M. H. Fuzzball
Aperture Science-certified Horrible Person
- Location
- Sector 2814
Couldn't they, perhaps, just focus on Gendo? Or does 'anything but Kaworu' really mean 'NERV's internal defenses that are trying to shoot at Unit-03'?
Advice and Trust [NGE]
Quadhelix
Professional Windmill Hunter
...something like that.
Matt R
Giant Robot Pilot
- Location
- North Dakota
I was picturing Kaworu remotely taking control of an Eva, then using it to remove the other Evas' signal terminator plugs by hand and replace them with entry plugs for the other pilots. A bit of a delicate task, but given that he can synch at whatever level he feels like, probably quite possible.
SIRP Quest Cross #1
- Location
- National Capital Region, USA
And now for something a little different. Courtesy of @SeptimusMagisto and myself, here is the first (and possibly not the only) Shinji Ikari Raising Project Quest and Advice & Trust cross-encounter.
Opening assumptions: The SIRP cast has been hiccupped into the A&T-verse by Leliel-like Dirac experiments. To keep things calm until they can be recovered, each has been sent to spend time with their respective counterparts. We decided to start with A&T!Rei having a quiet talk with SIRP!Rei in the former's apartment. A&T!Rei speaks in white, SIRP!Rei in blue.
+++
"This is strange. I'm used to seeing someone who looks like me, but they don't normally talk to me."
Rei Ayanami places the cup of tea in front of... Rei Ayanami, and takes a seat opposite her. "I am going to assume for the moment that our taste in teas is congruent."
Rei dutifully takes a sip, finding nothing particularly objectionable about the experience.
"It seems that's true."
Rei tilts her head slightly, staring at her counterpart's shirtfront. "I did not say anything before, but... am I seeing an S2 Organ in you? Fully developed?"
The other Rei runs a hand over her chest and fingers a lock of her considerably longer hair, blushing slightly. "It's...new."
"I was inside Unit 01 when it gained one. Then I...did what my body wanted to."
"I...see. And... how did you acquire this? I estimate an Angel not Tabris was involved?" Rei's eyebrows go up and her cheeks color a little. "Or... are you and he... involved?"
Rei seems genuinely perplexed by that thought and gently shakes her head. "I am...involved...with Shinji."
"Kaworu is a friend...of sorts."
"How do you..." Rei cuts herself off. "Ah? That is... pleasant. I love him too. How are things between you and Asuka, then? She is... are you just sharing him, or is it a true... unity?"
Rei chokes on her tea, almost spitting some of it at her counterpart. She formulates her response while trying to regain her breath.
Rei passes her a napkin.
"I'm not sure what you mean. Asuka did-does have feelings for Shinji. But Shinji chose me."
Rei looks stricken. "....only? But she..." She places her hands on the table, trying to keep them from shaking. "But... she loves him. And me. And I her and..." She looks up, confused. "What happened? How did they... It was /their/ love that awoke mine!"
"How did... did they not... join?"
Rei shrugged, still confused about the concepts being thrown around.
"He and I became friends before she arrived. When she did, she was angry. I got closer to Shinji; she pushed him away. I came to understand my feelings; she denied hers. Then I kissed him. And he said he liked me more than her."
"But...you love Asuka?"
The hosting Rei swallowed heavily. "They... they fell in love. When she saw how I lived, alone and drugged, Asuka helped me. Became my friend. I watched them grow closer. Their Light... you must have seen it, how beautiful it is. And I... began to love them. I... I told them I loved them after the 14th Angel. I fought alone, but they saved me."
She looks up, a few tears at the corners of her eyes. "I told them I loved them both, and... they did not reject me. Yes. Asuka loves me, no less than Shinji. I am not... with them, out of fear I might disrupt their bond, but... I would die for them. Save the world for them. Anything."
"Are you sure you're not confused? There are at least four kinds of love."
"I read that in a book," Rei adds helpfully.
Rei smiled weakly. "I have read the same book, I think. It is...reassuring to know that is the same. But I am sure. I love them both unconditionally, all four. I... I have not sampled Eros with them beyond a single kiss to each, but... I would..." Rei flushes. "I would not... decline if they... made offers." Her voice shrinks. "....I think about it at night, before I sleep, sometimes."
"And... I can see it in their Light. They love me too. Can you not... See? I could not, until I broke some internal seals during the 14th Angel fight."
Rei shakes her head.
"I can...see everyone's Light. And their emotions and bonds thereby. Shinji and Asuka are... glorious together." She peers at her counterpart. "You are... the S2 Organ makes you look quite strange."
She frowns slightly. "A bit like the Rainbow Trout." She snorts. "Stupid Fish."
"This sounds...strange. When Asuka first arrived I fought her, mentally and physically. Now I want her to be close to me, and I want to protect her. But I don't have those desires. I don't want her to be *mine* like I do with Shinji. I don't...want to kiss her."
Rei blinks.
"Rainbow Trout?"
"My feelings for Asuka followed a somewhat similar arc, yes. The kissing is a... continuation of the other feelings. And the... fish thing is a nickname for Nagisa. He looks distinctly odd to my Sight, as he is... what he is. We are...friends."
"I know he wears all the colors of the rainbow now, but why a trout?"
"He..." Rei tries to articulate the image of something that has no visual correspondent. "Every Lilim soul looks similar enough that I can see it like ...positions on a scale. A number from 0 to infinity. But Nagisa... if everyone else looks like a number, he looks like a fish. Wildly and obviously different. So when Asuka called him 'new fish', for being the newest Pilot, it... triggered an association in my mind. It has become a friendly nickname for him. He...needs friends."
"He is having great difficultly resisting the Call."
