INBOX - NHD-C12-KRI-248 - IKARI, SHINJI

[forevalone]

ikari.shinji@cdc.org
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Comments

[paraclete]

[That's all Kaworu needs to know. The most important thing, right now, is to get to Shinji-kun swiftly.

He finds Shinji's rover soon (but not soon enough, it feels), and the first thing he wants to do, upon seeing his dearest friend, is to take him into his arms and hold him very tightly. He's ashamed of himself, though. Even as he draws in closer, close enough to see Shinji's beautiful and beloved face, he's ashamed of himself for being gone, and not for the first time. He keeps his hands to himself, then, and, inhaling, stops a few feet away.]

Ikari Shinji-kun—

[His voice is void of breath; he doesn't exhale. He's holding oxygen inside of himself like a punishment, though it does nothing to his body.]

[forevalone]

_{[He's been waiting outside for Kaworu, Paki-chan tucked away in his bunk. It's been days since the other boy ended up in stasis, leaving Shinji feeling down, if not utterly lonely, especially when everyone went off on a mission (only to return and end up being punished severely). Stressed is certainly one way of putting how he feels but the text he'd received from Kaworu was immediately reassuring. He was back and okay enough to type. He was coming to see him.]}

Kaworu-kun.

_{[He hears his voice before he sees him, and when he does he's saying Kaworu's name in return. Kaworu doesn't reach for him...Shinji doesn't expect him to. Still it doesn't stifle the urge he has to reach out in Kaworu's absence, arms outstretched slightly. He wants Kaworu to meet him halfway. He could do as much, couldn't he?]}

[paraclete]

[With Shinji reaching out like that... Kaworu is too taxed to put up a fight. One would think that sleeping for so long would leave Kaworu feeling refreshed. In a way, he does: he's certain that he's ready for whatever mission is next. Truly, though, this determination is born of concern, and frustration with himself. He needs to be better.

Resisting Shinji would never do any good. Rejection just isn't in their destiny. If Shinji's arms ask for an embrace, Kaworu will oblige. So he does, approaching closer until he can carefully take Shinji into his arms.]

Again, I've... [He's hating himself, but it feels so good to have Shinji against him.] I'm sorry.

( DAY 121 | post-armada announcement. )

[catbearded]

FROM: kaburagi.kotetsu@cdc.org

looks like we're heading out. you let me know if you or your cell need anything, alright? ill be around to help out.

day 120

[gottacatch]

FROM: red@cdc.org

hey. im the guy with the charizard do you remember me? unless i got the wrong person then sorry

[forevalone]

FROM: ikari.shinji@cdc.org

Ah, Red-kun? I remember you.

[gottacatch]

FROM: red@cdc.org

hey again. how are you? i saw your name on the contact list and thought id say hi

[forevalone]

FROM: ikari.shinji@cdc.org

Oh, I'm okay. How are you?

[forevalone]

FROM: ikari.shinji@cdc.org

Okay.

_{[And then much, much later-]}

FROM: ikari.shinji@cdc.org

I've heard from Terra-san and Sawada-kun. They're both okay.

[forevalone]

Not as long as you might think.

_{[Shinji takes the opportunity to copy and transfer a bunch of his music over for the other boy, most of it being instrumental, western classical music (Vivaldi, Bach, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn etc...) and some pop music (Spice Girls included). There's also some traditional Japanese music thrown on there for good measure. It only takes less than a minute for everything to transfer over before Shinji's handing it back.]}

Here.

[forevalone]

FROM: ikari.shinji@cdc.org

Understood, Kaburagi-san.

[forevalone]

_{[There are no tears from Shinji this time, only relief as Kaworu returns the embrace. He hadn't disappeared on him (not exactly) and now he was back. It had been lonely without him but Shinji was the type who could be lonely in a crowd.]}

You don't have to apologize. It's okay, Kaworu-kun.

[catbearded]

FROM: kaburagi.kotetsu@cdc.org

you be careful out there, okay?

[2leftfeet]

FROM: shepard.lydia@cdc.org

Good. Thank you

[gottacatch]

FROM: red@cdc.org

im okay too. so is charizard. were probably going to go for a walk before we get bored though

FROM: red@cdc.org

what are you going to do ?

[alittlemaster]

[Wow. It really wasn't as long as he thought. In fact, it was likely hours, days, months shorter than he thought. Just a few seconds. He's surprised.

But also intrigued. It just adds ammunition to his weapon. Things were fast. The texting, instant. The calling, instant. Transferring files, instant. Thanks, Shinji, for adding wood to the fire.

Carefully, he takes the blackglass back, looking over the screen.] That was fast for so much music.

[forevalone]

FROM: ikari.shinji@cdc.org

I will.

FROM: ikari.shinji@cdc.org

Ah, if there's anything you'd like me to do, please let me know.

[forevalone]

FROM: ikari.shinji@cdc.org

I don't really have any plans.

[forevalone]

I guess so...but it's better to be quick than having to wait around for it to transfer, right?

_{[No one likes waiting for shit to download.]}

[gottacatch]

FROM: red@cdc.org

nothing ? if you ever want to hang out with me and charizard you can. but i dont know what were going to do either

FROM: red@cdc.org

but we can chat like this if you want to stay in camp. if you get bored

[fossils]

FROM: rogers.steve@cdc.org

Probably about the same as you at your age. Didn't make it much past 5'4" even when I hit my growth spurt.

FROM: rogers.steve@cdc.org

Sometimes we get in our own way, can't see things clearly because we've only learned to see them one way all of our lives.

FROM: rogers.steve@cdc.org

You are brave, Shinji. You just need to learn to be less hard on yourself.

[alittlemaster]

[True. Ciel is too old to even know to be angry about 56k-levels of download speed.

But it worked. He has music similar to what he had seen on Shinji's blackglass. To be honest, he's thankful. He has no books aside from Hamlet, and he is growing increasingly bored and withered of mind without things to keep him occupied during down-time, or things to read at night before bed when he can't sleep.

Now he has music.

There's a long pause as he watches the list of names scroll by when he uses his thumb. A long pause. So long, Shinji literally breaks the eternal youth condition and grows up, grows a beard, and turns grey.]

Thank you.

[catbearded]

FROM: kaburagi.kotetsu@cdc.org

just make sure you and your cell get on a shuttle one way or another.

[forevalone]

FROM: ikari.shinji@cdc.org

It's hard not to be...

FROM: ikari.shinji@cdc.org

I don't like myself very much.

[forevalone]

FROM: ikari.shinji@cdc.org

I'll make sure of it. I won't get on one until I know they've all boarded.