[text] throw me tomorrow

[interstices]

Who: Asuka and you. Yes, you.
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Red Fish, if you want it
When: 11/26 (today)

I guess everything's getting back to normal. Until the next time the ratings dip, at least. [Asuka's dryness is practically radiating off the screen. She doesn't expect to ever have a good idea of how many of their expeditions and accidents are executive meddling, and how many are simple poor luck. There are too many variables for it all to be rigged, but something else seems to be weighing more heavily on her mind.]

I've been here a long time now.

Hey. Was there something you thought you'd get, here on the Fleet, that you didn't? Or did get? I'm not talking about stupid things like more flavored goop in the kitchen. Just-- did coming here give you something you wanted?

Comments

text.

[paraclete]

To be honest, the flavored goop ended up being a pretty nice addition to it all. Just saying.

text.

[interstices]

There's only so many times you can gulp down your food instead of chew it and still be halfway satisfied.

text.

[paraclete]

I don't know that I'm so hard to satisfy.

I think about it, sometimes. How long it's been.

[interstices]

You're really not. You don't even ask for anything.

[And Kaworu seems happy with whatever little he gets, which is something Asuka never will understand. The whole world couldn't satiate her.]

It probably doesn't seem that long to you. Does it?

[paraclete]

I have only a little to ask for. It's fine.

It does and it doesn't. It's the longest amount of time things have ever gone so well, by far. That's all. I like the number of days. I like that it keeps growing. There is much to wonder after, but this number is compelling, and I want to see what happens if it raises even more.

That's a selfish thing, but even so.

[interstices]

I wish I could be happy like that.

It's not selfish to want to keep having good times. Better times, whatever. Only an idiot would want things back to how they were.

[paraclete]

[I didn't say I was happy, in not asking, he thinks wryly, but he writes,] That's a good wish. We should see what we can do about that. Wishes take work, generally.

[And it's not that he isn't happy. Not anymore, anyway. This is the greatest and lengthiest extent of happiness he has ever allowed himself, and that has ever been allowed to him in turn. And yet...]

I had the impression you were willing to believe I'm an idiot, even if not for that.

[He can't give it the cheer he otherwise would, since this is only written text; no cloud-soft tone to accompany it, no warm smile to lay as its backdrop. He doesn't mean it to be self-pitying. (Self-flagellating? Maybe.)]

[interstices]

Wishes aren't supposed to take work. They're supposed to just happen without you doing anything. And then you get mad when nothing does happen. Haven't you read any fairy tales?

I thought a lot of things about you that weren't right.

[paraclete]

I've read lots of fairy tales. La Belle et la Bête included a fair bit of hard work, too.

If you thought them, they must have been right to you, and right for you, at the time. I am many things. Who knows what all. You were bound to be correct here and there.

[interstices]

On the wrong person's part.

What you are is way too obtuse sometimes. You're like some mystic.

[astrobleme]

[So, this is probably the biggest minefield he's ever seen. Awesome.]

If you want something good to eat, you should just say so. I'll figure out how to make it.

[interstices]

I'm not really hungry.

[astrobleme]

Yeah, but I've finally got the kitchen back in order, so I want to make something. Name something. Anything.

[interstices]

Shinji, it's really okay.

[astrobleme]

You don't have to eat it, just tell me what to make already

[So he can go off and make it, and he can be doing something normal, and everything will be okay from then on.]

[interstices]

Fine.

Just make some cookies. I don't care what kind. I told you I wasn't hungry.

[astrobleme]

Chocolate chip?

[She doesn't care, yeah, she said she doesn't care, but he's still going to ask. Seeking approval.]

[interstices]

Do I have to tell you everything? Just make what you want, all right?

[astrobleme]

I'm not hungry either, so I don't know what kind to make.

[Nice and pathetic.]

[interstices]

Then stop pissing me off and don't make any.

[text]

[the_tailor]

I don't know about the first part, but the second part....yeah I guess

definitely got the break from the war back home that I wanted

I mean you can't exactly take breaks from wars? but frick, we needed a breather

[interstices]

You, too?

[the_tailor]

yup. guess that's not a super uncommon thing around here, huh?

[interstices]

Yeah.

So there aren't a lot of people that really want to go back home.

Who were you fighting?

[the_tailor]

we're fighting the Galra empire, which is

really, really big

they've pretty much taken over most of the universe and enslaved it and are your typical baddies so

[interstices]

You sound like you're pretty used to them.