- Location
- National Capital Region, USA
Go for it! 
Beauty and the Beast [NGE]
- Location
- Online
Why stop at just K/S? Why not have the entire Madoka cast as classmates? It's not like his school mates are anything other then background noise. Heck, did any of Shinji's canon classmates even to anything other then move around in the background, let alone even have names?Shinji and Kaworu
Tho given it's Stryp I see the confusion. I am halfway writing the first school chapter however so... Maybe the madoka immigrants can get a mention if Stryp likes.
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- Location
- Volksstaat Hessen, Deutsches Reich
Hikari, Touji and Kensuke are the only named classmates.
Of course, if you want to go with the theme - all three are named for characters in "Ai to Gensou no Fascism" by Ryu Murakami. So when I wanted names for classmates recently, I looked up other Murakami characters, heh.
- Location
- Altamonte Springs, FL
Do you have plans for an Asami Yamazaki (or any part of her name) or a Shigeharu or Shigehiko Aoyama (or any part of his name)? (From Audition.)
- Location
- Volksstaat Hessen, Deutsches Reich
Not as such? It's more like "whenever a name is needed". And I have no idea when this might be.
- Location
- Canada
That fits really well. Even if Fascism of Love sounds like something that would run me afoul of the mods.
On another note a friend mine @jcmoorehead came out with a new fic that I would recommend since it just started.
Braver Than We Are (NGE Fanfic)
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- Location
- Edinburgh
That fits really well. Even if Fascism of Love sounds like something that would run me afoul of the mods.
On another note a friend mine @jcmoorehead came out with a new fic that I would recommend since it just started.
Braver Than We Are (NGE Fanfic)
Thank you so much, really appreciate the shoutout and I hope you and others enjoy it ^_^
- Location
- Canada
Alright, guys so I am sorry that this chapter is coming a bit slower than I hoped, I would say it is about half done so I should be able to put it out in a few days. In general, though I think the plan going forward will be a chapter every other week with an interlude in between. That gives me time to plan ahead more and hopefully not brick wall the fic. Here is a preview of a scene I have so far.
Again I would like to thank everyone for all the support and feedback, you guys are what really keep this thing going.
Careful not to trip on the sea of wires and cables beneath her, Ritsuko rose to her feet. She was in the heart of the MAGI, the brain of not just the Geofront but all of Tokyo-3. Mother's favorite child or at least a nice little copy of her. It had been hard, after Gendo had recruited her, to walk in the deep-worn footsteps of her mother. Many saw it as a pity appointment or just seeking a replacement Akagi, but these last five years had proven to not just herself that she was exemplary on her own merits and not just riding her mother's coattails. Dusting herself off and closing her device, Ritsuko headed towards one of the maintenance lifts.
Arriving at the main lab, she saw Maya in a similar condition to herself, overworked and underslept. Poor girl, Ritsuko thought. Your Pollyanna act can be slightly grating, but you're a hard worker and a good friend... It's a shame I can't give you what you want. At least you will soon have an intern or two to boss around – Shit I was supposed to do that.
The doctor swore under her breath as she walked over to one of the stations. Ritsuko picked up the bland brown folder that contained the list of candidates HR had sent for the intern positions, each sporting top marks, and an impressive technical skill set. To Ritsuko's tired eyes, however, they blended together.
"Maya, when you're done with what you're doing can you look over this?" Ritsuko asked as she placed the folder on Maya's desk. "It really should be me to make the decision but I'm falling down tired. And besides... It will be you who will be working with them most closely. Just... pick one you think looks good. If it doesn't work out we can always give them the boot..." Ritsuko looked around the room to see they were alone before continuing. "Unlike a certain doctor Makinami."
Arriving at the main lab, she saw Maya in a similar condition to herself, overworked and underslept. Poor girl, Ritsuko thought. Your Pollyanna act can be slightly grating, but you're a hard worker and a good friend... It's a shame I can't give you what you want. At least you will soon have an intern or two to boss around – Shit I was supposed to do that.
The doctor swore under her breath as she walked over to one of the stations. Ritsuko picked up the bland brown folder that contained the list of candidates HR had sent for the intern positions, each sporting top marks, and an impressive technical skill set. To Ritsuko's tired eyes, however, they blended together.