Rei nods, finally in familiar territory.
"Our Kaworu is trying anti-Buddhism. I don't think it will work. Buddhists have no real insights, one way or the other."
"M-... ours is... um." Rei looks away. "He is... um."
"....apparently, thinking of... Lilim urges blocks the Call. So he...um."
"Eats candy until he throws up? I know."
Rei shrinks in her seat slightly. "....thinks of me," she mumbles. "That way."
"oh"
Awkward silence descends on the table for a full minute.
"....I'm minding less."
"oh" Rei repeats, in the same tone as before.
She looks up, her embarrassment fading away rapidly. "....have you fought any Angels that...attacked your mind?"
Rei nods.
"Kushiel. The one whose core Unit 01 ate."
"It showed me all the worst things I could imagine."
"Worlds where everything went wrong because Third Impact happened."
"Worlds where everything went wrong because it didn't."
"Everyone I love dead."
"And...more."
Rei puts her hand across the table, touching her counterpart's hand. "....we will not allow it. We will protect them. I think we are alike on that."
"Protecting them is worth everything."
Rei hangs her head.
"Have courage. I... have ideas."
"It may not be our choice. I saw Shinji get hit by a car. I wasn't there."
"We just fought a mind-attack Angel too. Arael. It..." She shakes her head. "It... chased me through my own mind. I tried to flee inward to get away. I... broke through, under it's attack."
"A car?! I...ah. Yes. I had... terror visions too. Of them... hating me. They... do not know what I am." Rei hangs her head too
"I can't be there to protect Shinji all the time."
"He can't always be there to protect me"
"The world is uncertain and anyone could die at any time."
Rei shakes.
"I know. All we can do is protect the world that let's them live. We cannot... roll them up in a blanket and lock them away."
"We...could."
Rei squeezes her hand. "Let me tell you what... I remembered."
Rei nods, still lost within her fears.
"I... remembered being her."
Rei nods again, more interested than shocked.
"Lilith."
"I remembered... where we came from. Why. How. Why Adam and I are on this world together. I remember... being nearly a goddess."
"If you have an S2 Organ... you are closer to that power than you know. And... you can use that to protect him and the world. Against anyone. Do not... let fear consume you. I worry the Rainbow Trout is...despairing. But I will save him too. None of my friends will... fall."
Rei shakes her head.
"I can't. I don't have infinite reach. I can't be near him all the time."
"I try, but I can't."
"There is one way I could make sure he and the world are safe...but I'm not sure if I should follow Gendo Ikari's plan anymore."
"You don't have to. He is... someone to love, not imprison for safety. Would you want him to do so to you? Lock you away from any risk?" Rei smiles slightly.
"I ride into battle at my loves' side. I am afraid, but I know together we are mighty."
"They would risk all for me. I will do no less. More, even, since I can be replaced."
"...though Asuka has asked me not to die. She fears losing me."
Rei nods.
"Against the Angels...I will do my best."
"After that...I don't know what to do anymore."
"I miss being certain."
Rei nods, smiling a bit more. "We will defeat the Angels. We will stop SEELE. We will protect our loves." Her smile is sadder. "I...understand. I..." she sighs. "Sometimes I am so scared, I almost ask Doctor Akagi to... give me the drugs again, so I would return to being so numb I did not care. But... not at the price of losing my loves. Never."
Rei blinks.
"Drugs?"
"I miss the... lack of doubt. But... what I have now is so much warmer."
Rei nods. "Commander Ikari had Doctor Akagi giving me... a broad array of tranquilizers and dissociatives. To keep me... numb and... obedient. Asuka... recognized them, and urged me to stop taking them. That was... how we began."
Rei blinks again, in more confusion.
"Wouldn't that be...redundant?"
Rei shrugs. "I worked. I never even thought to question Commander Ikari at all until after that. Or even felt much emotion. Every day was... grey. Blurry. You... he did not do this to you?"
"There was no need. My days were...grey enough."
"I never cared about anything. Until Gendo Ikari saved me...until Shinji Ikari became my friend...until Misato Katsuragi became...my mother."
Rei's smile is sunny. "Everything was so much... more since Shinji came, isn't it? I have friends now. Several!"
"And... people who love me!"
Rei just nods happily.
Rei's smile collapses. "...until they... learn what I am. Major Katsuragi... hates Angels. I am terrified of... how she will react if... when she learns what Nagisa and I are."
"That is what the Angel tormented me with."
"Their rejection. Their hate."
"In my experience she will hug you and try to make you feel better."
Rei shiveres. "I...could not..." Rei looks up. "What? She....how? She hates the Angels more than... almost anything. Maybe SEELE."
"Maybe. But she loves us more than she hates the Angels."
"I was also afraid. Of telling Shinji that I am part Angel...and part his mother. Of telling Asuka that I was artificial."
"But Shinji accepted me, exactly as I am."
"And Asuka...she was so angry at NERV for lying to her and manipulating her, she barely had enough energy to be upset about my origins."
Rei's smile returns. "Truly? I... I worried like that, when I told them I loved them. But they did not reject me. Perhaps... no, I know Shinji and Asuka will not reject me."
"Major Katsuragi... Maybe they can help... prepare her."
"She helped me prepare them."
Rei smiles. "You should hear how they 'prepared' her for learning they were... together. And... sexually engaged."
"Pen Pen helped."
"That's...strange. She didn't ask all of you to avoid sex until you were older?"
"She was very clear on the subject with us. She was even against it when I wanted to sleep in Shinji's bed. I had to ask the Commander to overrule her."
Rei actually laughs out loud. It's a small laugh, but a real one. "She did! She required they remain celibate until Asuka was 15, as proof they were serious, and not simply driven by lust."
