2022-05-05: Just A Foolish Girl

• Log: 2022-05-05: Just A Foolish Girl
• Cast: Asuka Shikinami Langley, Relena Peacecraft
• Where: Tokyo-3 and Sanc Kingdom
• OOC - IC Date: Ambiguously April-May UC 96
• Summary: After embarrassing NERV by provoking Relena Peacecraft at the G-Hound Airshow, Asuka is on thin ice. Or is she? An unexpected invitation for tea comes at a fortuitous time...

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<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.

"Did you think Section 2 wouldn't find the security footage?"


"Took them long enough." Asuka quipped with her smart mouth, "Figured I'd have been in your office a month and a half ago ago."


"You've shamed us, embarrassed us in front of people whose favor we might need to complete our mission – even potentially created an international incident with the ruler of the Sanc Kingdom.  And /that/ is all you have to say for yourself?  Is there nothing else?"


Asuka did not sit, as Fuyutsuki spoke to her.  She leaned against the wall with arms crossed, not looking at her. "Nothing you'd like to hear."


Fuyutsuki stood up, less some professor berating an unruly student now, and rather an officer about to punish a subordinate. "Lieutenant Colonel Katsuragi may tolerate your antics, but not I-  You're to be..."


The ringing of a phone suddenly filled the room.  One ring. Two rings.  Three rings.  Neither spoke, then the Deputy Commander picked up the phone, "Yes this is he." His expression changes immediately, as his eyes shoot across the room at Asuka again in suspicion. "I see.  Please send a reply immediately that Miss Langley will attend."


Now it was Asuka's turn to look confused...  as she asks, "What just happened?"


-=-=-


'While you are there you are to behave yourself.  And /dress appropriately/.'


He meant for her to wear a dress.  Yet to make a point, she's arrived in her AEU dress uniform.  It's formal attire, so he can't complain. An off-green military uniform with a tie, white gloves, black shoes and a beret that covered her interface headset.


"Tck.  Of course, a Princess would attend a school like this. I bet her personal toilet is diamond studded and gold-plated." She mutters as she stalks up the steps, two NERV members of Section 2 waiting behind, 'men in black' with shades and earpieces.  She knew what message she was being sent.


'You're on thin ice.'


It infuriated her that she'd been bailed out of punishment. 'What's her game?' She wonders to herself as she moves through the halls, checking the card stock and calligraphy of the invitation again with her white glove, before tearing it in two, then again. She can only imagine what she wanted after how they left off.  Maybe to punish her for her behavior in her own way, to make her squirm, to bait her into another international incident.


Though it could be more transactional.  She certainly remembers Relena's fury at Treize...  maybe it's no coincidence that G-Hound sent two pilots to her school. Could it be linked?"


Catching more than one glance of a student in the hallways, she quickly had caused a start to a chain of gossip simply be her mere presence.  Some speculating the uniform was fake given her age, others wondering why someone so young was in the military - and more importantly.  Why she was at their school.


Eventually she finds the Tea Room, and stands around the corner, checking her phone's clock to make sure she was at least three minutes late - deciding not to go in any sooner, before eventually storming towards it hurriedly.


A servant sees her coming only at the last moment and used to the formal intricacies holds out his hand- "Your invitat-" -and she moves past him, shoving open the door as she slaps the pieces of invitation into his hand.  Trying to reclaim his dignity, he tries to piece together the shredded invitation then announces - sounding a bit ruffled. "Captain Asuka Shikinami Langley of the AEU, representing NERV."

<Pose Tracker> Relena Peacecraft has posed.

Relena is completely oblivious that Asuka got on thin ice. She'd probably be apologetic about that if she knew. Truth is, Relena had always been raised in wealth--even a vice minister is a vice minister--but there is still a big difference between offending a vice minister's daughter and the rightful queen of the Sanc Kingdom (you can call her Princess too but the truth is she doesn't exactly have much attachment to the title. The circumstances that earned her these titles aren't exactly pleasant to her but she was not raised to shirk away from duty, as tempting as present circumstances make it.


Relena feels the rumbling of rumor more than she hears it. The rumors introduce Asuka to Relena even before she appeared. Relena laughs a bit into her hand, she can't help herself. It's nice to hear of someone else starting a stir in these halls. She's reminded of, strangely, of Heero.


Nevertheless, Relena, does not rise. According to her understanding of Asuka--yes, it'll likely be like that.


Relena has one servant. A butler hilariously named Pagan. The torn up pieces of the invitation land in his hand. Ruffled as he is, he introduces Asuka and then remarks, dryly, "Playing with more firecrackers are we, Ms. Relena? Please take care to not burn yourself."