"Maya, when you're done with what you're doing can you look over this?" Ritsuko asked as she placed the folder on Maya's desk. "It really should be me to make the decision but I'm falling down tired. And besides... It will be you who will be working with them most closely. Just... pick one you think looks good. If it doesn't work out we can always give them the boot..." Ritsuko looked around the room to see they were alone before continuing. "Unlike a certain doctor Makinami."
Again I would like to thank everyone for all the support and feedback, you guys are what really keep this thing going.
EvaUnit01
Kept you waiting, huh?
Write as you will, when you will.
"Don't worry Ritsuko you're an indispensable part of NERV's day to day operations since unless you have a sister we don't know about we're fresh out of Akagis after you!"
- Location
- National Capital Region, USA
Damn it, Ritsuko... he's never going to give you what you want, or be who you desperately wish he was... You're just asking for heartbreak.
Me-yow. A little catty, Ritsuko? Or just paranoid about someone else smart looking through your files and maybe spotting secrets you really need hidden?
- Location
- Canada
Hey the MAGI counts... sorta. What it lacks in a fleshy meat body it makes up for in processing power! Just don't ask it to open any pod bay doors
Little of column A little of column B. Rits is a genius but also a deeply emotional person and what is worse she is a deeply emotional person who hates that she is one so she bottles it up with a facade of stoicism until she snaps.
Her feelings for him are deeply complicated. She isn't stupid, on some level she recognizes that she is being used, but in turn, she believes she is using him. In a twisted way, it is easier like that for her. To believe that its just two people using each other than the alternative... that she actually cares about him and is more emotionally compromised then she thinks.
Thanks, I admit I am very new to this so I will make mistakes and slip-ups I just hope the ensuing train wreck will be fun to watch.
- Location
- Edinburgh
Take as much time as you need, I always go by the thing of any progress is good progress when working on my fic. Be it a sentance, a paragraph or an entire thing. Just don't pressure yourself to have it done by a set time.
Far from a train wreck, it's very good so far!
- Location
- Online
"Pollyanna act"? If she's acting then she deserves an Emmy, and for the people who hand them out to stop giving them out cause Maya's not going to be topped.
Also do i smell fraternizing in the workplace coming?
What EvaUnit01 said. I liked what you've done so fr, and i like what i see here.
- Location
- Canada
Thanks. I admit due to my own issues I often struggle to see my stuff as worthwhile to write so it is always reassuring to hear people are enjoying it.
It's less that she is acting and more like Rits is just commenting on Maya's deeply optimistic personality. Something rare to find in the upper echelons of NERV. Nothing quite quashes the spirit then finding out a doomsday cult is controlling the world. There is, however, something to be said of cynical types like Rits assuming that everyone is as cynical as them.
New chapter is almost done, I was going to finish it yesterday but I got kinda sidetracked writing smut
DocMatoi
Theoretical Lover of Girls
- Location
- within 2 hours of the White House
- Pronouns
- They/Them
I think that's a fairly common issue among those who create. A friend of mine who does art has complained about feeling this way in the past. Just try and remember that ultimately, your writing is for your satisfaction, not ours. Us liking it is just a side benefit.
EvaUnit01
Kept you waiting, huh?
I know the feeling.Thanks. I admit due to my own issues I often struggle to see my stuff as worthwhile to write so it is always reassuring to hear people are enjoying it.
It's less that she is acting and more like Rits is just commenting on Maya's deeply optimistic personality. Something rare to find in the upper echelons of NERV. Nothing quite quashes the spirit then finding out a doomsday cult is controlling the world. There is, however, something to be said of cynical types like Rits assuming that everyone is as cynical as them.
New chapter is almost done, I was going to finish it yesterday but I got kinda sidetracked writing smut
- Location
- Canada
May we have some context?
- Location
- Online
I too am curious.
- Location
- Canada
Funny you say that because it's A&T smut. Might post to QQ later if I ever feel the muse to finish it.
Chapter 6
- Location
- Canada
Thanks for waiting guys, this chapter was planned to cover more but some scenes wanted to longer than first planned.
