2022-02-21: The Beast Who Shouts Love At The Heart Of The World
- Log: The Beast Who Shouts Love At The Heart Of The World
- Cast: Jude Espella, Kaworu Nagisa
- Where: NERV Transport Over Japan
- OOC - IC Date: (02/21/2022) February 19, 0096
- Summary: After Beast's 'surrender', Kaworu interrogates her - seemingly more for his own interest than for actual actionable intel.
<Pose Tracker> Jude Espella has posed.
After the trouble in the aquatic caves, Beast was transported from the Havant to a NERV-owned plane, placed in a holding cell. They're banking on the fact that she will die if she crashes it (or so they believe, she'd honestly just summon a flying kaiju and do bullshit). Dressed in her locked normal suit with colorful mask and bestial claw gauntlet, she's sitting in the cell, alone.
It's got no windows. It's got a guard outside. Honestly, Beast made this choice herself, so she's fine with it. She expected it. She'll leave on her own afterwards.
The kaiju is being transported via a different way, and she doesn't know much of the particulars - just that she can still feel her bond. If that stopped, she would probably kill everyone in this plane.
She's currently sitting crouched in the cell. Waiting. It's bad posture.
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
After some time, Kaworu strolls into the holding cell area, hands tucked into his pockets as usual. He's wearing a beige jacket with a winged star insignia over K.NAGISA in English letters over a tidy suit--white button-up shirt, black slacks, and purple tie striped green at the end--that signifies him as someone with a command position. Jude would probably not recognize that much, though.
It's at least clear that he's maybe around the same age as her--mid-teens at best. Whether that would make her *more* inclined to talk or *less* is yet to be seen. For now, Kaworu stops near the guard and exchanges a few words with them; they let him in and lock the door behind him, then resume their post. Kaworu, for his part, comes to a stop a respectable distance away from 'Beast,' a faint smile on his lips.
"Hi there," he says affably. "My name is Kaworu Nagisa. I've come to ask you a few questions."
<Pose Tracker> Jude Espella has posed.
The helmet looks up at the door as noise starts indicating. When it opens, she's looking straight ahead, or appears to be, as Kaworu approaches, stops, faintl;y smiles, and introduces himself. Young, huh...not a surprise, except for the command. Eisen's young, too.
"I am Beast." The modulated voice, teenage female, says. "Be my guest."
The wording is clear immediately. She feels she has more power in the situation than is apparent. Definitely doesn't feel like a prisoner, at least. "I like your star." She mutters out of nowhere, and is slightly surprised she even said it aloud.
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
Kaworu's smile broadens enough for a faint laugh as Beast invites him to do what he was going to do anyway. He's neither surprised nor bothered by her attitude and doesn't remark on it. "Thank you. I like it too," he replies instead. "Your friends are quite strong, aren't they? I saw the one you called down in Nouvelle Tokyo with your Instance Intervention. You seem quite loyal to them in return; you went to a lot of trouble to protect... Zarozarowan, I believe you said their name was? Judging by your actions so far, you seem to possess great care for kaiju, and great contempt for humans.
"It's a rare state of being for one of the Lilim; most are quite the opposite. How did you get to be that way? Did it have something to do with how you gained your Instance abilities?"
Though it is an interrogation, technically speaking, there isn't a speck of hostility or demanding in Kaworu's tone. Rather, he talks and looks at her like he's genuinely curious about her and her situation. Like they met at a club and he's simply trying to get to know her better.
<Pose Tracker> Jude Espella has posed.
Beast shifts, slightly, as he says Zarozarowan. He's the first person to use the actual designated name. It's a reputation boost. "That's correct. It's cuter than a string of numbers."
Her tone becomes serious. "I don't have contempt for humans. I have contempt for the status quo they've built. They've given the benefit of the doubt, while kaiju are not. When kaiju 'sin', they're put down. When humans sin, they're locked away or, worse, brushed aside. Kaiju are pure - they don't have an intent to do anything but live. Humans may not be - they can be completely malicious."