And then he cloeses the door behind them to offer some measure of privacy.


At which point the tea that Relena had been steeping whistles and Relena says, "Thank you for accepting my invitation." Relena says, standing, curtseying, and then pouring Asuka a cup. "You're just on time. The tea's ready. The Sanc Kingdom grows the leaves locally, isn't that interesting?" Asuka is definitely sure she arrived three minutes late but either that doesn't matter to Relena, she planned for that, or she's just trolling. All are possible.


She pushes the cup and saucer towards Asuka before pouring herself a cup.


Relena has her hair down and is wearing of all things her school uniform rather than anything fancier. It's still, you know, a rich school's eurocentric uniform,a white dress with a bow around the neck area and a purple button down dress jacket as outerwear.

<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.

Asuka sideeyes the Butler at his statement, before Relena thanks her for accepting her invitation. And speaks of tea leaves.  There's a cluck of her tongue...  Asuka stands behind her chair, putting both hands on the chairback.  However she doesn't sit down immediately at the invitation for the tea, or remark on the tea leaves.  Instead she's just staring at Relena, eyes boring a hole into her with some intensity.


"The Deputy Commander himself ordered me to attend." She replies back, an edge to her voice, like it's somewhat strained as she thinks upon her first meeting with Relena...


'I apologize, that the failings of the Earth Sphere has put a terrible weight on you at such a young age. You are even younger than I, and yet you are being used to fight a battle that should never have been your responsibility.'


"Did you invite me here to slum with a girl whose life you /pity/?  Play tea party, make small talk about the leaves and feel better about yourself after?"


A beat pause.


"Or is it that you expect me to be grateful?  Put me in your debt?"


She doesn't say she's on the rocks with the Deputy Commander, she just presumes Relena knows.


"Is it about trying to prove some point again?"


As she thinks of Relena pulling the gun next to G-Hounds leader to prove a point, still she hasn't seated herself, yet there's greater heat in her voice now.


"What I really am trying to figure out is whether we're here to waste my time...  or whether you actually have something worth saying today?"


As much as the Deputy Commander warned her, even now she still doesn't hold back, Asuka...  is elementally herself.  A hedgehog with the sharpest and longest of quills, a wildfire that can only temporarily be contained, not truly controlled.  She was not created to be a social creature, but to eliminate an existential threat to humanity.


"So, which is it - /Princess/?"


She asks as her hands grip the back of her seat so hard that the wood creaks.

<Pose Tracker> Relena Peacecraft has posed.

"Mm," Relena says to that. "It seems being a Queen has some benefits. I can invite someone to tea and they have no choice but to come. It is a poor trade, though. I'd rather have my father than the title. Is NERV capable of making that exchange for me?"


She folders her fingers together, resting her chin on the backs of her hand. "Are you the type of woman, Asuka, who enjoys inviting people they look down upon into their home?" This is a school not a home so presumably she's referring to Sanc itself. "I'm afraid I'm not the same way. If I look down upon someone, I prefer to stay clear of them."


She shakes her head. "No, I asked you to come because I felt out of a room full of trained soldiers and officers, you were the only one--outside of Treize himself--who was able to see me."


She smiles, "Just a foolish girl who was trying to make a point. Spot on, Asuka. As expected of a girl who graduated university at 14."


She nods to the tea. "It'll get cold if you don't drink. I promise it's not poison."


She lifts her own cup and allows herself a sip.


"So I invited you here because I wanted to see you again. It's as simple as that. I too have a tendency towards disobedience so it's a shame I'm in a position where it is difficult to entertain that particular trait of mine."


She rests her hand on the table, after, and adds, "It does not seem that you are concerned that I will tell your Commander that you have been rather boorish and crude."

<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.

Asuka raises an eyebrow at the whole idea of her title being a poor trade for her father, asking if NERV is capable of making that exchange. "No." A beat, and then she adds, "Not in any way you'd like." It's perhaps a chilling statement on its own for all of its ambiguity, yet she does not elaborate upon it to clear that up.  Her honesty wielded like a blunt force cudgel even on the subject of Relena's grief.


Her grip releases though fractionally, like that subject in particular cannot allow her anger to rage quite as hot.  That is not a blaze she wants to scorch any civilian with.


Yet she does hear her out on the idea that she's not the same way, that she prefers to stay clear of them...  yet Asuka answers first as she looks to the side and lowers her voice, speaking out of the side of her mouth, answering first to the idea that Relena is not the type of person who invites people into her home with first the cause for her to think that, "Don't give me that.  You're the one who tried to apologize to me for who I am."


