M. H. Fuzzball
Aperture Science-certified Horrible Person
- Location
- Sector 2814
At least she isn't trying to dig a hole to Brazil like one Rei who got a hold of Black Blood of the Earth.
Advice and Trust [NGE]
- Location
- Inside a Tuba Case
Question:
How would the cast (A/T and/or Chronicles) react to the u/alphamaxnova1 and u/targetmisser race highlights?
How would the cast (A/T and/or Chronicles) react to the u/alphamaxnova1 and u/targetmisser race highlights?
Comedy Omake #176 - iPod Chronicles 2
BG_Character_592
The Fisherman
- Location
- Australia
"Why the hell is he driving for Ferrari?"
Well, it took a bit, but here's new Chronicles! Misato and Ritsuko work out a plan, some stuff gets done in Massachusetts, and we get to listen to Songs for the Deaf by Queens of the Stone Age!
Ritsuko was engrossed in her terminal, when the door slid open. "How's it going down there?"
"Our pilots are alright." Misato could only sigh, letting herself in and going for the nearby coffee machine. "Though... they mentioned something that I'm kinda concerned about."
"Other than the fact this being was a pattern Blue?"
"Well... that's still a concern, yeah." One quick sip. "But it's mainly the look of this new Angel... Kurdaicha. Are we calling it that?"
"For differentiating purposes, yes. Until we can conclude whether this was of Adam's ilk."
"Fair. This Kurdaicha? Apparently the spitting image of Samael."
The typing stopped. "...The clockwork one, right?"
"Yeah."
Ritsuko slowly took her glasses off.
Before inelegantly sliding the portable terminal off her desk, it shattering into pieces despite the three foot drop. "Well. That's today wasted." Before taking a cigarette out from her coat pocket. "I was working under the assumption they were otherwise unique, but... if this one was a spitting image of a Rift Angel, then..."
"Others could be, as well."
A grumble at the implication. "...Well, at least that gives me an excuse to add them to the simulator."
The Commander gave nothing but a small huff. "Were you able to figure out if this'll be exclusive to New Albany?"
The scientist shook her head. "It's a sample size of one. We can't assume anything from that."
"Fair." Misato admitted, as she leant against a desk. "So the rocket strategy is the go, then."
"I believe so. It worked rather well, admittedly. Only issue we have now is the potentially weeks long recovery it'll take."
There were a few seconds before Ritsuko lit up with an idea. "Although... Hawthorne's rockets are completely reusable without carrying an Evangelion."
"Heh. You're suggesting two rockets?"
A singular nod, as she started doodling on a scratchpad. "Have several in Tokyo-3 on standby, actually scratch that, several in all NERV branches. Two rockets per sortie: one carries the Evangelion to the target, the other flies and lands nearby for recovery. Might be able to reduce turnaround time to a few days, not the weeks we are looking at right now." The thoughts flew from her mind. "Of course, this is all dependent on how much Hawthorne can manufacture. Might have to encourage them to ramp up production."
"Good to see you getting back into the swing of things."
"It's a good thing I got Maya to get us some dinner." As she took another terminal out of the filing cabinet. "Sounds like we're gonna be busy."
"At least you'll be busy together." Prodded the Commander, as she turned to leave.
To the Subcommander's huff. "We got that going for us, at least."
Misato soon left, almost bumping into Maya as she carried in several boxes of ramen.
Leaving her with her thoughts. "Man. Might have to kick the other branches into gear, if this keeps up."
~
Asuka navigated to the album. "I always wondered what a song for the deaf would sound like."
"It would be rather quiet, I would assume."
"Here's hoping it's n-not just 40 minutes of silence, then."
"It'd certainly be a thing Pen-Pen would do." Quipped the computer.
Soon enough, the album started.
~~~
"Our pilots are alright." Misato could only sigh, letting herself in and going for the nearby coffee machine. "Though... they mentioned something that I'm kinda concerned about."
"Other than the fact this being was a pattern Blue?"
"Well... that's still a concern, yeah." One quick sip. "But it's mainly the look of this new Angel... Kurdaicha. Are we calling it that?"
"For differentiating purposes, yes. Until we can conclude whether this was of Adam's ilk."
"Fair. This Kurdaicha? Apparently the spitting image of Samael."
The typing stopped. "...The clockwork one, right?"
"Yeah."
Ritsuko slowly took her glasses off.
Before inelegantly sliding the portable terminal off her desk, it shattering into pieces despite the three foot drop. "Well. That's today wasted." Before taking a cigarette out from her coat pocket. "I was working under the assumption they were otherwise unique, but... if this one was a spitting image of a Rift Angel, then..."
"Others could be, as well."
A grumble at the implication. "...Well, at least that gives me an excuse to add them to the simulator."
The Commander gave nothing but a small huff. "Were you able to figure out if this'll be exclusive to New Albany?"
The scientist shook her head. "It's a sample size of one. We can't assume anything from that."
"Fair." Misato admitted, as she leant against a desk. "So the rocket strategy is the go, then."
"I believe so. It worked rather well, admittedly. Only issue we have now is the potentially weeks long recovery it'll take."
There were a few seconds before Ritsuko lit up with an idea. "Although... Hawthorne's rockets are completely reusable without carrying an Evangelion."
"Heh. You're suggesting two rockets?"
A singular nod, as she started doodling on a scratchpad. "Have several in Tokyo-3 on standby, actually scratch that, several in all NERV branches. Two rockets per sortie: one carries the Evangelion to the target, the other flies and lands nearby for recovery. Might be able to reduce turnaround time to a few days, not the weeks we are looking at right now." The thoughts flew from her mind. "Of course, this is all dependent on how much Hawthorne can manufacture. Might have to encourage them to ramp up production."
"Good to see you getting back into the swing of things."
"It's a good thing I got Maya to get us some dinner." As she took another terminal out of the filing cabinet. "Sounds like we're gonna be busy."
"At least you'll be busy together." Prodded the Commander, as she turned to leave.
To the Subcommander's huff. "We got that going for us, at least."
Misato soon left, almost bumping into Maya as she carried in several boxes of ramen.
Leaving her with her thoughts. "Man. Might have to kick the other branches into gear, if this keeps up."
~
Asuka navigated to the album. "I always wondered what a song for the deaf would sound like."
"It would be rather quiet, I would assume."
"Here's hoping it's n-not just 40 minutes of silence, then."
"It'd certainly be a thing Pen-Pen would do." Quipped the computer.
Soon enough, the album started.
~~~
Character Key:
Shinji (S) Asuka (A)
Rei (R) Kaworu (K)
Eliza (E) Mari (M)
Shinji (S) Asuka (A)
Rei (R) Kaworu (K)
Eliza (E) Mari (M)
Conquistador (00:00)
The long winded song started with a cacophony of random.
S: "...Is that a radio station?"
M: "They're very s-self aware, if they're a real station."
E: "I love it when the title's long enough to scroll."
A: "I'm more focused on the band. What kind of name is Queens of the Stone Age?"
R: "Whoever they are, the announcer seems excited."
K: "It's probably one of the frontmen." He pointed out, as the drums and guitar started. "...Hmm. Mari, do you know if this band exists in our world?"
M: "Yep. At least b-before Second Impact."
S: "What genre are they?"
M: "Heh." A wry smile grew on Kaworu. "Rock."
As if on cue, the somewhat light electric guitar gave way to a scream, more progressive chords taking over.
Almost immediately, Kaworu (as Kaworu) and Rei (as both) cringed. "...Hmm."
A: "Bit of a change from Daft Punk, ain't it?!" While laughing at the Nephilim's reactions.
S: "Is it bad I'm kinda liking it so far?"
A: "Not at all, Shinji!" With a slap on the back. "It's music you'd listen to when eviscerating an enemy in your Evangelion, eh?"
K: "I wonder if that's the same lyrically."
Eliza shrugged. "Something about toro? Don't know what it means in any language I have."
M: "You don't h-have Spanish, do you?"
E: "Why would I?"
M: "Fair. Pretty sure t-turo's a type of tequila."
R: "I am sure a drink like that would make you feel like a millionaire."
K: "It'd make you look like a dollar."
A: "Ah so the title's accurate!"
M: "Y'know, with what I've h-heard from Queens of the Stone Age on the radio, this is p-pretty close to what they made." In amusement. "We need a shorter n-name for them."
E: "Would Queens work?"
To which Mari shrugged. "Yeah, I'm sure we w-won't confuse this band with Queen."
Eliza cocked her head.
M: "That's another band I gotta show y-ya one day!"
The song ended as abruptly as it started.
"Holy shit I'm liking that guitar!" Asuka immediately acclaimed.
"It certainly hits you hard." Kaworu meanwhile was less enthusiastic. "Can't say this is my preferred genre."
"I think we can tell by your expression."
"At least some of u-us like it." She smirked. "Hell, you seemed to like it, didn't ya S-Shinji?"
Shinji sheepishly nodded. "It's... I don't even really know how to describe it, honestly."
"Songs to eviscerate your enemies to?" Suggested Asuka.
"Ah yes, the alternate title of this album."
"It's already a pretty good pump up album, Kaworu." Pointed out the redhead. "And that's just the first track.
"I cannot wait to hear the rest." Remarked Rei, in a manner that the others weren't quite sure was satirical or not.
~~~
The long winded song started with a cacophony of random.
S: "...Is that a radio station?"
M: "They're very s-self aware, if they're a real station."
E: "I love it when the title's long enough to scroll."
A: "I'm more focused on the band. What kind of name is Queens of the Stone Age?"
R: "Whoever they are, the announcer seems excited."
K: "It's probably one of the frontmen." He pointed out, as the drums and guitar started. "...Hmm. Mari, do you know if this band exists in our world?"
M: "Yep. At least b-before Second Impact."
S: "What genre are they?"
M: "Heh." A wry smile grew on Kaworu. "Rock."
As if on cue, the somewhat light electric guitar gave way to a scream, more progressive chords taking over.
Almost immediately, Kaworu (as Kaworu) and Rei (as both) cringed. "...Hmm."
A: "Bit of a change from Daft Punk, ain't it?!" While laughing at the Nephilim's reactions.
S: "Is it bad I'm kinda liking it so far?"
A: "Not at all, Shinji!" With a slap on the back. "It's music you'd listen to when eviscerating an enemy in your Evangelion, eh?"
K: "I wonder if that's the same lyrically."
Eliza shrugged. "Something about toro? Don't know what it means in any language I have."
M: "You don't h-have Spanish, do you?"
E: "Why would I?"
M: "Fair. Pretty sure t-turo's a type of tequila."
R: "I am sure a drink like that would make you feel like a millionaire."
K: "It'd make you look like a dollar."
A: "Ah so the title's accurate!"
M: "Y'know, with what I've h-heard from Queens of the Stone Age on the radio, this is p-pretty close to what they made." In amusement. "We need a shorter n-name for them."
E: "Would Queens work?"
To which Mari shrugged. "Yeah, I'm sure we w-won't confuse this band with Queen."
Eliza cocked her head.
M: "That's another band I gotta show y-ya one day!"
The song ended as abruptly as it started.
"Holy shit I'm liking that guitar!" Asuka immediately acclaimed.
"It certainly hits you hard." Kaworu meanwhile was less enthusiastic. "Can't say this is my preferred genre."
"I think we can tell by your expression."
"At least some of u-us like it." She smirked. "Hell, you seemed to like it, didn't ya S-Shinji?"
Shinji sheepishly nodded. "It's... I don't even really know how to describe it, honestly."
"Songs to eviscerate your enemies to?" Suggested Asuka.
"Ah yes, the alternate title of this album."
"It's already a pretty good pump up album, Kaworu." Pointed out the redhead. "And that's just the first track.
"I cannot wait to hear the rest." Remarked Rei, in a manner that the others weren't quite sure was satirical or not.
~~~
On That Yellow Pill Shit (00:00)
The song started with a more traditional rock beat. "I imagine this sounds better to you guys than that screamo before, eh?"
Rei concentrated on listening for a few seconds. "Marginally."
M: "He's got some p-pipes on him, doesn't he?"
K: "Amazing how good you can sound when you aren't screaming the lyrics."
S: "What are these lyrics even about?"
E: "Pills of some sort. And I get the feeling these pills are of a non-pharmaceutical variety."
And then the chorus hit. "Dunno why, but I'm finding this style k-kinda familiar. Especially the drums."
A: "Who d'ya think it sounds like?"
M: "Nirvana. That kinda grungy Californian s-style rock that was really p-popular in the 90s."
R: "I have never heard that kind of music myself."
E: "We also aren't American, Rei."
A: "I've heard some of Nirvana's more popular tracks, and yeah I can hear the similarities. Especially that riff."
K: "It's catchy, I admit."
M: "Exactly like Nirvana! I bet a-anyone in America that's between my age and like f-forty can recognise the riff in Smells Like Teen Spirit."
R: "It is certainly reasonable to think Queens of the Stone Age was influenced by such a band. Especially as they existed in a similar genre."
M: "Oh yeah, Nirvana p-pretty much changed everything when it came to rock. Even someone like me c-can see that, and I never really listened to this stuff outside of what's on r-radio."
A: "Kinda like how The Beatles was back in the 60s."
M: "Pretty much. You still hear N-Nirvana's influence on the radio today. Not bad for a band t-that was only really popular for like three years."
S: "Did they just lose the mainstream after that long?"
M: "...Ehh, not e-exactly." With a sense of unease. "Kurt Cobain, t-the frontman... didn't exactly enjoy his time in the world."
Despite her dancing around the subject, the others easily got what she was talking about. "He s-summed it up pretty well, in the end. 'Better to burn out than to fade away'."
The quiet was only broken by the music. "Was it the lifestyle? Or... was it himself?" Rei queried.
M: "The drugs wouldn't help, a-admittedly. But you'd be s-surprised how many artists die young."
A: "...A rather depressingly high amount, by the sounds of it." She sighed. "I mean, we're really lucky to have not died so young."
R: "Does it count if you come back to life afterwards?"
Mari blinked. "Hold up, you d-died as well?"
R: "Twice so far." In complete nonchalance. "My personal best is six years."
In her defence, Mari and the others tried not to laugh at Rei's remark. "Damn it, s-sorry."
R: "No matter. It was for levity anyway." With a warm smile.
E: "You guys have a strange idea of levity."
The song transitioned to a hispanic radio bumper.
"I'm not even going to pretend to understand that." Shinji remarked. "But the song was pretty good. At least without me leading it down a depressing tangent."
"Nah it's a-alright. You didn't know, eh?"
"Compared to the first song, it was indeed more listenable, to me."
"By the thinnest of margins, I bet." Snarked Asuka.
"Not that it matters." Eliza shrugged. "We're all listening to these tracks, whether we prefer them or not."
"What do you think of the album so far, Eliza?" Kaworu queried.
"Too many words."
"Doesn't help none of y-you really speaks English. Other than the c-computer."
"It helps English is one of the languages of NERV."
"You know N-Nevada was trilingual in English, Spanish and French as well, r-right?" Pointed out the American. "Over a quarter of the US s-speaks Spanish as a first language, especially after the shit that happened in Mexico. And with how close we are w-with Canada, where around one third speaks French as their first language."
"...Huh." Eliza reacted. "At the very least, my programming allows for additional languages to be taught, other than the base languages of Japanese, English, German, Chinese, and Russian."
"...Do we even have a NERV branch in Russia?" Asuka questioned.
"Без понятия."
The next song started as the gang chuckled at the computer's remark.
~~~
The song started with a more traditional rock beat. "I imagine this sounds better to you guys than that screamo before, eh?"
Rei concentrated on listening for a few seconds. "Marginally."
M: "He's got some p-pipes on him, doesn't he?"
K: "Amazing how good you can sound when you aren't screaming the lyrics."
S: "What are these lyrics even about?"
