2022-06-23: Welcome To Tokyo Three Municipal Junior High

• Log: 2022-06-23-Welcome_To_Tokyo_Three_Municipal_Junior_High
• Cast: Orpheus Zevon, Asuka Shikinami Langley
• Where: Tokyo Three
• OOC - IC Date: 06 / 22 / 96
• Summary: After the news regarding a certain NERV agent being assaulted, out of concern Orpheus finds himself on an espionage mission to Tokyo-3 Municipal Junior High School where he encounters a familiar face in Asuka Langley.

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<Pose Tracker> Orpheus Zevon has posed.

A long sigh escapes the young man's lips as he looks up at the school in front of him. It was a rather drab appearance, at least in his eyes. A kind of school that seemed like not too much care had really been put into its aesthetic. Though perhaps with the kind of city this was, application over design was the way things went. Even now, he couldn't help but wonder if how the blinds were shut all over the school was how it always was. . .Or if it had been due to the recent events that had transpired.

"I would have hoped my first time here would have been with you around. . ."

He steps onto the premise of Tokyo-3 First Municipal Junior High School and without wasting a moment, heads were turning in his direction. It was hard not to turn his way. After all . .He stood out. One glance in his direction and it was apparent his origins weren't that of Japanese. His long blonde-hair trailing down in a braid to his shoulders, his green-eyes like emeralds with a tiny beauty mark beneath his left eye. He stood somewhat taller than most students that passed him by, clearly someone who didn't belong in this school. Not muh liberty needed to be given to who he was though, or at least. . . Where he was from. For most that knewly have heard of the recently constructed school alliances would have been familiar with the uniform he was wearing and the school it was worn at. Ashford Academy, a school of elite students within Area 11. Its Student Body President, Milly Ashford single-handedly aided in the construction of the school collaboration efforts that had been coming about in the last few months. Of course, as he wandered about the school and his affiliation was easy enough to determine, his reasons for appearing were. . .Less than so. All the same, the unfamiliar face made his way around the school as if in search of something. Yet as his eyes come across one student. . .A student whose appearance also seemed more than that of her peers there was a momentary pause. She's the one from the medbay. . .If that's the case. . .

All he needed to do was turn the corner, just a moment to get out of sight and-- As if by fate, his eyes met with her own. It wasn't anything intentional, and not like he was trying to give off a distrustful look but. . .Well, as someone with a certain kind of resting face that isn't so pleasant to others she might have been able to sympathize, but for now, it probably just looked like one unapproving European, giving another unapproving European at the very least.

"Oi. . .This the right way towards the school president's room?"

It wasn't exactly a great greeting, but well. . .For him to not just blow her off, in his mind was definitely a step up.

<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.

Asuka had been heading towards the girl's restroom when he comes upon her. As Oz turns the corner he may note the unusual circumstance of her appearing to be straightening back up after crossing a line of windows. It's unclear what she was doing though. She has her bag on her shoulder and a hand within her bag.

Asuka definitely doesn't look too different from that day aboard the HMS Over the Rainbow. She's in the turquoise dress over white blouse with a red tie around her neck, the exact same hair clips as that day - which definitely don't seem like a mundane hair accessory. A pair of white socks and school slippers on. As he addresses her, he might notice her expression transforming from one of grumpy disdain at being asked for directions, like she wasn't even going to bother answering him, to wary suspicion in the space of a half second. Her eyes seemed to be scanning his form for any signs of concealed weapons - hand inside of her bag gripping something more tightly. Oz is certainly experienced enough to guess what it is she has in her hand, even though they're in a school right now. Perhaps it is no surprise that someone like her would bring a firearm to class.

"Yeah? And who wants to know?"

A boy high school aged, not wearing the Tokyo-3 uniform and that handsome. Something of him put her on edge. Not because he ordinarily would - but because she's right now just on high alert right now. However, as Oz watches her, there's a subtle knit across her brow. As it sparks confusion, and with it more wariness, at least at first...

"Wait... do I know you?"

Something triggers deep within her mind that she should know him, yet she can't place a single one of his features to someone she knows. Ordinarily this would amp up the hostility with her, yet for some reason the blank her mind is drawing causes her suspicion to just level off... rather than heightening. Like the hole in her perception just isn't quite registering to her as a greater threat.

