their planet, that would've been before anything happened, including Tokyo-3."
R: "It's possible they used a matte painting. I know of several films which did such things, to show otherwise impossible vistas."
M: "..well that kinda ruins the magic."
S: "It's a pretty damn good replica though."
A: "...a world where you don't exist.. you were really that nihilist at this point?"
S: "...sure seems that way. I would've wanted nothing more than to fade away at this point."
A: "...this finale is more nihilist than the first one. at least that ended on a questionably happy note."
~
Unravel
A: "..why did that suddenly happen to Lilith?"
Kaw: "I think Shinji is starting to realising something."
S: "...so I end the world, realise Instrumentality isn't right, and undo it?"
R: "...yes."
S: "Why the hell, after all I did, would I just simply undo it?" He exasperated. "..what the fuck is wrong with him? He can't even stick to ending the world!"
M: "I mean, you make it sound like that's a bad thing."
A: "I can see where Shinji's coming from though, our Shinji. He's already gone that far. No point going back, in my opinion. There eventually comes a line you cross, and should've stopped before, but once you're over that line you might as well keep going and see what happens. Like an event horizon. And Instrumentality was truly that line."
Kaj: "...so everyone here would've just kept Instrumentality going if it got to such a stage?"
Nods in the crowd.
M: "Considering how fucked up we would be, and the world would be after such a thing, you'd probably not wanna live there."
They watched in further awe as Instrumentality was reversed, the souls of the world bursting out of Lilith's egg like it were an overinflated balloon, as the show continued talking existentialist, and as Lilith decayed and died. Rei and Kaworu watched on, in silent melancholy.
A: "..you're right Misato. Who would want to continue living in a world like that?"
~
Goodbye Mother
S: "...this is what she wanted."
Kaw: "...she was always an enigma. You would have to ask her that yourself, Shinji."
S: "...why would she decide to do that though?"
M: "...it is kinda weird, isn't it? Wanting to become the last relic of humanity, through destroying humanity."
A: "...though your parents were like that, weren't they?"
S: "...yeah. Both of them. I still love her though."
R: "Not him?"
S: "No." He firmed. "I didn't have the guts to say that before. But now I do. I hate him. For what he did to me, to us. To everyone. I never want to see him again."
Rei listened on.
Kaworu felt her worry. Considering what they knew about Unit-01, that might've been well founded.
~
I need you
Kaj: "...You're right. The world would've been better off to stick with Instrumentality."
R: "Complete desolation. What once was a world brimming with life, reduced to ash. No one would want to return to that."
A: "..I know we all said no one would want to live like that, but you'd be surprised. If anyone could return, as they said, that also means anyone who died a bullshit death could return for another chance."
Kaw: "..as you did, Asuka."
They watched on as Shinji and Asuka laid down, staring at the blood stained sky.
M: "...i hate seeing that blank stare on you two..."
A: "..It's PTSD isn't it? We'd all have wheelbarrows full of that stuff at this point."
R: "...and I'm still there?"
S: "..that's a guide, isn't it?"
R: "I believe so... Sent through places in time, so as to guide people to Lilith's light. Though.. I'm uncertain as to why I'm appearing after Instrumentality..."
S: "...I don't remember ever seeing something like that though, in this reality."
R: "...Then Instrumentality was never to be."
They watched on in silence as Shinji strangled Asuka.
S: "...again.. why did he do that..."
A: "...and after all that, i finally give you some form of affection..."
~
S: "Looks like that bar isn't being cleared. I think this is it."
M: "Appears so."
Kaw: "..is your body decaying Rei?"
R: "Yes... I think it is due to being in the vicinity of Lilith, and her field. And.. possibly because my soul being splintered so much, she was starting to lose a hold on her body."
Kaj: "And you didn't react at all?"
R: "Considering all I would want at this point was oblivion, an arm wouldn't be too much of a big deal."
A: "...You can do that?"
Kaw: "Indeed, as Nephilim we can do that, or allow others to do that."
A: "...gives a whole new meaning to becoming one, doesn't it? I'm sure you guys would do that all the time if you knew."
R: "Oh we know."
~
Ascension
S: "...that's the last of my sanity flying out the fucking window."
M: "The Lance? How the fuck did it get back? I thought it would still be in Lunar orbit!"
R: "...tree of life. He will become the Tree of Life."
Kaw: "SEELE's plan."
A: "Jesus, they really are a cult."
Kaj: "...was that the original intention of the MP-Eva?"
Kaw: "Yes. They were to bring about Third Impact, according to SEELE. I would imagine they still had that in their programming."
A: "They could lay off the biblical references at least."
~
Kabbalah
S: "W-what are they doing now?"
Kaw: "Their S2 organs. Fuyutsuki is right. Third Impact is imminent."
M: "That's that damn pattern in Gendo's old office!"
R: "The Kabbalah. An esoteric Judaic method of explaining God. I could examine it further, but I will need 18 hours to do so."
A: "...well, so much for the world then. At least it's this abomination of a world instead of ours."
Kaj: "It would be interesting to see the outcome at least, without going through it ourselves. Research purposes."
M: "...holy shit it really is happening." She watched on. "What are they doing?"
Kaw: "Releasing the Black Moon."
