2023-10-10: Material Things
- Log: 2023-10-10 Material Things
- Cast: Shinji Ikari, Neon Genesis Junior High Students, guest starring Misato Katsuragi (NPC'ed by Shinji Ikari)
- Where: OCU Japan
- OOC - IC Date: October 10, UC 0097 (2023)
- Summary: After learning of what's become of him from Misato, Calibur seeks out Shinji to bring him somewhere safe.
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
Ideals. Principles. Morals.
Hunger. Exhaustion. Pain.
Both of these go to war in Shinji Ikari's mind as he stares, swaying slightly on his feet, at the storefront of a pawn shop across the street.
It's been almost two weeks since he left Tokyo-3. He left behind his phone, his SDAT, and most of his things, including his cello. Some things he did bring with him include the set of quality kitchen knives Asuka gave him as a birthday present last year. He'd brought them with him because he'd thought they'd be practical--he'd be able to cook, and knives might encourage other people not to mess with him, even if he's decided he'll never use them on a person.
Mostly they've been heavy. His back and shoulders are stiff and sore of days on days of carrying such a heavy duffel bag, and the heaviest item by far is the knife set. He's out of money, too; he hasn't eaten since the night before last. This isn't the first time he's been homeless, but it is the first time he's been homeless for so long. It's barely morning now, the sky only just stopped tinging orange and pink from sunrise. The pawn shop just opened, judging by the person inside who just turned the sign to OPEN. If he sold the knives, he could buy breakfast somewhere, but...
Shinji grits his teeth, retreats several steps until his back hits the building behind him, and slumps to the sidewalk. His forehead hits his knees as he pulls his legs to his chest.
He can't. It's the one thing he has left from Asuka. She's dead because he didn't save her. He can't.
...but he's so hungry. And so tired. And his heart and soul hurt so, so much.
Shinji remains where he is, seated on the sidewalk in a Japanese town somewhere to the north. He's out of clean clothes--his bag is full of dirty laundry, including socks and underwear--so the clothes he's wearing now are dirty too: a black-and-white moon-themed fleece hoodie, a baseball cap, a blank T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers. After taking train after train away from Tokyo-3, and buying meals from whatever convenience store he happened by, he's run out of money. He didn't take much with him to begin with. He has ID on him--his passport, specifically--but what good is that? It's not like he can afford to leave the country.
Mari had called this a journey. Shinji had denied it. In his heart, he denies it most of all right now. How is this a journey when he's just wandering down unknown streets with sore feet and an empty stomach?
<Pose Tracker> Neon Genesis Junior High Students has posed.
"L--listen."
The household is gathered before Calibur, a rare moment of stillness between the various feline entities the Samurai has brought into his life. He stands in the doorway to the dining room/kitchen, his blue gaze tracking from cat to cat.
"I--I need to go away for a little while. I--I will come back." Calibur intones, seriously. "T--there is extra food in the timer feeder. I--I'm counting on you all to share."
Various eyes blink back, slowly. They don't particularly understand Calibur's words, but his intent is clear.
Calibur looks particularly hard at the once-smallest kitten. Three legs, one eye, all mischief. "G--Gari. D--do not try and climb into the feeder again. T--the food will come to you."
Gari, being licked by his brother, offers no sign that he's internalized this. Calibur sighs.
"J--Jian. W--watch over everyone." Perhaps it's a coincidence, but to Calibur's eyes, it sees as if the fluffy matriarch of the house gives him a slight nod.
Good enough.
- ---
Rei Ayanami. Deceased.
Asuka Shikinami Langley. Deceased.
Shinji Ikari. Missing.
Mari Makinami Illustrious. Unknown.
Kaworu Nagisa. Unknown.
With Gridman's absence, Battle Tracto Max has become the defacto leader of the Neon Genesis Junior High Students. Though Calibur was the first to arrive in this reality (after Gridman himself), the Samurai has no desire for leadership. If Max chooses to take that burden, Calibur will support him as best he can.