"From the AEU? Or... no..." She'd swear he looks a little Britannian? But that doesn't make sense, she makes it a point NOT to remember anyone from that bloc if she can help it.

<Pose Tracker> Orpheus Zevon has posed.

"Orpheus Zeveles."

The young man speaks his name before cautiously taking his time to reach into his pocket. While it was reasonable that she was so defensive, and even likely a smart move, the way it showed on her face made it all too apparent for someone like him. Someone who's seen plenty of people hide behind masks to survive. All the same, he makes sure she can see his hand slowly go in without making it too obvious that he's doing so to keep her at ease. Eventually he pulls out a student ID detailing his Ashford credentials.

"On behalf of Ashford Academy, the student council wanted to offer our support to First Municipal Junior High in person regarding the recent events transpiring within your community. We would have sent someone from our Junior High division, but given the circumstances of security, just having one of our high schoolers come was already quite the ordeal. . .Nonetheless, our school wanted to let you know we're united with yours and your community. If something is needed we'll do our best to accommodate. Though, I should be telling this to your Student President though. . ." It was hard to tell if he was honest or not. His credentials seemed legit at least. Perhaps he was trying to be respectful to the seriousness of the situation but the fact of the matter was that he just didn't seem to have the kind of outgoing personality-type one would expect of one acting as a messenger. It was understandable though, after all, while he had come under the premise of such a thing. That's not where his concerns lay. Dating back to the days prior as news hit of the Nerv Official attack, not much would have bothered him. Though the fact of the matter had come to light that two people he considered close had been taken within the clutches of Nerv, and even more so one of them had been lethally wounded. To the public such information was still unconfirmed last he had known, but when he had heard of the assailant. . . And how proactive they were in trying to eliminate their target reached his ears. An unsettling memory. . . A disturbing thought had come to mind, and it was enough of a reason to force his hand.

Some investigation at the crime scene, and questioning of the local authorities had at least given him enough information to confirm the appearance of the one that was attacked. A boy with red-eyes and gray hair. . .An answer he had regretted receiving the answer to. Still, beyond that information, anything else local authorities had on the matter seemed to have been completely classified. In which case the only way for him to be able to acquire more intel. . .Was to find those with direct connections to NERV.

That would lead him to only one place. . .

Tokyo-3, personally overseen by NERV and one of its largest operational facilities, capable of acting as a line of defense against Kaiju and Angels alike. A highly militarized fortress city in its own right, but also the place where he could find another ally and friend within. . .Or at the very least find those which would have been considered Kaworu's. The question though was. . .Even if he could get in, could he get out? He had heard of the city that at a moment's notice could lock itself away at the notice of an attack. If news of someone within the city who didn't belong had reached the word of certain people, would they do the same. . .? And what's worse, if those who had ended up leaving Kaworu and Alouette in this place. . .If they found out he was here, if he was alive. . .How would they respond? All of it was a risk to his very life. Yet, he felt obligated all the same to go this far at least. . . Thus as such a question that garners such risk. . . An eyebrow is raised in a questioning manner

Tch. She must have got a glimpse before knocking out. . .I felt the Geass waning but I thought I hit her before she saw. It should be fine though.

He'd speak up casually all the same, as if it was something he's heard time and time again as he cut off her train of thought. "I just have that kind of face. You'd be surprised how often I've been told that back home."

It wasn't exactly a lie, and funnily enough he did supposedly have a sister with a similar face, not that he had ever met her. "Anyway. . .It doesn't seem like you're Japanese, but I figured after I introduced myself, and even went as far as asking if you knew me, you'd have the courtesy to introduce yourself back. . ." Well, he had the courtesy to at least call them Japanese, but his courtesy towards Asuka was still less than ideal. Even now he was waiting for her response as though he was her senpai, to which technically in this country. . .He would be, wouldn't he?

<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.

Orpheus gives his name, Asuka doesn't immediately offer hers back. Still seeming on guard. When he reaches into his pocket, Asuka's eyes flick down - but the casual motion of it doesn't trigger any alarm in her blue eyes. Producing the student ID has her just staring at it, even as he gives her the spiel, and his credentials. He'll notice as he does that her hand slowly eases up in her bag, and even eventually comes back out. She's still on guard obviously, but she's not expecting any imminent threat at least.

