StorymasterQ
Chief of Weaponized Tropes First Division
- Location
- Denpasar, Bali
Alright.
Even if the series was a western live-action. A new western live-action movie of that, yeah, you're old.
Advice and Trust [NGE]
Alright.
Even if the series was a western live-action. A new western live-action movie of that, yeah, you're old.
Comedy Omake #125 - Re:Chronicles 3
BG_Character_592
The Fisherman
- Location
- Australia
Here's Chronicles! Yet more trauma, served up on a platter!
With all the abuse the work is getting, I'm surprised it hasn't disintegrated
With all the abuse the work is getting, I'm surprised it hasn't disintegrated
It was in the dead of night, when Eliza snuck out.
Now, she wasn't stupid, and having amicable relations with the Magi do go some way in keeping yourself incognito in a facility as sprawling as NERV.
…Probably helped her Mama had still neglected to change her secure passcode. The same one hard coded into the Eliza program in general.
Would probably come back to bite her some day, but for now it helped her rather well, snooping around the secrets of NERV.
So the lights turned on, and she was face to face with the grand device.
And her mamas. Sitting on deck chairs. It was quite evident to her they had been there for a short while, judging by the playing cards.
"I knew it was too easy." She flatly remarked, having been had.
"You know you could've asked."
"I wasn't sure you would allow me. Considering Rei's reaction."
Ritsuko shrugged. "If you wanted it, then not like I could deny my daughter. Plus, not like you could use it alone."
"Considering we were the ones to do it to Rei in the first place, as well. Did you think you could use this by yourself?"
"Honestly I didn't even expect to get this far."
"So you came down here to gawk at it."
"You could call it that. I did want to see it for myself. This... machine."
There was a bit of silence.
"...Sorry I was sneaking around, mama..." As she trudged over towards them.
Ritsuko meanwhile got up and messed Eliza's hair, as Maya went to the machine. "We can understand your thinking, Eliza. You want to be able to protect your pilot, and her friends. No matter what happened to you."
"...Not just Rei. Everyone else as well. And... she said I wasn't disposable, but it's not like I'm going to throw my life away regardless. I... love living."
"We would never throw you away like that anyway, Eliza." Gentle affirmation. "And not just because you're our daughter. Same with all our pilots."
"But you can see why I would want this kind of... contingency. I... want to protect her, mama. And... if it means that."
Her mama knew this thinking well. "It's... how we programmed you, after all." A glance to her other, who simply gave a nod. "Tell you what, Eliza. Let's... keep this between us."
Eliza lit up on her implication. "T-thank you."
A smile. "Also, that hard coded password is a honeypot now. Just thought I'd let you know."
"Would've been nice to know beforehand." Like a child, she gave a small frown to her mama. "Did the Magi tell you, as well?"
"Melchior."
"Figures."
~
Makinami continued to boggle his mind over the recent broadcasts, akin to running into a brick wall over and over again.
It was not like anything he could've anticipated, expecting more of the same 'Soma' broadcasts. It was a full on cacophony of information. He could prove there was something. But not much else from that.
What's worse, perhaps his engineers were a bit too overzealous in their usage of the now ancient probe. 158 watts was not a lot to go around, and that was with them new.
So while Hawthorne were busy trying to get communications back, he was trying to figure what this information could mean.
At least he was, until now familiar arms wrapped around him. "A new conspiracy?"
A small smile, as he relaxed slightly. "I'm trying to figure out if it's still the old conspiracy."
"...Are they still here?" Somewhat timid, which he thought completely understandable, considering.
"It seems that way." He sighed. "Don't know who else could do this."
"There's no one. Is there?"
"You have a keen mind, Claire." Flat. "Of course, you could blame everything on them."
"...They've done everything."
He chuckled, half heartedly. "Either way. Not much for me to work on here."
"Seems like a few things." His partner started looking through all the probably classified information, as she would. "So they're in space, we know that much."
"Space is a big place, after all. It took a few days for Tokyo-3 to get to the moon and back, and that's with rushing it and with my resources."
"Attacking is out of the question, then. We can't do what we did with Sovereign again, can we?"
"Unless they send a Rogue One. And with how bad Rogue-00 went."
"Thing is, Spen, after the complete failure that was Rogue-00, I doubt they will. Surely they would've used a lot of resources building it."
An image from his file. "Not to mention all their facilities are... pretty sapped right now."
Said image was of the lethal lava land known as Mars, courtesy of a telescope he requisitioned from Kaji without his knowledge, who himself requisitioned it from the US Government without their knowledge, so in a way it was fair.
His other thought. "Do... you think there'd be any intel here about what they could be up to?"
"Well... there was that raid we did on Kiel a while back. We found some documents and storage media by God you're a genius Claire!"
A glance to the floor, bashful. "T-thanks Spen."
He started going through all the files he had in their board. Even if this wasn't the complete archive of information he normally had over west, he still carried a veritable library of such information with him. "Have I even told you much about the raid we did?"
"Uhh... I think you told me a bit of it over the phone, but then... y'know. Incursion."
A few nods of acknowledgement. "Well. Let me regale you."
So he did.
"You what?!"
'Oh yeah, maybe that's why I didn't regale you at the time.' He wisely thought. "While most of the information was given to NERV, and I don't know what became of it after Rogue-00, I managed to get one thing out of there." In his hand, it didn't look too impressive.
"Is that a memory card? Like what those upmarket cameras have?"
"Precisely."
"...Do we have a way to read it?"
"No."
Awkward silence.
"Damn it."
A small giggle from his other. "You reckon you could requisition something from Massachusetts?"
"It's probably more worth my while to just jerry rig this to work with my terminal."
~
Weekends were usually for sleeping in. At least for the pilots, who weren't required to attend the otherwise mandatory Saturday classes. A fact which Kensuke often derided.
But instead of doing something productive and non traumatising, like school or sleep, they decided to get their daily dose of trauma nice and early by reading through yet another chapter of this work.
At least once everyone actually got to Shinji and Asuka's. The residents of the Geofront tended to take their sweet time.
"I don't know how this will make things worse for us." Asuka muttered. "But I know they will."
"You cannot get much worse than death, Asuka." Rei noted, being experienced in the matter.
"Coming back could be a fate worse than death."
"That ultimately depends on several aspects. Here, I did not mind returning from the dead. I am sure I would mind returning in the Laserdisc or Doujin situation."
"You did mind, if I recall." Noted Shinji.
"Fair enough, would you want to live in a world like the Laserdiscs?"
"I'd say even the Laserdisc world was better than the Doujin." Shinji thought of something. "Actually, do we know who made this?"
Kaworu gave a curious hum, seeking through what had been read. "One Studio Kimigabuchi."
"Ohhh, so it's a collective of hikikomori." Asuka spat. "I would bet 1000 yen on the fact they drew porn, if not for the fact we already know they drew porn of us!"
"I do not think they like us too much." Rei stated the obvious. "Of course, this is just one of many scenarios that could have been. So we cannot blame them too much."
"How does these works of us even... exist, then? Since if it did happen, they would have to know, surely?"
"A fascinating question, Shinji. You could theorise a few scenarios, in that regard. One, perhaps imagination itself is influenced by the rivers of time. Inspiration for your work comes from the endless expanses of reality."
"That implies everything fiction is real."
"Who's to say it isn't?" The fish noted. "Even in our own exploration of reality, for all our power we have been limited to our own collective universe. It would take trillions of lifetimes to exhaust even a fraction of what could be."
"Well that's horrifying to think about." Spoke Shinji. "What of the... other scenario?"
"Two, the pen summons the universe."
It took a bit for them to interpret what that could mean, but once they did...
"That's even worse! That implies we are merely dolls, under the whims of whoever decided to will us into existence!"
"Who's to say it isn't?" He repeated.
"Such a scenario implies free will is nonexistent, however."
"Which is a whole other can of worms. Even in religion. For if God has laid out a path for you, do you truly have free will to do what you please?"
"I never really got that, why would God want you to go off his own path?"
"Hence the counter-argument, that free will is a thing. Liken God to a watchmaker, if you will. He will build it, He will set it in motion, but whatever else it does is ultimately not up to Him. It is the watch."
"Even though a watch is meant to work... well, exactly like a watch." Shinji pointed out.
"Every watch is different, Shinji. Even if you use the same blueprint, there are always imperfections. Some lose time faster than others, some gain time. Some are fragile, and some could withstand even the strongest of forces. Surroundings may also influence these aspects."
"As is with humanity as a whole. No two individuals follow the exact same path to their destination. Such is the natural order of life."
"Oi!" A voice called out, from the entry hall. "Are you philosophising? We would've come earlier if we knew you were!"
A sudden look to the hall revealed Zero Two and Hiro, 002 waving at them while 016 gave a small chuckle at her partner's elation. "As long as you didn't start without us."
"I think that was the point of our philosophising, Hiro." Rei pointed out, before raising an eyebrow. "Did Eliza not wish to join us today?"
"I dunno, I couldn't even so much as find her." Shrugging, as the pinkette sat down. "Eventually I had to call the Subcommander, and she pretty much said she was busy with 'NERV business', whatever that means."
The eyebrow stayed up. 'Do you think she-'
'It would be her own decision, to do such a thing. Are we one to stop her, if that's what she wanted?'
She had to think about that. 'No. You have a point, fish.'
'I'm pretty sure that's what we were just discussing, Rei.' In mental deadpan.
To her amusement. "She is fine, you two. Do not worry yourself over her."
"But I suppose that does mean she'll miss this."
"Is that really a bad thing, Shinji? Considering."
"Y'know something? Probably not."
~~~
Now, she wasn't stupid, and having amicable relations with the Magi do go some way in keeping yourself incognito in a facility as sprawling as NERV.
…Probably helped her Mama had still neglected to change her secure passcode. The same one hard coded into the Eliza program in general.
Would probably come back to bite her some day, but for now it helped her rather well, snooping around the secrets of NERV.
So the lights turned on, and she was face to face with the grand device.
And her mamas. Sitting on deck chairs. It was quite evident to her they had been there for a short while, judging by the playing cards.
"I knew it was too easy." She flatly remarked, having been had.
"You know you could've asked."
"I wasn't sure you would allow me. Considering Rei's reaction."
Ritsuko shrugged. "If you wanted it, then not like I could deny my daughter. Plus, not like you could use it alone."
"Considering we were the ones to do it to Rei in the first place, as well. Did you think you could use this by yourself?"
"Honestly I didn't even expect to get this far."
"So you came down here to gawk at it."
"You could call it that. I did want to see it for myself. This... machine."
There was a bit of silence.
"...Sorry I was sneaking around, mama..." As she trudged over towards them.
Ritsuko meanwhile got up and messed Eliza's hair, as Maya went to the machine. "We can understand your thinking, Eliza. You want to be able to protect your pilot, and her friends. No matter what happened to you."
"...Not just Rei. Everyone else as well. And... she said I wasn't disposable, but it's not like I'm going to throw my life away regardless. I... love living."
"We would never throw you away like that anyway, Eliza." Gentle affirmation. "And not just because you're our daughter. Same with all our pilots."
"But you can see why I would want this kind of... contingency. I... want to protect her, mama. And... if it means that."
Her mama knew this thinking well. "It's... how we programmed you, after all." A glance to her other, who simply gave a nod. "Tell you what, Eliza. Let's... keep this between us."
Eliza lit up on her implication. "T-thank you."
A smile. "Also, that hard coded password is a honeypot now. Just thought I'd let you know."
"Would've been nice to know beforehand." Like a child, she gave a small frown to her mama. "Did the Magi tell you, as well?"
"Melchior."
"Figures."
~
Makinami continued to boggle his mind over the recent broadcasts, akin to running into a brick wall over and over again.
It was not like anything he could've anticipated, expecting more of the same 'Soma' broadcasts. It was a full on cacophony of information. He could prove there was something. But not much else from that.
What's worse, perhaps his engineers were a bit too overzealous in their usage of the now ancient probe. 158 watts was not a lot to go around, and that was with them new.
So while Hawthorne were busy trying to get communications back, he was trying to figure what this information could mean.
At least he was, until now familiar arms wrapped around him. "A new conspiracy?"
A small smile, as he relaxed slightly. "I'm trying to figure out if it's still the old conspiracy."
"...Are they still here?" Somewhat timid, which he thought completely understandable, considering.
"It seems that way." He sighed. "Don't know who else could do this."
"There's no one. Is there?"
"You have a keen mind, Claire." Flat. "Of course, you could blame everything on them."
"...They've done everything."
He chuckled, half heartedly. "Either way. Not much for me to work on here."
"Seems like a few things." His partner started looking through all the probably classified information, as she would. "So they're in space, we know that much."
"Space is a big place, after all. It took a few days for Tokyo-3 to get to the moon and back, and that's with rushing it and with my resources."
"Attacking is out of the question, then. We can't do what we did with Sovereign again, can we?"
"Unless they send a Rogue One. And with how bad Rogue-00 went."
"Thing is, Spen, after the complete failure that was Rogue-00, I doubt they will. Surely they would've used a lot of resources building it."
An image from his file. "Not to mention all their facilities are... pretty sapped right now."
Said image was of the lethal lava land known as Mars, courtesy of a telescope he requisitioned from Kaji without his knowledge, who himself requisitioned it from the US Government without their knowledge, so in a way it was fair.
His other thought. "Do... you think there'd be any intel here about what they could be up to?"
"Well... there was that raid we did on Kiel a while back. We found some documents and storage media by God you're a genius Claire!"
A glance to the floor, bashful. "T-thanks Spen."
He started going through all the files he had in their board. Even if this wasn't the complete archive of information he normally had over west, he still carried a veritable library of such information with him. "Have I even told you much about the raid we did?"
"Uhh... I think you told me a bit of it over the phone, but then... y'know. Incursion."
A few nods of acknowledgement. "Well. Let me regale you."
So he did.
"You what?!"
'Oh yeah, maybe that's why I didn't regale you at the time.' He wisely thought. "While most of the information was given to NERV, and I don't know what became of it after Rogue-00, I managed to get one thing out of there." In his hand, it didn't look too impressive.
"Is that a memory card? Like what those upmarket cameras have?"
"Precisely."
"...Do we have a way to read it?"
"No."
Awkward silence.
"Damn it."
A small giggle from his other. "You reckon you could requisition something from Massachusetts?"
"It's probably more worth my while to just jerry rig this to work with my terminal."
~
Weekends were usually for sleeping in. At least for the pilots, who weren't required to attend the otherwise mandatory Saturday classes. A fact which Kensuke often derided.
But instead of doing something productive and non traumatising, like school or sleep, they decided to get their daily dose of trauma nice and early by reading through yet another chapter of this work.
At least once everyone actually got to Shinji and Asuka's. The residents of the Geofront tended to take their sweet time.
"I don't know how this will make things worse for us." Asuka muttered. "But I know they will."
"You cannot get much worse than death, Asuka." Rei noted, being experienced in the matter.
"Coming back could be a fate worse than death."
"That ultimately depends on several aspects. Here, I did not mind returning from the dead. I am sure I would mind returning in the Laserdisc or Doujin situation."
"You did mind, if I recall." Noted Shinji.
"Fair enough, would you want to live in a world like the Laserdiscs?"
"I'd say even the Laserdisc world was better than the Doujin." Shinji thought of something. "Actually, do we know who made this?"
Kaworu gave a curious hum, seeking through what had been read. "One Studio Kimigabuchi."
"Ohhh, so it's a collective of hikikomori." Asuka spat. "I would bet 1000 yen on the fact they drew porn, if not for the fact we already know they drew porn of us!"
"I do not think they like us too much." Rei stated the obvious. "Of course, this is just one of many scenarios that could have been. So we cannot blame them too much."
"How does these works of us even... exist, then? Since if it did happen, they would have to know, surely?"
"A fascinating question, Shinji. You could theorise a few scenarios, in that regard. One, perhaps imagination itself is influenced by the rivers of time. Inspiration for your work comes from the endless expanses of reality."
"That implies everything fiction is real."
"Who's to say it isn't?" The fish noted. "Even in our own exploration of reality, for all our power we have been limited to our own collective universe. It would take trillions of lifetimes to exhaust even a fraction of what could be."
