2022-03-03: A Girl's Essential Needs

• Log: A Girl's Essential Needs
• Cast: Kaworu Nagisa, Alloy Kaas, Asuka Shikinami Langley, Zoia Surovy
• Where: Tokyo-3, OCU Japan
• OOC - IC Date: March 3, 0096 (2022)
• Summary: Soon after Alouette "Alloy" was transferred to Tokyo-3, Kaworu finds out that she has not been pre-appraised of... well, anything. As her direct superior (via SEELE), he sets out to right this matter--and finds out that Alouette has "befriended" Asuka. He calls Asuka to confirm situation, then Zoia to ask her for help.

---

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        Ever since he arrived at NERV's branch in Tokyo-3, Kaworu's sync ratio tests have been consistently... middling. Always just a few points behind the others. But that also means that he's consistently *close*. A good replacement if someone is sick or injured or otherwise indisposed. That is, of course, the point.
        
        With today's testing over, Kaworu leaves the entry plug and its sea of LCL, smiling and exchanging words praising today's efforts with the NERV personnel. The level of enthusiasm on the others' parts varies from person to person, but he himself is on an even keel, as usual.
        
        He needs to change out of his plug suit, but he's in no hurry. Rather than heading to the changing rooms to shower and get into his street clothes, he lingers for a while. There's someone else who's been doing testing today whom he'd like the opportunity to speak with, after all.

<Pose Tracker> Alouette Kaas has posed.

One of the pecuiliarities with the Eva pilot from Britannia, the quality and texture her hair takes on when wet. An element of her specific biology and muscular hydrostat, it seems to 'behave' in water, and when she emerges from LCL, it's as if she were never wet to begin with, if you looked at her hair to tell you.

Alouette pulls the white strands through the turtle neck collar of her sweater, as she settles the dark grey wool over the plugsuit and heads through the changing room, but she stops when she sees Kaworu. What seems like a long moment of silence before she moves closer to him, to engage with him. "Nagisa..."

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        As Alouette approaches with a sweater on, Kaworu's smile deepens.
        
        "Hey, Alouette," he greets her, continuing to chill near the changing room entrance. "I don't mind if you call me just Kaworu, you know. Lt. Col. Katsuragi had set precedent by having most of the pilots call her just 'Misato.'" Of course, given that Kaworu nonetheless calls her by her title and family name, that might not have a lot of weight with Alouette.
        
        "How have you been so far since you were transferred here? I imagine it's somewhat different here than what you're used to," he adds. "Have you had a chance to meet many of the other Eva pilots yet?"
        
        If she heads into the changing room proper, he'll continue to chat--but he won't follow her in. He'll simply patiently wait his turn.

<Pose Tracker> Alouette Kaas has posed.

Alouette clicks her tongue softly, before a single nod and responding, "Kaworu. I will add the prefered designation to my data."

With a smile, happy to be talking to Kaworu after a long time, the long limbed oddity plants herself on the floor, crossing her legs, and folding the rest of her into her sweater as she talks. "I have spoken with other pilots. I have made a friend, Asuka Shikinami Langley. The Second Child. We played together in the Simulator. I enjoyed it."

She peers around him. "You are in your plug suit, have I delayed from you exchanging it for preferred civillian attire?" She returns to her seating and looks back at him, still smiling expectantly.

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        A breath of a laugh escapes Kaworu's smile, eyes shutting briefly as Alouette acknowledges him. It's been a long time for both of them; she was transferred out of the Directive well before he was, and things are different now. But those shared memories are nice.
        
        Her claim that she's befriended Asuka gets a slight eyebrow rise out of him, though. "Oh?" he utters. But then he considers. They 'played' together in the simulator... Did Asuka try to approach her in the same way she had him, only with better results? "I'm glad you've made a friend," he decides. "The Second Child can have a violent temper, though. If she ever makes you afraid, please let me know, all right?"
        
        She notes he's still in his plug suit. He smiles and shakes his head. "I'm here because I wanted to talk to you. You haven't delayed me at all," he replies. "If your need is fulfilled, though, I'll head inside."
        
        Once she confirms that, Kaworu will head inside. He'll leave a moment later in slacks, sneakers, a button-up white shirt, and a violet undershirt. His usual school uniform, though it looks more than enough like regular clothes that he uses them that way, too.

<Pose Tracker> Alouette Kaas has posed.