"So what you're just here for some GUTS thing?" Asuka clucks her tongue, her breath lightly hissing through her teeth as if unimpressed. She's certainly not offering any senpai like deference to him despite having three years on him. "... What a pointless gesture."

While she'd ordinarily be rude, she's specifically rude in this case because she figures that he's just as ignorant as all the rest out there. That it's the equivalent of sending thoughts and prayers for the survivors of an Angel or Kaiju attack or even uninvolved students for the traumatic experience of hearing about a partially covered up shooting at the train station on the news.

Somehow however, he's managed to dissuade her from thinking of his face as anything that SHOULD stand out in her memories, she just figures she caught sight of him at some GUTS activity now after all. She can't help but feel... something strange when she stares at him, but it's not something she's focusing upon. "Half-Japanese." Asuka says as she adjusts her book bag over her arm, not sounding as if she has an ounce of pride in that part of her cultural identity at all, and it looks like she's going to head into the restroom at that moment without giving him either directions OR her name...

... but that strange feeling persists, as she extends her hand out to the door. "Langley. Asuka Shikinami Langley of the AEU." Before she waves a hand vaguely to the stairwell as she brusquely tells him, "I don't have time to be your tour guide though. First floor - have one of the third years direct you to the Council Room from there."

And unless he stops her she heads into the restroom almost immediately after that, as if she's wholly written off any interest in the conversation.

<Pose Tracker> Orpheus Zevon has posed.

There's a genuine little smirk he gives as she finally offers up a name.

"Mmm, got it." As she starts making her way into the restroom, Orpheus does start heading towards the stairwell in the same vein.

"You're a lot more pleasant in person than I thought you'd be, Langley. So let me ask you this for the next time. . . What kind of gesture should you give to those who've lost something?"

While his question did likely hold much interest for her still, the first remark he gave definitely had seemed. . .Intentional? It was possible he was just screwing with her, in fact, he seemed like the type that definitely would and yet. . . Didn't those words feel like they aligned ever so slightly with that part that was eating away at her. Was it worth it to go after him?

Whatever her decision was, whether it was to leave right away to catch him at the stairwell, or to let their conversation end there as she'd finally head out. . .Wherever she planned on going, whomever she intended on meeting. . . She'd find her path impeded upon by a much more familiar face. A face that still seemed in her eyes to be healing perhaps, a face that was always putting itself in danger, casually resting his back against the window as she left the restroom.

"Langley, we need to talk. ." Those words should have been what she heard, they should have been the voice of someone she just spoke to, yet, as they parse through her ears. . .In that same familiar, irritating voice the noise sounds more like. . ."Ah--Asuka, there you are. I. . .I uh--Can we talk?"

<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.

'You're a lot more pleasant a person than I thought you'd be, Langley.' Asuka stops with her hand on the door and it half opened. Eyeing him out of her periphery. There's nothing unusual about that comment on its face. Could be just be about the first impression of a Middle Schooler than implying he knew her. However, the sensation that she should know him still persists a little, enough to make her second guess that.

And his second question... "What kind of stupid question is that?" She reflexively replies, but then...

Asuka thinks of Relena Peacecraft, who lost her father, her happiness, her whole life to a single event orchestrated by a man seeking consolidate power. To know her own brother owed deference to that same man, that he sent someone to protect her - even as he aided and abetted stealing her life away.

Asuka is new to the idea of empathy, yet all the same, Relena's situation is one she's been thinking about a lot lately.

"Absolutely nothing. Because nothing is good enough to replace what they've lost." Her eyes turn back forward, "It's insulting to pretend even for a second you know what they need - that you have a thing to offer them. Because the only one that can comprehend the magnitude of their loss is them."

And then she vanishes within. When Asuka reemerges from the restroom, it's a gradual thing, like she's scanning for potential ambushes on her way out. A sort of wariness that's unusual for her typical haughtiness, like she wouldn't believe any assassin could get the jump on her. She spots Shinji near the window a moment later, and freezes, even as her mind translates his statement into a stammer of soliciting her attention.

Asuka doesn't reply to him verbally, her eyes just go wide, as she barrels right towards him, the soles of her loafers making a rubber screech on the floor as she grabs his arm and tries to yank him down with enough force that one might wonder if she truly intended to dislocate their shoulder.

