2023-08-13: Boredom
- Log: 2023-08-13 Boredom
- Cast: Alexis Kerib, Kaworu Nagisa, Shinji Ikari
- Where: Tsutsujidai High
- OOC - IC Date: August 13, UC 0097 (2023)
- Summary: At a minor DecuFes '97 event, Alexis and Kaworu have a talk.
<Pose Tracker> Alexis Kerib has posed.
Ah, the DecuFes Dance Competition. It's a smaller event, and strictly speaking, an unofficial one -- Marusan's initiative, actually. What she wanted was a last chance at competition, since first and second years she'd had to sit out during a lot of competitive events due to various personal circumstances. There's no live accompaniment allowed for this one, only prerecorded music.
Tsutsujidai High and Tokyo-3 haven't gone yet, and Jindai's attempt was... well, characteristically Jindai, in that it was subject to at least one ridiculous shenanigan. The stakes are actually decently high still -- no one's set a particularly high bar yet.
A figure in a long cloak suddenly sits next to Kaworu, observing the event. The flames of his 'cosplay outfit' flicker and dance. "Ah, Kaworu-kun," Alexis says, pleasantly. "It's been a little while. I have to give you a little credit, actually -- I'd forgotten how nice it was to have collaborators. A lesson you learned before I did, surely."
He takes a moment to get situated in the bleachers. They're not very accommodating for someone 7'8".
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
"Hey, Tohji's up pretty soon!" Kensuke says cheerfully, his personal camcorder up to his eye as he records the dance event. On the dance floor, Tohji catches sight of it and turns to yell red-faced and incomprehensibly (though from the distance rather than what he actually says) at him. Kensuke, naturally, does not stop recording. "Really looking forward to what kinda moves he's gonna bust out, eh, Shinji, Nagisa?"
"He is pretty athletic," Shinji says diplomatically. Tohji had signed up for the event when he'd heard it was an 'athletic competition,' but before he heard it was specifically a 'dance competition.' "You should've signed up for it too, Kaworu-kun! You're so graceful."
"No, it would've been too unfair," Kaworu replies without a trace of arrogance. It's been his reason for not signing up for most of the events, both this year and last.
Shinji only smiles at this. "Yeah, maybe so."
"Agh!" Kensuke utters suddenly, pulling his face away to look at dismay at a suddenly-dim screen. "Dammit, I forgot to charge the battery!"
Shinji turns to him. "I saw a charging station on the way in. If you hurry, you could get a decent charge in for the actual dance."
"Oh, perfect! Can you show me where it is? I don't wanna get lost."
"I guess if I have to... We'll be right back, all right, Kaworu-kun?"
Kaworu only smiles at his companions, as he has been this whole time. "I'll be here."
And so Shinji and Kensuke head down off the bleachers. Tohji, too, gets called away to get ready for his turn. As soon as they're no longer observing, something shifts in the world, and someone else sits down opposite where the two boys had been.
Kaworu's smile is gone. He doesn't turn to look at Alexis; he knows he's there just the same. "Collaborators, hm. Is that what you call them? Either way, I'd appreciate it it if you wouldn't imply I was the reason you offered them your 'help.'"
<Pose Tracker> Alexis Kerib has posed.
Alexis turns his gaze out toward Kensuke and Shinji -- then back to Kaworu. The teal panels of his mask all blink on at once, then return to their usual irregular dance. A smile, perhaps.
"I would be hard-pressed to find another name," Alexis muses aloud to Kaworu, as they settle in for a talk. "Mrs. Vist-Carbine has been a wonderful partner. I recognized that BioNet was too subject to the whims of men like Dr. Thanatos and --" Here, he cuts himself off, affirming, "Ah, that would be telling. At any rate, it's proven a much more fruitful partnership."
He seems content to watch the dance competition for a few precious moments, but he doesn't wait long before continuing to speak. "Every universe offers something a little different, doesn't it? I've never had the good fortune to observe a world that let that woman take center stage -- and here she commands it marvelously. I'm sure that future universes will offer others the chance, just as Akane-kun has found her opportunity in this one."
Looking over to Kaworu, he wonders aloud, "I wonder when you'll decide it's your turn under the spotlights."
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
If Shinji had paused to look over his shoulder, perhaps he would've seen Alexis settling down next to Kaworu. But he doesn't, too engrossed in conversation with Kensuke and in hurrying to the charging station so they can make it back. Maybe it'll be an unpleasant surprise for later.
For now, though, it's a quiet time. Kaworu doesn't shout or call for help, so while there's surely some people who double-take at the sudden presence of an extremely shady cosplay man, they've got other things to worry about. Kaworu himself simply watches the stage. He'd played a lot of piano for the Dance Club while he was still attending Tsutsujidai High. Now that he's gone back to only attending Tokyo-3 Municipal, that happens less often, but he still recognizes its members. They have his attention while they take their turn.
