And We Danced (Masquerade Overflow!)

[thespaceopera]

The Captcha is upon us, but the party isn't over! Feel free to continue your threads here, start new ones, and continue the dance party!

- Original Mingle
- OOC Post

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Comments

[interstices]

[Oh. That's mildly embarrassing, but then, the chip on Asuka's shoulder is the size of a small continent. Her glare doesn't soften much, but it at least focuses itself on her empty cup instead of his face. She's weirdly pleased at his hurried signing. Good to know he doesn't want to offend her.]

Does it mess with you? [She's disappointed with the cup, really. She's only drank on infrequent occasion, scorning alcohol most of the time as just another sad attempt at an escape route and another leering reminder of the adulthood she'd never have. But tonight she'd wanted just a taste.]

[mortalcoil]

[he hesitates, but eventually nods. because trying to explain what happened the last time he drank is not something he wants to spend the effort or the embarrassment on. so, this shallow answer will have to do.

he also makes a bit of a face, because he doesn't exactly like alcohol. unlike with some teenagers, there isn't much of a draw for him there. it's something that is messy and lacking in control, and he's painfully aware that his intelligence tends to plummet fast...

he doesn't make a very good drunk.]

[interstices]

[Asuka's figuring on barroom brawls or bad sexual decisions. Maybe both. Either way, it's not something she can judge on.]

[It's hard to talk to him when she's the one asking all the questions. Asuka's inquisitive, even nosy by nature, and the fact that he never gives her enough to go on is simultaneously infuriating and vaguely intriguing. She kicks her feet against the rails again.]

My commanding officer used to drink all the time.

[mortalcoil]

[he might be unable to ask her very many questions with the current language barrier between them, but it at least makes him a fabulous listener--whether he likes it or not. he's lucky he has a curious nature and actually finds his conversation partner interesting, in this case. he's not always so willing to be talked at.

so, he turns around to rest his back against the railing instead of his elbows, giving her more of his attention than the people milling around below, and his eyebrows raise in an open expression. look at that, he's listening. he wants to hear more.]

[interstices]

I thought she was nasty for it.

[Katsuragi was brilliant as long as she was at work. No, as long as she was at NERV. After hours, she'd happily drown her sorrows in alcohol, transforming into some parody of a giddy college girl. But that was fourteen years ago. Now she's just heading a ship full of corpses. The further away the Wunder is, the more easily Asuka can see it. Katsuragi's unraveling. Well, she hadn't been too far behind.]

[Coil's turned around. He's paying attention. That encourages her to go on, a bit more quietly, less bitterness punctuating her words. She's scuffed her shoes mightily already, but she doesn't mind. The sound of them touching the metal railing isn't a bad cadence.]

I thought only weak people needed something else to get by. But everybody needs something.

[mortalcoil]

[without speech getting in the way, it's easy to see the little path that his mind takes. his expressions are all subtle, but they're easy to read when he's not all closed up. he glances away to consider that statement, compare it to whatever his beliefs are. the thought rolls around in his head, and he has some Opinions that he's maybe considering arguing with.

but first, he's curious. looking back up, he nods toward her, questioningly. she's obviously speaking from personal experience, so... what is her 'something?']

[interstices]

[Before she replies, she drops the empty cup from the railing. With any luck, it might land on top of some passerby-- but from the sound of it falling to the ground, she hasn't been that lucky. Asuka's vaguely surprised he's interested, and even more surprised she's bothering to reveal even a small tidbit like that to him. Maybe the alcohol's loosened her tongue a bit, or maybe she's lonesome.]

Piloting. That was what I did before I got here. [Another one of those one-word answers that could invite a lot of questions, so she tries to fend them off beforehand.] Now, I don't know. [Liar.]

[mortalcoil]

[he's surprised that she's sharing as well, but only a little. he's maybe too far from understanding what is normal conversation to tell the difference. he's always a little surprised when anyone shares anything, but has just kind of grown to assume that it's just what people do. so, he's missing some of the weight behind it, and maybe that's not a bad thing.

he turns to see if he can see where the cup had fallen, but it's mostly to spend a moment thinking. he wants to mention the pilot that they used to have--he'd been devoured by the job as well. Coil had liked him. but there's too much to explain there.

after a minute, he literally shrugs the thought off and does what he can to respond, with his limited means. drawing fingers away from his eyes and pointing out, like 'look' or 'see,' he then spells out 'G-O-A-L.']

[interstices]

You mean I have to find a goal?

[He's not wrong, she supposes. If she wants to be honest, she has one in taking care of Shinji. Being there for him. Wanting him, too. It's just as mentally exhausting as piloting used to be, but a lot more rewarding, when she isn't insecure.]

Do you have one?

aaah I never saw this notif Im sorry

[mortalcoil]

[he nods immediately--very sure. but he doesn't jump right into explaining what it is. it's either too much to try and spell out for her, or the fact that he has a goal to keep him going is more important than what it is.

all he offers is 'A-L-W-A-Y-S.']