However it doesn't give the impression of the attack, her intent is merely to tug him out of line of sight of the window and to a wall that's has no line of sight to the outside world, as her other hand guides his head down until he's in a half-crouch alongside her. Still Oz would almost certainly realize, her strength is much higher than the average 'Natural' girl her age, hinting at something more. "What are you, STUPID?!" She berates him, "Just loitering there like some clueless moron!? You were THERE when it happened. They're still at large, do you WANT to end up like Fifth String?"

Fifth String. The two words might strike an uneasy chord in Oz's head, perhaps he remembers it from the HMS Over the Rainbow...

... it was Asuka's nickname for Kaworu.

A group of boys a half dozen strong emerging from around the corner spy them, and one of them calls out, "Oh hey look everyone, the married couple is at it again." As the rest break into laughter. Asuka is instantly red from embarrassment and anger. "Can't you at least find a broom closet somewhere?" Another calls.

Asuka yells at them while Oz is likely still processing the information, she yells after them. "You're gonna find that REAL amusing when I'm finished STUFFING all of you into one just to see how many can fit for an overnight stay!" One might expect more jeering, perhaps even innuendo at her inexpert, flustered insult. While there's still some laughter the boys uncomfortably look at each other and suddenly turn and just happen to decide to head in the opposite direction.

... yeah apparently that's not as idle a threat as it sounds.

<Pose Tracker> Orpheus Zevon has posed.

As she gives that answer while the door slowly shuts, there's a melancholy look on his face. Perhaps Asuka truly isn't the type who's used to empathizing with others, but there's definitely a look on his face. One that feels like to some degree that he knows the words she's trying to get across. He's content with such an answer, even if perhaps in his mind it's not complete. . . He could have added on to this conversation. But, that wasn't necessary. The job of Orpheus Zeveles was finished the moment he was brought into contact with Asuka. There was only one thing that needed to be done now.

Let's get started. . .That one from before should do fine.

There's a moment of waiting as the door stays shut, reaffirming the thoughts already in his head. The time he had spent looking around the school, he hadn't once seen that boy. That one who he had stolen the appearance of once before. Whatever the reason was, it had been safe to assume that if he ended up taking his appearance, there wouldn't be any issue. The only thing now he needed to do was wait. Wait as that door gradually reopens.

Why? Because this time he was going to make sure he got every second out of this encounter. She might believe she's being wary of ambushes, but the truth is she's already been caught in one. For the moment she opens that door it's not an ambush by a physical strike, no bullets to her head, no what she gets ambushed with is something unseen. It travels like light itself from eye-contact alone. Flying from the gaze of Orhpeus' left eye to her own with such gusto that by the time her brain processes it, the person in front of her was someone entirely different. Shinji Ikari.

Though truth be told. . .When he sees her coming out at him so brazenly, latching onto his arm even he admits he's just about ready to assume something's wrong. Was he the one now getting ambushed?!

"What are you?!"

"Uwah?! W-What are you?!"

It takes a moment for him to process her logic, not even immediately taking to her words as he tried to process her strength. This girl's in junior high but can tug like that. . .? Guess Nerv has their own sorts of monsters. . .

It's more a remark than an actual thought but all the same he was in slight disbelief for a moment that it takes him another to process why she had just berated him.

"Mmm. . .I see. . ."

"Mmm. . .Yeah. . .I. . .I see. . ."

For Shinji, his voice seemed remorseful in the actions, embarrassed at his own inability to realize what the issue was, but for Oz's remark, it had two meanings. One at the realization of just how serious she was at trying to protect her teammates, and the other pertaining to how she had all at once divulged that not only was Kaworu the one that had been brought into harm's way. . .But the one he was acting as would be someone he'd need to work on next.

This alone's probably enough to bring me to the next target. The next thing to do should be getting this kid's address from the school. If I can do that then--

This time his train of thought is interrupted by something else entirely. The sounds of teens teasing and calling out to both him and Asuka. Their chatter about couples, going into closets, and even Asuka's response to it all honestly has Orpheus watching the whole thing to the point that well. . .

"Ehehe. . ."

