Asuka Shikinami Langley (
interstices) wrote in
driftfleet2017-08-18 08:36 pm
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Entry tags:
[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.
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.
action.
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.
action.
[This was supposed to be a date, too. A real one. Asuka pushes her bangs out of her eyes and frowns.]
No way am I paying more. Those tickets were bad enough.
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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?
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[But he's said to trust her, so instead of arguing, Asuka just nods. His fingers are too soft and warm for her to tug her hand away.]
Yeah, okay. But if this doesn't work, we're going someplace else.
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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.]
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[It's been awhile since Shinji demonstrated his control over his appearance, shifting his eyes from red back to blue. The only other real display he'd made that she'd known of was even longer ago than that, during the ship invasions. She hadn't seen his power in action, just the results.]
[It ought to be freakier than it is, really. She's startled despite herself, unable to wrestle away her own surprised expression, but she's not scared. Even though she knows what this means. He's gotten stronger. A lot stronger.]
A... medium Alp cherry soda. [But he's paying for this, isn't he? A vague smile starts to creep onto her face.] I'll take some funnel cake, too. Shinji?
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--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.]
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[It makes her wonder, though. If Shinji can fool the sensors with such little effort,
then what else can he do? What else can Kaworu do? She knows that it's stupid even to think about. She's known all her life exactly how limitless an Angel can be. But it's different when it's him. He's not a burrowing force in her skull or a gruesome specter.
He's far more ordinary. He's not ordinary at all.]
[Asuka rubs at her eyepatch distractedly, only stopping when the cashier hands them their order. The funnel cake is hot, covered in powdered sugar, and she tears off pieces as they start to walk.]
How did you figure that out? How does that feel?
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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?]
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Besides, it's not like we ordered a five-star dinner. [The realization that they could is on the border of tempting, but Shinji's probably done with his misdeeds for a bit. She can understand that, to an extent. What's not earned feels wrong, just at a basic level. But they've paid in time and sweat for these refreshments, so Asuka's sauntering heedlessly towards the fast pass line for the rides.] You don't have to envision it? Or even know how it works-- you just direct it?
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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.
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You think it, and it happens. That's not fair. I can't do anything like that.
[To believe otherwise would be almost repulsive. It's only all right when it's him. She nudges his shoulder with one lightly-balled fist, somewhat awkwardly, given the soda and funnel cake she's carrying.] Come on. Let's go up there.
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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.]
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[Asuka still can't keep a broad grin from her face when he manages to trick the sensors a second time. It's not like she actively looks for easy way outs for anything-- it's not like she'd encourage him to keep on abusing his powers (really), it's just that this is deserved. And maybe it's about time he stopped trying to hide what he is. Her own hypocrisy makes that smile of hers wane as soon as she considers that.]
[They climb in without a fuss. The Ferris wheel isn't creaky at all, going up slowly and smoothly. It's a weird feeling at first, and she looks over at him.]
Has Kaworu helped you out?
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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.
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I don't think so. You were only able to change your eye color before. It's a big difference. [The Ferris wheel continues its ascent, making the bright lights below merge and smudge into a cacophony of colors. It's gorgeous. Warm. Even when she was on the plane to Japan, during the ascent and descent, she never saw so many lights. They were all but gone, even then. She grabs his hand.] Shinji, look!
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[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?
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Yeah.
[She's still looking out at the park below, but she's also squeezing his hand meaningfully. The ships are an okay enough space to be alone, but they're also cramped. Getting out and visiting this world ought to amount to more than fried food and amusement park rides, no matter how enchanting.]
I thought everything was ugly when we were pilots. [Everything. Japan was ugly, thick and heavy with a language she couldn't read. Katsuragi's apartment was ugly, full of empty beer cans and she'd swear the faint smell of Kaji's cigarettes. Rei was ugly. (Asuka was ugly.)] I didn't want to see anything nice. I just wanted to tear it up.
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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.]
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[Never is a long time not to see 02. Sometimes, awfully, she does miss it. Not the war, but the freedom of syncing with Eva. Of being more than she was meant to be, even for five minutes at a time. She's paid for that-- they all did-- but the nostalgia remains.]
[Her eye's feeling all hot beneath the patch. The patch itself seems like it's radiating heat right back. She'd curse in annoyance if he weren't looking at her right now.]
Hey, Shinji... [Now that he's sitting next to her, she scoots in closer, her shoulder nudging against his. Now's the time to start asking stupid questions she's never managed, not even when they were kids, stuff like what he wanted to do before he was a pilot, as if it makes a difference now. Maybe it does. She'd like to hope so.] You'd better kiss me before we get off.
text.
text.
text.
[...]
It's pretty curious, being told what to like. I'm not good at it yet.
[...Cheeky...?]
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You should get yourself some popcorn.
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Be less transparent. A real salesman only says that when he's about to offer something really big.
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So, okay. Let me try again.
Do you like popcorn?
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Good. Next you tell me how many varieties Alp has.
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Okay. How am I doing so far?
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Better than earlier. Now you say which one you most recommend and offer a sample package.
With free delivery.
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Hazelnut toffee, is what I think of first.
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In my experience.
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It sounds pretty irresistible.
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[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.]