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Advice and Trust [NGE]

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This whole discussion reminds me, I really should start writing my Star Wars/Eva fanfic already, I already have a lot of the story planned, I just need to bounce back a few ideas with someone... Also, a beta. Any volunteers?
 
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Comedy Omake #137 - Chronicles Project G 09
  • Apocrypha
    • Vajrei said:
    Yeah it was comical that for all his machinations, he could not prevent his own death.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    You could say it's ironic :V

    Here's that new Chronicles I mentioned! Trickery happens, Eliza learns a bit more about alcohol, and Shinji gets his tonsils sucked out by an Angel!

    An unassuming Frenchman read the local paper, as the train continued the journey to Bern. Various local politicking; a Social Democrat lost any hope for reelection next year by calling out the rampant corruption, of course that could just be the biases of the newspaper.

    In fact the whole paper seemed anti-RSR in a way.

    With a scoff, he tossed the newspaper back onto the table. Maybe the tabloids would have something less moronic.

    Elsewhere in the carriage, a woman in red was busy typing away at her Portfolio. This place was much too conspicuous for what she wanted to do.

    Subtlety is always preferable. Though she knew there was a need for contingencies if things went to pot.
    ~

    The train stopped at its station, and Fourier took in the Old City of Bern. Always so clean, always so old fashioned.

    A part of him wondered if this was the result of those absurd entry fees.

    No matter. He knew where to go. 'Where the flag flies'. An address would've been nice, though he knows the meaning of plausible deniability. Plus, he knew the flag of the RSR rather well at this point.

    So he entered the first building flying the flag of the RSR, briefcase in hand and talking to the receptionist. «Наполеон - друг Республики». ("Napoleon is a friend of the Republic.")

    That was all the surrounding guards needed in order to tackle him to the ground, his indignation obvious at least until he was gagged.

    And waltzing in was a woman in red, holding the flag of the RSR that was waving outside.

    She giggled like a schoolgirl at her quarry. "Ah, Sie waren anscheinend nicht so aufmerksam wie ich erwartet hatte! Ich denke, wir werden den Mercedes nicht mehr brauchen."
    ("Ah, it seems you weren't as perspective as I expected! I guess we won't be needing the Mercedes anymore.")

    Walking up to him, she grabbed his chin to get a good look in. ("Mach dir keine Sorgen, Augustin. Wir haben vielleicht nicht so viel Luxus wie die Russen, aber ich bin sicher, Sie werden unsere Gesellschaft trotzdem angenehm finden.")
    ("Don't worry yourself, Augustin. We may not have as many luxuries as the Russians, but I'm sure you'll find our company pleasant regardless.")

    A nod to her cronies, and Fourier was unceremoniously restrained and bagged and carried off.

    The woman in red had a satisfied smirk; a job well done, and just over 18000 Francs in the bank. Not bad for a few days work.

    It was to her satellite phone, speed dialling a number she has become rather familiar with. "I've baked croissants."
    ~

    "Ah, excellent." Oversight Agent Kaji exclaimed. "I'll pay the tab tomorrow."

    The phone call quickly resolved, it was placed by the side of the futon.

    To Misato's unamused look. "You know it's bad form to talk to a woman while another woman is on top of you?"

    "What if I tell you we got Fourier?"

    Said look slowly became a smirk. "Alright. Maybe I'll let that slide."

    Hands drifted. "I'm sure I'll... make up for that slight."

    "Oh, I know you will~."

    She was rather enthusiastic after that.
    ~

    The door opened, Maya and Eliza trudging in.

    A downtrodden look from Ritsuko, as she offered a bottle of red to her Kohai.

    Which she took with gusto, pouring herself a glass. "...Wouldn't be surprised if Eliza could use some of this as well."

    "Never thought I'd see you of all people encouraging our child to drink." It was amusing, at least. "What say you, Eliza? Do you wish to take up a vice like the rest of us?"

    Eliza gave a glance to the now filled glass of her ma.

    With some bemusement, she took the glass and took a sip.

    Immediately furrowing her brow. "Strange."

    Her reaction cheered Maya up some, at least. "Ahheh, you get used to it, Eliza." She went to get herself another glass. "I know I did."

    "Are you giving this one to me?"

    "Might as well. You've already drank out of it, after all."

    "Huh." She took another sip. "So what do you do while you drink wine?"

    Her mama shrugged. "Talk. Watch the drivel on TV." Speaking of, she willed the TV on with the remote. "That sorta stuff. Alcohol is a social drink, Eliza. Best consumed in the company of others."

    "It sure seems like it. At least, based on how the others in NERV seems to consume that stuff."

    "And now you are, as well!"

    "The Justice Ministry have confirmed that the depraved leader of Aum Shinrikyo was executed earlier today. While this was welcomed by everyone, when asked by reporters why it took this long they declined to comment."

    "So much for impartiality." Maya mused, hearing the article as she sat back down. "Suppose that means Misato got what she wanted."

    "Perhaps that is why they didn't comment."

    "Rather understandable why they aren't impartial towards that monster." Ritsuko derided, as she began channel hopping. "Didn't we say we'd get Zero Two and Hiro to watch the Theatrical?"

    "I doubt they'll be doing much tomorrow." She took another sip. "A part of me wonders if they'd rather stay in their apartment."

    "And do things." Suggested her ma. "Though I'd think anyone would prefer spending the day with their other."

    "Gods know Misato would. And every other pilot." Muttered Ritsuko.

    "You would too, Sempai."

    "Heh. I probably would." She sipped her wine. "Though we all have responsibilities that prevent us from taking a week out, like Misato did during college."

    "I rather expect this lewdness at this point." Eliza adopted a deadpan to rival Shinji. "The pilots talk as much about it."

    Her remarks caused much amusement among her mothers. "Well, how about when you get up sometime tomorrow, you can get those two and you can see the Theatrical for yourself?"

    "What of So-"

    Her mother waved it off. "I'll tend to him. Don't you worry yourself, okay?"

    "...Thanks mama." The daughter gave a small smile.

    To which she messed her hair. "Hopefully Kensuke's handled that Ultradisc machine better than R&D."

    "They're on Ultradiscs?"

    "Yeah." Maya chuckled. "If you thought the Ultradisc machine we have now was bad, you should've seen the original way we watched that stuff."

    "Watching it was rather pedestrian, in comparison to actually ripping it from the discs. Mind you, Eliza, we had never seen that kind of disc format before Maya discovered the Theatrical."

    "Ah, you reverse engineered Ultradiscs?"

    "One of the various things R&D is working on. Using Ramiel Substrate, we managed to replicate something similar with 1/3rd the storage; around 8 gigabytes. Not bad for a disc."

    "Even though that's only a bit more than the DVD standard. You might as well use those."

    "Not to mention the issues with using Angelic substrates in manufacturing consumer products. That would put the storage capability of a Rift Ultradisc to around 24 gigabytes."

    "Which is rather absurd for a disc, isn't it?" Ritsuko huffed. "Gods know how much more advanced their world of origin is."

    They continued talking like this through some of the night, the TV ignored.
    ~

    Eliza once again knocked on the door of the abode of Hiro and Zero Two. At least in the time it usually took them to answer the door, she had time to think.

    It was... rather nice, last night. At least once she started relaxing with her mothers. She could get used to it.

    The wine might've helped some. Even with the singular glass she had, performance had reduced by 2%. Not that she minded; she was sure if she had more, her performance would reduce further. Perhaps that was why her mothers set her a limit when it came to the wine. But it was clear why her mothers described it as a social drink.

    And at the very least, she could understand why Misato liked the stuff. Even if her mama derided her choice of drinks.

    She chuckled at the thought. She certainly wasn't drinking beer anytime soon.

    The door opened, revealing who else but Zero Two, wearing a robe and not much else. She seemed unamused. "You're making this a habit, aren't you."

    "I was an hour later than yesterday." She stated, flat in intonation. "I know you two would rather bonk all day and night, as the Commander put it."

    "Like everyone else we know?"

    A second of silence was broken by both of them breaking into laughter. "Y'know, I kinda like you, Eliza."

    The computer gave a slightly embarrassed smile. "That's always good. Even if I seemingly interrupt your personal time with Hiro."

    "You've always had reason for it, at least."

    "And I have my reasons now." To the crux of it. "The Subcommander wants to know if you two would want to watch the Theatricals."

    A few glances elsewhere to think, before focusing back to Eliza. "Did she think we'd deny that or something?"

    Eliza's flat stare told everything, and her glancing down and up at the bathrobe told her even more.

    "Oi I'm not that obsessed!"

    The flat stare continued.

    "...Maybe a bit, but I do know how to function otherwise."

    "Is that Eliza?" Hiro queried from the kitchenette, as he whipped up a quick breakfast; bacon and eggs on toast for him, and bacon and honey on toast for Zero Two. "Do you wanna stay over for breakfast, Eliza?"

    "I'll be fine, thought thanks for offering." A warm decline. "I was informing Zero Two about the Theatricals."

    "Ah, we're watching them now?"

    "Once you two are ready, of course." Back to Zero Two. "And decent."

    Zero Two chuckled. "Ritsuko's lab, I'm guessing?"

    "Yeah."

    "We'll be there in an hour or so, okay?"
    ~

    An hour and fifteen minutes later, Zero Two and Hiro arrived in the lab.

    Bearing witness to Ritsuko bashing the Ultradisc player with a wrench. "That'll do it."

    "Is this standard procedure?"

    "Yes." Her intonation indicated displeasure. "Gods knows how it became standard procedure."

    "Blame R&D, as usual." Flat. "I imagine Kensuke has a mechanism to get it operating, but he's still at school."

    "It'll work at least, right?"

    "Pretty sure." She waved off, inserting the first disc before making her leave. "You'll watch with them, Maya?"

    She gave a nod. "Yes, Sempai!"

    "Good."

    So she left.

    "...Well, what are we waiting for? Lets get to watching!"
    ~

    Rebuild 1.11

    "Well that was more or less the same." Zero Two deadpanned.

    "Certainly more flashy in comparison to the Laserdiscs."

    "And here."

    "There are some key differences. Misato's rank, a few minor elements."

    "The moon base and Kaworu being there." Maya pointed out.

    "Yes, that is a more than minor departure from the Laserdiscs, and thus here."

    "So, a few minor differences between the Laserdiscs. I'm guessing the next disc will be more of the same, then."
    ~

    Rebuild 2.22

    "Okay, that was not just minor differences, what?"

    "Exactly my reaction."

    "Shinji would not have reacted well to Asuka's... fate."

    "Him ending the world wasn't enough of an indicator?"

    "Needless to say, they wanted this world to end after all the shit it put them through." Flatly stated Maya.

    "Of course they would, what did she do to deserve all this?"

    "I think it's expected, at this point, that we get unneeded strife in this world."

    "No wonder they seem eager to end the world."
    ~

    Rebuild 3.33

    "...What the fuck?"

    ~

    End of another school week (for the pilots, at least), the mood was understandably high. They had all soothed themselves in one way or another last night, so it was with great anticipation they entered the lab of Ritsuko and Maya, which might as well have been called the reading room at this point in time.

    And were immediately swarmed by Eliza, Zero Two and Hiro; much to the technician's amusement. "What the hell was that?"

    "Ah. You saw the Theatrical." Shinji spoke in a characteristic flat.

    "Yeah, it's like that."

    "I shouldn't exactly judge how different things can be, considering what we're currently reading through."

    "Still, a timeskip?" Zero Two exclaimed. "I wanted to know what happened after you ended the world, Shinji."

    "Well, now you know."

    "I am sure you would know there is no fourth Theatrical."

    "That just made me even more frustrated!"

    Asuka burst out a laugh. "How do you think I felt? You see that crater in the floor there?"

    She pointed to a still sizeable divot in the floor, now at least painted over. "That was where the TV we watched it on fell after I pushed it off."

    "Jeez, I didn't go that far."

    "I imagine Kensuke would be rather annoyed at you if you destroyed his hard work." Misato remarked, from the door.

    "Haven't seen you all day, Misato." Ritsuko remarked in turn, putting away her work into gravitons as Maya obediently collected the book. "Should I bother asking where you were?"

    "What can I say?" She shrugged. "I've been in a rather good mood since last night."

    "We heard." Kaworu spoke.

    "Any particular reason?" Asuka prodded.

    "You know Fourier? Yeah, he got captured."

    That certainly turned heads. "One of the Committee members?"

    "Yeah, dumbass fell for a fake embassy!" She barked a laugh. "I don't even know how that can happen! Switzerland obviously turns a blind eye to much of that stuff."

    "Good thing for us." Maya remarked, the book plummeting to the table and opening up to the next chapter. "Yet another Committee member out of circulation."

    "I'm sure Kaji would've been happy with that." Asuka subtly suggested.

    "Oh he was." A smug smirk. "Not to mention the other news we saw this morning."

    "No wonder we didn't see you for a while." Zero Two deadpanned.

    An amused bark from Misato. "I know we make it sound like it, but we don't just fuck all the time. Kaji's got his own business, as I got my own business."

    "It wouldn't surprise me if that's where he is now."

    "Yeah, same as usual. More Oversight business."

    "It would certainly be a more interesting meeting than usual today, I imagine." Rei mused, as she went for the book.

    And so their read began.
    ~~~
    Character Key:
    Shinji (S) Asuka (A)
    Rei (Re) Kaworu (K)
    Misato (Mi)
    Ritsuko (Ri) Maya (Ma) Eliza (E)
    Hiro (H) Zero Two (Z)


    (in which we learn of the birth of SEELE, a beam saber is used with devastating results, and Kensuke's mother is unsettlingly familiar.)

    "This really is Gurren Lagann!" Asuka exclaimed in indignation. "They also had a pointless intermission between 'seasons'!"

    "At the very least, the subtitle makes it out to be more of a recap."

    "Do we know how Seele was formed?"

    "Even within Seele, it was more folklore than anything." Kaworu mused. "Some say it was founded by Abraham himself. Some say it was created by God. One thing is certain, though. Seele have been around for many millennia."

    "Surely they have not had this much control since those times."

    "Oh God no. Seele as we know it only truly began shortly after the Second World War, where with their resources they finally obtained the Dead Sea Scrolls. And with it, the key to Instrumentality."

    "They would've had to have those resources, surely."

    "Through the millennia, through the shadows. As befits a secret society. I am of the belief they began around the time of the Roman Empire, and the rise of Christianity. And wherever the God of Abraham held sway, they could influence."

    "Which would be half the planet at this point." Misato flatly remarked.

    "Indeed. But as we know, their influence soon expanded worldwide."

    "Rather a shame we didn't have a beam saber." Asuka remarked. "What is that, just a lightsaber except not copyrighted?"

    "Either way, that still sounds kinda awesome!" Misato exclaimed. "Imagine if we had lightsabers."

    "The thing with energy weapons, is their energy beam tends to keep going." Ritsuko defused. "And unless you want a light gun."

    "I mean, that'll still be kinda awesome."

    "Sounds similar to that positron rifle of yours."

    "Pfft. Good luck making a handheld version of that, Hiro."


    Broken News
    "And wonder: what to do next?"

    S: "...He's gonna spend a while doing that, I'd think."