"They did so."
"They even slept separately for a month to prove it."
"Our Major concluded she could not entirely block them, but chose to trust them. She was validated."
"After a month, she granted permission after Asuka's birthday."
"Asuka is...fifteen?"
"Yes. Shinji is... 6 months older. I am... well, you know how we are. Do...do you know our birthdate?"
"I think...our worlds are more distinct than I thought. Different ages, different medications...I wonder what else is different?"
"I...well, I can See, but you cannot. Though I think that might be a power you might gain. I did not have it myself until I... /needed/ to break through internally, to save them against the 14th. We called it Zeruel."
"I... have no S2 Organ, but... I guess I could gain one?"
"And... You weren't drugged. I think your Commander Ikari must be... different, too."
Rei nods.
"That seems...true."
"The Commander used to be the most important person in my life."
"He's not now, but I...worry about him."
Rei nods. "Indeed. I had...nothing else."
"I worry that he and Misato Katsuragi will oppose each other."
"And that will mean I must...oppose him."
"Possibly put an end to his dream."
Rei nods again. "I... I cannot support his plan, now. But... I can...somewhat understand it. He... he is willing to do anything to get his wife back."
"But... that would cost Shinji and Asuka their world. Their love. Everything. I...I cannot let the Commander do that."
"I... might have a plan."
Rei looks around carefully.
"We are secure here," Rei assures her.
"I... As Lilith, we can... do many things, yes?"
"All the Commander really wants is his love back. To be with her. Everything else is secondary to that."
"If we can... grant him that, he may be... willing to leave everything else alone."
Rei purses her lips, thinking it over.
"It... gives me hope. Shinji is... very angry with his father, here. For what he did to me. To Asuka. They... they are going to have a confrontation, I think. You know who's side I will choose."
Rei nods sadly.
"I wish I didn't have to choose," she says, forlornly.
"I just want everyone I care about to be safe and happy."
Rei squeezes her hand again. "I know. But...that is life. Choices. I..." Rei swallows again. "I... have promised Nagisa that I will stop him, if he... cannot stop himself. I do not want to. He is a friend. I... I will if I must but..."
She cannot continue.
"Yes, we all have the same deal with our Kaworu."
"Mari was the first to suggest it."
"...who?"
"And wait... you 'all' do? You all know what Nagisa is? Even the Major?"
"...and you call him Kaworu?"
"She found out about him, like she found out about me. I told Shinji alone. Mari already knew about Kaworu. We told everything to everyone...together."
"About what we are, what we could do."
"And they accepted you." Rei looks a bit happier. "I hope that bodes as well for I."
"Mari is Kaworu's oldest friend. I...noticed that she's not around in your world. Was Kaworu chosen to be the pilot of Unit 03?"
Rei shakes her head. "Not initially. I do not know a Mari. Hikari Horaki was the first Pilot of Unit-03. She was... injured when an Angel infected it during activation. Nagisa was sent by SEELE as a replacement. He... fought beside me in the last battle. He... protected me when the Angel struck me."
"I will ask him if there is a Mari back in Germany, perhaps."
"If she's not there with him...it could be bad," Rei states with concern. "She is...his counterpoint. They balance each other out. He will have a harder time without her. And I don't know what she will do without him.."
Rei visibly fights down a frown. "Counterpoint? I... He... I... I will..." She subsides to muttering. "Stupid Fish. You're not even here and you're annoying me."
Rei looks uncomfortable. "I... um. That's another thing I remembered from Lilith."
"Yes?"
"There are not supposed to be two Seeds on one world. I am not supposed to be here."
"But... my Seed followed his. Unconsciously."
"Because... because..." Rei pinches her eyes closed. "Because she loved Adam. But could never say it. And... I think I'm starting to like him."
Rei looks nonplussed.
"I think our version of Lilith just stabbed Adam until he stopped being a threat."
"But...I don't have her memories."
"I know, it's stupid. He's stupid. It's all stupid." Rei waves her hand in the air, more animated. "But.... while I hate Tabris... Kaworu Nagisa is a good man."
"He can be, yes."
"And my friend. I...don't want him to die. Not until at least I figure out what these memories are. And... how I feel."
"I don't want him to die, period."
"I'm sorry. I'm being.... stupid."
Rei shakes her head.
"I don't want him to die either."
"He is part of my family. All the pilots are."
Rei looks at her watch, comparing the current time with the projected return of the Dirac Sea.
"We don't have much time left. I'll need to return to my world soon."
"But this has been...informative."
"You must go?" Rei looks saddened. "I... wish you could... visit. This has been...heartening."
"If you could? Please give Shinji and Asuka... a chance. Of something. She is... so happy with him, here. It makes me sad to think of her... alone."
"Her happiness is important to me."
Rei suppresses her desire to petulantly declare that Shinji is *hers*.
"I will...think about it. And your plan. I don't know if I can defeat Unit 01...but it could be worth a try."
"If a Third Impact needs to happen, it should at least happen for the right reasons."
Rei smiles. "Thank you. I... I believe we will save everyone. We have... people who believe in us."
She comes around the table to hug her counterpart. "Give your Shinji a hug and kiss for me."
Rei hugs back.
Rei smiles a bit more. "Our friends are... wonderful people, aren't they?"
"They are. You should tell them what we are. Our worlds are different in may respects...but I don't think this is one of them."
Rei nods. "We will protect them all. We are Lilith, Mother of All." She steps back and gives the other Rei a thumbs up. "Good luck."
Rei returns the thumbs up with a gentle smile.
"Take care of your world."
And then she walks out.
