2022-08-02: Irreplaceable
- Cast: Yuta Hibiki, Shinji Ikari
- Where: Tsutsujidai
- Date: U.C. 0096 08 02
- Summary: Shinji and Yuta discuss current events, future events, and small hopes.
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
Tsutsujidai has prompted one question after the next, some of them befuddling, many uncomfortable, and others terrifying. But Shinji knows he shouldn't run. Not from EVA, not from Angels, and not from this. People are getting hurt. Not only because of kaiju. Actually, that's part of the strangeness of it all... /kaiju/ are getting hurt, too. That's not something he imagined being worried about when he agreed (however reluctantly) to pilot the Eva Unit.
...But what is Shinji supposed to do? He can barely fight. He's socially inept. He's weak, he's cowardly, he's pathetic. He doesn't know how to keep it together in a crisis. There's the horror of Alexis Kerib. The naggingly familiar name of Akane Shinjo. The Eva was built to fight Angels. Shinji was chosen to pilot and Eva.
This is different.
Shinji endures the train. He walks from the station, and now finally steps out into Tsutsujidai's sleepy streets. He looks up a the sky and the too-pleasant world around him. Swallowing, he removes his earbuds, turning his SDAT off to slide into his pocket. He remembers to breathe.
All he has to do is stomach it. Sit with it. Don't run away.
Sometimes standing around conspicuously without running takes everything.
<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.
"Ikari!" Yuta calls, waving. He jogs up to the other young man, smiling. "You want to come up to my apartment? It'll be a lot cooler."
Yuta's spent the morning tidying up the apartment -- a rather difficult task, when you have no idea where the cleaning supplies are kept. After a thorough exploration of cabinets and shelves, he's found everything he needs, thankfully. By the time Shinji's set to arrive, the whole place is spotless! The table in front of a comfortable couch even bears a pitcher of lemonade, glasses, a few water bottles, and a tray of snacks. Most notably, a small, gift-wrapped package sits, waiting to be opened.
"I hope the train ride wasn't too bad. I've heard it's harder to get here after, well." Yuta scratches his cheek, looking a little embarrassed. "Suddenly existing in the real world."
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
Shinji startles from his thoughts with an animated flinch. He uses music to ignore the world, and, for the most part, he expects the world will ignore him. That's been changing more and more lately. He's not used to it yet.
But he does smile, however faint. "Oh, um, sure."
He enters Yuta's place with a quiet, "Sorry for intruding," and moves through it trying to take up the least amount of space possible. It's not the apartment itself -- Shinji's just like that. He notes the snacks and package with head-tilting curiosity before looking back to Yuta.
"It's... an unusual situation, isn't it?" Shinji says with the awkward tone of small talk. He winces at himself for it. "...It must be more difficult for you, everything that's happening..."
<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.
Yuta smiles apologetically when Shinji flinches. He leads the way up to his apartment, sitting on the couch and giving Shinji an inviting look. "Please make yourself at home. I've got drinks, snacks -- oh, and this is for you." Yuta picks up the package -- it's wrapped in cheerful red paper, with a ribbon tied around the center. The wrapping is... a little amateur, but it was clearly done with love. He offers it to Shinji, once the other has sat down. "It's really nothing big -- but it made me think of you."
It will surely take a little while for Shinji to relax. Yuta doesn't take his nervousness personally, it's just Shinji's way. "Yeah. To be honest, none of us really know what to make of it. Getting told you're just an invention of someone from the outside world, that everything you know was just... made up?" Yuta's smile falters, and he looks down. "It's been difficult. At least the civilians aren't frightened by the changes."
"But I don't want to talk about myself this whole time!" A little laugh. "What have you been up to, Ikari? Anything fun?"
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
"Thank you," Shinji says politely. It will take him some nerve to work up getting into the snacks, but rest assured that he will...! Eventually. Give him a minute.
Though trying to get enough courage to do it is interrupted by a surprising offer. Shinji stares at the gift, then up and Yuta as he accepts it automatically. "...For me? Are you sure it's all right?"