Chapter 6
Ritsuko cracked her neck in the dim light as she disconnected her laptop from one of the glowing server hubs of the Magi. It had been a long day, or rather night – lately it all seemed to blend together into a blurry waking dream of work and coffee, punctuated by brief respites at her apartment with her cats... and occasionally the commander. And here I was thinking that with Mari replacing me, I might have a lighter workload. It disappointed her that with all that had happened and all that Mari had done, the metabiologist had been able to keep her new position. But she supposed there was only so much the commander could do in the face of the council. Ritsuko shuddered thinking about them.Careful not to trip on the sea of wires and cables beneath her, Ritsuko rose to her feet. She was in the heart of the MAGI, the brain of not just the Geofront but all of Tokyo-3. Mother's favorite child or at least a nice little copy of her. It had been hard, after Gendo had recruited her, to walk in the deep-worn footsteps of her mother. Many saw it as a pity appointment or just seeking a replacement Akagi, but these last five years had proven to not just herself that she was exemplary on her own merits and not just riding her mother's coattails. Dusting herself off and closing her device, Ritsuko headed towards one of the maintenance lifts.
Arriving at the main lab, she saw Maya in a similar condition to herself, overworked and underslept. Poor girl, Ritsuko thought. Your Pollyanna act can be slightly grating, but you're a hard worker and a good friend... It's a shame I can't give you what you want. At least you will soon have an intern or two to boss around – Shit I was supposed to do that.
The doctor swore under her breath as she walked over to one of the stations. Ritsuko picked up the bland brown folder that contained the list of candidates HR had sent for the intern positions, each sporting top marks, and an impressive technical skill set. To Ritsuko's tired eyes, however, they blended together.
"Maya, when you're done with what you're doing can you look over this?" Ritsuko asked as she placed the folder on Maya's desk. "It really should be me to make the decision but I'm falling down tired. And besides... It will be you who will be working with them most closely. Just... pick one you think looks good. If it doesn't work out we can always give them the boot..." Ritsuko looked around the room to see they were alone before continuing. "Unlike a certain doctor Makinami."
On the other side of the Geofront, much closer to the surface, in the small sanctuary he called his room, Shinji stared at himself in the mirror. There really was no getting around it: no combination of clothes was going to make him any less painfully ordinary looking. He was probably quite a bit more fit then most kids his age; constant training tended to do that. But besides that, he was hardly much to look at: Short dark brown hair framed a tanned face with boring brown eyes with a hint of green. Mari liked to say he had his mother's eyes but Shinji was not sure. He had his jacket, made for him by some of the crew at the Nevada base as a gift. Silver trimmed with black and dark red patches to match with his Eva. Shinji was unsure if it made him look cool or silly.
"Shinji, are you ready yet? Breakfast is getting cold." Shinji turned as he heard his guardian's voice from down the hall.
"Just a minute, Mari." Shinji looked at the jacket on the hook and then back at himself in the mirror. Sighing he grabbed it and headed to the kitchen.
After devouring an astonishing number of pancakes, the two left, making their way down through the Geofront to the the vast storage complex that housed their NERV granted car. The Geofront was... cold to Shinji, very much his father's domain. As he watched the massive machines shift and move as they made their way to the surface, Shinji felt like a bee in a hive.
The drive through the city proper was quiet but nice. It felt good to see what he had saved, though even now there was evidence scattered about of what he hadn't. Scars burned into the edges of buildings, cracks in the cement of the road, buildings with boarded up windows. Shinji was not sure if it would ever be easier to see damage like that, and he was unsure if he ever wanted it to be.
Pulling up to the school Shinji swallowed hard. He was quite unused to this. A little more than a week ago I fought an angel, why am I freaking out about this? He had never been very good with most people. Outside of Asuka and Rebecca most people just seemed to want things from him. There was Kaji, who was nice when he was around and Misato... back when she had seen him as a person.
Shinji looked out at the courtyard of the building. Right outside the window, there were... kids. Some alone and some together some worrying while others were laughing and playing. All in all lots of normal kids. Everything I'm not. Shinji shook his head.
"I hope you enjoy yourself. I'm sure you will get more than your share of fans when you say you're a pilot." Mari giggled and placed a hand on Shinji's shoulder. "Try your best but don't worry about marks; your NERV stuff comes first. Just focus on meeting people. You deserve a break from everything... especially after this week."
"Did I really have to do all those tests?" Shinji held his head in his hand. "After I fought for them and... didn't they know I'm not some monster?"
