01: event † video

[salvagedsoul]

[A small, white-haired child, about six or seven years old, stares directly into the video lens. He seems to be wearing something like a hospital gown. The whites of his eyes look a little pink and puffy, like he's been crying. But his face is completely blank.]

This isn't where I'm supposed to be. [despite his expression, there's tension in his voice.]

No one's come to get me. [more tension.]

Where is my piano?

[after another second of cold staring, the video ends.]

Comments

[inutile]

[Peculiarly there's no video response, but the voice is small and young enough to sound like a child, and just as tense too.]

Did you awake here too? I don't know where I am, either.

[But at least there's someone else who's scared. The relief of that shows just a little in the voice.]

[salvagedsoul]

Who are you?

[inutile]

[Hitori always told him very firmly never to give personal information to strangers, but he doesn't think other children are supposed to count, so maybe he should introduce himself anyway.

Plus, he's not an infant. Nageki should be able to handle this without relying on him.

...And maybe he's a little fascinated with getting to talk to a human being for the first time.]

...I'm Nageki. I'm nine. Who are you?

[salvagedsoul]

Nagisa Kaworu.

[Finally, he blinks.]

Do you know where my piano is?

[inutile]

[Wow, humans sure don't blink very often, do they?]

Alright. No, I don't know where your piano is, Nagisa-kun. I'm sorry.

It's probably still where you left it in your home.

[salvagedsoul]

Then I have to go back. I'll get in trouble for being here, too. And I'm all alone.

[inutile]

I know, I have to go back too.

[Even if Nageki wants to be able to get home on his own, he knows better than to think that a kid his age can fend for themselves for long, and Kaworu looks younger than that to him. He can't help feeling a little sympathetic, and a little impressed that he isn't panicking like Nageki might have expected.]

...You're not alone, though. Or at least, we're both alone together.

[salvagedsoul]

I don't want that. That's Lilim loneliness.

[He stares into the lens for a moment.]

Aren't you afraid?

audio

[imusntrunaway]

[The network's been crazy and Shinji's getting the feeling that something went wrong after their mission. As he's skimming the entries to get a general handle on the situation, this one catches his eye.

He shouldn't respond. Someone else, someone better suited for the job will take care of this. He shouldn't involve himself, he shouldn't, he--]

... Kaworu-kun?

c:

[salvagedsoul]

[That's not a voice he recognizes. One of the technicians maybe? But they usually don't speak to him.]

Teacher said you don't use "-kun" with people you don't know.

:3c

[imusntrunaway]

[That unexpectedly stings. Even though Kaworu can't see it, Shinji's frown deepens.]

I'm... ["Your friend?" "Your fellow pilot?" None of those sound right.]

We-- we've met before.

[salvagedsoul]

I don't know you.

Are you the one coming to get me? This isn't my room, but I woke up here. It's not my fault.

[imusntrunaway]

Oh.

No, it's fine. You're-- a child. Just a child. This-- it's all a mistake.

Do you know where you are? Your... room number?

[salvagedsoul]

It says "810" outside the door.

[He already looked outside, but he stayed put to keep from getting in trouble.]

[imusntrunaway]

Okay. Just... stay there. If you please.

[chubbybun]

'Tis not where any of us should be.

Shall I come to you? I can claim ownership of no piano and no way home but perhaps the company would be to your liking.

[salvagedsoul]

Who are you?

[chubbybun]

Ah, my apologies for my rudeness, child. I am Balder the Brave of Asgard. I, like you, like all of us, am a long way from home.

[salvagedsoul]

I'm a long way from home?

[That seems to bother him.]

They're going to be mad at me.

[chubbybun]

I am sorry, but the gods themselves cannot speed thee home.

But do not worry. None in this place shall allow harm to come to thee.

[salvagedsoul]

[He doesn't know how to respond to how this man is talking to him.]

...I'm in a room called 810.

[chubbybun]

All right, come I shall.

Dost thou need provisions? Food perhaps?

voice;

[shortcaptain]

... You lost?

voice;

[salvagedsoul]

Yes. I don't know where I am or how to get where I should be.

voice;

[shortcaptain]

Well... what can you see from wherever it is that you are now?