E: "Pills of some sort. And I get the feeling these pills are of a non-pharmaceutical variety."
And then the chorus hit. "Dunno why, but I'm finding this style k-kinda familiar. Especially the drums."
A: "Who d'ya think it sounds like?"
M: "Nirvana. That kinda grungy Californian s-style rock that was really p-popular in the 90s."
R: "I have never heard that kind of music myself."
E: "We also aren't American, Rei."
A: "I've heard some of Nirvana's more popular tracks, and yeah I can hear the similarities. Especially that riff."
K: "It's catchy, I admit."
M: "Exactly like Nirvana! I bet a-anyone in America that's between my age and like f-forty can recognise the riff in Smells Like Teen Spirit."
R: "It is certainly reasonable to think Queens of the Stone Age was influenced by such a band. Especially as they existed in a similar genre."
M: "Oh yeah, Nirvana p-pretty much changed everything when it came to rock. Even someone like me c-can see that, and I never really listened to this stuff outside of what's on r-radio."
A: "Kinda like how The Beatles was back in the 60s."
M: "Pretty much. You still hear N-Nirvana's influence on the radio today. Not bad for a band t-that was only really popular for like three years."
S: "Did they just lose the mainstream after that long?"
M: "...Ehh, not e-exactly." With a sense of unease. "Kurt Cobain, t-the frontman... didn't exactly enjoy his time in the world."
Despite her dancing around the subject, the others easily got what she was talking about. "He s-summed it up pretty well, in the end. 'Better to burn out than to fade away'."
The quiet was only broken by the music. "Was it the lifestyle? Or... was it himself?" Rei queried.
M: "The drugs wouldn't help, a-admittedly. But you'd be s-surprised how many artists die young."
A: "...A rather depressingly high amount, by the sounds of it." She sighed. "I mean, we're really lucky to have not died so young."
R: "Does it count if you come back to life afterwards?"
Mari blinked. "Hold up, you d-died as well?"
R: "Twice so far." In complete nonchalance. "My personal best is six years."
In her defence, Mari and the others tried not to laugh at Rei's remark. "Damn it, s-sorry."
R: "No matter. It was for levity anyway." With a warm smile.
E: "You guys have a strange idea of levity."
The song transitioned to a hispanic radio bumper.
"I'm not even going to pretend to understand that." Shinji remarked. "But the song was pretty good. At least without me leading it down a depressing tangent."
"Nah it's a-alright. You didn't know, eh?"
"Compared to the first song, it was indeed more listenable, to me."
"By the thinnest of margins, I bet." Snarked Asuka.
"Not that it matters." Eliza shrugged. "We're all listening to these tracks, whether we prefer them or not."
"What do you think of the album so far, Eliza?" Kaworu queried.
"Too many words."
"Doesn't help none of y-you really speaks English. Other than the c-computer."
"It helps English is one of the languages of NERV."
"You know N-Nevada was trilingual in English, Spanish and French as well, r-right?" Pointed out the American. "Over a quarter of the US s-speaks Spanish as a first language, especially after the shit that happened in Mexico. And with how close we are w-with Canada, where around one third speaks French as their first language."
"...Huh." Eliza reacted. "At the very least, my programming allows for additional languages to be taught, other than the base languages of Japanese, English, German, Chinese, and Russian."
"...Do we even have a NERV branch in Russia?" Asuka questioned.
"Без понятия."
The next song started as the gang chuckled at the computer's remark.
~~~
Job 1:21 (00:00)
K: "Don't even need to listen to the song to guess where the title comes from."
A: "You're gonna listen to it anyway!" Demanded Asuka.
K: "Heh. As you wish."
Progressive guitar chords gave way to light vocals.
E: "Well that's lewd."
Mari giggled, as Eliza translated. "Don't think that's e-entirely the context."
R: "With what I understand, this is either relationship related, or drug related."
S: "The last song was drug related, by the sounds of it."
A: "With how they talk about that shit, i'm surprised they haven't dropped dead."
The chorus was more of the same, melodic vocals over the rolling beat.
K: "...I can't help but be morbidly fascinated by that aspect of artist culture."
A: "What, the excess drug use?"
K: "Indeed. Is it the stress of their work?"
M: "Can be a p-part of it. But sometimes drugs are also involved in t-the creative process."
E: "So what, they do a bunch of drugs, then they write music?"
M: "Yep. Not just while writing; most c-concerts the band is on some s-stimulant like cocaine while performing."
R: "Are you sure this is a thing outside of America?"
Mari shrugged. "First thing to k-know about America: we're 52 countries pretending to b-be one, and we're all isolated from t-the outside world in almost every aspect. Culture, media, cars, internet, you n-name it."
S: "Meaning you guys don't give a damn about other places."
M: "Most Americans, yeah. Especially after S-Second Impact. Only countries we r-really consider when visiting is Canada, Japan, and some E-European nations. A lotta p-people I knew wanted to visit Russia for some reason."
A: "Despite the communism."
M: "Probably b-because of the communism." With a laugh. "Some might even c-call it nostalgia."
K: "I don't think the world needs another Cold War."
A: "Are people over there seriously nostalgic for the fucking Cold War? Second Impact wasn't that bad!"
E: "I could assume that wasn't a good thing from the name alone." In flat intonation.
S: "Doesn't help Germany was split between East and West Germany for... just over forty years, eh?"
Asuka scruffed his hair. "You remembered!"
S: "Helps you drilled it into me." With a smile. "...Wait, how did we get to talking about that?"
The few seconds of silences was broken by giggling. "An exercise in rolling conversation, was it not?"
M: "You guys are p-pretty good at that kinda thing, y'know."
A: "We've had plenty of experience, trust me."
The song ended with a sigh.
"I almost forgot this song was talking about drugs." Flatly thought Kaworu.
Much to the amusement of the crowd, as the next song immediately started. "What, already?"
~~~
K: "Don't even need to listen to the song to guess where the title comes from."
A: "You're gonna listen to it anyway!" Demanded Asuka.
K: "Heh. As you wish."
Progressive guitar chords gave way to light vocals.
E: "Well that's lewd."
Mari giggled, as Eliza translated. "Don't think that's e-entirely the context."
R: "With what I understand, this is either relationship related, or drug related."
S: "The last song was drug related, by the sounds of it."
A: "With how they talk about that shit, i'm surprised they haven't dropped dead."
The chorus was more of the same, melodic vocals over the rolling beat.
K: "...I can't help but be morbidly fascinated by that aspect of artist culture."
A: "What, the excess drug use?"
K: "Indeed. Is it the stress of their work?"
M: "Can be a p-part of it. But sometimes drugs are also involved in t-the creative process."
E: "So what, they do a bunch of drugs, then they write music?"
M: "Yep. Not just while writing; most c-concerts the band is on some s-stimulant like cocaine while performing."
R: "Are you sure this is a thing outside of America?"
Mari shrugged. "First thing to k-know about America: we're 52 countries pretending to b-be one, and we're all isolated from t-the outside world in almost every aspect. Culture, media, cars, internet, you n-name it."
S: "Meaning you guys don't give a damn about other places."
M: "Most Americans, yeah. Especially after S-Second Impact. Only countries we r-really consider when visiting is Canada, Japan, and some E-European nations. A lotta p-people I knew wanted to visit Russia for some reason."
A: "Despite the communism."
M: "Probably b-because of the communism." With a laugh. "Some might even c-call it nostalgia."
K: "I don't think the world needs another Cold War."
A: "Are people over there seriously nostalgic for the fucking Cold War? Second Impact wasn't that bad!"
E: "I could assume that wasn't a good thing from the name alone." In flat intonation.
S: "Doesn't help Germany was split between East and West Germany for... just over forty years, eh?"
Asuka scruffed his hair. "You remembered!"
S: "Helps you drilled it into me." With a smile. "...Wait, how did we get to talking about that?"
The few seconds of silences was broken by giggling. "An exercise in rolling conversation, was it not?"
M: "You guys are p-pretty good at that kinda thing, y'know."
A: "We've had plenty of experience, trust me."
The song ended with a sigh.
"I almost forgot this song was talking about drugs." Flatly thought Kaworu.
Much to the amusement of the crowd, as the next song immediately started. "What, already?"
~~~
I'd Like To Be A Tree (00:00)
A: "My left ear is liking this guitar."
E: "Could it be the copper welded headphones finally giving up?"
M: "You just have n-no hope for it, do ya?"
The introduction of drums confirmed the right headphone was still in operating order.
S: "Wonder why they made it like that."
R: "I think this track is designed to be a bit... off. The drum track itself is rather disparate."
Drums and guitar eventually synchronised to something closer to nominal.
K: "Suppose that would fit a song for the dead. Make it somewhat off-putting."
A: "Kinda sounds like something you'd hear in Doom."
M: "Probably not t-the vocals." As the 'ah's' began. "But yeah, I c-can see myself killing demons to this."
Lyrics proper started. "...Now w-where have I heard him before. I've heard him around b-but I can't exactly put a finger on it."
E: "He does sound different from the regular lyricist."
S: "He sounds a lot darker, at least judging by the translation."
A: "Yeah, instead of talking about doing a shit ton of drugs, they're talking about death."
K: "This is a song for the dead, after all."
R: "I get the feeling it is mainly talking about death caused by them."
E: "Maybe we should play it during sorties."
A: "That'd make this A Song For The To Be Dead, wouldn't it?"
M: "At least t-they'd still be alive to listen to it, unlike the dead."
Lull (02:53)
There was an abrupt halt to the song. "Wait f-for it..."
An electric guitar wailed, leading into a solo. "There we g-go!" With a wide smirk. "Nothing like a good solo."
R: "It sounds like there are several guitars being played."
A: "Maybe they're all played by the same guy. That'd still be a solo, wouldn't it?"
K: "Even this is sounding disparate, as the opening."
S: "Still sounds kinda cool, though."
E: "Good to hear you're still a fan."
M: "Look on the b-bright side, Eliza. More tunes means less translating. Unless y-you want to translate the 'Oh's."
E: "I think everyone can understand that without my input."
And after a short drums only section, it was back to the singing. "Oh for fuck's sake."
K: "A part of me feels uneasy going for a drive with him."
A: "He can't be any more radical than Kaji is in his Australian Jetta."
M: "I've kinda b-been wondering what that car looks like. Is it just an Australian s-sedan of some sort?"
A: "What's the most run of the mill large sedan you guys have in America?"
Mari snorted. "Probably the C-Chevy Impala." She blinked. "Wait, so his car is a s-sedan with what amounts to a diesel LS."
R: "And a lithium battery. What use that battery has in reducing fuel consumption is beyond me."
S: "Maybe if someone wants to do something other than race their car. Like driving it to and from work."
M: "Y'know, t-that's cooler than I initially t-thought. It's pretty much a s-sleeper, ain't it?"
R: "Forgetting the fact it is the only Commodore in the Northern Hemisphere."
S: "And the diplomat license plates."
A: "And that Godawful green and gold colour scheme it's got going on!"
M: "Eh." Shrugging. "Might've been a s-sleeper in Australia."
It was a rapid outro that ended the song. "I wonder why that man said 'what'."
"Probably reacting to how fun this song is." Replied Asuka, with a chuckle. "Y'know, you can just tell they had fun with making it."
"And that's the most i-important thing, eh?"
"Making decent music is certainly a positive."
"Sounds like we're pretty half and half on this album so far." Thought Shinji.
"As has been said, not exactly my genre." Kaworu mused. "But it is at the very least listenable."
"Ah yes, only the greatest of complements towards Queens of the Stone Age."
With compliments to the band, the next song started.
~~~
A: "My left ear is liking this guitar."
E: "Could it be the copper welded headphones finally giving up?"
M: "You just have n-no hope for it, do ya?"
The introduction of drums confirmed the right headphone was still in operating order.
S: "Wonder why they made it like that."
R: "I think this track is designed to be a bit... off. The drum track itself is rather disparate."
Drums and guitar eventually synchronised to something closer to nominal.
K: "Suppose that would fit a song for the dead. Make it somewhat off-putting."
A: "Kinda sounds like something you'd hear in Doom."
M: "Probably not t-the vocals." As the 'ah's' began. "But yeah, I c-can see myself killing demons to this."
Lyrics proper started. "...Now w-where have I heard him before. I've heard him around b-but I can't exactly put a finger on it."
E: "He does sound different from the regular lyricist."
S: "He sounds a lot darker, at least judging by the translation."
A: "Yeah, instead of talking about doing a shit ton of drugs, they're talking about death."
K: "This is a song for the dead, after all."
R: "I get the feeling it is mainly talking about death caused by them."
E: "Maybe we should play it during sorties."
A: "That'd make this A Song For The To Be Dead, wouldn't it?"
M: "At least t-they'd still be alive to listen to it, unlike the dead."
Lull (02:53)
There was an abrupt halt to the song. "Wait f-for it..."
An electric guitar wailed, leading into a solo. "There we g-go!" With a wide smirk. "Nothing like a good solo."
R: "It sounds like there are several guitars being played."
A: "Maybe they're all played by the same guy. That'd still be a solo, wouldn't it?"
K: "Even this is sounding disparate, as the opening."
S: "Still sounds kinda cool, though."
E: "Good to hear you're still a fan."
M: "Look on the b-bright side, Eliza. More tunes means less translating. Unless y-you want to translate the 'Oh's."
E: "I think everyone can understand that without my input."
And after a short drums only section, it was back to the singing. "Oh for fuck's sake."
K: "A part of me feels uneasy going for a drive with him."
A: "He can't be any more radical than Kaji is in his Australian Jetta."
M: "I've kinda b-been wondering what that car looks like. Is it just an Australian s-sedan of some sort?"
A: "What's the most run of the mill large sedan you guys have in America?"
Mari snorted. "Probably the C-Chevy Impala." She blinked. "Wait, so his car is a s-sedan with what amounts to a diesel LS."
R: "And a lithium battery. What use that battery has in reducing fuel consumption is beyond me."
S: "Maybe if someone wants to do something other than race their car. Like driving it to and from work."
M: "Y'know, t-that's cooler than I initially t-thought. It's pretty much a s-sleeper, ain't it?"
R: "Forgetting the fact it is the only Commodore in the Northern Hemisphere."
S: "And the diplomat license plates."
A: "And that Godawful green and gold colour scheme it's got going on!"
M: "Eh." Shrugging. "Might've been a s-sleeper in Australia."
It was a rapid outro that ended the song. "I wonder why that man said 'what'."
"Probably reacting to how fun this song is." Replied Asuka, with a chuckle. "Y'know, you can just tell they had fun with making it."
"And that's the most i-important thing, eh?"
"Making decent music is certainly a positive."
"Sounds like we're pretty half and half on this album so far." Thought Shinji.
"As has been said, not exactly my genre." Kaworu mused. "But it is at the very least listenable."
"Ah yes, only the greatest of complements towards Queens of the Stone Age."
With compliments to the band, the next song started.
~~~
Skyfall (00:00)
We start with more stoner rock. "They really like this particular style of rock, do they not?"
S: "Not really a style I heard too often."
M: "Which doesn't s-surprise me in the slightest."
A: "Bit of an American thing?"
M: "Not even all of A-America. It's like w-west coast America."
K: "Unless you're lucky enough to make it mainstream."
M: "Exactly."
E: "That might as well be luck, at that point."
S: "Luck, or the right amount of Yen in the right hands."
A: "Jeez, so cynical, Shinji!"
M: "It's t-true."
K: "Speaking of cynical, the lyrics."
R: "Not very encouraging, no."
S: "Perfect for a post-Impact world."
E: "If it was even written in a post-Impact world."
K: "As we've said, we can't really ascertain when these albums were released. This could've been released in the next century, for all we know."
M: "Damn, Nirvana r-really was influential!"
A: "Yeah, I'd think it was at least released in the first half of the 21st century. Don't think Queens of the Stone Age could last a century."