Mari gritted her teeth. "Shinji, no matter what happens you'll never be a monster and I will never stop loving you. As for... look, I'm sorry about the tests and the... the monitor but things are tense and complicated right now. We really don't have the luxury..."
"You said to me before that people say it's complicated when they're afraid of something simple..." Shinji opened the door and walked turned to leave. "I... I will see you after school," he said, before joining the throng of students amassed around the entrance.
When Shinji was gone, Mari turned the key to the ignition and drove gripping the wheel tightly. "Dammit."
*
Shinji made his way through the thick mass of students around him, his eyes flickering between those around him and a thoroughly folded piece of paper Mari had given him which contained information on the school. Absentmindedly, he looked up from the series of figures to see if he could spot a patch of blue in the sea of black and brown. It was not long before the students seemed to disappear one by one from the crowd, leaving a confused Shinji to wander the halls looking for the room on the paper Mari had given him. Sighing, he soon reached his destination but found nobody inside the darkened room. "What the hell?"
"You must be the new transfer." Shinji turned around to see a smiling freckled girl approach him. "I am Hikari Horaki. The teacher said we would be getting a new student from America today, so I went out to look for you."
Shinji smiled back and threw out a hand before awkwardly withdrawing it and giving a quick bow. "I'm, ah... my name is Shinji Ikari. Sorry, this is all a bit new to me." Turning to the empty classroom, Shinji raised an eyebrow. "Where is everyone?"
"On Mondays, our year has a school assembly before class, so they're all currently in the auditorium. When I couldn't find you there, I assumed you had come here." The girl smiled. "It's my job as class representative, you understand: to help out the new people settle in." She pulled out a set of keys from her bag and opened the door to the classroom. "If you want, I can go over some things with you before class starts. I don't think they would be happy if we interrupted the assembly."
Shinji nodded and followed the girl into the immaculate classroom. The room was divided into rows of desks, each with a red laptop quietly humming that seemed to be connected to a larger silver one on the teacher's desk at the front. Turning to the class representative, Shinji tried to smile "Looks nice. Are these from NERV?"
Hikari nodded. "The school is run by them. You're kinda lucky in that, actually. NERV being so... international means it's probably a lot closer to the schools you went to in America than most here in Japan."
Shinji shook his head. "Honestly... this is the first real school I have ever been to. Well... I think I went to preschool before I was sent to Germany but that hardly counts."
"This is your first school?" Hikari was amazed. "How does that... how would that even work?"
Shinji shrugged. "Tutors mostly, though I was also given a lot of self-courses to work on in between pilot training. I didn't miss out... at least academically, they say I'm at a sophomore level in most areas." But not college, a fact he was sure Asuka would never stop lording over him.
"So you are the pilot..." Hikari went cold and had to look away. "I thought you might be but... it's good to know."
Shinji's smile faded. "Is... is that a problem?" Shinji was unsure if he could be here if it meant being hated for doing his duty. Hated for what he was.
Hikari waved a hand. "No no! I just... I can't imagine what it's like. Hiding in the shelter with my family was scary enough. If it means anything..." Hikari's voice went serious. "Thank you for what you did."
Shinji nodded. "I...It's okay. Thank you for helping me here. It's... I think it will be good to have a break from all that."
The girl waved a hand. "We all need a place of our own. I guess for me it's this room. I just... I like to be able to control what I can... with everything going on." She blushed a bit at the admission "If it helps any, I'm sure you will have no shortage of fans here."
That made Shinji blush. "Yeah... Mari said so as well. To be honest I'm not sure what to say. I mean, I'm just doing my job."
"Mari?" Hikari raised an eyebrow. "Is she your mother?"
That hit Shinji in the heart like a knife. "No. My mother is dead. Mari is my... guardian." It was times like this that made him realize how complicated his relationship with Mari was. She was his guardian but also his teacher and mentor, sometimes even his friend. She was funny and lax about some things but strict as nails about others.
Again Hikari went quiet, Shinji's frank answer silencing her for a good while. "I... I see. I'm very sorry about that." After a moment she sat down beside him. "I... I know what that's like."
Now it was Shinji's turn to be silent. "Let's... let's just go over school stuff for now," Shinji said, firmly unable to engage. So much for a fun distraction.
