driftfleet | 002. text + action.

Entry tags:

002. text + action.

Who: Shinji Ikari and you?!
Broadcast: Fleetwide.
Action: SS Heron.
When: 3/12.

[network.]

[Shinji rewrites this about a dozen times before he finally decides to post it. It reads:]

Hello. My name is Shinji Ikari. I'm a pilot that's stationed on the Heron. I'm sorry if I'm not using the network as it's intended, but I don't know how else to distribute this message. I've been a member of the Fleet for over a month now and I've met quite a lot of people who have treated me well. It's something I wasn't expecting at all. I haven't been in the best frame of mind, but people have gone out of their way to reassure me, offer to help me, or just talk to me. That's something else I wasn't expecting. I don't know why anyone bothers to talk to someone like me.

The point of this message is to say that I'm grateful. I'd like to thank all of those people, and repay them, if at all possible. I don't know some of their names or contact information, though. I do have an easier time of thanking my crew - I'm doing that now - thank you, everyone, for putting up with me. And hello to anyone who's newly assigned. Anyway, I'm on the Heron, like I said, and I have small tokens of my appreciation to give out if people want them. I'll be in the cargo bay all day by the gym equipment. Although it's kind of pathetic, a single conversation is enough to qualify for this. (Talking to people is helping my ratings...)

Kaworu-kun and Asuka, I have things to give you too. I know it's a little early for White Day.

Unrelated question: Is it possible to delete any content that's posted to the network? I'm guessing not, but maybe I missed an option for that.

Thank you for your time.

[action, aboard the Heron.]

[Shinji can be found sitting in the cargo bay, on a stretching mat, nearest to the gym equipment. He's young-looking and more than a little sleepless, wondering if he shouldn't have made that embarrassing post. He's in the middle of nervously, repeatedly digging his fingers into a netted bag of colorful marbles that he won from the arcade on the Starlight. They're beautiful glass marbles, each crafted to resemble a foreign galaxy.

This isn't much of a gift, but he hopes it isn't a stupid one.

He looks up whenever he has a new visitor. Before he says anything, he pauses his music player and takes out at least one of his earbuds.]

Hey.

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Oh, White Day is soon? I didn't realize.

[...

Um,] What is White Day?

[More importantly, was he supposed to get Shinji something too?!?!!?]

Embarrassed yourself, huh?

[ Sorry, Haruka doesn't like texting; she'll keep the video off since this person seems to prefer no visuals, though. But that doesn't change the fact that the voice that just came through Shinji's augment

is his own voice

only lower, and sexier.

Welp. ]

[... well, Shinji can't say he's surprised.]

Yeah, it's in a few days. White Day is when the guys who got something on Valentine's Day are supposed to return the favor.

[This better not be the start of some auditory hallucinations. Hesitantly, he writes,]

I didn't make a very good first impression, so...

Nobody does.

[ But the kid seems conscientious, so she should probably ease up on him. Well. She's assuming this is a kid. Seems it. ]

It sounds like you've been sorted into a good crew. Congratulations.

They're patient people. Surprisingly patient.

[...]

Sorry, but can I ask you a favor?

So, Valentine's Day runs even deeper than I thought. It was kind of you to think of me. Is there anything I can do for you in return?

[He might be missing the point of the occasion.]

Just come find me so I can give you something. [This is all very... unscripted, and possibly uncouth... but Kaworu did extra nice things for him on Valentine's Day. Shinji wants to see that debt resolved.]

Then, I'll see you soon.

[Looks like he's ollying out of the Vanquish... Again....... But this is important, all right? It's always important. Shinji is always important.

Kaworu does arrive in the cargo bay of the Heron pretty shortly after his text, looking as marvelous and picturesque as he can in the Fleet's provided jumper. These are all he ever wears, but after his recent talk with Asuka, he hasn't been seen in the charcoal color, just the beige. He's not going to look bothered about it, though. He's not going to look bothered about anything. He always wants to greet Shinji with a smile, so that's what he does now.]

Hey. Have you been waiting long?

[In anticipation, Shinji has abandoned the bag of marbles in favor of a small, white, somewhat glossy box. He's slowly turning it over in his hands, again and again, almost like he's trying to solve a Rubik's Cube. Is this a good idea, or not? Is Kaworu going to like it? What if he doesn't like it?]

