001 || anonymous text;

[reversemole]

A space-ship crash? I would think there would be plenty of better ways to greet new Transports. Even things like unsightly roommates or dingy floors rank secondary in overall effect now.

[ And he'd just started getting acquainted with the place, too. He could have never imagined the biggest source of disruption would be a radical destruction of his entire complex.

A hazing experience to rival all others, he supposed. ]

Well, I'm impressed by the hospitality here. Do events of this magnitude happen regularly?

How have you three been holding up without adult supervision? I'm hoping for good news. 

Comments

encrypted text

[imusntrunaway]

[When did he get here...? Still, though Kaji's appearance was unexpected, it was a small relief to have someone he recognizes as an authority figure.]

We're okay. The Initiative takes care of everything.

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[reversemole]

[ Everything except his complex, if Kaji's any judge. ]

Well, I have to admit my current housing situation makes it hard to show my gratitude, but I'm glad to hear it, Ikari.

encrypted text;

[imusntrunaway]

This sort of disaster doesn't happen a lot.
I think this was one of their worse accidents.

encrypted text;

[reversemole]

It's tame compared to home, right? Good to know we're in safer hands.

encrypted text;

[imusntrunaway]

I don't think I'd say that.
The past missions they've sent us on...
They've had a lot of problems. [A pause.]

It is a lot more peaceful. [Even though some part of him hates it.]

encrypted text;

[reversemole]

They're asking a lot, even for someone like you.

[ The stronger the warrior, the stronger the challenge. ]

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[imusntrunaway]

I haven't been assigned to any combat missions since I can't do anything.

[It's probably for the best, too. Hurting someone with Eva makes him queasy enough. With a gun and up close...]

encrypted text;

[reversemole]

[ Selling himself short, again. Not all their burdens were combat-related, he would think. ]

I was expecting you to be glad no one's clamoring for your expertise.

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[imusntrunaway]

I am. [That's the right answer to this question, isn't it?]

It's nice to be a normal kid again.

[reversemole]

This is normal? So, Katsuragi needed a change of tactics.

[ If this were audio, Kaji would sound for all the world as though he were commenting on the weather. ]

[imusntrunaway]

[It's as normal as they'll probably get.]

Misato isn't with you, is she? [It's a shot in the dark, but if Kaji arrived without their notice...]

[reversemole]

[ The message is left alone for several long moments, before a reply is sent. ]



She's not. I checked.

[ Four times. ]

[imusntrunaway]

[It was too much to hope for in the first place.]

I'm sorry.

[reversemole]

Apologies don't work in situations like these, Shinji.

[ Don't be like that. If what they said was true, she'd be embroiled in the midst of several potential disasters, regardless. ]

I'm ashamed. The Initiative has a very poor taste in women.

[imusntrunaway]

Right. [He almost types a 'sorry' after that, but quickly deletes it. He needs to work on not apologizing constantly.]

They say they can't help who they bring in.

[reversemole]

[ ...And that didn't make much sense, logically speaking. The ratio of same-world Transports to lone wolves was so statistically significant it would give an accountant a run for his money. ]

Sounds like the perfect excuse, doesn't it, Ikari? I guess I can't make any rash decisions.

[imusntrunaway]

[If it wasn't random, what was the purpose in choosing someone like him? In choosing all the pilots and bringing them here without the robots that gave them their title and purpose in the first place? And in stripping them of everything but a weapon they were unfamiliar with? It's a question that's kept Shinji up for months ever since he got here.

What good is someone like him to the Initiative? Why did they take him...?]

I don't think it's a lie.
If they could choose, they'd pick people who were best suited for war.

[reversemole]

It's better to have a battle shared according to different people's abilities.

[imusntrunaway]

It still doesn't make sense.

[reversemole]

[ Not yet, at least. ]

They did provide the needed information for us. But a lot of it was ambiguous.

You've thought about this often.

[imusntrunaway]

I've been here for a while. There's a lot of time to think...