R: "I doubt they would last a decade, with how they talk about drugs."
M: "Nirvana lasted l-like seven years, so you're probably not wrong."
S: "Not to mention a little thing called Second Impact."
Stone's Throw (02:35)
We transition into verse two, overdriven guitar and vocalist alike meshing together.
E: "I kinda know Second Impact affected animation, but how did it affect music?"
Most of the crowd shrugged. "Mari might be the best person to ask."
M: "Man you guys r-really don't listen to much music, eh?" She prodded. "Depends what g-genre, honestly. Indie music has gotten pretty popular, t-that sorta stripped back, no big studio support kinda stuff. Stuff most p-people with skill could make with a guitar."
K: "I'm guessing indie is rather different to this music."
M: "Depends what indie."
E: "Indie is just short for independent, isn't it?"
M: "You have a keen m-mind, Eliza." Somewhat sarcastically. "Of course you h-have indie rock; your Neon Bibles and your White Stripes and what h-have you. I reckon you'd like indie f-folk better, Ash."
Kaworu thought. "Folk music?"
S: "Is that almost traditional sounding music?"
M: "Pretty much, y-yeah. Mostly American traditional m-music."
A: "Of course." She snarked.
M: "Still, I ought to f-find a cassette of some sort for you. Might find it b-better than this, eh?"
K: "Perhaps." He remarked with a smile. "What kind of bands are there?"
M: "Off the t-top of my head, you have Quantegy, Billy Budd, Wainfleet, F-Fleet Foxes, and... that's about all I can recall."
R: "I like the ring of Fleet Foxes."
M: "It's a nice n-name, eh? And the m-music they make is radically different to this stuff."
E: "Comparing this to a genre called indie folk, I can see that."
S: "What would the chances be of us finding one of their albums in Japan?"
M: "If other countries are any s-sort of insular as America is, probably zero."
A: "Well lucky us, Japan is probably the most insular society that exists on this planet!"
K: "Perhaps Pen-Pen will grace us with one of their albums."
R: "It is more likely than finding an album in a Japanese store, that is for sure."
E: "That, or booking a flight to the United States and buying it there."
S: "It'd be expensive."
A: "I like how that's what you focus on, especially since Misato would never allow us to go to America if it wasn't on business."
M: "It's not that b-bad over there."
A: "Don't you guys have no public healthcare over there?"
M: "We're trying. The past couple presidents were implementing their own system after S-Second Impact and some other larger c-controversies."
S: "How is there anything larger than Second Impact?"
R: "I assume that is the reason they are the past two."
M: "Eeyup. And I wouldn't b-be surprised if the guy that was in the big seat when I was still around went as well."
E: "American politics sounds fun."
M: "Oh it really is. I was g-gonna put money on David Bowie getting e-elected; he was s-starting to go on about running for president." She shrugged. "But y'know, I k-kinda died."
R: "Always an inconvenience."
Like No One Knows before it, the track ended with a radio bumper. "Literally curdle." Kaworu noted.
"They're very s-self aware."
"American radio isn't all like that, is it?"
"The popular ones a-are, Shinji."
"That is probably the reason they are popular." Noted Rei.
"I wonder how they got away with the name Elastic Ass."
"By saying it's a donkey, and not the backend." Kaworu snarked. "Seems they like Queens of the Stone Age, at least."
"I can't help but feel they're also an intended audience for them." Remarked Shinji. "Like they're a rock radio station or something like that."
"Yeah, it's u-usually the more rock stations that are self aware with what they do. Though then again, they h-had a Spanish radio bumper in there, so seems o-others liked them as well."
"Can't see anything unappealing about death metal." Dripping dsarcasm, as the next song started.
~~~
We start with more stoner rock. "They really like this particular style of rock, do they not?"
S: "Not really a style I heard too often."
M: "Which doesn't s-surprise me in the slightest."
A: "Bit of an American thing?"
M: "Not even all of A-America. It's like w-west coast America."
K: "Unless you're lucky enough to make it mainstream."
M: "Exactly."
E: "That might as well be luck, at that point."
S: "Luck, or the right amount of Yen in the right hands."
A: "Jeez, so cynical, Shinji!"
M: "It's t-true."
K: "Speaking of cynical, the lyrics."
R: "Not very encouraging, no."
S: "Perfect for a post-Impact world."
E: "If it was even written in a post-Impact world."
K: "As we've said, we can't really ascertain when these albums were released. This could've been released in the next century, for all we know."
M: "Damn, Nirvana r-really was influential!"
A: "Yeah, I'd think it was at least released in the first half of the 21st century. Don't think Queens of the Stone Age could last a century."
R: "I doubt they would last a decade, with how they talk about drugs."
M: "Nirvana lasted l-like seven years, so you're probably not wrong."
S: "Not to mention a little thing called Second Impact."
Stone's Throw (02:35)
We transition into verse two, overdriven guitar and vocalist alike meshing together.
E: "I kinda know Second Impact affected animation, but how did it affect music?"
Most of the crowd shrugged. "Mari might be the best person to ask."
M: "Man you guys r-really don't listen to much music, eh?" She prodded. "Depends what g-genre, honestly. Indie music has gotten pretty popular, t-that sorta stripped back, no big studio support kinda stuff. Stuff most p-people with skill could make with a guitar."
K: "I'm guessing indie is rather different to this music."
M: "Depends what indie."
E: "Indie is just short for independent, isn't it?"
M: "You have a keen m-mind, Eliza." Somewhat sarcastically. "Of course you h-have indie rock; your Neon Bibles and your White Stripes and what h-have you. I reckon you'd like indie f-folk better, Ash."
Kaworu thought. "Folk music?"
S: "Is that almost traditional sounding music?"
M: "Pretty much, y-yeah. Mostly American traditional m-music."
A: "Of course." She snarked.
M: "Still, I ought to f-find a cassette of some sort for you. Might find it b-better than this, eh?"
K: "Perhaps." He remarked with a smile. "What kind of bands are there?"
M: "Off the t-top of my head, you have Quantegy, Billy Budd, Wainfleet, F-Fleet Foxes, and... that's about all I can recall."
R: "I like the ring of Fleet Foxes."
M: "It's a nice n-name, eh? And the m-music they make is radically different to this stuff."
E: "Comparing this to a genre called indie folk, I can see that."
S: "What would the chances be of us finding one of their albums in Japan?"
M: "If other countries are any s-sort of insular as America is, probably zero."
A: "Well lucky us, Japan is probably the most insular society that exists on this planet!"
K: "Perhaps Pen-Pen will grace us with one of their albums."
R: "It is more likely than finding an album in a Japanese store, that is for sure."
E: "That, or booking a flight to the United States and buying it there."
S: "It'd be expensive."
A: "I like how that's what you focus on, especially since Misato would never allow us to go to America if it wasn't on business."
M: "It's not that b-bad over there."
A: "Don't you guys have no public healthcare over there?"
M: "We're trying. The past couple presidents were implementing their own system after S-Second Impact and some other larger c-controversies."
S: "How is there anything larger than Second Impact?"
R: "I assume that is the reason they are the past two."
M: "Eeyup. And I wouldn't b-be surprised if the guy that was in the big seat when I was still around went as well."
E: "American politics sounds fun."
M: "Oh it really is. I was g-gonna put money on David Bowie getting e-elected; he was s-starting to go on about running for president." She shrugged. "But y'know, I k-kinda died."
R: "Always an inconvenience."
Like No One Knows before it, the track ended with a radio bumper. "Literally curdle." Kaworu noted.
"They're very s-self aware."
"American radio isn't all like that, is it?"
"The popular ones a-are, Shinji."
"That is probably the reason they are popular." Noted Rei.
"I wonder how they got away with the name Elastic Ass."
"By saying it's a donkey, and not the backend." Kaworu snarked. "Seems they like Queens of the Stone Age, at least."
"I can't help but feel they're also an intended audience for them." Remarked Shinji. "Like they're a rock radio station or something like that."
"Yeah, it's u-usually the more rock stations that are self aware with what they do. Though then again, they h-had a Spanish radio bumper in there, so seems o-others liked them as well."
"Can't see anything unappealing about death metal." Dripping dsarcasm, as the next song started.
~~~
Pow (00:00)
E: "Oh, this isn't as bad as I was expecting."
K: "Quite the calm opening for something described as death metal."
The screaming started.
K: "There it is."
S: "You catching those lyrics, Eliza?"
E: "He is screaming about killing someone, possibly on drugs."
A: "You mean certainly on drugs."
Approximately all of the listeners jumped in their seats, as the volume increased by an order of magnitude. "Oh Jesus!"
R: "Hmm. I cannot say I prefer this kind of music."
M: "Yeah t-that's death metal for you. This is pretty calm for death metal, actually."
A: "Oh calm, she says."
Either way, they didn't have to listen for too long.
"Eliza? How many fucks were in this 80 second track?" Rei queried, in her trademark deadpan.
"Six."
"Of course it is six."
"This song certainly felt like a six shooter." Thought Asuka, still coming down. "I can just see myself punching an Angel in the face as soon as that first pow hits."
"Play that song on a big enough speaker, you might just be able to do it with the sound alone." Shinji mused.
The next song started.
~~~
E: "Oh, this isn't as bad as I was expecting."
K: "Quite the calm opening for something described as death metal."
The screaming started.
K: "There it is."
S: "You catching those lyrics, Eliza?"
E: "He is screaming about killing someone, possibly on drugs."
A: "You mean certainly on drugs."
Approximately all of the listeners jumped in their seats, as the volume increased by an order of magnitude. "Oh Jesus!"
R: "Hmm. I cannot say I prefer this kind of music."
M: "Yeah t-that's death metal for you. This is pretty calm for death metal, actually."
A: "Oh calm, she says."
Either way, they didn't have to listen for too long.
"Eliza? How many fucks were in this 80 second track?" Rei queried, in her trademark deadpan.
"Six."
"Of course it is six."
"This song certainly felt like a six shooter." Thought Asuka, still coming down. "I can just see myself punching an Angel in the face as soon as that first pow hits."
"Play that song on a big enough speaker, you might just be able to do it with the sound alone." Shinji mused.
The next song started.
~~~
Sway (00:00)
A: "Ain't that a great name for a song." In a very unamused tone.
R: "At least this song does not feel like such thing, at the moment."
To which almost all chuckled. "It wasn't that b-bad!"
K: "I'm rather surprised you found that amusing, Asuka."
Asuka shrugged. "Rei's lucky she's Rei, anyone else saying that would've gotten a one way ticket to the bin. Other than you lot, of course."
S: "So other than the... rather dark title. What's this song about?"
E: "Maybe it's just two people having fun and hanging out."
There was a good lull in the conversation as most people tried not to react. Mari had the good grace to snort at her remark.
Eliza eventually realised in her horror, eye growing wide. "I swear that wasn't intentional."
M: "Nah maybe y-you're right, maybe that's why they call it the hangin' tree."
A: "They must have humour as dark as the night sky."
K: "See, I was going to say the lyrics are... well, rather dark, as the title implied." He began. "But now I have that image in my mind, like they really are just playing around some grand oak. Almost like they were kids, without a care in the world."
R: "Suppose it all depends on your outlook. The optimist can see this song and think like Eliza has done; despite everything in the lyrics, it is simply about playing around a tree."
A: "Or, it could be a song about two people getting lynched."
M: "Well, we know w-where you stand."
S: "I like Eliza's idea better."
K: "I imagine most people would prefer her idea over what the song is likely discussing. But, it's certainly a creative way of looking at the song."
E: "...Well, at least I got that going for me." Her embarrassment evident.
Either way, the song soon stopped.
"Look on the b-bright side, Eliza. That creativity is perfect f-for an Evangelion pilot."
"...Thanks, I guess?"
And the next song flowed on.
~~~
A: "Ain't that a great name for a song." In a very unamused tone.
R: "At least this song does not feel like such thing, at the moment."
To which almost all chuckled. "It wasn't that b-bad!"
K: "I'm rather surprised you found that amusing, Asuka."
Asuka shrugged. "Rei's lucky she's Rei, anyone else saying that would've gotten a one way ticket to the bin. Other than you lot, of course."
S: "So other than the... rather dark title. What's this song about?"
E: "Maybe it's just two people having fun and hanging out."
There was a good lull in the conversation as most people tried not to react. Mari had the good grace to snort at her remark.
Eliza eventually realised in her horror, eye growing wide. "I swear that wasn't intentional."
M: "Nah maybe y-you're right, maybe that's why they call it the hangin' tree."
A: "They must have humour as dark as the night sky."
K: "See, I was going to say the lyrics are... well, rather dark, as the title implied." He began. "But now I have that image in my mind, like they really are just playing around some grand oak. Almost like they were kids, without a care in the world."
R: "Suppose it all depends on your outlook. The optimist can see this song and think like Eliza has done; despite everything in the lyrics, it is simply about playing around a tree."
A: "Or, it could be a song about two people getting lynched."
M: "Well, we know w-where you stand."
S: "I like Eliza's idea better."
K: "I imagine most people would prefer her idea over what the song is likely discussing. But, it's certainly a creative way of looking at the song."
E: "...Well, at least I got that going for me." Her embarrassment evident.
Either way, the song soon stopped.
"Look on the b-bright side, Eliza. That creativity is perfect f-for an Evangelion pilot."
"...Thanks, I guess?"
And the next song flowed on.
~~~
Throw Yourself Away (00:00)
M: "I see we g-got those squirrelly guitars again."
A: "That's not a bad thing."
K: "So far, however, I'm finding the lyrics quite interesting."
S: "They're certainly not discussing what the last song discussed, that's for sure."
E: "It's already much better, then."
R: "Appears whoever is the subject of this song does not know what we know about the relationship."
M: "Bet she sees t-them all as quick flings. Nothing too serious."
K: "Whereas the vocalist would like a more serious relationship."
A: "Who wouldn't? I know I wouldn't want to throw a good relationship away." She blinked. "Okay, maybe the younger me would do something like that." Another blink. "Okay, the younger me did do something like that."
R: "At least your Laserdisc counterpart."
S: "We know how dangerous that kinda thing can be."
E: "Not just because it led to the end of the world when you lot didn't get together."
M: "It what?"
K: "Oftentimes the stakes are a bit lower, when it comes to most other people. Either way, it doesn't exactly matter if it's her opinion. No one can force anyone else to love someone."
A: "But that's the thing. What if you do love someone, but you can't bring yourself to act on it? Hell, the lyrics kind of imply that, as well!"
M: "Then again, s-some people are just like that. Maybe they really don't want anything s-serious. They just want a one night stand, or a f-friend with benefits, or a fuckbuddy. They don't want love, t-they're just trying to fill a hole."
A: "How poetic."
R: "In which case, it is less a trivialisation of love. Love is not even factored, in her mind."
K: "But it is factored into the minds of who she... spends time with. In lieu of loving."
S: "You could still say that is a communication issue. Obviously they're looking for something more than she is."
M: "And maybe that's why she's dropping t-them. So, unless the guy singing is that l-lucky bastard that somehow gets to really know her, then I imagine she'll j-just move on to a greener pasture."
Fling (01:15)
The vocalist continued pining for the woman in question.
E: "Is that casualness in regards to that thing rather common?"
A: "I mean, we're an incredibly biased crowd when it comes to that question, Eliza. I personally had like one other person I even dated before I fell in with Shinji."
S: "A date that ended with you ghosting him, for admittedly good reasons."
A: "Well yeah, he was an asshole. Even with him being a friend of Hikari's sister."
R: "It is more dates than anyone else has. If I assume correctly."
S: "You do remember how I was like, right?"
K: "I don't think Seele would've allowed it. Unless they wanted to try breeding me with another Nephilim."
E: "You two did just fine without their input, in that regard." She snarked. "And obviously I have never done such thing, in my own body. What of you, Mari?"