"Well that's horrifying to think about." Spoke Shinji. "What of the... other scenario?"
"Two, the pen summons the universe."
It took a bit for them to interpret what that could mean, but once they did...
"That's even worse! That implies we are merely dolls, under the whims of whoever decided to will us into existence!"
"Who's to say it isn't?" He repeated.
"Such a scenario implies free will is nonexistent, however."
"Which is a whole other can of worms. Even in religion. For if God has laid out a path for you, do you truly have free will to do what you please?"
"I never really got that, why would God want you to go off his own path?"
"Hence the counter-argument, that free will is a thing. Liken God to a watchmaker, if you will. He will build it, He will set it in motion, but whatever else it does is ultimately not up to Him. It is the watch."
"Even though a watch is meant to work... well, exactly like a watch." Shinji pointed out.
"Every watch is different, Shinji. Even if you use the same blueprint, there are always imperfections. Some lose time faster than others, some gain time. Some are fragile, and some could withstand even the strongest of forces. Surroundings may also influence these aspects."
"As is with humanity as a whole. No two individuals follow the exact same path to their destination. Such is the natural order of life."
"Oi!" A voice called out, from the entry hall. "Are you philosophising? We would've come earlier if we knew you were!"
A sudden look to the hall revealed Zero Two and Hiro, 002 waving at them while 016 gave a small chuckle at her partner's elation. "As long as you didn't start without us."
"I think that was the point of our philosophising, Hiro." Rei pointed out, before raising an eyebrow. "Did Eliza not wish to join us today?"
"I dunno, I couldn't even so much as find her." Shrugging, as the pinkette sat down. "Eventually I had to call the Subcommander, and she pretty much said she was busy with 'NERV business', whatever that means."
The eyebrow stayed up. 'Do you think she-'
'It would be her own decision, to do such a thing. Are we one to stop her, if that's what she wanted?'
She had to think about that. 'No. You have a point, fish.'
'I'm pretty sure that's what we were just discussing, Rei.' In mental deadpan.
To her amusement. "She is fine, you two. Do not worry yourself over her."
"But I suppose that does mean she'll miss this."
"Is that really a bad thing, Shinji? Considering."
"Y'know something? Probably not."
~~~
Note: The following page numbers are from Volume 02 of the Non-H version of Re-Take (consisting of Volumes 03, 00 and 04), and utilise the page numbers as per listed number or filename.
Character Key:
Shinji (S) Asuka (A)
Rei (R) Kaworu (K)
Hiro (H) Zero Two (Z)
1st Cranial (Page 5)
A: "Jesus, even having to be restrained."
S: "Knowing myself, I would've tried to strangle my father."
Z: "I think anyone would, in your situation. Hell, most of the staff probably want to strangle him."
K: "Of course, the former Commander knew you would try this. Hence the restraints."
R: "The mental instability would not help at all."
S: "I can't believe it. My mental state is even more fucked than the Laserdiscs."
Flip (6)
A: "...I know that. Sometimes you just get so upset that you can't cry. You just shut down."
H: "That's... the wedding invitation."
K: "February 14. Still before the date of Third Impact, as was listed in this universe. Sub-universe?"
R: "Branch. If all the universes are of the same tree, then anything offshoot would be a branch."
S: "Can we just snap this branch from existence, please?"
Z: "I don't think you'll get off that easy."
A: "Shit, I'm surprised Shinji hasn't ended the world. Yet."
S: "I doubt I've been in my Evangelion since then. That's the only way I could end the world."
H: "Y'know, we gawked at you ending the world, but now I can kinda see your point."
Flip (7)
R: "Exactly as you stated, Asuka."
Shinji sighed. "And they know."
A: "It is kinda obvious, Shinji. At least Rei is trying to make good on that promise."
K: "Of course, whether it will bear fruit or not is a question in of itself."
Z: "You think it will? With how fucked Shinji is, no offence?"
S: "Oh I know he's completely fucked mentally." Grumbling. "And this is what my father would've wanted."
K: "It would certainly make you more open to his suggestions. You are in his exact shoes."
S: "...Oh shit. I am, am I?"
Flip (8)
H: "...Newspaper?"
A: "Do you know what they are?"
H: "I mean... I can assume from the name."
R: "Reminds me of Simon."
S: "Except, instead of rocks, it's... newspaper."
Z: "It... doesn't look like he appreciates your company, Rei."
R: "I... doubt he would, at this point in time. Considering..."
Flip (9)
K: "One must consider, his entire interpretation of the world might've changed, in that event."
S: "Great. I'm mad."
Rei sighed. "At least I tried, for you, Asuka."
A: "I doubt you'd give up now."
H: "Hey, Kaworu? Aren't you coming in soon?"
K: "I wouldn't be surprised. And I imagine Shinji will... no. He wouldn't. Like Rei, he knows my status. He would not want to connect with me."
R: "Akin to Wolk's work."
K: "If it's like Wolk's work, then I will play my cards early. I might do so regardless, as I know the scenario has changed. Have you two seen the rest of the Laserdiscs?"
Zero Two shook her head. "We kinda didn't."
A huff. "You may be confused, then."
H: "As usual."
Fifth Children (10)
S: "Y'know something? At this point I'd gladly accept death."
A: "You're being very candid with someone who could definitely kill you."
K: "It does seem rather... suicidal of me."
R: "Then again, we know here I was able to develop such ability. There, well, the scenario is different."
Z: "I'm sure your protectiveness of him is the same throughout any branch."
Flip (11)
Kaworu huffed. "I see they know full well of my status."
H: "Was... that the same here?"
K: "Essentially. Except... well, the fact I am here today means I was able to break free of this."
A: "Unit-02 isn't the only Evangelion. There's still Unit-00 and Unit-01 you could hijack."
R: "He does have a point. Tokyo-3 was designed as a trap for Angels."
K: "And I was well within the spider's web."
Z: "Why would SEELE want Shinji?"
S: "As... he said. They feel since I'm... broken, I'm useless."
K: "Ah, but the Commander has a plan for you, still."
R: "Unit-01 was key to his own plan. In return so would the pilot."
S: "At this point, I'd accept death with open arms. After how I tried to make things better, only to just fuck them up harder."
K: "I doubt I will simply kill you outright."
Flip (12)
Shinji simply growled.
A: "Manipulated into making it my own decision. I mean, that's kinda bullshit."
R: "Armisael would have killed one of us."
K: "But indeed, this was made to his advantage. To make you more... pliable."
H: "Then again, you kinda handed this information to him on a silver platter."
S: "Here, we tried our damndest to keep it hidden from NERV. Even then."
A: "I guess it's a good thing SEELE made things go to shit before Commander Asshole could try to blackmail us."
Alive (13)
A: "WAIT WHAT?!?!? HOW THE FUCK AM I-" She thought, glancing on Rei's rather horrified face. "A-Am I... Rei?"
R: "...That would be the only way you are alive, at this point."
K: "Whether you could even call it living, at this point. It depends how the soul was, when it was recovered."
S: "I don't think he would mind."
A: "But why the fuck would he clone me? I never really fit into his plan, that fucking asshole can't even leave me dead!"
Z: "So you can't even die in this world and be safe?"
S: "You guys got here through death, so yeah."
Flip (14)
A: "...Holy shit I am alive. How the fuck..?"
S: "...If my father wanted to have me... pliable, he wouldn't... revive you."
K: "Ah. A dream, then."
H: "Great to hear this optimism, guys."
R: "Considering."
S: "I'm sure if reality wanted to really fuck me."
K: "It would fit this tone. I imagine this could be just a part of the various mental issues that would come with your partner dying."
Z: "So you guys have already given up on her being alive."
A: "It wouldn't even be nice at this point if I was. Sure, I'd get to be with Shinji for a bit longer, but SEELE are well on their way to the endgame."
Flip (15)
Z: "...You're with Shinji now."
A: "But... that doesn't make sense, from what we know. Even with Rei living, the only reason she lived was cause Commander Asshole had copies of her."
R: "In addition to a bespoke device, used to recover souls. Thus allowing me to... persist."
K: "They've also terminated her pilot status. If she was to come back as Rei did, they would not do this."
H: "So what, we just wait until it screws you over, Shinji?"
S: "We haven't had to wait." Grumbling. "It's almost always me, isn't it?"
A: "Give me some credit, I had to go through some shit in all of them as well."
R: "In addition to me. Not many people come back from death, after all."
K: "I was meant to die. And judging from all the other worlds involving us we've seen, me actually breaking from this pattern appears to be the exception."
Z: "What the fuck, why does the universe hate you all so much?"
They all shrugged. "That's how it goes, for us. We're used to it."
A: "We've developed a habit of telling the universe to shove it."
Flip (16)
A: "...Then again, that could-" She stopped herself. "No. I'm not setting myself up for disappointment."
R: "It is feasible, admittedly. Shinji was recovered through similar circumstances, in the Laserdiscs. Even here, the situation with Hikari was a similar scenario, if not a similar solution."
K: "And it would be a rather nice thought. Your mother actually protecting you from death."
H: "It sure seems like things have gone well. Well enough, at least."
S: "You don't get free lunches. If she was brought back, then the reasoning for it..."
A grim look on Asuka's face. "Lets just say, if they brought me back from this, then I'd probably prefer death."
Flip (17)
Z: "I dunno, it sure looks like things have gone alright."
A: "This goes against what Commander Asshole said! If I was back like this, Shinji would not have a reason to follow him."
R: "It is rather illogical, is it not?"
K: "Hence our conclusion this is a mere dream."
S: "And knowing my father, he would not even care if Asuka died."
H: "At least the others cared."
A: "I'd say the bridge bunnies cared more for us than Commander Asshole ever did."
Home (18)
A: "Y'know? I'm trying not to set myself up for disappointment, cause I know this is gonna completely screw us. But..."
R: "With a sight like this, it is difficult."
A: "...Yeah. I mean, I would like this."
K: "Your words might have very well held true. Knowing the Commander."
S: "They did hold true."
A: "...Still is kinda true. Though at least here, our chances of dying are more or less even. Maybe excepting you two."
R: "The Solenoid does help your chances of living through most things, true."
Z: "Hell, we already died. And we ended up alright."
R: "I would say you two handled death better than anyone."
H: "I mean, as far as we know you are the only one who has had to deal with it."
A: "Still... my point stands. We've always been riding the edge of the abyss. And... when you have to seriously consider the possibility you could be dead this time tomorrow... well. You live for today." A longing look towards Shinji. "We're still like that. Aren't we?"
S: "We... still could die anytime. We're still pilots, after all."
Z: "...Same with us. And look how that ended up."
R: "...Perhaps that is what you are planning, in this page."
Flip (19)
Asuka gave a huff. "Yeah, I'm not surprised I would want to fuck my brains out, after that."
S: "Much like this world." He noted.
R: "Except that is usually near death. Not... death."
K: "Still. This is rather accurate."
H: "How... do you know it's accurate for them?"
R: "Trust us. We know." A small smirk.
Z: "Ohhhh. She's a screamer."
Three heads thudded on the desk, as the Nephilim laughed their asses off. "We did not mean it that way."
Flip (20)
A: "This is not helping our case." Her head was still buried in the desk, having only given a cursory glance to the page.
Z: "I see you know what you want, Asuka."
A: "Not. Helping."
R: "To be fair, I would call showing Shinji... that, quite a deliberate bait."
S: "It still baits me. It'd bait anyone."
A: "Not these guys." Pointing to Hiro and Kaworu, who were busy studying the divot in the wall.
H: "It's bait, but in the sense if I was caught looking at it, Zero Two would throw me through the window."
Z: "Not a window, I care about you too much darling." A caring tone. "A wall would carry an equivalent message anyway, without the risk of any glass cutting you."
R: "I see you are learning from us."
Flip (21)
R: "Oh my~"
A: "Starting to get a bit too lewd for what I'd like." Disgruntled. "Non-H, don't make me laugh."
Z: "So this is what you do in the bedroom."
A thud on the desk.
K: "Can we look yet?"
R: "No."
S: "Though... you're not usually this rough."
A: "Well, there's a few reasons why I may be this rough. Like death. I'm sure death wouldn't help."
R: "In this case, it would be near death."
A: "It is like us, then!"
Flip (22)
An eyebrow went up. "Oh, I'm stopping? Did I finally catch my wits?'
S: "That's a rarity." He muttered.
A: "Oi!"
H: "This is a rather interesting wall, isn't it Kaworu."
K: "Yes, yes, very interesting. Take your time you guys."
Z: "Imagine, if this was the H version, you guys would have to pretty much leave the apartment whenever this happened."
K: "I don't doubt it."
Convenience (23)
A: "I FUCKING KNEW IT!" Slamming her fist on the table. "It was too good to be true!"
The two men looking at the wall immediately jerked their heads back to the work, her exclamation indicating the lewd scene was over. Or more accurately, the lewd scene crashed off a cliff. "As we expected, then."
R: "As Asuka would most likely say, the universe fucks us whenever it can. Why would it suddenly cut you two a break?"
H: "And you completely expect it at this point. This God must hate you, then."
A: "Oh I don't doubt that one bit. I'm still angry at him for what happened to my mama."
S: "The worst thing about this is, it was feasible. Considering I came back from a core in the Laserdiscs. Hell, Hikari came back from a core here."
K: "All the better to completely crush you. Only, this time around, it was your own mind self destructing itself."
Shinji sighed. "Damn it."
Flip (24)
Z: "Why would this apparition of you want Shinji to be... like that?"
K: "We aren't exactly foreign to mental disorder. I wouldn't be surprised if his post-Instrumentality mind was even more damaged."
S: "I mean, it would come with Instrumentality, wouldn't it?"
R: "Of course, one must consider the possibility that this Asuka... could not be explained by a simple..." A grimace at her choice of words. "Relatively simple mental disorder."
A: "Wait, do you think that is me? At least my post-Instrumentality self?"
R: "It is a possibility. We know for a fact someone can carry multiple souls, not just their own. Your mothers themselves are examples of this."
S: "So... I carry the soul of the Asuka from my first loop, who I carried back due to whatever method of actually going back happened, and now she's terrorising me because she hates my guts because of what happened in the Laserdiscs?"
R: "To put it simply."
He shrugged. "Makes sense."
H: "No it doesn't!"
A: "You haven't lived here long enough."
Flip (25)
Zero Two and Hiro continued to try wrapping their brains around the theory they came up with.
A: "Still... it's pretty fucked how it came to this."
S: "Goes to show my mental state, doesn't it?"
K: "I think I've seen a pattern. The first volume screwed Rei. The second volume screwed Asuka. And now, it'll screw you, Shinji."
A: "See, that pattern is all well and good. If Shinji wasn't also fucked over for the past two volumes."
R: "Therefore, this will screw Shinji over more."
S: "Thing is, I can see things going this way."
Z: "No wonder you guys aren't optimistic about this stuff."
A: "We have our reasons, as you've seen."
I Feel Sick (26)
There was disquiet at the scene.
A: "...Damn it. I should've expected you get riled up like this."
R: "In his mind, you ripped away something that would make him happy. Even if it was a dream."
Z: "Not to mention the fact that this Asuka has been consistently fucking with you from the beginning. Makes sense you snap."
S: "I doubt I even see her as Asuka. Merely a figment."
K: "A figment you can put in a stranglehold."
H: "...Perhaps it's not just a figment, then."
R: "As we had suggested, then."
Flip (28)
The unease only got worse. "...Man, he's really going at it."
S: "As... I would be. I've... had enough. She pushed me too hard, and... in my state."
A: "...Thing is, we know this is a thing that can happen from the Laserdiscs."
R: "One could say it was an apparition of you that pushed Shinji to cause Instrumentality."
K: "History is repeating itself, then."
R: "Indeed it is. Perhaps this apparition of you should have known he could do this. If it even is you, and not merely his mind."
Flip (29)
A: "Even like this, she finds a way to torment you."
R: "If we consider she is the you of the Laserdiscs, at the end of the Laserdiscs. Then you could interpret many of Shinji's actions and inactions as... that."
S: "...Even doing the same actions as the Laserdiscs..."
H: "See, we still haven't seen the end of the Laserdiscs."
K: "This will be very... interesting for you, then. I was going to say fun."
Z: "Gee, can't wait."