The homemade nature of it doesn't escape him. ...There's something pleasant about it, that the creases aren't completely straight and perfect. More comfortable. But it's a surreal thought, isn't it? Existing in people's thoughts without being there. ...It's a thought that feels /rather insensitive/ in /Tsutsujidai/ right now.
What would Shinji think if he learned something like that about himself? That he'd been created by someone else. That everything's a lie? He almost can't wrap his head around the idea.
"But... you're still here," he says, and the words feel weak. He idly flexes his fingers at his side, then squeezes into a brief fist. "And you have a will of your own. Even if were an 'invention'... you're a you that can't be replaced."
Is that his place to say? Is he even making sense? But it is what Shinji thinks either way. He glances aside, second guessing if he should have said anything.
"I... I haven't done much," he admits. ...But Yuta doesn't seem the type to tease or push, so Shinji ventures a little further. "Just. The usual. Summer homework. Um. Practicing cello again. Swimsuit shopping..."
He winces a little at the last one. Yuta asked about /fun/, Shinji, not mildly traumatizing events.
<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.
In the hopes of encouraging Shinji, Yuta takes a snack himself -- a little handful of chips. He munches them happily, grabbing a water bottle.
"Of course!" Yuta smiles warmly. "It was a double pack, actually. I wanted to give something to Kaworu in celebration of him being able to leave the hospital, and... Well, nobody suited the other one better than you. I hope that doesn't sound like you were an afterthought, or anything -- I really did think of you when I saw it!"
At Shinji's gentle, comforting words, Yuta blinks, and then smiles once again. "Thanks, Ikari. It's really kind of you to say. I guess... I've never felt like I'm not real. Even losing my memory, I always felt like a person. And since our city exists in the 'real' world now, I don't think any of us will disappear..." Yuta's eyebrows draw together at the thought. Hopefully, he hasn't just jinxed them all. "So there isn't much to be upset about, honestly. I feel kinda bad thinking about it so much when there's so many bigger problems going on."
"It's funny, isn't it? How even when big, world-ending disasters happen, you still find yourself stressed about a test at school, or -- some other little thing?" Yuta takes a moment to open his water bottle. "I know you get that, Ikari. And -- I think the same of you. Nobody could replace you, either!"
When Shinji mentions practicing cello, Yuta beams, turning toward him more on the couch. His gift was sure to be a success..! "Practicing cello! That's so cool! Sometimes I wonder if I had any talents like that, but -- I don't think so." Yuta shrugs playfully. "I know Kaworu has been wanting to practice piano again. Do cellos and pianos go well together? It'd be cool if you guys could do a little show, or something."
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
Drawing first snack blood /does/ work, and Shinji uses the unspoken permission to indulge in lemonade. Only a small sip to start, still distracted by the mystery package.
"With Kaworu...?" Shinji blinks once, then twice, trying to imagine what could be in such a little box. It's difficult to imagine something that suits Kaworu would also suit him. Kaworu is just about everything Shinji isn't. "N-No, I'm not thinking anything like that. Thank you, Hibiki." After a moment's hesitations -- and a few more glances that seem to be asking permission -- Shinji ventures opening the package. He pries the paper off as carefully as he can, tearing the paper as little as possible.
Shinji's cheeks redden with Yuta's acceptance of it. It still feels... feeble, especially with how well Yuta is taking it. Everything is crashing down around them. The world's in constant danger. So are their lives. Yuta handles it and then some. It seems many people do. Why can't Shinji? Part of him hopes if he can stay in the orbit of people like Yuta, some of it might rub off on him. So long as Shinji doesn't exhaust them of his presence first.
That blush turns into a blaze when his own words get turned back on him. "Th-That's not... I wasn't..." Wasn't fishing. For that. His protests are so quiet they might not be heard at all before tapering off into nothing. He sighs out his nervousness and smiles instead. "...But I do get it. About the little things."
So Yuta still worries about things like that, too, huh...?
"I don't know about /cool/," Shinji says, but he's smiling again. "I've been practicing since I was five, so I should at least be able to play something by now."
With Kaworu... Shinji suddenly jolts alert, snapping his neck around to at Yuta with realization. "Ah...! Kaworu said he wanted to play something together." It'd almost slipped his mind with the assassination dragging his thoughts into the ground. "You'd... you want to see a show?"