Which is not to say he ignores Alexis. He's familiar with the Vist Foundation whether he wants to be or not, but he's left handling that matter to Guy and GGG, it being more their wheelhouse. It's very much like Alexis to team up with vile people like them and BioNet in general--but he of course already knew about the BioNet connections too, after what happened with Knight (then "Anti") and later Akane.
"It does," he agrees eventually, because it is true. Whether either of them will see something like this particular confluence of events again in future universes is harder to say. They each of them have their own fates, and their respective worlds do tend to cling jealously to their respective natives.
The idea of him under the spotlight brings a crooked smile back, out of a sense of irony. "I've already had my turn. I don't need to make another. Should another come, it will come in the fullness of time."
Something that's easy for someone who lives in the fullness of time to say. But then, Alexis is similar in that respect, too.
<Pose Tracker> Alexis Kerib has posed.
Marusan isn't leading the routine; she still doesn't have the time. Even now that she's working for the Yumi Foundation, she doesn't quite have the time to do everything she might want to do. On the other hand, she seems more engaged -- and happier -- than when she'd been working at the shogi parlor.
Her conditioning seems a little worse, and by the time she finishes, she's a little sweaty... but maybe that's fine, too. She doesn't need to be booking it across town every day to have a good time.
"An interesting conclusion, certainly." It would be trivial for Kaworu to twist things toward himself -- but of course, such a movement would lead to the end of things.
But then -- things hurtle toward their inevitable end anyway, don't they? All stories sooner or later end. Or stop. Whichever.
"Well, I suppose there's nothing to be gained by exploring that sort of possibility for now, either way," he concludes, breezing along. "It's surprising, isn't it? This year there hasn't been a single Deculture Festival event that was interrupted by some unfortunate happenstance or another..."
... because Akane stopped doing that, of course.
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
"I suppose you would think so. When the times come for me to take the spotlight, it's usually because things are nearing their end," Kaworu replies. There's no sadness or self-deprecation in this statement. It's simply a fact. Kaworu doesn't usually get afforded much time to be with Shinji. This time around is an anomaly, no doubt due to the nature of the crossing of worlds this time around.
He hasn't had a time in the spotlight this time around, unless one counts that time he'd been shot, nearly to death. His Evangelion isn't even ready yet. But Kaworu is all right with that. He's already said why.
He may not like what Alexis has chosen to do about the truth of the end, but it is, nonetheless, a truth.
He doesn't remark on Alexis moving the conversation along, either. His smile does turn more sincere as it moves into the topic of the Deculture Festival. He knows what he's actually getting at, but even so, he replies, "There hasn't. It's wonderful to be able to see the other students express their passion freely."
Which could be all he says, but since he knows what Alexis is getting at, he only pauses.
"Does it bore you?"
<Pose Tracker> Alexis Kerib has posed.
"It is indeed," Alexis agrees, though he doesn't prod at the shape and nature of Kaworu's movements. He hasn't observed him in every reality, either; he doesn't know exactly how uncommon it is for Kaworu to have these irreplaceable bonds so indulged.
"They only go this way once," Alexis thinks aloud, though mostly to himself. "How pointless an existence." But can he truly call the alternative -- an existence like his own -- happy? All he finds fulfilling in it is...
... well, let's not get ahead of ourselves.
Tsutsujidai's Dance Club departs, and Ashford Academy's takes the stage. Their routine is crisp, precise, and well-practiced; Alexis decides to glance away from it -- and Kaworu -- to think.
Some time passes before he answers the Angel's final question.
"Yes."
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
It's not unique, at least. There have been times when he was able to manifest early, that he was able to spend more time than usual with Shinji. But...
Well, no need to repeat it. Suffice to say that he treasures these times.
When Alexis muses aloud to himself, though, Kaworu finally glances his way. They do indeed only go this way once, at least as far as they know. But because of that-- "I envy them a little. Theirs is an existence to be treasured."
Something that happens once and never again must be treasured. How beautiful it is to be something finite!
...but Kaworu doesn't think Alexis will understand, much less appreciate that, so he doesn't offer that explanation.
He returns his attention to the dances. Tsutsujidai's Dance Club did their best, but Ashford Academy's is much more polished. Kaworu does appreciate that. There is beauty in perfection and imperfection alike. They'll likely see more of that imperfection in the last performance; Tokyo-3 Municipal doesn't have a dance club. That's why Tohji ended up volunteering. (Hikari might have prodded him into it.) He may have a rough time as the only dancer on stage, but from Kaworu's understanding, he did at least have a plan.
Yes, Alexis admits at length.
"I thought as much," Kaworu replies, as unsurprised as ever. "Do you plan on doing something about it?"
Do you plan on causing chaos and interrupting the festivities?, he means.
<Pose Tracker> Alexis Kerib has posed.