+++
It all came out a good deal more hopeful than I expected, and our Reis more alike than I had thought. Both had deep urges to protect their circle, and prevent a tragic Third Impact, even if SIRP!Rei still considers it a viable, if last-choice option. And both are still haunted by fears of losing what happiness they've won with such difficulty. It helps that both love Shinji.
Opening assumptions: The SIRP cast has been hiccupped into the A&T-verse by Leliel-like Dirac experiments. To keep things calm until they can be recovered, each has been sent to spend time with their respective counterparts. We decided to start with A&T!Rei having a quiet talk with SIRP!Rei in the former's apartment. A&T!Rei speaks in white, SIRP!Rei in blue.
+++
*SCENE OPENS*
"This is strange. I'm used to seeing someone who looks like me, but they don't normally talk to me."
Rei Ayanami places the cup of tea in front of... Rei Ayanami, and takes a seat opposite her. "I am going to assume for the moment that our taste in teas is congruent."
Rei dutifully takes a sip, finding nothing particularly objectionable about the experience.
"It seems that's true."
Rei tilts her head slightly, staring at her counterpart's shirtfront. "I did not say anything before, but... am I seeing an S2 Organ in you? Fully developed?"
The other Rei runs a hand over her chest and fingers a lock of her considerably longer hair, blushing slightly. "It's...new."
"I was inside Unit 01 when it gained one. Then I...did what my body wanted to."
"I...see. And... how did you acquire this? I estimate an Angel not Tabris was involved?" Rei's eyebrows go up and her cheeks color a little. "Or... are you and he... involved?"
Rei seems genuinely perplexed by that thought and gently shakes her head. "I am...involved...with Shinji."
"Kaworu is a friend...of sorts."
"How do you..." Rei cuts herself off. "Ah? That is... pleasant. I love him too. How are things between you and Asuka, then? She is... are you just sharing him, or is it a true... unity?"
Rei chokes on her tea, almost spitting some of it at her counterpart. She formulates her response while trying to regain her breath.
Rei passes her a napkin.
"I'm not sure what you mean. Asuka did-does have feelings for Shinji. But Shinji chose me."
Rei looks stricken. "....only? But she..." She places her hands on the table, trying to keep them from shaking. "But... she loves him. And me. And I her and..." She looks up, confused. "What happened? How did they... It was /their/ love that awoke mine!"
"How did... did they not... join?"
Rei shrugged, still confused about the concepts being thrown around.
"He and I became friends before she arrived. When she did, she was angry. I got closer to Shinji; she pushed him away. I came to understand my feelings; she denied hers. Then I kissed him. And he said he liked me more than her."
"But...you love Asuka?"
The hosting Rei swallowed heavily. "They... they fell in love. When she saw how I lived, alone and drugged, Asuka helped me. Became my friend. I watched them grow closer. Their Light... you must have seen it, how beautiful it is. And I... began to love them. I... I told them I loved them after the 14th Angel. I fought alone, but they saved me."
She looks up, a few tears at the corners of her eyes. "I told them I loved them both, and... they did not reject me. Yes. Asuka loves me, no less than Shinji. I am not... with them, out of fear I might disrupt their bond, but... I would die for them. Save the world for them. Anything."
"Are you sure you're not confused? There are at least four kinds of love."
"I read that in a book," Rei adds helpfully.
Rei smiled weakly. "I have read the same book, I think. It is...reassuring to know that is the same. But I am sure. I love them both unconditionally, all four. I... I have not sampled Eros with them beyond a single kiss to each, but... I would..." Rei flushes. "I would not... decline if they... made offers." Her voice shrinks. "....I think about it at night, before I sleep, sometimes."
"And... I can see it in their Light. They love me too. Can you not... See? I could not, until I broke some internal seals during the 14th Angel fight."
Rei shakes her head.
"I can...see everyone's Light. And their emotions and bonds thereby. Shinji and Asuka are... glorious together." She peers at her counterpart. "You are... the S2 Organ makes you look quite strange."
She frowns slightly. "A bit like the Rainbow Trout." She snorts. "Stupid Fish."
"This sounds...strange. When Asuka first arrived I fought her, mentally and physically. Now I want her to be close to me, and I want to protect her. But I don't have those desires. I don't want her to be *mine* like I do with Shinji. I don't...want to kiss her."
Rei blinks.
"Rainbow Trout?"
"My feelings for Asuka followed a somewhat similar arc, yes. The kissing is a... continuation of the other feelings. And the... fish thing is a nickname for Nagisa. He looks distinctly odd to my Sight, as he is... what he is. We are...friends."
"I know he wears all the colors of the rainbow now, but why a trout?"
"He..." Rei tries to articulate the image of something that has no visual correspondent. "Every Lilim soul looks similar enough that I can see it like ...positions on a scale. A number from 0 to infinity. But Nagisa... if everyone else looks like a number, he looks like a fish. Wildly and obviously different. So when Asuka called him 'new fish', for being the newest Pilot, it... triggered an association in my mind. It has become a friendly nickname for him. He...needs friends."
"He is having great difficultly resisting the Call."
Rei nods, finally in familiar territory.
"Our Kaworu is trying anti-Buddhism. I don't think it will work. Buddhists have no real insights, one way or the other."
"M-... ours is... um." Rei looks away. "He is... um."
"....apparently, thinking of... Lilim urges blocks the Call. So he...um."
"Eats candy until he throws up? I know."
Rei shrinks in her seat slightly. "....thinks of me," she mumbles. "That way."
"oh"
Awkward silence descends on the table for a full minute.
"....I'm minding less."
"oh" Rei repeats, in the same tone as before.
She looks up, her embarrassment fading away rapidly. "....have you fought any Angels that...attacked your mind?"