Orpheus couldn't keep it to himself. It was just so. . .Silly, naive even. Enough he had to chuckle which when translated well. . .Turned into that of Shinji also chuckling at the remarks. They talked about couples and stuff like it was worth teasing about. Though only a few years ago, having that sort of relationship. . .It was bliss. His pure bliss. So for them to be mocking it while in his presence, he couldn't help but speak up.

"It's fine, Langley. It sounds like they're just jealous they can't get your attention.

It's fine Asuka. . .I think they're probably just. . .Uh. . .J-Jealous?"

Perhaps translation was lost ever so slightly. After all, he really had just meant that kids of that age were just more inclined to tease when they were being immature about things of that nature. Simply jealous at the boy who was garnering all her attention. But well. . .Didn't it almost sound like he had verified it? It was hard to say, but it was now a question of. . .Did they hear that as they were already running away? Who was to say? And who was to say no one else at the other end of the hall didn't see it?

Without even skipping a beat, though he continued moving the conversation along as if nothing he said was wrong. "Still. . .Since you brought it up. . .I haven't heard anything since then. Have the higher ups said anything else about what happened. . .? About the attacker, about Kaworu's condition? Anything?"

He learned potential leads, but before this charade ended, he at least wanted to make sure he got everything out of this girl that he could.

<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.

Asuka hardly focuses on what she regards as such a dopey response from Shinji. It's not like she's this serious about protecting her teammates usually. She didn't even acknowledge she was on a team at all before Oz first met her. Typically she's of the school of hard knocks when it comes to what kind of hand she'd take if Shinji Ikari came across some random gang of street toughs.

It's just, the assassin so easily took down Kaworu - whom she despises but knows he has physical abilities at least equal to hers has spooked her some. Her usual approach just doesn't apply. Shinji could be as hardened a figure as they come and still be taken out by a single sniper's bullet. And losing the burgeoning connections in her life that she now has value like that... ... ... she can't let that happen.

As the boys heckle as they're wont to do at that age... Shinji's giggle gets Asuka more flustered as she maintains her grip on his arm and gives him a serious look, despite being red-cheeked and red-eared, "What are you laughing about?"

Orpheus' actual words there, the ones not filtered through Geass are actually quite correct, more than one of them had approached Asuka while she was playing her Wonderswan between classes, trying to take a shot at the 'Langley Challenge' and oft times she simply raised her leg clear to their chest or face and shoved them over without even ceasing to play her game. While it's not as if she's the most popular girl in school for her sour attitude, the allure of a beautiful German transfer student captures the attention of so many boys that age.

The translation however - is different and it causes her to reach out with her other hand to grasp him by the collar, and pull him closer in a low-key threatening way assuming he doesn't resist. "And just what would they have to be jealous of hmm?" As she challenges him, doubling down on her pride at not acknowledging that she feels that way for him at all. "Mind explaining that one to me?" She grates out through her teeth, staring him down as if playing some kind of Chicken game and just daring him to try and elaborate on that topic.

However, as she's staring him in the eye, he asks a different question. And Asuka clucks her tongue and breaks contact with his eyes, "Tck." There's a pause, "That's right, you weren't on the radio to catch the update." Her grip on his arm and collar just abruptly loosens, "He's stable but in quarantine for radiation poisoning. Unfortunately the whole incident has been classified to a clearance level above Misato's. We're not going to get any more answers. No information on the attacker other than the munitions used. Some kind of radioactive munition - meant to make sure he dies. Ballistics report beyond that's been classified too. We're flying blind, which means..."

She suddenly jabs her finger back at his collar aggressively as she gives him a sharp look, "... you need to act less like some feckless dullard if you don't want to sport an extra hole in your head... we shouldn't assume they're trying to target NERV brass, he was low ranking. More likely they were trying to take out Evangelion pilots - since there's only a handful of people who can do it - and are currently combat ready in the whole world."

<Pose Tracker> Orpheus Zevon has posed.

He really hadn't been expecting such a response for his words. In truth when she reaches out for him, there's just a slight blinking in astonishment at the gesture, that thankfully doesn't translate over. His eyes just drifting down to her hands at his collar trying to process what it was that's gotten her all riled up.

Is she always like this with them. . .? Seriously, so angry she's going red in the face. . .

He wants to tell her to just lay off, but well, even he's not that bad to not pick up on that aura that's beginning to emanate. Whether he said something wrong right now, he'd clearly pressed some kind of button. I got it, my bad."