<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.
As Shinji carefully unwraps the package, the item within becomes clear. It's a tiny little cell phone charm, secured in clear packaging. The charm is in the shape of a singular eighth note, made from gold metal. It shines gently in the light of Yuta's apartment, dangling from a looped string.
"See, just something small, but -- now you two can match, if you want!" Yuta holds up his own phone. There's a charm attached to it, a smiley-face. It looks pretty cheap, like the kind of thing you'd get from a store's promotion. "No pressure if you don't want to use it, of course. It's just a little thing."
Yuta does hope Shinji likes it, watching his reaction with a slight blush on his face. It was a little embarrassing watching someone open a gift..! Did everyone feel this way?
Shinji smiles! Somehow, this feels like an immense victory. The expression looks good on him -- for a moment, Yuta thinks about complimenting him, but... Shinji might get flustered. Better to let it go for now. "I think it's cool." Yuta insists, gently. "To have such a long connection with yourself, reaching back your whole life..! It's like you're --" He thinks for a moment, searching for words. "You're honoring that choice you made, way back when you were five. I really respect that."
"Honestly, Ikari, I'm a little jealous." Yuta's eyebrows draw together as he smiles helplessly. "All I can do is turn into Gridman. I haven't even really made my own friends -- I'm lucky Utsumi and Rikka like me for who I was before." Yuta hides a little sigh. He didn't want to be a downer. "So -- um! Getting to see the fruits of all your practice, and your friendship with Kaworu.. I think that'd be amazing! Really!"
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
Shinji's eyes light up at the charm, mystified. He carefully lifts it up, turning it over gingerly in his fingers. It's a pretty thing, but that Yuta said it made him think of Shinji makes him see it in a different light. He smiles more easily. Maybe it's not so bad when people think of you while you're not there.
The idea of matching Kaworu does not process until Shinji's already attached it to his phone.
"Oh, um." A third light to look at it has been born. "... I wonder if he'll mind."
There's doubt in his voice. Kaworu... Things have felt strange between them recently. Distant, maybe. Perhaps that only makes sense with Kaworu having recovered for so long, but a worry gnaws at Shinji all the same. Kaworu would still want to play, right?
"My teacher suggested it," Shinji admits sheepishly, as if that removes the credit of the choice. As if a small Shinji still did not persist in a large instrument past all the foibles of a child's underdeveloped dexterity. There's a strange little smile on his face despite his attempt to deflect: like there's a tiny, private joke here only he's going to find funny.
Then Yuta throws out the most surreal statement Shinji's heard yet.
"J-Jealous?" He stares like Yuta is a new, undiscovered creature, or possibly is a fellow school boy messing with him, which would be more likely. But there's nothing insincere about Yuta's demeanor -- that's another thing that powerful about Yuta. "I'm not that good... But... If you think so..."
A little bit of praise and encouragement goes a long way to motivating Shinji out of his comfort zone, it seems.
<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.
It seems like... Shinji likes it! Yuta crunches another chip in a little private celebration. The other boy was difficult to understand, at times -- so timid, gentle almost to a fault -- but this time, Yuta feels like they're connected perfectly.
"I don't think he would mind." Yuta offers, softly. "But whatever you want to do with it is okay. I've seen people put charms on all kinds of things. I helped Kaworu put his charm on his phone, since his arm is still kinda messed up." Maybe a little more than "kinda"...
"Speaking of Kaworu.. I visited him a little while ago, and we came up with an idea. I haven't talked to anyone else about it yet, I wanted to see what you thought. We had this idea for a sleepover, here at my place -- just us boys. You, Kaworu, Utsumi, me..." Yuta smiles sheepishly. "But neither Kaworu or I have ever been to a sleepover before. Have you? Do you think it'd be fun, for all of us? I don't have a ton of space, but we could watch a movie, or play games..."
There's a definite sense of hope as Yuta speaks. He really wants to try the sleepover -- but Shinji's comfort is very important to him, too. It wouldn't be fun unless everyone was having a good time.