Mari pursed her lips. "I mean, I've had a couple. Never had more t-than two dates with them, and of course they never went t-that far." In a very flippant tone. "Dad probably would've killed the p-poor saps. But as I s-said before, we're a lot more casual when it comes to t-that kinda thing."
S: "Sure sounds like it." Somewhat bewildered. "Even with you being at school and all that?"
A: "Shinji, we fucked in a school supply closet. I don't think high hormones would care about whether they were going to school or not."
M: "Well that's something I didn't know about you two!" She giggled. "But y-yeah. You'd hear rumours of the sort, of course. Never anything t-too obvious. Though you would see people kissing in hallways and all that, so people kinda knew what was going on if they, say, went into a b-bathroom together."
S: "So we aren't an exception?"
R: "At least not in the United States."
M: "And y'know h-how I said we were 52 countries p-pretending to be one? I'm mainly talking a-about where I lived; western America. Cali, Oregon, W-Washington. You go to places like Missouri, real bible belt places, it's a l-lot more socially frowned upon."
E: "I'm guessing it doesn't not happen down there."
M: "Oh God no, they j-just hide it better. At least until you g-get pregnant before you're even an adult, because contraception isn't just a vending machine in t-the bathroom."
S: "That sounds a bit closer to Japan, in that regard."
A: "Yeah, didn't you have to shop around for a condom or something? I managed to finesse a prescription from Ritsuko by saying periods were messing with my ability to pilot, which was a pretty good solution, all things considered."
M: "Dang, I s-should've tried that with my medic. Not that I w-would've used it."
E: "I can't imagine mama buying that excuse for a cycle."
A: "She probably didn't, but hey, can't argue with the end result." In a shrug.
The song drove to an end.
"Well, I know a lot more about you guys." In a mutter.
To the amusement of the lot. "With what we were doing before, you'd think you'd know!"
"I learn something new every day."
"I wonder how Ritsuko would react to this education we have given her daughter." Pondered Rei.
"What she d-doesn't know won't hurt her."
"Plus, Ritsuko's the type of person to probably tell you about that thing anyway." Shinji pointed out.
"Of course, Rits would probably say you only fuck people you love. Doesn't matter who, just that you love them and they love you."
"So I should not try to find myself a fuckbuddy, got it."
Track 9 would begin with the laughter of the gang.
~~~
M: "I see we g-got those squirrelly guitars again."
A: "That's not a bad thing."
K: "So far, however, I'm finding the lyrics quite interesting."
S: "They're certainly not discussing what the last song discussed, that's for sure."
E: "It's already much better, then."
R: "Appears whoever is the subject of this song does not know what we know about the relationship."
M: "Bet she sees t-them all as quick flings. Nothing too serious."
K: "Whereas the vocalist would like a more serious relationship."
A: "Who wouldn't? I know I wouldn't want to throw a good relationship away." She blinked. "Okay, maybe the younger me would do something like that." Another blink. "Okay, the younger me did do something like that."
R: "At least your Laserdisc counterpart."
S: "We know how dangerous that kinda thing can be."
E: "Not just because it led to the end of the world when you lot didn't get together."
M: "It what?"
K: "Oftentimes the stakes are a bit lower, when it comes to most other people. Either way, it doesn't exactly matter if it's her opinion. No one can force anyone else to love someone."
A: "But that's the thing. What if you do love someone, but you can't bring yourself to act on it? Hell, the lyrics kind of imply that, as well!"
M: "Then again, s-some people are just like that. Maybe they really don't want anything s-serious. They just want a one night stand, or a f-friend with benefits, or a fuckbuddy. They don't want love, t-they're just trying to fill a hole."
A: "How poetic."
R: "In which case, it is less a trivialisation of love. Love is not even factored, in her mind."
K: "But it is factored into the minds of who she... spends time with. In lieu of loving."
S: "You could still say that is a communication issue. Obviously they're looking for something more than she is."
M: "And maybe that's why she's dropping t-them. So, unless the guy singing is that l-lucky bastard that somehow gets to really know her, then I imagine she'll j-just move on to a greener pasture."
Fling (01:15)
The vocalist continued pining for the woman in question.
E: "Is that casualness in regards to that thing rather common?"
A: "I mean, we're an incredibly biased crowd when it comes to that question, Eliza. I personally had like one other person I even dated before I fell in with Shinji."
S: "A date that ended with you ghosting him, for admittedly good reasons."
A: "Well yeah, he was an asshole. Even with him being a friend of Hikari's sister."
R: "It is more dates than anyone else has. If I assume correctly."
S: "You do remember how I was like, right?"
K: "I don't think Seele would've allowed it. Unless they wanted to try breeding me with another Nephilim."
E: "You two did just fine without their input, in that regard." She snarked. "And obviously I have never done such thing, in my own body. What of you, Mari?"
Mari pursed her lips. "I mean, I've had a couple. Never had more t-than two dates with them, and of course they never went t-that far." In a very flippant tone. "Dad probably would've killed the p-poor saps. But as I s-said before, we're a lot more casual when it comes to t-that kinda thing."
S: "Sure sounds like it." Somewhat bewildered. "Even with you being at school and all that?"
A: "Shinji, we fucked in a school supply closet. I don't think high hormones would care about whether they were going to school or not."
M: "Well that's something I didn't know about you two!" She giggled. "But y-yeah. You'd hear rumours of the sort, of course. Never anything t-too obvious. Though you would see people kissing in hallways and all that, so people kinda knew what was going on if they, say, went into a b-bathroom together."
S: "So we aren't an exception?"
R: "At least not in the United States."
M: "And y'know h-how I said we were 52 countries p-pretending to be one? I'm mainly talking a-about where I lived; western America. Cali, Oregon, W-Washington. You go to places like Missouri, real bible belt places, it's a l-lot more socially frowned upon."
E: "I'm guessing it doesn't not happen down there."
M: "Oh God no, they j-just hide it better. At least until you g-get pregnant before you're even an adult, because contraception isn't just a vending machine in t-the bathroom."
S: "That sounds a bit closer to Japan, in that regard."
A: "Yeah, didn't you have to shop around for a condom or something? I managed to finesse a prescription from Ritsuko by saying periods were messing with my ability to pilot, which was a pretty good solution, all things considered."
M: "Dang, I s-should've tried that with my medic. Not that I w-would've used it."
E: "I can't imagine mama buying that excuse for a cycle."
A: "She probably didn't, but hey, can't argue with the end result." In a shrug.
The song drove to an end.
"Well, I know a lot more about you guys." In a mutter.
To the amusement of the lot. "With what we were doing before, you'd think you'd know!"
"I learn something new every day."
"I wonder how Ritsuko would react to this education we have given her daughter." Pondered Rei.
"What she d-doesn't know won't hurt her."
"Plus, Ritsuko's the type of person to probably tell you about that thing anyway." Shinji pointed out.
"Of course, Rits would probably say you only fuck people you love. Doesn't matter who, just that you love them and they love you."
"So I should not try to find myself a fuckbuddy, got it."
Track 9 would begin with the laughter of the gang.
~~~
Leg Of Lamb (00:00)
Soft bass quickly led to a rather unique sounding guitar line.
K: "This is not a good start, in my opinion."
E: "Judging by the title, this is directly leading off the previous song."
S: "Maybe he got tired of pining for her."
A: "Not that she cared."
R: "Perhaps this is from the other point of view. Not from a one-sided, unrequited relationship. But from a more developed one."
M: "Three years d-developed, by the sounds of it."
A: "Sounds like they've hit a bit of a rough patch, then."
R: "Most relations do not last like ours. Feelings can fade, and people can drift. Especially if one mistakes lust for love."
E: "Sounds like that's not too much a problem in America."
M: "Home of the drive t-through wedding. But hey, you can divorce with someone just as e-easy as getting married, so it evens o-out."
Eliza just gave Mari an exasperated look. "What the hell is America?"
M: "Yeah, just a-about everyone outside of America r-reacts like that."
S: "So the guy singing this is the one giving up on the relationship?"
R: "It fits with the theming from the previous song. Perhaps the other in this relationship betrayed his trust in some way."
A: "That's probably the easiest way to ruin a relationship going on for that long. Even if it's something stupid."
K: "Ah, but something as significant as breaking someone's trust with you could merely be the culmination of thoughts and events prior. Little things that stack up."
R: "Until that final straw. Which is why it is important to work on the little things when they appear, not just sweep it under the rug, until the floor underneath breaks."
A: "And I don't doubt that. There's always something that can bug you about someone, but that's just how people are like, eh Shinji?"
S: "Gee, thanks." He pretended to be offended, but couldn't help but smile. "And yeah, I know we had to work through a few things like that."
R: "A relationship is never always sunshine and rainbows. Even your relationship, one that was started with a bang and almost certainly saved the world."
E: "With how you lot are like, it certainly seems that way."
Asuka chuckled. "Ah, but it's more entertaining for everyone involved to tell the story about Shinji and I literally falling for each other, or Shinji saving me from an honest to God volcano. Unless you want me to talk about how we had a month long spat over how toilet paper was meant to be positioned in the bathroom."
S: "At least Misato's solution managed to knock some sense into us."
His other couldn't help but giggle, as she recalled. "I'm sure you would just unroll every single roll onto the bathroom floor if you grew tired of a couple teens arguing over something stupid."
M: "You really are l-lovers, aren't ya?"
Wrapping an arm around Shinji, she gave her reply, loud and proud. "You bet we are! And I'm never gonna leave him!"
Shinji could only blush.
Track 9 stopped.
"Well, guess that means you guys are the antithesis to this song."
"You didn't gather that before?" Queried Asuka.
"I really should've."
And so the next song began.
~~~
Soft bass quickly led to a rather unique sounding guitar line.
K: "This is not a good start, in my opinion."
E: "Judging by the title, this is directly leading off the previous song."
S: "Maybe he got tired of pining for her."
A: "Not that she cared."
R: "Perhaps this is from the other point of view. Not from a one-sided, unrequited relationship. But from a more developed one."
M: "Three years d-developed, by the sounds of it."
A: "Sounds like they've hit a bit of a rough patch, then."
R: "Most relations do not last like ours. Feelings can fade, and people can drift. Especially if one mistakes lust for love."
E: "Sounds like that's not too much a problem in America."
M: "Home of the drive t-through wedding. But hey, you can divorce with someone just as e-easy as getting married, so it evens o-out."
Eliza just gave Mari an exasperated look. "What the hell is America?"
M: "Yeah, just a-about everyone outside of America r-reacts like that."
S: "So the guy singing this is the one giving up on the relationship?"
R: "It fits with the theming from the previous song. Perhaps the other in this relationship betrayed his trust in some way."
A: "That's probably the easiest way to ruin a relationship going on for that long. Even if it's something stupid."
K: "Ah, but something as significant as breaking someone's trust with you could merely be the culmination of thoughts and events prior. Little things that stack up."
R: "Until that final straw. Which is why it is important to work on the little things when they appear, not just sweep it under the rug, until the floor underneath breaks."
A: "And I don't doubt that. There's always something that can bug you about someone, but that's just how people are like, eh Shinji?"
S: "Gee, thanks." He pretended to be offended, but couldn't help but smile. "And yeah, I know we had to work through a few things like that."
R: "A relationship is never always sunshine and rainbows. Even your relationship, one that was started with a bang and almost certainly saved the world."
E: "With how you lot are like, it certainly seems that way."
Asuka chuckled. "Ah, but it's more entertaining for everyone involved to tell the story about Shinji and I literally falling for each other, or Shinji saving me from an honest to God volcano. Unless you want me to talk about how we had a month long spat over how toilet paper was meant to be positioned in the bathroom."
S: "At least Misato's solution managed to knock some sense into us."
His other couldn't help but giggle, as she recalled. "I'm sure you would just unroll every single roll onto the bathroom floor if you grew tired of a couple teens arguing over something stupid."
M: "You really are l-lovers, aren't ya?"
Wrapping an arm around Shinji, she gave her reply, loud and proud. "You bet we are! And I'm never gonna leave him!"
Shinji could only blush.
Track 9 stopped.
"Well, guess that means you guys are the antithesis to this song."
"You didn't gather that before?" Queried Asuka.
"I really should've."
And so the next song began.
~~~
Loving Is Easy (00:00)
The rather bouncy song lead into more optimistic lyrics, for once.
M: "I can think of s-several bits of innuendo so far."
A: "Nothing like a tight fit, eh?" Eyes glancing to Shinji, who almost immediately got the memo, spluttering in reply.
R: "It sounds like he is back in a relationship, at least."
K: "That, or this was before they broke it off."
E: "I'm seeing a theme with these most recent songs."
S: "It's a better theme than before."
A: "I don't think anyone would be surprised we prefer falling over one another more than... whatever those other songs have been about."
E: "This album has been an entire mishmash of theming, hasn't it?"
M: "Wonder if that's t-the point? We hear a bunch of radio related g-garbage in this, don't we?"
Rei thought about that for a brief moment. "So they are attempting to emulate channel hopping?"
M: "Think about it. First c-couple songs were about drugs and alcohol and s-shit, then they changed stations to something more instrumental but still kinda t-thoughtful."
A: "...And then they changed to that fucking Six Shooter."
E: "I don't recall hearing the station change between Six Shooter and Hangin' Tree, to this triad of songs about love."
S: "Maybe they got too depressed hearing a song about a hanging tree and decided to go back to... what station was it again?"
M: "Radio Quetzalcoatl, the S-Spanish one."
S: "Yeah, that."
A: "Better than fucking curdle."
K: "A part of me wonders what station may be next."
R: "Maybe you will get lucky and it will be a classical station."
K: "I didn't know they broadcasted classical music."
M: "You'd be s-surprised at the variety of content radio has. Just gotta keep c-channel hopping, might find something unique."
E: "I see Queens of the Stone Age have taken that to heart."
S: "I mean, we've done that with TV before. How many interesting things did we find doing that?"
A: "Not much."
R: "We found a few old movies that were interesting to us."
A: "Interesting enough to get off your favourite chair?"
R: "Yes, actually."
A: "Heh, knew I- wait, really?" She had to do a double take. "What movie was so good to get you off your fish?"
Mari meanwhile started laughing her ass off. "Oh that's what you m-mean by favourite chair!"
R: "Sanjuro. We had it on Laserdisc, but I had not seen it for a good while."
S: "It really shouldn't surprise me it took someone like Kurosawa to do that."
Rei replied with a tongue poke.
Upon which the song ended, with a radio bumper. "Well, s-speak of the devil."
"Is this a college radio station?" Asuka queried. "Actually, do colleges even have radio stations?"
"Yes, and yes. Though I'm n-not sure Banning's big enough to have a college..."
It didn't matter so much, as the station was changed as soon as they started advertising a blood drive. "Seems they don't care for charity too much."
"Makes sense Queens only care for the tunes, Shinji."
"This sounds remarkably low fidelity."
"Yep, that's AM r-radio for you." With a huff. "I swear it's only crackpots on AM r-radio nowadays."
"I'm surprised people still use AM radio."
The signal kept shifting. "Sounds vaguely Christian." Kaworu realised.
"I heard the US was really religious, but judging from what Mari has said, I'm kinda doubting those thoughts."
A barked laugh. "There's a r-reason we call it the Bible Belt of America, Shinji."
"Can't wait to hear what the next set of songs has in store for us."
Asuka's intonation indicated otherwise.
~~~
The rather bouncy song lead into more optimistic lyrics, for once.
M: "I can think of s-several bits of innuendo so far."
A: "Nothing like a tight fit, eh?" Eyes glancing to Shinji, who almost immediately got the memo, spluttering in reply.
R: "It sounds like he is back in a relationship, at least."
K: "That, or this was before they broke it off."
E: "I'm seeing a theme with these most recent songs."
S: "It's a better theme than before."
A: "I don't think anyone would be surprised we prefer falling over one another more than... whatever those other songs have been about."