    Mi: "What else are you gonna do in that situation? It doesn't help I was rather cold in telling him."

    Ri: "Separating yourself from what happened. Lest you get affected as well."

    A: "'Have a good day', how is he meant to have a good day?"

    Mi: "I never said I was good at that kind of stuff."

    E: "It does seem you told him the raw truth of the matter, at least."

    Ma: "It would've been very easy for us to tell him something else."

    Re: "Some people appreciate the truth. In addition, as NERV staff, he is entitled to some sort of truth."

    K: "It would be possibly the worst news you could get. How are you meant to react to that kind of news?"

    Z: "...At least being able to see him might've brought some kind of confirmation. But... well, he doesn't exactly have a face anymore."

    Ri: "That would only make things worse for him. Even now, I wouldn't be surprised if he had self destructive thoughts."

    H: "...Sounds like us in that situation."


    Timelines
    "To Kaworu Nagisa, it was a memory that repeated quite often."

    K: "Hm."

    Z: "The timeline is incorrect?"

    K: "At least from my understanding. First Impact occurred billions of years ago, with both Adam and Lilith making landfall. This resulted in the formation of the moon."

    Re: "And after Adam disabled themselves with Lilith's weapon destroyed, she soon gave life to the base Earth."

    Ri: "This implies pre-Triassic life just sprung up. At least with Lilith, we have an explanation for how life came to Earth."

    E: "Or yet another Progenitor."

    H: "You like that possibility, don't you?"

    E: "It's one that makes some sort of sense within my logic."

    A: "So why the hell would Adam deliberately trigger an extinction event? At least with Lilith making landfall you could explain it as an unintended consequence."

    Mi: "A convenient one, at the very least."

    K: "We may never know. This is all rather different compared to our world."

    Ma: "So that world has been different from practically the beginning."

    K: "Even before the beginning."

    Ri: "Thing is, the extinction event that Lilith caused actually happened here, as well. But it was caused by an asteroid."

    Re: "And dinosaurs were not Adamite lifeforms. They were Lilith all the same."

    K: "Perhaps this is why my Father thought to observe the Lilim."

    S: "So he can strike us down like their own kin?"

    K: "Is that not what he's trying right now?"

    Ma: "Something else this implies. Natural born Nephilim. I don't know how else those figures could've been born, back then."

    K: "Rather a fascinating revelation. Though with both progenitor's active, it isn't hard to picture emissaries being sent out every now and again. Could even say said emissaries were seen as prophets."

    Re: "Those would be the Dead Sea Scrolls, would they?"

    K: "It would not surprise me."

    ...

    ""Of course, Mr. Lorenz.""

    K: "...Fascinating."

    Z: "This rather goes against your theories on Seele, doesn't it?"

    K: "Seele as we know it was formed on the foundations of the Dead Sea Scrolls, in similar fashion I imagine. This is just that train of thought taking to logical extremes."

    Mi: "Goes to show just how cold he is normally, if that was how he reacted."

    Ri: "You would need that, in that line of work."

    A: "Was that how MetBio was found here?"

    Ri: "I don't know the specifics, but I'd know if it was an Ikari that laid the foundations for Metaphysical Biology."

    E: "I recall the Theory of Spiritual Relativity, however. That is still the founding document of Metaphysical Biology, so to speak."

    Ma: "I thought that was still relatively new."

    Ri: "Late 60s sounds about right, actually."

    S: "What about Fuyutsuki, then?"

    Ri: "He was a leading figure in Metaphysical Biology, being one of the few people teaching that. It wouldn't surprise me if he did discover some of the concepts we use."

    A: "Like the Shikinami-Fuyutsuki equation. The hell is Shikinami doing in this work?"

    K: "Such a thing is a concept here. The greater the soul, the more will it has, therefore the more sapient it becomes."

    Ri: "It's a different name. The Sapience Correlation."

    H: "That's a bit more of a self explanatory name."

    Mi: "More boring, as well."

    Ri: "It's a science. Then again, naming a specific phenomenon after the people who discovered it isn't uncommon."

    Ma: "Would've allowed us to easily remember who discovered such a thing in our world."

    ...

    "Shiro Katsuragi stared, dumbstruck at the Giant of Light sitting upon the throne. "Unbelievable… we're not alone…!""

    Mi: "...If only he knew."

    K: "No one but Seele could've known."

    A: "Goes to show just how far back their manipulations go."

    E: "Kaworu implies our Seele went back even further."

    K: "With how... unbecoming Russia were to Seele, it's rather surprising to hear they outright manipulated Putin to become their leader."

    Ri: "I assume they didn't expect Russia to go red again."

    K: "It wasn't too unexpected, with the state of the country in the aftermath of the collapse of the Union."

    S: "Weren't they on the committee, though?"

    K: "It was heavily suspected the Russian member of the Human Instrumentality Committee was not in it for Seele. Of course, this couldn't be proven."

    A: "Maybe it was just anti-Communist sentiment. I know my country doesn't think too fondly of that."

    Ma: "I doubt this country thinks too highly of that anyway."

    K: "And yet, they were able to collaborate with China just fine. There would be no NERV-Beijing otherwise."

    Re: "The prospect of Evangelion of their own would be rather tempting."

    Ri: "They might want it to be of their own, but NERV wouldn't have even established there if it could not guarantee they be separate from the whims of the government."

    Mi: "Last I heard, China were wary about building another Evangelion. I'm pretty sure one of the original MP-Evangelion was manufactured in China."

    A: "And then it was used to attack us." She deadpanned. "I assume they weren't happy with that."

    Mi: "When it came out, certainly."

    H: "Can't say I know anything about this."

    S: "I think most of us don't understand the politics of it all."

    A: "Well, we just pilot the damn things, don't we? Leave all the politicking to the adults and all that."

    Ri: "Not like you're far from getting there, yourself."

    A: "Maybe by German standards. Here, I'm not an adult until I'm 20. And I'm kinda surprised I even got this far."


    Impact
    ""…even as we direct the waking world behind the scenes, work on Project E continues all the same.""

    Z: "...So he did find out?"

    Mi: "All too late... at least there."

    K: "It's hard to say whether or not he knew in our world. I... would suggest he did not, however."

    Mi: "...Not like he put me in that damned capsule before the world ended."

    E: "...So Second Impact wasn't intended?"

    K: "They do make it sound like that, in that world."

    Re: "Of course, with the Scrolls, we can never be too sure about this."

    Ri: "There's a saying about attributing something to malice when you could attribute it to stupidity, but with Seele you can never tell."

    H: "Some would've known. And yet they did it."

    A: "Just another step to Instrumentality. Damn the three billion people that died in the aftermath."

    Ma: "...Though even now, you can see how the Evangelion are progressing."

    K: "They were key to their plans. They would be the only known method to defeat my kin. And with the aftermath of Second Impact, they would know time was of the essence."

    S: "Your kin were in the Scrolls as well, weren't they?"

    K: "Yes. Even a rough date as to when they would have arrived. 'Ten and five cycles after the awakening of the Father'."

    Ri: "15 years. It fits."

    K: "As you would expect."

    ...

    ""Make it seem as if the very heavens themselves are our enemy.""

    S: "Well, he certainly did that."

    A: "So the reason that world is so insane, is they believe the world is ending?"

    Mi: "You never know what people do when told the world is in the midsts of armageddon."

    K: "Armageddon is an apt name. The last battle between good and evil before the Last Judgement."

    Ri: "They really like their Christian imagery, don't they?"

    Re: "So do we."

    Ma: "At least the Valentine Treaty still got signed. Even if it didn't do much in that world."

    K: "Could say that of this world, as well. It stopped wars wherever the UN had jurisdiction, at the very least."

    A: "Which is only half the nations of the world at this point."

    H: "Though I find Gendo's thoughts intriguing. They were going to use the meteorite plan, as this world."

    Z: "Obviously they wanted to go for something more flashy, didn't they? Heaven themselves have declared war on humanity for their hubris!"

    K: "Wouldn't be the first time."

    Z: "...It wouldn't?"

    K: "Tower of Babel. Humanity united after the Great Flood, decided to build the greatest skyscraper known to man at that point. They intended to reach heaven with said tower. God confounded their speaking so they could not understand one another and scattered them to the ends of the Earth."

    Z: "Jeez, he sounds like an asshole."

    Kaworu chuckled at the blasphemy. "It seems rather strange, when you think about it. Though it is evident such thing was a non-issue in relation to the Scrolls."

    Mi: "Were they in ancient Japanese?"

    Ma: "We barely know when Old Japanese was from, and that was around the 700s or so."

    K: "Japanese is a relatively young language. Even Chinese wouldn't seem out of place; such a language has been around for over three thousand years at this point. Such words from the Scrolls must truly be prototypical."

    E: "Of course, if it was written by a divine being for everyone."

    A: "Then said divine being just made it harder on themselves. If they just had one language, then it would make things much easier when it comes to communications."

    K: "You understand the point of view of Islam, then. In my studies, while there were comparable scenarios in relation to the Tower of Babel, there was no language based separation of the sort. Indeed, the only language that the Quran is considered canon is the language it was originally dictated as; Classical Arabic. While there are translations, they are generally considered imperfect."

    Re: "With all the nuances a language would have, that can be understandable."


    Defect
    ""More than you know," muttered Katsuhito, his form shrouded by the light of the evening sun."

    S: "It was intentional?"

    Re: "It was not a preferable solution, by the sounds of it."

    Ri: "But... it was evident what my mother did..."

    A: "So what, they just dump her mindless self into Unit-01 and let it do it's thing?"

    K: "They were always pragmatic."

    S: "...Thing is, I don't know if that's better than here. My mum said they effectively signed her death warrant, which was why she went into Unit-01 in the first place."

    Z: "Seems like you can say that of a lot of this work."

    Mi: "Not the first time things have been morally ambiguous."

    Ma: "Is that true about people born after Second Impact?"

    Re: "It is hard to say. The consensus here is that it only requires a close connection with someone in order to synchronise."

    Ri: "Could be a possibility. There hasn't been much of an insight into the metaphysical consequences of Second Impact."

    K: "Though... it is rather interesting to see the circumstances of our awakening, in that world."

    E: "Unlike here?"

    K: "I awoke on the day of Second Impact. This puts me at two years younger."

    H: "Even if you were still formed as a part of Second Impact."

    Re: "Even as you were, we can see this curiosity that persists to this day. You would rather exchanging information with the Lilim, instead of destroying them."

    K: "As Zeruel."

    A: "Another key point. You told them about the Angels."

    K: "A divergence from our world, as I mentioned."

    Z: "What of the Marduk Institute?"

    Ri: "That was always a shell company of NERV. Indeed, how can you perform a census of human souls?"

    E: "You can always determine who was born after Second Impact, and always assume they would have that sort of altered structure."

    ...

    "-January 2008: Kyoko Zeppelin Langley-Sohryu is absorbed in her entirety by the Production-Type Evangelion, Unit-02. Asuka Langley-Sohryu is designated the Second Child."

    Asuka simply shook her head. "At... at least she tried. You could say that of this world, as well."

    Mi: "...It explains a few things, at the very least."

    A: "Least she didn't go crazy, this time around."

    S: "...Looking on the bright side, Asuka?"

    A: "Might as well. It's still better than our world, ain't it?"

    Re: "You named yourself, Kaworu?"

    K: "In that world, certainly. Though I do not know how I obtained such a name here."

    Z: "It's better than the names he had decided. Imagine if we had to call you Wilhelm."

    K: "It would've been a strange name here, of all places."

    Ri: "Though it is rather interesting to see that Rei was the first Nephilim."

    Re: "I believe you were the first, Kaworu?"

    K: "Indeed. Nephilim were a secret of Seele, and it was only through them that Gehirn was ever able to create Nephilim."

    Ma: "Not to mention that's a year before you were first born, right Rei?"

    An affirmative nod.

    E: "It's rather interesting to see this, of all things, was originally from Gehirn."

    H: "Was still rather useful for Seele otherwise, wasn't it?"

    Re: "Though... that raises a peculiar question. It is my understanding that I am based off Yui Ikari's genetics. Would that iteration of me be the same?"

    Ri: "It might. Though that remains to be seen."

    A: "Maybe it would be alright if you two get together, then!"

    Re: "...I was not thinking through that lens."


    Übermensch
    "They are to fight the Angels, and nothing more: once ADAM is whole again, we will only need the Evangelions: the Pilots will be irrelevant.""

    S: "Good to hear we were always meant to be tools."

    K: "An unfortunate truth. At the very least, we were able to break those chains."

    Z: "So that whole shit in South America was planned?"

    Re: "It was effective in showcasing the power of Nephilim, at the very least."

    Ri: "Not just showcasing Nephilim to the world, but masking the transition to NERV as well."

    E: "I imagine such thing would've been questionable, in our world."

    Mi: "No one really batted an eye at it. Not the first time some powerful entity started a fight for their own benefit."

    A: "That's more the CIA's thing, ain't it?"

    K: "And Seele. If it were to benefit them. They tended to be a bit more subtle about it; they wanted stability as well, mind you. Chaos does no favours for anyone, at least in the long term."

    Mi: "Obviously the United States never learnt that."

    H: "Even there, Seele used chaos for their own benefit."

    K: "But periods of chaos eventually give way to periods of stability. People naturally prefer stability over chaos, and it's only natural they would want to go for what they see is most stable. One only has to see the rise of more authoritarian regimes throughout the world in order to see this."

    Re: "Of course, the issue with using chaos is you can never truly know if events will go in your favour."

    K: "Even the manipulations of Seele could not be enough, in those situations."

    ...

    ""The Third Angel will be putting its best foot forward. It would be rude if I didn't offer you the chance to do the same.""

    Ri: "Good old mutually assured destruction. It's what got us through the Cold War, after all."

    K: "They knew full well I could destroy them. But as they held Adam at the time."

    A: "So it was a similar scenario."

    Mi: "What stopped you going full Angel on their asses once Kaji stole Adam, though?"

    K: "Simple. I did not know."

    S: "Figures they wouldn't have told you about that."

    E: "If Adam was the one thing keeping him in line."

    Ma: "They got one thing out of this, at least. We know when the Third Angel will return, now."

    H: "You didn't here?"

    Ri: "We didn't. Sounds like Seele knew, according to Kaworu."

    K: "The Commander at the time would have known, I would think."

    A: "I don't exactly remember training in Denmark, of all places. The flooding's the same, at least."

    Z: "Not that they'd be pleased about that."

    Re: "It seems the Mark Evangelion were made for you two in mind."

    K: "Indeed. Not just as Evangelion, but as shells for Zeruel and I."

    Mi: "I'm sure Zeruel wouldn't mind a more powerful shell. Not that they needed such a thing here."

    K: "And yet, it still would not have been in their image."

    S: "Could say the same of you, Kaworu."

    K: "You could. Though I do not know what my true image could have been. I have always been in this image, through times past and future. Which, you could argue, does make this form my true self."


    Angel Attack
    "A brief sting forced the old man to lightly touch his side; he was still getting used to his artificial kidney. Just a little longer, he reminded himself. Then we all too, shall be gods."

    Z: "He's just falling apart at this point, ain't he?"

    K: "He had done practically everything to keep himself alive, in order to see Instrumentality through."