They looked on in awe as the Black Moon was released from its Earthly domain.
A: "..Is that what the Geofront is."
R: "Yes. It's Lilith's egg. Where all life came from, and where all life will eventually return."
~
Home
R: "It appears my hypothesis will be correct."
A: "About time you decided for yourself Rei."
M: "Go Rei, going against Gendo like that."
S: "As she said though, it's practically the 12th hour already."
A: "Man it's actually really satisfying seeing him beg like that."
Kaw: "...so you merge with Lilith."
R: "I had Adam within me. The forbidden union of Adam and Lilith, with me as a vessel. And with me controlling it."
Kaj: "...it begins then. The end of the world."
They gaped in awe as Lilith body became Rei.
~
Melanin
Kaw: "...this is oddly beautiful."
R: "This was not Gendo's plan. This would have been my plan had things gone south to such an extent, however. Become Lilith, and give control to one of you. Preferably the most mentally stable of you."
Kaw: "It wasn't SEELE's plan as well."
Kaj: "The end will be all the same though, won't it? No matter the scenario."
Kaw: "Unless Shinji could cancel it somehow."
S: "...I honestly don't think he will, if he could."
The show's Shinji lost the last bit of sanity he didn't even know he had, as he saw the GNR.
S: "...especially now."
A: "That was planned? I thought I couldn't hate all of them more than I already did, but here we are."
M: "Hang on, now what are the MP-Eva doing?"
R: "I am assuming direct control of them."
S: "Which really isn't helping my mental state."
R: "You would not have been able to do anything anyway Shinji. Not with the stigmata."
A: "How the hell can you lose even more of your sanity from where you were?"
S: "I don't even know, but the show managed somehow."
Kaw: "...I'm there?"
R: "...maybe your soul became one with Adam when you.. were ended. Who then became one with me."
Kaw: "...at least I'm with you, in the end."
S: "...it would help me accept Instrumentality at this stage I imagine. Considering you were the only one to give me love in this show, Kaworu."
Kaw: "...and thus the Tree of Life is reborn."
R: "And with it the fate of mankind. In Shinji's hands."
S: "...we should probably say goodbye to this world then, cause I sure as well wouldn't want to live in it at this stage. At least I look peaceful. For once."
~
Sandcaste
A: "...so now we've returned to the metaphysical world."
R: "I would have assumed most of Instrumentality would have to be told through Shinji's perspective, like how the first finale was set purely in the metaphysical."
Kaw: "Indeed, especially since he was given the keys to the machine."
A: "...You're building a sandcastle?"
M: "As a young child would."
S: "I wouldn't remember this even if it did happen in this world though. It seems like a minor thing to remember."
A: "Oh... that was an analogy."
Kaj: "This whole show's an analogy of something."
S: "...i remember the feeling though. Not having a mother that young. Always felt a bit like an outcast."
R: "...there's something Freudian about those hills."
M: "Another analogy. This movie loves them."
A: "...man your childhood was complete shit Shinji." She wrapped an arm around him, and held him.
S: "Like every one of us... It's in the past now though. Can't do much about it at this stage."
A: "The memories though."
S: "Yeah. They stay..."
~
Relations
A: "...we never did that in the show, did we?"
S: "With our relationship? No."
M: "And Shinji still gets to see me get at it with Kaji..." She grumbled.
Kaj: "Surely that's not the worse thing about all this?"
M: "..It isn't, but it's still bad."
A: "And I don't know what I'm going on about, not getting that whole 'physical connection' stuff."
S: "Maybe cause you never had it in this show?"
She shrugged. "That makes sense I suppose. Don't know how good it is until you try it out."
Shinji in the show continued being viciously ripped apart.
A: "...why is she doing that to you?"
S: "...she knows." He had his head in his hands.
~
Fall until I stop this world
S: "..and he still doesn't get it. He never opened himself up to anyone, and he thinks everyone is against him as a result."
A: "...at least you got it pretty early on Shinji."
S: "..Good thing I did, seeing how completely fucked things got."
M: "...now it's just you two."
R: "Considering your track record in this show."
A: "...I can't believe I'm being like that."
Kaw: "We can't even know if it's you, or the you in Shinji's mind, Asuka."
A: "It's still a me though. I can't believe Shinji saw me this way..."
The show's Asuka pushed and scalded Shinji.
A: "...I would never hurt him like that." She spoke coldly to herself. "That bitch."
S: "She's not you Asuka."
A: "...i know. why didn't I help you? i mean, i can see why she didn't, but why?"
~
No Reply
Cold hands wrapped tight around Asuka's neck, suspending her.
S: "...no..." He softly murmured, in complete disbelief. "..why would they m-make me do that."
Asuka choked out a sob. "...i can't believe I made you do that."
S: "...n-not your fault." He held onto Asuka.
Rei held onto Kaworu's hand as she was reminded.
Kaw: "...this will be the last nail in your coffin, you realise. Instrumentality is inevitable now."
S: "...that twisted world deserves to die."
What is your hand for?
A: "...it sounds like it will."
M: "...I agree with Shinji. there's nothing left for us in that world."
What is your heart for?
Kaj: "...and in the end, it doesn't even matter."
Kaw: "With the end comes a new beginning. They are one and the same. This is what Shinji wanted."