E: "This album has been an entire mishmash of theming, hasn't it?"
M: "Wonder if that's t-the point? We hear a bunch of radio related g-garbage in this, don't we?"
Rei thought about that for a brief moment. "So they are attempting to emulate channel hopping?"
M: "Think about it. First c-couple songs were about drugs and alcohol and s-shit, then they changed stations to something more instrumental but still kinda t-thoughtful."
A: "...And then they changed to that fucking Six Shooter."
E: "I don't recall hearing the station change between Six Shooter and Hangin' Tree, to this triad of songs about love."
S: "Maybe they got too depressed hearing a song about a hanging tree and decided to go back to... what station was it again?"
M: "Radio Quetzalcoatl, the S-Spanish one."
S: "Yeah, that."
A: "Better than fucking curdle."
K: "A part of me wonders what station may be next."
R: "Maybe you will get lucky and it will be a classical station."
K: "I didn't know they broadcasted classical music."
M: "You'd be s-surprised at the variety of content radio has. Just gotta keep c-channel hopping, might find something unique."
E: "I see Queens of the Stone Age have taken that to heart."
S: "I mean, we've done that with TV before. How many interesting things did we find doing that?"
A: "Not much."
R: "We found a few old movies that were interesting to us."
A: "Interesting enough to get off your favourite chair?"
R: "Yes, actually."
A: "Heh, knew I- wait, really?" She had to do a double take. "What movie was so good to get you off your fish?"
Mari meanwhile started laughing her ass off. "Oh that's what you m-mean by favourite chair!"
R: "Sanjuro. We had it on Laserdisc, but I had not seen it for a good while."
S: "It really shouldn't surprise me it took someone like Kurosawa to do that."
Rei replied with a tongue poke.
Upon which the song ended, with a radio bumper. "Well, s-speak of the devil."
"Is this a college radio station?" Asuka queried. "Actually, do colleges even have radio stations?"
"Yes, and yes. Though I'm n-not sure Banning's big enough to have a college..."
It didn't matter so much, as the station was changed as soon as they started advertising a blood drive. "Seems they don't care for charity too much."
"Makes sense Queens only care for the tunes, Shinji."
"This sounds remarkably low fidelity."
"Yep, that's AM r-radio for you." With a huff. "I swear it's only crackpots on AM r-radio nowadays."
"I'm surprised people still use AM radio."
The signal kept shifting. "Sounds vaguely Christian." Kaworu realised.
"I heard the US was really religious, but judging from what Mari has said, I'm kinda doubting those thoughts."
A barked laugh. "There's a r-reason we call it the Bible Belt of America, Shinji."
"Can't wait to hear what the next set of songs has in store for us."
Asuka's intonation indicated otherwise.
~~~
Klove (00:00)
R: "I really should not have thought about what they would name this song."
A: "Was kinda expecting something extremely Christian, honestly."
S: "It's already sounding a bit different from the other tracks. It's more... feels a lot older."
M: "I'm kinda g-getting Eagle Rock vibes from it, so I g-get that."
E: "Don't think anyone here gets that reference, Mari."
M: "And don't I k-know it."
K: "A part of me wonders what he's hearing, if he hears God in the radio."
A: "Part of me doubts it's a sermon of some sort."
R: "People have seen God in numerous places before. I know of many religions that have started because God apparently spoke to them."
M: "Someone in A-America saw Jesus in a piece of toast before. Think it even t-toured the country."
K: "It's surprisingly common, at least from what I could research. There is a television tower in Germany where, in sunlight, you can see a cross form on its steel dome."
A: "Ah, the Rache des Papses. Pretty sure even Reagan mentioned it."
M: "Hey, s-since you mention that. How is R-Reagan portrayed in Germany?"
Asuka shrugged. "Mixed. Even when studying it at school, there was always one or two sources that said he didn't help in the slightest, and the wall was gonna fall anyway."
K: "With such a spanning political situation, it would have to be a combination. Perhaps his speech helped inspire some people to action."
M: "I was just k-kinda curious, cause Reagan is one of those presidents where there isn't exactly a centre, opinion-wise. You either love h-him or you think he's the antichrist."
R: "Are American politics usually that intense?"
M: "Not when I was a-around. I think by my time, everyone was just t-tired of the constant uncertainty when it came to politics. Shit, we've h-had four presidents since Second Impact, constantly flipping from red to b-blue to red and blue. That was a weird o-one."
E: "And it's most likely five now, if elections are every four years."
S: "Do you guys have a term limit when it comes to your leader?"
M: "Two 4 year terms. Not t-that they get a second term nowadays."
K: "Similar to the German president. I believe it is two 5 year terms they are allowed."
M: "I thought y-you guys had a Chancellor?"
A: "Heh, we've got both." With a smirk. "Some other European nations use that system, pretty sure the Chancellor is elected by the Bundestag and the President is elected by convention, Kaworu?"
He simply gave a nod of approval.
A: "Yeah, so we have a head of government, the Chancellor, and a head of state, the President. President stays above the shit-flinging of the Bundestag and checks their bills to make sure they aren't trying to invade Poland again."
E: "Again."
A: "Yeah, Germany kinda sucked in the 1900s. Ask your mums about it."
Noided (2:16)
The second verse played out.
R: "Perhaps he is paranoid about the messages from his radio."
E: "Isn't that the point of a radio?"
S: "Like conspiracy messages?"
M: "Probably. That or the a-absolute ton of drugs they're taking are causing them to hallucinate."
A: "Why do I get the feeling it's that."
K: "If there is something that could make you see or hear God in a particular medium, it would be a psychedelic. One could even debate if the prophets of the past had used something in order to see God."
M: "Don't think m-most people would appreciate calling their prophets a druggy."
K: "Indeed. But it's an interesting thought."
R: "Perhaps that is how Queens of the Stone Age heard God in their radio."
E: "They probably heard and saw a lot more than God."
S: "What would you see, taking stuff like that?"
M: "You could always t-take some of that stuff and find out for yourself."
A: "Oh yeah, I'm sure NERV will be completely fine with Shinji taking drugs. If they don't already pump stimulants into the LCL."
R: "I would know. The LCL is just that: LCL."
A: "Well that's a pleasant surprise. Does it not even have a natural stimulus?"
R: "It may. Considering it is the very essence of Lillith, I imagine it has various positive qualities."
S: "Like being able to breath it like air."
R: "Indeed. But it has barely been studied. Like most aspects related to Lilith."
E: "I'm sure you might know a bit more."
R: "I know I do not mind LCL. I am not sure if that is indicative of my nature of a potential addictive nature."
M: "Might just be t-that. I was never too enthusiastic about the LCL myself."
R: "Fair enough. But as it is the very essence of life, from Lilith herself, it would not surprise me if it had an anti-aging aspect."
S: "We already use something like that, don't we? The LCL aided healing?"
R: "Indeed. Yet another aspect of LCL."
A: "Maybe if we wanted to monetise LCL, we could just advertise it as a beauty product of some sort."
M: "Ingredients: Blood of G-God."
E: "Pretty sure LCL is still a bit of a trade secret of NERV. Don't want others taking it and making their own."
K: "I wonder how you could replicate a liquid like LCL, considering NERV's quote-unquote manufacturing process is simply bottling the output of Lilith."
M: "If you throw e-enough money at it, you could probably figure it o-out."
The song drew to an end with an eery soundscape.
"Thought it was gonna end a bit earlier, with that fadeout."
"More of a good t-thing isn't bad, Shinji."
"I was wondering how we were gonna fill that six minutes, but seems you guys did a good job."
"I'd like to think we were pretty good at babbling while something's going on." Asuka remarked. "We've only been doing it almost every day since... what, late November?"
"Not to mention any works we watched before." Pointed out Rei. "Then again, the works before were not Rift materials, were they?"
"So y-you guys were doing this kinda thing for a while?"
"Don't think it was as much as we're doing now." Thought back Shinji. "Probably cause, as Asuka said, we've been getting good practice at it."
"It'll certainly come in handy later today."
Later today being now, as the next song started playing.
~~~
R: "I really should not have thought about what they would name this song."
A: "Was kinda expecting something extremely Christian, honestly."
S: "It's already sounding a bit different from the other tracks. It's more... feels a lot older."
M: "I'm kinda g-getting Eagle Rock vibes from it, so I g-get that."
E: "Don't think anyone here gets that reference, Mari."
M: "And don't I k-know it."
K: "A part of me wonders what he's hearing, if he hears God in the radio."
A: "Part of me doubts it's a sermon of some sort."
R: "People have seen God in numerous places before. I know of many religions that have started because God apparently spoke to them."
M: "Someone in A-America saw Jesus in a piece of toast before. Think it even t-toured the country."
K: "It's surprisingly common, at least from what I could research. There is a television tower in Germany where, in sunlight, you can see a cross form on its steel dome."
A: "Ah, the Rache des Papses. Pretty sure even Reagan mentioned it."
M: "Hey, s-since you mention that. How is R-Reagan portrayed in Germany?"
Asuka shrugged. "Mixed. Even when studying it at school, there was always one or two sources that said he didn't help in the slightest, and the wall was gonna fall anyway."
K: "With such a spanning political situation, it would have to be a combination. Perhaps his speech helped inspire some people to action."
M: "I was just k-kinda curious, cause Reagan is one of those presidents where there isn't exactly a centre, opinion-wise. You either love h-him or you think he's the antichrist."
R: "Are American politics usually that intense?"
M: "Not when I was a-around. I think by my time, everyone was just t-tired of the constant uncertainty when it came to politics. Shit, we've h-had four presidents since Second Impact, constantly flipping from red to b-blue to red and blue. That was a weird o-one."
E: "And it's most likely five now, if elections are every four years."
S: "Do you guys have a term limit when it comes to your leader?"
M: "Two 4 year terms. Not t-that they get a second term nowadays."
K: "Similar to the German president. I believe it is two 5 year terms they are allowed."
M: "I thought y-you guys had a Chancellor?"
A: "Heh, we've got both." With a smirk. "Some other European nations use that system, pretty sure the Chancellor is elected by the Bundestag and the President is elected by convention, Kaworu?"
He simply gave a nod of approval.
A: "Yeah, so we have a head of government, the Chancellor, and a head of state, the President. President stays above the shit-flinging of the Bundestag and checks their bills to make sure they aren't trying to invade Poland again."
E: "Again."
A: "Yeah, Germany kinda sucked in the 1900s. Ask your mums about it."
Noided (2:16)
The second verse played out.
R: "Perhaps he is paranoid about the messages from his radio."
E: "Isn't that the point of a radio?"
S: "Like conspiracy messages?"
M: "Probably. That or the a-absolute ton of drugs they're taking are causing them to hallucinate."
A: "Why do I get the feeling it's that."
K: "If there is something that could make you see or hear God in a particular medium, it would be a psychedelic. One could even debate if the prophets of the past had used something in order to see God."
M: "Don't think m-most people would appreciate calling their prophets a druggy."
K: "Indeed. But it's an interesting thought."
R: "Perhaps that is how Queens of the Stone Age heard God in their radio."
E: "They probably heard and saw a lot more than God."
S: "What would you see, taking stuff like that?"
M: "You could always t-take some of that stuff and find out for yourself."
A: "Oh yeah, I'm sure NERV will be completely fine with Shinji taking drugs. If they don't already pump stimulants into the LCL."
R: "I would know. The LCL is just that: LCL."
A: "Well that's a pleasant surprise. Does it not even have a natural stimulus?"
R: "It may. Considering it is the very essence of Lillith, I imagine it has various positive qualities."
S: "Like being able to breath it like air."
R: "Indeed. But it has barely been studied. Like most aspects related to Lilith."
E: "I'm sure you might know a bit more."
R: "I know I do not mind LCL. I am not sure if that is indicative of my nature of a potential addictive nature."
M: "Might just be t-that. I was never too enthusiastic about the LCL myself."
R: "Fair enough. But as it is the very essence of life, from Lilith herself, it would not surprise me if it had an anti-aging aspect."
S: "We already use something like that, don't we? The LCL aided healing?"
R: "Indeed. Yet another aspect of LCL."
A: "Maybe if we wanted to monetise LCL, we could just advertise it as a beauty product of some sort."
M: "Ingredients: Blood of G-God."
E: "Pretty sure LCL is still a bit of a trade secret of NERV. Don't want others taking it and making their own."
K: "I wonder how you could replicate a liquid like LCL, considering NERV's quote-unquote manufacturing process is simply bottling the output of Lilith."
M: "If you throw e-enough money at it, you could probably figure it o-out."
The song drew to an end with an eery soundscape.
"Thought it was gonna end a bit earlier, with that fadeout."
"More of a good t-thing isn't bad, Shinji."
"I was wondering how we were gonna fill that six minutes, but seems you guys did a good job."
"I'd like to think we were pretty good at babbling while something's going on." Asuka remarked. "We've only been doing it almost every day since... what, late November?"
"Not to mention any works we watched before." Pointed out Rei. "Then again, the works before were not Rift materials, were they?"
"So y-you guys were doing this kinda thing for a while?"
"Don't think it was as much as we're doing now." Thought back Shinji. "Probably cause, as Asuka said, we've been getting good practice at it."
"It'll certainly come in handy later today."
Later today being now, as the next song started playing.
~~~
Feel Good Hit Of Valentine's Day (00:00)
R: "The title seems very self deprecating."
M: "Wouldn't be t-the first time they had a title like that."
E: "So is this song going to talk about drugs again?"
K: "Love can technically be called a drug."
As the lyrics played out, Asuka couldn't help but slowly grimace, as Eliza translated. "Hopefully I'm not the only one picking up on some subtext here."
E: "I believe this is the same vocalist as Gonna Leave You. It's apparent he is jaded when it comes to love."
S: "I honestly barely even notice the differences in voices."
E: "Four distinct vocalists, I've noticed. May be three, but I can't tell when they're screaming."
A: "Wow, they were able to beat the computer."
E: "Can you tell me who the screaming voice is?"
A: "I don't even know who's in Queens of the Stone Age. Mari?"
M: "I'm not that into s-stoner rock."
Asuka deflated. "Y'know what's a bit of a disadvantage on just having all the music on some space age white brick? No album. With all the credits and fancy artwork we could want."
R: "Rather disappointing. Though I suppose it would be more of an inconvenience on us to have received four CDs. And I do not believe this plane has a CD player."
S: "Would the Playstation be able to play CDs?"
A: "It probably could, but good luck trying to power it in this plane. It'd be a lot more complicated than welding copper."
E: "At least with Queens of the Stone Age actually existing as a band, we could actually look them up and figure their names."
K: "I get the feeling that's the first thing Ritsuko would do, once she gets her hands on this."
A: "Do you reckon she'll be able to rip the music off this thing? It'd be kinda cool to have them on a CD of some sort."
M: "So you c-can say you have an unreleased album by a pre-Impact b-band?"
A: "Perhaps."
E: "Wouldn't even surprise me if someone leaked it on the Internet."
S: "Who knows, Rits might anyway. Not like we can exactly profit off another band's songs. Especially if that band existed."
R: "Or perhaps still exists, depending how their post-Impact careers went."
K: "Maybe we can request royalties from the record labels. There generally isn't any legislation when it comes to works from another universe."
A: "Can't help but wonder why."
E: "It's happening enough that we might need legislation."
M: "In NERV's favour, of course. M-Maybe something like 'we have rights to otherworldly s-shit and can decide what to do with it'."
S: "So kinda like Evangelion and Angels."
M: "Wait, you g-guys monetise Angels?"
R: "Nope. Not yet, at least. It is mainly to prevent others from monetising off the imagery."
A: "Not that it stops people, if they're sneaky enough."
M: "Dude I'd totally buy an Angel p-plushie if I could."
S: "Think I might skip on any Angel merchandise myself."
A: "Yeah, might do the same."