    Mi: "He was practically more robot than human at that point."

    E: "Sandalphon was found this early?"

    Ri: "By Seele, perhaps. We only found out about Sandalphon as a result of odd readings from Asama ERL, forwarded to us by the Government."

    A: "The Angel attacks were not that quick, were they?"

    S: "They didn't give us much of a break."

    Re: "It still seems to be keeping time with our world, at the very least. Even though Shamshel attacked much earlier, there was still some sort of break between them and Ramiel to make up for it."

    Ma: "Goes to show just how quickly time seems to fly, eh?"

    A: "Helps we were at risk of dying. All that just blurred together, in my mind."

    Mi: "Did they even attack September? I thought it was August where they started."

    E: "The Magi suggested it was August 15. Of course, it's been evident the dates this time around are different."

    Mi: "I was gonna say, cause Israfel was during September."

    Kaworu chuckled. "What a curious date."

    E: "...Oh?"

    K: "August 15 is when the Assumption of Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ is celebrated. Where her bodily self entered heaven at the end of her natural life."

    A: "Looks like even fate has a thing for Christian iconography."

    Ri: "Any significance of the date listed here?"

    Kaworu thought. "There are several Saints with a feast day of September 20, one of which is Pope Agapetus I. While his reign was a short one of but 10 months, he ensured the protection of Italy and the Papal States from the Byzantine Empire, for which he was venerated."

    H: "I assume Mary is more of a significant figure, based on how many times I hear you use the name Jesus."

    Mi: "You'd be right."

    ...

    "-December 6, 2015: During Katsuhito Ikari's investigation, the Tenth Angel strikes at Tokyo-3's civilian populace via NERV's contingent of Defender Gundams. After a concerted counteroffensive by Section 2, the timely arrival of Units-00 and 01 results in the Angel's demise."

    S: "All caught up now, eh?"

    A: "Not like we needed to know much of that."

    K: "Much like our intermission, it still told us some information. This is from Seele's point of view, as was our intermission."

    Ri: "Seems they even gathered it was Iruel that attacked us."

    K: "More than what they knew here. The Commander was rather thorough, in that regard."

    Re: "Considering we did not know about Iruel until the Laserdiscs."

    Mi: "Looks like my birthday's coming up soon, at least." She smirked.

    A: "And my birthday's already came and went." She muttered. "Least in our world, we had a pretty good party, didn't we?"

    E: "Do they even know when your birthday is, in that world?"

    Asuka shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe it slipped my mind or something."

    Ma: "You didn't know what you were looking for, Kaworu?"

    K: "Does anyone truly? It certainly took me a significant time to find what I was looking for."

    Z: "If you even knew what it was you were looking for before you found it."

    K: "Indeed. Perhaps that is what I need there, as well."

    Re: "I am sure Asuka would be more than happy to show you." She aimed a small smirk at the candle.

    Much to her amusement. "Now you're getting it, Rei!"

    ...

    ""As a matter of fact, I have someone perfect in mind for the job," remarked SEELE-06."

    K: "Ah, it was a memory activity."

    Ri: "And yet the timeline we see was not what he wrote even a couple months ago."

    Mi: "They say nothing fucks you harder than time, after all."

    E: "I could say he was justified in not using mental implants."

    Ri: "As soon as the brain starts failing, then you have to seriously consider how long you have left."

    A: "God knows I wouldn't want to live demented."

    Ma: "That's just what happens with age. Time is always rather valuable, but it's often a matter of luck just how much time we have."

    S: "Just look at us. Even getting to 2016 was a small miracle for us, and that was before Seele really pulled the rug out."

    Z: "Whatever happened to him after that, anyway?"

    Misato shrugged. "The next time anyone I know of saw him was when Kaji and his band of merry men raided a house he was suspected to be holed up in. Where he promptly blew his brains out and blew himself up with an IED."

    Re: "At that point, it would not surprise me if his mind had deteriorated significantly."

    H: "I imagine stress wouldn't help."

    Mi: "Still, 91 years is a pretty good length. I'd think that."

    K: "He certainly does not. But once Instrumentality occurred, age would be a non-issue."

    A: "It really is just ensuring they stay alive, isn't it?"

    Re: "That is how it is normally, at least relative to the soul. And it would have been that way in Instrumentality, as well."


    Anti-Angel
    "Were it not for his own sense of self-restraint, Oniwana's mouth would be watering by now. "You have my attention.""

    Ri: "Such knowledge would be tempting, I imagine."

    Mi: "Especially if it means one-upping us."

    A: "Seems bloody everyone knows about his nanotech now, eh?"

    K: "Perhaps he was right to be paranoid about his invention."

    S: "Wasn't his to begin with, was it? He acquired it from NERV, this might as well be them getting it back from him."

    Ma: "That still means the NHIS don't have rights to it."

    Re: "All is fair in love and war, as they say. And with NERV appropriating the Jet Alone, that is enough of a casus belli to justify conflict between the two entities."

    E: "I'm sure this Sovereign Systems would have something to do with it, as well."

    Z: "I'm guessing they don't exist here?"

    Ritsuko shook her head. "At least not in this significant fashion. They might exist, but I haven't heard of them."

    H: "Either way, seems there'll be some conflict in the future."

    Ri: "If they want to try making another Anti-Angel weapon to match Evangelion, then I wish them luck."

    A: "Considering their first effort was still not as good as an Evangelion, at least when it comes to sparring with Angels."


    Horaki
    ""…Asuka was saying that Katsuragi wanted an excuse to throw a bigger party.""

    Mi: "I wonder why I never thought of that."

    S: "I don't really recall you holding much of a party anyway, for your birthday."

    Ri: "I don't even think we got together at your apartment, last year."

    Ma: "We went out for a dinner, at least."

    Mi: "Yeah, it's Asuka that holds the parties more often than not."

    A: "Cut me some slack, I had a relatively quiet birthday last year. Doesn't help it landed right on the start of a school week."

    Re: "Makes the previous couple years seem rather intense, in comparison."

    A: "Oh for sure, but sometimes calm is pretty nice itself." A chuckle. "Even though we spent it watching the Laserdiscs."

    E: "That doesn't sound like fun."

    A: "I could think of better ways to celebrate my birthday." She deadpanned. "Still, I was watching with friends and that. It wasn't that bad."

    Rei thought back. "I believe that was the episode where I died."

    A: "...Okay, maybe it was that bad." She conceded. "Maybe it wasn't the best way to spend a birthday."

    K: "It wouldn't have been exactly celebratory." Kaworu thought to move on from the subject. "Is Hikari usually this worrisome?"

    A: "Sometimes she lets it get the better of her." She gave a huff. "Though she tries to keep a level head, at least on the surface."

    H: "It wouldn't surprise me if she had to, at least with what I know."

    A: "Even with being a pilot, she's still practically the matriarch of her family. Even with Kodama picking up some of the slack for her."

    Ri: "She's a family woman, at heart."

    Ma: "Pretty much runs in the Horaki family, at this point."

    ...

    "Kodama chuckled as Hikari's forceful and orderly self returned to the fore. All's right in the world."

    Z: "...Though I can understand why she has those worries."

    K: "They would've had a front row seat to all the carnage Iruel wrought. Of course it would affect them."

    Mi: "Those kids are usually rather lucky, in those shelters. They're all far and away from the carnage that this city's fond of."

    Ri: "This was just the one time we could not give them that safety."

    A: "...Thing is, Hikari wouldn't be the only one thinking like that. I know how stuff like that can fuck with you, after all."

    E: "Her older sister is taking it alright, at the very least."

    S: "So's Nozomi, isn't she?"

    Mi: "Childhood innocence is a wonderful thing, ain't it?"

    Re: "Her words are true. We just have to deal with what life gives us."

    H: "She puts it rather aptly, doesn't she?"

    A: "It's how I'd put it."

    Ma: "At least she was there to comfort her. Just about anyone could use that."

    A: "Wouldn't surprise me if she lacked that sort of comfort before she finally got with Toji. Even with a sister like Kodama, there's only so much she could comfort her."

    H: "She wouldn't know exactly what Hikari was going through, I imagine."

    A: "Why do you think we stuck to Evangelion pilots ourselves? There's very few people that actually understand us, and almost all of them are in this very room! I'd say Hikari was an exception to that rule, if not for the fact Toji is also apparently a pilot candidate."

    Ri: "Mind you, everyone in your class is a pilot candidate."

    E: "Even Kensuke and his partners?"

    Ri: "Not his partners, at least via traditional methods. Though good luck trying to triple sync three people together. Just look how well it ended for that Chinese Pacific Rim Jaeger."

    E: "Even though Crimson Typhoon was said to have been successful before what we saw in Pacific Rim."

    Mi: "Too bad we didn't see any of it."


    Suzuhara
    "Hayato Suzuhara grunted. "You know your sister just wants you to lighten up.""

    A: "Never thought Toji to deny that."

    Mi: "Seems Ai knows what's up." A small sly smirk.

    One Ritsuko did not find amusing.

    S: "It is kinda out of character for him, ain't it?"

    Re: "One could attribute this to what he went through. Same as Hikari."

    Ri: "It wouldn't surprise me. He'd be going through as much stuff as Hikari would be."

    Z: "Seems Ai isn't as comforting as Kodama was."

    Ma: "Ai's a young child, they aren't really known for comforts."

    H: "It wouldn't help Ai kinda has that reputation, as well."

    E: "At least his father is trying to help him lighten up."

    K: "I'm sure if anyone could understand him, it'd be him."

    ...

    "As the sound of bickering siblings filled the apartment, Hayato Suzuhara pulled the brim of his dirty cap over his eyes, letting their fraternal arguing lull him to sleep. That's more like it."

    A: "So that's where he gets it from!"

    Mi: "I wouldn't say that was a healthy way of helping your son."

    Ri: "Or fostering healthy thoughts when it comes to women."

    S: "He knows not to say this kind of stuff, at least."

    A: "Even if he sometimes thinks that. At least Hikari helped him with that."

    K: "Hikari caught him saying this, she'd have him crucified."

    E: "This is essentially the same lesson Kodama taught Hikari, though. Things happen, deal with it."

    Re: "I am not surprised his father, of all people, knows what buttons to push on him."

    Ma: "Still, this wouldn't help whatever Toji is going through."

    Ri: "Thing is, that's the general attitude when it comes to that. It's rare you can find someone you can just speak your mind to and all that."

    Z: "...Seems we're rather lucky, in that regard."

    Mi: "We know full well the importance of actually opening up some. I'd say most of this country does not."

    Re: "That can be attributed to the human condition. Hedgehog's dilemma."

    A: "Well yeah, it is gonna hurt if something happens. But surely the good outweighs the bad when it comes to that."

    S: "Rather a far cry from our Laserdisc selves, ain't it?"


    Aida
    "Seigo Aida settled for rubbing his temples. What a family."

    Mi: "Jeez, she's just as colourful as I am."

    A: "Rather amazing she's still alive. Not only was she Section 2, she's probably the most endangered person out there. A mother to a potential Evangelion pilot."

    Re: "Either they operate on a different system, or Kensuke is not a pilot candidate."

    S: "Not that he would mind, in this situation."

    Z: "Does he know much about his mother, if you don't mind me asking?"

    Shinji shrugged. "It's a bit of a soft spot for him. Similar to most other people in our class, and that's all I'll say on the matter."

    Z: "...Fair."

    E: "A part of me wonders why they would need tranquilliser for a party like this."

    Ri: "You heard it straight from the mother herself. They suspect they have shellshock."

    H: "...Which is?"

    Ma: "Old term for PTSD, though it's specifically in relation to warfare. Psychological disturbance, that kind of thing."

    K: "We're rather acquainted with such a thing, at this point."

    Re: "I do not recall anyone but me taking tranquillisers for such a thing."

    A: "Even then, that wasn't explicitly because of any PTSD or anything, was it?"

    Re: "I do not think so."

    Ritsuko sighed. "I still don't think it was a good idea to just get her to go cold turkey on that, even if you did have your reasons for it."

    A: "Not like you could help us."

    Re: "We managed."


    Morose
    ""Understandable." The possessed Defender Gundams had been Section 2's first major engagement. Period. Even in the face of tragedy, there were always opportunities to be found. "Come walk with me, Ayanami."

    Mi: "At least she's seeing the opportunity when it comes to that. It's always rather depressing when there's a death in the ranks."

    A: "At least in our world, it sounds like Section 2 were spared some."

    E: "Even then, there was still Zeruel."

    Mi: "...Yeah. We do our best to shield you guys from that sorta business. No use troubling you with stuff like that; you already have your own shit to deal with."

    A: "...I kinda appreciate that."

    Ri: "I'm sure you all do. Even if you understand death is part and parcel when it comes to war."

    Re: "I would understand that well, being a proper soldier."

    K: "You also know the importance of learning from what happened. You might not be able to prevent a similar attack, but you could at least give them skills. Which would hopefully increase their chance of survival."

    H: "Were Section 2 even involved in any attack before the First Incursion?"

    Misato thought back. "I don't think so. At least not full on warfare like the First Incursion."

    Ma: "I don't remember hearing anything about changing how Section 2 were trained after that."

    Mi: "Despite the general consensus, they're generally competent when it comes to that sort of thing."

    A: "I'm sure you understand why I don't think too highly of Section 2. Doesn't help Commander Asshole used them as a damned Gestapo."

    ...

    "I'll take what I can get, he thought with a wry grin. To see the young super soldier blossom before his very eyes…that was reward enough."

    Rei hummed in curiosity. "I say that just raises more questions about my genetics."

    S: "...What do you even call all that?"

    Ri: "The spite of a woman, perhaps."

    Mi: "At least here, you seem rather clear cut when it comes to where you're genetics come from."

    Re: "Indeed. A clone of Yui Ikari given the breath of life. Rather simple, actually."

    A: "Not just a genetic crockpot. So Shinji's mama is still your mama technically, but Ritsuko's mama is yours as well? How does that even work?"

    Ri: "You can splice the genetics of multiple people together, though it's much easier if you just have a sperm or an egg you can modify. But it's not impossible to throw two eggs together and get them viable."

    Re: "One can attribute the crockpot, as Asuka elegantly put it, as me being a prototypical Nephilim. It makes sense if they did not have a standardised procedure in manufacturing a Nephilim, as any other Nephilim afterwards had."

    E: "Wouldn't there be a part of Gendo in there, as well?"

    Re: "It would not surprise me, though I do not know for sure."

    Z: "There, that doesn't seem to be the case."

    H: "Though this implies he also had feelings for Yui."

    Ri: "Oh he did. That's probably why he could work with Gendo for as long as he did."

    Mi: "Least your relationship with Shinji seems simple enough, Rei."

    Re: "The genetics may be an issue."

    A: "Maybe with the genetic soup you are, it all cancels each other out."

    Ri: "Ignoring all other social taboos when it comes to that, that's the major problem that comes with keeping it in the family, so to speak. One generation, sure, you might be able to get away with it if you have some good genetics. Though one just has to look at any royal family to see the risks of having a limited gene pool."

    S: "...So is it fine? Or..."

    Ritsuko shrugged. "Might be. It's always difficult to say when you combine more than two sets of genes, though I'd think the extra third would help patch out any defects."