It's a rare thing for Alexis to move as a human. Yet the circumstances force it, a bit; he's already awkwardly squeezing into the bleachers. A hand snakes out of his cloak for a few moments, and he rests his 'chin' on a fist, the flames at the back of his head flickering.
"They are uniquely stimulating," Alexis half-agrees, at the idea of envying them. Does he, too, envy them? Does he wish to walk among them, share in that impermanence?
Definitely not.
"Hm... this school's work is impressive. I suppose the time spent with Akane has accustomed me to exceptional quality craft, regardless of the field," he answers instead, thinking about it. At the same time, though -- there's something missing from it, even if he can't tell exactly what.
He waits a moment to answer Kaworu.
"Last year's Deculture Festival had many such incidents. I see no reason to make such things repeat, myself," he finally answers.
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
"Hmmm," Kaworu hums, looking over thoughtfully at Alexis as he admits these short lives are 'uniquely stimulating.' The rest of it is another matter, but that's all right, because he has begged the question: "And yet you're still bored?"
He looks back at the performance. "It's well-polished. They've put fine work into practice and rehearsal," he agrees. There is something missing from it, something that Kaworu thinks Tsutsujidai's Dance Club had, but that in no way detracts from the effort they've put in.
He considers Alexis's response. He is a being who is bored by these children's efforts, who has already caused a great amount of tumult in Akane's left after she left him... but he also admitted to some stimulation here. Last year's festivals had many interruptions, but now...
...
...hm.
"I see," Kaworu says. A beat. "Alexis?" And when his companion acknowledges him: "If you're so bored, why are you so taken with that which doesn't change?"
It's a contradiction that's just struck him.
<Pose Tracker> Alexis Kerib has posed.
"Mmm. I suppose so," he agrees. Where is the excitement in a situation such as this? These momentary diversions -- why do they matter at all? And why does he find no stimulation in them, even as he takes the time to talk about them with someone he once could have called 'friend'?
"Mm?" He responds to Kaworu, certainly; it's a conversational cadence he's quite used to by now.
The question strikes him out of nowhere; he's legitimately surprised to hear it. The contradiction between those things -- finding no value in the movements of these humans, yet only able to find value in their feelings. Desperately bored, yet fixated entirely on things that do not change.
Hm.
"... Ah, permit me a little mystery, Kaworu-kun!" comes his non-answer. "I hardly think it's reasonable to expect perfect consistency in a world with as many motives as there are people."
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
Admittedly, school-related hijinx are not anywhere on the level of space patrol hijinx, even if they are in very nearly the same setting. But it was Alexis who came here of his own volition, unbidden and uninvited. If it bores him, why come? Why stay?
Perhaps it's not the activities that bore him, then. Perhaps it's the people... or rather, the people who aren't here. Kaworu spends so much time waiting for the moments he can share with Shinji, so he understands that feeling well. But 'she' won't come again.
Ruri had thought so, and said as much to Kaworu before: perhaps Alexis isn't bored; perhaps Alexis is lonely, yearning fruitlessly for a time and for companions that won't return.
That's something the two of them have already talked about, if in another shape, though. Kaworu doesn't see a need to hurt him like that once more. (And if he was wrong about it, then there isn't a point in bringing it up again.)
"I see," he thus replies. "That's fine. There's no need for me to know. However, I must ask: do you know?"
Alexis doesn't need to answer that, either. But Kaworu would like him to think about it.
<Pose Tracker> Alexis Kerib has posed.
Alexis doesn't look toward Kaworu as a long silence passes between them. His gaze remains pointed outward, neither toward him nor toward the festivities.
Eventually, he answers, "Of course."
It's the last thing he'll spare Kaworu for now, he thinks. Drawing back up to his full height, Alexis says, "I suspect your friends will be back before much longer, Kaworu-kun. Have fun with the event!"
He descends the bleachers; once he reaches the bottom, he turns, walking off to the side of the bleachers before, as he always does, vanishing.
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
"Really?" Kaworu replies with mild but genuine surprise. "That's unexpected. I'd thought that you wouldn't."
There's no sarcasm or snideness there. He means precisely what he says. And beyond that, there might be some interesting information in there for Alexis. Namely, that despite everything that he's done--
Kaworu assumes by default that he would tell him the truth.
Some things always change. Other things never change. This part of Kaworu has always been the same. Maybe, however else this conversation has gone, Alexis can appreciate that much.
He says nothing when Alexis stands and essentially bids him adieu. Had he not done so of his own volition, Kaworu would have asked him to leave, so he has no reason to stop him. He watches him go, but as a courtesy shuts his eyes at the moment just before he vanishes.
Tokyo-3 Municipal is announced next. Shinji and Kensuke will be back in short order to watch Tohji's hip-hop dance solo. Kaworu, feeling those bonds trace back to him, waits in peace.