Not 'what' I am, but 'who'. It's an interesting distinction, most people would choose the former to refer to her record of fighting in wars at all, facing Angels.  For Asuka though it was literally what she was created to do.  Apologizing for that was like a slap to the face, even if Relena could not have known.


"As for whether I enjoy inviting people like that over...?" Asuka looks at Relena out of the corner of her eyes. "...I've never invited anyone over all my life." She lets that speak for herself perhaps, on who she looks down upon. If it sounds like an exaggeration, it truly isn't.


Relena though draws back her attention, with the idea that she was the only one who was able to see Relena in a room full of soldiers and officers, lofting an eyebrow again - looking at Relena like she sprouted a second head.  Like it's truly that absurd a notion.  Ordinarily she'd take offense to someone saying 'as expected of a girl who graduated university at 14.' yet Relena did call herself a foolish girl to do that.


"I don't know what you're talking about.  All I saw was a stupid debutante who'd pull a gun next to the leader of G-Hound just to make a point to me."


Even if she still expects Relena is making fun of her in some small way, it heads off her fury at the pass.


"As if I'm worried that you'd poison me.  You may be foolish, but you're not stupid enough to do that."


Asuka stares at the tea out of the corner of her eye as Relena tells her that she wanted to see her again suspicious of it not for being poisoned, but more that it's emblematic of this whole encounter - judging whether it's some power game of Relena's or not.  If she takes the tea, does Relena just win?  Or if she refuses it, then maybe she wins because she was 'scared' of the poison.


After a moment - the girl rakes her fingers through one of the twintails of her red hair, then finally reaches over to pick the teacup up indelicately...  and takes a sip - then places it back down on its saucer, "Not the worst tea I've ever had." Yet, she stays standing...


'It does not seem that you are concerned that I will tell your Commander that you have been rather boorish and crude.'


"Is that a threat?" She counters, yet her anger doesn't grow, like she's just as unconcerned whether it is or not.  Internally she simmers over it, thinking that Relena is perhaps trying to force her to do what she wants. "I'm not about to sit and raise my pinky finger while I sip tea just to kowtow to you, /Princess/ - no matter what the Commander would think about it."


Despite calling herself Queen earlier, Asuka seems to maintain the title of Princess.  Yet now she's staring at her again, looking her right in the eye


"Do you really want to keep pretending like this is about enjoying my company...  or would you rather discuss what I suspect is the real reason I'm here something nearer and dearer to your real interests..."


Maybe Relena thinks that Asuka saw her, truly saw her at the show.  Yet for all Asuka denies it...  she certainly remembers one thing about Relena Peacecraft... "...  like say... G-Hound?"


...  and that was her rage at Treize Khushrenada.

<Pose Tracker> Relena Peacecraft has posed.

"Mm... I don't know about that." Relena says, of whether she's 'foolish' enough to poison Asuka or not. In truth the idea didn't even come to her as Asuka is hardly an enemy until she noticed Asuka wasn't having any of it.


Not any way she'd like. Asuka can tell Relena definitely wasn't expecting an answer like that. Her grip slackens a bit before tightening again more tightly. She doesn't know what that means precisely but she knows enough to know that it means NERV has some dirty little secrets of its own. Secrets, frankly, that feel too far away from her to pry out into daylight. It would be a whole THING, that's for sure, and she is struggling enough to handle the matters close to her. If she tried to involve herself in NERV's baggage, she'd likely get overwhelmed.


She studies ASuka thoughtfully. "Is that how you see it? Haha, yes, I imagine that must be quite aggravating."


She holds her teacup up to her mouth though she doesn't sip it again. "I'm afraid what I feel I said and how you understood it are two different things. I thought I was apologizing for this world failing you because from where I stand, you are fighting at 14 because adults could not handle the problem. As you might expect, I am sympathetic to this because I do not believe high school students should be expected to make royal decisions either. It is a fact of life that we are expected to carry these burdens because of the failures, greed, and bloodthirst of adults in our lives. I struggle to imagine how peace can be possible in a world where people like you and I are expected to carry these weights. Whether or not we are capable of it, whether or not we take pride in our work, I do not feel that is a just world. Worst off, it doesn't truly make use of intellect--or does it?"


She shakes her head at the idea of threatening Asuka. "No, I want the Sanc Kingdom to be a place where good faith discussions can happen without fear of reprisal, I just thought it interesting that the thought didn't seem to occur to you. I was wondering if you had seen through me again. Some manner of insight you had gleened from me."


She smiles, looking into Asuka's eyes.


"If I have questions about G-Hound I could ask Lt. Noin. No, I'm afraid there is not much ulterior motive here, Asuka."