        Alouette tilts her head, wondering what he meant about Asuka. Asuka wasn't scary, she was fun. When Kaworu leaves to change, Alouette looks around the area she finds herself awkwardly sitting alone in. Kind of a dystopian office styling. You have panelled walls and ceiling tiles, except the walls are steel bulkheads with rust in areas because there is an impossible number of them at NERV for any kind of maintenance to fight the rust.

        When staring up at the overhead tiles, Alouette notices something amiss. One of the panels is unsecured. She stands to get a closet look, and sure enough, all the rivets are missing. Looking around again, she spots a desk shoved in a corner and retrieves it, the sound of it's legs dragging reverbrating in the corridor.

        Standing on top of the desk, there are marks on the panel where the rivets were. Someone intentionally removed these, but why? Alouette presses on the panel, but it is even heavier than it looks. not knowing if the sketchy desk can hold her weight, she presses her back and shoulder against the ceiling panel and with considerable strain, and a screech of metal, it pops out of it's fitment. Alouette pushes it out of the way, and peers into the void, as the desk starts to buckle.

        The desk gives out from under her and she is hanging. Alouette squeka in surprise, but manages to pull her self up into the space. There is no light, it's utterly dark, except... where light peaks in from, somewhere. Alouette crawls through heading to the light, all while humming to herself the concerto she would listen to Kaworu play on the piano a long time ago.

        But she only manages about ten feet, before she falls out of the ceiling from another insecure panel, right behind Kaworu, in a dusty, loud, mess.

        "Ow."

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        There's a racket outside when the desk collapses under Alouette. Kaworu pauses as he dresses to turn his gaze towards the door; that gaze turns to the ceiling; then, as scampering proceeds, he resumes his business.
        
        He's just finished buttoning up his shirt when Alouette falls from the ceiling, panel and well, reight behind him. Having heard her movements in the ceiling, he doesn't react with shock, but his expression *is* concerned when he turns to her.
        
        "Are you all right?" he asks, kneeling down next to her. "Why did you decide to explore the ceiling?" He was planning on asking that anyway. May as well be now.

<Pose Tracker> Alouette Kaas has posed.

        With a long inhale and a huff of a sigh, Alouette sits up and shakes herself off. She brushes debris off herself and attempts, mostly unsuccessfully, to do the same with her hair. "It was out of order. The panel had been unsecured manually. I was investigating a possible security breach. I apologize for failing in that duty."
        Alouette stands up, brushing off what little more she can in a kind of resignation, before adopting a military posture.
        "I submit myself for discipline and reprimand."
        Her deamenor had changed in that moment. Something less natural. Something less whimsy. Something less innocent. Alouette in this moment might give some the chill or creep up the neck of the uncanny valley.

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        Kaworu, being from the uncanny valley himself, isn't off-put by the 'creep' factor of Alouette's tone and posture change. What bothers him is that it exists at all. His expression fades into neutral, including his smile, as he gives her a level, assessing look.
        
        It's unfortunately not a surprise either. He read through her files when she was transferred here; he's aware of the kind of training she was put through.
        
        But soon enough, he smiles again. "No need for that. I commend your observational skills and appreciate your proactivity." He stands up and looks up at the ceiling as he tucks his hands in his pockets. "Besides, this doesn't appear to be failure to me. Stealth wasn't necessary for this investigation, and by falling through, you discovered something important: that there were unsecured panels both inside and just outside the changing room," he observes. "This implies someone might be using them to spy on others while they're changing clothes."
        
        He looks back down at her. "I'll be sure to arrange repairs and an investigation into the culprit. Good work, Alouette."

<Pose Tracker> Alouette Kaas has posed.

        A wrench into the gears. But Kaworu navigated the waters of the type of engineered training and response to an outcome that wouldn't tangle up the kinds of preprogrammed responses that might exist. "Sir. Yes Sir."
        With the acknowledgement, praise or otherwise, Alouette seems to to release from what ever bound her, but in a gentle almost wave like manner down her form. "Kaworu, what tactical advantage is to be gained from such espion-" She cuts herself off, and looks back at Kaworu's clothes. "Those clothes. What are they for? Are you going somewhere, or are they your civilian clothes of choice?" As they are different from what she remember Kaworu wearing, to Alouette they seem wrong. Alouette is still new to choices.

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        "Hm?" Kaworu raises one arm as he looks down at himself and his clothes. He's been wearing an outfit like this for so long, across so many timelines, that it leaves him momentarily bemused that someone would find them strange--even if they *would* be to Alouette's perspective. He smiles again as he slips his hand back into his pocket.
        