Max gave Calibur three instructions, in order of importance. Protect Yuta Hibiki. Protect Tsutsujidai City. Water Borr's plants.
A fourth was added just before Calibur's comrades left for Jupiter.
Do not let NERV harm any more children.
Compared to the others, this objective is fairly open ended. Calibur has spent some time considering what actions should he take. Could he mount a surprise attack on the Geofront and retrieve the two remaining children? Even with his great speed and skill with a blade, it's debatable. More important is if he could keep the children from harm after ostensibly kidnapping them from their legal guardians. This comes into conflict with his second objective, in Calibur's mind, as NERV would certainly lay siege to Tsutsujidai to retrieve their children.
Days pass, as the Samurai works on the problem. Day by day, Yuta Hibiki attends school without incident. Day by day, Tsutsujidai continues to flourish. Day by day, Borr's plants are each given the specific amounts of water.
Day by day, the feeling of dread worry in Calibur's heart grows heavier.
In truth, the time feels much longer to Calibur than it is in reality. Two days after the death of Rei and Asuka, the Samurai appears on Misato Katsuragi's doorstep. This woman sent a heartfelt letter to Gridman, once. Of all the people in NERV, she is the sole voice Calibur trusts.
"T--the children." Calibur says, simply.
Perhaps Misato will have questions for the slouched Hyper Agent, or perhaps the look in his steel-blue eyes will give her all she needs to understand him. Either way, Calibur leaves the Colonel's home with a new mission.
- ---
Shinji is alone, sitting on the sidewalk.
Until he isn't.
A rush of wind sends the young man's greasy hair blowing back, heralding the arrival of Samurai Calibur. Immaculate suit, triple swords, and slumped shoulders, as always. Shinji is treated to a long few seconds of being stared at, Calibur's face impassive as always, his thoughts private.
Visually, Shinji Ikari is the worst Calibur has ever seen him. Exhaustion rises from him in waves, his clothes are filthy, and his heart is broken. Calibur may not have the emotional sense his student does, but even the most mundane individual could feel the heartbreak from Shinji in this moment.
First things first. Human beings require certain things to sustain their lives.
"H--here." Calibur reaches into his suit pocket, pulling out two Calorie-Mate bars. They're offered, unceremoniously, to Shinji.
Another few seconds of staring at the young man.
Calibur comes to a decision. He stands next to Shinji on the sidewalk, then lowers himself down into a squat. It's still not enough to bring him to Shinji's eye level, but it's better.
Gridman would know what to say. The Samurai looks up at the morning sky.
"T--those were meant for someone else, at first." Calibur mutters. "I--I met Akane Shinjo before the others. I--in another place. W--when I finally made it here, she was different. S--so was the world."
Steel-blue eyes track the wisps of clouds. The air is heavier here than it is in Tsutsujidai.
"S--she was suffering. A--alone. I--I was unsure how to approach her, so I did not." Calibur pauses. "T--then, there was another. S--suffering just as she was. T--this time, I learned."
"H--human lives require preservation. T--they need material things to continue to live. F--food. S--shelter. O--only then can additional problems be addressed. N--next is safety. T--that, I knew how to give."
A hand trails back, perhaps unknowingly, to rest on Calibur's three swords. There are two empty spaces in his sheathe, alongside the used ones.
"B--by the time I understood the true Akane Shinjo, she was beyond needing food. E--even so." Calibur murmurs. "I--I have always carried it. I--in case I was given another chance."
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
When Calibur appears before Misato Katsuragi's apartment door, and she opens it, he'll find that one of her arms is in a cast and her head is bandaged. There's the tension of worry in her otherwise lovely features, but she doesn't call Shinji's name when she opens the door. She's beyond expecting him to come back at this point.
Instead, her brown eyes flicker with uncertainty--though a glum understanding dawns at Calibur's words. "Let me think... You're one of Gridman's comrades, right?" she says. "Sorry. I don't think we've ever talked before, so I don't know your name." She pauses; then she steps to one side. "Come on in."