Flip (30)
A: "That's... not the other Asuka."
K: "Yet another way to torment Shinji. He would never lay his hands on her."
Z: "Are we considering both Asuka's seperate entities?"
R: "That would be for the best, as both Asuka's are essentially separate."
H: "Which Asuka is the real Asuka, though?"
R: "Both. The Asuka of Shinji's mind is Asuka as she was after Instrumentality. The other Asuka is the Asuka of the Laserdiscs, influenced by the looping Shinji."
S: "Yeah, to death."
Z: "Maybe that is what this page is trying to say."
They had to look over the imagery again, on her behest. "I... can certainly see that."
Flip (31)
A: "Oh God..."
S: "And my suffering continues." A long sigh. "Thing is... I can see myself reacting like this."
H: "Even here?"
Shinji simply nodded.
R: "He had lost someone close. Someone he had given everything to. As here. And... now that is gone."
K: "It makes sense, then, why he would react in such a way."
Z: "...And all to make him more compliant to his father. I thought Franxx was bad but shit."
A: "You can understand our cynical and pragmatic view on reality, then. The only out we even really have is with our partners and friends."
R: "And this world is the best scenario for us, we have found out. Every other world, at least one of us ends up dead."
K: "Worst case scenario: the world as we know it ends up ending. Even in the so far best scenario we have witnessed thus far, it was partially set after the world had ended. And it took careful manoeuvring from a much more mature Shinji and Asuka to set the world on the right track."
A: "Even here, we had to walk with catlike tread, so as to not get fucking murdered."
Flip (32)
Shinji sighed, for what seemed like the 12th time today. "I don't think I'd mind that too much, at this point."
Enter the Fish (33)
H: "It's... understandable why you would run away. You want nothing to do with this anymore."
S: "Not like I can run. They'll always find me eventually."
A: "And you've tried it, Shinji. You'd know."
Z: "We tried that as well. Didn't end too well."
K: "And yet, that was the seed of your friendship."
Flip (34)
R: "Well. That was resolved rather quickly."
K: "And here I make my entrance. Seems like you didn't mind I wanted to kill Shinji." He dryly remarked.
R: "For one, I could kill you just as easily; and two, I doubt he would mind at this point."
S: "I wouldn't." Flat. "And I doubt I'll even try connecting with you, Kaworu, cause I know. Like in Wolk's work."
A: "You seem rather friendly so far, Shin-chan."
Z: "Maybe you are trying to connect with him, then. How was your relationship like in the Laserdiscs?"
S: "He was the first person to say he loved me."
Z: "Well no wonder you're so friendly with him."
H: "Though what happened next? The way you make it sound-"
K: "He had to kill me."
Zero Two had pursed lips. "That would put a damper on your relationship."
Rei gave a small giggle at the unexpected reference.
Flip (35)
S: "They're right. How the hell can I still pilot?"
K: "Maybe my presence helped you, in some way."
A: "Considering Shinji has... well, I would say no one, but Rei's still there."
S: "I pretty much pushed her as far away from me as I could, though."
R: "And yet I am still trying. It is still whether or not you want me."
H: "From what we've seen."
Z: "Are they seriously gonna deploy you like that? In my world-"
A: "You have literal farms of pilots. Here, we don't have that kind of luxury. Shit, in this they deployed me when I was supposed to have zero sync."
Z: "Yeah, and that went well."
S: "Plus, I think we established in this you only have to... push me in a certain direction, to get results."
Fish Dinner (36)
They gawked at the imagery, and especially at the shocked look of Kaworu. "I... didn't expect this?"
R: "Does he plan on... ending you?"
K: "I would not be surprised. I am the seventeenth, after all."
S: "So it's me doing the betrayal this time around?"
A: "You probably see it as revenge."
Z: "Well this escalated quickly. Not just a stampede as well."
K: "Shinji knows full well what he's doing." Conceding. "No one else but SEELE and the Commanders would, however. This would be seen as cold."
Flip (37)
K: "And yet... he did not go for the kill. At least immediately."
S: "I... would still have those feelings for you, I imagine. Even if..."
A: "Even if you want to tear him to shreds."
K: "It would be difficult not to justify such action. But only if you knew."
R: "I am certain SEELE would not like this."
A: "Not like they would even care. Kaworu was always meant to fail, weren't ya?"
K: "Indeed. Whether I made my play and was disposed by the Evangelion, or they grew impatient and took to the rifle."
H: "Obviously that didn't happen here."
Z: "I think that's rather evident, darling."
Flip (38)
The roundtable grimaced at the thought.
K: "An odd strategy, but one with precedence. In the Laserdiscs, the Solenoid was obtained via Zeruel."
H: "So here..?"
K: "I do not think he will stop."
Z: "Or you will stop him?"
Shaking his head. "I could. But someone else will stop me regardless."
A: "You seem rather fine with being eaten alive, Kaworu."
K: "It would be rather instantaneous, at the very least. It's not the worst death I could think of. Or even recall. One of the most prominent echos of time are of my demises."
S: "What is the worst you can think of?"
He had to think. "You know near the end of Return of the Jedi, where the Emperor used his lightning attack on Luke? Pretty much that. Except worse."
A: "...What? How does that even work?"
K: "Such information has been lost to rivers of time. I cannot even recall who it was."
S: "Knowing our luck, it'll show up one day."
K: "I... would rather not."
Zero Two had a look of horror and confusion on her.
Flip (39)
H: "You would what?!"
A: "Yeah, this is normal for Shinji."
S: "You support me whenever I end a world that fucked us."
K: "And yet, my words ring true. You would go to such lengths to get any of us back. Even if it meant casting the remainder to the fire."
S: "Like father, like son." He mocked. "I know full well I can do that."
Z: "And you guys don't mind that he could end the world."
R: "We generally give him a pass if the world was less than kind to us."
A: "Which is pretty much all the time. I think the only time we weren't open to him ending one of these worlds was Wolk's work."
K: "What an achievement."
H: "I'm guessing here as well?"
A: "Oh, yeah. Here is fine too, I guess." Deliberately flippant.
H: "That doesn't instill me with much confidence."
Flip (40)
Kaworu bowed his head. "If ones soul has nothing but one feeling, then it would be pure."
S: "...I'm not surprised Asuka was the only one keeping me tethered to reality. Kinda like here."
A: "At least here, you have others tethering you to the ground so you don't fly off into the sun, should I happen to snap." A look towards Rei and Kaworu.
H: "I think it rather evident in the doujin, he lacked such other tethers."
R: "...You died again?" She sounded less saddened and more irritated.
K: "Disappointing, is it not? I don't think I even lasted a day."
A: "Well: you met Shinji, he asked you to see his sync test, and then he ate you. I don't even think it's lunchtime!"
Z: "Was that why he ate you?"
Despite the morbid nature of the joke and everything, they laughed.
K: "I would say this is a new record. For how long I lasted, once I met Shinji."
A: "Rather, how long you didn't last. Cause I'm sure you completely blew every other you out of the water."
H: "Man, you guys are dark."
Pattern Blue (41)
Kaworu ripped (42) the page from the work and burnt it in his hands, before anyone else could get so much as a look at it. "No."
H: "I'm not even gonna ask what it was."
A quick transmission from Kaworu revealed to Rei what it was, and she felt somewhat sick. 'I would say that was wise, fish.'
'I was not going to let you see that, in such a way.'
'I would not want to see such a thing. T- thank you.'
A: "So you killed Kaworu, which I assume the aftermath is what you protected us from, but there's still a pattern Blue?"
K: "Perhaps Shinji's... method had unforeseen consequences."
Z: "How bad was it?"
K: "As bad as you would expect, from such a morbid demise."
S: "Great, so I made thing's worse." Grumbling. "Was there anything else we missed on that page? Other than... the mess?"
K: "I... think you realised what you did."
S: "I couldn't realise that before?"
A: "So what the fuck is happening now?"
H: "Not even Misato knows."
Flip (43)
K: "Indeed, the scenario has changed quite a bit at this point."
R: "They would not have expected one of the pilots... eat you."
H: "Would anyone expect that?"
A: "Knowing them, I'm sure they planned for such a fucked up possibility."
Z: "Is that Shinji, or... someone else?"
K: "Might be, but then again why would Shinji be allowed to go here? After... what happened."
S: "It's Maya. Ritsuko did say we looked rather familiar."
R: "Interesting how Kaji decides to inform Maya, instead of Misato. Then again, I doubt they have quite the same relationship as the Laserdiscs."
K: "This work has shown him more with Maya, I noticed. It's rather fascinating how the dynamic between people can completely change with outside influence."
A: "Then again, I doubt Rits and Maya would've even gotten together here, if not for you Rei."
R: "Considering this society, I would not be surprised."
Flip (44)
Z: "...So it's come to that?"
R: "As in the Laserdiscs. Only... I think we can safely assume it is not Misato holding the gun."
K: "Quite the radical departure from even the Laserdisc reality. Here and even there, Maya would not even touch a gun."
'Unless... she was pushed that way.'
'...Indeed.'
A: "And now, she's holding it against her Sempai."
S: "...Man, it's a good thing they aren't reading this, is it?"
Z: "I'm pretty sure they have the other copies of this."
Hiro gave her an unamused look.
Z: "I'm guessing they didn't want to know that?"
A: "I would've been happy not knowing that. Maya doesn't deserve this shit."
Flip (45)
A: "Not Maya? God damn it stop trying to bait us!"
R: "It appears Maya will still be Maya."
K: "Interesting how this has happened in a similar way, then. Kaji is not dead. Yet. Therefore why would she be this... cold?"
S: "Kaji may not be dead. But Asuka..."
K: "That would do it."
H: "Whatever would Maya be doing, then? Do both of them want the truth?"
R: "I would assume so. They would both use differing ways of obtaining this truth, however."
Human (46)
K: "I don't believe that for one second. If there is one constant to me, it is that I am Nephilim."
R: "It would be a believable falsehood, for Shinji."
S: "At the very least, it would break me more."
A: "What was that pattern Blue, then?"
Z: "You even looked like you do here, wouldn't you look different if you weren't Nephilim?"
K: "Most likely. The only reason I came to be in the first place was through SEELE. And for their purposes. Why would they even send me to NERV if I was not Nephilim?"
H: "If this doesn't make sense to you, then we're really in trouble."
A: "Yeah, that's putting it lightly."
R: "Let us hope the next pages help shed light on what is happening."
Flip (47)
K: "And now, they would both know."
Z: "She already looks like she regrets it."
R: "What she found out in the Laserdiscs, was that I was cloned."
S: "Would that be similar, then?"
A: "They haven't gotten rid of the tank, yet. So it can still come up."
H: "I'd say we are gonna regret knowing what it is."
Flip (48)
A: "So it is Maya showing you what's going on."
S: "At least this time around."
Z: "Have you even been to Terminal here? I know that's what happened in the Laserdiscs."
Shinji shook his head. "Never even stepped foot in there. Asuka's been there before I did."
A: "If you could even call it that."
R: "And still calling her Sempai, despite all that has happened between the two of them."
K: "That would definitely be a Maya thing."
H: "Must say, you look alright for just being told Kaworu was human."
S: "I'm not even sure if he believes it."
K: "It does go against what we would expect. But think about it, to this Shinji, I have only been Nephilim once. Two occurrences is not enough to establish a pattern, after all."
A: "Even in Wolk's work, you were the same as you are. I think they only told him you were human to save face."
K: "That would be logical. If SEELE knew that he knew I was an Angel, that would not sit well."
R: "He is about to know a lot more than they have anticipated, however."
Flip (49)
R: "I think the illustrator read too much Jojo."
K: "It's not even rather menacing. That's simply the rumbling of the door."
A: "I mean, I'm sure Terminal Dogma would be quite menacing to someone like Shinji."
Alive (50)
Shinji took a double take. "You're... actually alive?"
A: "...If you could call it living. It's like... mama."
R: "You even have that doll."
A: "...Yeah."
She timidly went for Shinji's hand. "How... am I alive?"
K: "A similar method to Rei, I would suggest."
R: "...You have to go through this as well?"
Z: "Maybe your cynicism about this is founded. You can't even die."
Flip (52)
H: "I... don't think you would mind, Shinji."
S: "...If it was Asuka. And not just... a shell."
R: "It ultimately depends on the recovery of the soul. We know... such recovery can be rather lossy."
A: "I don't think... that is me. Like... mama."
K: "Armisael may have taken... more than your life."
Flip (53)
A: "...The fuck?"
R: "Is this the power of a mother's love, perhaps."
H: "Pattern Blue, however. An Angel?"
S: "Evangelion come up as pattern Blue as well."
K: "The Magi simply know to differentiate between Angel and Evangelion."
Z: "I mean, there's no one else it could be. At least, from my knowledge of what the core is."
A: "It's rather convenient, ain't it?" She pointed out. "So why the fuck could it not get my mind? That's a bit of a Faustian deal if I've seen one."
K: "Reality is-"
A: "Often disappointing, yes. I think we've established that well and good."
Flip (54)
Asuka really didn't expect this revelation, hitting her like a punch to guts. "...w-What?"
K: "...Interesting." He could only say.
A: "H-how... is that possible?"
Kaworu gave Rei a significant look. "I... do not know. This... is beyond what we know."
R: "Indeed. This is something completely unexpected."
S: "If... we ignore the fact we don't know why our child was an Angel. This means... it was our child that protected you, Asuka."
Yet another gut punch. "...Protected?"
Z: "...No wonder the Commander hid this from you."
H: "Such a thing would... further destroy you."
S: "...Not like I'm exactly whole at this point."
R: "Are you... okay, Asuka?"
A meek nod. "...Yeah." And a squeeze on Shinji's hand. "I'll be fine."
Apparition (55)
A: "...Maybe."
K: "The you of Instrumentality."
A: "There to torment Shinji again?"
S: "I... am not gonna let go of you easily."
H: "Would any of us?"
Z: "She may certainly try."
R: "What could she do, if she was but an apparition of his mind? Other than attacks of the mind."
Flip (56)
Asuka sighed, once again, shifting herself ever closer to her partner. "You... softie."
S: "Even if you're... gone. I still love you. As I would."
A: "...Idiot."
Flip (57)
R: "I would say that was accurate. You have heard so much about what happened."
K: "At this point, it would not change much, about your mental state. You still wish to end this world."
S: "...Just add it to the list of reasons."
H: "I'm sure you could spend... forever with Asuka, if you wanted."
A: "Thing is, he can. And... if Rei and Kaworu weren't around, maybe he would."
Zero Two gave a look to the other Nephilim.
Who gave a nod. "We... made promises to one another. If... one of us were to pass. We would support the one who remained."
A: "It... would be better than ending the world, if one of us were to... die."
S: "It's a shame I don't have that... luxury, in this."
Flip (58)
A: "...what?"
Z: "I feel that's been said a lot."
K: "Most interesting."
H: "Do we have any theories?"
K: "A side effect of looping, perhaps. Then again, the Wolk loop did not bestow upon you two the status of Nephilim."
A: "He doesn't even look Nephilim!"
S: "Not like we could really tell, if I was as pale as Rei and Kaworu."
R: "Surely that would have been pointed out."
Z: "Like us, then? Cause we're Nephilim. And we came here somehow."
K: "Only yours wasn't a loop. It's more akin to a rebirth."
A: "So the mechanism of how Shinji returned is different?"
K: "In Wolk's work, it was implied I was involved in sending you back. Evidentially, I did not hold such a role in this."
S: "So what, after Instrumentality, the Gods just thought to punish me for what happened?"
A: "Sure seems like that."
R: "That does explain a few of the... oddities of this work. Shinji's increased strength and skill at using Unit-01. The AT-Field anomaly during Arael. The fact your child was an Angel."
S: "...Like you, then."
A nod. "Very much like us."
K: "That would imply a non-Nephilim can become Nephilim. Instead of having to be born."
Z: "Uhh, is Nephilim interchangeable with Angel, in this instance?"
K: "More or less. Angel is generally used to identify the pureborn kin of Adam or Lilith, whereas Nephilim refers to the hybrid of Adam and human, or Lilith and human."
H: "What of Adam and Lilith?"
K: "The world ends."
Zero Two gave a few panicked glances between Rei and Kaworu.