"I--I'm sorry, I got it. . .Really, m-my bad. . ."

What happened next was. . .Interesting. With his words, his face was now going red in embarrassment in kind at his mistake, his eyes were averting from her own and yet. . .Shinji does something unheard of. He takes the hands holding at his collar and just begins to guide them off his person. For Orpheus, it's again nothing significant enough to garner attention. He's just moving her hands off his collar, at least taking the necessary care not to harm her as he would a certain someone back when he was her age. It's almost a nostalgic gesture to him that he almost tries to delicate in doing so. Though for Shinji to do such a thing, especially when he was so flustered. . .Was that right? And even more so. . .Shinji's hands must have always seemed so shaky, so unresolved. Yet, the hands as they reach for her are nothing of the sort. The hands that reach for her own are actually rather firm, firm enough to actually try and guide her off of him, yet. . .Somehow, they're gentle enough to try and do so without being overly forceful as they just wrapped around her own to move them off.

There's one more breath Oz gives that isn't translating. He's not even gonna try and add on to that conversation, rather at this point he's more interested in what she elaborates on.

"Above Misato's. . .?"

Oz needed a moment as it was his time to try and recall that name. Ah...The one who worked on the Jama mission. She was definitely some sort of commander role. If she's not getting intel. . . The whole situation was starting to sound familiar in a rather uncomfortable way. A tale that felt like it was going to be repeating itself. So much so that when Asuka brings up that the reason they're being targeted another Shinji-parallel action occurs.

"No. . .That doesn't make sense still. . ."

Perhaps it was in Shinji's voice he made such a bold statement, but for Oz, someone who's been an mercenary. . .Something still felt wrong. It was true that the assassination attempt made sense to do in some regards. To get a pilot while they weren't in the EVA made sense. Those machines were monstrosities in there own right, so it only made sense that they'd take their shot on the pilots. It was the perfect way to go at these pilots. But that was the issue in and of itself. . .It was successful.

Maybe for Asuka that didn't mean much, but for Orpheus, for one who's seen Kaworu's power, who's been saved by that power, it didn't make sense that just a bullet would be enough to stop him. There was just nothing in his mind that allowed him to believe that an ordinary gun for hire could have been able to take Kaworu down.

Asuka. . .do you have logs of the radio on your phone, I didn't bring mine with me. . .? He imagines he's only got a few more minutes left at this point, but before his time passes, there's one more thing he wanted to do. . .Something he hoped that he might be able to get established before his limit was reached.

<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.

Yes Oz. The answer is yes. ... this is actually toning it down a good deal for her, those poor souls.

As he apologizes, Asuka doesn't seem to acknowledge the apology, at least visibly. Apologies in general have been a sore spot for her. There's a sigh in that moment. What she might have said or might not have said is lost to time though, because Shinji guides her hand off with a sort of confidence that contrasts with the apology, and Asuka gives him a look that's both shocked and full of wonder. She doesn't resist the gesture.

"What's with you today?" She asks, a touch absently. It's hard not to think of that day when he grabbed her hand. It's hard not to want her hand held.

Asuka's still considering this moment, when Shinji simply repeats for confirmation that it was 'Above Misato's.' she nods absently as confirmation, not even berating him. Before 'No . . . That doesn't make sense still. . .' That causes her focus to snap back. "What doesn't make sense?" She asks him suddenly, she could be mad at him for shooting down her theory, but there's one reason why she isn't...

... because he was there.

"What'd you just realize?" Being the sole witness to so much of the attack other than Kaworu himself, she figures that maybe he DOES have something worth her consideration. However, he asks for the radio logs, and she gives him a suspicious look. Not because she realizes he's not Shinji, of course not. She thinks he is. It's just she's wondering what he's hoping to find...

"What exactly are you looking for?" After a moment, she clucks her tongue, "Tck. You're hopeless. Leaving behind something so important at a time like this." As she fishes out her radio which just looks like a more NERV variant of an encrypted smart phone and hands it over his way. "You better tell me what you just put together after you review it though."

Woe be unto Shinji Ikari later if Oz doesn't give her something before he goes.

<Pose Tracker> Orpheus Zevon has posed.