The song ended with another radio bumper. "Welp, let's see where this takes us."
"She sounds exactly like the person I'd expect to be a DJ on a station called WOMB." Muttered Asuka. "That's like if NERV made a radio station and wanted to keep the whole theme going."
Mari laughed. "Funny t-thing. MIT actually h-have a station that goes by WOMB."
Asuka simply gave a flat look,
R: "The title seems very self deprecating."
M: "Wouldn't be t-the first time they had a title like that."
E: "So is this song going to talk about drugs again?"
K: "Love can technically be called a drug."
As the lyrics played out, Asuka couldn't help but slowly grimace, as Eliza translated. "Hopefully I'm not the only one picking up on some subtext here."
E: "I believe this is the same vocalist as Gonna Leave You. It's apparent he is jaded when it comes to love."
S: "I honestly barely even notice the differences in voices."
E: "Four distinct vocalists, I've noticed. May be three, but I can't tell when they're screaming."
A: "Wow, they were able to beat the computer."
E: "Can you tell me who the screaming voice is?"
A: "I don't even know who's in Queens of the Stone Age. Mari?"
M: "I'm not that into s-stoner rock."
Asuka deflated. "Y'know what's a bit of a disadvantage on just having all the music on some space age white brick? No album. With all the credits and fancy artwork we could want."
R: "Rather disappointing. Though I suppose it would be more of an inconvenience on us to have received four CDs. And I do not believe this plane has a CD player."
S: "Would the Playstation be able to play CDs?"
A: "It probably could, but good luck trying to power it in this plane. It'd be a lot more complicated than welding copper."
E: "At least with Queens of the Stone Age actually existing as a band, we could actually look them up and figure their names."
K: "I get the feeling that's the first thing Ritsuko would do, once she gets her hands on this."
A: "Do you reckon she'll be able to rip the music off this thing? It'd be kinda cool to have them on a CD of some sort."
M: "So you c-can say you have an unreleased album by a pre-Impact b-band?"
A: "Perhaps."
E: "Wouldn't even surprise me if someone leaked it on the Internet."
S: "Who knows, Rits might anyway. Not like we can exactly profit off another band's songs. Especially if that band existed."
R: "Or perhaps still exists, depending how their post-Impact careers went."
K: "Maybe we can request royalties from the record labels. There generally isn't any legislation when it comes to works from another universe."
A: "Can't help but wonder why."
E: "It's happening enough that we might need legislation."
M: "In NERV's favour, of course. M-Maybe something like 'we have rights to otherworldly s-shit and can decide what to do with it'."
S: "So kinda like Evangelion and Angels."
M: "Wait, you g-guys monetise Angels?"
R: "Nope. Not yet, at least. It is mainly to prevent others from monetising off the imagery."
A: "Not that it stops people, if they're sneaky enough."
M: "Dude I'd totally buy an Angel p-plushie if I could."
S: "Think I might skip on any Angel merchandise myself."
A: "Yeah, might do the same."
The song ended with another radio bumper. "Welp, let's see where this takes us."
"She sounds exactly like the person I'd expect to be a DJ on a station called WOMB." Muttered Asuka. "That's like if NERV made a radio station and wanted to keep the whole theme going."
Mari laughed. "Funny t-thing. MIT actually h-have a station that goes by WOMB."
Asuka simply gave a flat look,
Broken Reflection (00:00)
as the song seamlessly transitioned, into something a lot more darker. "...Wait, we're on the next song already?"
M: "I love it w-when artists do that. Makes it sound like a much larger song."
E: "As if it wasn't already large enough."
K: "Since they named this track after the album, or vice versa, I would assume this meant it was their favourite."
A: "I mean, I'm already kinda enjoying it. And the other shoe hasn't even dropped yet."
The other shoe dropped, the electric guitar joining in.
S: "What about now?"
A: "Still enjoying it."
R: "It seems different lyrically, as well. Perhaps more introspective."
K: "Paranoia or loneliness. It's difficult to tell."
M: "Why not b-both?"
As to emphasise, two vocalists started singing. "Ooh, that's n-new."
E: "Indeed, I don't recall this layering."
A: "They really are saving the best for the title track, aren't they?"
K: "Usually, it's saved for last."
M: "Most albums are g-generally 13 tracks long. So I reckon this is an e-extended version of Songs for the Deaf."
S: "How generous of Pen-Pen to give us..." Glancing to the screen. "Three more songs."
A: "More of a good thing isn't a bad thing, Shinji!"
R: "Good is subjective."
A: "Ah lighten up, Rei. It's introducing you to something new! Something you probably would've never listened to before Pen-Pen threw this space brick through our window."
R: "...Good point."
M: "Maybe Blackstar w-would be more your interests, eh?"
E: "Depends how it sounds like."
S: "So has anyone figured out what this song's about, yet?"
K: "I still have my money on paranoia, loneliness, or paranoid loneliness."
A: "So it's the Evangelion of songs."
Kaworu blinked. "That is a surprisingly accurate comparison."
Blinded By The Light (02:55)
The dark baseline continued. "Man I like t-this track."
A: "You and me both, sister!"
R: "Those words do not seem too kind to the blind."
S: "What does it even mean?"
K: "I'm thinking it could be related to the paranoia. Perhaps he's thinking an angel of some sort did this."
E: "Was it one of our Angels?"
M: "Could've been, at t-this point."
S: "Well, at least I understand this guitar." He shrugged.
A: "We got that going for us, at least."
The third verse started, with two dulcet tones and one screaming banshee.
R: "I wonder what the screaming means."
E: "That's probably the easiest part of this song to understand."
K: "Hmm. Maybe you could also spin this song as being related to relationships. And a poor one, at that."
S: "It'd fit the overall theme I'm getting from this album."
A: "The screaming probably related to this pent up anger at it not working out as well as it should." With a chuckle. "Though that kinda makes me wonder, what would an album about our relationship sound like?"
K: "I imagine it would be a magnificent classical suite."
M: "And during b-battle, it's just the soundtrack to Megas XLR."
R: "And in the bedroom, it could be Random Access Memories."
Asuka promptly burst out laughing at the unexpected quip. "I mean, it probably would make good loving music, now I think about it."
Rei merely smirked. "It has that beat to it."
E: "Ah so that's why you prefer it over Songs for the Deaf!"
R: "Perhaps. I cannot see myself making love to Six Shooter."
S: "I'd probably get my pelvis broken if we tried that."
And so the song for the deaf drew to a close.
"I can see why this could be an ultimate track in an album." Rei thought. "Other than it being the title track."
"Nicely wraps up e-everything in a bow, eh? Almost a shame we s-still have three more tracks to go through."
To which Asuka waved her off. "More music isn't a bad thing."
On cue, another radio bumper played.
"See? They're even still doing the radio thing! This train's not over yet."
The following silence seemed to prove her wrong.
"...Huh. So, riddle me this, why would a track have 80 seconds of silence at the end of it?"
"Because it's not the end of the track."
"Well, I get that, but is it just that damned penguin fucking up? Or-"
The laughter started.
"Oh. Oh I get it, it's that damned penguin literally having a laugh!" As the table was banged, the iPod rattling around a bit.
Much to the amusement of the crowd. "Perhaps it was instead Queens of the Stone Age having a laugh."
"I mean, they are laughing."
"I s-swear I've heard this song before."
"You think it's one they made before?"
"Pretty s-sure, yeah."
Either way, the laughter soon ended.
"Okay, thirty seconds of silence now."
"Unless they start laughing again."
"Wouldn't even surprise me in the slightest, Rei." Asuka flatly responded.
That was indeed the last part of the song, the next song starting soon after.
~~~
as the song seamlessly transitioned, into something a lot more darker. "...Wait, we're on the next song already?"
M: "I love it w-when artists do that. Makes it sound like a much larger song."
E: "As if it wasn't already large enough."
K: "Since they named this track after the album, or vice versa, I would assume this meant it was their favourite."
A: "I mean, I'm already kinda enjoying it. And the other shoe hasn't even dropped yet."
The other shoe dropped, the electric guitar joining in.
S: "What about now?"
A: "Still enjoying it."
R: "It seems different lyrically, as well. Perhaps more introspective."
K: "Paranoia or loneliness. It's difficult to tell."
M: "Why not b-both?"
As to emphasise, two vocalists started singing. "Ooh, that's n-new."
E: "Indeed, I don't recall this layering."
A: "They really are saving the best for the title track, aren't they?"
K: "Usually, it's saved for last."
M: "Most albums are g-generally 13 tracks long. So I reckon this is an e-extended version of Songs for the Deaf."
S: "How generous of Pen-Pen to give us..." Glancing to the screen. "Three more songs."
A: "More of a good thing isn't a bad thing, Shinji!"
R: "Good is subjective."
A: "Ah lighten up, Rei. It's introducing you to something new! Something you probably would've never listened to before Pen-Pen threw this space brick through our window."
R: "...Good point."
M: "Maybe Blackstar w-would be more your interests, eh?"
E: "Depends how it sounds like."
S: "So has anyone figured out what this song's about, yet?"
K: "I still have my money on paranoia, loneliness, or paranoid loneliness."
A: "So it's the Evangelion of songs."
Kaworu blinked. "That is a surprisingly accurate comparison."
Blinded By The Light (02:55)
The dark baseline continued. "Man I like t-this track."
A: "You and me both, sister!"
R: "Those words do not seem too kind to the blind."
S: "What does it even mean?"
K: "I'm thinking it could be related to the paranoia. Perhaps he's thinking an angel of some sort did this."
E: "Was it one of our Angels?"
M: "Could've been, at t-this point."
S: "Well, at least I understand this guitar." He shrugged.
A: "We got that going for us, at least."
The third verse started, with two dulcet tones and one screaming banshee.
R: "I wonder what the screaming means."
E: "That's probably the easiest part of this song to understand."
K: "Hmm. Maybe you could also spin this song as being related to relationships. And a poor one, at that."
S: "It'd fit the overall theme I'm getting from this album."
A: "The screaming probably related to this pent up anger at it not working out as well as it should." With a chuckle. "Though that kinda makes me wonder, what would an album about our relationship sound like?"
K: "I imagine it would be a magnificent classical suite."
M: "And during b-battle, it's just the soundtrack to Megas XLR."
R: "And in the bedroom, it could be Random Access Memories."
Asuka promptly burst out laughing at the unexpected quip. "I mean, it probably would make good loving music, now I think about it."
Rei merely smirked. "It has that beat to it."
E: "Ah so that's why you prefer it over Songs for the Deaf!"
R: "Perhaps. I cannot see myself making love to Six Shooter."
S: "I'd probably get my pelvis broken if we tried that."
And so the song for the deaf drew to a close.
"I can see why this could be an ultimate track in an album." Rei thought. "Other than it being the title track."
"Nicely wraps up e-everything in a bow, eh? Almost a shame we s-still have three more tracks to go through."
To which Asuka waved her off. "More music isn't a bad thing."
On cue, another radio bumper played.
"See? They're even still doing the radio thing! This train's not over yet."
The following silence seemed to prove her wrong.
"...Huh. So, riddle me this, why would a track have 80 seconds of silence at the end of it?"
"Because it's not the end of the track."
"Well, I get that, but is it just that damned penguin fucking up? Or-"
The laughter started.
"Oh. Oh I get it, it's that damned penguin literally having a laugh!" As the table was banged, the iPod rattling around a bit.
Much to the amusement of the crowd. "Perhaps it was instead Queens of the Stone Age having a laugh."
"I mean, they are laughing."
"I s-swear I've heard this song before."
"You think it's one they made before?"
"Pretty s-sure, yeah."
Either way, the laughter soon ended.
"Okay, thirty seconds of silence now."
"Unless they start laughing again."
"Wouldn't even surprise me in the slightest, Rei." Asuka flatly responded.
That was indeed the last part of the song, the next song starting soon after.
~~~
Bzzzzzzzzzzz (00:00)
Classical guitar introduced the song. "...Well, I didn't expect that."
A: "I was expecting it to be a literal mosquito song, at this point."
R: "It is comforting to hear lyrically, the song remains similar to the album." Rei dripped in sarcasm.
M: "I think t-there's a metaphor in this."
S: "Could just be about mosquitos." Shinji shrugged.
E: "Knowing Queens, it could."
Kaworu, meanwhile, had a bit of a surprised look on himself. "I'm quite liking this song so far."
A: "It's the more acoustic sound, ain't it?"
M: "I knew you'd be more i-into folk!"
R: "I would not think most folk music would discuss what seems to be a slaughterhouse."
S: "And there's the Queens of the Stone Age that we know."
A: "Shouldn't have expected anything different, eh? At least we can all agree it's less abrasive than their usual stuff."
K: "Indeed. Ignoring the fact it's from the perspective of an animal getting slaughtered, it's quite listenable."
E: "Might as well be a glowing review, coming from you."
M: "With how he's been t-thinking about the album, that is a glowing review!"
What Does The Knife Say? (02:22)
The instrumental began.
A: "Y'know, never thought I'd hear strings on this album."
S: "At least strings that weren't on an electric guitar."
K: "If I heard this part of the song outside of context, I wouldn't even think the rest of the album was as it is."
R: "It even has piano in it. It is not an average Queens of the Stone Age song in the slightest."
E: "At least from what we know from this album. Perhaps after Second Impact, they became a classical band."
Mari burst into laughter. "That'd be the d-day."
R: "Thing is, that could be a possibility. Anything is possible, we do not know what became of them after Second Impact."
A: "Do you know, Mari?"
To which she shrugged. "Best case s-scenario, they're still popular in their scene. Worse case, they're all d-dead."
S: "You could say that of just about any artist, post Impact."
K: "With how many perished, you really could."
R: "Suppose this song could be fitting for what happened, in that case."
M: "Even with the flamenco g-guitar?"
R: "Probably not with the flamenco. Though it does sound nice."
M: "Any of you guys p-play the guitar?"
Everyone shook their heads. "It's pretty much all strings, eh?"
K: "I can play piano."
A: "Which has strings in it, so my point still stands."
E: "A guitar has strings on it as well."
A: "...Fuck, you're right. Classical strings. Violas and shit."
R: "You know some guitar, Mari?"
M: "A bit. Can't play t-too much, but I know how to play Heart Shaped Box."
A: "Of course it's Nirvana."
M: "It was either that o-or something from Guns N Roses."
A: "Fair enough."
And like that, the song ended.
"Well, that was a change of pace."
"A nice change of place?" Queried Asuka.
To which Rei did not answer, as the next song started.
~~~
Classical guitar introduced the song. "...Well, I didn't expect that."
A: "I was expecting it to be a literal mosquito song, at this point."
R: "It is comforting to hear lyrically, the song remains similar to the album." Rei dripped in sarcasm.
M: "I think t-there's a metaphor in this."
S: "Could just be about mosquitos." Shinji shrugged.
E: "Knowing Queens, it could."
Kaworu, meanwhile, had a bit of a surprised look on himself. "I'm quite liking this song so far."
A: "It's the more acoustic sound, ain't it?"
M: "I knew you'd be more i-into folk!"
R: "I would not think most folk music would discuss what seems to be a slaughterhouse."
S: "And there's the Queens of the Stone Age that we know."
A: "Shouldn't have expected anything different, eh? At least we can all agree it's less abrasive than their usual stuff."
K: "Indeed. Ignoring the fact it's from the perspective of an animal getting slaughtered, it's quite listenable."
E: "Might as well be a glowing review, coming from you."
M: "With how he's been t-thinking about the album, that is a glowing review!"
What Does The Knife Say? (02:22)
The instrumental began.
A: "Y'know, never thought I'd hear strings on this album."
S: "At least strings that weren't on an electric guitar."
K: "If I heard this part of the song outside of context, I wouldn't even think the rest of the album was as it is."
R: "It even has piano in it. It is not an average Queens of the Stone Age song in the slightest."