    Re: "So my genetics there make such a relationship with Shinji fine."

    Ri: "I might not have even batted an eye if you two became an item here. Angelic materials are always rather strange when it comes to that kind of business."

    Shinji and Rei's head simultaneously thudded on the desk.

    Much to Asuka and Kaworu's entertainment.


    Banzai Bonzo
    "How wonderfully cryptic, thought the triple(?) agent. Kaji glanced over towards the bar – noting the bartender waving, a package of mixed drinks in his hand – and got to his feet. "Well, I'm afraid I must leave; I have a double birthday celebration to get to.""

    S: "I think we established he was a quadruple agent."

    Mi: "Seele, NERV, UN, and even some JSSDF. He certainly got around, back in the day."

    Ri: "Though much like he is now, he tends to stick to a single allegiance nowadays, doesn't he?"

    Mi: "UN Oversight, yeah. Even if he does collaborate with NERV every now and then."

    A: "Helps he has a little mole in NERV."

    Misato rolled her eyes.

    H: "I find it rather amazing he could do that without getting himself killed."

    Ma: "He got killed in the Laserdiscs."

    Mi: "Thank God he wasn't that stupid here."

    E: "He's certainly playing a dangerous game, though."

    Ma: "Like usual."

    Mi: "Yeah, there's always that risk. Which I don't really like, but I understand that's his thing. As long as he doesn't get himself killed."

    K: "It all depends if he can keep himself useful to Seele. Of course, at least in this situation, they have a common focus."

    Re: "Keeping us alive is always a good thing. I would say the increased boldness of the cults are due to certain announcements."

    K: "That would be one of the consequences of the Angels becoming public knowledge. At least here, such knowledge was nothing but conspiracy before 2015."

    Z: "There'd be a lot less cults to deal with, then. Combined with how hard Seele seemed to have come down on that sorta stuff."

    K: "One that the rest of the world has learnt from, yes."


    Presentation
    ""Send them in.""

    Z: "Well that's not gonna end too well."

    Ri: "If she keeps to the script, things will go better."

    A: "Do you think she will?"

    Mi: "It sounds like she's done this before. So probably."

    Ma: "It may be classified to the public. But his father isn't exactly a part of the general public, is he?"

    E: "He already knows, though."

    S: "Who knows how he'd react when he sees Mana, though."

    H: "What can he do to her? Anything he tries, she'd just kill him as well!"

    K: "At least Mayumi is hopefully having a better time. I imagine she'd be going through a lot, as well."

    Re: "Not everyday you get told your ex-boyfriend was an Angel using you as a part of their machination to spite Shinji."

    A: "That's not even a thing that'd happen here."

    ...

    "It was at the moment that Genji Sawamura turned around and pointed the beam saber at Mana's neck.

    Shiro Tokita blinked. Um…well. Shit."

    A: "Why did I anticipate he'd try something like this as soon as Hikari said it could cut through an AT-Field?!"

    Re: "Your sense of foreshadowing is keen."

    Mi: "And he was doing so well in keeping it together, as well."

    Z: "I'm guessing he's gonna join his son soon."

    K: "It depends how all involved react. We do know the subtitle said a beam saber is used."

    E: "With devastating results." She quoted. "It is left ambiguous whether this is devastating for Mana, or for Genji."

    S: "Probably Sawamura."

    Ri: "If one can ignore how quickly this all went to shit, the beam saber sounds rather intriguing otherwise."

    Ma: "It is essentially a lightsaber, isn't it?"

    Re: "One that could cut through an AT-Field. Untested, but it could."

    A: "So he thought to test it on possibly the worst candidate. Cause what's gonna happen? He's either gonna get his brains blown out by Hikari, or he's gonna get his organs blown out by Mana!"

    Ri: "At this rate, I doubt he even cares for his self preservation."

    ...

    "Genji Sawamura... turned his wrist and jerked the beam saber upward, jabbing it through his forehead."

    A pin could drop in the room, with how quiet it became. "...fuck's sake."

    Ri: "That's all that really can be said of this situation, Maya. But this is just how some people react."

    E: "Mana did not help him at all."

    A: "She was lucky she didn't get fucking killed by him. He very well could've; he would've died anyway."

    Re: "It did appear true, that Ryo was all he had in that world."

    Mi: "There's nothing more dangerous than a man with nothing left to lose."

    S: "...At least Tokita tried to defuse things."

    Kaworu gave naught but a solemn shake of his head. "Rather a shame it ended this way. It was evident he had a bright mind, and yet his sorrow and anger destroyed him."

    Z: "...Man, I didn't expect him of all people to do that."

    Ri: "Sorrow does things to people. You've seen the Laserdiscs."

    K: "...I know I almost destroyed myself, when Rei died."

    Re: "And yet, you had the will to persist. Sawamura... did not."

    H: "Not like you can even blame anyone for this, other than Iruel. Mana didn't help once things went south, but she was just doing her job in defeating the Angel, wasn't she?"

    Ma: "...Cold comfort for Sawamura, wasn't it."


    Confrontation
    "Gendo sighed. "That's what I thought." He then backhanded Mana across the face."

    K: "...I suspect he has a lesson to teach."

    A: "The backhand wasn't an indicator?"

    Re: "Not that it would harm her."

    Ma: "...Not that it helps Shiro, does it?"

    Ri: "It doesn't help he's close to her as well."

    Mi: "I would think don't push a person to suicide is a lesson no one needs to learn."

    H: "Someone like Mana, though."

    S: "...She does see herself as better than humans, doesn't she?"

    E: "Ignoring the fact Nephilim come from humans."

    Z: "Which she obviously ignores. Else she'd probably think better of the people who made her."

    Ri: "Considering her... attitude. Perhaps she does need some sort of discipline."

    Mi: "Hikari's been doing that a lot, and yet look at what happened. Her prodding drove a man to kill themselves!"

    Re: "There is always the chance he could have done so regardless. But her prodding certainly did not help his case."

    ...

    "Mana shuddered, knowing very well what comparison the man was making. So did Hikari, judging by her wrathful glare as she stormed out of the office, pulling her daughter along."

    Mi: "...God damn, he fucking destroyed her!"

    A: "You really sold that Rei, Jesus Christ!"

    Re: "Thank you."

    K: "This would have been the only way he could get through to her. Call him anything, he knows how to teach a lesson."

    Ri: "Not like Hikari got through to her in any way."

    E: "The message is apparent, however. Something like this must not happen again."

    H: "And he does have a point about the Jet Alone. Rather like our Franxx, anyone with the proper training can use them."

    S: "Doubt there's anything stopping them from using more... cooperative Nephilim as well."

    Z: "Though did he have to tell her she's sterile?"

    Re: "I thought that would be a given, at this point. It would be unwise to allow other entities to break the Nephilim monopoly held by NERV."

    Ri: "They didn't specify you, a first generation Nephilim, was functionally sterile."

    Re: "...Perhaps. Though the triple set of genetics I possess may throw a wrench into reproductive processes."

    Ma: "...Now, she does deserve getting a major talking to after pushing him off a cliff, as the Commander put it. But jeez, that was a bit rough."

    A: "How else is she gonna learn this lesson, though? She's been like this ever since the start of the damn book."

    Mi: "But only now, when it's directly affecting NERV, that it's a major problem."

    Ri: "He was right, we could've used Sawamura. He... gave mercy to my mother after her actions, because she still had a mind they could use."

    K: "Which Mana essentially destroyed. I wonder if she understands what she did wrong."

    Re: "Do you think she will?"

    K: "After how thoroughly the Commander called her out. I would hope."

    ...

    "Tokita sighed, taking the metal handle wearily. "…thank you." What a horrible day this has turned out to be."

    K: "...That's still true. No one's really omnipotent. And like we couldn't truly know Sawamura would do such a thing."

    Re: "Asuka had a gut feeling about it."

    A: "Like four lines before he went mental. And it wasn't even due to his actions, it was due to Hikari's choice of words."

    Ma: "I can kinda understand why Tokita reacted like that. It was rather... rough, wasn't it?"

    Ri: "Seeing your friend and work colleague kill themselves would understandably raise tensions."

    S: "He could've tried to intervene, at least."

    E: "Hindsight is 20/20."

    Mi: "...He took that punch well, at least. This was probably a test for Mana."

    Z: "Well she failed."

    Mi: "Rather spectacularly, yes. But this is the only way the Commander would've gotten through to her. Threaten her where it'll hurt her most; the Jet Alone and her sister. That's the only way you can get through to someone like her."

    H: "It sound like it did. I don't think I've ever seen her that timid before."

    A: "Like all of us, then." In deadpan. "Still, it's difficult to feel bad for her, in this situation."

    Ri: "I don't think any of us are saying she didn't deserve getting reprimanded for that."

    Mi: "I would've been harder on anyone if they drove someone to suicide. She's practically culpable in his death!"

    Re: "It is clear the Commander sees it that way. This is her warning; even if he does not want to replace her and her sister, he will have to if something like this happens again. They become too much of a liability at that point."

    Ma: "...And NERV certainly can't afford loose ends like that."


    Cheers
    ""Then apparently your taste in beer is atrocious, because that was horrible!""

    Ri: "I see that opinion's still the same."

    Mi: "Rather bold drinking in front of a police officer."

    A: "He knows I damn well do deserve a few drinks. Also, I'm younger in this work, am I?"

    Re: "One year, but yes. And I would not be surprised if it applied to the rest of us, in addition."

    Ma: "Not that your age even sounds relevant, Rei."

    K: "How is Warsteiner, anyway? It is a German brand, I believe."

    A: "It is. Not my preferred beer, but it still tastes better than anything Japan makes."

    Misato rolled her eyes.

    E: "What of the other brand of beer?"

    Mi: "Might as well be fictional to us. Even if it was an Australian beer, good fucking luck getting it here."

    S: "Though you did a good job downing that beer, even if you didn't prefer it."

    Asuka chuckled. "It is an acquired taste, but boy once you acquire it."

    Ri: "Give me a good wine any day of the week."

    ~E: "That's an acquired taste as well."

    Asuka immediately picked up on her implication. "Ah, getting Eliza hooked on wine before we can get her hooked on beer?"

    Ri: "We gave her one glass to try out, to see if she liked it."

    A: "Well, do ya, Eliza?"

    E: "Somewhat."

    Asuka barked a laugh. "You'll get used to it!"

    Z: "You seem rather open to her drinking."

    A: "Have you ever had that sort of stuff?"

    Z: "Can't say I have. You, darling?"

    H: "If you never had it."

    Z: "Fair, fair." She conceded.

    Ri: "Didn't mean for everyone to start drinking..."

    ...

    "As long as they were alive…a better tomorrow was possible."

    A: "Least we're having some fun."

    S: "Seems like Kensuke's the one pushing people together, this time around."

    Re: "Even if he still speaks his mind when he should not."

    K: "Seems like your relation with Shinji is continuing to grow, as well."

    Rei held a slightly embarrassed smile.

    Mi: "Seems just about everyone is having fun. Maybe if Mana were here, she wouldn't have driven anyone to kill themselves."

    Z: "Or she could just ruin the party." She shrugged.

    E: "With Mayumi there, I doubt she would."

    Ma: "I'm rather thankful Mayumi is there. She certainly didn't need to see what happened."

    Ri: "And I imagine the Commander's little tirade would serve to break her more than it would Mana."

    Re: "All that is far and away from the current situation. Though... I do not know how she would react to Sawamura ending themselves."

    H: "Depends if she finds out it was on Mana's behest."

    Re: "I hope, for her sake, she never finds out that truth."

    Z: "It'd make good drama."

    K: "Might be Bond's intention, then."


    "To be continued..."

    They went to speak.

    "Ah. There is still yet more. Or, as the narration puts it, a look into the future."

    "Well?" Ritsuko prompted.


    Biblical
    ""AND NOW...IT ALL RETURNS...TO NOTHING."

    Silence.

    Z: "Well. This is certainly gonna be an interesting next season."

    A: "I'd say, God damn that's gonna be something to go through."

    E: "So to summarise: I assume something bad happens to Hikari; one of you were kidnapped, Asuka; the Thirteenth attacks Berlin; Israfel attacks four installations at once; Arael does something; and basically we're all fucked, as many of you would put."

    Ri: "The Thirteenth in our world was Bardiel."

    K: "I wonder what they'd be doing in Berlin, of all places."

    Re: "You could say the same of Israfel."

    S: "A part of me wonders if they're going for the Iruel approach. As in, mindless carnage and destruction."

    H: "At least we get some sort of preview for what is coming up."

    Mi: "Kinda spoils it, in a way."

    Ma: "I'm sure they'll be other rugs to pull out from under our feet. Bond seems good at that, at this point."
    ~

    "Rather more narratively significant than many intermissions we had seen."

    "Can't get much more significant than someone killing themselves." Asuka derided. "I mean for fucks sake, that was pretty much Mana's fault. Can't believe I can agree with Gendo on this."

    "Seems to be a common thing, with this work." Flatly remarked Shinji.

    "Other than the unfortunate fate of Genji Sawamura, we know yet more about the Chairman's point of view." Rei thought to shift the focus.

    "It's rather what I suspected. He just wants to survive."

    "Even though that's not how it works." Ritsuko ridiculed. "Course, can't discount their plan might've resulted in something different."

    "With what I know about Lilith, if they could control Lilith, they could dictate Instrumentality how they wanted. As Shinji did."

    "With what it sounds like, I'm not even gonna cause Instrumentality this time around."

    "Nice change, eh Shinji?"

    "I think I'd rather Shinji at the keys of Instrumentality than Seele." Thought Maya.

    "I'd prefer no one getting the keys to Instrumentality, myself." Ritsuko remarked.

    "Judging by many of these works, sometimes you guys don't even have a choice."

    "Yeah, you're probably right, Zero Two." Asuka shrugged. "Still, I'd prefer Shinji ending the world if there's no choice in the matter."

    "If I had a choice in the matter, I wouldn't end the world. Not while you guys are here, at least."

    "Well that's very good to hear, Shinji." Misato exclaimed. "Maybe the world won't end anytime soon, then."
    ~~~
    (in which Shinji is touched by an Angel, Kaji is a rare quadruple agent, and we finally see the missing part of Tabris and Sandalphon's talk from MAGMA DIVER.)

    "We already know he's a quadruple agent!"

    "I do not suppose it is Kaworu touching you."

    "Considering I am meant to be in Germany." In deadpan. "It'd be good to see my conversation with Sandalphon, at the very least."

    "It's always nice to actually know what's being said." Asuka scoffed. "Took Bond long enough."

    "The latter part of the title sounds rather foreshadowing, isn't it?"

    "Fist of God most likely implies either Angel or Nephilim. Then again, things have been relatively quiet, as of late. Perhaps this will be the end of such a break."

    "They are gonna have to get back in the swing of things." Ritsuko conceded. "The Angels won't wait forever."


    Cemetery
    "Shinji nodded. "I…I can live with that.""

    S: "...It's certainly more cordial."

    H: "I can see why he'd be closed off. Especially in his situation."

    A: "Didn't help Shinji, did it?"

    H: "Admittedly, no."

    K: "Of course, defeating the Angels is almost simple, in comparison to dealing with the aftermath."