"Lt. Noin, whom you saw with me, is an agent of G-Hound herself, a close ally of Treize Kushrenada and Zechs Merquise, who is I understand to be one of his right hands and apparently a brother of mine. She was sent to 'protect me'. How would you feel in such a circumstance, Asuka? Would you bristle at such a kind gesture? I think you are the type that would. After all, that is indeed a form of pity, is it not?"


"I'm not one content to play the role thrust upon me either. There's no need for formalities. Please, call me Relena. I'd very much love to hear about your studies at university."


She pours herself another cup.

<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.

Again Asuka gives her a weird look as she says she doesn't know about that, yet she doesn't laugh at what she regards as a self-deprecating joke on Relena's part. She doesn't seem like someone who has ever laughed, or ever smiled.  It is a good thing though that Relena does not pry, as honestly, Asuka has already said too much.  If there is one subject with her that is completely off limits, it is any deeper into that than surface level. Right now there is still an element of plausible deniability, that it could be a dark joke, or a simple warning not to meddle in their affairs.


"Aggravating isn't the word I'd use."


Is all she says, before Relena offers her explanation.  Asuka actually listens and weighs this comment.  It makes sense, from the point of view that Relena sees her as a person. It is a viewpoint that is merely blissfully ignorant to the reality that Asuka has never considered herself a person. And knows she was created to be an Eva pilot.  The world didn't fail her.  Asuka wouldn't /exist/ without the reality of the world where adults foist burdens off on people their age, a reality that Relena feels is shameful.  It is the whole purpose of her existence.


"You think I haven't-?" Asuka says after a moment of looking into Relena's eyes, her expression unamused, as her words gain some momentum, "Despite some of the things you're saying having a ring of truth when you think of some child soldier fighting to survive in a wartorn country - we're not alike when it comes to our burdens. You hear my age and what I've accomplished and think it's comparable, when you don't know the first thing about me. You're blissfully ignorant - and you'll stay that way if you know what's good for you."


Asuka keeps boring a hole into her with her eyes, "It is a duty of the elite to protect the ignorant masses...  and despite your title, and whatever burdens you think you're shouldering...  you're part of those masses." It is something that could be easily turned back on her.  If Relena is part of the ignorant masses, then why wasn't she protected? Why are so many people unprotected? It's because unfortunately Asuka has only one purpose - to prevent a Third Impact.


Despite the intensity of Asuka mere moments ago, Relena is treated to a nonplussed expression as she mentions Lieutenant Noin.  Asuka goes from completely uncertain how to react, to asking for a confirmation of her perceptions, "That woman was Lieutenant Noin?" The realization hits her, the strange circumstances of it.  Someone so loyal to Treize handing Relena a gun while Treize is in the room - Zechs her /brother/??   When the implications all finally sink in, Asuka looks away, "The leadership of G-Hound is out of their minds..." Asuka mutters as her summation of all of it.  It is disappointing to her that it isn't about G-Hound, but that's because she's thoroughly antisocial.


Relena does ask a question though, and Asuka looks back at her out of the corner of her eye, "I don't know anything about Paternal loyalty...  but if someone like her was sent to /protect/ me?  I'd tell her she's unnecessary - send her back.  If she wouldn't go back, then I'd probably break one of her limbs to show her I don't need protection.  I can handle that on my own."


It's kind of an absurd statement on its face given the differences between herself and Noin. Noin is more muscular, has both size and weight on Asuka, and is almost certainly better trained...  yet she seems fairly confident all the same.


Her fingertips tap along the back of the chair as she tells her to call her Relena.  And asks her to talk about her studies.  Asuka seems pensive for a moment...  then...  "For your information...  I graduated from the University of Munich when I was /thirteen/, not fourteen." As she childishly corrects Relena's earlier statement, "With a masters in theoretical chemistry-"


Despite Relena's invitation to use her first name, to not be formal, Asuka looks Relena square in the eye and calls her, "Darling Princess."

<Pose Tracker> Relena Peacecraft has posed.

"Ah, my apologies." Relena says of getting the age wrong. It's pretty clear it doesn't really matter to her though. 14 and 13 might as well be the same age. Such is the power...


Of being 15 years old.


"Well, sometimes you get a feeling about a person, but I take your point. Clearly there is only a few things I can grow to understand about someone from a couple of meetings, careful listening, and some insight."


She smiles like a cat that ate a canary.


"Yes," She says of G-Hound. "I believe so too."


"I suspect my father--Vice Minister Darlian--was assassinated for the purpose of helping embroil this world in more war than it already is. G-Hound, the Oz Foundation in particular, is also responsible for the assassination of many peace-minded ambassadors of the Federation." That's not entirely true but it's true enough as far as Relena is concerned.