        "They're comfortable," he says simply. The violet is a change from orange, but... he thinks that color suits him better now. "You could call it my standard civilian outfit, yes. I wear it to school, too."
        
        He steps to one side to move around her and heads for the exit, slowly enough that Alouette can follow. "As for the question you almost asked: some Lilim overflow with libido. That can lead to them taking actions to see others in states or situations that could be construed as sexual, such as when one is undressed. It's considered deeply inappropriate by greater society, so it is usually a punishable offense."
        
        He shakes his head. "At least, that's one possibility. We won't know for certain until the culprit is caught. Personally, I hope that isn't it. It saddens me to think there might be someone so unprofessional here."

<Pose Tracker> Alouette Kaas has posed.

        Alouette looks at Kaworu's attire and then at herself. "Comfortable." She takes a quick step or two to catch up, like chasing a sibling. "To 'school'" Searching her memory for this, she can only think of fish from some video or data file about their social groups. "What is School?"

        Alouette listens about the the Lilim, and libidos, and her head tilts and while not intending to, she makes some silly faces in her confusion. "If Lilim are so interested in their nude forms, why do they wear clothes?" She is pretty certain that they don't have her power of kings or a need to conceal oneself from physical touch to contain it.

        "Please, don't be sad Kaworu..." Alouette reaches for Kaworu's hand to be reassuring, but stops. That's not a luxury she has. Her arms fall by her side, and she contents herself to listen, and look around as they walk.

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        "'School' is a centralized institution for education," Kaworu explains. "In addition to education, it serves as a place where Lilim of the same age can socialize with their age peers. As such, many of us Evangelion pilots attend school even though we have already learned what is being taught there."
        
        Why wear clothes if there is an interest in nude forms? Kaworu laughs a little. "Clothing serves a variety of purposes. Primarily, it's protection against the elements, such as heat and cold, but it can also serve as an expression of one's personality or one's belonging to a group. A 'school uniform,' such as what I currently wear, is a way of expressing that one belongs to a specific educational institute. It's important to many Lilim to be able to feel as though they belong somewhere. Also, while there are some Lilim who wish to see nude forms, not all do, and other Lilim may not wish to be seen. It can be quite complicated."
        
        She reaches for his hand as she tries to reassure him, but stops. Kaworu glances her way. "..." It would be nice if they could hold hands, but... he knows. He understands. "All right. I won't," he tells her, smiling again. "It shouldn't be a difficult matter to resolve, anyway."

<Pose Tracker> Alouette Kaas has posed.

        "Does 'school' fall under the 'Classification of routine activities to occupy Lilim so operations and business can be conducted with minimal interference, observation, and knowledge to avoid disruption and panic'?" Alouette replies, missing some of the subtler points. That it might be fun, or emotionally rewarding to be among peers. That it could be really boring, waiting for the other EVA pilots to get out of school, if one were an EVA pilot not going to school with the others.

        Clothing is apparently very complex. Uniforms, Alouette understood. They identify a group. They identify allies. They have other individual identifying information such as name, rank, unit. They Identify. According to Kaworu, so do non uniforms. They provide elements of indivudal detail. This is new Data. Alouette looks at Kaworu's uniform and frowns. "I cannot wear this school uniform. It is poses a risk due to its... exposure. I cannot go to 'school'." There is disappointment in her voice. Did she want to go to school? What is 'belong' anyway?

        Alouette tries to change topics away from this feeling she suddenly has, and does not want. "Protection. I understand this. I am dressed for protection. Not combat protection, no armor at the moment. But I am dressed to protect." She doesn't explain, but with Kaworu she doesn't have to. She might look to anyone else, to be a bit odd in a big sweater in the current weather, but the big sweater has been all she has had. Which explains why it is threadbare in some places.

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        "Hmmm... Yes, I believe it could be classified as such," Kaworu confirms after a moment of consideration as they move into and through the hallways of NERV HQ. "But it's more like a form of training for young Lilim so that they can engage in operations and business when they're older." He turns a rueful, sidelong smile her way. "Though it's not like the type of training you're used to."
        