R: "...and that is what I will give to him."
Why are you here?
A: "...so this is it then?" She was still in disbelief. "we get to see how this world ends?"
S: "...it appears so."
A: "...good. let it burn." She cooly spoke, still holding Shinji. "it's not our world. after all that happened to us, it deserves to end."
~
Infinite Zero
A: "...the Magi can handle the Geofront ascending to space?"
S: "...that's actually kinda impressive. Why on Earth would they need programming to do such a thing?"
M: "..Obviously Instrumentality was planned for a long time."
Angelic light spread out all over the surface, and Lilith ascended. A look of motherly love on her face.
Kaw: "...This is beautiful. The music just adds to it as well."
Kaj: "Never thought the end of the world would look so beautiful. They must've gone all out."
A: "...probably to make up for the previous ending."
~
Tumbling Down
Lilith's wings extended, and the Chamber of Guf opened.
Kaw: "Where all life comes from, and all life returns."
R: "Everyone will return home.."
S: "...those are souls, aren't they?"
Kaw: "Yes. All her children will return to her, where they shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
A: "...this is what you mean by guide."
R: "Yes. It was a theory between us. I would have served as a guide to the souls of the Earth, had Instrumentality come to pass."
M: "And you can appear as anyone?"
R: "It appears so, if it would help them accept their fate. Otherwise I would have just taken them."
They watched on as the bridge personnel were raptured.
Kaj: "...at least they had a last little moment of happiness. Well, almost all of them. Shigeru looks like he was scared shitless."
Kaw: "It was the soul that mattered."
~
Tumbling Down
Kaj: "Man, Keel's more machine than actual human at that point."
A: "And it seems commander asshole will get to see your mum again."
S: "At least now he's admitting how much of a crappy father he was."
M: "He sounds similar to you Shinji. With how he was, and with how you were before you and Asuka got together."
S: "Even though I don't ever want to be like him."
*chomp*
A: "...ouch. That was a bit vicious of your mother Shinji, even for him."
M: "He had it coming though, considering Mrs Ikari had a front row seat to it all."
R: "...I am three here?"
Kaw: "...you must've never accepted those other aspects of you into you."
~
Tumbling Down
M: "What are the MP-Eva doing now?"
Kaw: "..Sacrificing themselves. They will become the energy needed to create the Anti-AT Field, for Earth."
A: "...everyone."
R: "Yes. Everyone."
They looked on in complete awe as that base Earth was flooded in the primordial ooze of life, the desperate wailing of humanity filling the room as their souls were liberated, through license of their mother. Holy fire enveloped the amber surface as the countless billions of souls from all Lilithian life returned home.
Kaj: "...this is incredible."
A: "...it's chilling."
Kaw: "It's an odd thing to consider beautiful, is it not? They really outshone themselves crafting this piece of art."
R: "Indeed. It's art. The world has ended, and yet there is still beauty to be found in how it ends."
S: "..it kinda loses its magic when you realised that this could've been us."
M: "...still though. Gotta give credit where credit's due. This is probably the best rendition of the end of the world i've seen."
A: "..I hate to admit that too."
~
Beyond Alive
A: "...okay, what the hell is going on now?"
Kaw: "Godhood. Shinji has become omniscient. I believe he is currently feeling everything from everyone."
M: "And all their problems it sounds like."
S: "...more than that it sounds like."
A: "Hang on a minute, why did it suddenly go live action?"
Kaj: "...Holy shit, how did they get actual footage of this place?"
R: "It's almost certain Japan exists in the world this comes from too."
A: "This is very clearly Tokyo-3 though. I see this on the damn train!"
Kaw: "...the movie is copyright 1997. Even if Second Impact did occur on their planet, that would've been before anything happened, including Tokyo-3."
R: "It's possible they used a matte painting. I know of several films which did such things, to show otherwise impossible vistas."
M: "..well that kinda ruins the magic."
S: "It's a pretty damn good replica though."
A: "...a world where you don't exist.. you were really that nihilist at this point?"
S: "...sure seems that way. I would've wanted nothing more than to fade away at this point."
A: "...this finale is more nihilist than the first one. at least that ended on a questionably happy note."
~
Unravel
A: "..why did that suddenly happen to Lilith?"
Kaw: "I think Shinji is starting to realising something."
S: "...so I end the world, realise Instrumentality isn't right, and undo it?"
R: "...yes."
S: "Why the hell, after all I did, would I just simply undo it?" He exasperated. "..what the fuck is wrong with him? He can't even stick to ending the world!"
M: "I mean, you make it sound like that's a bad thing."
A: "I can see where Shinji's coming from though, our Shinji. He's already gone that far. No point going back, in my opinion. There eventually comes a line you cross, and should've stopped before, but once you're over that line you might as well keep going and see what happens. Like an event horizon. And Instrumentality was truly that line."
Kaj: "...so everyone here would've just kept Instrumentality going if it got to such a stage?"
Nods in the crowd.
M: "Considering how fucked up we would be, and the world would be after such a thing, you'd probably not wanna live there."
They watched in further awe as Instrumentality was reversed, the souls of the world bursting out of Lilith's egg like it were an overinflated balloon, as the show continued talking existentialist, and as Lilith decayed and died. Rei and Kaworu watched on, in silent melancholy.