Yuta blinks once, imagining a tiny little Shinji trying to play an instrument that must've been twice his size. In a way, it suits him -- those tenative hands capably playing delicate strings. Maybe Shinji's skills with the cello directly translate to help him be such a good pilot?
"Oh!" An idea strikes, suddenly. Yuta raises his head, making the little hair spikes to either side jostle. "The deculture festival is coming up -- what if you and Kaworu played together for some kind of event? Then everyone could enjoy it!"
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
Shinji does like it. He fidgets with it again, smiling, and then finally puts his phone away. If he keeps messing with it like that, he's going to scuff it up...! That wouldn't do.
There's something that's still surprising to Shinji about Yuta's gentler manner. He's not unlike Kaworu in that way. Well, he's quite unlike Kaworu, but the both of them aren't as... rough Shinji's come to expect from some of his encounters. And that makes things... comfortable.
"A sleepover?" Shinji shakes his head. "I've never had one. But..." He smiles again, surprised with himself. "I think it could be fun with you guys."
It /does/, actually. Fun... It might be less chaotic than home for the night, and Shinji does not have the social experience to realize that a teenage boys' sleepover being the calmer of the two options is, frankly, worrying. But Misato literally owns a penguin.
Shinji takes a moment to enjoy more snack and drink, only to cough on a bite and swallow it down hard. "At... At a festival?" Another swallow. His eyes dart away. "...I. I don't know. I um. I guess I could talk to Kaworu."
Suddenly it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if Kaworu really was avoiding him.
<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.
"Oh, man, not you too!" Yuta laughs. "I thought sleepovers must be a common thing, but -- maybe not? But as long as you think it'd be fun, I'll talk to the others! It doesn't seem all that complicated. All we have to do is have fun. So long as Shinjo doesn't decide to do a midnight kaiju attack, I bet it'll be fine. Do you have any favorite snacks, or games?"
Utsumi would definitely want to watch some kaiju movie... but that might be a little too close to home for everyone. Hmm... Maybe a superhero flick? Or some video games? Yuta wonders briefly if he'd be in charge of making breakfast for everyone the next morning. Who knew there were so many logistical questions with a sleepover?
Yuta breaks out of his thoughts when he notices Shinji cough. "Er -- not that you have to! It was just an idea!" He raises his hands in a placating manner. "Sorry, I should've thought about how that would make you feel. My class doesn't have a plan yet, so the festival's been on my mind a lot, is all. I can't remember ever going to a school festival, so -- trying to contribute is difficult."
"I don't want to expect everyone else to do all the work, but--" Yuta laughs nervously. "My ideas are all a little silly..."
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
For once, Shinji does not automatically assume he is being laughed /at/. Everyone here has no idea what a sleepover is. But it sounds like Yuta has it figured out. And Shinji has no reason to think Misato will forbid it. ...Unless there is some sort of kaiju attack that night.
Shinji tries not to think about that.
Favorite snacks...? Shinji looks at the lemonade in his hand. "...I like this?" Yeah, that's helpful. "But maybe I could bring something...?" It's sort of the one thing he thinks he's capable at. It's going to happen. "I think... any games or movies...?"
He might regret that broad stroke later, but right now he doesn't know what he'll regret until it happens.
But when Yuta starts scrambling to placate, Shinji flusters a little. This is not behavior he's used to, Yuta...! "It's not silly," he says hastily. With a deep breath, some determination begins to form. "...I'll talk to Kaworu about it."
<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.
Does Shinji not have favorite snacks..? Even Yuta's figured out a few of his favorites. He tries to push away his puzzled expression, not wanting to distress Shinji. "That's a great idea. If we all bring a snack we like, then everyone's guaranteed to have something they'll enjoy. Maybe.. would it be too much to ask for everyone to bring their favorite movie or game, too?" Yuta takes a drink of his water bottle. "I'm worried someone will not like a game and feel left out, or something. But I don't want to burden anyone, either."
"I guess we'll be depending on Utsumi for sleepover tips! And the internet." Since Tsutsujidai became a part of the outside world, the Internet had expanded by a LOT. The sheer amount of new memes was nearly overwhelming. "Oh, is there anyone else you want to invite? I don't know that many people, honestly."
