interstices: (and that's the test in it)
Asuka Shikinami Langley ([personal profile] interstices) wrote in [community profile] driftfleet2017-08-18 08:36 pm

[video] neon burning up above

Who: Asuka and you
Broadcast: Yes.
Action: On Kayann
When: Mid-afternoon to early evening on August 18

[Lo and behold, a grimacing redhead with an eyepatch has her face a little too close to her device. Maybe because it's been awhile since she's used it; maybe because, as usual, she's perturbed. Asuka does pull it back, though, starting to try and pan around at the slew of people around her, although, unfortunately, a brief flash of her shirt (bright crimson, with "FLOOT LOOPS" in bold white lettering across her chest) still manages to make itself known.]

Look at this crowd. Don't any of you work? [From the cacophony of background noise, and the way all the people around seem to be either in line or milling about, it's pretty obvious she's found her way to one of the amusement parks.] I've been in line for half an hour. Even the food here has some stupid Fast Pass system.

[And now she's raising her device towards one of the dozens of glittery advertisements. This one bears an alien-looking mascot and stylized cursive: SUPER ALP-LAND, and beneath it sponsored by alp industries and associates.]

Don't waste your time here. If you know of someplace that's any better, go ahead and tell me. I'm sick of all these people everywhere.
astrobleme: (sadalsuud)

action.

[personal profile] astrobleme 2017-08-19 01:51 am (UTC)(link)
[Shinji isn't any happier about waiting in line for-freaking-ever to get a funnel cake and something cool to drink. Not that he needs either of those things, admittedly. The smell of the fried dough, wafting all the way over here, is just kind of driving him crazy. It smells so good. He's going to need a napkin to stop himself from drooling if this keeps up.]

Hey, Asuka...

[As he watches yet another Fast Pass customer walk past with their sweet treats, he finally comes to a decision. It's underhanded, yeah. Most likely illegal, too. And who knows what will happen if he gets caught. And it might not even work, since he doesn't really know what he's doing, but...]

I think I know of a way to get us to the front of the line.
astrobleme: (alphecca)

[personal profile] astrobleme 2017-08-19 02:40 am (UTC)(link)
[Aside from having to wait around in a series of lines, Shinji has been pretty impressed with just how populated this planet is. Not even Tokyo-3, with its many thousands of residents, had felt this busy at its peak hours. Maybe this is what Earth had been like before Second Impact, with every population center bursting at the seams... Back then, overpopulation was apparently a real concern...

He moves his hand over and touches Asuka's wrist, then her fingers, as gentle as ever.]


That's not what what I'm talking about. You'll just have to trust me, okay?
astrobleme: (gomeisa)

[personal profile] astrobleme 2017-08-19 04:36 am (UTC)(link)
[Shinji is furiously trying to rationalize what he's about to do--to convince himself that he isn't being a bad person. They've been waiting forever for their turn, and they paid a ton for these admission tickets, and... and... and... and morals are a human invention, and he's been identifying less and less with humanity as it is. At the same time, it's terrifying to treat basic tenets--don't steal--don't be an asshole--as something to be ignored. He squeezes Asuka's hand as his anxiety swells from the internal strife.]

Just, uh... follow my lead. Act natural.

[He draws her out of the line, then parallel to it, approaching the surprisingly modern food stand in front of them. Most people have been queuing into one of three cashiers, but there's a fourth spot for Fast Pass customers that takes virtually no time at all. It's a prepaid sort of system, as far as he can tell. It's installed in a microchip, which is implanted under the skin, so people simply have to wave their hand over a dark, circular sensor to access their account.

He doesn't even have an account, but that shouldn't be a problem for him, in theory. Taking a deep breath, he holds his hand over the sensor and closes his eyes. If he can focus his mind outward, then...

Ping.

Transaction approved.

He's so startled by how easy that was, how painless that was, that he lets out a laugh. The cashier, a long-snouted alien with droopy eyes, just looks like he wants their order already.]
Edited 2017-08-19 04:37 (UTC)
astrobleme: (ksora)

[personal profile] astrobleme 2017-08-19 09:17 am (UTC)(link)
[In something of a daze, Shinji turns over his hand and stares at it. His palm is clean, empty, and a little bit sweaty. His fingernails have been bitten to the quick, which isn't unusual for him; they'll grow back out before the day is over. He can't feel the extent of his power, at least not in the stereotypical sense... The muscle he's flexing is invisible, ephemeral... It's like a pressure that builds and builds until he finally releases it.]

--Huh?

[He blinks several times, then realizes he's been standing there like an idiot, lost in his own thoughts.]