A: "..you're right Misato. Who would want to continue living in a world like that?"
~
Goodbye Mother
S: "...this is what she wanted."
Kaw: "...she was always an enigma. You would have to ask her that yourself, Shinji."
S: "...why would she decide to do that though?"
M: "...it is kinda weird, isn't it? Wanting to become the last relic of humanity, through destroying humanity."
A: "...though your parents were like that, weren't they?"
S: "...yeah. Both of them. I still love her though."
R: "Not him?"
S: "No." He firmed. "I didn't have the guts to say that before. But now I do. I hate him. For what he did to me, to us. To everyone. I never want to see him again."
Rei listened on.
Kaworu felt her worry. Considering what they knew about Unit-01, that might've been well founded.
~
I need you
Kaj: "...You're right. The world would've been better off to stick with Instrumentality."
R: "Complete desolation. What once was a world brimming with life, reduced to ash. No one would want to return to that."
A: "..I know we all said no one would want to live like that, but you'd be surprised. If anyone could return, as they said, that also means anyone who died a bullshit death could return for another chance."
Kaw: "..as you did, Asuka."
They watched on as Shinji and Asuka laid down, staring at the blood stained sky.
M: "...i hate seeing that blank stare on you two..."
A: "..It's PTSD isn't it? We'd all have wheelbarrows full of that stuff at this point."
R: "...and I'm still there?"
S: "..that's a guide, isn't it?"
R: "I believe so... Sent through places in time, so as to guide people to Lilith's light. Though.. I'm uncertain as to why I'm appearing after Instrumentality..."
S: "...I don't remember ever seeing something like that though, in this reality."
R: "...Then Instrumentality was never to be."
They watched on in silence as Shinji strangled Asuka.
S: "...again.. why did he do that..."
A: "...and after all that, i finally give you some form of affection..."
~
"and then I go and say that..." Asuka lamented.
The movie ended. The group sat in silence as the screen shifted to static.
"...that's it?" Asuka whispered in disbelief. "After all the schiesse it puts us through, it leaves us off with that?!"
Asuka slowly craned her head to Misato, who gave a nod.
A series of events happened in the silence of the room. She would first get a beer from the fridge and down it, throwing it out the balcony door and off the balcony once she was done with it.
A distant shattering could be heard as she gracelessly unplugged the various cables coming from and to the television. With seemingly no effort she hoisted the larger than average CRT up, trundled over to the balcony, and threw it off like it were a bag of trash. The cacophony of shattering glass and popping capacitors were the only thing to break through the miasma of silence.
She gave a begging look to Shinji, and they quietly retired to their room.
It was only then that a loud and pained scream came out, whether it came from Shinji or Asuka, or both, was hard to tell.
"...poor kids."
"...I feel we should take our leave now. It's getting late. And I want to hold Rei."
Misato nodded, understanding. "You don't have to come in tomorrow, if you don't want to."
He bowed. "Thank you Misato."
They left.
A cigarette drooped from Kaji's mouth. "...what the hell was that?!" He finally found some appropriate words to describe the clusterfuck he just watched. "What on Earth just happened?"
"Instrumentality. And it was fucking. traumatising."
"Our universe was never that fucked though. The first half was killing everyone to beat Shinji into an insane pulp, and the second half was literally the end of the world at his hands."
"And that's what would've happened had we not done anything about it Kaji." She grabbed him by the arm. "Now come. I need hugs."
~
Shinji continued to tremble. "...why did i do all that to you? why- why did everyone.. die? why... why didn't mother help me..."
"Shh... it's not you Shinji. That'll never be you."
"...i know..." He murmured, through her chest. "...i-..i know..."
She continued running a hand through his hair. She could tell the movie did a number on her poor lover. He had stopped crying a while ago at least, though that was mostly because he had just become so drained.
"Shh... I'm here. I'm alright. And I love you more than anyone else. Don't let that damned show tell you otherwise. I loved you before that, and I will continue loving you after that, until the day I die. Okay Shinji?"
Sniffles, and a few more sobs came out of the pained soul. "..thank you, Asuka.. for putting up with me..."
"Shh..." She continued running a hand over him, holding him close to her. "Rest my baka." She kissed her forehead, and looked into his misty eyes. "we have the rest of our lives together, don't we?"
Shinji nuzzled towards her warmth. "...you'd make a good mother, Asuka..."
That managed to get to her. A few tears came out at the complement.
She continued running a hand through his hair as he fell asleep, her breathing comforting Shinji.
"..and you'll be a great father one day, Shinji."
She fell asleep in short order.
~
"...it's interesting to see how Instrumentality would've happened."
"Yeah. I wouldn't want it to happen to our world, not when there's so many great things here. Like you, Kaworu."
They too elected to go to the comfort of their bed early, so that they may hold and be one with each other. Not in the sexual sense; after what happened, even Rei with her... drive, didn't feel like it. Felt it was disrespectful.
"Although it helps we can pretty much become one without going through the stresses of Instrumentality."
"...I feel that's one of the better aspects of Instrumentality. The becoming one. But compared to how much it would cost everyone, and us. It's not worth it. Plus, considering we don't need Instrumentality to become one in body and soul, and I don't want to become one with anyone else but you, Kaworu."