        Alouette observes his uniform and notes that it wouldn't cover her sufficiently, and so concludes that she can't attend school. He shakes his head in contradiction. "I don't think it's impossible for you to go to school if you really want to," Kaworu replies. "Although this is a 'uniform,' the dress policy of the school I attend is actually quite lax. If you were to wear tights, leggings, long-sleeved shirts, gloves, and other such things along with your uniform, that would be permitted. Especially if it were reported to school administrators that you needed to wear such things due to a physical condition.
        
        "Furthermore, in Japan, all children are required to attend school through what's called the 'ninth grade,' which is the final level of what's called 'middle school,' or sometimes 'junior high.' Children our age would only be as far as the 'eighth grade,' normally. School administrators will ergo likely accomodate you so you may attend school. The *real* trouble would come from our 'guardians' and whether they'll allow you to."
        
        Their 'guardians,' in other words, the monoliths of SEELE. He pauses, then glances again at her. "...But since *I've* been allowed to, I think you will be as well, should you truly desire it. If necessary, I can talk to them for you."
        
        Dressed for protection. Kaworu chuckles faintly. "That's certainly true," he replies, because he does indeed understand. "Is that all you have to wear, Alouette? Now that you're here, you should be receiving regular payments in exchange for your services. If you want more clothing, you can use those payments to acquire them. I can help you with that, too." He considers this thoughtfully, then adds, "Though if you would prefer to seek the aid of a friend..."

<Pose Tracker> Alouette Kaas has posed.

        Alouette alternates between watching her feet and where she is walking, and watching Kaworu when he talks. The muscle fibers in her arms and legs tense involuntarily when training is mentioned, but it barely slows her stride. conveniently most of that is concealed by her large woolen shell.

        A uniform with exceptions, not unlike what she is doing now. Though, the plugsuit is functional and the sweater doesn't come along. Similarly the sweater is functional when it is in use. Still there was the offer. "If it is, permissible within mission perameters, I would... I- request permission to, school ... w-with you and the other... pilots."

        With a flustered huff, Alouette fidgets and fluffs up her hair from the back and underneath. That felt weird. Difficult. "What is payment? This is all I have. Yes. I apologize if I was supposed to come with something else. They sent Unit Null-Sigma seperate from me so, perhaps something you are looking for is there. I am, all I am, and this is all I have. What more should I have?"

        Her tone is one of concern, what did she miss. How could she be unprepared. "I have a friend, Asuka Shikinami Langley. I am uncertain of what aid I should seek..." Would Asuka know?

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        Kaworu of course notes the way Alouette tenses. He doesn't comment upon it. There's no need to, and even bringing it up was more hurtful than he prefers to be. It would have been remiss of him *not* to explain that much, though. It isn't fair to Alouette either to let her think that all forms of training and education are like what she endured.
        
        For now, his smile gentles as Alouette requests permission to attend school. "I'll do what I can for you." Hopefully, before long, Alouette will be able to go to Tokyo-3 Municipal with him and everyone else.
        
        "'Payment' is when one receives money in return for services rendered. You are a pilot of NERV; therefore, you should receive payment for the tests, training, and battles you undergo," Kaworu explains. "It's sometimes also called a 'stipend,' though that has a different connotation. Either way, you should be receiving money so you can in turn trade it for shelter, goods and services of your own." He pauses, then adds, "What's your current living situation? Are you staying with anyone, or are you living alone?"
        
        He shakes his head a little when she brings up Unit Null-Sigma. "No, this would be separate from your Evangelion. Mm. Perhaps you should ask a second person..." Kaworu frankly doesn't trust Asuka to not be indescribably cruel to Alouette. He strongly suspects that whatever 'friendship' they have is a misunderstanding on Alouette's part, but it would be nice if he were wrong.
        
        He looks to the ceiling as they walk in consideration. "Perhaps you could ask Zoia Surovy, the Seventh Child," he says slowly. "Have you met her yet? If you haven't, I'll ask her to help you."

<Pose Tracker> Alouette Kaas has posed.

        Alouette smiles and then remembers,"Japanese bow, Thank you" yes she said it as she did it, before continuing to move along with Kaworu. "School. I will partake in the social exercise of school." It's as if she is recording, or notating it but the necessary fixtures like a notepad, whiteboard, or voice recorder are absent making it a bit queer. It's funny, how much humans pickup from observation of one another growing up, and how obvious it is when someone grows up without that foundation.

