001

[seasidelove]

Who: Nagisa Motomiya and you!?
Broadcast: fleetwide video!
Action: Marsiva, skipping around and exploring the hospitality deck.
When: Now!

[When she first wakes up, it's with a start—there's a yelp when she realizes that she's not where she should be, and she falls out of bed with a loud crash, followed by an "oww..." The backdrop is one that people might find familiar since it's the SS Marsiva, and she just seems concerned and confused.]

It hurts... what's going on!? I don't remember anything like this...

[Wait, memories. She does a mental check, only to sigh with relief. She definitely!! Still remembers everything!! She pulls herself up, dusting off her dress and straightening the bow in her hair, before she realizes that something's being broadcast. The feeling of the camera being focused on you is something familiar when you're an idol, after all! She takes a shot in the dark then, hoping that someone can hear her or something, because this is super confusing and she's not even sure who could be there.]

Uhm! Hello! Is anyone there? Could someone tell me what's going on? My name is Nagisa Motomiya, and it's really nice to meet whoever you are, if you can see or hear me. I'd really appreciate anything you can tell me. So, please!

[And of course, for those aboard the Marsiva, she can be found wandering the hospitality deck as she tries to sort out her way around. If she runs into you, she'll give a friendly wave and say hello.]

Comments

[seasidelove]

[Oooooh no. Oh no, okay she said something bad, but they're already in this deep and she doesn't want to make it worse. Or try to not make it worse. Somehow.]

I know that you're from a place that's not very nice. I don't... really know the details, because you never shared and I wouldn't ask that sort of thing anyway, but you're one of the kindest people that I know, and you were a good friend of mine. I'm sorry if I'm alarming you, I really didn't mean to do that—!

[As she speaks, her own speech begins to get a little more panicky because she didn't mean to cause that to happen.]

[astrobleme]

[Shinji holds up a gloved hand for two reasons: one, he's gesturing for her to slow down and not freak out; two, he needs to catch his balance before he falls over. A place that's not very nice sounds plenty familiar, while one of the kindest people that I know does not. Shinji can't see himself as a kind person, just incredibly selfish and self-serving. Even so...]

I'm sorry. I don't remember.

[But he forces himself to take a deep breath.]

What's your name? I'd like to hear it again.

[seasidelove]

[She shakes her head, trying to relax for him because everything is confusing and it's obviously not helping him. She does smile, though, even if it has a tinge of sadness to it when he says he doesn't remember.]

Nagisa Motomiya. Though there are a lot of people that know me as Meringue, or Merry, or Acchan. ... It's alright if you don't remember.

[astrobleme]

Nagisa.

[Well, there's recognition on his face for that much. It's going to be easy enough to remember her name from now on. Kaworu Nagisa is inscribed on his shaken, ailing heart with indelible ink. Too weird. Shinji takes another deep breath, since it seems to be helping, a little.]

How long ago did you meet me? Or, this... other me, I guess. The me you knew.

[seasidelove]

A... few months ago or so. It's been awhile. Mm... we did a lot together. You liked to listen to me sing, and you did a lot to help save Aather from the Darkness. You were so cool!

[AND SHE IS ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that he is still just as cool and nice.]

[astrobleme]

[Listening to Nagisa's singing doesn't seem farfetched. Back in the real world, Shinji shared a class with a group of 2edgy4u girls that had an amateur band called the Impacts. Their music was a semi-guilty pleasure of his. He never had the courage to ask for an autograph...

Those girls are probably dead. Because of him.

That's why he laughs out loud when Nagisa mentions saving anything. It's a bitter, broken sound, all crushed glass in his throat.] That couldn't have been me, [he says.] I'm the furthest thing from a hero. [He looks away pointedly, then.] But I wouldn't mind... listening to you sing...

[seasidelove]

[The laugh is a little alarming, and her expression is one that's concerned and worried because of that. Shinji, your life is terrible, and that is a terrible thing. She doesn't push the part of him being a hero for the moment, but...]

I would gladly sing for you. It just depends on what you'd like to listen to...

[And... there is the thought and hope that it might help him calm down?? Music does that. And it was kind of her fault...]

[astrobleme]

[Shinji wants to ask what the other Shinji used to listen to... but that's probably a bad idea. He shouldn't start comparing himself to someone who's clearly so much better than he is. That's the way to madness. More madness. If parallel universes do exist, maybe he should be thankful that not everyone is an unsalvageable fuckup like him.

He sighs quietly.] I can't say I'm all that picky. Just whatever you feel like singing?

[seasidelove]

Hmm... I have an idea. It might sound odd without the music, but...

[She takes a deep breath, before closing her eyes and starting to sing something that sounds fairly soothing.

And she hopes that Shinji likes it. :(]

[astrobleme]

[... whether or not Shinji likes it, the music is doing something to relax him. His eyes drift shut after getting a few measures into it. He stops looking like he's about to burst into tears or throw himself out the nearest airlock. Unbelievably, there's a small tug at one corner of his lips, suggesting a smile but not quite committing. This song is much more encouraging than he deserves. Beyond the night sky is an indication of morning.

He waits until Nagisa is finished, and then he says,] That was beautiful.

[seasidelove]

[She refuses to sing anything that's not optimistic in this case, because... optimism! She loves optimism and happiness and hope. But she does watch his expression, keeping tabs on it, but it looks like she accomplished what she set out to do. And she does a polite bow, once she's finished with the song.]

I'm glad you liked it. I sing it to myself a lot, so I was hoping... well, that you would like it.

[astrobleme]

[Naturally, optimistic sayings and songs remind Shinji of another Nagisa... who's probably somewhere nearby, if Shinji had to guess. Things have been a little bit off-kilter between him and Kaworu. Life after death will do that.]

I really liked it, [he says, and there's actual warmth in his voice.] How long have you been able to do that?

[seasidelove]

Not very—entertainment was banned on my planet, so... I was lucky that I passed my audition in the first place. I was too scared to sing because I hadn't done it much before...! But it worked out in the end, and I'm glad for that.

Making people happy is what I love most.

[astrobleme]

Banned? [And Shinji thought his world had problems... jeez...] It sounds like you've been through a lot. At least it kind of makes sense for a singer to be brought here. [He looks around slowly, warily.] The whole point of this place is to entertain an audience. Or something like that.

[He doesn't comment on happiness. He feels like he will never be happy again, and it shows in the defeated angles of his posture.]

[seasidelove]

[Shinji, you kind of win the worst world award, though... Nagisa shakes her head, though.] A lot has happened, but it was nothing that I couldn't handle. But... even then, I guess... they wanted variety? Performers and non-performers, for whatever reason. It might make it more interesting for whoever's watching.

[Which makes sense, she guesses, but that doesn't mean she's totally fond of the idea either... even if she does like performing for other people.]

[astrobleme]

No one in their right mind would watch me, [Shinji mumbles, with another wary glance behind him.] But... [If no one watches him, what's the point of keeping him on the show? It's really disturbing to think about being "canceled" or whatever else might happen.] I've had a look around, and I don't think there's a way out of here.

So we're trapped until they... figure out what to do with us.