Shinji has only been gone one day and the inside is already a mess. Misato Katsuragi doesn't bother to move last night's instant curry ramen bowls from the living room/dining room table. She just slumps onto a chair, opposite whichever one Calibur takes, and explains.
Shinji was discharged from NERV, she tells him. It was Commander Ikari's decision, but Shinji would have left anyway, she thinks. She doesn't know where he is now, and she's been worried sick. He took some of his things, but his phone wasn't included in them. Mari and Kaworu were both assigned on the Jupiter mission, so they're on GGG's train now. Rei... survived, but was critically wounded; Misato can't say for certain if she'll pull through or not, and she isn't taking visitors right now anyway. And Asuka...
On the matter of Asuka, she can say even less. NERV is doing what they can, and that's all.
If Calibur explains that he's been assigned to ensure NERV doesn't hurt any more children, Misato doesn't look happy about that, but she doesn't try to defend what happened either. Instead, she says, "If NERV perfects the Dummy System, there won't be a need for child pilots anymore. Until then, if you want to protect any of them, please--protect Shinji-kun. Find him and take him somewhere safe. Please."
---
Shinji is alone, sitting on the sidewalk... until he isn't. Even then, he doesn't lift his head. Not right away. It's very early in the morning, but there are a few people walking by. None of them have reached out to Shinji. Japan is a very 'mind your own business' kind of nation, even in the future.
So it's only when Calibur speaks and holds out those Calorie-Mate bars that Shinji lifts his head to stare at the Neon Genesis Junior High Student with bleary eyes. He blinks rapidly, accepting the bars in confusion. He stares at them, then back at Calibur. Calibur stares back. Shinji's eyes lid.
"What are you doing here...?" he mutters.
Calibur tells him, squatting down to better meet his eyes. In response, Shinji glowers at his knees. At length, he opens one of the Calorie-Mate bars and bites into it. It doesn't taste good, and clearly they've been in Calibur's pocket for a while now, but the two of them together will blunt his hunger for the time being.
"Are you planning on taking me to Tsutsujidai?" he mutters. "Don't bother. I don't want to go."
He doesn't explain why. If Calibur wants to know that, he'll have to ask. Maybe even prod.
<Pose Tracker> Neon Genesis Junior High Students has posed.
If Calibur minds Misato's chaotic apartment, he gives no sign of it. Her cast and bandages are given a second-long stare, before the Samurai nods and enters with her.
"I--I am Samurai Calibur." He murmurs, slouching into a chair seemingly at random. "Y--yes. I--I am Gridman's blade."
He's pretty literal.
As Misato explains, Calibur listens, his expression unchanged aside from a spark of intensity in his eyes. The news that Rei has survived, somehow, earns Misato a microscopic raise of the Samurai's eyebrows.
Memories return to Calibur, long ago now, of the day he and Tsutsujidai's children looked for information on the missing sports club girls.
"...C--colonel Katsuragi. H--have you actually seen Rei, or Asuka?" Calibur is blunt, where his comrades might be more gentle. "K--knowing now the horror NERV will put its children through, I worry their survival is further cruelty. I--if it is the truth at all."
Calibur knows Misato will not be able to answer his question. It must be asked, all the same. But Misato's worry is clear, and focused around only one of the children. Kaworu and Mari, at least, Calibur can put out of his mind. His comrades will care for them. Rei and Asuka, if anything remains of them, must be in the very heart of the Geofront, out of Calibur's reach.
"Mm." He grunts, gaze leaving Misato's face to land on one of the dirty dishes. She asks him to find and protect Shinji. If the young man has been discharged from NERV, it would be safe to bring him to Tsutsujidai after all. "S--so Shinji is alone."
Dummy System, Misato says, earning a sharp glance from Calibur. It is enough for his opinion of the system to be made very, very clear. But even as the Samurai passes judgment on Misato, he can't look away from her injuries, and the desperation in her eyes.
"S--shinji Ikari is not safe on his own. N--no child should be left to fend for themselves." Calibur, oddly, brings his left hand up, then touches its wrist with his right hand. "I--I will bring him to safety."