"We're already are one, aren't we?"
"Indeed we are. And that's as close to Instrumentality in this world that I want." She continued holding him close. They would often meld together slightly whenever they snuggled for the night, of course it helps they often went to bed with nothing but each other and (on most nights) a smile. They loved it though, it gave them a comfort nothing else could. Which was great for nights like these, when they both needed some serious comfort.
"...that movie really sucked for Asuka and Shinji, didn't it?"
"..Everyone was caught in the crosshairs of this movie, Kaworu. Everyone Shinji knew and loved died during it, sapping at his already depleted sanity."
"...that's what they wanted. He was to be so badly broken he'd accept Instrumentality with open arms."
"Except he didn't break, in our world. We all helped pick up the pieces of one another and fix most of our issues before it got to such a point."
"And we've been reaping the benefits ever since."
Rei pondered, feeling his heartbeat. "...I still find it odd that them not getting together resulted in the worst possible scenario."
"If we look beyond the show as being us, we can see how the director wanted to tell a story about how damaged we all were, and how pushing one another away only leads to ruin."
"...so the moral of the story is to find someone you love and bonk like there's no tomorrow?"
He burst out laughing. "Considering this story would make any literary major gush, that's merely one of many possible things to take away from it."
"Well, it's what I will take away from it." She nuzzled into his chest. "I wouldn't think getting in bed with someone would prevent the end of the world though, would you Kaworu?"
"I wouldn't think so too, but our world works in mysterious ways. I suppose it's a form of breaking down the barriers between people, so that they may understand one another better."
"..so Instrumentality is basically a giant orgy?"
"...well, when you put it that way, it doesn't sound too great does it?"
"Good fish."
~
The morning sun vanquished the horrible night, and filtered in through the blinds of Shinji and Asuka's room. They stirred.
"...Shinji~" Her hand automatically went to his hair. "How're you feeling?"
"..Better." He gave a soft smile, looking up into her sapphires. "Helps you held me through the night."
"Like it eh? Now you know how I feel every night you hold me close, to your chest."
He nuzzled. "...it's a really nice feeling. Might have to do it more often."
"Obviously not just because there just so happens to be breasts on my chest, right?"
Somehow he only just realised where his head was resting.
"Oh stop blushing my baka, I know you like it. You're a man after all. No need to be embarrassed at what comes naturally~" She humoured, continuing to run her hand over her head, not really allowing it to lift from his questionable position. Of course she kinda enjoyed it too.
"...yeah. It's comforting, oddly enough."
"Maybe it's a subconscious desire for your mother?"
"...not helping Asuka..." He squeaked, his incandescence noticeable.
She giggled. "I'm only teasing ya Shinji~" She messed his hair. "Though in all seriousness, you do sound much better, compared to how you were yesterday."
A nod, blush fading. "I feel much better too. I don't want to see those discs again in my life, but I feel much better."
"You don't regret watching them though, do ya?"
"Not at all. If anything it made me appreciate just how great our lives are. And not just our lives, but pretty much the lives of everyone we know and love."
"Yeah. Kinda sucks to see us get shafted like that, but now I can really appreciate how good I have it in this life." Asuka gave an amorous giggle. "Maybe I can show you that appreciation and perk you up a bit more as well~"
"You do know Misato is probably up and about." Her lover cautioned, even though he really wouldn't mind.
She chuckled. "If it'll ease your mind, I'll go out and have a look, okay?" She slid out from under Shinji, to his disappointment, and snuck around the house like a cat.
Empty bedroom. Good start.
Missing TV, expected. Missing Laserdiscs, somewhat expected.
Note on bench.
'TO THE TWO LOVEBIRDS: Kaji and I have got business at NERV, taking Laserdiscs there. You guys are off for today. Expect us back by 1930, if we catch you doing it when we get home you two owe us ramen! And not from that street vendor that gave me gastro!!
<3 Misato'
She looked at the wall clock. 0700 hours. Day off, no TV and no adult supervision.
The cat having eaten the canary, she strolled back to their room. "So is Misato around?"
She answered his question by taking off her shirt and throwing it across the room.
His initial blush at the sudden exposure quickly gave way to a grin as she continued. "I'll take that as a decisive yes."
"Heh, knew you'd like that. My pervert Shinji~"
This was the life indeed.
~
Ritsuko and Maya finally had some time alone. Normally they'd be in each others arms (and pants), but it's been several days since they last had a look at their pet project. Mad scientists they were, they'd put experiments first.
R&D had a breakthrough with those discs. Apparently, all that crystalline superstructure recovered from Ramiel was the perfect substrate for a foreign disc replica. The only issue was now compressing the laser to consumer sizes and consumer levels of dangerous radiation. I.e., none.
Reviving the stagnant home media market can wait though, as they admired their x-ray machine. A custom cathode ray tube, made specifically for such a high resolution. Sure there were some differences between interlacing and pixels, but a colour LCD of that magnitude would've been outside the acceptable limits for cost. Plus, right now the only thing that mattered was seeing just what the video was, the quality of said video was never even considered by the two.
"And I thought that disc reader we made was bad." Ritsuko muttered in amazement.