The two were unable to return to their friendly greetings but Hikari did manage to instruct Shinji on the basics of what was expected of him and what they were learning. By the time the other students began to fill the classroom, fresh from their assembly Hikari had gotten to the various clubs the school hosted, only for Shinji to inform her that given his schedule, he was unsure what clubs he could participate in regularly. Following the students was the teacher, an older man who barely seemed to recognize the children in his care, simply sighing and making his way to his desk. Lastly was Rei, who still seemed to be walking with a bit of a limp but was otherwise as Shinji had first seen her. He wanted to go to her, to ask her how she was but was cut off by the beginning of the lecture.
"In the days leading up to Second Impact the Japanese economy..."
*
Shinji cleared his throat and looked at the assembled class. "Uh... Hi." He saw Hikari, in the front row, smack her forehead with her hand. "I mean uh... My name is Shinji Ikari and I'll be your new classmate." He tried to smile as he saw several students yawn. "I was born in Japan but spent most of my life abroad in Europe and America. I'm very happy for this opportunity." 3, 2, 1... "I'm an Evangelion pilot for NERV..."
The assembled students all turned their full attention to Shinji, most wide-eyed. After a moment, several students began shouting questions and comments and some looked like they might rush up to inspect him. Nervously, Shinji looked to Rei, but the girl was uninterested, simply staring out the window as her classmates' volume grew ever louder. It was Hikari who stood up and quieted them down, slapping her hand on the desk and calling for order. The teacher nodded to this and weakly sent Shinji to his seat.
Shinji smiled a bit inwardly as he set up his laptop for class. It felt good in some ways to be looked up to... to be popular. Is this how Asuka feels? Still, as much as their kind words and eager questions warmed Shinji, he had no understanding of what to do about them. In all honesty, he was unsure what he was allowed to say. He knew much of his work was classified, some of it even to other people at NERV, but he was unsure how to answer some of the more... interesting questions. What kind of weapons does it have? Can it shoot lasers? Does it transform? Can it fly? Shinji shook his head They watch too much television.
Though... The question about the supermode was not entirely without merit. Mari had installed Unit 4 with the emergency beast mode. But that was less of a golden super move then a last rasping gasp for air, something to use on death's door and even then... Shinji shivered thinking about those tests. They had left him feeling... dangerous.
Halfway through their first lecture, however... well calling it a lecture would be charitable, as what the teacher was saying mostly consisted of personal anecdotes from his life pre-Second Impact. In any case, Shinji's diligent note taking was soon interrupted by a flashing light in the corner of his screen indicating he had received a personal message. Raising an eyebrow, Shinji opened the messenger.
"Are you really an EVA pilot?" The message was from one K. Aida, followed by a string of numbers.
Noticing that the teacher was not going anywhere important fast he messaged back a simple "Yes."
For a moment there was nothing and Shinji returned to his notes until another message popped up. "Are you really really an Eva pilot?"
Shinji rolled his eyes and typed with fervor. "I am. Is that a problem?"
The response came quickly. "No no no, it's just... you're not exactly something you see every day."
Shinji raised a brow, "You have Rei."
The next message came in a bit. Shinji suspected Aida was organizing an answer. "Yeah but... she doesn't really talk much."
Shinji sighed and gave up the lecture, for now, focusing instead on his little conversation. "No, she doesn't." Rei was... Shinji was not sure how to describe her. And how to describe how he felt about her. She was like a living breathing photograph of his mother and yet... when she opened her mouth and spoke in her flat but gentle way, Shinji could see someone else. Shaking his head he returned to the screen. "You're her classmate... do you know anything about her?"
Shinji heard a laugh coming from the other side of the room followed by a message. "I was going to ask you that same question, since you work together. I guess she really is just a mystery."
Shinji slumped his shoulders and looked over to where Rei was sitting by the window, her stoic face seemingly in another world. "I guess she is," Shinji typed defeated.
The morning continued in this way, with Kensuke asking Shinji about every aspect of piloting that he could with Shinji occasionally brushing him off when he got too personal or close to something secret. Shinji, in turn, would ask Kensuke about the goings on at the school and around the city. Most of it was... mundane to say the least. They talked of their classmates like Mayumi, the previous new kid before Shinji and a wallflower that had nonetheless developed quite a following. About Kaneda the school's star baseball player and how he had led them to every championship he attended and Kyoko and Sayaka, whom half the class was convinced were dating in secret. Shinji found it strange, these small things, these grains of sand from other people's lives. They filled him with hope: To see and hear about those he had saved.