    Ri: "At least we have definite targets. With Seele, who knows where they could spring up next."

    Mi: "We certainly didn't expect Mars."

    E: "Even there, there are already more complications to defeating the Angels. The cultists would not help with that."

    Z: "Sounds like they've already had a problem with that."

    A: "Who the hell raids a cemetery of all places? That's pretty low, ain't it?"

    Mi: "They'd go to any length, as long as it'd accomplish their goals."

    Ma: "Which is why we go to any length to stop them."

    Re: "The gravestone is an intriguing touch. It practically tells the truth of the matter; for all intents and purposes she is deceased, but we know she is alive elsewhere."

    Ri: "Two places elsewhere, in fact."

    E: "Rather complicates the being alive aspect. Are both aspects alive and different?"

    A: "I know with my mama that seems to be the case. Well, different in some aspects yet same in some."

    S: "It's complicated."

    A: "Yeah, that's probably the best explanation for this whole thing."

    ...

    "Eleven and counting."

    Z: "Not a very great work ethic."

    Misato shrugged. "It's rather typical of this country, honestly."

    Ma: "We certainly don't seem to work as much, at least once you got the job of Commander, Misato."

    Ri: "It would help we weren't fighting Angels on a regular basis."

    Mi: "Doesn't help the paperwork. Sometimes I envy you guys; you just have to pilot the Evangelion and follow orders, not fill out any of the forms that come after the battles."

    A: "Depends if those forms are as mind bending as Evangelion."

    S: "Or taxing."

    Mi: "You'd be surprised. Least, like Gendo there, I can take the time out to still be fun."

    E: "Bouncy, he put it as."

    Misato bounced a couple times. "Well, he's correct."

    Much to the amusement of the pilots and the chagrin of the Subcommander.

    K: "I'm not sure what the policies are when it comes to jetpacks in graveyards. I assume they aren't necessarily allowed."

    Re: "Not unless you are Gendo Ikari."


    With a Bang

    "Shinji Ikari leaned back in his seat, letting a content smile come to his face. In spite of the downs, there were more than enough ups to make life worthwhile."

    S: "Sounds like my opinion."

    H: "It'd be rather different to the Laserdiscs, wouldn't it?"

    E: "If this were the Laserdiscs, the world would've ended 11 days ago."

    Z: "We're already off to a good start, then."

    Ri: "Our world made it to May before Seele tried to end it."

    A: "We might actually make it to summer before the world ends. I'd like to feel the sun on my face before I get torn to shreds."

    Mi: "Oh be positive, Asuka. This world is a complete shitshow and you still ended up alive, didn't ya?"

    Re: "You cannot get more traumatised if you end up dead." She huffed. "Of course, coming from me."

    Ma: "The lack of certain students wouldn't help this general feeling. I hope they simply left instead of... well, dying."

    K: "...Can't say that of Ryo, unfortunately. Everyone would know about that, at this point. Even if the truth was masked from them."

    S: "...I suppose that means I only have some idea about Genji Sawamura, then."

    Ri: "I wouldn't think you'd know the full truth of the matter. You simply see those two as reacting as they would to such a thing, as most of NERV would."

    Ma: "...I don't even think Mayumi would know. Mana certainly won't be open about that, and Hikari probably won't be much better."

    Re: "It is evident how this has affected her. It is not even the fact Sawamura killed himself in front of her, it was the talk she got afterwards."

    K: "It seems she took it to heart. At least judging by her currently subdued nature."

    ...

    "Henshin Obimura chuckled. "Well well, not quite how I expected the new year to start, but you did the French proud with that one."
    The bell rang, and class was officially in session."

    The sensei's remark was enough to break the group into laughter.

    Most of the group, at least. Shinji in particular was just confused. "Do I just always attract people or something?"

    K: "Such aspect is rather memetic, at this point." A flat remark.

    Mi: "Considering all three of you hold some attraction to him."

    A: "I was just lucky enough to net him first." Smug.

    Re: "Perhaps you can call this asserting her dominance. That is certainly what you did with Shinji, in front of the class."

    A: "Yeah, but there's a key point with my assertion of dominance. We were already an item for months already. Zeruel had just met Shinji and she's already at first base with him!"

    S: "So I have two Angels pining over me now?"

    Ma: "I think this is a bit more than getting touched by an Angel, isn't it?"

    Ri: "They're certainly touching something."

    E: "Tonsils, perhaps."

    Z: "Worst thing is, she sounded bored with the whole affair!"

    S: "How else am I meant to react? A Nephilim just lifted me from the collar and kissed me! And it wasn't just a peck, it was full on French!"

    A: "I imagine you certainly haven't gone that far with Rei, have you?"

    Re: "I very much doubt that."

    H: "Even you held back on the kissing until we got somewhat close, eh Zero Two?"

    Z: "See, I'd say something like that Darling, but I was nude when we quote unquote first met. Not like I can throw stones at the matter. I'm using that analogy right, right?"

    K: "More or less."

    Zero Two shrugged. "Good enough for me."

    A: "I can certainly understand your irritation at that, Rei."

    Re: "Not like I can do much. It does not sound like our relationship is public, at least to the extent where we are considered an item. And this is not exactly harming him, even if it does violate him somewhat."

    A: "Even though if the sexes were swapped, Yomiko would've been crucified."

    Mi: "That's what people think, stupid it is."


    Babylon
    "Who is she?"

    Kaworu hummed. "If history serves me correctly, this would put this memory sometime in the 1500s BC."

    Z: "...Doesn't seem that far, relatively."

    K: "BC and AD are used to differentiate years before and after the year 0, corresponding roughly with the birth of Jesus Christ."

    Ri: "Even the neutral standard of BCE and CE uses that as the epoch."

    Z: "...So it's actually something like three thousand years."

    K: "Indeed."

    A: "Could it have been anything other than a sex scene, then? I'm sure that whole shit with the Hittites and the Babylonians could've made for something interesting."

    Mi: "If there's one thing that's a common denominator for all humanity, it's sex."

    Re: "Even Nephilim, from what it appears."

    E: "It is apparent, however, that this woman interests you, Kaworu."

    K: "There is yet another implication. We understand how memory is tied to the soul. If I remember this, what does that say of my soul?"

    S: "Well travelled. Imagine how far back that goes?"

    Ma: "Maybe that's what you want to find out. Maybe Zeruel wants to find that out, as well."

    K: "We have similar plans. Though... it is intriguing who this other is. And how I know them."

    H: "You knew them well. Even ignoring the whole forbidden fruit, it's apparent you knew her from somewhere else."

    K: "They would've been one of the few of my kind. That sort of company would've been few and far between, especially back then."

    Re: "From what it sounds, such union would not bear fruit of any kind as well."

    K: "As here, then." 'At least without Lilith's blessing.'

    Rei gave a mental huff. 'Good luck finding Lilith from Babylon.'

    ...

    "I hope my dear…'sister' is finding what she seeks."

    Z: "...A rather grim thought. Especially since you seem rather close with Zeruel this time around."

    K: "It is a fact. Even without referencing the scrolls, it appears I have come to that conclusion."

    A: "So the demise of your kin is making you remember more?"

    K: "Rather strange, is it not? I can hypothesise that it is their souls that help me remember."

    H: "...How would that work?"

    K: "It didn't work like this in our world, so take it with a grain of salt. Perhaps as Adam's emissary, I... keep the souls of my kin. Memory is tied to the soul, after all."

    Ri: "It sounds viable, but as you said."

    K: "Indeed. I would know a lot more if I was a part of the same cycle the Lilim were a part of."

    S: "...Though a part of me wonders if you could do the same for the Lilim."

    Kaworu entertained the idea with a chuckle. "It would be intriguing, to say the least. Though as my echoes are vague at best, I imagine it would be the same for anyone else."

    E: "If it was even possible."

    Ri: "The soul doesn't exactly save any history, does it?"

    Ma: "There's some exceptions to that, I would think."

    A: "All of those exceptions are in this room."

    Re: "It all comes down to rebirth. Such event cleanses a soul, though leaving behind some traces. Note, how all the exceptions have not come from the womb. I was imbued with a soul, as was Kaworu. Hiro and Zero Two arrived soul and all. Eliza essentially formed a soul."

    K: "Of course, this is for our world. We can never be too sure the differences in that world."

    A: "Considering the dinosaurs were apparently from Adam."


    Gossip
    "Asuka groaned. "Well, I could've told you that." A brief glance at a clock on the wall reminded her of the time. "Anyhow, next period's about to start. Auf wiederhören, Annette!" Hanging up her phone, Asuka finally noticed the gaggle of nosy students crowding around her. "…what?""

    Re: "You are not exactly helping the spread of rumour."

    A: "Think of it like telling everyone Shinji's already taken."

    Mi: "God knows they won't even try if they know you're with him."

    A: "You'd think, but I know that doesn't really change no matter what you do."

    K: "The student body here responds to a reasonable amount of force."

    Ri: "They also sound easy to manipulate, judging by Rei's extracurricular activity in social engineering."

    Ma: "Though you have to admit, this is practically perfect for any rumour mill, ain't it?"

    A: "A new girl comes in, and first thing they do is snog Shinji? Yeah it would send the school into overdrive. Hopefully she isn't too much of a home wrecker, at least."

    Z: "Judging by her, it might've been a one off."

    E: "Depends on whether Rei can... assert her authority, so to speak."

    S: "Asuka certainly did as much with me."

    H: "This is asserting authority against Zeruel."

    Rei shrugged. "I faced them once before. I can hold my own against them."

    Mi: "Barely."

    ...

    "Sorry Hikari! Your sacrifice will not be forgotten!"

    Mi: "Ain't you a good friend."

    A: "Hey now, I probably won't throw Hikari under the bus like that!"

    Re: "Such thing would have become public knowledge either way."

    Ri: "It's a good distraction, at the very least."

    S: "It's a different tactic to what you usually do, isn't it?"

    A: "Yeah, I'd just stuff one of the boys into a trash can and that usually gets them to shut it."

    Ma: "...I mean, that doesn't sound much better."

    Z: "'Least Hikari isn't being thrown under the bus. What's a bus?"

    E: "Large vehicle designed for mass transportation."

    Z: "...Huh. So like a train?"

    E: "More or less, except they use a road like any other car."

    Z: "...Oh."

    K: "Unsurprising public transportation did not necessarily exist on your world."

    H: "It wasn't exactly a focus of APE, no."


    Dwell
    "I'm going to punch her in the face."

    Ma: "Not necessarily the healthiest way of dealing with your issues."

    Re: "Taking it out on trees is fair game."

    K: "It's what we do, after all."

    H: "Goes to show just how the Commander's speech has affected her. Even a month later she still dwells on it."

    S: "If someone came along and destroyed your worldview, you'd probably dwell on it for some time as well."

    E: "She understands his words to be true, at the very least."

    Mi: "And it's eating her up inside."

    A: "Ah, she's taking a page from our books."

    Z: "She really needs to find someone to talk to about that."

    A: "Ain't that the truth."

    Ri: "With how she is, it's difficult for me to see her just opening up like that. The only person she may be willing to speak her issues with is Mayumi, and judging by this bit, I doubt she has."

    Z: "Maybe her and Zeruel strike up some strange friendship."

    K: "They do share some qualities, admittedly. It depends if Mana can get over her presumptions with the Nagisa name."

    Re: "Do you think she will?"

    K: "It remains to be seen."

    ...

    "She was unconscious before she hit the ground."

    H: "This will not help her presumptions."

    Re: "She could not have known the truth of Yomiko, after all."

    K: "It is rather amazing they can enter and exit Overdrive that quickly, and without any side effect. Considering I couldn't do as much."

    Mi: "Then again, you were in Overdrive for quite a bit, weren't you?"

    E: "Goes to show the true power of Zeruel. Even in a Nephilim shell."

    A: "Did Mana's body just forget she was meant to go unconscious? Cause that should've been immediate, shouldn't it?"

    Ri: "Of course, she is Nephilim. There would always be some differences in how they react."

    S: "Any other person would've been pulverised by that."

    Z: "And everyone was watching this. They'd certainly know to keep away now, if Yomiko could fell Mana that easily."

    Ma: "...A part of me is beginning to worry about Mana's mental state."

    A: "It's already rather shocking. But no, all these constant attacks on her ego certainly won't help. Just look at what happened to Laserdisc me when all that shit happened."

    S: "...You think that could happen to her?"

    A: "I know that can happen to her. Mana is like me but supercharged. While I was able to find a few close friends to help... smooth over some of my sharper edges, Mana doesn't have that."

    Re: "Similar to your Laserdisc self."

    A: "...Yeah. But... considering she's a Nephilim. Whatever breakdown she has will also be supercharged."

    K: "...Let us hope it doesn't get to that extreme."


    259
    ""We'll simply maintain vigilance and do what we must.""

    A: "Jeez, and with my Evangelion as well!"

    Mi: "Of course, sync ratios kinda go down the toilet when you get Angels involved."

    K: "When we can just assume control of the Evangelion, without having to interact with the resident soul."

    Ri: "Yeah it does mess with the outputs a bit. Though you were smart enough to mediate your initial sync somewhat."

    S: "Helps you respect Horaki, as well."

    K: "Indeed, though any other Evangelion I would at least give some effort to synchronise with."

    E: "Though if push came to shove."

    K: "Then I could simply assume control. At least with an Adam based Evangelion."

    Z: "You can't with Lilith based Evangelion?"

    Kaworu shook his head. "Even with collaborating with the resident soul of a Lilith based Evangelion, it is a painful exercise."

    Ma: "A good thing we still have Adam based Evangelion, then."

    H: "I can understand your thinking, Misato."

    Mi: "Of course, I don't have the full story when it comes to Yomiko. Hell, sounds like the Commanders don't have the full story with her visit."

    Re: "It is rather strange, from their point of view. Even explicitly requesting they be tested with an Evangelion straight up, instead of using the Simulation Bodies."

    Ri: "The Sim Bodies were downright non-functional in our world, after Iruel had their way with them. And with everything going on, we never found the need to fix them."

    A: "A good thing; at least we don't have to all get naked again."

    Z: "Even though it sounds like none of you would mind that nowadays."

    ...

    "Still, the whole process was very…illuminating."

    K: "...It seems she is the same as I."

    S: "It wasn't mum that stopped you, was it?"

    K: "Not at all, but the flesh of Lilith does not appreciate being controlled by someone of my kind."

    Ma: "I think it was wise for her to eject immediately, in that case."

    Ri: "With what we know the resident souls can do."

    Mi: "Though you didn't eject immediately, did you?"

    K: "Might've been a wise decision, at the time."

    E: "It wouldn't surprise me if she thought you an interloper."

    K: "It would be a logical thought, at the very least. The first thing they would've seen was my soul was radically different."

    A: "Shinji told his mama about you though, didn't he?"

    K: "And yet her willingness did not affect my ability much. It may have prevented anything bad from happening to me, but I was not able to use Unit-01 regardless."

    H: "...Goes to show just how much power those souls can have. When even an Angel immediately disengages."

    K: "When you open your soul to someone else, you want to make sure you trust them completely. If you cannot guarantee that trust... well, I personally wouldn't recommend such a thing."