Yuta beams at Shinji's show of determination. This was unexpected, but -- certainly welcome. He's certain the talents of Shinji and Kaworu together would be absolutely show-stopping. "Thanks, Ikari. Remember, it's okay if you guys don't want to. I'm sure your class will come up with something great on their own!"
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
Shinji's collected a number of pieces to the Yuta puzzle. They're the kind of thoughts and statements he'll fully internalize later, with a bit more time. But always so afraid of being a burden...
That's another thing Shinji gets.
"That doesn't seem like a bad idea...?" Shinji, reassurances shouldn't be questions. He considers possible other invites, hesitating with a new realization. "Mn, a lot of my friends are girls..." That's not something Shinji was consciously aware of until right now. It does not help with sleepovers at all.
/It's okay if you guys don't want to./
<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.
It's nice, being able to talk to someone not depending on him as Gridman. Just hanging out as friends, eating snacks together... It feels right. Yuta wishes it didn't feel like such a novel experience. But soon that feeling would fade, if he kept spending time together with his friends like this. Shinji gets an extra-cheerful smile.
"Is it hard to be friends with so many girls? I only really hang out with Rikka, and, w--well." Yuta looks away, blushing a little. "She's different. I guess... Shinjo and I are friends, sort of..?" Does it really count as friends, when someone both created you and is trying to kill you? "I send her texts every now and then, I guess. She doesn't reply, though."
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
Yuta's smiles are infectious. Shinji smiles back without realizing he is. But it's not a bad thing, or something that he catches and wants to stop.
Girls, though. Shinji's cheeks heat up. "...A little." He gets redder the longer he thinks of it, every girl peer in his life holding the key to at least one terrifying or embarrassing memory. Some have a whole key ring. (Asuka. Asuka has a key ring.)
Shinji frowns at the mention of Shinjo. "Oh." He doesn't try to argue being friends, or that Yuta shouldn't try to be. Shinji's brow furrows together, stuck on a different thought with that. "...I knew someone with the same name once," Shinji says. "I didn't know her that well, but... I kind of liked her. N-Not like that!" He adds that quickly, tense, then feeling an unfamiliar guilt at getting defensive around /Yuta/ over it. Yuta wouldn't turn it into a thing.
Unlike some people.
"But I don't think it could be the same girl."
<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.
This time, Yuta chooses to compliment Shinji. "You have a really nice smile. It's nice to see!" Hopefully, that wouldn't be too much.
"Being friends with girls seems so complicated..." Yuta props his face on one hand. "I think you do a pretty good job. You're a pretty popular guy, from what I've seen!" Smiling, Yuta crunches a few more chips.
Shinji's insistence that he doesn't 'like' this other Shinjo makes Yuta curious. Was there someone else Shinji felt that way about? He glances at the other boy -- his cheeks are still red, and he looks a little flustered. Maybe a question like that is best saved for a sleepover...
"You know, since you hang out with more girls than I do, maybe you could give me some advice? I've been trying to smooth things over with Shinjo, but she never replies." Yuta scoots closer to Shinji on the couch, holding his phone out between them. The message history between him and Akane is clear -- Yuta sends memes, or greetings, and Akane looks at them, but doesn't reply.
"I was told we have to 'save' her, so -- I thought this would be a good way to start. But maybe I'm doing something wrong..." The most recent meme is a picture of a large, rotund catlike creature holding a leaf like an umbrella. Yuta had typed 'haha, cat kaiju!'. Once again, it's gone unreplied to.
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
Paradoxically, with the compliment, Shinji's smile evaporates, his face heated and red. He becomes temporarily unable to form words. Or thoughts. Don't worry, he'll reboot soon enough. Shinjis are woefully delicate creatures.
Popular?!
"Why does everyone keep saying that..." Shinji murmurs, mostly to himself. Apparently, two people is now everyone. Maybe it is when you're Shinji...! He nibbles at chips as if that's going to mask his bashfulness.
Shinji blinks several times when Yuta asks for advice. On girls. What... what has Shinji done? How did he create /this/ level of a misunderstanding?!