Not for too long.

[Shinji's anxiety is strong enough to be visible. It's there in his tired eyes, in the line of his shoulders, when he touches the spot next to him on the stretching mat.]

Sit with me?

What's up?

[ She's listening. ]

You sound really familiar, so I just want to check something. Can you say, 'Jupiter is my favorite planet'?

Jupiter specifically?

[ Honestly, that's probably better than if she substituted the name of the usual planet she's associated with, but. ] That's a good pick.

Yeah, it's just

[Shinji really dislikes using the voice function, but this person isn't going to understand what he means, otherwise. Reluctantly, he switches over to...]

It's just really weird. I mean, you sound like...

[An older, smoother, far more put together version of him.]

[Color Asuka several shades of stunned, reading those two sentences right in the middle of the post. She doesn't even care that Nagisa's name was listed first.]

[White Day. One of those Japanese traditions that she actually hadn't ever decried as stupid in her youth, because she felt like guys deserved to be singled out for chocolate giving. She feels like a stupid schoolgirl all over again. It's so, so pathetic that it isn't even funny--]

You got me something?

Did you think I wouldn't?

[Yes.]

I was afraid you were going to count the cake.

[ Anakin was just leaving after briefly (two hours tops, that's brief for him) visiting Padme in her office on Heron. He usually beelines there and back, avoiding and missing most of the Heron crew.

This time he wanted to check out Heron's shuttles before he left. He had intended to have a quick look inside and compare the schematics of each ships' shuttle. But instead he finds himself feeling a bit awkward interrupting this kid's moment of... whatever is going on here. ]

Oh. Hi.

[ He spots the glass marbles. ]

Those are nice.

I thought about that. [He's teasing...] But I decided it didn't count since I got to eat some of it, too.

[Shinji doesn't have a problem with touching inanimate objects. He prefers to fiddle with something, like the marbles, just to bleed off some nervous energy. He's feeling very nervous as he waits around.

With a forced smile, he says,] Hi. [... oh, he already said a greeting. Damn it. He's screwing this up from the get-go.] These are... they're marbles, but they're really cool. Some of them glow in the dark. I don't recognize any of these galaxies, though, sadly.

[He has no idea if this person is someone new, or someone looking for a gift. It doesn't matter.]

Would you like one?

Edited 2016-03-13 04:46 (UTC)

You ate a lot of it. Do I have to remind you when to eat again?

[Then, two minutes later:]

When should I

When?

You don't have to do anything.

[He feels weirdly on edge, even though he's smiling at the screen...

...]

Whenever you have a spare moment. Up to you.

Okay.

[Asuka goes silent for a full ten minutes. Her face is a lost cause, but her hair... she tries putting it into a ponytail, then braiding it messily, then, in despair, yanking the elastic out and leaving it down. Her plugsuit's clean-- damn it, why couldn't he have sent whatever this is, so she wouldn't have to fret like an idiot over how she looks...]

I'll be right there.

[She gets off the shuttle in what at least feels like record speed. Unlike most of her usual visits, though, she's twitchy and nervous, face pink. The whole trip, she'd tormented herself with the thought that he might stand her up and she might deserve it. But seeing him there waiting on her, all she can manage is the briefest--]

Hi.

Edited 2016-03-13 05:41 (UTC)

[By the time Asuka arrives, Shinji isn't holding the bag of marbles anymore. There's no obvious evidence of chocolate, either. She gave him chocolate on Valentine's Day, so he should be giving her chocolate in return... but he's chosen something more practical than that. It's contained in the small, unmarked envelope he has balanced on his knees. (If she hates it, he's going to throw himself out the nearest airlock.)]

There you are.

[Ten minutes. It looks like she fussed over this more than she should have. He smiles nervously up at her, trying not to wince. Definitely on edge. Definitely didn't get enough sleep last night.]

Want to sit down?

Edited 2016-03-13 06:25 (UTC)

[Asuka looks at the card, biting her lip. In a way, she's glad enough to see him there she'd accept anything. But it looks so little. Maybe he's written her something. For the twentieth time in as many minutes, she curses herself for being so stupidly hung up on him, but it doesn't help the flush on her face as she walks over and takes a seat next to him, smile uncertain and wobbly.]

Y-you didn't have to get me anything, stupid.

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