Which managed to get a few laughs out of said Nephilim. "Trust us, if that was the case, the world would have ended a long time ago." Rei emulated Zero Two's cheeky look.
Angel (59)
A: "He's completely an Angel?"
S: "How the hell have Kaworu and I swapped roles?"
K: "Even if the electronic impulses differ from a human, the feelings are still evident."
R: "I would say you were proof of this."
Z: "I mean, NERV would be scared of anything Angel, wouldn't they?"
K: "That was one of the reasons we kept our status to ourselves. We still do, in fact. At least outside of NERV."
R: "Ignorance is bliss, as they say."
S: "Still... I don't know how I could be an Angel. Sure, it would explain why Kaworu was human, but..."
R: "Another unforeseen consequence of whatever caused you to loop. Whatever caused it, it was a different mechanism to the Wolkian method."
A: "Not like we know how the 'Wolkian method' of looping back in time even works."
H: "You have to categorise methods of going back in time?"
A: "I mean, there's only two, so you don't need to do too much."
H: "That's still two more than what should be normal."
Flip (60)
K: "And that was always the other question. What happened to the Shinji of before?"
R: "You could say the same of Wolk's work. However, they did not focus on the metaphysical implications of such a thing."
A: "Shit, thinking about that sort of thing too much would probably fry their brains."
S: "Well that's me screwed, then."
Z: "There was always gonna be a catch, wasn't there?"
A: "There's been several catches so far, and Shinji here has been fucked by all of them."
R: "Par for the course, at this point."
H: "Surely you could still persist through this."
S: "I mean, the universe has just fucked me again, after having fucked me a first time. If that doesn't completely vaporise my mind then I don't know what will."
Z: "What, did they think you didn't suffer enough during the Laserdiscs? Even a few episodes in, we decided you got the short stick."
A: "It's almost comical how much the universe has it out for us. Sure, sometimes you get something good, but more often than not it's just a trauma filled shitshow."
R: "And yet, we continue to consume these works."
A: "Well, yeah. Cause there's always the chance one of these things eventually cuts us a break."
K: "Serves to remind us just how well this reality ended up, as well."
A: "That too."
Flip (61)
A: "I mean, I'm already dead."
R: "And yet that was not enough for them."
H: "But why would that Asuka want you dead?"
A: "Revenge, obviously. She saw what Shinji did in Instrumentality."
K: "Evidently, she decided on a... much less constructive method of patching things up, compared to Wolk's work."
S: "But if I die, won't she go with me?"
A: "I doubt she would even mind, at this rate. She has complete contempt of you, Shinji."
Z: "How the hell can she kill him, if she's just an apparition?"
A: "She'll certainly try. Probably shatter his mind, in some way."
S: "In my state, she'll struggle even finding something to shatter."
Flip (62)
H: "...Seems she doesn't have to try."
R: "That would have been a given, either way."
A: "...Still. I hate seeing us in this state."
K: "They would rather die, then live in this world."
Z: "Or take the world with them."
Shinji reaffirmed his hold on Asuka, the two buddied up for a good majority of this reading so far. "...Like usual, then."
A: "...And like usual, we would like this world to end. Even more so than even the Theatrical."
Z: "If... you were in this state. Would you do the same thing?"
S: "...Probably."
Leave (64)
A: "How the hell are they gonna smuggle me out of there?"
R: "I do not think many even realise you are down there."
Z: "Should be as easy as stuffing you in a box or something."
A: "Ah Christ."
S: "They may try, but knowing this shit I fully expect it to fail."
K: "In probably the worst way it can."
Flip (65)
A: "Fuck it is a box! Damn it Zero Two!"
A small smug look, somewhat muted due to the... well, everything.
K: "I'm sure this source is our friendly neighbourhood double agent."
R: "As it would be.
S: "Who's stopping us, though?"
H: "Probably the worst person it could be."
S: "I don't understand my father's thought process with that."
K: "Only that wasn't his thoughts. He wanted you like this so you would follow his plan for Instrumentality, your skill in piloting Unit-01 is otherwise irrelevant in this situation."
A: "It appears our double agent got some bad intel."
Flip (66)
Asuka stared at the page, before this stare slowly shifted to Hiro.
H: "My bad?"
A: "Yes. Your bad."
S: "I reckon the only worse person they could've encountered in this situation is my father."
K: "I gather I don't need to state the obvious in that she saw straight through this attempt."
R: "She would therefore also know it was Shinji in there. Or Asuka."
Z: "Does she not even care, in this state?"
A: "You should know this. Misato hates the Angels for what they did to her. And... since Shinji is an Angel."
Rei and Kaworu could pick up on the timid looks of Hiro and Zero Two. "It... took an extreme amount of care to inform her of our... status. Even with our strong relationship with her."
H: "That sounds like it was wise. Considering how she... reacted here."
Flip (67)
R: "An AT-Field."
K: "You really are an Nephilim."
S: "I... don't think Misato will react well to this."
A: "It basically confirm her fears. So yeah, she probably wouldn't."
S: "But especially seeing me... like this. If she even cares about me now."
Z: "Surely she cares for you, even now."
H: "That may be when she realises what she tried to do. In her anger."
Flip (68)
There was quiet disquiet.
R: "...It appears you were correct, Hiro."
Flip (69)
Rei gave a half hearted chuckle. "Kaji is not the only one to engage in espionage."
A: "She's actually not bad at this kind of stuff. Gotta give credit where it's due, she was the one behind sabotaging Jet Alone."
S: "So... both decided to use Maya for their own purposes?"
K: "Not too beyond any of them. Even Misato engaged in this, at least in the Laserdiscs."
R: "All's fair in love and war."
Z: "Yeah, I can't see Maya as a secret agent."
A: "Oh Maya's way too innocent for that kind of business. I'm still kinda surprised that not only are there people like her remaining in this world, but they can work for NERV."
R: "She likes to see the best in the world, and has a strong belief in technology."
H: "It's more than you can say of you guys."
R: "It appears Ritsuko fully expects SEELE to launch their incursion, as well."
K: "They would certainly know Shinji's status."
Senseless Death (70)
K: "Speaking of."
R: "They are skipping the hacking of the Magi?"
A: "Looks like they're skipping even a final meeting with Commander Asshole."
K: "They of all people know how completely off the rails the plan has gone."
S: "Would... would they know you were human?"
K: "They would have to."
H: "Did this happen in the... who am I kidding, of course it happened in the Laserdiscs."
R: "Even there, they had some warning. Here, we fully expected a SEELE incursion."
A: "Mainly cause they fucked up and played their hands early. By the time the JSSDF got here, not only was the whole damn city locked down, there were three Evangelion deployed and waiting."
S: "And yet they still tried nuking us."
A: "Thank God for Hikari, eh Shinji?"
Flip (71)
Z: "I see they aren't wasting any time, are they?"
A: "Of course they wouldn't! I wouldn't be surprised if this goes worse than the damn Laserdiscs, and that was fucked enough!"
R: "And yet, I doubt Shinji will simply bow down and die."
S: "Not now."
Flip (72)
H: "THAT'S A NUKE?!"
K: "It happened in the Laserdiscs."
R: "How many people would this have killed?"
A: "Surely they would've evacuated everyone beforehand. Even the Laserdiscs did as much."
S: "Or it could be another example at how much worse this has gotten."
Flip (73)
K: "I'm sure this will go a similar way to the Laserdiscs, either way."
Z: "I can only guess it's 'Get Shinji in the Eva'."
S: "Pretty much. Unless someone shoots me first."
A: "You won't die now. How will you suffer more if you end up dead?"
S: "Gee, thanks."
Flip (74)
R: "Only... it is not the barrel of the JSSDF you are facing."
Shinji grunted. "Figures it's Misato."
A: "I'm sure she would've preferred you die."
K: "If he dies now, then all his suffering would've resulted in nothing."
A: "At least here, sure we all suffered but we got something."
S: "More than you can say of the Laserdiscs."
Flip (75)
R: "Join the club."
H: "We know that well. We were born to be tools."
K: "As were we."
A: "At least we had some years of not being tools."
S: "When we were toddlers."
Z: "You could make the choice to die."
S: "Knowing Misato, she wouldn't make that decision."
A: "Our Misato."
Flip (76)
S: "...And knowing me."
R: "You would not be able to refuse her. Not now."
K: "Not when... that happened. During her protection of you."
H: "She... died? During the endgame?"
A: "Yeah... don't say we spoiled you, since you figured it out on your own."
Decision (77)
Z: "She's not happy."
A: "Fuck her. She's been antagonising Shinji as long as this shit's been going on."
H: "Sounds like that's what Shinji's thinking."
S: "Though... why would I disappear?"
The Nephilim had to think. "...A grandfather paradox? If... Instrumentality never happened. Then you would not exist to go back."
A: "See, that would work. If not for the fact the timeline has been permanently fucked. If he was gonna get erased from time, he would've done so earlier, surely."
K: "Not to mention that is not what happened in Wolk's work. And, as we know other worlds exist, we can expect any sort of looping to result in a new branch altogether."
S: "Maybe I should just go back and try again."
A: "Shinji, things are this bad on the first loop. I don't know how, but I know it would get so much worse if you went back."
S: "You're probably not wrong."
Flip (78)
R: "Is... this what she wanted, perhaps?"
A: "I imagine it would help... though, I don't know if she's too far gone, at this point."
K: "The eyes don't lie, Asuka. Shock, and disconcertion. She does not know what to think of this."
S: "...I would hope you take it well."
Flip (79)
H: "And yet, you still fight him."
A: "Looks like I was right with my thoughts. Damn it."
R: "Even without an S2 Organ."
S: "But I fight. As I would."
Z: "You have that determination, Shinji."
K: "Not to mention your status as Nephilim will help boost any chance you have. Even if Unit-01 was not augmented with an S2 Organ."
A: "...I don't think she realises this. Blinded by her own hatred of him."
Flip (80)
R: "And that is the core of this conflict between him and your Instrumentality self. Your complete hatred of him has clouded your mind."
K: "I wonder if she will understand this, eventually."
Asuka shook her head. "I don't think she will. I'd say she's just as damaged as Shinji is."
S: "Quite the achievement, at this point."
Flip (81)
The redhead grumbled, looking on with disdain at this work before feeling disgusted with herself that this was exactly what her other was doing. "God... damn it."
Z: "You aren't completely catatonic. Not like that's much of a consolation."
S: "Hopefully... Misato will protect you. Even if you're in... this state. I wouldn't want you to die again."
A: "Even if I was better off dead? God knows I wouldn't want to live like that."
She could see the conflict on his face.
A: "...Hopefully you won't have to make that decision."
Love (82)
R: "...You still remember your love for Shinji."
A: "As... I would. Out of all the things to forget... I wouldn't want to forget that."
S: "At least... you have that going for you."
K: "From the looks of it, that's also opened up some old feelings in your alt."
Z: "I mean, that's still you, Asuka. The one who has feelings for him."
A: "...I think she understands that."
Flip (83)
H: "It looks like you think the doll is Shinji."
K: "I think that is what the alternate Asuka meant, with her choice of words."
A: "Like... mama." Yet another sigh. "Hopefully this wraps up soon. I wouldn't mind wanting to spend some time with her."
S: "You and me both."
R: "And once again, your other is consumed by her pure hatred of Shinji."
Z: "Not just of Shinji. She looks like she hates herself."
K: "To her, that is not her. Merely a puppet."
A: "Not the first time."
Flip (84)
A: "...For both parts. Even after all this time she still loathes herself."
R: "At least, the self that Shinji shaped her other into."
A: "Jeez, if she thinks that's bad, how would she react if she saw me?"
S: "Considering she very much hates me, probably similarly."
K: "One wonders if we would be of any help in curtailing this alt, if they just so happened to show up."
Z: "I mean, she showed up anyway cause of this Instrumentality, right? And that didn't happen here, I'm pretty sure."
A: "We wouldn't be here if it went that way."
Flip (85)
A: "Yeah, we know, crazy me."
Kaworu flipped partially ahead. "I believe that would be the end of this arc."
"Thank Christ, I need a break from that." Asuka got up. "Do you reckon our folks are still here, Shin?"
Shrugging. "They're probably at the Geofront but it can't hurt to try."
"You guys headed to the Geofront as well?" Queried Zero Two.
"Tagging along?"
"I think we will join you as well."
"Looks like everyone's coming." Hiro noted.
"I mean, most things related to us are in that damn Geofront." Derided Asuka. "No wonder Rits and Maya live there."
"We live there too, Asuka."
They continued this sort of conversation as they left the apartment.
Leaving the doujin on the desk.
The door of the fridge slid open, its single denizen waddling to the fridge for some breakfast tuna.
Before noticing he was alone.
With the doujin.
Beer in flipper and fish in the other, he hopped onto a chair, and began reading.
~~~
Character Key:
Shinji (S) Asuka (A)
Rei (R) Kaworu (K)
Hiro (H) Zero Two (Z)
1st Cranial (Page 5)
A: "Jesus, even having to be restrained."
S: "Knowing myself, I would've tried to strangle my father."
Z: "I think anyone would, in your situation. Hell, most of the staff probably want to strangle him."
K: "Of course, the former Commander knew you would try this. Hence the restraints."
R: "The mental instability would not help at all."
S: "I can't believe it. My mental state is even more fucked than the Laserdiscs."
Flip (6)
A: "...I know that. Sometimes you just get so upset that you can't cry. You just shut down."
H: "That's... the wedding invitation."
K: "February 14. Still before the date of Third Impact, as was listed in this universe. Sub-universe?"
R: "Branch. If all the universes are of the same tree, then anything offshoot would be a branch."
S: "Can we just snap this branch from existence, please?"
Z: "I don't think you'll get off that easy."
A: "Shit, I'm surprised Shinji hasn't ended the world. Yet."
S: "I doubt I've been in my Evangelion since then. That's the only way I could end the world."
H: "Y'know, we gawked at you ending the world, but now I can kinda see your point."
Flip (7)
R: "Exactly as you stated, Asuka."
Shinji sighed. "And they know."
A: "It is kinda obvious, Shinji. At least Rei is trying to make good on that promise."
K: "Of course, whether it will bear fruit or not is a question in of itself."
Z: "You think it will? With how fucked Shinji is, no offence?"
S: "Oh I know he's completely fucked mentally." Grumbling. "And this is what my father would've wanted."
K: "It would certainly make you more open to his suggestions. You are in his exact shoes."
S: "...Oh shit. I am, am I?"
Flip (8)
H: "...Newspaper?"
A: "Do you know what they are?"
H: "I mean... I can assume from the name."
R: "Reminds me of Simon."
S: "Except, instead of rocks, it's... newspaper."
Z: "It... doesn't look like he appreciates your company, Rei."
R: "I... doubt he would, at this point in time. Considering..."
Flip (9)
K: "One must consider, his entire interpretation of the world might've changed, in that event."
S: "Great. I'm mad."
Rei sighed. "At least I tried, for you, Asuka."
A: "I doubt you'd give up now."
H: "Hey, Kaworu? Aren't you coming in soon?"
K: "I wouldn't be surprised. And I imagine Shinji will... no. He wouldn't. Like Rei, he knows my status. He would not want to connect with me."
R: "Akin to Wolk's work."
K: "If it's like Wolk's work, then I will play my cards early. I might do so regardless, as I know the scenario has changed. Have you two seen the rest of the Laserdiscs?"
Zero Two shook her head. "We kinda didn't."
A huff. "You may be confused, then."
H: "As usual."
Fifth Children (10)
S: "Y'know something? At this point I'd gladly accept death."
A: "You're being very candid with someone who could definitely kill you."
K: "It does seem rather... suicidal of me."
R: "Then again, we know here I was able to develop such ability. There, well, the scenario is different."
Z: "I'm sure your protectiveness of him is the same throughout any branch."
Flip (11)
Kaworu huffed. "I see they know full well of my status."
H: "Was... that the same here?"
K: "Essentially. Except... well, the fact I am here today means I was able to break free of this."
A: "Unit-02 isn't the only Evangelion. There's still Unit-00 and Unit-01 you could hijack."
R: "He does have a point. Tokyo-3 was designed as a trap for Angels."
K: "And I was well within the spider's web."
Z: "Why would SEELE want Shinji?"