The screen was a good 56 inches across. That was determined to be the sweet spot between 'large enough for the gun' and 'not large enough that it blows up'. A crane was required to move the heavy lead lined box (they learned from their first foray that it's important to block dangerous radiation) from the bowels of R&D to their lab, where it initially broke the table it was set down on. They eventually had to drag in a large slab of rebar reinforced concrete to plop it on. A few large capacitors scattered on the box were the only thing to break the Soviet aesthetic of the TV, mainly due to the fact they needed to be easily replaceable. The TV was honestly nothing more than a tube, some supporting electrics and a thick piece of glass, once again reliant on the Magi for controls and even to switch the damned thing on.
"Why is it that everything we make ends up being some kind of abomination of the Gods?"
Her Sempai shrugged. "If it looks stupid but it works, it's still stupid, but it works. We can worry about aesthetics when the consumer can get their hands on it."
"This thing is barely suitable for us. How on Earth will it ever be suitable for consumers?"
"Well, consider our 'UltraDisc' player. That started off as some several cubed metre box that spewed ultraviolet everywhere. R&D managed to fit that into the case of an gutted Laserdisc player, which was their size goal."
"Even though it still spews ultraviolet everywhere." Maya deadpanned.
"That's a minor flaw, they should be able to fix it so it complies with those damn consumer regulations." She donned a welder's mask. "Shall we begin?"
Maya donned hers as well, taking station at her terminal so as to monitor things. "Lets."
"First phase, applying power now." The lights flickered and dimmed as a clunk signalled the start of a large transformer.
Outside their lab, a red strobe activated. The personnel walking past it decided to quicken their pace when they realised it meant 'Possibly dangerous radiation'.
"Power draw is a considerable amount, but the reactors are keeping up."
"Continuing to phase 2 then. Routing power to gun."
The buzzing of the capacitors filled the room. One of them burst into flames. "Aborting sequence. Reverting to phase 1." The mad scientist barely acknowledged, using a pair of blacksmith's tongs to take out the burning cap, dousing it in a trough full of similar barbecued capacitors. She took another identical cap out of a filing cabinet full of at least 50 of the same capacitor, and reinstalled it into the machine, not even bothering to power it down completely. "Restarting phase 2."
This time the capacitor didn't explode. Maya read off the status screen. "Power levels nominal, temperature within acceptable boundaries, fire suppression system primed."
"Final sequence." The lights went out for a brief moment as the comically large switch was flipped.
The gun started firing. Slowly the screen filled with mute static.
"Abomination 02 has activated." Maya said, tongue in cheek. "Ionising radiation somehow on safe levels."
"Running test patterns."
Coloured bars and various patterns flashed over the screen. Ritsuko kept herself busy optimising the image. Eventually the image quality was considered acceptable enough.
"Tests complete. I think we're finally ready to see what the Magi dug up from those discs."
"About time I reckon. What are we waiting for, lets see it!"
The video started playing.
"...Khara?"
"...oh fuck. Oh fuck."
Ritsuko immediately went for her phone. "GET ME THE COMMANDER. NOW."
~
Thus ends the book of Genesis.
Usually they would be more concerned about Instrumentality, but considering how screwed up the Discworld was (plus curiosity about how Instrumentality would go), they were practically welcoming it. Especially with how Shinji and Asuka got shafted and abused. You can kinda see their perspective though, from that point in Instrumentality, things have become so FUBAR that you might as well keep going and see what happens.
Kaji doesn't really get that though. He was probably looking on at what could've happened like so:
But as usual, a bit of personal healing helped all of them. Not sex, cause after that shitshow they wouldn't have felt like it. Just hugging and holding through the night. At least until the morning. Sometimes you just need a good rest to get your emotions in check. Of course, having someone perk you up would help. And I imagine Asuka was really appreciative on how good she had it. Too bad she only had the day off instead of a week.
While it was a learning experience, and gave them new perspective, they would all agree that they would rather go their whole lives without seeing that show again. Oh look, Ritsuko finally found what was on that foreign disc, and it's what everyone expected it will be! More trauma yay! Though at least with the Rebuilds, it will be more obvious to them that it isn't their universe from the get go, instead of following it to the letter until E15 and then blindsiding everyone.
Speaking of that, I now have 2 sequel series to TLC on the table. First would be the Rebuilds, with the standard crew plus Ritsuko and Maya (who I would probably get to 'Laserdisc and chill' so they can get caught up on the anime canon). Then next would be PMMM, probably with the standard crew, plus Kensuke, Sayaka and Kyoko. Though I probably wouldn't be able to call them The Laserdisc Chronicles, considering both formats aren't Laserdisc anymore
Though for now the Laserdisc-verse will be on hiatus. For at least a week, knowing how much I like writing, and to gauge how much people would like those sequel ideas I have
Real talk for a minute: I would like to thank everyone for being so supportive of my little story; especially those who helped me, gave me ideas, and encouraged me. It truly does means a lot to me. Seeing how many people like my stories, despite its flaws. I think that's the most rewarding part of doing all this.
And also thanks to Strypgia for not getting irritated with this epic of a spinoff spamming the thread, I still need to see what the final word count is cause TextEdit doesn't display it
Thank you everyone, goodbye Laserdiscs, and to the characters who survived watching themselves, congratulations!