        Alouette shakes her head, "Payment. Stipend. No. I do not know these." She lifts her arms out to her sides as they walk, a gesture of having nothing. Kaworu explained payment is an exchange for service and that it can be exchanged for goods, but it is still a bit more complicated with currency, accounts, and accessing it are all still somethings she hasn't experienced. To Alouette these are all material items, which as she said before, she doesn't have. "I am afraid I have lost payment. I apologize."

        Alouette stops walking, and waits for Kaworu to stop as well. She watches him, his reactions. "I did not mean to lose it, but I do not know what it looked like. I am sorry." She is quiet a few moments, before she answers. "Seventh Child. Zoia Surovy. I have not met. I will meet them if you like. But Kaworu. Asuka is my friend. We had fun together. Please think not ill of Asuka Shikinami Langley."

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        Kaworu laughs fondly at how Alouette says what she does as she does them. "Yes."
        
        Though he does wonder how much he should help her. If helping Shinji too much has actually been hurting him, would it also hurt Alouette...? It's a troubling thought. Maybe he'll ask Lt. Col. Katsuragi to help... She is, at least on paper, a responsible adult, after all.
        
        "Hm... I see." Kaworu's smile shades away as Alouette admits she hasn't been receiving payments. This much, at least, is definitely his responsibility, given that as a NERV employee, she's his direct subordinate. He suspects she *is* getting paid, but it's going into a pre-made bank account that no one ever bothered to explain to her, or gave her the card to but didn't explain what it was for and so she didn't understand its value. There are so many moving parts to Lilim society that the adults simply expect one to know. How troublesome.
        
        "It's all right. I'll look into it. At the very least, you should have been assigned some sort of apartment somewhere, as the other Evangelion pilots have been," he replies. "If you haven't been made aware of where you'll be living, that needs to be corrected right away. We can head to my office to do so. Either way, you have nothing to apologize for."
        
        He falls silent when she asks him not to think ill of Asuka, her friend. He doesn't want to hurt Alouette, but Kaworu simply doesn't have it in him to tell a direct lie. "If the Second is truly your friend, then I have nothing to say against it. I apologize if I made you uncomfortable," he says carefully. "But several complaints have been made about her and her consistently hostile attitude. That's why I'm concerned. Perhaps you could go with both the Second and the Seventh to acquire more clothes and other necessities?"

<Pose Tracker> Alouette Kaas has posed.

        Alouette brightens when Kaworu laughs. Her eyes light, her smile... is very, very, very big... and she begins to bounce on her feet. Her hands find each other in a soft applause. Then it fades as his smile and laugh do. Alouette stands, slightly curious of everything and observing it all.

        Consternation. It's becoming a regular fixture of her experience since getting here. There is a nagging itch in the back of her mind growing. Her whole life she has trained, fought. But in the three days she has been here, there has been no combat, nothing she has been trained for, and an overwhelming amount she never was.

        "Living Situation? I do not know this." She turns and points back to where they just came from. "I sleep there." Alouette says it matter of factly.

<Pose Tracker> Alouette Kaas has posed.

        Alouette brightens when Kaworu laughs. Her eyes light, her smile... is very, very, very big... and she begins to bounce on her feet. Her hands find each other in a soft applause. Then it fades as his smile and laugh do. Alouette stands, slightly curious of everything and observing it all.

        Consternation. It's becoming a regular fixture of her experience since getting here. There is a nagging itch in the back of her mind growing. Her whole life she has trained, fought. But in the three days she has been here, there has been no combat, nothing she has been trained for, and an overwhelming amount she never was.

        "Living Situation? I do not know this." She turns and points back to where they just came from. "I sleep there." Alouette says it matter of factly. No complaint, just as it is. She explains if asked, that she has been sleeping in one of the sim plugs at night because she wasnt escorted or told otherwise, and it was familiar.

        "The Second Child sounds outside like it sounds inside. It feels familiar. We had fun. We are spar, friends. I am no uncomfortable. It seems others are though, I am sorry for them. Please don't be sorry Kaworu. Both sounds good. More friends."

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        She really is a sweet girl. Kaworu breathes out a faint sigh even as he continues to smile at her. ...How cruel the fated scenario is.
        
        "I see," he says simply. A hallway branches in front of them; he takes a decisive left turn. "Then let's head to my office. I'm certain that's not where you were meant to be assigned."
        
        Familiar, though... Her hostility is familiar. For a moment, Kaworu's eyebrows pinch upwards as his smile fades. "...All right," he says nonetheless.
        