Eventually, the teacher stopped talking and a bell rang which signaled to the class that it was time for lunch. Almost instantly, the class broke out into a dozen conversations and groups as each student pulled out their meal from their bag. All except Shinji, who simply sat realizing how ill-prepared he seemed to be. He knew he did not need to eat, but he disliked looking the fool and what was more, some of the things his classmates pulled out looked quite nice: Thick sandwiches, boxes of puffy white rice and thermoses of soups and curries. Shinji felt quite left out.
"Do you not have a lunch, Shinji?" The boy looked up to see Rei holding a clear plastic shopping bag. Inside he saw a pre-made lunch box from a grocery store or corner shop.
"Oh, hi, Rei. I didn't see you there... No, I guess with everything else, I kinda forgot, heh." Shinji scratched the back of his head nervously.
"Lunch is an important part of the day. If you do not have one I shall give you half of mine." Rei spoke with surprising conviction as she pulled up a nearby chair and sat across from Shinji, pulling the plastic box from the bag.
"Really, Rei it's not a problem, I..." Shinji stopped when he saw the look on Rei's face. He knew it well in himself. She just wants to help.
Sighing, he gave in and looked what they would be having. It was plain and still bore a sticker in the corner of the box that declared it to be both vegetarian and on sale. Inside was a large box of rice, some mixed vegetables and a brown substance Shinji hazarded was a curry of some kind. It made Shinji feel bad for Rei: Compared to the wonderful handmade food given to their classmates around them she was simply given money and told to fend for herself. I wonder what else in your life is like that. Trying not to look dour Shinji, forced a smile. "Ah.. thank you Rei. I will have to pay you back somehow."
Rei shrugged, opened the case and retrieved a plastic spoon and a set of black chopsticks from the bag. "I am afraid we will have to share." Finally, she took out a water bottle and the same case of pills Shinji had seen her use earlier.
"Don't worry, I won't ask to share those." Shinji gave a weak laugh. He stopped when Rei nodded seriously at the comment.
Unsure of what else to say Shinji dug in, eating a portion of rice and a sliced carrot before exchanging the chopsticks for her spoon so that each of them could have a taste of everything. It was no feast, but it was in no way bad. Leagues ahead of Misato's cooking, at any rate. For her part, Rei seemed quite content, crunching on a slice of red pepper absentmindedly. It was only after taking a deep swig of the water that Shinji noticed the two of them had earned the attention of most of the rest of the class.
Laughing, a bespectacled boy with dirty blond hair and freckles approached them. "I thought you said you didn't know her." The boy shrugged. "I'm Kensuke, by the way, nice to talk in person." He stuck out his hand to Shinji in greeting which Shinji returned.
Rei looked at Kensuke and then at Shinji and seemed to shrug. "Kensuke Aida is... what you may call an enthusiast of Evangelions and of NERV. He can be grating but... is mostly harmless."
Hikari gave a small snort as she held in laughter while Kensuke just looked a bit stunned at Rei's summation. "Umm, thanks, I guess."
"Where is your friend?" Rei looked quizzical. "The two of you are rarely apart," Rei said plainly, as if marking the movements of clouds.
The question made Kensuke deeply uncomfortable. He shifted on his feet as he glanced between Shinji, Rei and Hikari. "Touji is..." Kensuke sighed and cleared his throat. "Touji is... not well."
The assembled students all turned their full attention to Shinji, most wide-eyed. After a moment, several students began shouting questions and comments and some looked like they might rush up to inspect him. Nervously, Shinji looked to Rei, but the girl was uninterested, simply staring out the window as her classmates' volume grew ever louder. It was Hikari who stood up and quieted them down, slapping her hand on the desk and calling for order. The teacher nodded to this and weakly sent Shinji to his seat.
Shinji smiled a bit inwardly as he set up his laptop for class. It felt good in some ways to be looked up to... to be popular. Is this how Asuka feels? Still, as much as their kind words and eager questions warmed Shinji, he had no understanding of what to do about them. In all honesty, he was unsure what he was allowed to say. He knew much of his work was classified, some of it even to other people at NERV, but he was unsure how to answer some of the more... interesting questions. What kind of weapons does it have? Can it shoot lasers? Does it transform? Can it fly? Shinji shook his head They watch too much television.