S: "As... he said. They feel since I'm... broken, I'm useless."
K: "Ah, but the Commander has a plan for you, still."
R: "Unit-01 was key to his own plan. In return so would the pilot."
S: "At this point, I'd accept death with open arms. After how I tried to make things better, only to just fuck them up harder."
K: "I doubt I will simply kill you outright."
Flip (12)
Shinji simply growled.
A: "Manipulated into making it my own decision. I mean, that's kinda bullshit."
R: "Armisael would have killed one of us."
K: "But indeed, this was made to his advantage. To make you more... pliable."
H: "Then again, you kinda handed this information to him on a silver platter."
S: "Here, we tried our damndest to keep it hidden from NERV. Even then."
A: "I guess it's a good thing SEELE made things go to shit before Commander Asshole could try to blackmail us."
Alive (13)
A: "WAIT WHAT?!?!? HOW THE FUCK AM I-" She thought, glancing on Rei's rather horrified face. "A-Am I... Rei?"
R: "...That would be the only way you are alive, at this point."
K: "Whether you could even call it living, at this point. It depends how the soul was, when it was recovered."
S: "I don't think he would mind."
A: "But why the fuck would he clone me? I never really fit into his plan, that fucking asshole can't even leave me dead!"
Z: "So you can't even die in this world and be safe?"
S: "You guys got here through death, so yeah."
Flip (14)
A: "...Holy shit I am alive. How the fuck..?"
S: "...If my father wanted to have me... pliable, he wouldn't... revive you."
K: "Ah. A dream, then."
H: "Great to hear this optimism, guys."
R: "Considering."
S: "I'm sure if reality wanted to really fuck me."
K: "It would fit this tone. I imagine this could be just a part of the various mental issues that would come with your partner dying."
Z: "So you guys have already given up on her being alive."
A: "It wouldn't even be nice at this point if I was. Sure, I'd get to be with Shinji for a bit longer, but SEELE are well on their way to the endgame."
Flip (15)
Z: "...You're with Shinji now."
A: "But... that doesn't make sense, from what we know. Even with Rei living, the only reason she lived was cause Commander Asshole had copies of her."
R: "In addition to a bespoke device, used to recover souls. Thus allowing me to... persist."
K: "They've also terminated her pilot status. If she was to come back as Rei did, they would not do this."
H: "So what, we just wait until it screws you over, Shinji?"
S: "We haven't had to wait." Grumbling. "It's almost always me, isn't it?"
A: "Give me some credit, I had to go through some shit in all of them as well."
R: "In addition to me. Not many people come back from death, after all."
K: "I was meant to die. And judging from all the other worlds involving us we've seen, me actually breaking from this pattern appears to be the exception."
Z: "What the fuck, why does the universe hate you all so much?"
They all shrugged. "That's how it goes, for us. We're used to it."
A: "We've developed a habit of telling the universe to shove it."
Flip (16)
A: "...Then again, that could-" She stopped herself. "No. I'm not setting myself up for disappointment."
R: "It is feasible, admittedly. Shinji was recovered through similar circumstances, in the Laserdiscs. Even here, the situation with Hikari was a similar scenario, if not a similar solution."
K: "And it would be a rather nice thought. Your mother actually protecting you from death."
H: "It sure seems like things have gone well. Well enough, at least."
S: "You don't get free lunches. If she was brought back, then the reasoning for it..."
A grim look on Asuka's face. "Lets just say, if they brought me back from this, then I'd probably prefer death."
Flip (17)
Z: "I dunno, it sure looks like things have gone alright."
A: "This goes against what Commander Asshole said! If I was back like this, Shinji would not have a reason to follow him."
R: "It is rather illogical, is it not?"
K: "Hence our conclusion this is a mere dream."
S: "And knowing my father, he would not even care if Asuka died."
H: "At least the others cared."
A: "I'd say the bridge bunnies cared more for us than Commander Asshole ever did."
Home (18)
A: "Y'know? I'm trying not to set myself up for disappointment, cause I know this is gonna completely screw us. But..."
R: "With a sight like this, it is difficult."
A: "...Yeah. I mean, I would like this."
K: "Your words might have very well held true. Knowing the Commander."
S: "They did hold true."
A: "...Still is kinda true. Though at least here, our chances of dying are more or less even. Maybe excepting you two."
R: "The Solenoid does help your chances of living through most things, true."
Z: "Hell, we already died. And we ended up alright."
R: "I would say you two handled death better than anyone."
H: "I mean, as far as we know you are the only one who has had to deal with it."
A: "Still... my point stands. We've always been riding the edge of the abyss. And... when you have to seriously consider the possibility you could be dead this time tomorrow... well. You live for today." A longing look towards Shinji. "We're still like that. Aren't we?"
S: "We... still could die anytime. We're still pilots, after all."
Z: "...Same with us. And look how that ended up."
R: "...Perhaps that is what you are planning, in this page."
Flip (19)
Asuka gave a huff. "Yeah, I'm not surprised I would want to fuck my brains out, after that."
S: "Much like this world." He noted.
R: "Except that is usually near death. Not... death."
K: "Still. This is rather accurate."
H: "How... do you know it's accurate for them?"
R: "Trust us. We know." A small smirk.
Z: "Ohhhh. She's a screamer."
Three heads thudded on the desk, as the Nephilim laughed their asses off. "We did not mean it that way."
Flip (20)
A: "This is not helping our case." Her head was still buried in the desk, having only given a cursory glance to the page.
Z: "I see you know what you want, Asuka."
A: "Not. Helping."
R: "To be fair, I would call showing Shinji... that, quite a deliberate bait."
S: "It still baits me. It'd bait anyone."
A: "Not these guys." Pointing to Hiro and Kaworu, who were busy studying the divot in the wall.
H: "It's bait, but in the sense if I was caught looking at it, Zero Two would throw me through the window."
Z: "Not a window, I care about you too much darling." A caring tone. "A wall would carry an equivalent message anyway, without the risk of any glass cutting you."
R: "I see you are learning from us."
Flip (21)
R: "Oh my~"
A: "Starting to get a bit too lewd for what I'd like." Disgruntled. "Non-H, don't make me laugh."
Z: "So this is what you do in the bedroom."
A thud on the desk.
K: "Can we look yet?"
R: "No."
S: "Though... you're not usually this rough."
A: "Well, there's a few reasons why I may be this rough. Like death. I'm sure death wouldn't help."
R: "In this case, it would be near death."
A: "It is like us, then!"
Flip (22)
An eyebrow went up. "Oh, I'm stopping? Did I finally catch my wits?'
S: "That's a rarity." He muttered.
A: "Oi!"
H: "This is a rather interesting wall, isn't it Kaworu."
K: "Yes, yes, very interesting. Take your time you guys."
Z: "Imagine, if this was the H version, you guys would have to pretty much leave the apartment whenever this happened."
K: "I don't doubt it."
Convenience (23)
A: "I FUCKING KNEW IT!" Slamming her fist on the table. "It was too good to be true!"
The two men looking at the wall immediately jerked their heads back to the work, her exclamation indicating the lewd scene was over. Or more accurately, the lewd scene crashed off a cliff. "As we expected, then."
R: "As Asuka would most likely say, the universe fucks us whenever it can. Why would it suddenly cut you two a break?"
H: "And you completely expect it at this point. This God must hate you, then."
A: "Oh I don't doubt that one bit. I'm still angry at him for what happened to my mama."
S: "The worst thing about this is, it was feasible. Considering I came back from a core in the Laserdiscs. Hell, Hikari came back from a core here."
K: "All the better to completely crush you. Only, this time around, it was your own mind self destructing itself."
Shinji sighed. "Damn it."
Flip (24)
Z: "Why would this apparition of you want Shinji to be... like that?"
K: "We aren't exactly foreign to mental disorder. I wouldn't be surprised if his post-Instrumentality mind was even more damaged."
S: "I mean, it would come with Instrumentality, wouldn't it?"
R: "Of course, one must consider the possibility that this Asuka... could not be explained by a simple..." A grimace at her choice of words. "Relatively simple mental disorder."
A: "Wait, do you think that is me? At least my post-Instrumentality self?"
R: "It is a possibility. We know for a fact someone can carry multiple souls, not just their own. Your mothers themselves are examples of this."
S: "So... I carry the soul of the Asuka from my first loop, who I carried back due to whatever method of actually going back happened, and now she's terrorising me because she hates my guts because of what happened in the Laserdiscs?"
R: "To put it simply."
He shrugged. "Makes sense."
H: "No it doesn't!"
A: "You haven't lived here long enough."
Flip (25)
Zero Two and Hiro continued to try wrapping their brains around the theory they came up with.
A: "Still... it's pretty fucked how it came to this."
S: "Goes to show my mental state, doesn't it?"
K: "I think I've seen a pattern. The first volume screwed Rei. The second volume screwed Asuka. And now, it'll screw you, Shinji."
A: "See, that pattern is all well and good. If Shinji wasn't also fucked over for the past two volumes."
R: "Therefore, this will screw Shinji over more."
S: "Thing is, I can see things going this way."
Z: "No wonder you guys aren't optimistic about this stuff."
A: "We have our reasons, as you've seen."
I Feel Sick (26)
There was disquiet at the scene.
A: "...Damn it. I should've expected you get riled up like this."
R: "In his mind, you ripped away something that would make him happy. Even if it was a dream."
Z: "Not to mention the fact that this Asuka has been consistently fucking with you from the beginning. Makes sense you snap."
S: "I doubt I even see her as Asuka. Merely a figment."
K: "A figment you can put in a stranglehold."
H: "...Perhaps it's not just a figment, then."
R: "As we had suggested, then."
Flip (28)
The unease only got worse. "...Man, he's really going at it."
S: "As... I would be. I've... had enough. She pushed me too hard, and... in my state."
A: "...Thing is, we know this is a thing that can happen from the Laserdiscs."
R: "One could say it was an apparition of you that pushed Shinji to cause Instrumentality."
K: "History is repeating itself, then."
R: "Indeed it is. Perhaps this apparition of you should have known he could do this. If it even is you, and not merely his mind."
Flip (29)
A: "Even like this, she finds a way to torment you."
R: "If we consider she is the you of the Laserdiscs, at the end of the Laserdiscs. Then you could interpret many of Shinji's actions and inactions as... that."
S: "...Even doing the same actions as the Laserdiscs..."
H: "See, we still haven't seen the end of the Laserdiscs."
K: "This will be very... interesting for you, then. I was going to say fun."
Z: "Gee, can't wait."
Flip (30)
A: "That's... not the other Asuka."
K: "Yet another way to torment Shinji. He would never lay his hands on her."
Z: "Are we considering both Asuka's seperate entities?"
R: "That would be for the best, as both Asuka's are essentially separate."
H: "Which Asuka is the real Asuka, though?"
R: "Both. The Asuka of Shinji's mind is Asuka as she was after Instrumentality. The other Asuka is the Asuka of the Laserdiscs, influenced by the looping Shinji."
S: "Yeah, to death."
Z: "Maybe that is what this page is trying to say."
They had to look over the imagery again, on her behest. "I... can certainly see that."
Flip (31)
A: "Oh God..."
S: "And my suffering continues." A long sigh. "Thing is... I can see myself reacting like this."
H: "Even here?"
Shinji simply nodded.
R: "He had lost someone close. Someone he had given everything to. As here. And... now that is gone."
K: "It makes sense, then, why he would react in such a way."
Z: "...And all to make him more compliant to his father. I thought Franxx was bad but shit."
A: "You can understand our cynical and pragmatic view on reality, then. The only out we even really have is with our partners and friends."
R: "And this world is the best scenario for us, we have found out. Every other world, at least one of us ends up dead."
K: "Worst case scenario: the world as we know it ends up ending. Even in the so far best scenario we have witnessed thus far, it was partially set after the world had ended. And it took careful manoeuvring from a much more mature Shinji and Asuka to set the world on the right track."
A: "Even here, we had to walk with catlike tread, so as to not get fucking murdered."
Flip (32)
Shinji sighed, for what seemed like the 12th time today. "I don't think I'd mind that too much, at this point."
Enter the Fish (33)
H: "It's... understandable why you would run away. You want nothing to do with this anymore."
S: "Not like I can run. They'll always find me eventually."
A: "And you've tried it, Shinji. You'd know."
Z: "We tried that as well. Didn't end too well."
K: "And yet, that was the seed of your friendship."
Flip (34)
R: "Well. That was resolved rather quickly."
K: "And here I make my entrance. Seems like you didn't mind I wanted to kill Shinji." He dryly remarked.
R: "For one, I could kill you just as easily; and two, I doubt he would mind at this point."
S: "I wouldn't." Flat. "And I doubt I'll even try connecting with you, Kaworu, cause I know. Like in Wolk's work."
A: "You seem rather friendly so far, Shin-chan."
Z: "Maybe you are trying to connect with him, then. How was your relationship like in the Laserdiscs?"
S: "He was the first person to say he loved me."
Z: "Well no wonder you're so friendly with him."
H: "Though what happened next? The way you make it sound-"
K: "He had to kill me."
Zero Two had pursed lips. "That would put a damper on your relationship."
Rei gave a small giggle at the unexpected reference.
Flip (35)
S: "They're right. How the hell can I still pilot?"
K: "Maybe my presence helped you, in some way."
A: "Considering Shinji has... well, I would say no one, but Rei's still there."
S: "I pretty much pushed her as far away from me as I could, though."
R: "And yet I am still trying. It is still whether or not you want me."
H: "From what we've seen."
Z: "Are they seriously gonna deploy you like that? In my world-"
A: "You have literal farms of pilots. Here, we don't have that kind of luxury. Shit, in this they deployed me when I was supposed to have zero sync."
Z: "Yeah, and that went well."
S: "Plus, I think we established in this you only have to... push me in a certain direction, to get results."
Fish Dinner (36)
They gawked at the imagery, and especially at the shocked look of Kaworu. "I... didn't expect this?"
R: "Does he plan on... ending you?"
K: "I would not be surprised. I am the seventeenth, after all."
S: "So it's me doing the betrayal this time around?"
A: "You probably see it as revenge."
Z: "Well this escalated quickly. Not just a stampede as well."
K: "Shinji knows full well what he's doing." Conceding. "No one else but SEELE and the Commanders would, however. This would be seen as cold."
Flip (37)
K: "And yet... he did not go for the kill. At least immediately."
S: "I... would still have those feelings for you, I imagine. Even if..."
A: "Even if you want to tear him to shreds."
K: "It would be difficult not to justify such action. But only if you knew."
R: "I am certain SEELE would not like this."
A: "Not like they would even care. Kaworu was always meant to fail, weren't ya?"
K: "Indeed. Whether I made my play and was disposed by the Evangelion, or they grew impatient and took to the rifle."
H: "Obviously that didn't happen here."
Z: "I think that's rather evident, darling."
Flip (38)
The roundtable grimaced at the thought.
K: "An odd strategy, but one with precedence. In the Laserdiscs, the Solenoid was obtained via Zeruel."
H: "So here..?"
K: "I do not think he will stop."
Z: "Or you will stop him?"
Shaking his head. "I could. But someone else will stop me regardless."
A: "You seem rather fine with being eaten alive, Kaworu."
K: "It would be rather instantaneous, at the very least. It's not the worst death I could think of. Or even recall. One of the most prominent echos of time are of my demises."
S: "What is the worst you can think of?"
He had to think. "You know near the end of Return of the Jedi, where the Emperor used his lightning attack on Luke? Pretty much that. Except worse."
A: "...What? How does that even work?"
K: "Such information has been lost to rivers of time. I cannot even recall who it was."
S: "Knowing our luck, it'll show up one day."
K: "I... would rather not."
Zero Two had a look of horror and confusion on her.
Flip (39)
H: "You would what?!"
A: "Yeah, this is normal for Shinji."
S: "You support me whenever I end a world that fucked us."
K: "And yet, my words ring true. You would go to such lengths to get any of us back. Even if it meant casting the remainder to the fire."
S: "Like father, like son." He mocked. "I know full well I can do that."
Z: "And you guys don't mind that he could end the world."
R: "We generally give him a pass if the world was less than kind to us."
A: "Which is pretty much all the time. I think the only time we weren't open to him ending one of these worlds was Wolk's work."