        And he leaves it at that, for now. First things first: find out where Alouette is *actually* supposed to be sleeping, and situate her there. Once she's moved in, and they've gotten food to fill her fridge with, then they can worry about things like clothing, companions, and school.

---

[Phone] (Kaworu Nagisa) Late in the evening on March 3rd, Asuka's phone buzzes. Caller ID--assuming she has that on, assuming she has this particular number programmed in--will show it's Kaworu.

[Phone] (Asuka Shikinami Langley) Asuka looks at her phone. Instantly annoyed she lets it ring twice before pausing her Wonderswan. Picks it up on the Third Ring. "Yeah? What is it, Fifth String?"

[Phone] (Kaworu Nagisa) Kaworu replies with no preamble and a neutral tone, "Alouette Kaas tells me the two of you have become friends. Is that accurate?"

[Phone] (Asuka Shikinami Langley) There's dead silence for a long time, other than the occasional sound of her breathing or just some shifting, then there's an almost heated urgency to her question, "/What else/ did she tell you?"

[Phone] (Kaworu Nagisa) Kaworu says, still neutrally, "That you two played together in the simulators and had a good time."

[Phone] (Asuka Shikinami Langley) More silence, then suspiciously, "... Why is this important to you?"

[Phone] (Kaworu Nagisa) Kaworu replies, "The simplest reason is because she's my direct subordinate, and I have a responsibility for her care."

[Phone] (Asuka Shikinami Langley) Asuka replies more quickly this time, "That just makes it sound like the two of you are playing some kind of game to entrap me."

[Phone] (Kaworu Nagisa) Kaworu pauses. "...Why do you think either of us are trying to entrap you?"

[Phone] (Kaworu Nagisa) He adds, "For that matter, why are you so intent on not answering the question?"

[Phone] (Kaworu Nagisa) "Usually you wouldn't hesitate to say you aren't someone's friend or ally."

[Phone] (Asuka Shikinami Langley) "Because it makes no sense that she'd tell you that! So get to the point and tell me what she actually told you!"

[Phone] (Kaworu Nagisa) "She told me that you two played together in the simulators and had fun, and that you are her friend. She was very insistent on this last point, even when I expressed disbelief." A beat. "Do you have a different version of events?"

[Phone] (Asuka Shikinami Langley) Long silence again then, "And if I do? I'm not sure I trust you with them. You've given me no reason to believe that I should. Out of everyone here- you'd want me gone most of all. This feels like a set up. Like you've already pulled the security footage or something and just want me to hang myself."

[Phone] (Kaworu Nagisa) "..."

[Phone] (Kaworu Nagisa) "So something else did happen."

[Phone] (Kaworu Nagisa) Kaworu sighs a little and falls silent.

[Phone] (Kaworu Nagisa) Kaworu finally asks, "What did she do to you?"

[Phone] Makes this small noise, and Kaworu... well, it's not something he's heard out of Asuka this go round at least, like she's either nervous, or scared even and trying her best to hide it before answering the earlier question instead, "No she is not my ally. And no she is not my friend. /I told her that explicitly/. Which is why none of this makes any sense!"

[Phone] (Kaworu Nagisa) Kaworu is silent for a moment. Eventually, he murmurs, "I see."

[Phone] (Kaworu Nagisa) Kaworu adds, "For what it's worth, it doesn't make any sense to me, either. I suppose she and Shinji are simply alike in that manner."

[Phone] (Kaworu Nagisa) "In any case, the reason I was asking is because Alouette has not been fully situated in Tokyo-3 yet, and due to her personal circumstances, she won't be receiving any further material goods. In other words, she needs to go shopping for clothes and other items. Because she insisted you're her friend, she wanted to ask you for help. I merely wanted to confirm what your feelings were in the matter."

[Phone] (Kaworu Nagisa) "If you're not interested, that's fine. I was planning on asking Zoia Surovy to assist her, anyway."

[Phone] (Asuka Shikinami Langley) "You're... what?! No I don't want to help that freak with clothes shopping! There's no telling what-" Background voice, distant, "Oh? Someone wants you to go clothes shopping with them?" Covered cell receiver, "Mind your own business /Misato!/" "But-" Becomes incomprehensible for a bit, like she laid her phone down on the bed. Some back and forth. Then, "... verdammt! These Japanese style apartments with their screen doors offer no privacy at all." Phone goes back up, "I am apparently now under strict orders to assist with this matter."