Rei nods.
"Kushiel. The one whose core Unit 01 ate."
"It showed me all the worst things I could imagine."
"Worlds where everything went wrong because Third Impact happened."
"Worlds where everything went wrong because it didn't."
"Everyone I love dead."
"And...more."
Rei puts her hand across the table, touching her counterpart's hand. "....we will not allow it. We will protect them. I think we are alike on that."
"Protecting them is worth everything."
Rei hangs her head.
"Have courage. I... have ideas."
"It may not be our choice. I saw Shinji get hit by a car. I wasn't there."
"We just fought a mind-attack Angel too. Arael. It..." She shakes her head. "It... chased me through my own mind. I tried to flee inward to get away. I... broke through, under it's attack."
"A car?! I...ah. Yes. I had... terror visions too. Of them... hating me. They... do not know what I am." Rei hangs her head too
"I can't be there to protect Shinji all the time."
"He can't always be there to protect me"
"The world is uncertain and anyone could die at any time."
Rei shakes.
"I know. All we can do is protect the world that let's them live. We cannot... roll them up in a blanket and lock them away."
"We...could."
Rei squeezes her hand. "Let me tell you what... I remembered."
Rei nods, still lost within her fears.
"I... remembered being her."
Rei nods again, more interested than shocked.
"Lilith."
"I remembered... where we came from. Why. How. Why Adam and I are on this world together. I remember... being nearly a goddess."
"If you have an S2 Organ... you are closer to that power than you know. And... you can use that to protect him and the world. Against anyone. Do not... let fear consume you. I worry the Rainbow Trout is...despairing. But I will save him too. None of my friends will... fall."
Rei shakes her head.
"I can't. I don't have infinite reach. I can't be near him all the time."
"I try, but I can't."
"There is one way I could make sure he and the world are safe...but I'm not sure if I should follow Gendo Ikari's plan anymore."
"You don't have to. He is... someone to love, not imprison for safety. Would you want him to do so to you? Lock you away from any risk?" Rei smiles slightly.
"I ride into battle at my loves' side. I am afraid, but I know together we are mighty."
"They would risk all for me. I will do no less. More, even, since I can be replaced."
"...though Asuka has asked me not to die. She fears losing me."
Rei nods.
"Against the Angels...I will do my best."
"After that...I don't know what to do anymore."
"I miss being certain."
Rei nods, smiling a bit more. "We will defeat the Angels. We will stop SEELE. We will protect our loves." Her smile is sadder. "I...understand. I..." she sighs. "Sometimes I am so scared, I almost ask Doctor Akagi to... give me the drugs again, so I would return to being so numb I did not care. But... not at the price of losing my loves. Never."
Rei blinks.
"Drugs?"
"I miss the... lack of doubt. But... what I have now is so much warmer."
Rei nods. "Commander Ikari had Doctor Akagi giving me... a broad array of tranquilizers and dissociatives. To keep me... numb and... obedient. Asuka... recognized them, and urged me to stop taking them. That was... how we began."
Rei blinks again, in more confusion.
"Wouldn't that be...redundant?"
Rei shrugs. "I worked. I never even thought to question Commander Ikari at all until after that. Or even felt much emotion. Every day was... grey. Blurry. You... he did not do this to you?"
"There was no need. My days were...grey enough."
"I never cared about anything. Until Gendo Ikari saved me...until Shinji Ikari became my friend...until Misato Katsuragi became...my mother."
Rei's smile is sunny. "Everything was so much... more since Shinji came, isn't it? I have friends now. Several!"
"And... people who love me!"
Rei just nods happily.
Rei's smile collapses. "...until they... learn what I am. Major Katsuragi... hates Angels. I am terrified of... how she will react if... when she learns what Nagisa and I are."
"That is what the Angel tormented me with."
"Their rejection. Their hate."
"In my experience she will hug you and try to make you feel better."
Rei shiveres. "I...could not..." Rei looks up. "What? She....how? She hates the Angels more than... almost anything. Maybe SEELE."
"Maybe. But she loves us more than she hates the Angels."
"I was also afraid. Of telling Shinji that I am part Angel...and part his mother. Of telling Asuka that I was artificial."
"But Shinji accepted me, exactly as I am."
"And Asuka...she was so angry at NERV for lying to her and manipulating her, she barely had enough energy to be upset about my origins."
Rei's smile returns. "Truly? I... I worried like that, when I told them I loved them. But they did not reject me. Perhaps... no, I know Shinji and Asuka will not reject me."
"Major Katsuragi... Maybe they can help... prepare her."
"She helped me prepare them."
Rei smiles. "You should hear how they 'prepared' her for learning they were... together. And... sexually engaged."
"Pen Pen helped."
"That's...strange. She didn't ask all of you to avoid sex until you were older?"
"She was very clear on the subject with us. She was even against it when I wanted to sleep in Shinji's bed. I had to ask the Commander to overrule her."
Rei actually laughs out loud. It's a small laugh, but a real one. "She did! She required they remain celibate until Asuka was 15, as proof they were serious, and not simply driven by lust."
"They did so."
"They even slept separately for a month to prove it."
"Our Major concluded she could not entirely block them, but chose to trust them. She was validated."
"After a month, she granted permission after Asuka's birthday."
"Asuka is...fifteen?"
"Yes. Shinji is... 6 months older. I am... well, you know how we are. Do...do you know our birthdate?"
"I think...our worlds are more distinct than I thought. Different ages, different medications...I wonder what else is different?"
"I...well, I can See, but you cannot. Though I think that might be a power you might gain. I did not have it myself until I... /needed/ to break through internally, to save them against the 14th. We called it Zeruel."
