eins.

[stupidshinji]

[ It takes awhile, getting used to light again, when the last thing Asuka remembers is a dark sky and an even darker sea, sand beneath her back and a wide-eyed Shinji staring at her. But she doesn't awaken to his face, but rather a slew of unfamiliar ones, coming and going, coming and going. She blinks a few times, sits up and instinctively presses a hand to her forehead. Dizzy. She gives herself a few more minutes before trying to rise. Everything is unsteady. Everything is unfamiliar.

She already hates it.

Once she's (relatively) certain of her footing, she hobbles upright, loose bandages wound around her head and arms shifting. Tries to ascertain where she's been taken. She opens her mouth to speak, but no words come out. Her throat feels hoarse. Everything is still fresh in her mind. Unit 02...

Her attention is immediately drawn to the bright ring in the corner of the room, and without even thinking, she steps through it. The world disappears in a flash, replaced by a bustling city. She should be surprised, but isn't. Too tired to care. Dully, her one good eye crawls to the friendly sign posted in front of her. ]

Mac Anu, huh?

[ Answers. That's what she needs. So the next unfortunate soul is getting tripped from behind with an insistent boot shoved into their back as soon as they hit the ground. ]

Hey, you. You're going to answer a few questions for me, got it?

[ She sounds like she means business. Probably not a good idea to argue. ]

Comments

[lookslikemomo]

O-okay?

[wow what luck huh? he just came back from item hunting, and now he's on the ground, being treated like a thug! at least you can't PK anyone in town...]

But, um... Wouldn't this be better if I'm standing up..?

[stupidshinji]

[ Too bad. Because if you could, you'd probably be deader than dead right now, smallfry. ]

Your mouth's still working, isn't it?

[ Asuka doesn't let up at the implied request, and just presses her foot harder into his spine as she launches into her barrage of questions. ]

Just where the hell is this place? And why is everyone so dressed up?

[lookslikemomo]

[it's probably good that takeshi is used to aggressive behavior...? especially from women.

he just sighs and points at the sign.]

Mac Anu, like the sign says. It's part of The World- we're inside a game. Kinda also explains being "dressed up."

Can I get up now? Please?

[minetodecide]

[Ryusei was lost as hell exploring Mac Anu when someone had suddenly tripped him as he rounded a corner.]

[cough] What the hell was that for?!?!

[stupidshinji]

Quit yelling, idiot. It's not like I stabbed you.

[ Not yet, anyway. Asuka glares down at his pinned back. ]

I've never seen you around before. Who are you?

[minetodecide]

(This woman! Just who the hell does she think she is?!)

Heh! I could say the same to you!

Oh my God I love this chick already and I don't know the canon.

[hoperaider]

[Jake kind of...flails, for lack of a better term, as he falls. Jeez, he's been doing this a lot lately.]

Does answering allow me to breathe properly and perhaps stand?

basically, 14 year olds get traumatized forever then turn into tang

[stupidshinji]

Whaddya think, dumbass?!

[ ...take that as you will. With Asuka, it could mean pretty much anything. ]

lmfao That seems to be what everyone from Eva says. xD

[hoperaider]

Well, since you asked me a question, I would have to say that yes, you would allow me to get airflow in my lungs as well as kindly take your foot off my spine.

[brightfuture]

[ There's a thud, followed by a pained groan. Did he just break a rib or two? Is he even still alive, for that matter? Coughing, Hope slowly lifts himself up with one hand, trying to assess the damage his face has taken with the other...

That's the word. Trying, because the second impact makes him return to the starting point and cry even louder. Best first impression ever! ]

... Q-questions?

[ It hurts too much to even consider being angry at this point. ]

[stupidshinji]

[ Yeah, she's pretty good at making impressions. And your body's making even more of an impression into the dirt as she grinds downward with her foot. ]

Yes, q-q-questions. Are you deaf, or just stupid?

[brightfuture]

[ Ouch. Ouch ouch ouch. ]

Stop... just stop! [ more decisively ] I'm not your enemy! And... and I'll answer, so get off me!

[diedforyoursins]

[he's never been really attacked in town (apollo's tricks didn't count) and as far as he could tell, the game's rules didn't allow for it. but it seems this sort of thing was harmless enough that the programming didn't prevent it.

he'd sensed the presence behind him, of course, but he wasn't exactly expected this, so he simply goes down with a yelp, jarring his wrists on the pavement. there's a foot against the small of his back preventing him from getting up, but he has enough freedom to look back over his shoulder and...

well. that's a familiar face, if only from the reports he's read and the accompanying photos.]

