driftfleet | [video] we'll turn the moon to blood

Who: Asuka Shikinami Langley
Broadcast: Video, Fleetwide
Action: SS Red Fish
When: 3/8

[Asuka is sitting on her bed, with a bright red notebook and pen in hand and a slight frown crossing her face. She's still wearing the same form-fitting red-and-purple combat plugsuit she's been in since her arrival. For once, she doesn't look so much annoyed as she does wary, though honestly, with her, it's hard to tell.]

This is Asuka Shikinami Langley. [No wave. She scribbles something on a notebook page that's probably just a line and not any kind of script.] I have a few questions for everyone. The more people that answer, the more accurate the survey, so I suggest you tell me.

[All business. Asuka would applaud herself for her own professionalism if there was any point. There's no telling how long it'll last.]

First, I want to know your nationalities. Second, I want to know what your occupation was before the Fleet. I'm trying to figure out if there's a pattern to the kidnappings or any groups that get targeted more than others.

[Which is what the notebook is for. She really doesn't trust the network not to bungle everything at Atroma's whim. There's a brief, reluctant pause, and then--]

Before you ask, I was born in Germany. I was a pilot before, too. That's all.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[he finds that kind of thing pretty endearing, (un)fortunately. he doesn't seem to be at all uncomfortable with being scrutinized.]

That's just the thing, I've never met anyone else from my world in the Fleet, or in any other place like it. I throw off a lot of statistics. [he shakes his head a little.] We also don't have countries anymore, really... But I'm a citizen of Skeleton City, as well as the Capitol, Aribus.

Skeleton City. Are you kidding me? [It sounds like a campy horror movie to her. He looks as though he might be the type to fool around on her seriously-intended survey, but that's a judgment call that's probably not worth making. Her visible eye narrows, but she still writes that down along with the capitol.]

What happened to get rid of countries? Was there a war? [A pause as she shakes her pen, trying to get the ink flowing again.] You didn't answer my second question.

I know, I know. I'm not kidding.

[this is not his first rodeo; he knows it's a dumb name. he could explain that it has another name somewhere that's mostly lost to time and legend, but he also doesn't think it'd be worth it here. now he holds up one finger at a time to separate his thoughts. one:]

The world split in half. Kind of. There are no countries because humans haven't traveled far enough outside of their safe cities to re-establish borders, in most cases.

[which he is so casual about. two:] And I was a paranormal investigator, when I wasn't busy being the entire HR, PR, and accounting department for a group of mercenaries-for-hire.

[The first part-- well, it isn't entirely similar, but it's familiar. Somewhat. After all, the oceans turning to blood has to sound stupid from a biological perspective, which is why she's never told anyone that factoid from her world. So she'll try to cut him slack.]

[But that last part's interesting enough that her already ramrod-straight posture, if anything, stiffens a bit more.]

So you're a ghost-hunter. [Right?] And you got in with-- [mercenaries] thugs. [Call them as she sees them, and so on.]

[well, by the way he suddenly laughs, she probably called right.]

The the most talented thugs below Third Block, thank you. Ran every job from detective work to dissolving crime syndicates. [he shrugs with one shoulder, still nearly grinning.] Or beating stuff up on police commission, whatever pays the bills.

[Common criminals, like she'd figured. Her nose wrinkles, but she doesn't really look any more peeved than usual. She's not snotty enough to be too high and mighty about that these days, and he seems more than comfortable with her assessment, anyway.] How did you get involved with them? I don't see any overlap between that and your other job.

That's...

[he glances to the side, pausing to think. whatever his deliberation, his attention drifts back to the feed a few seconds later; he smiles politely and changes the direction a little.]

It's complicated. I'll tell you if you answer a question of mine, first.

[She hesitates, pursing her lip. She hasn't been too forthcoming with most of the people on the feed so far, which is actually the way she prefers it. Asuka's done parading her achievements. Mostly.]

Shoot.

What's that outfit you're wearing?

[BIG SMILE. not exactly... intimidating...]

[The grin makes it seem less innocuous. Asuka pauses, wondering for a moment if he's trying to hit on her. Nobody's ever hit on her, so she dismisses the idea, pointing unnecessarily at the suit.]

This is called a plugsuit. It's used when piloting Eva. It helps reduce interference. [Or something along those lines, though it's possible to pilot without it.]

[well, he at least seems genuinely and pleasantly interested. he leans forward, putting an elbow on whatever's in front of him (probably the kitchen table) so he can prop up his chin.]

Can I ask what an "Eva" is?

Edited (nitpick editing into the sunset) 2016-03-14 22:36 (UTC)

It's an oversimplification, but it's a giant robot.

[His body language is unusual. Maybe because he looks so honestly intrigued. Asuka isn't accustomed to that, either. Usually her audiences aren't, well, around or attentive. Talking about Eva piloting really isn't demoralizing in the way it has to be for Shinji, but she still swerves the conversation.]

This plugsuit is my new one, so I wanted to get some use out of it. [It's not really the whole reason, but it's good enough.]

Slick.

[he really is curious, too. he loves this kind of thing--humans are fascinating, and so are the things that they build. worlds are astounding and complex. culture is wonderful. it's the little details like this that keep him interested in, oh, being alive.]

That's cool. There's nothing like that where I come from, so.

[which... could... be about the plugsuit, but he's probably still referring to the giant robot.]

[video] we'll turn the moon to blood

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