E: "At least from what we know from this album. Perhaps after Second Impact, they became a classical band."
Mari burst into laughter. "That'd be the d-day."
R: "Thing is, that could be a possibility. Anything is possible, we do not know what became of them after Second Impact."
A: "Do you know, Mari?"
To which she shrugged. "Best case s-scenario, they're still popular in their scene. Worse case, they're all d-dead."
S: "You could say that of just about any artist, post Impact."
K: "With how many perished, you really could."
R: "Suppose this song could be fitting for what happened, in that case."
M: "Even with the flamenco g-guitar?"
R: "Probably not with the flamenco. Though it does sound nice."
M: "Any of you guys p-play the guitar?"
Everyone shook their heads. "It's pretty much all strings, eh?"
K: "I can play piano."
A: "Which has strings in it, so my point still stands."
E: "A guitar has strings on it as well."
A: "...Fuck, you're right. Classical strings. Violas and shit."
R: "You know some guitar, Mari?"
M: "A bit. Can't play t-too much, but I know how to play Heart Shaped Box."
A: "Of course it's Nirvana."
M: "It was either that o-or something from Guns N Roses."
A: "Fair enough."
And like that, the song ended.
"Well, that was a change of pace."
"A nice change of place?" Queried Asuka.
To which Rei did not answer, as the next song started.
~~~
Live At The Troubadour (00:00)
R: "This is more akin to Queens of the Stone Age."
A: "Is this live?"
M: "Sure sounds like it. Hell, pretty s-sure this was a lead single in one of their existing a-albums."
S: "How likely would it be that they were able to play this song live, then?"
E: "Do you know when this track was released, Mari?"
Mari shrugged. "Like, m-mid 2000?"
S: "So pretty much no."
M: "Yeah, p-pretty much."
K: "It's still an experience, then. There is always a profound difference between a recording and a live performance."
A: "They have more of a punch, eh? I know they do for me."
S: "Have we even been to a live music event lately?"
A: "You playing for us counts as live music, Shinji!"
R: "I am sure it would have been very interesting to catch them live. Very energetic, I am sure."
E: "Enjoyable? Probably not."
Rei shrugged. "If you get lost in the moment, then the music does not really matter. As long as you are enjoying yourself."
M: "You're probably getting t-tweaked to shit as well."
R: "Well, yes, that would also count for something."
And wishing them goodnight, the song ended.
"I thought that was alright!" Asuka soon spoke. "They sound pretty good live."
"Not like we're gonna get much else live from them."
"Not unless t-they're still around." Mari retorted. "Which, yeah, w-we don't really know, do we?"
"One would think you might have heard of something, if they were still around."
"Ain't that t-the truth, Rei."
Soon enough, the last track began.
~~~
R: "This is more akin to Queens of the Stone Age."
A: "Is this live?"
M: "Sure sounds like it. Hell, pretty s-sure this was a lead single in one of their existing a-albums."
S: "How likely would it be that they were able to play this song live, then?"
E: "Do you know when this track was released, Mari?"
Mari shrugged. "Like, m-mid 2000?"
S: "So pretty much no."
M: "Yeah, p-pretty much."
K: "It's still an experience, then. There is always a profound difference between a recording and a live performance."
A: "They have more of a punch, eh? I know they do for me."
S: "Have we even been to a live music event lately?"
A: "You playing for us counts as live music, Shinji!"
R: "I am sure it would have been very interesting to catch them live. Very energetic, I am sure."
E: "Enjoyable? Probably not."
Rei shrugged. "If you get lost in the moment, then the music does not really matter. As long as you are enjoying yourself."
M: "You're probably getting t-tweaked to shit as well."
R: "Well, yes, that would also count for something."
And wishing them goodnight, the song ended.
"I thought that was alright!" Asuka soon spoke. "They sound pretty good live."
"Not like we're gonna get much else live from them."
"Not unless t-they're still around." Mari retorted. "Which, yeah, w-we don't really know, do we?"
"One would think you might have heard of something, if they were still around."
"Ain't that t-the truth, Rei."
Soon enough, the last track began.
~~~
Kinky (00:00)
The lot immediately furrowed brows at the change in tone. "From the little I know of Queens of the Stone Age, this is not their style."
K: "A cover of some sort, perhaps? It sounds... somewhat familiar."
A: "How the hell is this familiar to you? Did you listen to old rock or something?"
K: "Not myself, but..."
He grumbled, a look of contempt on his face. "The British representative. That's right. This is a cover of Everybody's Gonna Be Happy by The Kinks."
M: "Christ, that's a band you don't hear t-too often nowadays."
E: "Did he ruin this band for you, Kaworu?"
K: "Not that it was my genre to begin with, but he would always insist on playing one of their seemingly thousands of songs."
R: "I can see how that gets annoying."
S: "So is that why this isn't your genre of choice?"
K: "It certainly didn't help, Shinji."
A: "Well, look on the bright side, Kaworu. It's very likely they went the same way as The Kinks."
K: "I can sleep easy at night." He muttered.
E: "Were songs simpler back then? Cause I'm not sensing much variety in this."
K: "That was another gripe I had. They had so many different songs and yet they all seemed to sound the same."
M: "It's that English R-Rock sound, I bet. It's always been a bit d-distinct from American rock; compare someone like Elvis to The Beatles. Y'all know about Elvis, d-do you?"
S: "One of our Prime Ministers was a senior advisor to an Elvis fanclub."
M: "That's a yes. So you probably k-know how he tended to sound like, eh?"
R: "Different to this."
K: "Perhaps I'll like them better."
M: "Wait, you've never listened t-to Elvis, Ash?"
K: "Not consciously. I might've heard his songs in the past, but not in any sort of detail."
M: "Well that's something we have t-to fix!"
R: "I am sure I can find some cassettes somewhere."
E: "I'm guessing I will be involved in that, as well?"
A: "At least you have an excuse to not know about Elvis."
~~~
With the closing of the song, so too did Songs for the Deaf come to an end.
"That was pretty good, overall!"
"That appears to be the general consensus." Noted Eliza. "Even you thought it was alright, Shinji."
"And we know w-why Kaworu doesn't seem to prefer it."
"Not preferring it combined with poor personal experiences tend to colour the opinion a little bit." He posited. "They are good at what they do, I admit. Unfortunately, it is not something I would listen to on the regular."
"Which is perfectly acceptable." Rei immediately quelled. "You do not have to like everything."
"Don't think any of us liked stuff like Elfen Lied."
"Yeah, it's perfectly fine if it's not to your liking, Kaworu." Asuka remarked, in understanding. "Can't be completely the same, after all."
"Fair point." With a small smile.
"So, what are the odds you'll like the next album?"
"That, I do not know, Shinji." Kaworu philosophised. "But it will be an experience, that's for sure."
"Eliza?"
"Blackstar."
"Blackstar it is!"
~~~
The lot immediately furrowed brows at the change in tone. "From the little I know of Queens of the Stone Age, this is not their style."
K: "A cover of some sort, perhaps? It sounds... somewhat familiar."
A: "How the hell is this familiar to you? Did you listen to old rock or something?"
K: "Not myself, but..."
He grumbled, a look of contempt on his face. "The British representative. That's right. This is a cover of Everybody's Gonna Be Happy by The Kinks."
M: "Christ, that's a band you don't hear t-too often nowadays."
E: "Did he ruin this band for you, Kaworu?"
K: "Not that it was my genre to begin with, but he would always insist on playing one of their seemingly thousands of songs."
R: "I can see how that gets annoying."
S: "So is that why this isn't your genre of choice?"
K: "It certainly didn't help, Shinji."
A: "Well, look on the bright side, Kaworu. It's very likely they went the same way as The Kinks."
K: "I can sleep easy at night." He muttered.
E: "Were songs simpler back then? Cause I'm not sensing much variety in this."
K: "That was another gripe I had. They had so many different songs and yet they all seemed to sound the same."
M: "It's that English R-Rock sound, I bet. It's always been a bit d-distinct from American rock; compare someone like Elvis to The Beatles. Y'all know about Elvis, d-do you?"
S: "One of our Prime Ministers was a senior advisor to an Elvis fanclub."
M: "That's a yes. So you probably k-know how he tended to sound like, eh?"
R: "Different to this."
K: "Perhaps I'll like them better."
M: "Wait, you've never listened t-to Elvis, Ash?"
K: "Not consciously. I might've heard his songs in the past, but not in any sort of detail."
M: "Well that's something we have t-to fix!"
R: "I am sure I can find some cassettes somewhere."
E: "I'm guessing I will be involved in that, as well?"
A: "At least you have an excuse to not know about Elvis."
~~~
With the closing of the song, so too did Songs for the Deaf come to an end.
"That was pretty good, overall!"
"That appears to be the general consensus." Noted Eliza. "Even you thought it was alright, Shinji."
"And we know w-why Kaworu doesn't seem to prefer it."
"Not preferring it combined with poor personal experiences tend to colour the opinion a little bit." He posited. "They are good at what they do, I admit. Unfortunately, it is not something I would listen to on the regular."
"Which is perfectly acceptable." Rei immediately quelled. "You do not have to like everything."
"Don't think any of us liked stuff like Elfen Lied."
"Yeah, it's perfectly fine if it's not to your liking, Kaworu." Asuka remarked, in understanding. "Can't be completely the same, after all."
"Fair point." With a small smile.
"So, what are the odds you'll like the next album?"
"That, I do not know, Shinji." Kaworu philosophised. "But it will be an experience, that's for sure."
"Eliza?"
"Blackstar."
"Blackstar it is!"
~~~
"Grunkle Stan," Mabel began, speaking into the Cisco headset. "Are you sure they're a cat?"
"Yes, I know what a cat looks like, but the way you're describing him, it sounds like they're an alien or something! You didn't catch an Angel by mistake, did ya?"
"Ohh you found him by the Blockbuster, that explains a lot!" In half sarcasm. "I know our Blockbuster is a bit of a bizzaro place but I wouldn't think-"
The door to her office opened.
"I'll catch up with you later, Grunkle Stan." With a slight smile. "Yes, I'll say hi to Dipper for you. Okay, bye!"
Phone went down. "Stan says hi."
"He's up early, ain't he?" As he sat on the desk, a few files in hand. "We really need to make the time to get back down to Bend, don't we." Half reminiscent. "Reckon that'll happen?"
"Not a chance, Dip."
"I figured."
Files dropped onto the desk, as Subcommander Mason began. "So Hakone's putting the pressure on us, fair enough."
"We're already making two Evangelion, what more do they want?"
"You know Hawthorne Aerospace?"
Mabel had to think. "That run by the guy who shot his Jeep into space after it broke down on him?"
"They're commissioning an utter ton of their super-heavy's. Literally just came in; they want other branches to order some, as well."
To which the Commander of the Massachusetts branch furrowed her brow. "They trying to launch Evangelion on them or something?"
"They already have. Y'know what happened in Swan?"
"Oyy, so we might have to do some weight reduction, then." She bemoaned. "Ah well, one thing at a time. I'm guessing they're our pilot candidates?"
To which Mason nodded. "Took the 'Marduk Institute' a good while to whittle them all down, but I think we got a good spread."
Three folders were on the desk.
"Thought we were going for NACSS on both."
"The idea was to have one on NACSS and one on an ELIZA construct. It'd be a bit easier to condition an AI to like their pilot than to convince two people to like each other."
"Could we really not find two people in the entire United States that really liked each other?"
"Not any that met the criteria." He brushed off. "Unless we wanted to pilot."
"Oh you." As she opened up the first folder, a small smile on her face.
Which immediately turned into a frown. "Derek Joshua Croft."
"Before you ask, yes I double checked the records, and yes that is actually the name of his folks."
"Hmpf." She continued perusing the file. "Seems arrogant. Might be a good fighter. How's his education?"
"Middle of an undergrad at MIT."
"Not bad, not bad. Local's always a plus." She thought. "Math?"
"And Computer Science."
"Ah, so if all else fails, we can at least make him a code monkey."
Folder was put down, and next one was perused.
Mabel almost immediately glared at her brother. "Trixie Lulamoon Junior." In utter disbelief.
"Yes, as in the child of that lunatic from Quebec. At least before she destroyed it."
"Remind me to send someone up there one time; might be able to dig out something useful." Before she got back on track. "In what right mind would the Magi recommend her?"
"She has perhaps even more of an affinity for computers than Croft, at least according to her file." Thought Mason. "That, and the fact she may be a bit unstable might help her aggression in battle."
"What's her psychiatric record?"
"Surprisingly clean." As he quickly flipped through her file. "There was one incident where she broke the leg of a classmate."
The Commander was unamused.
"Apparently it was to protect a friend of hers."
"I mean, that might as well be self defence." She shrugged off.
"It didn't seem intentional, so yeah I'm inclined to believe that." He put the file back on the table. "She might be a good candidate for an ELIZA."
"Eh, I'll give her a shot." Picking up the last file. "Not giving her anything flame based, though... huh."
"Not much for her, I know." Rubbing the back of his head. "She checks all the right boxes, and she does exist, but... yeah, can't find much about her. She's pretty off grid."
"Off grid's bad; don't know what they could be involved with." Remarked the Commander. "You looked her up in the Magi?"
"Lee, Stallman, and McCarthy came up 404."
"And Hakone?"
"403."
"Pfft, figures." She rolled her eyes. "...Hey, you reckon our special friend might know a bit more?"
"I mean... you can try?" In reluctant agreement. "I don't think she'd be related to Seele. Though then again, she's kept her trail hidden well enough, so I guess anything's possible."
"Look, it'd be just to make sure she wasn't a Seele plant. Last thing we need is our place having an incursion like Hakone seems to have on a monthly basis."
"Fair, fair." Mason used his phone as a watch. "Still got a few hours before visitation starts."
To her sigh. "Yeah, I know."
The brother looked up, taking in her melancholy. "How's the lobbying going?"
"It's... ehh." She could only say.
"...Look, I know you were close with her. But there's a reason she where she is."
"Not like she wanted to be with Seele, Mason." Was her adamant defence. "She was literally born into it! Her folks would've killed her if she tried to get out!"
"I know that! But you think Congress will see that? They just see her as Seele, don't they?"
"If I have to fucking take Unit-05 up to the Capitol to convince them she's not a threat-"
She stopped herself, and leant back in her chair. Trying to breathe.
"...Need a coffee, sis?"
"...Yeah. I could go for one, Dip."
Subcommander Pines soon left for the coffee machine.
Leaving his sister blankly looking at the folders in front of her.
"...Here's hoping you lot have a better time. If we pick all of you, that is."
The Cisco headset was picked back up, a number quickly dialled in. That was enough misery for one day. "Hey, Wendy? You wanna go to Quebec?"
~~~
"Yes, I know what a cat looks like, but the way you're describing him, it sounds like they're an alien or something! You didn't catch an Angel by mistake, did ya?"
"Ohh you found him by the Blockbuster, that explains a lot!" In half sarcasm. "I know our Blockbuster is a bit of a bizzaro place but I wouldn't think-"
The door to her office opened.
"I'll catch up with you later, Grunkle Stan." With a slight smile. "Yes, I'll say hi to Dipper for you. Okay, bye!"
Phone went down. "Stan says hi."
"He's up early, ain't he?" As he sat on the desk, a few files in hand. "We really need to make the time to get back down to Bend, don't we." Half reminiscent. "Reckon that'll happen?"
"Not a chance, Dip."
"I figured."
Files dropped onto the desk, as Subcommander Mason began. "So Hakone's putting the pressure on us, fair enough."
"We're already making two Evangelion, what more do they want?"
"You know Hawthorne Aerospace?"
Mabel had to think. "That run by the guy who shot his Jeep into space after it broke down on him?"
"They're commissioning an utter ton of their super-heavy's. Literally just came in; they want other branches to order some, as well."