"I... have no S2 Organ, but... I guess I could gain one?"
"And... You weren't drugged. I think your Commander Ikari must be... different, too."
Rei nods.
"That seems...true."
"The Commander used to be the most important person in my life."
"He's not now, but I...worry about him."
Rei nods. "Indeed. I had...nothing else."
"I worry that he and Misato Katsuragi will oppose each other."
"And that will mean I must...oppose him."
"Possibly put an end to his dream."
Rei nods again. "I... I cannot support his plan, now. But... I can...somewhat understand it. He... he is willing to do anything to get his wife back."
"But... that would cost Shinji and Asuka their world. Their love. Everything. I...I cannot let the Commander do that."
"I... might have a plan."
Rei looks around carefully.
"We are secure here," Rei assures her.
"I... As Lilith, we can... do many things, yes?"
"All the Commander really wants is his love back. To be with her. Everything else is secondary to that."
"If we can... grant him that, he may be... willing to leave everything else alone."
Rei purses her lips, thinking it over.
"It... gives me hope. Shinji is... very angry with his father, here. For what he did to me. To Asuka. They... they are going to have a confrontation, I think. You know who's side I will choose."
Rei nods sadly.
"I wish I didn't have to choose," she says, forlornly.
"I just want everyone I care about to be safe and happy."
Rei squeezes her hand again. "I know. But...that is life. Choices. I..." Rei swallows again. "I... have promised Nagisa that I will stop him, if he... cannot stop himself. I do not want to. He is a friend. I... I will if I must but..."
She cannot continue.
"Yes, we all have the same deal with our Kaworu."
"Mari was the first to suggest it."
"...who?"
"And wait... you 'all' do? You all know what Nagisa is? Even the Major?"
"...and you call him Kaworu?"
"She found out about him, like she found out about me. I told Shinji alone. Mari already knew about Kaworu. We told everything to everyone...together."
"About what we are, what we could do."
"And they accepted you." Rei looks a bit happier. "I hope that bodes as well for I."
"Mari is Kaworu's oldest friend. I...noticed that she's not around in your world. Was Kaworu chosen to be the pilot of Unit 03?"
Rei shakes her head. "Not initially. I do not know a Mari. Hikari Horaki was the first Pilot of Unit-03. She was... injured when an Angel infected it during activation. Nagisa was sent by SEELE as a replacement. He... fought beside me in the last battle. He... protected me when the Angel struck me."
"I will ask him if there is a Mari back in Germany, perhaps."
"If she's not there with him...it could be bad," Rei states with concern. "She is...his counterpoint. They balance each other out. He will have a harder time without her. And I don't know what she will do without him.."
Rei visibly fights down a frown. "Counterpoint? I... He... I... I will..." She subsides to muttering. "Stupid Fish. You're not even here and you're annoying me."
Rei looks uncomfortable. "I... um. That's another thing I remembered from Lilith."
"Yes?"
"There are not supposed to be two Seeds on one world. I am not supposed to be here."
"But... my Seed followed his. Unconsciously."
"Because... because..." Rei pinches her eyes closed. "Because she loved Adam. But could never say it. And... I think I'm starting to like him."
Rei looks nonplussed.
"I think our version of Lilith just stabbed Adam until he stopped being a threat."
"But...I don't have her memories."
"I know, it's stupid. He's stupid. It's all stupid." Rei waves her hand in the air, more animated. "But.... while I hate Tabris... Kaworu Nagisa is a good man."
"He can be, yes."
"And my friend. I...don't want him to die. Not until at least I figure out what these memories are. And... how I feel."
"I don't want him to die, period."
"I'm sorry. I'm being.... stupid."
Rei shakes her head.
"I don't want him to die either."
"He is part of my family. All the pilots are."
Rei looks at her watch, comparing the current time with the projected return of the Dirac Sea.
"We don't have much time left. I'll need to return to my world soon."
"But this has been...informative."
"You must go?" Rei looks saddened. "I... wish you could... visit. This has been...heartening."
"If you could? Please give Shinji and Asuka... a chance. Of something. She is... so happy with him, here. It makes me sad to think of her... alone."
"Her happiness is important to me."
Rei suppresses her desire to petulantly declare that Shinji is *hers*.
"I will...think about it. And your plan. I don't know if I can defeat Unit 01...but it could be worth a try."
"If a Third Impact needs to happen, it should at least happen for the right reasons."
Rei smiles. "Thank you. I... I believe we will save everyone. We have... people who believe in us."
She comes around the table to hug her counterpart. "Give your Shinji a hug and kiss for me."
Rei hugs back.
Rei smiles a bit more. "Our friends are... wonderful people, aren't they?"
"They are. You should tell them what we are. Our worlds are different in may respects...but I don't think this is one of them."
Rei nods. "We will protect them all. We are Lilith, Mother of All." She steps back and gives the other Rei a thumbs up. "Good luck."
Rei returns the thumbs up with a gentle smile.
"Take care of your world."
And then she walks out.
*SCENE CLOSE*
+++
It all came out a good deal more hopeful than I expected, and our Reis more alike than I had thought. Both had deep urges to protect their circle, and prevent a tragic Third Impact, even if SIRP!Rei still considers it a viable, if last-choice option. And both are still haunted by fears of losing what happiness they've won with such difficulty. It helps that both love Shinji.
Always Late
Lacking in coffee, sleep, and brains
- Location
- Ohio
@Strypgia, @SeptimusMagisto, you two posted this within a minute of each other. That is both awesome and creepy.
- Location
- National Capital Region, USA
okay, I'm confused. I know very little about "shinji ikari raising project", beyond it being dating sim and a manga. Was Rei/Shinji canon in either of those?