K: "What an achievement."
H: "I'm guessing here as well?"
A: "Oh, yeah. Here is fine too, I guess." Deliberately flippant.
H: "That doesn't instill me with much confidence."
Flip (40)
Kaworu bowed his head. "If ones soul has nothing but one feeling, then it would be pure."
S: "...I'm not surprised Asuka was the only one keeping me tethered to reality. Kinda like here."
A: "At least here, you have others tethering you to the ground so you don't fly off into the sun, should I happen to snap." A look towards Rei and Kaworu.
H: "I think it rather evident in the doujin, he lacked such other tethers."
R: "...You died again?" She sounded less saddened and more irritated.
K: "Disappointing, is it not? I don't think I even lasted a day."
A: "Well: you met Shinji, he asked you to see his sync test, and then he ate you. I don't even think it's lunchtime!"
Z: "Was that why he ate you?"
Despite the morbid nature of the joke and everything, they laughed.
K: "I would say this is a new record. For how long I lasted, once I met Shinji."
A: "Rather, how long you didn't last. Cause I'm sure you completely blew every other you out of the water."
H: "Man, you guys are dark."
Pattern Blue (41)
Kaworu ripped (42) the page from the work and burnt it in his hands, before anyone else could get so much as a look at it. "No."
H: "I'm not even gonna ask what it was."
A quick transmission from Kaworu revealed to Rei what it was, and she felt somewhat sick. 'I would say that was wise, fish.'
'I was not going to let you see that, in such a way.'
'I would not want to see such a thing. T- thank you.'
A: "So you killed Kaworu, which I assume the aftermath is what you protected us from, but there's still a pattern Blue?"
K: "Perhaps Shinji's... method had unforeseen consequences."
Z: "How bad was it?"
K: "As bad as you would expect, from such a morbid demise."
S: "Great, so I made thing's worse." Grumbling. "Was there anything else we missed on that page? Other than... the mess?"
K: "I... think you realised what you did."
S: "I couldn't realise that before?"
A: "So what the fuck is happening now?"
H: "Not even Misato knows."
Flip (43)
K: "Indeed, the scenario has changed quite a bit at this point."
R: "They would not have expected one of the pilots... eat you."
H: "Would anyone expect that?"
A: "Knowing them, I'm sure they planned for such a fucked up possibility."
Z: "Is that Shinji, or... someone else?"
K: "Might be, but then again why would Shinji be allowed to go here? After... what happened."
S: "It's Maya. Ritsuko did say we looked rather familiar."
R: "Interesting how Kaji decides to inform Maya, instead of Misato. Then again, I doubt they have quite the same relationship as the Laserdiscs."
K: "This work has shown him more with Maya, I noticed. It's rather fascinating how the dynamic between people can completely change with outside influence."
A: "Then again, I doubt Rits and Maya would've even gotten together here, if not for you Rei."
R: "Considering this society, I would not be surprised."
Flip (44)
Z: "...So it's come to that?"
R: "As in the Laserdiscs. Only... I think we can safely assume it is not Misato holding the gun."
K: "Quite the radical departure from even the Laserdisc reality. Here and even there, Maya would not even touch a gun."
'Unless... she was pushed that way.'
'...Indeed.'
A: "And now, she's holding it against her Sempai."
S: "...Man, it's a good thing they aren't reading this, is it?"
Z: "I'm pretty sure they have the other copies of this."
Hiro gave her an unamused look.
Z: "I'm guessing they didn't want to know that?"
A: "I would've been happy not knowing that. Maya doesn't deserve this shit."
Flip (45)
A: "Not Maya? God damn it stop trying to bait us!"
R: "It appears Maya will still be Maya."
K: "Interesting how this has happened in a similar way, then. Kaji is not dead. Yet. Therefore why would she be this... cold?"
S: "Kaji may not be dead. But Asuka..."
K: "That would do it."
H: "Whatever would Maya be doing, then? Do both of them want the truth?"
R: "I would assume so. They would both use differing ways of obtaining this truth, however."
Human (46)
K: "I don't believe that for one second. If there is one constant to me, it is that I am Nephilim."
R: "It would be a believable falsehood, for Shinji."
S: "At the very least, it would break me more."
A: "What was that pattern Blue, then?"
Z: "You even looked like you do here, wouldn't you look different if you weren't Nephilim?"
K: "Most likely. The only reason I came to be in the first place was through SEELE. And for their purposes. Why would they even send me to NERV if I was not Nephilim?"
H: "If this doesn't make sense to you, then we're really in trouble."
A: "Yeah, that's putting it lightly."
R: "Let us hope the next pages help shed light on what is happening."
Flip (47)
K: "And now, they would both know."
Z: "She already looks like she regrets it."
R: "What she found out in the Laserdiscs, was that I was cloned."
S: "Would that be similar, then?"
A: "They haven't gotten rid of the tank, yet. So it can still come up."
H: "I'd say we are gonna regret knowing what it is."
Flip (48)
A: "So it is Maya showing you what's going on."
S: "At least this time around."
Z: "Have you even been to Terminal here? I know that's what happened in the Laserdiscs."
Shinji shook his head. "Never even stepped foot in there. Asuka's been there before I did."
A: "If you could even call it that."
R: "And still calling her Sempai, despite all that has happened between the two of them."
K: "That would definitely be a Maya thing."
H: "Must say, you look alright for just being told Kaworu was human."
S: "I'm not even sure if he believes it."
K: "It does go against what we would expect. But think about it, to this Shinji, I have only been Nephilim once. Two occurrences is not enough to establish a pattern, after all."
A: "Even in Wolk's work, you were the same as you are. I think they only told him you were human to save face."
K: "That would be logical. If SEELE knew that he knew I was an Angel, that would not sit well."
R: "He is about to know a lot more than they have anticipated, however."
Flip (49)
R: "I think the illustrator read too much Jojo."
K: "It's not even rather menacing. That's simply the rumbling of the door."
A: "I mean, I'm sure Terminal Dogma would be quite menacing to someone like Shinji."
Alive (50)
Shinji took a double take. "You're... actually alive?"
A: "...If you could call it living. It's like... mama."
R: "You even have that doll."
A: "...Yeah."
She timidly went for Shinji's hand. "How... am I alive?"
K: "A similar method to Rei, I would suggest."
R: "...You have to go through this as well?"
Z: "Maybe your cynicism about this is founded. You can't even die."
Flip (52)
H: "I... don't think you would mind, Shinji."
S: "...If it was Asuka. And not just... a shell."
R: "It ultimately depends on the recovery of the soul. We know... such recovery can be rather lossy."
A: "I don't think... that is me. Like... mama."
K: "Armisael may have taken... more than your life."
Flip (53)
A: "...The fuck?"
R: "Is this the power of a mother's love, perhaps."
H: "Pattern Blue, however. An Angel?"
S: "Evangelion come up as pattern Blue as well."
K: "The Magi simply know to differentiate between Angel and Evangelion."
Z: "I mean, there's no one else it could be. At least, from my knowledge of what the core is."
A: "It's rather convenient, ain't it?" She pointed out. "So why the fuck could it not get my mind? That's a bit of a Faustian deal if I've seen one."
K: "Reality is-"
A: "Often disappointing, yes. I think we've established that well and good."
Flip (54)
Asuka really didn't expect this revelation, hitting her like a punch to guts. "...w-What?"
K: "...Interesting." He could only say.
A: "H-how... is that possible?"
Kaworu gave Rei a significant look. "I... do not know. This... is beyond what we know."
R: "Indeed. This is something completely unexpected."
S: "If... we ignore the fact we don't know why our child was an Angel. This means... it was our child that protected you, Asuka."
Yet another gut punch. "...Protected?"
Z: "...No wonder the Commander hid this from you."
H: "Such a thing would... further destroy you."
S: "...Not like I'm exactly whole at this point."
R: "Are you... okay, Asuka?"
A meek nod. "...Yeah." And a squeeze on Shinji's hand. "I'll be fine."
Apparition (55)
A: "...Maybe."
K: "The you of Instrumentality."
A: "There to torment Shinji again?"
S: "I... am not gonna let go of you easily."
H: "Would any of us?"
Z: "She may certainly try."
R: "What could she do, if she was but an apparition of his mind? Other than attacks of the mind."
Flip (56)
Asuka sighed, once again, shifting herself ever closer to her partner. "You... softie."
S: "Even if you're... gone. I still love you. As I would."
A: "...Idiot."
Flip (57)
R: "I would say that was accurate. You have heard so much about what happened."
K: "At this point, it would not change much, about your mental state. You still wish to end this world."
S: "...Just add it to the list of reasons."
H: "I'm sure you could spend... forever with Asuka, if you wanted."
A: "Thing is, he can. And... if Rei and Kaworu weren't around, maybe he would."
Zero Two gave a look to the other Nephilim.
Who gave a nod. "We... made promises to one another. If... one of us were to pass. We would support the one who remained."
A: "It... would be better than ending the world, if one of us were to... die."
S: "It's a shame I don't have that... luxury, in this."
Flip (58)
A: "...what?"
Z: "I feel that's been said a lot."
K: "Most interesting."
H: "Do we have any theories?"
K: "A side effect of looping, perhaps. Then again, the Wolk loop did not bestow upon you two the status of Nephilim."
A: "He doesn't even look Nephilim!"
S: "Not like we could really tell, if I was as pale as Rei and Kaworu."
R: "Surely that would have been pointed out."
Z: "Like us, then? Cause we're Nephilim. And we came here somehow."
K: "Only yours wasn't a loop. It's more akin to a rebirth."
A: "So the mechanism of how Shinji returned is different?"
K: "In Wolk's work, it was implied I was involved in sending you back. Evidentially, I did not hold such a role in this."
S: "So what, after Instrumentality, the Gods just thought to punish me for what happened?"
A: "Sure seems like that."
R: "That does explain a few of the... oddities of this work. Shinji's increased strength and skill at using Unit-01. The AT-Field anomaly during Arael. The fact your child was an Angel."
S: "...Like you, then."
A nod. "Very much like us."
K: "That would imply a non-Nephilim can become Nephilim. Instead of having to be born."
Z: "Uhh, is Nephilim interchangeable with Angel, in this instance?"
K: "More or less. Angel is generally used to identify the pureborn kin of Adam or Lilith, whereas Nephilim refers to the hybrid of Adam and human, or Lilith and human."
H: "What of Adam and Lilith?"
K: "The world ends."
Zero Two gave a few panicked glances between Rei and Kaworu.
Which managed to get a few laughs out of said Nephilim. "Trust us, if that was the case, the world would have ended a long time ago." Rei emulated Zero Two's cheeky look.
Angel (59)
A: "He's completely an Angel?"
S: "How the hell have Kaworu and I swapped roles?"
K: "Even if the electronic impulses differ from a human, the feelings are still evident."
R: "I would say you were proof of this."
Z: "I mean, NERV would be scared of anything Angel, wouldn't they?"
K: "That was one of the reasons we kept our status to ourselves. We still do, in fact. At least outside of NERV."
R: "Ignorance is bliss, as they say."
S: "Still... I don't know how I could be an Angel. Sure, it would explain why Kaworu was human, but..."
R: "Another unforeseen consequence of whatever caused you to loop. Whatever caused it, it was a different mechanism to the Wolkian method."
A: "Not like we know how the 'Wolkian method' of looping back in time even works."
H: "You have to categorise methods of going back in time?"
A: "I mean, there's only two, so you don't need to do too much."
H: "That's still two more than what should be normal."
Flip (60)
K: "And that was always the other question. What happened to the Shinji of before?"
R: "You could say the same of Wolk's work. However, they did not focus on the metaphysical implications of such a thing."
A: "Shit, thinking about that sort of thing too much would probably fry their brains."
S: "Well that's me screwed, then."
Z: "There was always gonna be a catch, wasn't there?"
A: "There's been several catches so far, and Shinji here has been fucked by all of them."
R: "Par for the course, at this point."
H: "Surely you could still persist through this."
S: "I mean, the universe has just fucked me again, after having fucked me a first time. If that doesn't completely vaporise my mind then I don't know what will."
Z: "What, did they think you didn't suffer enough during the Laserdiscs? Even a few episodes in, we decided you got the short stick."
A: "It's almost comical how much the universe has it out for us. Sure, sometimes you get something good, but more often than not it's just a trauma filled shitshow."
R: "And yet, we continue to consume these works."
A: "Well, yeah. Cause there's always the chance one of these things eventually cuts us a break."
K: "Serves to remind us just how well this reality ended up, as well."
A: "That too."
Flip (61)
A: "I mean, I'm already dead."
R: "And yet that was not enough for them."
H: "But why would that Asuka want you dead?"
A: "Revenge, obviously. She saw what Shinji did in Instrumentality."
K: "Evidently, she decided on a... much less constructive method of patching things up, compared to Wolk's work."
S: "But if I die, won't she go with me?"
A: "I doubt she would even mind, at this rate. She has complete contempt of you, Shinji."
Z: "How the hell can she kill him, if she's just an apparition?"
A: "She'll certainly try. Probably shatter his mind, in some way."
S: "In my state, she'll struggle even finding something to shatter."
Flip (62)
H: "...Seems she doesn't have to try."
R: "That would have been a given, either way."
A: "...Still. I hate seeing us in this state."
K: "They would rather die, then live in this world."
Z: "Or take the world with them."
Shinji reaffirmed his hold on Asuka, the two buddied up for a good majority of this reading so far. "...Like usual, then."
A: "...And like usual, we would like this world to end. Even more so than even the Theatrical."
Z: "If... you were in this state. Would you do the same thing?"
S: "...Probably."
Leave (64)
A: "How the hell are they gonna smuggle me out of there?"
R: "I do not think many even realise you are down there."
Z: "Should be as easy as stuffing you in a box or something."
A: "Ah Christ."
S: "They may try, but knowing this shit I fully expect it to fail."
K: "In probably the worst way it can."
Flip (65)
A: "Fuck it is a box! Damn it Zero Two!"
A small smug look, somewhat muted due to the... well, everything.
K: "I'm sure this source is our friendly neighbourhood double agent."
R: "As it would be.
S: "Who's stopping us, though?"
H: "Probably the worst person it could be."
S: "I don't understand my father's thought process with that."
K: "Only that wasn't his thoughts. He wanted you like this so you would follow his plan for Instrumentality, your skill in piloting Unit-01 is otherwise irrelevant in this situation."
A: "It appears our double agent got some bad intel."
Flip (66)
Asuka stared at the page, before this stare slowly shifted to Hiro.
H: "My bad?"
A: "Yes. Your bad."
S: "I reckon the only worse person they could've encountered in this situation is my father."
K: "I gather I don't need to state the obvious in that she saw straight through this attempt."
R: "She would therefore also know it was Shinji in there. Or Asuka."
Z: "Does she not even care, in this state?"
A: "You should know this. Misato hates the Angels for what they did to her. And... since Shinji is an Angel."
Rei and Kaworu could pick up on the timid looks of Hiro and Zero Two. "It... took an extreme amount of care to inform her of our... status. Even with our strong relationship with her."
H: "That sounds like it was wise. Considering how she... reacted here."
Flip (67)
R: "An AT-Field."
K: "You really are an Nephilim."
S: "I... don't think Misato will react well to this."
A: "It basically confirm her fears. So yeah, she probably wouldn't."
S: "But especially seeing me... like this. If she even cares about me now."
Z: "Surely she cares for you, even now."
H: "That may be when she realises what she tried to do. In her anger."
Flip (68)
There was quiet disquiet.
R: "...It appears you were correct, Hiro."
Flip (69)
Rei gave a half hearted chuckle. "Kaji is not the only one to engage in espionage."
A: "She's actually not bad at this kind of stuff. Gotta give credit where it's due, she was the one behind sabotaging Jet Alone."
S: "So... both decided to use Maya for their own purposes?"
K: "Not too beyond any of them. Even Misato engaged in this, at least in the Laserdiscs."
R: "All's fair in love and war."
Z: "Yeah, I can't see Maya as a secret agent."
A: "Oh Maya's way too innocent for that kind of business. I'm still kinda surprised that not only are there people like her remaining in this world, but they can work for NERV."
R: "She likes to see the best in the world, and has a strong belief in technology."