Sorry. Sorry, I was just... [It takes him a moment to clear his throat.] I'll have one of the funnel cakes, and some water, too, if that's okay. No ice, please. [Why wouldn't it be okay? Their entire order of food is only worth a couple dozen credits--nothing to get all worked up about. It isn't like he's trying to steal a luxury car or an expensive piece of artwork. He looks over at Asuka, still unsure of himself, even as she smiles at the convenience of it all.]
Edited 2017-08-19 09:19 (UTC)
astrobleme: (sabik)

[personal profile] astrobleme 2017-08-23 12:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[Shinji takes a deep breath, trying to find his equilibrium. He still doesn't know exactly what he's capable of--and what he does know feels like a fraction of a fraction of his full potential. Even though he asked Kaworu for help, he still isn't comfortable with exploring the unknown too far, too fast... He's always aware that he could lose control again. He's messing with something he has no business messing with, in all honesty.

But Asuka doesn't seem very concerned about any aspect of this. They did just score some free drinks and funnel cakes, and nothing exploded in the process, so maybe that's why... Shinji hastily thanks the cashier, then follows Asuka away, taking a bite of the powdered sugar-covered sweet. It's so satisfying on his tongue, from the flavor to the heat, that he almost forgets how ill-gotten it is.]

Mmm, I don't know...

[Not an inspiring answer.

But he tries to elaborate anyway:]


I can just feel, like... I guess it's the energy... it's in everything, and I can touch it, I guess, with my own energy. Sometimes it happens by mistake, even... But yeah, a computer is just a bunch of circuits, and they're filled with electricity, which is a form of energy, and that's what I'm touching. Then I figure out where I want the energy to go. Actually, I was worried I'd set off an alarm or something, but it worked out.

[...]

Asuka, do you...

[He stares at his funnel cake intently.]

What I did back there, do you think it's a bad thing?

[And does it make him a bad person?]
Edited 2017-08-23 12:38 (UTC)
astrobleme: (orion)

[personal profile] astrobleme 2017-08-27 11:58 am (UTC)(link)
I guess you're right... [Not to mention, it would be a super crappy date if all they did was stand in long lines for the rest of the night.] But I don't want to get too crazy with it, you know, [Shinji adds, more so reminding himself to relax. He wants them to have fun, to enjoy themselves; obsessing over right or wrong behavior isn't going to help with that. The next planetary pit stop might not offer as much for recreation, so he should savor this while he still can.

The smudge of sugar on Asuka's nose is adorable. He smiles faintly, not pointing it out just yet.]

Oh, it's like... I'm not sure how to put this... [A mountainous Ferris wheel looms ahead of them, outlined in a frenzy of blinking lights, as pretty as it is impressive. He looks up at its highest point, squinting a little.] Instinct. That sounds weird, right, but it's just... something I can do now. It feels perfectly natural, even though it's not. I don't have to think about it. Kind of like riding a bike.
astrobleme: (ruchba)

[personal profile] astrobleme 2017-09-04 11:22 pm (UTC)(link)
[Shinji feels strangely embarrassed about this, like he's taking off his shirt in front of her, now that he's discussing his abilities. Sometimes, he thinks he'd be better off if he were still just a boring, unexceptional human being... and other times, he thinks he wouldn't trade this cosmic power for anything. He doesn't have to rely on Eva to protect the people he loves, for one thing. But it's also scary as hell on several levels.]

It feels a lot like cheating, to be honest...

[At Asuka's nudge, he carefully nudges her in return, mindful of their food. He almost doesn't notice that he's starting to smile again. Maybe he isn't such a bad person, like she said. Maybe.]

The Ferris wheel? Yeah, okay, I think I can do what I did before... just don't do anything suspicious while I'm doing it. [They're skipping ahead of dozens of people this time, but at least it's just for a carnival ride and not something serious. Shinji smiles nervously at the dull-eyed attendant while he passes his hand over the sensor, and it beeps at him in approval again. The next cabin will belong to them, they're told.] It was even easier that time, [he whispers to Asuka, then sips from his cup of water.]
astrobleme: (orion)

[personal profile] astrobleme 2017-09-15 02:36 am (UTC)(link)
[After Shinji settles into his seat, he turns to look outside at the sprawl of the amusement park--and the city skyline beyond it, jagged and ablaze in colors. They're going to have a pretty awesome view by the time they reach the top. His smile passes from nervousness into something more sincere, more private and pleased, and he takes another bite of the funnel cake. His internal debate over right versus wrong can wait for a few minutes, maybe.]