For the most part, Oz doesn't really respond to most of her remarks, whether it's to her question of what had gotten into him, or even her questioning of his logic and of the small 'epiphany' she believes he's had. For whatever reason she trusts Shinji and that's enough for him to get more than he needs. He picks up the phone and just begins scanning it over the logs. It's true that he began scowering the radio logs, and for the most part what she says tracks. Unfortunately for Asuka, this is where his kindness falters. Having the screen in his hands, having it removed out of her face. . .He does what his geass is best for. Espionage.

It's funny, when it comes to encryption and security, technology is truly is a powerful barrier, but there's always a gap, that gap being the people who use that technology. It's something Oz has become quite familiar with over the years. Social engineering situations to phish passwords, gain access to facilities that constantly changed their passwords every few hours, when it came down to it, all of it could be for not if just one person could get deceived into offering up, and for Asuka. . .That was her own phone. Time was limited, and the possibility to actually gain anything meaningful would have been. . .Difficult. Still, he'll grab anything he can remember off the top of his head. Contact numbers and names,speed scrolling pictures that might contain information to locations within NERV, or perhaps showed something of insight, or even just quickly trying to scrummage through another log for any keywords that popped out at him, try to find who interacted with who. It's a lot of information but at the end of all this. . .It'd honestly be a question of what he'd be able to retain more than what he's actually seeing in the moment.

All the while, she just simply watches as Shinji keeps scrolling on her phone without a word, not even letting her peek at what he's doing which uh. . .Probably in any context probably was strange but she was doing this for answers right? He clearly was going to give her something worth it right?

A long sigh escapes Shinji's lips before passing the phone back to her, the screen still showing the original log she gave him.

". . .I'm sorry. . .It was nothing after all. . ."

It was true, there was nothing that he could find amongst those logs that actually helped Kaworu's situation. If anything, he really had only just helped himself. . . That was fine though. This alone was sufficient. He could get scolded by Asuka, then leave as need be. As far as his own mission was concerned. . .

He had learned of Kaworu's situation, of the level of security regarding the classification of his case, found out someone who had been at the scene of the crime, and acquired direct access into logs pertaining to NERV. As far as anyone in informational warfare was concerned, it was like hitting a goldmine. Yet. . .

"I couldn't find anything on the logs but. . . It just doesn't make sense."

Perhaps there was a miniscule of pity for the girl for what he had done, perhaps he figured that giving the EVA pilots a different way of approaching the matter would help them and himself in the long run. As it was though. . .He'd at least give her his opinion on the matter. Some of it anyway.

"It just doesn't make sense to go after EVA pilots like that. Even if someone was just trying to assassinate one of the pilots like that, why? Sure you'd get a pilot removed, but EVA pilots are still acting to handle a global threat with Kaiju and Angels. Would groups even like Zaft ultimately benefit from something like that? Plus, they'd have to know the pilots identities which NERV's pretty tight-lipped about right? . . .And even if you were going to try and use a sniper. . .Why do it at a train station where it's crowded? Why do it at that time of day? It just. . ."

The pieces don't add up yet. . .I need a better picture of the situation. And that means

Shinji would turn to Asuka, a worn out expression on his face after noting off things that ultimately felt as though he was running in circles. Something that probably actually appeared more Shinji-esque than he had appeared throughotu the entire ordeal. "Asuka--Sorry-- I Just. . .I don't-- I'm gonna go grab lunch. Thanks for keeping me in the loop, Asuka. You're. . . A good friend."

And that was his mark. Shinji would pick himself up in a demeanor she should know all too well, of someone who just can't hit the mark as he slowly begins trecking along. At least, that's the case on the surface, but in reality. . . Under this mask there's a grin. A rather devilish grin for him and him alone.

Thank you, Langley. I hope you'll continue to keep me in the loop going into the future. But for now. . .There's more I answers I need to find, and I won't find them lingering in this school.

He'd leave her now, knowing full well that he had all but betrayed her trust. That his actions would have been considered cruel and horrific. To abuse a young lady's trust for his own benefit was something that surely someone like him would go to hell for. . .But that was something he was okay living with. Because even if she ended up despising him one day, if she ended up cursing him to hell, at the very least from what he came to realize from his interactions with her, despite her sharp tongue. . .

There's little doubt in my mind you won't try to protect Kaworu and Alouette. . .