Second Child?

[suddenly, he's very glad that he'd been too surprised to draw up his AT field.]

[stupidshinji]

[ There's an immediate feeling of déjà vu striking Asuka before the words Second Child even leave her victim's mouth. Something familiar about him, despite the fact that they'd never met before, in this world or any other. She shakes it off quickly enough, but once she's addressed, addressed by a title she once wore with pride and now solely with disgust, her eyes widen, foot immediately slipping from sheer surprise. ]

Who...

[ She swallows, throat suddenly tight, dry. Images of what had happened flashing through her mind, those harpies killing her, eating her. She shoves them away, or at least tries, summoning up the courage to speak again. ]

Who are you?

[ It's the only question she can think to ask, the only thing she can think to say. Only a select few knew about the designations of Evangelion pilots, and for this stranger to so casually blurt it out here...

Something isn't right. ]

[diedforyoursins]

[her foot leaves his back, but judging from her face alone, he doubts it was out of kindness. she's shocked, and dealing with it aggressively -- normal for her, if the reports and what shinji said are anything to go by. that's a good thing, he decides, because it means despite the hint of fear he could see there, nothing had happened that she couldn't recover from. at least from base appearances, she was still herself.

and that's comforting to him, because even if they'd never met, she was a friend of shinji's. surely the other boy would be happy to see her alive and well here, rather than in the state that had given him opportunity to replace her.

but she's asking him a question now, so he shakes off the urge to analyze everything and smiles, turning to sit properly and hands up in the universal sign of i am unarmed and mean you no harm.]

Forgive me, we were never introduced back home. I was designated as the Fifth Child, and you had not been in good enough health for introductions.

[meaning she'd been comatose and broken, but he doubted she wanted him bringing that up so casually. everything he'd heard said she was highly prideful, after all.]

[greatcleavage]

[Somewhere beneath her boot, Roy is feeling particularly irritated with himself for failing his opposed Strength check.]

Did you seriously take Improved Trip as a starting feat, or did I just have a really bad roll?

[reified]

[ aaaaand dodging that kick, by... floating... which is all sorts of unfair, but you can take it up with him after he finishes scrutinizing you. hmmmm. ]

Rude. Is that really any way to ask a favour of someone? Or is that how ants assert their measly presence because they have no civilized way of doing so?

[stupidshinji]

[ All sorts of unfair, or would've been, considering Asuka was the one who struck first. Or attempted to, anyway. She's annoyed nonetheless at his mobility, and even more so at the arrogance he addresses her with. ]

Wanna run that by me again? Unless this ant decides to put a fist through your pretty face.

[reified]

[ ... oh god. they are going to be... such great friends... ]

You talk big, insect. But do you have the guts to back up your claims? I am not someone that you can simply threaten without repercussions.

[victorybike]

[Okay, ouch. Don't worry about the utter lack of a sound out of this kid, he's alive.

Just a little stunned. Red knows he's new to this place and all, but does he really have to watch his back that much? If he waits long enough, maybe she'll stop....]

[stupidshinji]

[ Staying silent is never a good strategy in dealing with Asuka's tantrums, Red. It only makes her madder. But you'll learn that in time... unfortunately. ]

Don't just sit there like an idiot! [ Her heel digs deeper into his spine. ] Say something!

[victorybike]

[It takes so much not to actually say "something", but he's no Copycat.

He's in grappler in pain.]

Like what...?

[orokamononya]

[Okay, that was not something he had expected. Really, for a martial artist, he really needs to pay more attention to his surroundings.]

What was that for?!

[adarable]

[ f-falling!! ]

Ah..!!

[ rubbing at her face ]

Ahm.. All right..! Wha, what would you like to know?

[hedgephones]

[ OH GOD HE REALLY SHOULD BE USED TO THIS BY NOW.

But nope, he's tripping and groaning in pain, having been halfway through shooting, "WHAT THE HELL" when he fell, eating a mouthful of dirt. ]

I would but I'm kinda unable to right now. [ It's grounded out through gritted teeth as he glares at the dirt. That hurt, okay. ]