Sortie 03 | Text

[redheadcarrier]

Anyone know where I can get a haircut?

Comments

text;

[salvagedsoul]

I don't think you'd let just anyone near you hair with a pair of scissors.

[redheadcarrier]

what? I know him.

kinda.

[salvagedsoul]

"Kinda"?

[redheadcarrier]

we've talked.

[salvagedsoul]

I see.

[that's all. there isn't much he can say or not say at this point. but, for sure, this is somewhat worrying.]

[redheadcarrier]

[There's a long pause.]

hey, what do you even do around here anyway?

[May be code for "where the hell do I find you".]

[salvagedsoul]

[he honestly thought the conversation was over when another message comes in. Is she trying to converse with him? Well. He doesn't mind obliging.]

I have been making use of the quiet of this place.

[redheadcarrier]

wow, how specific and not vague.

[salvagedsoul]

[Kaworu isn't about to tell Asuka, of all people, what's been going on with him.

But, he does notice that she is even asking.]

Why do you ask? Were you looking for me?

[redheadcarrier]

why would I be looking for you?

[Not technically a no.]

[salvagedsoul]

I don't know, that's why I'm asking.

[but it doesn't matter. By her asking, he assumes she wants or needs something, even if it's nothing but attention.]

I have been spending my time in an old building in the outskirt ruins near the Hold. I will send you a map.

[redheadcarrier]

Maybe I just want to talk.

[salvagedsoul]

[...unexpected. but not in a bad way. ]

You can talk to me any time, Soryu-san. I'll always answer a message from you. Or, meet you somewhere.

[redheadcarrier]

[Throw it back in his face. Make him leave. Make it so he'll never offer her help again. Make it so she can't rely on him, because she doesn't need to and if she does, she's nothing-

Her reply comes about ten minutes later.]

do you have like five minutes?

[She shouldn't, she shouldn't, she shouldn't, but she recognizes those thoughts. She recognizes her own warning signs. It's hard to force herself not to shut him down, to even type the words and try reaching out, because her own head is screaming at her to stop stop stop.]

[salvagedsoul]

All we have here is time.

What's on your mind?

Private Message

[redheadcarrier]

stuff.

do you remember black rock?

encrypted back

[salvagedsoul]

Yes.

[he can't help but be a little intrigued by this. is she.... reaching out to him?]

[redheadcarrier]

i'm trying to get better.

it sucks.

[salvagedsoul]

[unexpected, again. For a moment he is a bit taken aback. But finally, he answers.]

You're already better, just by making the decision to try.

Go on. You want to tell me about it.

[redheadcarrier]

i don't like it.

everything i'm supposed to be doing feels wrong and i hate it.

[salvagedsoul]

What is it you're "supposed to be doing"?

[redheadcarrier]

i don't know.

[salvagedsoul]

Hmm, let me rephrase.

What have you been doing that feels wrong, that makes you hate trying to get better?

[redheadcarrier]

I don't know.

trying not to hate people as much i guess.

[salvagedsoul]

[even though she's trying to talk to him, she's still too afraid to really say much. He ponders probing her for examples, but perhaps she needs encouragement first.]

You have a lot of anger, don't you, Soryu-san? It's not easy, letting go of it. It's your armor. It's how you learned to survive.