Oh, Kaworu-kun... [He nods a little, thinking of his last "lesson" with Kaworu.] Yeah. He's been helping out. It's hard to know what I'm supposed to ask him, though... He's been doing this stuff since forever--just, you know, forever. Like, the A.T. Field... he doesn't even have to think about using it. So the difference between us is still about the same as when I started. I'm, uh... [He looks over at Asuka, then down at the floor, where he's scuffing one of his shoes idly.] I'm trying not to get too discouraged about it.
astrobleme: (altair)

[personal profile] astrobleme 2017-09-28 03:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Mmm... [Maybe that's true. Maybe he has gotten a lot stronger, even if his strength still can't compare to Kaworu's. It took Shinji multiple weeks to figure out how to change his eye color--a cavalcade of daily frustrations, of psychic constipation. When he finally succeeded, it was like the most amazing feeling ever, all humming bass relief right inside his chest.] Well, yeah, I guess something is more than nothing...

[It startles him, at least a little, whenever Asuka takes his hand in hers, like it's the easiest thing in the world to do. He's never going to stop being grateful that Asuka touches him like a normal girlfriend would. Not to mention, during his time with the Fleet, and more than once, he has slipped into these ugly, depressive moods, where he can't tolerate any contact whatsoever... but she never seems to hold it against him. Not for too long, anyway.]

It's so beautiful, [he says, his eyes drawn to the lights, the colors--and the auras of so many park guests below. It's been getting easier to see the true composition of a person, too.] You know, I never really paid attention to... things like this, when we were pilots. If something was beautiful, or not beautiful. It's... [His smile looks like it's here to stay.] It's kind of a luxury, isn't it?
astrobleme: (etamin)

[personal profile] astrobleme 2017-09-29 03:22 am (UTC)(link)
[Even though it's going to limit the view for him, Shinji decides to just switch seats, from one side of the cab to the other, so he's sitting beside Asuka instead. They're still holding hands, and he squeezes hers in return; he doesn't want her to think he isn't paying attention. It's strange, though--it's alien to think in these terms, frankly, but it isn't the flesh that interests him as much anymore. Her soul is pure brilliance. He could spend all day just looking at its fiery contours. It reminds him of the corona during a total solar eclipse...]

We're never going to be pilots again, Asuka. I can promise you that much.

[Now that he knows what he is... what he's capable of...

This is the happiness he's pledging his strength to protect.]
Edited 2017-09-29 03:26 (UTC)
paraclete: (o-okay.)

text.

[personal profile] paraclete 2017-08-19 02:15 am (UTC)(link)
Alp sponsors fun, Asuka.
paraclete: (i don't care what she says)

text.

[personal profile] paraclete 2017-08-29 04:36 am (UTC)(link)
Asuka, everything Alp sponsors is the best, and who knows what we would do without all of it.

[...]

It's pretty curious, being told what to like. I'm not good at it yet.

[...Cheeky...?]
paraclete: (i guess it's a blind kind of love)

[personal profile] paraclete 2017-08-30 04:02 am (UTC)(link)
You know, I'd learned a little about this. When I was younger. Men telling me all about the human condition, which they considered to be reliant upon the buying and selling of goods, or, really, power: the movement of power via currency, luxury, necessity. I had no idea this part would feel so silly in practice.

You should get yourself some popcorn.
paraclete: (you're the reason why the opera is in me)

[personal profile] paraclete 2017-08-30 04:29 am (UTC)(link)
Well, I figured they were right. I had no reason to believe otherwise, at that time.

So, okay. Let me try again.

Do you like popcorn?
paraclete: (with a perfume of violets)

[personal profile] paraclete 2017-08-30 04:44 am (UTC)(link)
12 varieties on shelves, 5 discontinued, and 6 limited editions. Seasonal. It gives you something to look forward to, you know. Pretty fun stuff.
paraclete: (love love my season)

[personal profile] paraclete 2017-08-30 05:00 am (UTC)(link)
Alp outlets offer an exciting selection of samples on special days of the week, so it's good to visit whenever you can to try and catch it. If you miss it, though, certain varieties offer a deal of buy 1, get 1 half off, which is a deal full of wonderment.

Okay. How am I doing so far?
paraclete: (i've no obvious thorns)

[personal profile] paraclete 2017-08-30 05:14 am (UTC)(link)
Well, my favorite is the peppercorn caramel, but I don't want to say my sorts of things; I want to say your sorts of things. So for you, I think, maybe...

Hazelnut toffee, is what I think of first.
paraclete: (i've no obvious thorns)

[personal profile] paraclete 2017-09-09 02:38 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, yes. Sweet and rich. That full-bodied mouthful. It's pretty nice when you try it. You end up going through the whole bag before you know it, even though you told yourself you were just going to see how it tastes.

In my experience.
paraclete: (do i disappoint you?)

[personal profile] paraclete 2017-09-10 04:23 am (UTC)(link)
I might say it's not half bad.

[It's probably easy to imagine the airiness in his voice. A breath, an inhale, that way he seems like high, puffy clouds. Such a simple text, though.]