A pause. Her own curiosity. "Lilim...biblical- no, Lilin is night spirits. Hm..." She then answers his question with a deflection. "I've always been that way. Since I was young. The abilities helped. Newtype for kaiju, some say."
"You're very young for command. Are you the only one here, or the only one they thought about risking to be near a terrorist?"
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
Kaworu listens as Beast responds--a name is cuter than a designation, her contempt is not for humans but their society, she sees how kaiju are treated as unfair compared to how humans are treated, kaiju are always pure and humans are not. It adds detail to the picture he already had of her--clarifies distinctions, underscores her beliefs. Unsurprisingly, she reminds him a little of Akane. He wonders how far her abilities have taken her.
"Newtype for kaiju... How extraordinary," he muses, pensive. "Were you born that way? Or were you 'made' that way?" He considers this for a second, then adds, "Perhaps a better question would be: do you consider yourself 'human' or 'inhuman'?"
Of course, Beast then asks some of her own questions. He laughs a little. "Unfortunately, I can't answer that question," he says, apologetic. "As you say, you're considered a terrorist--a threat--and therefore I can't confirm or deny potential logistical information with you. You might try to use it to your advantage, you see." A beat. "My age is below average for a command position, though, yes. You seem rather young yourself to be engaging in guerilla warfare."
<Pose Tracker> Jude Espella has posed.
"Of course." Beast replies to the answer to her questions, leaving Kaworu hanging, and doesn't sound frustrated. They were basically rhetorical. "We don't only get angry when we're older, Kaworu Nagisa."
And then, because he has been polite to her, she decides to answer. "I am a human who doesn't understand humans as well as one should, but understands kaiju perfectly. Perhaps that makes me more of a kaiju - but then, if I said that, your only option would be to put me in the container with Zarozaro." It's half a joke.
"I would have preferred that, honestly." That probably says more than anything else.
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
That gets an outright laugh out of him. "Of course. Anger is so much more vivid in the young," he replies, openly amused.
It's an interesting response, then. The way she says that makes it sound as though it's *normal* for terrorists to be her age. Does that mean the Black Knights have a significant number of teenagers in their ranks? ...Though even if they did, that would hardly make them unusual as a militarized organization.
She replies to his actual question. Kaworu nods. "It wouldn't be our *only* option," he replies, taking her half-joke seriously. "I don't know if understanding kaiju better than humans makes you more of a kaiju yourself. There are many Lilim who struggle to understand their own kind." Knowing that she still calls herself 'human' despite preferring the company of kaiju does give him an idea of where she is mentally, though.
"By the way," he adds, "did Zarozarowan choose that name for themself? Or is it one you gave them?"
<Pose Tracker> Jude Espella has posed.
"I won't ask what the others are." Beast says, before pivoting to the actual question. "I asked and suggested something simple for me to remember, and for him to like. Zarozaro doesn't have a strong capacity for names - it's not in the nature of kaiju - but his old name made him uncomfortable. Associated him with the violence. The orders. He was genetically engineered as a weapon. But it wasn't behaviorally coded in him to like violence. He simply wants to eat, and sleep, and mate, and the whole Maslow's Hierarchy."
A pause.
"You know what that is, yes? One of your allies didn't."
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
"That would be for the best," Kaworu agrees.
So they discussed the name together until they found something that worked for each of them... Kaworu's smile deepens, but for some reason, there's a touch of sadness in his crimson eyes. "I see... That's very thoughtful of you," he commends as she pauses. "Lilim have an obsession with names--which is not inherently a bad thing--but because of that, they often unilaterally assign names to others. That you discussed Zarozarowan's with them before deciding it speaks well of the kind of person you are."