Usually they would be more concerned about Instrumentality, but considering how screwed up the Discworld was (plus curiosity about how Instrumentality would go), they were practically welcoming it. Especially with how Shinji and Asuka got shafted and abused. You can kinda see their perspective though, from that point in Instrumentality, things have become so FUBAR that you might as well keep going and see what happens.
Kaji doesn't really get that though. He was probably looking on at what could've happened like so:
While it was a learning experience, and gave them new perspective, they would all agree that they would rather go their whole lives without seeing that show again. Oh look, Ritsuko finally found what was on that foreign disc, and it's what everyone expected it will be! More trauma yay! Though at least with the Rebuilds, it will be more obvious to them that it isn't their universe from the get go, instead of following it to the letter until E15 and then blindsiding everyone.
Speaking of that, I now have 2 sequel series to TLC on the table. First would be the Rebuilds, with the standard crew plus Ritsuko and Maya (who I would probably get to 'Laserdisc and chill' so they can get caught up on the anime canon). Then next would be PMMM, probably with the standard crew, plus Kensuke, Sayaka and Kyoko. Though I probably wouldn't be able to call them The Laserdisc Chronicles, considering both formats aren't Laserdisc anymore
Though for now the Laserdisc-verse will be on hiatus. For at least a week, knowing how much I like writing, and to gauge how much people would like those sequel ideas I have
Real talk for a minute: I would like to thank everyone for being so supportive of my little story; especially those who helped me, gave me ideas, and encouraged me. It truly does means a lot to me. Seeing how many people like my stories, despite its flaws. I think that's the most rewarding part of doing all this.
And also thanks to Strypgia for not getting irritated with this epic of a spinoff spamming the thread, I still need to see what the final word count is cause TextEdit doesn't display it
Thank you everyone, goodbye Laserdiscs, and to the characters who survived watching themselves, congratulations!
Heavy Fuel
Ask me for anything but time.
- Location
- 1123.6563.5321
Yeah. I guess the problems they were having in Hangover was them letting their old fears and anxieties getting to them. Until Vegas.
Spectral Waltz
Scatterbrained Writer
- Location
- Walking the Endless Corridors
I loved it! Looking forward to the probably continuations!
Also maybe a miniseries on Maya and Rits' reactions to the laserdiscs while they get caught up.
Ultra Sonic 007
Trying to keep things simple~
- Location
- Colorado
Laserdisc!Gendo: The truth is...
A&T!Ritsuko: ...what did he say?
Laserdisc!Ritsuko: ...you liar...
A&T!Ritsuko: SERIOUSLY, WHAT DID HE SAY?!
Heavy Fuel
Ask me for anything but time.
- Location
- 1123.6563.5321
And this is why I prefer the subbed version of this series over any dub. So I know I didn't mishear what they say. Especially when they cut the voices so low you don't know what they're saying.
If I were a native Japanese speaker I would still need closed-captioning just to understand them half the time.
Last edited:
Heavy Fuel
Ask me for anything but time.
- Location
- 1123.6563.5321
Ritz and Maya are making a blu-ray player Fallout style! With SCIENCE!
obssesednuker
Commander of 10 Million Men
- Location
- In the Kremlin, activating Perimtr.
For what it's worth, from what we see in the movie Instrumentality doesn't seem to have wiped out plant life (maybe they don't need AT fields since they don't ant sort of sense of self?). Presumably that might mean microbes also survive, which would mean the post-Third Impact World would be habitable as humanity emerges.
Well, that kinda assumes Gendo didn't say whatever it was to laserdisc!A&T Ritsuko before he got (ironically) gendowned by Maya.
There was this one PMMM/Eva fusion fic which has this twist in that Homura (post-TV series, pre-Rebellion) and the original Children (post Third Impact) loop into what is essentially the Evangelion-setting with PMMM style and the main PMMM characters taking the place of the Children. It had this interesting meta-plot going on, but the author moved to AO3 and I haven't located that version to see if it's complete.
Fun fact! Aoba's English voice actor later married Rei's English voice actress.
Well, that kinda assumes Gendo didn't say whatever it was to laserdisc!A&T Ritsuko before he got (ironically) gendowned by Maya.
There was this one PMMM/Eva fusion fic which has this twist in that Homura (post-TV series, pre-Rebellion) and the original Children (post Third Impact) loop into what is essentially the Evangelion-setting with PMMM style and the main PMMM characters taking the place of the Children. It had this interesting meta-plot going on, but the author moved to AO3 and I haven't located that version to see if it's complete.
Fun fact! Aoba's English voice actor later married Rei's English voice actress.
Last edited:
IIRC, there was no answer. Viewers did not get to hear Gendo's response to Ritsuko's question, so all we know is that she was of the opinion that he lied.
Heavy Fuel
Ask me for anything but time.
- Location
- 1123.6563.5321
I always took it to mean Ritsuko knew what he was going to say, and it would be BS. She interrupted him mid-sentence. But without subtitles or decent sound you might think you missed a word or two.
Spectral Waltz
Scatterbrained Writer
- Location
- Walking the Endless Corridors
Yeah, if it were as simple as checking the subs it would have been solved a long time ago, but this is a question that's been plaguing the EVA fandom since forever. Literally no one knows what was said by Gendo there. No original copy of the audio is known to exist, meaning the only versions that anyone can listen to have the explosion that cuts him off already spliced in, and given how old the series is it's not like you could just go into the file and pick it apart either.
