video;

[motioned]

So, um, first off I just wanted to say hi to all the new people! And say that I'm sorry you're kind of stuck here, too. It's tough, but there are lots of nice people here, so if you're having trouble with anything I bet you'd be able to get help. Except going home, that's still a mystery for everyone.

[And then a smile breaks out on her face, and she moves her tablet so the feed shows a wing of one of the gyms with a barre running along a wall, and mirrors attached to that wall. As quickly as she turned the camera away from her face, it's focused back on her.]

I know last time that I mentioned I was looking for a place to dance, and some other people mentioned they'd be interested in the same thing, so I asked the Initiative people if it would be okay if we could have a wing in one of the gyms to turn into a place for the dancers here to practice. And, um, they said yes, so here we are! There's not going to be formal lessons or anything, unless somebody else wants to set something like that up. I just wanted to let everyone know that they can stop in whenever they want to!

Oh, and - if there's anybody interested in going outside the city sometime, I'm looking to take a trip or two. Before anyone gets all worried, I know to be really careful, and I've done it once before.

[With another smile, she leans forward to end the feed.

ooc: this is all mod approved!]

Comments

voice

[imusntrunaway]

I see.

... um, you're at... the gym, right?

voice

[motioned]

Yeah, but I'm going to come home soon! Um, that's why I offered.

voice

[imusntrunaway]

Oh.

[A REALLY AWKWARD MOMENT OF SILENCE.]

Be careful on your way back, then.

voice

[motioned]

Oh, I will! Thank you for your concern.

voice

[imusntrunaway]

It isn't anything. You'll still have to explain when you get back.

voice

[motioned]

Oh! Right. I'll see you in a few, in that case!

voice --> action!

[imusntrunaway]

Mm. See you.

[When Ahiru arrives Shinji's sitting at the table, reading some magazines. He looks up with a polite smile when she enters.]

Welcome home.

action!

[motioned]

[She grins right back, taking a seat at the table next to him.]

Thanks! What're you reading?

action!

[imusntrunaway]

[He lifts it up so she can see the cover.] There's recipes. I don't know the food here too well, so...

action!

[motioned]

Oh! Do you cook? That's pretty cool. I bet it's useful, too!

action!

[imusntrunaway]

[He nods.] I had to, back home. On my Earth.

[It still feels so strange on his tongue--"my Earth," not just "Earth." He sets down the magazine.] If you're going somewhere, I can make something for you.

action!

[motioned]

[She's acquainted with enough orphans that she doesn't want to make any assumptions about whether or not he has parents. There's a nod, and a pause.]

Did you live alone?

Oh - that's fine, really! But it's nice of you to ask.

action!

[imusntrunaway]

Um, no. I lived with my commanding officer and... another pilot. [He intentionally doesn't use Asuka's name. It's better to be vague...]

... there isn't much food out there.

action!

[motioned]

A pilot? Oh, that's cool! So you know how to fly planes and stuff?

Oh, I'd only go out for a day at a time, probably! So I could just pick up something simple from the market before that.

action!

[imusntrunaway]

['Cool.' Right.] I'm not-- I wasn't that kind of pilot... I piloted a robot...

[He looks up at her.] A day... it's still a while. What do you want to do out there...?

action!

[motioned]

How did you pilot a robot?

[Wait. Wait. Her eyes widen because this is potentially the coolest thing ever.]

Did you have a flying robot? That you flew? Oh my God!

[And then a pause, sobering.]

I just want to get out there.

action! way to be a killjoy shinji

[imusntrunaway]

[Her reaction reminds him of his classmates' when they discovered his identity as an Eva pilot--excited, amazed, awestruck. He understood it. But... it still irritated him, because they didn't understand. They didn't know what Evangelion was or how much it hurt.

It's not Ahiru's fault. She didn't know anything about Evangelion or Angels or any of those horrible things. Even so...]

It didn't fly. I piloted because there was no one else. [Because he wanted his father to look at him again.] That's all.

[A beat.] ... there's safer places to go to, aren't there?

action! being a pilot is suffering

[motioned]

[She senses she's crossed some line she didn't know existed, and there's immediate guilt. She glances down at the floor, not meeting his eyes.]

Right. Sorry.

Yeah, but - they aren't out.

action!

[imusntrunaway]

[He fidgets with his hands.] ... you were curious. It's nothing.

[He sighs.]

Don't approach any strange things-- strange animals. I'll buy more food when I go out tomorrow.

action!

[motioned]

I shouldn't have pushed like that, though. It won't happen again.

I won't! I know what to be careful of. Oh, and - in that case, I'll leave some money. It's not fair to have you pay for all of it.

action!

[imusntrunaway]

[He gives a thin, polite smile at that but says nothing else about the subject.]

That's fine. The meals will be in the fridge when I've finished making them.

action!

[motioned]

You don't have to make it for me, either! I mean, you must have more important things to do, and picking it up is more than enough.

[And she definitely hasn't given up on helping with the expense.]

action!

[imusntrunaway]

When someone offers a favor it's considered polite to accept it.

action!

[motioned]

I-It's impolite to inconvenience you for my sake, though!

action!

[imusntrunaway]

[MUMBLE MUMBLE:] ... you're being a little inconveniencing right now...