One.

1. Check on Shinji.

more Misato/gendo pls ;( (4)

After Ritsuko tells Shinji he's free to go, I pull him to the side in a nearby hallway.

"Shin-chan, is everything okay?"

He shrugs, eyes on the floor. "I don't know. I mean, I'm only piloting because I've been forced to, right? Ayanami would have gotten killed in that first battle if I didn't do something."

I sigh. What should I say?! Is he trying to tell me he already wants out?


Current Mood: :( Sad. Shinji-kun, you are important to us...

"This is about the only thing I can do for you right now, Shinji-kun..."

(don't pick this if it will mess things up please :P)

Smile and say "You're doing really well, and don't worry. We believe that the number of enemies is quite small. They should all be defeated by the end of this year, and on some occasions there will likely be many days or even weeks between battles. Meanwhile, just hang in there and know that we all support you 100%. Besides, you'll have help soon. Rei is nearly recovered, and there's another pilot arriving soon. You won't have to face the enemy alone much longer, Shinji-kun."

^ This.

agreed!!

I smile. "You're doing really well. We believe that the number of enemies should all be defeated by the end of this year. Just hang in there and know that we all support you 100%. Besides, you'll have help soon. Rei is nearly recovered, and there's another pilot arriving soon. You won't have to face the enemy alone much longer, Shinji-kun."

He nods, thankful.

1) Introduce Shinji to Rei?

2) Talk about the new pilot?

3) Just go home?

Current Mood: from the battle.

TEH Rei!

Introduce Shinji to teh Rei! They deserve a proper introduction.

1 sounds good to me.

1) Introduce Shinji to Rei?

I bring Shin-chan over to Rei, who's resting in her hospital bed.

"Hi, Rei." I offer a gentle smile. "How are you?"

Still heavily bandaged, the blue-haired pilot blinks, sitting upright, wincing as she does so. "Captain Katsuragi, do you need something?"

Frowning, I support Rei so she can sit up. "Actually, I wanted to introduce you to the pilot of Eva-01. Come in, Shinji-kun."

She nods as Shinji nervously enters the room. Their eyes meet, Rei stares blankly, calmly at him, while Shinji seems to regard Rei with a mixture of pity and...confusion or familiarity?

Huh, I wonder what that's about.

"I am Rei Ayanami, the pilot of Eva-00."

"Um, yeah... I'm Shinji Ikari...pilot of Eva-01. Nice to meet you, uh, Ayanami."

"You are Commander Ikari's son?"

Shinji nods, fidgeting as his arms stiffly stay by his sides.

Rei's gaze returns to her blankets. "...I see."

Shinji works up the nerve to sit by Rei's bed, clearly worried. "Ayanami, are you going to be okay?"

She nods. "Yes, Ikari-kun. I should be able to pilot again sometime soon."

He seems upset. "But you're still hurt! I can pilot in Eva-01 until you get better, it's fine!"

Rei seems to consider Shinji's words before replying. ".......If I'm ordered to rest, then I will."

Sigh. Rei sure is odd. But hmm... Maybe they'd feel better with some privacy?

1) Let the Children talk alone?

But how?

a) Stay outside the door?

OR

b) Go find _____ while they get acquinated?

2) Take Shinji home instead?

Current Mood: I'm pleased Shin-chan and Rei are getting along.

Take Shinji home.

1. Let the children alone and stand outside the door out of sight.

1. Leave them alone, b. go find Ritsuko.

1a - listen outside the door. (because I want to know what they say.)

2) Take Shinji home instead?

Shinji is going to say something stupid!

1/a