She was an option in the game. And the quest I'm running loosely based on that game apparently took that option.
True. Though to me A&T!Rei's reaction to the idea of Shinji loving her and only her is pretty interesting.
- Location
- National Capital Region, USA
Shinji Ikari Raising Project Quest is a quest here on SV loosely based on the games. In the quest, Shinji got closer to Rei before Asuka arrived, and this gave Rei a big headstart in that contest. Asuka didn't let herself admit her attraction until Rei was too far ahead, and then Rei forced the issue during a heated argument with Asuka by grabbing Shinji and kissing him.
Rei unreservedly loves Asuka here, and knows it is returned. So the idea of 'her' Asuka alone and unloved is... profoundly unhappy to A&T!Rei. She likes Asuka a lot, and knows what it feels like to be alone, and so doesn't want her friend/love to feel that way.
On the one hand that's true.
On the other hand I'm still going to go ahead and infer some self-esteem issues.
kk thanks.
*mumbles about having another archive to binge on*
Lone Courier 6
Devilish Fool
- Location
- United States of Quests
So what's next, Sirp Shinji and A&T shinji?( joking mainly)
Probably the Asukas.
I'm not quite sure if the Shinjis are different enough to produce an entertaining dialogue, though I'm open to being persuaded otherwise.
Always Late
Lacking in coffee, sleep, and brains
- Location
- Ohio
When you get to the Kaowru's, have Mari drop in for randomness! And also vary the premise while showing the stark difference between the two Angels of Free Will.
Let me get back to you on that. I'm still working on the comme- who am I kidding, I have been doing nothing but making shitty jokes out of the omake.
It occurs to me that Kaworu would have no reason to be on that mission. After all, Mari is the designated pilot of Unit 03. Which makes A&T!Kaworu her closest counterpart...
I look forward to reading them.
MarshalGraves
Warrior of Light
- Location
- Eorzea
As one of the Misato-momma's in question, all I have to say is....
D'aaawwwww *melts* It's working! Yay! It's working!
Excellent RP, guys! Love 'em both! Also makes me wonder....when my group gets to Leliel, I wonder how they'll be, and how the casts of either A&T -or- SIRP interact with PPFR!Crew as they will be when they reach that point.
I can definitely see my Gendo handing out a few good, strong haymakers, to say the least. Any my Rei, at least as she is -now-, would likely scare the everloving -shit- out of the other two.
And maybe adopt them. Depends, I guess, on who she is at the time.
D'aaawwwww *melts* It's working! Yay! It's working!
Excellent RP, guys! Love 'em both! Also makes me wonder....when my group gets to Leliel, I wonder how they'll be, and how the casts of either A&T -or- SIRP interact with PPFR!Crew as they will be when they reach that point.
I can definitely see my Gendo handing out a few good, strong haymakers, to say the least. Any my Rei, at least as she is -now-, would likely scare the everloving -shit- out of the other two.
And maybe adopt them. Depends, I guess, on who she is at the time.
Always Late
Lacking in coffee, sleep, and brains
- Location
- Ohio
That works too. Variety is the spice of life.
Fyrstorm
Gun Waifu Extraordinaire
- Location
- 'Straya
- Pronouns
- He/Him
And I have similar thoughts for when the (N)tE crew (shameless plug, btw) inevitably ends up against the 14th (still Leliel, but the order's been changed around). What can I say, it's an interesting idea, similar casts from different stories meeting each other!
Yeah, that's always been one of my favorite Evangelion subgenres. It's why I pushed for this in the first place.
Always Late
Lacking in coffee, sleep, and brains
- Location
- Ohio
Yup. This is two Kuudere's having a conversation alright.
How that would result in that is... actually more than a little tragic, when you think about it.
Translation: But it'd OT3! One True threesome! There can be nothing but that!
Don't worry SIRP!Rei. A few people still don't get the concepts Evangelion was throwing around, much less Advice and Trust.
SIRP!Rei reveals the Asula problems... and I'm wondering if A&T!Rei can follow that outcome based on Shinji and Asuka's pre-divergence behavior.
And now for a probably-horrible Abridged joke.
Abridged!SIRP!Rei: "You sure you love them both?"
Abridged!A&T!Rei: "Sure? Sure? Let me show you how sure I am!"
*thirty minutes later*
Abridged!SIRP!Rei: "Ok, I'm convinced. But you really didn't need to sho-"
Abridged!A&T!Rei: "Yes, I had to show you an all-angles video of Shinji, Asuka, and me hugging that documented all the ways our love is mentally and physically maximized. You might have doubted me otherwise!"
1. Basically, Rei views Asuka as a peer and comrade. Not just someone who's fought and bled along side her to protect humanity and Shinji... but who has suffered at the hands of NERV.
2. Oooh, here comes the meme!
1. Aaaaand Kaworu's new fashion sense just got brushed over.
2. Formatting error: between the two reddened words you had an empty paragraph line.
Abridged!SIRP!Rei: *should I tell her that Asuka might be with Kaworu? Wait, no. Given her feelings for both Asuka and Shinji and maybe Kaworu, that would make her uncomfortable.
Abridged!A&T!Rei: *should I tell her about all the times I beat the shit out of the Fish? Wait, no. Given her fish seems to be a masochist as well, that would just make things way creepier.*
Abridged!SIRP!Rei: *oh yeah, she's four-for-four. If I wasn't sure she'd try five-for-five, I'd bring in DIRT!Asuka to get her checked out.*
1. And the whole 'different angels' thing gets brushed over.
2. ... I am very, very scared that the same logic that makes SIRP!Rei consider 3rd Impact is present in A&T!Rei.