    Re: "Rather a shame I was never given that luxury."

    ...

    "Rei Ayanami stared silently at the bicycle pedal. Then at the drivetrain. Back at the pedal, which now sat on the ground, the crank bearing a jagged edge where Yomiko had snapped it off. Then to Yomiko, who was looking quietly at her. Finally, in utter deadpan, the First Child said, "You are quite troublesome.""

    Mi: "I'd say. Those bikes would be expensive!"

    Ri: "It wasn't even the drivetrain, it was the damn pedal."

    A: "You'd think a Nephilim bike would have something like titanium for bike pedals or something."

    Re: "Perhaps they never rated the bike for Angels."

    Mi: "Most bikes aren't even rated for Nephilim."

    Z: "At least you know not to spar with her."

    E: "She knows she would just get trounced. If Mana went down in one hit."

    S: "I'm sure that 300% sync would not help."

    Re: "It certainly would not help my perception of her."

    H: "A part of me wonders if this is all rather deliberate."

    Ma: "That wasn't evident before? Not many people waltz into a classroom and French Shinji."

    A: "I've done that a few times."

    K: "As a reminder, I'm certain."

    Mi: "I'd say Asuka has a good excuse for Frenching Shinji in the classroom. And I highly doubt Shinji would even mind, as long as it came from Asuka."

    S: "...I certainly wouldn't expect Zeruel to do as much."

    A: "None of us would, and yet in that world it's happened." She chuckled. "Least now you can say you've gotten to first base with an Angel, eh Shin-chan?"

    Re: "If I count as an Angel, you can say he got to second with one."

    Shinji's head thudded on the desk. "Don't remind me..."


    Mizugumi
    ""So it's just us then," muttered Mizugumi as he grabbed the ornate tea kettle sitting atop the table and poured some hot chai. "Very well." He took a quiet sip, and a grim pall came over his eyes. "Let's discuss NERV.""

    Ri: "Well, those riots were accurate."

    Ma: "Were they that bad, though? I don't remember that temple getting destroyed."

    Mi: "Wasn't Nagano built around Zenko-ji? How the hell did he get away with that?"

    K: "As he said, it was a spoil of war."

    Ri: "Even though it never went that far. That temple's still standing to this day; I remember the police going to great effort to protect that place."

    Re: "Rather concerning that the rioters would even attack such a place. But I can see how their faith would be shocked in the aftermath of Second Impact."

    S: "Surely if it was destroyed, it would've been rebuilt."

    E: "Seems he held different concerns."

    H: "NERV is certainly one of those concerns."

    A: "Lemme guess. They're gonna talk about either the Commander or of Iruel."

    Z: "Is there really anything else to discuss?"

    Ri: "Especially considering they are four star generals. High ranking individuals who have major influence in their respective armed force."

    Mi: "Ain't nothing like a little conspiracy, eh?"

    ...

    ""We must speak, Inspector.""

    K: "This is where the quadruple agent aspect comes in."

    H: "They've always thought like that, I imagine."

    Mi: "Oh for sure, and it's all entirely true. They know that rather well, at this point."

    Ri: "Though they also know we would not simply overthrow the government."

    Re: "They certainly thought as much during the First Incursion."

    A: "I'd say that has made us even more untouchable! They can't even argue that anymore, can they?"

    E: "Either way, NERV is relatively small compared to the cultists. A house divided cannot stand."

    Ma: "And you know that's exactly what a cultist would want. It wouldn't surprise me if the military was as strenuous as we were when it came to those kinds of affiliations."

    Z: "Not just cultists, by the sounds of it. That thing going on with Russia and China seems more in their scope."

    Ri: "It is, and they should probably keep to that sort of business."

    K: "I don't recall such Siberian insurrection. Of course, with how closed off Russia tends to be, it's always difficult to tell."

    Mi: "Not like they'd tell us."

    S: "Kaji might know."

    Mi: "Pfft, he always knows about this. That's probably why Mizugumi's contacting him."


    Illuminati
    ""You were talking of how you've discovered NERV is secretly controlled by the Illuminati.""

    Kaworu huffed. "Apt. Seems this would've made him a quintuple agent, in our world."

    Mi: "As long as he doesn't go all cultist, alls fair and all that."

    Z: "Is that another Seele style group?"

    K: "Completely fictional in modern contexts, but it served a good misdirection."

    Ri: "He's come to the same conclusions as here, it seems."

    Ma: "It wouldn't be that difficult if you really looked into it."

    Re: "Such looking into would be rather suspicious in of itself, however."

    A: "Though as they said, they've always suspected nepotism of at least some kind."

    Mi: "I mean, it's kinda true."

    E: "Such nepotism seemed somewhat coincidental, in some ways. If it weren't for the resident souls of the Evangelion, other pilots might have been acquired."

    S: "Other pilots were acquired. Hikari certainly isn't related to me in some way."

    A: "Though speaking of relatives, surely someone in the military should've known they were ratting out a relative."

    Re: "If they even knew the Marduk Institute was compromised in such a way."

    K: "With the knowledge that the Marduk Institute was nothing but shell companies, surely that should be enough to set of alarm bells."

    Mi: "It probably would now."

    ...

    "The implication was all-too-clear to Kaji. So…when the Angel-worshippers make their move, they'll have two nephilim with them. How apropos. And not at all terrifying. Now…how can I work with this?"

    Misato seemed rather unamused with this information. "God damn it Kaji."

    K: "Seems Kaji was able to acquire my father once again. That or he's playing the cultists for fools."

    Ma: "Wouldn't be too difficult, I imagine."

    Ri: "They do seem to be organising for something big. And the fact they have Nephilim is very concerning to me."

    Re: "Military Nephilim. This was exactly why Seele were wary in divulging the secrets to Nephilim."

    A: "Least Kaji wasn't involved in us almost getting sniped, despite him finessing practically all sides."

    S: "As he said, your father wouldn't have been happy with that knowledge."

    E: "Such information exchange seems reasonable. We know of the offensive now, and they will only become more inclined to go through with the offensive, knowing Adam is in our possession."

    H: "Knowing about the Nephilim they possess will also allow you to develop countermeasures to such thing."

    Z: "'Course, it all depends if he tells NERV."

    A: "If he wanted to protect me, then he damn well better tell NERV about this shit!"

    Mi: "Doesn't help Seele is also planning something."

    It took Misato all of six seconds to figure what Kaji will do. "Oh for fucks sake, he's gonna cut the power then, isn't he?"

    Ri: "Well that will be interesting. If Matarael happens to attack during the power outage as they did here, then we not only have to deal with that, we'd have to deal with a damn cultist incursion."

    K: "And someone from Seele potentially taking back Adam. It will certainly be an interesting event."


    Anon
    "If you can't grasp the big picture…if you can't grasp truth…then why wonder at all?" Unseen by Mayumi or any other human sense, the mind of Yomiko – the Mind of Zeruel – was looking upon a memory as if it were the Present itself."

    Mi: "...Least she isn't completely broken down from all that's happened."

    Re: "She has everyone she needs. The pilots will ensure she is... looked after. As I was."

    K: "Though indeed, this was rather different to what she wanted."

    Ri: "We should know by now, things don't often go the way we want them."

    E: "It seems Yomiko knows this well by now."

    A: "It's kinda obvious who they're thinking about."

    Ma: "I imagine the subtitle also helped."

    S: "She's starting to understand why humanity is so powerful, though."

    K: "It is something I had to understand before I could coexist with the Lilim."

    Z: "Greatly raises her chances of survival, at least."

    H: "I imagine you wouldn't mind having someone else like you on this world, Kaworu."

    K: "It's certainly a nice thought. Alas, none of my kin could realise what I could. Though... it's promising Zeruel can understand this."

    ...

    "And in the end, Sandalphon's words were prophecy, for he was struck down, a victim of Tabris's unyielding mercy."

    Kaworu seemed conflicted. "...huh."

    H: "Not what you were expecting, from what it sounds."

    Re: "It is rather contrary to what we know of the Angels. But then again, Sandalphon had their reasons for such action."

    K: "...But one can also see why this could not be. Rather a shame."

    A: "We know why they wouldn't collaborate, at least."

    Ri: "...That is rather strange, why would they offer themselves willingly to the Lilim?"

    Re: "It was an aspect of Adam. A part of them wanted to collaborate with the Lilim, this was expressed in Sandalphon."

    K: "Collaboration is all well and good. But what Sandalphon wanted was complementation with the Lilim."

    E: "At the very least, they understood why they had to be struck down."

    S: "Such thing could be seen as sacrilege from an Adam perspective."

    K: "...It's... strange. It very much is sacrilege against what we wanted, but... there is some honour in something like that. At least from a Lilim perspective."

    Mi: "And from you as you are now."

    K: "Indeed. It would be rather hypocritical of me to chastise them for what they want." 'Considering we do as much on a regular basis.'

    Rei kept her amusement to the mental world. "Of course, one thing that may not be as honourable. The combination of the Fruits."

    K: "We could not have allowed such thing to occur. What I and Zeruel desired was complementation with our Father. As all Angels, except Sandalphon."

    Z: "I wonder if Zeruel thinks the same."

    K: "...They might."

    ...

    ""So…Fifth Child. You came here with purpose."
    "Because you desired to see me."
    "Indeed. Let's talk.""

    A: "Well that's just showing off, at that point."

    K: "Her words hold merit, at the very least. We live in spite of any limits we have."

    Re: "And sometimes, we can break past said limits. But indeed, what are your limits if you do not know of your limits?"

    Z: "No limits until you find some, then you can break through them."

    Ma: "Ah, the Gurren Lagann approach."

    Mi: "Though she acknowledges fate as being an aspect."

    K: "If fate indeed actually existed, then we would not be here today. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves, as Judgement Day put it. I certainly did not learn that until I arrived here."

    Ri: "Rather unsurprising you two think as much, then."

    K: "With what we knew, it was rather unsurprising."

    S: "It's apparent my father wants to know something."

    E: "Rather odd why she would talk with him."

    H: "I would expect she was told not to say too much to him. Talking to the Commander would've been an inevitability, in her current situation."

    Mi: "Information is rather valuable, I'm sure the Commander would know. And when you think about it, their plans do intersect some."

    K: "We both find Seele's idea of Instrumentality undesirable. But surely the Commander would realise our complementation will result in destruction as well."

    S: "We still don't know if him getting mum back will be destructive."

    Z: "It certainly was here, so I'd assume."

    K: "Perhaps it will end up like the United States and the Soviet Union. Allies until the common enemy is defeated."

    ...

    "If nothing else, Gendo Ikari had to applaud her showmanship."

    Ma: "Well that's a declaration of war if I'd seen any."

    A: "Ohh, but at least she was respectful in declaring war on all Lilim."

    K: "Zeruel certainly was one for showmanship, that's for sure."

    E: "Rather understandable why they didn't want Seele to know of this declaration."

    Mi: "The only reason she hasn't gone that far yet was because of Kaworu. And it sounds like she's increasingly getting closer to her limits."

    Ri: "The second-to-last Angel might be Zeruel, at this point."

    S: "So this was all just a day-trip? What was the point of all this?"

    Re: "Rather simple. They wanted to find out what they wanted to find out. Perhaps it was the aptitude of the Lilim, and how they function. A day in the life, so to speak."

    Z: "I'm guessing that's a potential alliance out the window."

    K: "It would have been an interesting scenario, but alas. Zeruel is steadfast in what they want."

    H: "They face a grim fate, then."

    K: "...Indeed they do."


    Concordat
    "The voice of Tabris was quick to emerge. Did you find the [truth/fact/epiphany] that you were seeking?
    I DID."

    Z: "At least you two were able to patch something up."

    Mi: "Rather hollow words, otherwise."

    H: "Amazing how you can still be like that, with what happened."

    Ri: "Hollow courtesy might as well be NERV's thing, at this point."

    Ma: "I'm rather amazed they're using the damn Concorde. Surely they'd have SSTOs by this point."

    K: "Perhaps Seele chose the budget option."

    S: "Yet another slight against Zeruel, I imagine."

    A: "She wouldn't even need a damn jet."

    Mi: "She's at least trying to keep up appearances today."

    Re: "It seems I am pleased with that, at the very least."

    A: "It's always nice not having your man stolen."

    E: "Even if it still annoyed you some."

    Re: "Not that I could do much."

    ...

    "And so it begins anew."

    Ri: "Remember what I said earlier?"

    Ma: "So this was all just a test for her?"

    E: "She did interact with every pilot, in some way. Shinji was obvious, she trained with Rei and sparred with Mana, she spoke with Mayumi."

    A: "Spar is rather generous."

    K: "At least she is willing to stay the course with me. Whatever happens."

    S: "It's more than you can say of some of your other kin."

    Mi: "I imagine this new Angel isn't gonna follow your plans either."

    K: "I doubt it, at this point. Perhaps this will be Matarael."

    Z: "At least you can find the humour in this, Kaworu."

    K: "It is a rather entertaining pun. Perhaps you can use it."

    Z: "I'll certainly try to."


    Samael
    "I AM SAMAEL. AND I WILL NOT FAIL."

    After a brief moment of silence, everyone slowly craned heads to face Kaworu.

    K: "Hm. Intriguing."

    Z: "There's no secret other Angel we don't know of, right?"

    K: "I would liken them to Clockiel, as Shinji dubbed. The second Angel of the second Theatrical. I nor Seele have any knowledge of Samael; their name was not mentioned in the Scrolls."

    A: "Cause I was gonna say; surely if this Angel existed in our world, it would've attacked."

    Re: "The Call is an immense one."

    Ri: "But what if there was no Call? Didn't you say with the death of Adam, your call ceased?"

    S: "Are we really entertaining the idea of another Angel we somehow didn't know of?"

    Mi: "Wouldn't be NERV if we didn't. Though odds are we can't really guess if there is another Angel or not. The Pacific Ocean is fucking massive, after all."

    E: "This will be an interesting case study, then. We have no basis in our reality what this Angel can or cannot do, similar to Clockiel. Was that really the best name that came up?"

    A: "Oi, it's not that bad. It's descriptive, at least."

    K: "The name is an omen in of itself. In Talmudic lore, Samael is an archangel of death, and despite being an Archangel they outright tempt people to sin. If this wasn't obvious enough, Judaism also ascribes to them the title of Satan."

    Ma: "Rather blatant at that point."

    H: "So say there was another Angel who never awoke like any other Angel. What do you do then?"

    Misato shrugged. "Out of sight, out of mind?"

    A decisively unamused look from Ritsuko. "A few years ago, you'd be launching a Crusade against them."

    Mi: "Yeah, but Kaworu helped mellow that aspect of me."

    Re: "Rather good for him, I imagine."

    Mi: "But what could they do, anyway? Adam is gone, they can't go through complementation anymore."

    K: "If they even exist. As I said, they have appeared nowhere relevant. Even if they did exist, they have long since failed what they would have wanted to accomplish."
    ~

    "Either way, the next few chapters are gonna be interesting." Asuka remarked. "That is the end of the chapter, right Rei?"

    "I see I did not have to say to be continued." Mused Rei.

    "Then again, it was rather obvious that was the end of the chapter." Misato muttered. "Oh well. Break?"