H: "It's more than you can say of you guys."
R: "It appears Ritsuko fully expects SEELE to launch their incursion, as well."
K: "They would certainly know Shinji's status."
Senseless Death (70)
K: "Speaking of."
R: "They are skipping the hacking of the Magi?"
A: "Looks like they're skipping even a final meeting with Commander Asshole."
K: "They of all people know how completely off the rails the plan has gone."
S: "Would... would they know you were human?"
K: "They would have to."
H: "Did this happen in the... who am I kidding, of course it happened in the Laserdiscs."
R: "Even there, they had some warning. Here, we fully expected a SEELE incursion."
A: "Mainly cause they fucked up and played their hands early. By the time the JSSDF got here, not only was the whole damn city locked down, there were three Evangelion deployed and waiting."
S: "And yet they still tried nuking us."
A: "Thank God for Hikari, eh Shinji?"
Flip (71)
Z: "I see they aren't wasting any time, are they?"
A: "Of course they wouldn't! I wouldn't be surprised if this goes worse than the damn Laserdiscs, and that was fucked enough!"
R: "And yet, I doubt Shinji will simply bow down and die."
S: "Not now."
Flip (72)
H: "THAT'S A NUKE?!"
K: "It happened in the Laserdiscs."
R: "How many people would this have killed?"
A: "Surely they would've evacuated everyone beforehand. Even the Laserdiscs did as much."
S: "Or it could be another example at how much worse this has gotten."
Flip (73)
K: "I'm sure this will go a similar way to the Laserdiscs, either way."
Z: "I can only guess it's 'Get Shinji in the Eva'."
S: "Pretty much. Unless someone shoots me first."
A: "You won't die now. How will you suffer more if you end up dead?"
S: "Gee, thanks."
Flip (74)
R: "Only... it is not the barrel of the JSSDF you are facing."
Shinji grunted. "Figures it's Misato."
A: "I'm sure she would've preferred you die."
K: "If he dies now, then all his suffering would've resulted in nothing."
A: "At least here, sure we all suffered but we got something."
S: "More than you can say of the Laserdiscs."
Flip (75)
R: "Join the club."
H: "We know that well. We were born to be tools."
K: "As were we."
A: "At least we had some years of not being tools."
S: "When we were toddlers."
Z: "You could make the choice to die."
S: "Knowing Misato, she wouldn't make that decision."
A: "Our Misato."
Flip (76)
S: "...And knowing me."
R: "You would not be able to refuse her. Not now."
K: "Not when... that happened. During her protection of you."
H: "She... died? During the endgame?"
A: "Yeah... don't say we spoiled you, since you figured it out on your own."
Decision (77)
Z: "She's not happy."
A: "Fuck her. She's been antagonising Shinji as long as this shit's been going on."
H: "Sounds like that's what Shinji's thinking."
S: "Though... why would I disappear?"
The Nephilim had to think. "...A grandfather paradox? If... Instrumentality never happened. Then you would not exist to go back."
A: "See, that would work. If not for the fact the timeline has been permanently fucked. If he was gonna get erased from time, he would've done so earlier, surely."
K: "Not to mention that is not what happened in Wolk's work. And, as we know other worlds exist, we can expect any sort of looping to result in a new branch altogether."
S: "Maybe I should just go back and try again."
A: "Shinji, things are this bad on the first loop. I don't know how, but I know it would get so much worse if you went back."
S: "You're probably not wrong."
Flip (78)
R: "Is... this what she wanted, perhaps?"
A: "I imagine it would help... though, I don't know if she's too far gone, at this point."
K: "The eyes don't lie, Asuka. Shock, and disconcertion. She does not know what to think of this."
S: "...I would hope you take it well."
Flip (79)
H: "And yet, you still fight him."
A: "Looks like I was right with my thoughts. Damn it."
R: "Even without an S2 Organ."
S: "But I fight. As I would."
Z: "You have that determination, Shinji."
K: "Not to mention your status as Nephilim will help boost any chance you have. Even if Unit-01 was not augmented with an S2 Organ."
A: "...I don't think she realises this. Blinded by her own hatred of him."
Flip (80)
R: "And that is the core of this conflict between him and your Instrumentality self. Your complete hatred of him has clouded your mind."
K: "I wonder if she will understand this, eventually."
Asuka shook her head. "I don't think she will. I'd say she's just as damaged as Shinji is."
S: "Quite the achievement, at this point."
Flip (81)
The redhead grumbled, looking on with disdain at this work before feeling disgusted with herself that this was exactly what her other was doing. "God... damn it."
Z: "You aren't completely catatonic. Not like that's much of a consolation."
S: "Hopefully... Misato will protect you. Even if you're in... this state. I wouldn't want you to die again."
A: "Even if I was better off dead? God knows I wouldn't want to live like that."
She could see the conflict on his face.
A: "...Hopefully you won't have to make that decision."
Love (82)
R: "...You still remember your love for Shinji."
A: "As... I would. Out of all the things to forget... I wouldn't want to forget that."
S: "At least... you have that going for you."
K: "From the looks of it, that's also opened up some old feelings in your alt."
Z: "I mean, that's still you, Asuka. The one who has feelings for him."
A: "...I think she understands that."
Flip (83)
H: "It looks like you think the doll is Shinji."
K: "I think that is what the alternate Asuka meant, with her choice of words."
A: "Like... mama." Yet another sigh. "Hopefully this wraps up soon. I wouldn't mind wanting to spend some time with her."
S: "You and me both."
R: "And once again, your other is consumed by her pure hatred of Shinji."
Z: "Not just of Shinji. She looks like she hates herself."
K: "To her, that is not her. Merely a puppet."
A: "Not the first time."
Flip (84)
A: "...For both parts. Even after all this time she still loathes herself."
R: "At least, the self that Shinji shaped her other into."
A: "Jeez, if she thinks that's bad, how would she react if she saw me?"
S: "Considering she very much hates me, probably similarly."
K: "One wonders if we would be of any help in curtailing this alt, if they just so happened to show up."
Z: "I mean, she showed up anyway cause of this Instrumentality, right? And that didn't happen here, I'm pretty sure."
A: "We wouldn't be here if it went that way."
Flip (85)
A: "Yeah, we know, crazy me."
Kaworu flipped partially ahead. "I believe that would be the end of this arc."
"Thank Christ, I need a break from that." Asuka got up. "Do you reckon our folks are still here, Shin?"
Shrugging. "They're probably at the Geofront but it can't hurt to try."
"You guys headed to the Geofront as well?" Queried Zero Two.
"Tagging along?"
"I think we will join you as well."
"Looks like everyone's coming." Hiro noted.
"I mean, most things related to us are in that damn Geofront." Derided Asuka. "No wonder Rits and Maya live there."
"We live there too, Asuka."
They continued this sort of conversation as they left the apartment.
Leaving the doujin on the desk.
The door of the fridge slid open, its single denizen waddling to the fridge for some breakfast tuna.
Before noticing he was alone.
With the doujin.
Beer in flipper and fish in the other, he hopped onto a chair, and began reading.
~~~
Go figure, the two veterans of Project E were indeed at the Geofront.
Not like they were doing too much, other than going through a few old files while Ritsuko was otherwise preoccupied with something.
So there they were, in the cafeteria. "We're lucky we even have a cafeteria." Yui noted, over a box of ramen. "Back in my day, we just had a few vending machines and kitchenettes." A pause. "I feel old now."
"Even though you don't look a day over 27."
"Yeah, that's kinda odd, no offence." Noted Asuka. "You look exactly like you did when I was a child, mama."
Who simply chuckled. "There's a good reason for this, Asuka. Metaphysical Biology."
"A rather fascinating phenomenon. One we probably couldn't even observe."
"We've looked a bit into it, but the thing with Met Bio is it's pretty difficult to really prove much. Not without either expensive equipment or selling your soul to the devil."
"Gut, dass wir beides gemacht haben."
("Good thing we've done both.") Zeppelin dryly retorted, before being quickly quelled by Kyoko as she realised just who was with her.
"Keine Sorge, wir haben das gleiche auch gemacht, Mama."
("Don't worry, we've done the same as well, mama.") Her child remarked back in their mother tongue, oblivious to the significance. Much to the mother's relief.
"Oiii!" Came a voice, quite obviously Misato. "I was looking for you two!"
Kyoko pointed at herself.
"Yeah!"
She waltzed over and thudded a book onto the table. "The book you wanted."
Asuka and Shinji glanced upon the book.
And immediately upon seeing the title, quite quickly became tomatoes. "Oh my God, MISATO!"
A halo would appear over her head if it could, as she feigned innocence despite knowing full well what the book had. "What? They wanted to read it."
Much to the amusement of everyone. "T-That's not gonna help their attitude towards..."
Yui perked an eyebrow, picking up the implication. "Oh now I'm interested."
A head thudded on the desk. "I need to learn to keep my mouth shut."
"Look on the bright side, Shin-chan!" Misato enthused. "It's not the worst work they could read."
~
Ritsuko and Maya were busy reading through the third work of this collection that had been found.
Even making a game of ripping out the pornographic sections and other questionables, and taking potshots at the nearby trash can.
Of course, there was still other discussion. "Am I really that easy to influence?"
"Kinda." A small smirk. "Though don't worry. I haven't bugged your shoes or anything. Too much foot traffic, the bug wouldn't last long."
A flat look at her Sempai. "Still, Kaji should've known you engage in light espionage as well."
"I wouldn't call what I did light, Maya. But hey, all's fair and all that."
"I'd say that's even more accurate in this work." A glance towards said work. "...Kaji? Really?"
To which Ritsuko only gave a huff. "He's quite the womaniser. Really knows how to make you feel good."
The glance shifted to Ritsuko, now ever so slightly judgemental. "You know from experience."
"I was in college too, you realise. We've had an amicable relationship, though we did have a brief fling after Misato dumped him."
A feigned gasp of shock. "How scandalous."
"Yeah, Misato didn't like that too much." She gave a bashful laugh. "Though it was brief. Don't think it even lasted a month before we mutually broke it off."
"I'm guessing cause it was a rebound?"
Shrugging. "Yeah, and I did feel bad for Misato. Eventually I just couldn't do it. Obviously he thought the same."
"I know from the Laserdiscs he was still rather... friendly with you."
She barked a laugh. "Yeah, that's Kaji. I'm sure Misato's gonna keep him on a bit of a leash nowadays, though."
"Is that... like us or-"
"Figuratively, Maya."
"Oh." A reserved glance downward.
The terminal gave a long beep, distracting Maya from her embarrassment as she observed. "L- looks like it's done, Sempai."
She, too, looked over the terminal. "Excellent. I was sure there would be a few issues with it."
And so she got up, towel in hand. "Eliza?"
Serenely floating in a tube of LCL, was a rather tranquil Eliza. "Is... it done, mama?" Her voice was rather quiet, muffled by both the medium and her surprisingly timid tone.
"Yeah. We're just about to drain and get you out of there."
"...Good."
She once more closed her eyes, enjoying the last few moments of this. It was rather... comfortable. A fact her Freudian daemon incessantly pointed out to her.
Still. It was rather nice to not have to do much. To her, at least. It was rather easy, actually.
The LCL around her drained, and the pod opened, her walking out to a modesty towel from her mama. "Did it usually take this long with Rei?"
Nodding. "We generally had to dedicate a whole day. I wouldn't be surprised if Shinji and Asuka were worried sick about her."
"That's... probably what they thinking right now."
"I imagine Rei could put two and two together from the fact we all aren't accessible." Her mama noted. "But this was your own decision, after all. She can't change that."
"Mhm. Though... I still feel kinda bad about it."
"I'm sure she'll understand." Maya comforted, offering her clothes.
"Yeah..."
Her demure demeanour towards Rei was rather palpable. "...You must be starving, Eliza." Ritsuko thought to distract her. "Lunch?"
A small smile. "I'd like that."
~~~
Not like they were doing too much, other than going through a few old files while Ritsuko was otherwise preoccupied with something.
So there they were, in the cafeteria. "We're lucky we even have a cafeteria." Yui noted, over a box of ramen. "Back in my day, we just had a few vending machines and kitchenettes." A pause. "I feel old now."
"Even though you don't look a day over 27."
"Yeah, that's kinda odd, no offence." Noted Asuka. "You look exactly like you did when I was a child, mama."
Who simply chuckled. "There's a good reason for this, Asuka. Metaphysical Biology."
"A rather fascinating phenomenon. One we probably couldn't even observe."
"We've looked a bit into it, but the thing with Met Bio is it's pretty difficult to really prove much. Not without either expensive equipment or selling your soul to the devil."
"Gut, dass wir beides gemacht haben."
("Good thing we've done both.") Zeppelin dryly retorted, before being quickly quelled by Kyoko as she realised just who was with her.
"Keine Sorge, wir haben das gleiche auch gemacht, Mama."
("Don't worry, we've done the same as well, mama.") Her child remarked back in their mother tongue, oblivious to the significance. Much to the mother's relief.
"Oiii!" Came a voice, quite obviously Misato. "I was looking for you two!"
Kyoko pointed at herself.
"Yeah!"
She waltzed over and thudded a book onto the table. "The book you wanted."
Asuka and Shinji glanced upon the book.
And immediately upon seeing the title, quite quickly became tomatoes. "Oh my God, MISATO!"
A halo would appear over her head if it could, as she feigned innocence despite knowing full well what the book had. "What? They wanted to read it."
Much to the amusement of everyone. "T-That's not gonna help their attitude towards..."
Yui perked an eyebrow, picking up the implication. "Oh now I'm interested."
A head thudded on the desk. "I need to learn to keep my mouth shut."
"Look on the bright side, Shin-chan!" Misato enthused. "It's not the worst work they could read."
~
Ritsuko and Maya were busy reading through the third work of this collection that had been found.
Even making a game of ripping out the pornographic sections and other questionables, and taking potshots at the nearby trash can.
Of course, there was still other discussion. "Am I really that easy to influence?"
"Kinda." A small smirk. "Though don't worry. I haven't bugged your shoes or anything. Too much foot traffic, the bug wouldn't last long."
A flat look at her Sempai. "Still, Kaji should've known you engage in light espionage as well."
"I wouldn't call what I did light, Maya. But hey, all's fair and all that."
"I'd say that's even more accurate in this work." A glance towards said work. "...Kaji? Really?"
To which Ritsuko only gave a huff. "He's quite the womaniser. Really knows how to make you feel good."
The glance shifted to Ritsuko, now ever so slightly judgemental. "You know from experience."
"I was in college too, you realise. We've had an amicable relationship, though we did have a brief fling after Misato dumped him."
A feigned gasp of shock. "How scandalous."
"Yeah, Misato didn't like that too much." She gave a bashful laugh. "Though it was brief. Don't think it even lasted a month before we mutually broke it off."
"I'm guessing cause it was a rebound?"
Shrugging. "Yeah, and I did feel bad for Misato. Eventually I just couldn't do it. Obviously he thought the same."
"I know from the Laserdiscs he was still rather... friendly with you."
She barked a laugh. "Yeah, that's Kaji. I'm sure Misato's gonna keep him on a bit of a leash nowadays, though."
"Is that... like us or-"
"Figuratively, Maya."
"Oh." A reserved glance downward.
The terminal gave a long beep, distracting Maya from her embarrassment as she observed. "L- looks like it's done, Sempai."
She, too, looked over the terminal. "Excellent. I was sure there would be a few issues with it."
And so she got up, towel in hand. "Eliza?"
Serenely floating in a tube of LCL, was a rather tranquil Eliza. "Is... it done, mama?" Her voice was rather quiet, muffled by both the medium and her surprisingly timid tone.
"Yeah. We're just about to drain and get you out of there."
"...Good."
She once more closed her eyes, enjoying the last few moments of this. It was rather... comfortable. A fact her Freudian daemon incessantly pointed out to her.
Still. It was rather nice to not have to do much. To her, at least. It was rather easy, actually.
The LCL around her drained, and the pod opened, her walking out to a modesty towel from her mama. "Did it usually take this long with Rei?"
Nodding. "We generally had to dedicate a whole day. I wouldn't be surprised if Shinji and Asuka were worried sick about her."
"That's... probably what they thinking right now."