Nope, it's because Gendo is cut off by an explosion. Rits in the show apparently hears him, but the viewers don't get to know.
octobersanctuary
Self-appointed Master of Ceremonies
- Location
- New Zealand
"You make it sound like that's a bad thing."
Anybody know if there are any copies of the original script out there? Though that probably wouldn't help either. I suspect Gainax never recorded Gendo's answer at all, because he had no line at that exact point in the script, just the fact that his answer is not heard by the viewer. Just one more mindscrew in a movie full to overflowing with mindscrews
M. H. Fuzzball
Aperture Science-certified Horrible Person
- Location
- Sector 2814
Not just a Blu-Ray player, but an HDTV as well. With extra SCIENCE!
Spectral Waltz
Scatterbrained Writer
- Location
- Walking the Endless Corridors
Actually an answer does exist, there is a statement meant to fill that silence, it's just obscure and Anno never actually stated it outright, so all we have is guesswork.
Heavy Fuel
Ask me for anything but time.
- Location
- 1123.6563.5321
Oh ok. It's been a while since I've watched EoE.
Really not that important, though. I think we can kind of guess what Gendo said.
- Location
- Ohio
Magnificent work!
And if nothing else, this spinoff best served as a filler item until Strypgia is able to craft his own next installment. .... basically, your stuff is like an anime filler episode, but far more interesting! :lol
Thoughts on sequel works:
- 'Laserdisc and Chill' - you could conceivably do a full run again, but it might make more work to make it interesting (considering the roles Rits and Maya had). Another option (especially if you're going for a 'binge' scenario) would be the 'scientific notes' option, which would give first person views at certain timestamps. Kinda like an Apocalyptic Log, but observing it in this case. Especially good for a scientific mindset of timeline comparison.
- 'Roasting the Rebuilds' - After Misato's deadpan of 'Oh, another one?' and having to explain all that to Rits (and providing the Laserdisc's for the earlier entry), I can picture everyone gathering with popcorn and beer and being amazed at how much nonsense another Shinji gets to deal with.
- 'Peering into the PMMM' - An interesting off shoot, especially showing 'one of the many ways that a world can go horrendously wrong'. Proposal for possible opening treatment: "One day, at school, Asuka and Shinji notice that Kensuke, Sayaka, and Kyoko look emotionally scarred and bewildered. KSK had just watched episode 3. So naturally, after explanations and invitations, the gang is invited to watch those first three episodes."
- Location
- somewhere hot
Literally the only person Anno told was Ritsuko's VA, and I think he swore her to secrecy before he actually told her.
I'm of the opinion that whatever Gendo said was the truth, but being his usual blinkered self he either didn't realize or didn't care how much of a dishonest backstabbing scumbag it made him sound in that moment.
My own guess has always been: "Ritsuko Akagi, the truth is I never wanted to hurt you."
BG_Character_592
The Fisherman
- Location
- Australia
Thank you
I was planning on doing something like that, though as Keradon said, might be a bit difficult to make it interesting, considering I just did all the episodes and movie And considering they'll probably binge it too, might have to write it to match, maybe an in-between story between 1.11 and 2.22 (would probably only be around 1-2 snips long, I probably wouldn't focus on their watch too much). Though there are several scenes which they could react to. Cough Cough Episode 21.
The best science is the type of science where you science the shit out of a problem until it's solved, as Ritsuko and Maya and all of NERV know
For what I had Ritsuko recall from a similar scenario I wrote for Chronicles, I pretty much lifted it from a theory I found on Evageeks. Other than simple theorising, we truly don't know his words. For all we know, he could've said "I always liked your cooking." or "You were a good lay." before he shot her.
Magnificent work!
And if nothing else, this spinoff best served as a filler item until Strypgia is able to craft his own next installment. .... basically, your stuff is like an anime filler episode, but far more interesting! :lol
Thanks
Gotta fill in the time somehow, and what better way to do so than writing a novella As I said, might be boring for everyone involved to do it all over again. Though the logbook might be a good idea
Pretty much how I plan on writing them
"Great, we get to see how we fucked it all up in another timeline." "This looks better than our universe!" "Y'know what? We're in need of a rebrand anyway."That could work, would allow me to gauge the reaction to such a thing. Their trauma would be even more emphasised if Kyoko and Sayaka knew them already (for example, childhood friends, from their old hometown, even school friends if I could write them in like that, etc etc)
And of course there's the other ideas I have in the back of my head that I would preferably separate from the A&T-verse (cause I already have Chronicles and my other one shots crashing on Strypgia's couch
)
- Location
- supernatural
I heard of an interesting theory of what Gendo could have said.
"Ristuko Akagi, the truth is I never loved you."
"Ristuko Akagi, the truth is I never loved you."
- Location
- Spain
Perhaps. Although that sounds like an odd thing to bitterly call him a liar about.
Ranma-sensei
Sorcerer
- Location
- Citrix Receiver
- Pronouns
- Weatherdependent
Frankly, "I never meant to hurt you" seems the most logical (and least bastardly) of the options I've seen on the net.