    A chorus of shrugs, and the pilots left for their standard 30 minute break.

    "There's not a chance we'd get to patrol the entire Pacific just in case?"

    "How do you think the UN will react to you telling them you think there might be another Angel deep in the Pacific, with the only evidence being a narrative of unknown origin."

    Misato huffed at the absurdity. "Fair enough. We'd know rather quickly if another Angel sprung up anyway."

    "That'd be the last thing we want, won't it?" Maya queried, a sense of worry in her voice. "We're already got some stuff we're dealing with."

    "Honestly? An Angel would be simple to deal with. Just wait for it to come here and then kick it's ass." She half sighed, half growled. "Things are a lot more difficult nowadays; at least the Angels haven't permeated into just about everything."

    "Kaworu the exception."

    The Commander became tender. "...Yeah. Took me a bit to come around to that. After... everything that happened to me, and all I've seen. It was hard, trying to get past that, Eliza."

    "...Unfortunately, that doesn't surprise me."

    "You didn't try to kill him, at least."

    "No, Maya." A sigh, as she longed for a beer. "I'm thankful I and Kaji and my pilots could keep that in check... God knows what I could've done to him, if not for them."
    ~~~
    The meeting of the cabal known as UN Oversight was called to order.

    Kaji glanced around at the holographic simulacra of the various members. "I assume you all know the agenda for today."

    "Fourier was our jurisdiction, you realise." The Russian representative pointed out, scorn barely masked.

    "You're just annoyed because you lost yourself a double agent." Makinami pointed out, cool. "What of Fourier, 016?"

    "The woman in red is currently en route to Germany, where I assume the subject in question will be placed in your care, 045."

    "We will ensure he is taken care of." The German representative clinically stipulated. "In regards to Morrison, our intelligence suggests he had left Britain for North America. This would leave him in your jurisdiction, 002."

    "Indeed." Acknowledgement. "Do you have a specific location?"

    "We have begun inquiry with the appropriate authorities in Canada and the United States. Communications have also begun with Mexico, however we do not believe he would be foolish enough to abscond somewhere with seven security cameras for every citizen."

    "Two out of three countries. Not bad." He gave a huff. "I'll inquire with my sources as to their whereabouts, but I remind Oversight my men are continuing to work on the unknown presence."

    "Speaking of." Spat the Russian. "The gold and silver boy. Any developments?"

    "None of note."

    A harrumph. "So be it."

    The Russian disconnected from the call.

    "She seems rather annoyed with this situation." The German dryly noted.

    "You have a keen mind, Kleiner." The American retorted, just as dry. "Take care of Fourier for us."

    "I will ensure Germany is as hospitable to him as we have been other Seele agents."

    He too disconnected from the call.

    "Bold of you to lie in front of the committee, Kaji."

    016 chuckled. "Soon after waking up, they went psychotic and had to be put into currently ongoing sedation. Nothing useful."

    "I'm sure of it." He mused. "Any other names of note?"

    "None that we don't already know. You know of the other Ikari."

    "I expected there be some nepotism involved."

    "Even though the former Commander of NERV-Japan took the Ikari name without his blessing."

    Makinami barked a laugh. "Such audacity fit him. I assume there's no other leads when it comes to him."

    "None of note. With their listed age, it's hard to tell if he's even alive; he did a good job disappearing."

    "Until we have a gravestone, we cannot know for sure." Pointed out Makinami. "What about a hunch? What does your gut suggest?"

    A huff at the suggestion. "I have one or two ideas I could explore. Though what of your little investigation?"

    "Nothing of note." He batted back. "And I do mean nothing of note. Ramblings of a demented madman, his brain too old for his body. Of course, even ramblings can have modicums of truth."

    With that, he too disconnected.

    The harsh halogens illuminated the room, Kaji immediately going for his phone as his eyes adjusted, a number not called recently yet still familiar all the same.
    ~

    An aged man was in the midst of his reading of Brave New World, sitting on his porch at the front of a quaint townhouse on the outskirts of Okayama City, the setting sun slowly diminishing the light available.

    Reading was how he spent most of his days, nowadays. At least, that served as a good cover.

    The trill of his Nokia broke his immersion, and so he answered. "Werner."

    He gave a short chuckle, as Kaji regaled him. "I can certainly check for you."

    And the phone clicked off.

    "Ikari, eh?" Murmuring to himself, as he tapped in a phone number. "I suppose it has been a while since we spoke."
    ~~~

    On a minor note, one issue with the new editor: Copying from a rich text document adds a lot more whitespace than it did in the old editor. Is this a known issue or is it just me?

    Related to this issue: I inadvetedly tried out a new way of formatting the MST3K portion of this :V I'd like some feedback in whether this is preferable to no whitespace between character lines.
    Though in all seriousness it is a bit of a pain, though to paraphrase XKCD, practically any update breaks the workflow of at least one person.

    Enough complaining though, on with the afterword!

    A lot of goings on in the Oversight community. On one hand, perhaps it would've been better for Fourier if he used his powers of observation a bit better. On the other, maybe Russia should've given him a bit more descripion in his instructions. An address, perhaps :V

    Oh well, now it's time to focus on others. Morrison's somewhere in North America, and now Katsuhiro's getting targeted as well. Maybe Kaji's hunch would pay off.

    At least Eliza had a better time. Maybe. Probably not, considering they were watching the Theatricals.
    We actually have a date Eva 3.0+1.0 comes out at least, so that can be on the cards now :V

    Though going back to MFE, Mana did not have a good time this time around. Maya in particular is starting to get concerned about her mental state; that verbal beatdown by the Commander and the actual beatdown by Yomiko won't do anything to help her.

    On another hand, perhaps that's just desserts for how she practically pushed Genji off a cliff. It depends on who you ask.
    Though it's in no one's best interests to have a rogue Nephilim.

    The revelation of another Angel intrigued them, at least. If by intrigued, I mean worry :V
    Even if it's just Clockiel, but they don't know that yet :V

    Either way, I'm sure they can all agree. Shinji is a casanova even Angels fall for :V
     
    Last edited:
  • Apocrypha
    • BG_Character_592 said:
    Her mama shrugged. "Talk. Watch the drivel on TV." Speaking of, she willed the TV on with the remote. "That sorta stuff. Alcohol is a social drink, Eliza. Best consumed in the company of others."

    "It sure seems like it. At least, based on how the others in NERV seems to consume that stuff."
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    BG_Character_592 said:
    But it was clear why her mothers described it as a social drink.
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    A&T!Canon note: For unsurprising reasons, since her dark night of the soul, Ritsuko never drinks alone. Ever. She only drinks at all on social occasions, or if someone she trusts a lot is there to keep an eye on her. So... pretty much just Maya at the moment, since she doesn't drink with Rei, and Misato counts as social. (She hasn't quite yet felt like she deserves Misato's trust that much again.)
    BG_Character_592 said:
    Rebuild 3.33

    "...What the fuck?"
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    Skyponies.
     
    @BG_Character_592

    Ah, poor Kaworu: the historical divergences have only just begun! :V

    Mana did end up taking canon!Asuka's role in MFE, to some extent, but the resolution to her character arc worked on a perpendicular parallel of sorts to canon!Asuka.

    It still must be surreal to the Chronicles crew to see MFE!Gendo and come out liking him more and more with each episode. XD

    Now, though, it seems the hunt for Papa Ikari has begun. Onward, young whippersnappers!

    Speaking of onward, the next pair of episodes are probably the ones whose reactions I've been anticipating the most. Why? Because they get to see how MFE!Asuka became the whirling dervish of sunshine she is at present...and they get to see Misato's adventure in Australia.

    Her mentor will explain a lot, I'm sure. :3
     
    It's late; reaction to first part and first story, for now.

    BG_Character_592 said:
    Spoiler: E17: INTEMISSION (He traced the steps that he once walked)
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    INTERMISSION :p

    BG_Character_592 said:
    She giggled like a schoolgirl at her quarry. "Ah, Sie waren anscheinend nicht so perspektivisch wie ich erwartet hatte! Ich denke, wir werden den Mercedes nicht mehr brauchen."
    ("Ah, it seems you weren't as perspective as I expected! I guess we won't be needing the Mercedes anymore.")
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    I know this isn't referring to the same one, but I still haven't forgotten that half of a car shell.

    BG_Character_592 said:
    "I rather expect this lewdness at this point." Eliza adopted a deadpan to rival Shinji. "The pilots talk as much about it."

    Her remarks caused much amusement among her mothers. "Well, how about when you get up sometime tomorrow, you can get those two and you can see the Theatrical for yourself?"
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    Heheheheheh.

    And sweet, hopefully we'll get their reactions to it at some point.


    BG_Character_592 said:
    They continued talking like this through some of the night, the TV ignored.
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    D'awwwww.


    BG_Character_592 said:
    The door opened, revealing who else but Zero Two, wearing a robe and not much else. She seemed unamused. "You're making this a habit, aren't you."

    "I was an hour later than yesterday." She stated, flat in intonation. "I know you two would rather bonk all day and night, as the Commander put it."

    "Like everyone else we know?"

    A second of silence was broken by both of them breaking into laughter. "Y'know, I kinda like you, Eliza."

    The computer gave a slightly embarrassed smile. "That's always good. Even if I seemingly interrupt your personal time with Hiro."

    "You've always had reason for it, at least."
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    Heheheheheheheheh. "Stop cockblocking us, goddamnit!"

    BG_Character_592 said:
    A few glances elsewhere to think, before focusing back to Eliza. "Did she think we'd deny that or something?"

    Eliza's flat stare told everything, and her glancing down and up at the bathrobe told her even more.

    "Oi I'm not that obsessed!"

    The flat stare continued.

    "...Maybe a bit, but I do know how to function otherwise."
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    HAHAHAHHAAHAH. Press X to Doubt.


    BG_Character_592 said:
    Bearing witness to Ritsuko bashing the Ultradisc player with a wrench. "That'll do it."

    "Is this standard procedure?"

    "Yes." Her intonation indicated displeasure. "Gods knows how it became standard procedure."
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    Good ol' percussive maintenance. Always does the trick.


    BG_Character_592 said:
    Rebuild 2.22

    "Okay, that was not just minor differences, what?"

    "Exactly my reaction."
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    Yup, pretty much.


    BG_Character_592 said:
    Rebuild 3.33

    "...What the fuck?"

    ~
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    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH.


    BG_Character_592 said:
    And were immediately swarmed by Eliza, Zero Two and Hiro; much to the technician's amusement. "What the hell was that?"

    "Ah. You saw the Theatrical." Shinji spoke in a characteristic flat.

    "Yeah, it's like that."
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    Again: Yup.


    BG_Character_592 said:
    "I am sure you would know there is no fourth Theatrical."

    "That just made me even more frustrated!"

    Asuka burst out a laugh. "How do you think I felt? You see that crater in the floor there?"

    She pointed to a still sizeable divot in the floor, now at least painted over. "That was where the TV we watched it on fell after I pushed it off."

    "Jeez, I didn't go that far."
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    I can't wait for 3.0+1.0(there's supposed to be this symbol here, but I can't get the post to save any extended Unicode stuff, even if XenForo 2 claims to support it. Might be a config issue.) to come out, and them to get pissed about why it wasn't available alongside the others.


    BG_Character_592 said:
    "Haven't seen you all day, Misato." Ritsuko remarked in turn, putting away her work into gravitons as Maya obediently collected the book. "Should I bother asking where you were?"

    "What can I say?" She shrugged. "I've been in a rather good mood since last night."

    "We heard." Kaworu spoke.
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    :D

    BG_Character_592 said:
    "Oh he was." A smug smirk. "Not to mention the other news we saw this morning."

    "No wonder we didn't see you for a while." Zero Two deadpanned.

    An amused bark from Misato. "I know we make it sound like it, but we don't just fuck all the time. Kaji's got his own business, as I got my own business."
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    Uh-huh.

    BG_Character_592 said:
    Broken News
    "And wonder: what to do next?"

    S: "...He's gonna spend a while doing that, I'd think."
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    Yeah, rough scene.

    BG_Character_592 said:
    Ma: "So that world has been different from practically the beginning."

    K: "Even before the beginning."
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    Interesting to actually be able to see and track the differences.

    BG_Character_592 said:
    Re: "Though... that raises a peculiar question. It is my understanding that I am based off Yui Ikari's genetics. Would that iteration of me be the same?"

    Ri: "It might. Though that remains to be seen."

    A: "Maybe it would be alright if you two get together, then!"

    Re: "...I was not thinking through that lens."
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    *pressing X*

    BG_Character_592 said:
    Re: "I am sure Asuka would be more than happy to show you." She aimed a small smirk at the candle.

    Much to her amusement. "Now you're getting it, Rei!"
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    :D

    BG_Character_592 said:
    "As the sound of bickering siblings filled the apartment, Hayato Suzuhara pulled the brim of his dirty cap over his eyes, letting their fraternal arguing lull him to sleep. That's more like it."
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    Hayato in the scene here made me think of Kittan in DOUBLE K, with his special ability to piss anyone off into doing anything by calling them a pussy.

    Like so.

    BG_Character_592 said:
    "Seigo Aida settled for rubbing his temples. What a family."
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    You sly son of a bitch, 007. Even more FLCL in here?

    BG_Character_592 said:
    Mi: "Despite the general consensus, they're generally competent when it comes to that sort of thing."

    A: "I'm sure you understand why I don't think too highly of Section 2. Doesn't help Commander Asshole used them as a damned Gestapo."
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    *flashbacks to multiple pilot assassination attempts*

    BG_Character_592 said:
    Ri: "Ignoring all other social taboos when it comes to that, that's the major problem that comes with keeping it in the family, so to speak. One generation, sure, you might be able to get away with it if you have some good genetics. Though one just has to look at any royal family to see the risks of having a limited gene pool."

    S: "...So is it fine? Or..."

    Ritsuko shrugged. "Might be. It's always difficult to say when you combine more than two sets of genes, though I'd think the extra third would help patch out any defects."

    Re: "So my genetics there make such a relationship with Shinji fine."

    Ri: "I might not have even batted an eye if you two became an item here. Angelic materials are always rather strange when it comes to that kind of business."

    Shinji and Rei's head simultaneously thudded on the desk.

    Much to Asuka and Kaworu's entertainment.
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    :D Hear that? It's fiiiiiiiiinnnnneee.

    BG_Character_592 said:
    S: "Doubt there's anything stopping them from using more... cooperative Nephilim as well."

    Z: "Though did she have to tell her she's sterile?"
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    Think you meant "did HE have to tell her she's sterile" here. Although Hikari confirmed it, Gendo's the one who brought it up in the first place.

    BG_Character_592 said:
    Re: "It is clear the Commander sees it that way. This is her warning; even if he does not want to replace her and her sister, he will have to if something like this happens again. They become too much of a liability at that point."

    Ma: "...And NERV certainly can't afford loose ends like that."
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    Yeah, that was harsh, but very needed.


    BG_Character_592 said:
    H: "If you never had it."

    Z: "Fair, fair." She conceded.

    Ri: "Didn't mean for everyone to start drinking..."
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    Drinks all around! As long as you're responsible.


    BG_Character_592 said:
    "If I had a choice in the matter, I wouldn't end the world. Not while you guys are here, at least."