"I imagine Rei could put two and two together from the fact we all aren't accessible." Her mama noted. "But this was your own decision, after all. She can't change that."
"Mhm. Though... I still feel kinda bad about it."
"I'm sure she'll understand." Maya comforted, offering her clothes.
"Yeah..."
Her demure demeanour towards Rei was rather palpable. "...You must be starving, Eliza." Ritsuko thought to distract her. "Lunch?"
A small smile. "I'd like that."
~~~
A bit more complex of a backup procedure than most computers, ain't it?
I'm sure she'll feel a bit more secure with herself. A compromise between her wanting to protect her pilot no matter what, and wanting to live. Do for her what she did for them. And she did ask for it. Good thing she has such great parents willing to go along with this sort of business.
Probably says a lot about them
I reckon it's a good thing Kaworu decided to immolate that particular page. He knew no one would react well to it. So thank you, Kaworu, for keeping everyone's mental state somewhat serviceable.
Though then again, this volume pretty much pushed everyone to the brink. Hell, it doesn't really end like the H version does, it just smoothly goes onto volume 0. More of that would've broken most of them, however. Like all the other volumes.
So in a way, this is the first volume of the entire Re-Take that didn't end in a complete collapse in at least one person. Congratulations Studio Kimigabuchi, you finally did it.
Also I feel like I mentioned T2T a lot in this, though considering just what they have to compare with, I think it understandable
I wonder if Makinami's investigating will get him anywhere.
I'm sure she'll feel a bit more secure with herself. A compromise between her wanting to protect her pilot no matter what, and wanting to live. Do for her what she did for them. And she did ask for it. Good thing she has such great parents willing to go along with this sort of business.
Probably says a lot about them
I reckon it's a good thing Kaworu decided to immolate that particular page. He knew no one would react well to it. So thank you, Kaworu, for keeping everyone's mental state somewhat serviceable.
Though then again, this volume pretty much pushed everyone to the brink. Hell, it doesn't really end like the H version does, it just smoothly goes onto volume 0. More of that would've broken most of them, however. Like all the other volumes.
So in a way, this is the first volume of the entire Re-Take that didn't end in a complete collapse in at least one person. Congratulations Studio Kimigabuchi, you finally did it.
Also I feel like I mentioned T2T a lot in this, though considering just what they have to compare with, I think it understandable
I wonder if Makinami's investigating will get him anywhere.
Last edited:
- Location
- Online
You make it sound like there's actually series that didn't come from the east. The west hasn't had series since after Samurai Jack/The Last Air Bender ended.
Last edited:
- Location
- Germany
Yeah, never quite got this. Is that some Japanese trope that crazy people fold newspapers?
Gotta say, this is another Ghost!Asuka encounter I prefer in the original version. She's egging him on much more there, including to remind him why something like that would be impossible (core implodes on self-destruct), and accusing him of playing victim.
Alive'
Oh noes, sill bird, what are you doing?!
beides
Misato continuing with dat praise.
Can't say I'm complaining.
So given that we have the (relatively) short 0 and rather lengthy 4 coming up, is each still gonna be separate, or will there be some merger? Or differently asked:
Next time: Kami-chan? :lol
- Location
- Chicago, IL
Hmph. Tattletale.
Trauma conga, oh boy!
EHehehehehe.
Indeed, tools of the writers. Dance for us!
For some reason, I have a feeling that starting a philosophy discussion with Zero Two would quickly devolve into sex jokes.
...Yeaaaah.
Oh, it gets better!
Dun dun dun.
Another interesting instance of "it makes total sense that he doesn't know what that is."
Don't worry, you'd still be confused even if you'd finished Eva.
Oh, just wait.
Yeah, they're kinda right to have a lack of optimism.
Yeah, pretty much.
Smart girl.
HEY! I just said you were being smart! Don't back out on that now!
I fucking love Zero Two. Also Rei's love vision
Wait 'til 002 hears about that.Heheheehehe.
ZT's just the best.
Yup, you were right the first time.
Also, this is the point that convinced me that Kimigabuchi really only added the H scenes as a way to entice people to buy the doujin. Cause there's no way you could... um... keep reading it as porn after that. VERY impressive level of killing the mood.
Now you're catching on!
Hhehehehehehehehe.
Pretty much.
Yup.
Yeah, nice reminder.
That's definitely what post-Instrumentality!Asuka is trying to say.
Heheh, yeah, that'd be a bit of a mood-killer.
No, Kaworu wouldn't.
0_o
Now I'm afraid of your future plans.
instill*
Again, wait 'til you see Rebuild 2.
Also, rather hilarious. "Do it, Shinji! Dust the place!"
This should not have been as funny as it was.
Oof. Yeah, I forgot how... detailed that scene was.
The hints are getting worse~
Yeah, I can see not being happy with knowing that
Yeah, they are her kids.
Pattern recognition!
*snerk* Yup.
Aaaaannnnd here we go.
Oh, no, there was someone else in the plug.
Surprise! It's an Angel! Or God...
Yup, of all things, the Angel was what kept you safe.
Oh, you'll see.
Yeah, this was a very sweet scene. Although surprising for EoE!Asuka to witness.
Yup, they keep each other going.
That about sums it up.
Hehehehe, imagine if Instrumentality did happen every time they went at it, and they had to reset it afterwards.
"God damn it, Rei, I know you were happy to see him, but was that many times last night really necessary?!"
A little, yeah.
That's quitter's talk.
Womp womp.
Much like Code Geass exists to kick Lelouch in the balls over and over again, Evangelion exists to do even worse to Shinji.
See above.
Yeah, where they ended up in EoE wasn't exactly the best place.
"In the end... die with me."
Bet Asuka's not happy that her apparition-counterpart is now quoting her mother, after her miraculously-alive counterpart got scrambled like her mom.
Heheheheheh.
Well....
....yeah.
I'M STILL SCARED OF A&T CANON, STRYP! I STILL REMEMBER THAT CHAPTER 11 PREVIEW LINE THAT HASN'T HAPPENED YET!
Yup, the ultimate confirmation.
Hate to say it, but I don't think it'd be hard to manipulate Maya like this.
"Alright, I'm back, let's do this."
...that's a good point.
"Always willing to help."
Just a bit.
"Boy, we're all kinda fucked up, aren't we?"
"Meh. Not like that's news."
Yeah, that's still a pretty recent memory for Shinji.
Wait 'til you see it from her PoV, Asuka. It'll be even better
"Well, if the world does end, do it anyway, just to see what happens."
Yeah, Shinji apologizing to her, and deciding to stay and fight, instead of running away, really hits her hard, after what she went through.
NOW you would.
disdain*
Yeah, that moment of synchronicity had to suck.
Ooooooh.
Yeah, it was definitely a shock.
Yeah, bit of a punch.
Yeah, a tough ending for this chapter for alt-Asuka.
I'm pretty sure this is meant to be the first page of RE-TAKE 0, seeing as the PoV switched from Shinji to Asuka.
...
wat.
Are we going to get an update soon where the reaction section is just a series of 'WARK's?
HAHAHAHAAHHAHAAHAHHA
Way to go, Misato. Hope we get a quick summary of their reactions to T2T, much as we did Maya and Ritsuko for the Laserdiscs.
"No porn. No porn. No porn. Porn. Porn. No porn. No porn, but NSFW."
Also, sorry Maya, but yeah, you kinda are.
0_o
Yeah, that can happen, but it's still your choice. I figured she'd go that route.
So, I am absolutely on the edge of my seat waiting for the next update. At the very least, it'll be RE-TAKE 0, which will be a HUGE catalyst of... interesting reactions, to say the least. And if you do finish RE-TAKE All Ages 2, then it'll end with the appearance of God. And won't that be a nice surprise!
- Location
- supernatural
Asuka so... at peace when she says this, she's truly happy.
- Location
- Spain
God was pretty adorable, though.
- Location
- Germany
Forgot to mention, but I quite liked Maya taking such an active role in this one.
And granted, we may simply not know if there are more long, story-focused doujins that simply never make it over - where the "H-scenes as hook"-theory comes in, at least for the western "market" (though I think it's fair to say that it was quite a hit in Japan as well, just looking at the hype Kimigabuchi set up around RT4 - for that they had merchandise, a trailer, a freakin soundtrack CD. Oh yeah, and there even was a knock-off (at least I don't think Kimigabuchi were involved) live-action version)).
The only other single books of similar size that are story focues I can think of would be "Lost Memories" - which does not have that hook (plus the additional disatvantage of being about Kyoko rather than the pilots (baby/toddler Asuka aside)) - and is to my knowledge still not translated (or even really known).
That was always kinda the presumtion. And kinda what made RE-TAKE special in the first place. The story is most certainly not without flaws, some characterization may be questionable, it's taking some shortcuts here and there. But it's still very much one of its kind in its medium. The vast majority of doujins are a) at most 20-30 pages (not counting collections) and b) 90% smut (alternately in some cases comedy), so even longer, continuing series don't have that much of a story in relation. And then comes a 100 page book that is almost entirely story with just a bit of smut (which mostly even works in context, if a bit too gratious at times).
And granted, we may simply not know if there are more long, story-focused doujins that simply never make it over - where the "H-scenes as hook"-theory comes in, at least for the western "market" (though I think it's fair to say that it was quite a hit in Japan as well, just looking at the hype Kimigabuchi set up around RT4 - for that they had merchandise, a trailer, a freakin soundtrack CD. Oh yeah, and there even was a knock-off (at least I don't think Kimigabuchi were involved) live-action version)).
The only other single books of similar size that are story focues I can think of would be "Lost Memories" - which does not have that hook (plus the additional disatvantage of being about Kyoko rather than the pilots (baby/toddler Asuka aside)) - and is to my knowledge still not translated (or even really known).
Do we not call her "Kami-chan" anymore these days?
- Location
- Chicago, IL
Do we not call her "Kami-chan" anymore these days?
I never did, since the two translations I came across(separate translations for RE-TAKE and All Ages) both just used God.
...
Now that I think about it, I'm a bit surprised my All Ages translation didn't use Kami/Kami-chan, since it uses Japanese name order for all names(including Asuka's. Still a bit weird reading Soryu Asuka Langley), AND uses "Children" as a singular in deference to the direct term used in Japanese(i.e. First Children, instead of First Child).
I'll admit it's a more fitting name, even if the meaning is the same. It's cuter.
- Location
- Germany
Oh, that wasn't from any translation, that was just what we used to call her in the community (at least those parts I was active in).
- Location
- Chicago, IL
Ah, that would explain it. While I was a fan of Eva, and read RE-TAKE sometime around 2010(at the latest, could easily have been a couple years earlier), and read T2T at around the same time, I was never actually part of the Eva fandom until Stryp lured me here in 2014 with A&T.
wyatt2996
Need me some WAFF
- Location
- Tidewater, VA
Added a line to make it clearer Misato's not entirely distracted. Partly Misato let herself be diverted there, since they were about to enter MAGI-monitored areas.
Oh yes. Advice and Trust [NGE] | Page 1231
Kaworu's Rei Mix #1 (He's not creative enough yet to call it a Reimix
Iris - The Goo-Goo Dolls
Symphonies - Clean Bandit
She's So High - Tal Bachman
Send Me An Angel - Real Life
God Is A Girl - Groove Coverage
Crazy For This Girl - Evan & Jaron
I Want To Know What Love Is - Foreigner
My First, My Last, My Everything - Barry White
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now - Jefferson Starship
Awake & Alive - Skillet
Before i went on my 2 month south american "cruise" last april, i put this playlist together on my google music account. it helped get me through the suck that was going around the continent of south america at ~13 knots
- Location
- Chicago, IL
Yeah, this thread has basically taken over Evangelion discussion on SV, as well as discussion of just about anything we can tie to Evangelion in the weakest of ways.
I STILL laugh at how the official Evangelion discussion megathread here on SV is called "That Depressing A&T AU". That about sums up A&T's status here.
BG_Character_592
The Fisherman
- Location
- Australia
Pretty much depends how much it fills the snippet And how traumatised those reading it get
beides
Thank ya kindly for the corrections
Wark wark wark (wark Wark)
P: "Wark wark Wark? Wark wark wark wark wark wark wark?"
Wark wark wark Wark, wark Wark wark wark wark.
Wark (wark Wark)
Damn that would've been a good April fools
Now that's a good idea
As if it couldn't get any more of a mindscrew to them.
Ngl I completely forgot about the existence of Kami-chan, though I suppose with all the other screwy things in this it kinda got lost in the riptide
There's a reason why smughai is making a timeline of all the fics written here
Now I'm morbidly curious...
- Location
- Canada
I get the feeling we don't want to know what was depicted in that scene. Here is a music that I think suits mind screw.
Pink Floyd - On The Run
- Location
- Chicago, IL
Alright, but be warned: the second one is especially disturbing.
The first one isn't too bad; it's just Ghost Asuka being creepy. They're mainly reacting like that because it's a HARD switch from an intimate scene with the in-world Asuka.
Below is an imgur album of the relevant pages of the All Ages version. It starts with Asuka and Shinji making out, then Asuka bites him hard enough to draw blood, and when Shinji opens his eyes to react to that, it's Ghost-Asuka, ready to mess with his head. (I'm keeping links instead of embedding because 1) big files, and 2) NSFW(although not nudity), so no surprise loading.)
Ghost Asuka scene(All Ages version)
The second one is, quite literally, a very graphic depiction of half of Kaworu's body. If you really want to look, the link to that is below, but I'm avoiding embedding for the same reason as above. (Bit of a mean surprise to those who don't want to see that.)
Kaworu's body
I went back to check the differences, and I find I must agree with you. It's interesting in that they've actually expanded Ghost-Asuka's appearance in the All-Ages version(4-5 pages if including the bite, as opposed to 2 pages), but they've cut out half the dialogue. If anything, they could've stood to add MORE dialogue to taunt Shinji with.
For comparison to the All Ages appearance above, I'm posting another imgur album link of Ghost Asuka's appearance from the original version - obviously edited to remove... objectionable content. Mainly just to show the dialogue and Asuka's expressions.
Ghost Asuka scene, original version(edited)
Although radically different, the two versions of the scene essentially begin and end in the same place: begins with the end of Shinji's intimate moment with Asuka(just before what I have here), and ends with Shinji lunging at Ghost Asuka to strangle her(just after what I have here).
EDIT: Oops, the forum decided to be "helpful" and embed the imgur albums. Editing again now to wrap them in spoilers to prevent the issue I intended to prevent by linking in the first place...
EDIT2: And apparently spoilering breaks the embed. THANKS!
EDIT3: Also, still willing to share links to RE-TAKE via PM if they're wanted. Although it's interesting, you don't get nearly as much enjoyment out of BG's Chronicles reactions if you're not familiar with the work in question
Last edited:
- Location
- Up A Creek
Why would it be hard? Eliza runs on a UNIX fork, doesn't she? I mean, all you need is to run a dd if=/mnt/Eliza | gzip > /mnt/gauf/backupdir/Eliza/Eliza.1.0.0.img.gzA bit more complex of a backup procedure than most computers, ain't it?
Of course, first you'd have to actually mnt /dev/Eliza /mnt/Eliza
"Hey! PHRASING!"
Look, I didn't create the command line, okay? I'm just stuck with it! Anyway, where was I...? Oh, yeah. You'd also have to add-apt-repository 'nix https://www.nerv.con/metbio/akagipublic/wtf/igiveup/unsafe/useatyourownrisk/drivers' and do a full update. But don't forget that there's no package candidate for the soullight device wetware abstraction layer, so you'll need to compile that from source, using nervgcc-6.6.6 (no older or newer versions!), and make sure to set the compilation flags correctly for your hardware.
Simple, really.
...yaright. Hey, Stryp, tell us again how the cast has been nothing but compliant slaves to your every authorial whim, would you?
- Location
- supernatural
...Yeah I wonder how different the story would be if one removes Rei and make her the pilot/love interest?
I vaguely remember a fic I saw once that had that pairing. I don't remember the title, tho.
grommile
nasty-minded old cynic
- Location
- NERV-Mercia
- Pronouns
- Traditional/Animate
There's a few of them around. (AO3 has six. I haven't checked how many FFN has, because FFN is a much less search-friendly platform.)