But that's aside from her actual question. "The hierarchy of needs, yes," he replies, nodding once. "It's often representated as a pyramid, which the most basic, fundamental needs--such as the one you listed--at the bottom, not to represent importance, but what must be satisfied first to move on to the next level. There's some criticism on the concept, largely related to placement of various needs and the subjects Maslow studied to form the basis of the theory, but as a basic concept it's both popular and sound."
He gives her a thoughtful look. "However, you said 'the *whole* Maslow's Hierarchy.' That pyramid climbs quite high. Are you suggesting that kaiju could reach a state of transcendence if their preceding needs were sufficiently met?"
<Pose Tracker> Jude Espella has posed.
"What kind of person is that?" Beast asks, curious if he has a feel of her that matches her own.
"Perhaps they could, if humans could. I believe kaiju are people. They're not animals - if they were, why can I communicate with them?"
A long pause. Beast stands up, slowly and non-threateningly. "Your questions aren't going to give you a countermeasure against me. I know the protocols. You're not going to get secrets, either. So...why?"
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
Kaworu's smile warms as his eyes crinkle. "A beast that shouts love at the heart of the world," he states.
For her part, Beast gives a simple but clear answer. He nods, considering it. It's consistent with what she's stated so far, both in this conversation and out on the battlefield--but she also makes it clear she doesn't *know*, it's only what she *believes*.
It's not a bad thing. Many things must be taken on faith.
"Hm?" As Beast stands and speaks, Kaworu gives her a questioning look. She doesn't try to make herself a threat, and he doesn't take her has one; his stance remains as calm and relaxed as before. He hasn't once tried to remove his hands from his pockets, and if Beast has paid attention, he hasn't fidgeted at all, nor does there seem to be anything *in* his pockets besides his hands. As much as he's acknowledged that *NERV* sees her as a threat, *he himself* is fully at ease. Perhaps that might make his answer more believable:
"Countermeasures and secrets would be nice for NERV. As for me, I'd prefer simply to understand you."
<Pose Tracker> Jude Espella has posed.
Kaworu gives his answer.
Beast starts chuckling, softly, before it grows into a full-out roaring laughter, crackling her modulator. It's not negative, though. There's an understanding between them.
"Eisen Daiwel could learn a lot about how to charm someone from you." She teases, because she still feels in control. "Do you feel you understand me enough, then?"
"Because I'm more than I'll ever appear to be from just an interview."
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
"Could he?" Kaworu wonders, unbothered by her laughing fit. Indeed, he waits patiently for her to settle down, never batting an eyelash. *That* doesn't happen until she asks her question, at which point his expression turns thoughtful.
"People generally are. Do I understand you *enough*, though? Hmm... That's difficult to say. The human heart exists as though behind a veil: it seems as though you can see through into it, when actually you can't. Not quite."
Either way, he gets the sense as though Beast is nearing her limit for questioning, so there's one last thing to bring up. "By the way, since you care so strongly for kaiju, do you have a particular opinion on Angels?"
Whether she even knows what he *means* by Angels, her answer will no doubt make clear.
<Pose Tracker> Jude Espella has posed.
Angels? It doesn't seem Beast knows what he means by that, due to a cant of her head, but she answers anyways from her context. "It depends on if I can feel their hearts. My abilities only work on kaiju." And people like a Newtype can, but she leaves that unsaid. "But...isn't it said to Be Not Afraid? And also that they will be ordered to protect us, wherever we go? So, perhaps, I would like to meet one some day."
Jude returns quietly to her crouch. It does seem like she's done.
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
Kaworu laughs a little. "I see. Well, thank you for the conversation, Beast. So you know, a member of STORAGE will be coming by later to talk to you about what will be happening with Zarozarowan, though how soon that will be, I'm afraid I don't know.
"I hope we have another opportunity to converse like this in the future. Until then..." He nods to her as she crouches, then heads to the cell door. Once the guard lets him out, he leaves with no further fanfare. Though, was there really any fanfare to him in the first place?