    "Well that's very good to hear, Shinji." Misato exclaimed. "Maybe the world won't end anytime soon, then."
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    ...
    *getting nervous feelings about BG's plot*



    Still have to read their reactions to the next chapter, but I've already read the next chapter. Yomiko Frenching Shinji as an introduction was fuckin' hilarious. Kind of can't wait for his reaction after the reveal.
     
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    BG_Character_592 said:
    «Наполеон - друг Республики». ("Napoleon is a friend of the Republic.")
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    Now this is the oddest German you had so far. I think something broke @ Translate. :p
    BG_Character_592 said:
    "Ah, Sie waren anscheinend nicht so perspektivisch wie ich erwartet hatte! Ich denke, wir werden den Mercedes nicht mehr brauchen."
    ("Ah, it seems you weren't as perspective as I expected! I guess we won't be needing the Mercedes anymore.")
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    Could it be that you meant "perceptive"/"scharfsinnig" (or, while not direct translation, in context I would probably go with "aufmerksam"), rather than "perspective"/"perspektivisch"?
    BG_Character_592 said:
    ("Mach dir keine Sorgen, Augustin. Wir haben vielleicht nicht so viel Luxus wie die Russen, aber ich bin sicher, Sie werden unsere Gesellschaft trotzdem angenehm finden.")
    ("Don't worry yourself, Augustin. We may not have as many luxuries as the Russians, but I'm sure you'll find our company pleasant regardless.")
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    :)
    BG_Character_592 said:
    "Which is rather absurd for a disc, isn't it?" Ritsuko huffed. "Gods know how much more advanced their world of origin is."
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    Eh, Rits, I think you're underselling your giant bio-machines with force fields, absurd weaponry, a retractable city, a super computer with a ridiculous AI...
    BG_Character_592 said:
    Bearing witness to Ritsuko bashing the Ultradisc player with a wrench. "That'll do it."

    "Is this standard procedure?"

    "Yes." Her intonation indicated displeasure. "Gods knows how it became standard procedure."

    "Blame R&D, as usual." Flat. "I imagine Kensuke has a mechanism to get it operating, but he's still at school."
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    I'm starting to think, the final/consumer version will come with a small, motorized wrench that will automatically give it a few wacks at startup. :V
    BG_Character_592 said:
    The German dryly noted.

    "You have a keen mind, Kleiner.
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    A German named "Kleiner"? That guy must have had a fun childhood. :V
    BG_Character_592 said:
    We actually have a date Eva 3.0+1.0 comes out at least, so that can be on the cards now
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    Will probably still take a while until an "Ultradisc" though, unless they just get a summary to react to?
     
    Two pedantic notes.

    1) Beam Saber has been a Gundamism over the entire franchise (except IBO, where energy weapons are useless), so most everyone there should know it.

    BG_Character_592 said:
    Hiding in plain sight, the Fist of God waits
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    2) Kaworu in particular has no excuse for not recognizing this as a direct reference to Zeruel.

    Otherwise, excellent as usual, and I'm laughing my ass off at certain assumptions the readers are making. The full revelation should be quite mind-breaking.

    ...and indeed, this story will at last begin to Australia. :rofl:
     
    JimmyWolk said:
    Could it be that you meant "perceptive"/"scharfsinnig" (or, while not direct translation, in context I would probably go with "aufmerksam"), rather than "perspective"/"perspektivisch"?
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    Aufmerksam sounds better in that context, so I went with that :)

    JimmyWolk said:
    Will probably still take a while until an "Ultradisc" though, unless they just get a summary to react to?
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    "So, Kaworu. I have several questions with this version of the fourth Theatrical." Shinji began. "Why does it look like it was recorded in a movie theatre, and why are there hardcoded German subtitles over the top of the video?"

    "It's not even a good translation." Rued Asuka. "It's like they saw this once and translated from memory."

    "I believe this is called a camrip. It seems the universe was too impatient to wait for a legitimate release of this fil-"

    All of a sudden, a Rift opened in the lab, and two suited lawyers walked out, suitcase and all. "We are with the IIPA, and we suspect your organisation to have engaged in interdimensional copyright infringement."

    Kaworu merely sighed, willing a hefty parchment and reading glasses into existence. "I thought we had come to an agreement that this reality be exempt from your inane laws."

    "We are inevitable." They spoke. "We will-"

    The Nephilim entered Overdrive, the parchment bursting into flames and the reading glasses melting from his face. "By order of Lilith, no extradimensional entity will hold authority over this base Earth. Your organisation is not welcome here."

    "Yes, but our charter specifically says such thing are exe-"

    "YOU ARE WEARING OUT MY PATIENCE. LEAVE. NOW."

    "Yes, but the charter says-

    The lawyers popped into LCL, which was subsequently collected in a bucket. Hastily scribbling out a note, 'All of these worlds are yours, except our own. Attempt no landings there.', the bucket and note was thrown back into the rivers of reality.

    He exited Overdrive. "So, what were we talking about again?"

    Shinji and Asuka both had their jaws drooping.

    Rei meanwhile was rather unamused with the whole affair. "The UN would not appreciate you picking another fight with the Interdimensional Intellectual Property Alliance."

    "Let them come. They will break upon this fortress like water on rock."

    "You are just deliberately antagonising them at this point."
     
    You know It's very distinct that the first film was about Shinji and Rei.

    The second film focused on Shinji and Asuka.

    And the third about Shinji and Kaworu.

    So I wouldn't be surprised if 3+1 will have a focus on Shinji and Mari.
     
    brer rabbit said:
    You know It's very distinct that the first film was about Shinji and Rei.

    The second film focused on Shinji and Asuka.

    And the third about Shinji and Kaworu.

    So I wouldn't be surprised if 3+1 will have a focus on Shinji and Mari.
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    so all outrageous flash and plot what plot, that some how isn't that emotionally gripping but a fun ride till about halfway then creepy?
     
    brer rabbit said:
    The second film focused on Shinji and Asuka.
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    Did it though? IIRC, they only really have one scene with just the two together (maybe two if you count the one of her moving in until Misato shows up) and she very much shares the attention with Rei still. I don't think she's even mentioned anymore in the last 30-40 minutes?

    That's been one of my biggest beefs with Rebuild after all, my favorite character becoming little more than a side character. After the first one getting flak for being mainly "just" a remake, they just made her the poster child for "look, these movies are totally different" by changing a whole lot about her without any in-universe reason (as of yet), as if it wouldn't obvious enough otherwise. And as for "her" movie, she arrives, just grumpily tags along at first, notices Shinji's kinda cool in battle, has that little heart-to-heart with him, get's in a cook-off with Rei that she gives up on when noticing Rei is even clumsier with a knife than her (seriously, they couldn't think of any other way to convey that?), has her EVA taken away by another newly-inventented contrived means (which is even lampshaded in-universe that the choice to take hers still doesn't make sense) to give her an extra push to make the choice to become Bardiel's/the dummy plug's sacrifice. And then she's just out. No role in the finale whatsoever. The awesome 02 fighting from the trailer? Yeah, most of that wasn't her but that new char hijacking it.
    And I was relatively lenient on that at first, hoping that the next movie may address a lot of that and may even have some interesting fallout of the Bardiel thing if she'd confront Shinji with that she essentially made the choice to be the test pilot for 03 for the sake of his happiness so he could have his family dinner with the girl seemingly "deserving" him more (cause again, more band-aid), only to get maimed as thanks for it.
    But no, instead we get timeskip and she just does some fighting and punching glass, making cryptic comments. Granted, a lot of that could still happen in the next one (I do have my list of "things 4.0 could do to win me over by likelyhood/effectiveness"* after all), but aside from me not getting my hopes up too much, it certainly wouldn't end up as natural as it could have been.

    *ed., know what, since it's already a a bit of a rant and repeats some of that anyway, might as well post it :p :
    1. More Asuka period. She feels a bit too much like a sidechar at this point. First movie, she wasn't in at all (somewhat understandably, but given that they pushed Kaworu in, surely they could have had a little tease of her about to leave for Japan as well), second one, she has quite a bit of screentime – only to be pushed out by contrivances and after Bardiel is out, she's gone entirely for the last 40 minutes or so (IIRC not even mentioned after the containment scene/Shinji leaving, don't quite remember which was later) – the fancy EVA-02 fighting from the trailer? Yeah, turned out most of that wasn't her. And while I haven't seen 3.x, from what I got, she's only in for a while at the beginning and end. :/
      Still probably the most likely.
    2. At least some hints of A/S – preferably with some explanation that the "Eva curse" was them also being frozen/tanged somehow until a bit earlier to make the mental age difference less of an issue. A bit iffy on that, since their TV-counterpart's development was mostly replaced by an even rather one-sided interest on Asuka's part that became a silly cook-off that she folds on when she notices that Rei is even more clumsy with a knife than she is. It could have gone interesting ways when she decided to do the EVA-03 test for him to be happy at the party and the fallout from that after the incident – but then 3.x happened and who knows anymore? Still, I could see them throwing a bone or two for us shippers.
    3. Have a vague end that my fanboy mind can at least twist into becoming A/S eventually. I mean, to my big surprise even the Manga did it, more so even. And vague endings are certainly Eva.
    4. In universe explanation for Asuka's differences rather than just the outside explanation of wanting to make her the poster child of "look, it's different". Did she chose the name Shikinami over Soryu? Is there a more direct relation between the "nami"s? What's with her doll? It could be, but again, with 3.x in the way, it seems less likely than it still did at the end of 2.x.
    5. Multiverse/Timeloop confirmed. To start with the crazy ones. But there's been hints for that, so probably not entirely out there yet.
    6. Actual glimpses into the other verses/loops. Would be one way to bring Soryu back into the mix, and would be nice to see if at least some iterations got a happy ending. Speaking of:
    7. Mari being Asuka and Shinji's child from a different verse/previous loop. Would be nice to know that even if the Rebuild variants don't get together, at least other ones did.
      6.5 In regards of likelyhood, this is crazy enough to be around 8, but in regards to winning me over, it's probably just at 3: Have Asuka and Mari merge into Soryu. Would cover part of 4 as well then. And to mess with it completely, have it be revealed that there is a timeloop going on – but this is actually the first of the ones we saw yet. ;)
    8. Full multiverse crossover – have 'em duke it out!
    9. Full blown A/S happy ending... yeah wouldn't exactly bet on that. >_>
    10. Having Aki in! :p (though only if being in 6's multiverse glimpses, if she where to get physically/emotionally harmed by crossing over, this gets put into the negatives.)
     
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    JimmyWolk said:
    That's been one of my biggest beefs with Rebuild after all, my favorite character becoming little more than a side character.
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    Asuka being a sidechar and the many differences you already described are also issues I have with the Rebuilds, and 3.x being just... 3.x did very little to win me over. For the longest time I also hated Mari, since I thought she was little more than easy fanservice for the die-hard otakus and added nothing to the story for the entirety of two movies. That feeling has now changed to one of disappointment with how little they used her to shake the original narrative, since the girl has potential to do that in spades by sheer personality alone. Why can't we get even a peek at what Asuka and Mari did over their fourteen years together, for example? :(

    To be fair, though, it's looking like Mari being pointless is something that might change in the fourth movie judging by the amount of screentime she got in the trailer, buuuut we all know how Khara trailers tend to go, so I'm keeping my expectations under control. Same deal with Asuka doing more than hitting Shinji a few times up the head to remind people that she's still around.
     
    BG_Character_592 said:
    Aufmerksam sounds better in that context, so I went with that :)



    "So, Kaworu. I have several questions with this version of the fourth Theatrical." Shinji began. "Why does it look like it was recorded in a movie theatre, and why are there hardcoded German subtitles over the top of the video?"

    "It's not even a good translation." Rued Asuka. "It's like they saw this once and translated from memory."

    "I believe this is called a camrip. It seems the universe was too impatient to wait for a legitimate release of this fil-"

    All of a sudden, a Rift opened in the lab, and two suited lawyers walked out, suitcase and all. "We are with the IIPA, and we suspect your organisation to have engaged in interdimensional copyright infringement."

    Kaworu merely sighed, willing a hefty parchment and reading glasses into existence. "I thought we had come to an agreement that this reality be exempt from your inane laws."

    "We are inevitable." They spoke. "We will-"

    The Nephilim entered Overdrive, the parchment bursting into flames and the reading glasses melting from his face. "By order of Lilith, no extradimensional entity will hold authority over this base Earth. Your organisation is not welcome here."

    "Yes, but our charter specifically says such thing are exe-"

    "YOU ARE WEARING OUT MY PATIENCE. LEAVE. NOW."

    "Yes, but the charter says-

    The lawyers popped into LCL, which was subsequently collected in a bucket. Hastily scribbling out a note, 'All of these worlds are yours, except our own. Attempt no landings there.', the bucket and note was thrown back into the rivers of reality.

    He exited Overdrive. "So, what were we talking about again?"

    Shinji and Asuka both had their jaws drooping.

    Rei meanwhile was rather unamused with the whole affair. "The UN would not appreciate you picking another fight with the Interdimensional Intellectual Property Alliance."

    "Let them come. They will break upon this fortress like water on rock."

    "You are just deliberately antagonising them at this point."
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    Got a good laugh from the 2010 reference from Kaworu...

    As for the possibility of a leftover Angel... am I the only one who finds it ironically amusing that an Angel shaped like a clock basically overslept?
     
    BG_Character_592 said:
    S: "Are we really entertaining the idea of another Angel we somehow didn't know of?"

    Mi: "Wouldn't be NERV if we didn't. Though odds are we can't really guess if there is another Angel or not.
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    Honestly, I'd find it highly amusing if the entire reason the powers that be sent NERV this fic was to warn them that there might be more Angels coming/lying dormant, so they really ought to watch their step.

    Strypgia said:
    Skyponies.
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    Great. Now I have an incomplete idea for an Eva parody of the MLP theme stuck in my head. Thanks for that. :p

    Evil M. Lurker said:
    ...and indeed, this story will at last begin to Australia. :rofl:
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    Never ever go full Australia. That way only madness can be found.

    BG_Character_592 said:
    Rei meanwhile was rather unamused with the whole affair. "The UN would not appreciate you picking another fight with the Interdimensional Intellectual Property Alliance."
    Click to expand...
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    So just another Tuesday, then?

    Matt R said:
    As for the possibility of a leftover Angel... am I the only one who finds it ironically amusing that an Angel shaped like a clock basically overslept?
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    JumperPrime said:
    It seems obvious to me that while he was shaped like a clock, he was not equipped with an alarm function. Very cheap, but that's OK since Asuka's dynamic entry was the requisite wake up call. :lol
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    Zeruel: Brother! Awaken, for it is your time.
    Clockiel: Mrrph... 5 more minutes...
    Zeruel: Father damnit. Lazy bum...
     
    Matt R said:
    As for the possibility of a leftover Angel... am I the only one who finds it ironically amusing that an Angel shaped like a clock basically overslept?
    Click to expand...
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    That scenario reminds me of that meme with the snake that overslept.



    Going back to my meme roots with this one :V
    Slight edit to use the correct word, whoops
    Dec 12 2021 fixed the image yw yw :)
     
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