1. Not helping the terror A&T!Re!
2. Broaching the issues of Rei not yet revealing herself.
OK, so A&T!Rei is trying to talk SIRP!Rei out of 3rd Impact/Yandere-light, but how does bringing up the original Lilith backstory help?
1. ... telling the Rei considering 3rd Impact to protect Shinji 'you have the power of Lilith, you can protect Shinji' is not helping A&T!Rei! NOT! HELPING!
2. See? She's still holding those anxieties of her current power not being enough. You need to address that.
3. Hey, you're the Soul of Lilith, you're the one who made us without any built-in idea of what the hell we were supposed to do, beyond old primate instinct and pack education. Don't give us any of that 'uncertainty of purpose' BS./kidding
... the fucking fuck? A&T!Rei's... that terrified of the pain of loss?
I am no longer sure which scares me to the core more, the Rei that is willing to wipe out humanity to save her family, or the Rei that would rather throw away an ideal situation rather than face it being taken away?
1. Moving on from that bit of scariness, divergences in the Rei's backstories are brought forward.
2. The lack of discussion on Misato being a mother disappoints me. Only slightly, given the quality of the rest of the work, but slightly.
And now it is SIRP!Rei's turn to comfort A&T!Rei. So heartwarming.
More differences are revealed. I wonder how quickly they'd figure out traveling the Evangelion multiverse is to be done very carefully?
AKA, running into canon or Thousand Shinji.
*whew* SIRP!Rei is willing to put the screws to Gendo, and a distinct possibility to not do 3rd Impact . That is a major relief.
... did you two swap the colors for the Rei's here?
Seriously though, Rei advocating yanking Yui out of Unit 01 is... an interesting concept.
1. We already know what the answer from A&T!Kaworu will be.
2. Mari would latch onto someone else. Probably Shinji.
3.
rofl: THE MEME NEVER DIES!HAHAHAHA! AAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh that's rich, that is just rich!
Abridged!A&T!Lilith:
"Eyes, look your last!
Arms, take your last embrace! and lips, O you
The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss
A dateless bargain to engrossing death."
Abridged!SIRP!Lilith:
Also, can't wait for Rei to tell Kaowru she's falling for both him and his father.
Abridged!A&T!Rei: "Wait! One last thing, before you go..."
Abridged!SIRP!Rei: *waits*
Abridged!A&T!Rei: "Give OT3 a chan-"
Abridged!SIRP!Rei: *karate chops*
Wait, what was that about defeating Unit 01? What the hell are you planning SIRP!Rei?
1.
2. I don't think SIRP!Rei will have any trouble fulfilling that request.
All in all, I loved this. I learned things about both iterations of Rei I didn't before, laughs were had, and I think the two of them walked away from this meeting stronger for it. Kind of a shame this is non-canon, but I do appreciate the hassle of making the plotpoints of two stories tied together and dependent on things seen off-screen.
- Location
- Edinburgh
It was a lot of fun reading that! Would love to see more of the other characters meeting one another too. The two Asukas meeting one another would be fun. I've always wondered how the characters in one of my stories would react to meeting their canon counterparts, or counterparts from other stories.
- Location
- National Capital Region, USA
Kaworu: "....I am incredibly confused by this person. Also..." ~shifty eyes~ "....dem legs."
I'm not sure she'd scare her, but boy would she confuse them.
Rei: "....why is this other me... dressed like a gothic Lolita French maid?"
We did scoot past some topics more quickly than I would have liked, but that's just how the conversation flowed. We did a pretty good job of hitting a lot of points in a totally free-form and zero-planned RP set.
Rei's never had much experience of having anything she's afraid to lose. And Shinji and Asuka have become more important to her than anything else in the world. So yes, the specter of losing them is incredibly frightening to her. That's why she's so reluctant to talk about SEELE or her own nature: The idea that her loves knowing that puts them in mortal danger scares Rei badly. She's also had no experience with being this scared for this long, and at times the lure of drugs making that fear go away is powerful. She knows it's a bad idea, and so does not, but the fear just going away is tempting sometimes.
Not quite. Lilith loved Adam. Kaworu is Rei's friend. Rei and Kaworu are not Lilith and Adam, though the degree of separation in either is blurry and shifting.
MarshalGraves
Warrior of Light
- Location
- Eorzea
PPFR!Rei: "Why isn't this other me dressed like Irisviel-chan? Ooh! Maybe today's one of her Dorothy-chan days! I can fix that! ONII-CHAN! GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE, WE GOTTA SAD-REI-SAD-DAY!"
grommile
nasty-minded old cynic
- Location
- NERV-Mercia
- Pronouns
- Traditional/Animate
... I am now imagining a sleepy Rei dressed in a costume inspired by the Grille Ausf. M self-propelled gun.
MarshalGraves
Warrior of Light
- Location
- Eorzea
....That's really kind of an adorable mental image, but not the 'Dorothy-chan' I meant. My Rei coslifes as different fictional characters (so far they've all been anime/manga, but after having to revise my -outline- after each of the last four chapters, I'm not holding my breath anymore). The 'Dorothy-chan' in question is R. Dorothy Wainwright, of Big O fame.
My Rei coslifes as her to portray her displeasure to the world around her. Specifically to my Gendo, who -hates- the 'emotionless doll' that is R. Dorothy Wainwright (a canon!Rei expy, no less).
Also, go read the 'fic. I need more posters, more feedback, more, more, more! MWAHAHAHAHA! #shamelessplugging, #bitcheslovecannons, #veryenthusiasticwalks
Also, fun fact: R. Dorothy Wainwright dresses as a French Gothic Lolita.
PPFR!Rei is....kind of oblivious to this. (So is her author.)
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