Then again, aren't he and Asuka getting along much better...? But is that anything /Shinji/ did? Shinji subtly adjusts to let Yuta scoot closer, demonstrating a willingness to participate in spite of the horrors he worries he may invite upon poor Yuta if he gets this wrong.
...And Yuta already seems way better at this talking to girls -- or literally anyone -- better than Shinji based on these texts...! Shinji can't imagine finding half as much to say.
"Well, um." Shinji hovers his fingers over the phone in a useless point at nothing in particular. He's just trying to do something with his hands that isn't chips. "She keeps checking them," he points out. "And she doesn't tell you to stop."
He lowers his hand, squeezing at the edge of the couch. It does remind him of Asuka a little. What she doesn't say means as much as what she does. And the dolls...
"...Maybe she doesn't want to say she likes them."
<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.
"Ah--" Yuta covers his mouth with one hand as Shinji turns red. He's not going to laugh -- he's not. Patiently waiting as Shinji recovers himself, Yuta pretends to be busy pouring some lemonade.
The memes Yuta has sent to Akane are pretty amateur. He doesn't have a good grasp on which image means what -- or the way they relate to each other. Usually, it's a kaiju of some kind with a caption. 'Good luck at school!' is emblazoned in white letters over a winged beast. 'You looked nice today!' covers a robotic monster of some kind.
He means well, it's just... there's a lot to re-learn, when you have amnesia, and memes are pretty low on that list!
"Oh." Yuta blinks. "You know, I'd never thought about it that way. I was going to give up, but... If she really didn't like them, she'd just not check! You're right!" Shinji gets another bright smile. "See, you're great at this, Ikari!"
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
"Th...Thank you," Shinji squeaks, a million years too late and he means the lemonade not the compliment because he cannot think about that anymore.
Shinji is not terribly familiar with memes. But these memes are saying nice things, so Yuta's a genius at memes. If Shinji were projecting instead of trying to dig into his knowledge of other people, his guess would have been that Akane does not know what to say in response to Yuta. He just got finished with that experience himself.
But this is something deeper than that. Probably deeper than Shinji can grasp. Either way, he thinks there would be a sense of loneliness if the messages ever stopped.
What does it mean to save someone in this situation...?
More praise makes Shinji fluster and look away. "I-I don't know anything about that. But I guess I do think it's not bad to keep sending them..."
<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.
"I'm determined. I'll keep sending them. If this is all I can do for Shinjo, I should keep doing it!" Yuta sounds relieved -- this has clearly been bothering him. "Thank goodness there are so many kaiju movies, or I'd run out of monsters to use."
It's impressive, how insightful Shinji is. For someone so full of self-doubt and anxiety, he seems to understand the hearts of others near-perfectly. It's a skill Yuta is envious of -- he often feels at a loss to understand the actions of those around him. Anti comes to mind. For a brief moment, Yuta considers inviting him to the sleepover, but... He can't imagine sleeping in the same room as someone who tried to attack him with a saw.
Yuta scoots back out of Shinji's space, pocketing his phone again. "I'm really thankful for your help. I wish I could do something for you in return!"
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
Shinji smiles again (there it is!) as Yuta becomes refilled with his cheerful energy. Hopefully, this doesn't turn out completely wrong and backfires. It would be Yuta who would hurt the most from it...
Self-doubt and anxiety keeps Shinji from seeing or appreciating any of his own insights. He's terrified of being hurt, and more terrified of hurting others. If Shinji can identify what will hurt, then that's the next best thing to avoiding everyone else entirely.
Unfortunately, no skill will ever be perfect.
<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.
Yuta blinks, then laughs again, his eyes squeezing shut in delight. "I guess you're right! But -- we're friends, so if there's ever anything you need, I'll be here for you."
It feels good, seeing Shinji smile. He so rarely seems relaxed or at ease -- if Yuta can give him a few minutes of that, today is certainly a victory. Yuta has a secret hope the matching musical note charms will bring Kaworu and Shinji closer, too.
The rest of the visit passes in the same spirit of easy, comfortable friendship -- talking about nothing in particular, but enjoying every moment of it.