005. video + action.

[astrobleme]

Who: Shinji Ikari and you?!
Broadcast: Fleetwide.
Action: On the Heron. If any of Shinji's crew members want their own costume (see below), feel free to claim one.
When: Right around now.

[network.]

[Where the heck is that music coming from?

Unaware that he's being filmed, Shinji wanders into the cargo bay of the Heron, following the muddled melody that's been plaguing him for a few minutes now. He stops dead in his tracks when he comes across--that. That rather large cardboard box with his name clearly plastered on the side. The music seems to be emanating from inside, on a loop.]

Well, that's not ominous at all, [he says dryly.

There's a large blue card attached to the top, which he steps up to and plucks off. As he reads from it, the messages inside flash across the video feed:]

- Shinji Ikari, you're not being true to yourself.
- There's something you've been hiding from everyone around you.
- But it's all right: we understand, and we want to help you.
- This should allow you get in touch with your inner desires.
- Your new life starts now! And don't forget to bring your friends!
- Brought to you by your sponsor: Made Fur You Incorporated.

[All of the sudden, the cardboard box falls to pieces, revealing a bunch of smaller boxes, each with preview pictures and labels stamped on the front. Kaworu: Arctic Fox Costume tumbles on top of Shinji: Azure Moth Costume, and both of those bounce around Asuka: Brown Cow Costume. There are additional costumes for members of the Heron crew, even.]

Oh, come on. I've been waiting more than a year for a sponsor, and this is what I get?

[Shinji sighs to himself, disappointed, and that's when he notices he's already broadcasting to the Fleet's network. God damn it.]

H-Hey! I don't want any of this stuff! Seriously! How do I send it back?

Comments

voice;

[sylphid]

Oh, that looks cozy.

[Bright side...?]

voice;

[astrobleme]

Cozy? Are you being serious right now?

[Shinji would never admit it in a million years, but that azure moth costume does look pretty soft and comfortable. The preview picture suggests there's a ton of padding and fake fur all over it. The antennae are extremely fuzzy, too.]

voice;

[sylphid]

Mhm. Space gets cold, and more blankets or whatever aren't a bad thing.

If you don't want it, I can take it off your hands.

[astrobleme]

I think this is a little more involved than a blanket. You're supposed to wear it. For some reason. [...] I might've dressed up as a cat once for Halloween, but that was waaay different than this.

[sylphid]

That's fine. [Without skipping a beat. She really has no shame or standards sometimes. Mostly it's to her benefit.] I like the color, too.

[Hmm.] Would you have preferred a cat costume?

[astrobleme]

I'll... get back to you on that. For all I know, there's somebody who actually wants to keep their costume. [Kaworu is the first person to come to mind, as depressing as that is. Arctic fox, huh...

So ridiculous.]

No, no way, I wouldn't have. But a cat is way better than a moth. I mean, who even likes moths? Don't they just fly around everywhere and get in your clothes?

[sylphid]

They're kinda fun. I wouldn't be shocked if someone did.

[That makes her pause, actually taken aback by his sudden hatred for them?] Some are pretty, and they can eat the bugs that really bother people. I think they're neat.

[astrobleme]

[It isn't that Shinji hates moths--he just associates most bugs with uncleanliness. And if something isn't clean, that's really bothersome for him.]

Well, I guess so... [...] There weren't that many different kinds of bugs where I'm from. A lot of them died off. The ecosystem was all messed up for a while. So they're important, but, I don't know... still kind of creepy...

[sylphid]

[Shinji should be able to almost hear the shrug in her voice.]

Everyone's from a different place pretty much, so it's not too weird to have stuff like that. Maybe someone knows someone who was eaten by a giant moth.

[She is such a helper.]

[astrobleme]

A giant moth that eats people? That's... [Jeez...] You make that sound like it's just some ordinary turn of events.

[sylphid]

It could be for someone. Who are we to know?

[astrobleme]

Yeah...

[...]

I hope the Fleet doesn't come across any planets with giant killer moths.

[He tends to worry about any and every possible eventuality, so here's one more for the pile.]

[sylphid]

If we do, I'll keep you safe. I did put the idea in your head after all.

[She maybe sounds a little sorry.]

[astrobleme]

You don't even know me. Just worry about yourself, okay?

[Unsaid, but implied: I'm not worth the effort.]

[sylphid]

But just worrying about myself is so lonely.

[Humor? Possibly. It's hard to tell.]