05: † text

[salvagedsoul]

Hello, everyone.

I have been in United Earth territory since June. I was released last week. Although I have been inspected and declared safe by the Initiative, I feel that it is my obligation to notify you all of what happened.

I am very eager to see some of you again. I am staying in my assigned housing at 502 while I continue to recover. Please come by at your convenience.


((feel free to use this post for both network conversations and action!))

Comments

text;

[redheadcarrier]

Oh, were you gone? I didn't notice.

text;

[salvagedsoul]

[Asuka...]

I'm sorry.

[speakveryclearly]

What Sort Of Territory
Urban Or Rural
And
Im Sorry Im Terribly Curious About The Actualities Of The Region In Question

[salvagedsoul]

The small part that I had a brief chance to see was urban.

text

[oncearanger]

Is that really you, Kaworu?

text

[salvagedsoul]

Billy, please come. I want to see you.

[velveteened]

( they've spoken maybe once, but it's hard not to take notice of a message like that. )

What happened?

( released makes it sound like — )

[salvagedsoul]

I was detained.

text;

[boughtabookstore]

What can you tell us about them?

How were you treated?

text;

[salvagedsoul]

They were not cruel, but not kind. White, sterile rooms and walls. No talking even if I tried to engage.

I'm not sure what they were doing to me, but I believe they were conducting experiments. I don't know why I was brought back.

[voice]

[galactically]

[Oh, no...]

So you were held captive by those people, weren't you?

[salvagedsoul]

Yes, I was. I was secured the same day I went.

action;

[substitutable]

[Shintaro has read the text but it's rather redundant and cold to text someone who's living with you. He didn't rush to his roommate when Kaworu first returned, but if the kid is well and willing enough to talk on the network, he can feel comfortable approaching him in person. He was worried -- they just weren't close enough for him to know how to approach.

So thus, Kaworu will have a polite knock on his door a few minutes after he posts this.]

Nagisa?

[salvagedsoul]

[Kaworu is laying back in his unused bed, his room illuminated only by the light of his tablet, when he hears the knock. He looks past his incoming messages at the door. It's Shintaro's voice.]

Please, come in.

[ text ]

[reassures]

I think we're neighbors.

Can I get anything for you?

[salvagedsoul]

you...

Nill. Right?

voice;

[invocation]

How are you so calm about this?

[No hello, how's it going. Kyouko...]

This makes it sound like you were on some kinda vacation. What the hell did they do to you?

[salvagedsoul]

I'm not sure what they were doing to me. It wasn't motivated by cruelty. Maybe some kind of test or experiment.

1/2

[imusntrunaway]

[For days he's waited for a sign. A signal, a clue left to prove that the being known as Kaworu Nagisa had existed in this space. That he hadn't disappeared as Martin had by a stranger's raspy boast, that he hadn't vanished and left a bare room as one of the many Rei Ayanamis had. I will be back, was his implicit promise. I will let you know, Blue assured him.

Resisting the temptation to withdraw into his dark room is a testament to how Exsilium's changed him. Part of it is because of the white kitten entrusted to Shinji on his birthday. It grew slowly over the past two months, gradually gaining the confidence to stop darting under the bed whenever it heard Shinji's footsteps. Maybe, Shinji thought, Kaworu would be proud of him for taking care of such a helpless creature.

And here Kaworu is. After wishing so long that it felt like a prayer, he's back. Even if the words are off, even if he can see the disturbances beneath that usual calm--

He's selfishly happy. And he feels sickened by how strong that emotion is.

He almost wants to cry.

He's so pathetic.]

private text

[imusntrunaway]

[And even with his happy relief, he plays the role of the coward.]

Are you all right?

[crocodilesmiles]

Are you okay?

[salvagedsoul]

I am unharmed. I will be alright.

action;

[fortissimos]

[ She'd ask if he's okay, but that takes time. She doesn't feel like waiting for an answer.

It's much faster to just knock on his door instead. ]

[salvagedsoul]

[One of his roommates would likely let her in before Kaworu could get out of bed and make it to the door. When she comes to his room, she'll find him laying back with his head and shoulders propped up on pillows, wearing plain house clothes.

Hearing people at the door, he opens his eyes.]

...Sayaka?

Not here

[lazyinlove]

[Okay, he doesn't know this guy. But that's a new and unpleasant thing to worry about. No one's mentioned being captured by the UE before.]

voice;

[2leftfeet]

Did you escape or did the UE release you from their custody?

[salvagedsoul]

I don't have any memory of how I got back to Exsilium.

However, I was never able to escape, despite all efforts. I was probably released.

voice

[firstroar]

Kaworu.

voice

[salvagedsoul]

[Blue...

Kaworu pushes aside the many hours spent wondering if Blue would even still be alive if he managed to escape.]

.....I'm sorry. I missed your message back in June.

voice

[revelation]

Kaworu-kun. [ it sounds like she's trying very hard to sound so terribly sad, but some things simply cannot be helped it seems. ]

I'm so glad to hear from you again. Are you okay? Can... can I get you anything?

voice

[salvagedsoul]

I am still feeling tired and disoriented, but I will be alright. You needn't worry about me, Madoka. Thank you for asking.

How have you been?

[ text ]

[cesar]

You would invite all to speak with you?

[ It seems generous but Cesare isn't about to turn down such an offer, still it felt polite to ask first. ]

[ text ]

[salvagedsoul]

If you have concerns about someone among you having been in the UE's custody for so long, I would want to alleviate them.

ᴛᴇxᴛ;

[reversemole]

Sent you alone?

[salvagedsoul]

[oh. it's you.

ignoring the question.]

Where is Rei Ayanami?

forever voice;

[taijiya]

[She thinks she spoke once with this person, but...]

Are you alright?

[She knows he said so, she just doesn't think it's all that true. In the UE's clutches? Yeah, not good.]

[salvagedsoul]

They were not cruel to me. I will be fine.

text;

[comprises]

Mind sharing how they captured you?

[There really were some curious things that happened here, weren't there...]

text;

[salvagedsoul]

How...?

I went to the UE myself.

[stillbetter]

They took you?

[salvagedsoul]

I went there, and was caught.