"Hm... You'd break her arm would you?" She did almost shoot Noin but Noin proved useful so she didn't. And since then she's getting kind of a soft spot for the poor woman. She can imagine how Lucrezia would react to Asuka but fortunately that is not a reality either of them have to worry about.


Part of what she feels she has gleaned about Asuka she doesn't share to Asuka because troublesome as she is, one does not point out some things about a guest. Nevertheless, she doesn't really want to dwell on G-Hound either. It came up so she talked about it.


Instead she says, "A master of theoretical chemistry at 13 and being used to fight giant monsters instead of developing some chemical counteragents or further delve into her studies so she can revolutionize the world through advancements in chemistry."


She shakes her head. "Well, nevertheless, it is as you said, how can I truly know you? I would like to get to know you even better so I'll have to write a letter to your Commander stating that you were an execllent guest and that nothing would please me more if you could come by again."


Oh no she's using Asuka's claim about not knowing the first thing about her as an excuse to leverage her royal status to invite Asuka to MORE of these talks. "But first, if you'd like, please enjoy this schools facilities as you'd like. I may be a foolish girl but the Sanc Kindom was once widely respected as an enlightened kingdom. Perhaps you could find something to occupy your time?"


She stands up again and curtseys. "It's been an absolute pleasure."

<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.

The power of a fifteen-year-old is immeasurable...  Asuka may stand up to adults by simply refusing to engage with them on their terms, yet she has trouble with people her own age group, especially those who rank her when it comes to seniority.  Honestly...  Asuka just has problems with people.


Asuka lofts an eyebrow as Relena notes that clearly there is only a few things one can grow to understand. Suddenly she has this bad feeling, like she'd walked right into a trap and doesn't understand how or why... though her expression grows more serious as she speaks of her suspicions on her father being assassinated with that purpose - and assassinating my peace-minded ambassadors of the Federation.


Yet Relena actually gets a serious response from Asuka on this one.


"They sure covered their tracks well.  The latter incident?  I saw the vids - sure looked like it Celestial Being is responsible...  but Commanders like Treize are all snakes, no matter how much they hide it.  Doesn't surprise me that his grimy prints would be all over that.  Tck.  This is why I hate Federation politics."


She gives Relena a sidelong glance, "With you casually saying all of this in public - I'm surprised you're still alive and not under lock and key in some G-Hound base.  If I didn't see Lieutenant Noin hand you a gun I'd be sure you /were/ in one already."


Relena though isn't really focused on bringing G-Hound in this conversation, a fact that irritates her because she doesn't /want/ to talk about herself, not really.  Yet that is Relena's focus, as she notes what Asuka could be doing with her degree, rather than fighting giant monsters. "What's your point?  I wouldn't have it any other way." That's only half-true.  She doesn't have the option.  Mari asked her to consider a world where she wasn't an Eva pilot. Asuka can't even fathom such a world.


An Eva pilot is what she is.


Relena then springs her trap, and despite Asuka catching a glimpse that she's fallen into one she's caught a bit flat-footed...  needing a few seconds to recover - then she folds her arms in an angry huff.


"What are you stupid?" It's something that Asuka said to Relena many times during the Air Show, today it is the first time. "You can't seriously tell me that you /enjoyed/ this?  What's the point of doing this all over again?"


What's the point of her being around other people?  She hates it. She hates watching them.  Because it reminds her that she's an inhuman thing that shouldn't be a part of any of their lives.


"I don't need your charity."


She says of making use of the facilities before she storms out, shoving the door open roughly as she goes.


-=-=-


"According to her Highness' report.  You conducted yourself admirably.  A most surprising turn of events." The Deputy Commander stares at Asuka, as if scrutinizing her, suspecting some sort of falsehood. "I'm inclined to overlook this particular..  transgression - provided that you accept all future invitations to tea with her Highness as per her request, within reason of course. Is that clear?"


Two words grate out of Asuka's lips. "Yes.  Sir." As she then turns to leave...


"Miss Langley." The Deputy Commander calls her back, the reproval in his voice clear at the fact she was not dismissed, "AEU Military formal will be prohibited for future engagements with her Highness when you are representing NERV.  I've sent you an e-mail with your expected dress code for future engagements with royalty. Lieutenant Colonel Katsuragi has likewise been instructed to assist you in the purchase of attire that meets its requirements. Dismissed."


Roughly a minute later, after checking her e-mail on her phone, Asuka punches a locker so hard that she leaves a dent as she yells a single word of what Relena has accidentally inflicted upon her. "HEELS?!"