To which the Commander of the Massachusetts branch furrowed her brow. "They trying to launch Evangelion on them or something?"
"They already have. Y'know what happened in Swan?"
"Oyy, so we might have to do some weight reduction, then." She bemoaned. "Ah well, one thing at a time. I'm guessing they're our pilot candidates?"
To which Mason nodded. "Took the 'Marduk Institute' a good while to whittle them all down, but I think we got a good spread."
Three folders were on the desk.
"Thought we were going for NACSS on both."
"The idea was to have one on NACSS and one on an ELIZA construct. It'd be a bit easier to condition an AI to like their pilot than to convince two people to like each other."
"Could we really not find two people in the entire United States that really liked each other?"
"Not any that met the criteria." He brushed off. "Unless we wanted to pilot."
"Oh you." As she opened up the first folder, a small smile on her face.
Which immediately turned into a frown. "Derek Joshua Croft."
"Before you ask, yes I double checked the records, and yes that is actually the name of his folks."
"Hmpf." She continued perusing the file. "Seems arrogant. Might be a good fighter. How's his education?"
"Middle of an undergrad at MIT."
"Not bad, not bad. Local's always a plus." She thought. "Math?"
"And Computer Science."
"Ah, so if all else fails, we can at least make him a code monkey."
Folder was put down, and next one was perused.
Mabel almost immediately glared at her brother. "Trixie Lulamoon Junior." In utter disbelief.
"Yes, as in the child of that lunatic from Quebec. At least before she destroyed it."
"Remind me to send someone up there one time; might be able to dig out something useful." Before she got back on track. "In what right mind would the Magi recommend her?"
"She has perhaps even more of an affinity for computers than Croft, at least according to her file." Thought Mason. "That, and the fact she may be a bit unstable might help her aggression in battle."
"What's her psychiatric record?"
"Surprisingly clean." As he quickly flipped through her file. "There was one incident where she broke the leg of a classmate."
The Commander was unamused.
"Apparently it was to protect a friend of hers."
"I mean, that might as well be self defence." She shrugged off.
"It didn't seem intentional, so yeah I'm inclined to believe that." He put the file back on the table. "She might be a good candidate for an ELIZA."
"Eh, I'll give her a shot." Picking up the last file. "Not giving her anything flame based, though... huh."
"Not much for her, I know." Rubbing the back of his head. "She checks all the right boxes, and she does exist, but... yeah, can't find much about her. She's pretty off grid."
"Off grid's bad; don't know what they could be involved with." Remarked the Commander. "You looked her up in the Magi?"
"Lee, Stallman, and McCarthy came up 404."
"And Hakone?"
"403."
"Pfft, figures." She rolled her eyes. "...Hey, you reckon our special friend might know a bit more?"
"I mean... you can try?" In reluctant agreement. "I don't think she'd be related to Seele. Though then again, she's kept her trail hidden well enough, so I guess anything's possible."
"Look, it'd be just to make sure she wasn't a Seele plant. Last thing we need is our place having an incursion like Hakone seems to have on a monthly basis."
"Fair, fair." Mason used his phone as a watch. "Still got a few hours before visitation starts."
To her sigh. "Yeah, I know."
The brother looked up, taking in her melancholy. "How's the lobbying going?"
"It's... ehh." She could only say.
"...Look, I know you were close with her. But there's a reason she where she is."
"Not like she wanted to be with Seele, Mason." Was her adamant defence. "She was literally born into it! Her folks would've killed her if she tried to get out!"
"I know that! But you think Congress will see that? They just see her as Seele, don't they?"
"If I have to fucking take Unit-05 up to the Capitol to convince them she's not a threat-"
She stopped herself, and leant back in her chair. Trying to breathe.
"...Need a coffee, sis?"
"...Yeah. I could go for one, Dip."
Subcommander Pines soon left for the coffee machine.
Leaving his sister blankly looking at the folders in front of her.
"...Here's hoping you lot have a better time. If we pick all of you, that is."
The Cisco headset was picked back up, a number quickly dialled in. That was enough misery for one day. "Hey, Wendy? You wanna go to Quebec?"
~~~
It's back baby!
Working in one of the few industries that not only didn't stop during the pandemic, but only got busier during the pandemic does that
Oh well, enough about me, lets get to the main meat and potatoes of it all: Queens of the Stone Age! Would you believe me if I only realised No One Knows was a QotSA song after hearing it on the album? It's practically a classic in Australia (like, literally number 1 in our Hottest 100 of 2002) and yet I didn't even realise that
It's good pedigree for QotSA, at least.
And yeah, overall, Songs for the Deaf was rather liked. Somewhat, Rei/Eliza and Kaworu didn't exactly prefer it, but i'm sure they appreciated being exposed to something new.
Kaworu, maybe not so much, considering the bad taste left in his mouth from the past.
Almost a shame he didn't know what happened to the British representative
Part of me wonders how they'd react to the next few albums, though. The Black Parade is pretty rock heavy, and Blackstar might be on another planet in regards to how they react to it
Personally, haven't listened to Blackstar yet. Though I have listened to Death Grips, which was one of David Bowie's inspirations for Blackstar, and... yeah
Oh well, they'll find out soon, cause that's what we're listening to next!
Meanwhile, it seems we have another off the wall idea from Hakone but hey, it worked before!
Now it's whether Hawthorne can keep up with the most likely several dozen purchase orders for massive rockets
All the while, Massachusetts are finally picking out their pilots. Unit-05 and Unit-06 are still in construction, but it'd be good to train up your pilots beforehand. Y'know, so you can use your Evangelion
Don't worry, this Croft will pretty much be in name only. Not gonna be bashing any other fanfics here, cause that's not my style
Some of you might recall Trixie Lulamoon Jr from previous omakes of mine. I'll just say, it'll be pretty fun for me to write her
And the third? Well, it's a surprise
Well, that should leave you guys plenty to discuss about while I most likely take several months to get the next Chronicles out
Working in one of the few industries that not only didn't stop during the pandemic, but only got busier during the pandemic does that
Oh well, enough about me, lets get to the main meat and potatoes of it all: Queens of the Stone Age! Would you believe me if I only realised No One Knows was a QotSA song after hearing it on the album? It's practically a classic in Australia (like, literally number 1 in our Hottest 100 of 2002) and yet I didn't even realise that
It's good pedigree for QotSA, at least.
And yeah, overall, Songs for the Deaf was rather liked. Somewhat, Rei/Eliza and Kaworu didn't exactly prefer it, but i'm sure they appreciated being exposed to something new.
Kaworu, maybe not so much, considering the bad taste left in his mouth from the past.
Almost a shame he didn't know what happened to the British representative
Part of me wonders how they'd react to the next few albums, though. The Black Parade is pretty rock heavy, and Blackstar might be on another planet in regards to how they react to it
Personally, haven't listened to Blackstar yet. Though I have listened to Death Grips, which was one of David Bowie's inspirations for Blackstar, and... yeah
Oh well, they'll find out soon, cause that's what we're listening to next!
Meanwhile, it seems we have another off the wall idea from Hakone
but hey, it worked before!Now it's whether Hawthorne can keep up with the most likely several dozen purchase orders for massive rockets
All the while, Massachusetts are finally picking out their pilots. Unit-05 and Unit-06 are still in construction, but it'd be good to train up your pilots beforehand. Y'know, so you can use your Evangelion
Don't worry, this Croft will pretty much be in name only. Not gonna be bashing any other fanfics here, cause that's not my style
Some of you might recall Trixie Lulamoon Jr from previous omakes of mine. I'll just say, it'll be pretty fun for me to write her
And the third? Well, it's a surprise
Well, that should leave you guys plenty to discuss about while I most likely take several months to get the next Chronicles out
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- Pronouns
- He
Nope, that would be the Horaki sisters.
But of course
I know that @Ultra Sonic 007 is doing a fusion between Persona and Eva here on SV but I always imagined putting the characters in Persona 4 (the premise could be that Shinji goes to live in Tokyo 3 with his estranged father and his sister, or something like that.)
It's one of the constants of the universe.
...Question:
How would the cast (A/T and/or Chronicles) react to the u/alphamaxnova1 and u/targetmisser race highlights?
Get out.
Also New Chronicles, yay!
I'm quite happy that Mari is now integrating more with the Tumbleweed than ever and It's still sad to know that Gravity Falls doesn't exist in Chronicles (or has been submerged by the Pacific) but well that's life though it seems farfetched (to me) that they couldn't find more than three candidates for the NACCS (still it's hilarious to know that one of the pilots is DJ Croft, I put my bets for the third one to be Marie Vincennes, , and a question: who is Mabel's friend in SEELE?
- Location
- Not here
Oh god oh fuck I thought I left The Great And Powerful Trixie behind in my Brony days.
Wixelt
NGE Fic plan 480 pages and counting...
- Location
- England, UK
- Pronouns
- He/They
Great as always, BG. Not much specific to say, but definitely something that caught my eye towards the end...
This bit. Been looking forward to this since we first talked about it. Should be fun!
Would it be teasing of me if I said I already knew?
Somehow I feel like Lilith would punt any Incubator within several AUs of Earth into a far solar orbit, so I really hope not.
- Location
- Germany
Hey now, no death flag raising here (I mean, you are still so young after all)
Wait, none? Was this established before? I mean, Asuka at least - aside from that she should have had English pretty early in school (dunno how it's in Japan) - her father is American?
Way to talk over it then.
Wasn't it actually her sister's?
What? But... but... there's just one obviously correct option, how could that be a matter to argue about?
Never heard of it, tbh...
Dunno about "one or two" 🤔 Speaking as someone growing up during that time and having experienced plenty of recaps during many, many recaps, I'd say it's the general consensus here that the US (let alone Reagan) didn't play much of a role in the wall coming down. It pretty much comes down to DDR economy going down the drain, its people fleeing/protesting en masse, Gorbachev not intervening, an accidental statement that the borders are open "right now"... and Hasselhoff, of course...
Oh... Oh no.......
Admit it, you're just trying to give me a fighting chance of getting that chapter done.Well, that should leave you guys plenty to discuss about while I most likely take several months to get the next Chronicles out
Given that I'm quite a bit behind myself again with the next page, I'm not sure if it's working though... 
- Location
- Canada
That part about their friend who they are trying to convince congress that she is not loyal to Seele, that would be a difficult situation. While I am under the impression that all people that are a part of Seele or born into it would be indoctrinated to their beliefs, I also can imagine that not all born into Seele would want to go through with such insanity. Take Yui Ikari, she was born into Seele yet she chose to turn on them. The problem is that the social stigma of having been apart of such a group tends to get one imprisoned or executed.
For those that either are innocent despite being relted to Seele or wish to atone for their crimes, that would be a difficult path to follow if it is possible.
For those that either are innocent despite being relted to Seele or wish to atone for their crimes, that would be a difficult path to follow if it is possible.
Wixelt
NGE Fic plan 480 pages and counting...
- Location
- England, UK
- Pronouns
- He/They
Agreed. It'd be a rough path to tread, but not impossible. If they were really hellbent on proving their innocence, i'd imagine there'd be ways for this unnamed character to do it.
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- Location
- Canada
This also reminds me of an idea I have. The one surviving grandchild of Kihl Lorenze, remorseful of what his family had done puts him/herself at the mercy of Misato, Asuka and Shinji. How it turns out depends on the type of story.
Wixelt
NGE Fic plan 480 pages and counting...
- Location
- England, UK
- Pronouns
- He/They
A little awkward, given they'd functionally be Kaworu's nephew. Technically a lot of major baggage there on top of the already heavy SEELE situation. Can definitely see the cast finding it difficult to trust this person, but I stand by anyone being capable of gaining trust if they have every intent to set aside their unwanted associations.
- Pronouns
- He
What if he wants revenge against SEELE, his father was killed by his grandfather (Keel) because he was against Tanging everyone, as such he has to flee, later he discovers that Keel used his dad's DNA to make the body for our beloved Fish. So now he's in a working relationship with Kaji, trying to exterminate the last remnants of SEELE while at the same time plotting for the demise of the Rainbow Trout.
- Location
- United States
Is it bad that I kinda want a team plasma split with SEELE?
Like, after attempted third impact, the group split into two groups. One that remained equally dangerous and stilled wanted third impact. (The mars faction)And those who genuinely believed the ideals of SEELE but were against the extreme actions of the former.
How would the group respond to someone of the latter group?
Like, after attempted third impact, the group split into two groups. One that remained equally dangerous and stilled wanted third impact. (The mars faction)And those who genuinely believed the ideals of SEELE but were against the extreme actions of the former.
How would the group respond to someone of the latter group?
BG_Character_592
The Fisherman
- Location
- Australia
Was this established before? I mean, Asuka at least - aside from that she should have had English pretty early in school (dunno how it's in Japan) - her father is American?
"All the more reason to not speak English!"
Granted, she should know enough English from her education. Then again, she hasn't exactly been keeping that sword sharp lately
Looking at it, it was indeed Hikari's sister
Fixed it
It pretty much comes down to DDR economy going down the drain, its people fleeing/protesting en masse, Gorbachev not intervening, an accidental statement that the borders are open "right now"... and Hasselhoff, of course...
As Kaworu suggested, a lot more than Reagan's speech
"'David Hasselhoff was responsible for bringing down the Berlin Wall when he personally took a sledgehammer to it-' who wrote this garbage?!"
Getting very heavy Aum Shinrikyo vibes from this scenario.
A part of me doubts any country would allow any sort of continuation of Seele, but then again, Aum Shinrikyo still exist today so maybe this splinter group is just under very heavy surveillance.
Which might make sense in a way. Keep a rump group under control so they don't go underground and turn to the extremism that the old Seele had.
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Wixelt
NGE Fic plan 480 pages and counting...
- Location
- England, UK
- Pronouns
- He/They
You mean aside from disagreeing wholeheartedly with the organization's general intention to cause the Soul Apocalypse?
Options include thinking they're a bunch of crazy cultists and wanting a normal life, relatively speaking.
- Location
- Canada
That is pretty much what I suspected. Another reason I can think of is disillusionment with the Idea of instrumentality. After seeing how crazy the leaders are, some might think "What was I thinking working for them"?
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Wixelt
NGE Fic plan 480 pages and counting...
- Location
- England, UK
- Pronouns
- He/They
Additionally, there's the option of the person not even having had the "What was I thinking?!" option, as some people, as hinted with Yui in canon and "Unknown Character" in the new Chronicles, were stuck in that dark pit from birth. Evidence suggestions the "from birth" crowd are the ones more likely to rebel from controlling cultist parents.
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Wixelt
NGE Fic plan 480 pages and counting...
- Location
- England, UK
- Pronouns
- He/They
Well, from what's been mentioned, at least two people got out intact.
The main issue, really, is getting out blameless. Guilt by association is a powerful thing.
Wixelt
NGE Fic plan 480 pages and counting...
- Location
- England, UK
- Pronouns
- He/They
And heck, even if you were cleared of charges, as long as your name is even slightly publicly known, you'd have to keep looking over your shoulder in case someone with SEELE beef decides to choose you as the outlet for their personal revenge crusade.
All in all, life would suck regardless.
- Location
- United States
The more interesting option though would be, "These people are doing this wrong."
The ultimate goal of SEELE as a whole was to evolve humanity into a single god-like being thus ending all human conflict. I could easily imagine people that were within SEELE still believing this to be a noble goal to pursue. However, this faction would take issue with Keel's attempt to force this evolution. Since, not only did it fail, it set back their ambition. Throw in the potential hypocrisies of its leaders. (I think its implied that Keel's and the other leaders' goal was for immortality and ultimate power. Not the benefit of humanity.)
So this faction would probably be all for third impact, but only for a willing humanity.
- Location
- Canada
But wouldn't they try to manipulate humanity so that it would willingly agree to it? Then again maybe not since they would see it as not different from their predecessors.