Though... The question about the supermode was not entirely without merit. Mari had installed Unit 4 with the emergency beast mode. But that was less of a golden super move then a last rasping gasp for air, something to use on death's door and even then... Shinji shivered thinking about those tests. They had left him feeling... dangerous.
Halfway through their first lecture, however... well calling it a lecture would be charitable, as what the teacher was saying mostly consisted of personal anecdotes from his life pre-Second Impact. In any case, Shinji's diligent note taking was soon interrupted by a flashing light in the corner of his screen indicating he had received a personal message. Raising an eyebrow, Shinji opened the messenger.
"Are you really an EVA pilot?" The message was from one K. Aida, followed by a string of numbers.
Noticing that the teacher was not going anywhere important fast he messaged back a simple "Yes."
For a moment there was nothing and Shinji returned to his notes until another message popped up. "Are you really really an Eva pilot?"
Shinji rolled his eyes and typed with fervor. "I am. Is that a problem?"
The response came quickly. "No no no, it's just... you're not exactly something you see every day."
Shinji raised a brow, "You have Rei."
The next message came in a bit. Shinji suspected Aida was organizing an answer. "Yeah but... she doesn't really talk much."
Shinji sighed and gave up the lecture, for now, focusing instead on his little conversation. "No, she doesn't." Rei was... Shinji was not sure how to describe her. And how to describe how he felt about her. She was like a living breathing photograph of his mother and yet... when she opened her mouth and spoke in her flat but gentle way, Shinji could see someone else. Shaking his head he returned to the screen. "You're her classmate... do you know anything about her?"
Shinji heard a laugh coming from the other side of the room followed by a message. "I was going to ask you that same question, since you work together. I guess she really is just a mystery."
Shinji slumped his shoulders and looked over to where Rei was sitting by the window, her stoic face seemingly in another world. "I guess she is," Shinji typed defeated.
The morning continued in this way, with Kensuke asking Shinji about every aspect of piloting that he could with Shinji occasionally brushing him off when he got too personal or close to something secret. Shinji, in turn, would ask Kensuke about the goings on at the school and around the city. Most of it was... mundane to say the least. They talked of their classmates like Mayumi, the previous new kid before Shinji and a wallflower that had nonetheless developed quite a following. About Kaneda the school's star baseball player and how he had led them to every championship he attended and Kyoko and Sayaka, whom half the class was convinced were dating in secret. Shinji found it strange, these small things, these grains of sand from other people's lives. They filled him with hope: To see and hear about those he had saved.
Eventually, the teacher stopped talking and a bell rang which signaled to the class that it was time for lunch. Almost instantly, the class broke out into a dozen conversations and groups as each student pulled out their meal from their bag. All except Shinji, who simply sat realizing how ill-prepared he seemed to be. He knew he did not need to eat, but he disliked looking the fool and what was more, some of the things his classmates pulled out looked quite nice: Thick sandwiches, boxes of puffy white rice and thermoses of soups and curries. Shinji felt quite left out.
"Do you not have a lunch, Shinji?" The boy looked up to see Rei holding a clear plastic shopping bag. Inside he saw a pre-made lunch box from a grocery store or corner shop.
"Oh, hi, Rei. I didn't see you there... No, I guess with everything else, I kinda forgot, heh." Shinji scratched the back of his head nervously.
"Lunch is an important part of the day. If you do not have one I shall give you half of mine." Rei spoke with surprising conviction as she pulled up a nearby chair and sat across from Shinji, pulling the plastic box from the bag.
"Really, Rei it's not a problem, I..." Shinji stopped when he saw the look on Rei's face. He knew it well in himself. She just wants to help.
Sighing, he gave in and looked what they would be having. It was plain and still bore a sticker in the corner of the box that declared it to be both vegetarian and on sale. Inside was a large box of rice, some mixed vegetables and a brown substance Shinji hazarded was a curry of some kind. It made Shinji feel bad for Rei: Compared to the wonderful handmade food given to their classmates around them she was simply given money and told to fend for herself. I wonder what else in your life is like that. Trying not to look dour Shinji, forced a smile. "Ah.. thank you Rei. I will have to pay you back somehow."