[Phone] (Kaworu Nagisa) "...Would you like me to talk to Lt. Col. Katsuragi about rescinding that order?"

[Phone] (Asuka Shikinami Langley) Sounds distrustful, "It would not be appropriate for me to subvert the chain of command by asking you to do that. If you choose to do it of your own accord, I won't complain."

[Phone] (Kaworu Nagisa) Kaworu sighs. "Of course." [Phone] (Kaworu Nagisa) "That's all I wanted to discuss. Goodbye."

---

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        At some point early in the day, before school, Kaworu calls Zoia. She should recognize his number; at the very least, they exchanged numbers when they showed Lucine around recently, though Kaworu has had Zoia's personal contact information since she transferred to NERV Japan. Administrator duties and all.

<Pose Tracker> Zoia Surovy has posed.

There's a click on the other end of the phone. "Hello?" In the background, there's a faint sound like running water.

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        On Kaworu's side, there are faint traffic noises in the distance. "Good morning, Zoia Surovy. This is Kaworu Nagisa. May I make a request of you?"

<Pose Tracker> Zoia Surovy has posed.

The water's still running. This is mostly because Zoia's wrapped herself in a pair of big towels. "Oh, hello, Nagisa! This is unexpected. --Oh, um, sure, what do you need?"

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        "Our newest Evangelion pilot, Alouette Kaas, was transferred to Tokyo-3 with very few material possessions. She's been set up in her new apartment, but she needs to purchase various things for it and for herself, including clothes. Would you be willing to help her with that?"

<Pose Tracker> Zoia Surovy has posed.

"Oh, really? Is she one of the European ones?" Zoia pauses. "Ah-- is she about the same size as me? I have some spare outfits I can lend her until we can go shopping." She showed up via carrier; she got to pack her bags.

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        "She's from Britannia," Kaworu replies. He pauses at the question about size. "I believe so, but even if you aren't, she isn't overly concerned with fashion. As long as you have something that will cover as much of her skin as possible, it should be fine. I'll send you her phone number so you can arrange that with her."

<Pose Tracker> Zoia Surovy has posed.

"Oh, is she?" There's a brief pause at something Kaworu says - "None of my outfits show much anyway. That's not really something I care much about! I'll be sure to take her shopping for things. Yes, please send me her info." A beat, then: "...Is she nice?"

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        "Thank you. I appreciate your willingness to help." He pauses in turn at the question. "Yes. But she's also... Mmm. Her life has been focused largely on training with few opportunities to socialize. She's already latched onto the Second as a 'friend'--who, so you know, will also be assisting." His tone turns a hair dry: "She wanted to refuse, but Lt. Col. Katsuragi made it into an order."

<Pose Tracker> Zoia Surovy has posed.

There's a moment's pause on the other end of the line before sighing. "Is the Second like that with everyone? What's even wrong with her?"

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        "As far as I know," Kaworu replies. "As for what's wrong with her, that's beyond my ability to comprehend."

<Pose Tracker> Zoia Surovy has posed.

There's another sigh from Zoia's end of the phone. "Alright, I suppose the new pilot deserves someone to balance out the joy of friendship with Asuka." She pronounces it 'a SUka' for some reason. "Thanks for letting me know."

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        "I certainly wasn't going to let it be a surprise," Kaworu replies, again dryly. "That's all I wanted to discuss. Until we meet again."

He hangs up. With Zoia's assistance secured, he then calls Misato to attempt to get her to rescind her order to Asuka, but... ultimately she does outrank him.

After that, he pulls the relevant security tapes, as Asuka had unintentionally suggested. Whatever happened between her and Alouette, he's sure it's best that he know.

<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.

The security tapes show: Alouette comes out of a Synch test. Asuka is waiting for her. Asuka seems to confront her on something. Alouette responds in some way Asuka doesn't like, Asuka gets in her space and starts poking her in the collarbone with a finger. The two head to the simulators. After the test outside the sims. Asuka looks upset but doesn't do anything besides talk back and forth before Alouette comes up to her and kisses her on the lips. Asuka looks stunned for a little longer than the kiss took place, slaps Alouette on the cheek then storms out.

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

Kaworu thinks this explains a lot. Once Alouette's situation has been resolved, and the shopping expedition completed... he'll have to discuss it with her.

For now, frowning, he encrypts the footage to the best of his considerable capability and stores it somewhere secure. Asuka made it clear she doesn't want anyone knowing, and Alouette will get in trouble if SEELE finds out.