Rei shrugged, opened the case and retrieved a plastic spoon and a set of black chopsticks from the bag. "I am afraid we will have to share." Finally, she took out a water bottle and the same case of pills Shinji had seen her use earlier.
"Don't worry, I won't ask to share those." Shinji gave a weak laugh. He stopped when Rei nodded seriously at the comment.
Unsure of what else to say Shinji dug in, eating a portion of rice and a sliced carrot before exchanging the chopsticks for her spoon so that each of them could have a taste of everything. It was no feast, but it was in no way bad. Leagues ahead of Misato's cooking, at any rate. For her part, Rei seemed quite content, crunching on a slice of red pepper absentmindedly. It was only after taking a deep swig of the water that Shinji noticed the two of them had earned the attention of most of the rest of the class.
Laughing, a bespectacled boy with dirty blond hair and freckles approached them. "I thought you said you didn't know her." The boy shrugged. "I'm Kensuke, by the way, nice to talk in person." He stuck out his hand to Shinji in greeting which Shinji returned.
Rei looked at Kensuke and then at Shinji and seemed to shrug. "Kensuke Aida is... what you may call an enthusiast of Evangelions and of NERV. He can be grating but... is mostly harmless."
Hikari gave a small snort as she held in laughter while Kensuke just looked a bit stunned at Rei's summation. "Umm, thanks, I guess."
"Where is your friend?" Rei looked quizzical. "The two of you are rarely apart," Rei said plainly, as if marking the movements of clouds.
The question made Kensuke deeply uncomfortable. He shifted on his feet as he glanced between Shinji, Rei and Hikari. "Touji is..." Kensuke sighed and cleared his throat. "Touji is... not well."
*
On the other side of Tokyo-3, deep within the Geofront, Maya yawned and crooked her neck. After one more glance at the data flowing down in front of her on the dim screen, she powered down the unit and shook her head. Sometimes she wondered what people would think if they knew how much guesswork went into EVA operation. Salvage and recovery of Unit 0 was on paper going quite well, while on the diagnostic side of things... nothing. It was still unclear why it had responded to its activation test the way it had.
Sighing, Maya looked up and slapped her forehead when she saw the folder Doctor Akagi had given her to review. Perhaps she was just trying to put it out of her mind as she had quite divided thoughts on the idea of having a new colleague. On one hand, an easier yoke was always appreciated, on the other... some part of Maya disliked the idea of splitting the recognition and praise of Doctor Akagi with some... nobody.
Forcing herself she opened the folder and began to examine the profiles. This one is nice... Maya thought as she looked at the application in her hands... High grades, experience as an intern with Heavy Chemical industries... But this one has far better recommendations from her teachers... The last thing Maya wanted was a hotshot kid who thought he knew everything trying to run the operation. Definitely not this guy, not sure why they cleared him... what about...
Maya's eyes bulged as she saw the next name on the piece of paper. 'Kodama Horaki, seventeen' the paper proclaimed and followed with a list of details and statistics Maya was too dizzy to read. Looking around and seeing she was alone Maya put down the folder and sighed. "Well shit."
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- Location
- Volksstaat Hessen, Deutsches Reich
Well, so no Ritsuko/Maya even possible here. Which is probably for the better: There is no indication whatsoever Ritsuko swings that way, and having her swing that way is just so... convenient.
Also, interesting what Ritsuko considers to be fun in life
(just kidding)What did you expect, Mari? You allowed this!
Well, that's a large divergence from canon, heh.
Given what beast mode is...
...they tested that on him? Goddamnit. Fuck you, Mari.
How... surprisingly socially aware of Rei.
good chapter. the details about Shinji's other classmates are rare to see. and most welcome.
And was that a puella magical girl cameo?
And was that a puella magical girl cameo?
- Location
- Canada
I think Rei is aware of the people around her she is just apathetic about their actions or decisions. She knows about Kensuke and his interests because Kensuke has bugged her for info like he did with Shinji but with Rei got a brick wall.
By way of @Strypgia and A&T. Don't worry though there will be no magic cat rabbits or magic girls here. There may be some soul crushing depression... But that comes with eva