Perhaps it's an odd sort of vow?
Calibur stands, feet facing the door. He looks back at Misato. "...i--is there anything I can do for you, before I go?"
- ---
Steel-blue eyes land on each passersby, offering the same judgment Misato was subject to. Perhaps a foreigner like Calibur simply cannot understand the customs of this country.
What is he doing here?
"I--I came to bring you to safety." Calibur answers, truthfully.
Before he can continue, Shinji insists he won't go to Tsutsujidai. Calibur, slowly, tilts his head.
"T--tsujidai is safe, peaceful, and familiar to you. W--why do you refuse it?" Calibur's knees are glared at. The Samurai does not seem to mind. From this angle, Shinji may notice one of Calibur's most remarkable traits: the ability to wear a dark suit without attracting a single piece of cat hair. "T--there is a place prepared for you. I--in my mansion, or one of my comrades'. I--if that is unacceptable, I will purchase a hotel room, or speak with Yuta Hibiki. H--he, too, should not be alone."
At least Shinji's eating. Calibur mentally checks off the first item on his task list.
"I--I will not force you." Calibur adds. "B--but I will deliver you to safety, wherever that may be. T--tsujidai is the best option of many."
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
"Colonel Misato Katsuragi. Just Misato is fine," she replies. And inside they go, the door shut in their wake.
Calibur is mistaken on one thing: Misato's worried about all the Children. It's just that there's nothing she can do for Shinji with him having left NERV. He'll still be under surveillance, but even someone of her rank isn't being kept in the loop on that matter, maybe because of how close they'd been. Rei and Asuka, Mari and Kaworu... at least she can keep tabs on what's going on with them herself. Shinji's another matter.
For the same reason, Calibur might ask if she's seen Rei or Asuka herself, but she can only lower her gaze unhappily. "I can't confirm or deny that," she says simply, just as he'd anticipated. "Please don't ask again."
It seems very possible now that Calibur--that maybe all of Gridman's allies--might well end up attacking NERV to take the Children away. That's a problem for future NERV, though. If Samurai Calibur is the one person she can rely on to do something for Shinji, if he'll accept her request (rubytext: plea), she'll pretend not to have realized. Calibur can pass whatever judgment he wants on her in return.
Her gloomy expression softens into a faint smile at his last offer. "I'll be fine," she tells him. "I'm an adult, after all."
---
Shinji's already sullen expression darkens at the mention of Yuta, and he looks away. He doesn't actually speak, though, until Calibur says Tsutsujidai is the best option. "No it isn't," he mutters. "NERV is there. I don't want to be anywhere near anyplace they might have anyone stationed."
Though he doesn't specify, he's including GGG in that. Which, of course. They are an umbrella organization within NERV, and GGG does have people stationed in Tsutsujidai.
Shinji also doesn't specify he doesn't want to be near Yuta, either. It might be unfair to Yuta, but he's not the friend he knew before--and, worse still, he has those unwanted memories from Gridman about Rei and Kaworu. Even thinking about talking about either of them with that boy who looks like his friend but isn't makes Shinji what to scream his throat raw.
"If you don't get that," he continues aloud in a low mutter, "then I'm not going anywhere with you."
...It might be best not to mention Misato's request. Calibur would have come for Shinji regardless, but if he feels this strongly...
<Pose Tracker> Neon Genesis Junior High Students has posed.
"U--understood." Calibur replies, quietly, to Misato's inability to answer his question. "M--misato, you love these children. Y--you're a family, the way my comrades and I are with Gridman."
This is spoken as if Calibur is realizing it himself. His gaze softens. If Gridman was the one missing and out of reach, Calibur, too, would be desperate to send someone to aid him.
Standing, now, the Samurai nods. "R--right. O--our duty is to protect these children."
Reaching into an inner jacket pocket, he retrieves a business card. On it is written "Gridman" in a classy font, with four names beneath it, written in the style of a Vertex handle. The second one, 'Samurai Calibur', is circled messily.
"H--here. I--if you can safely receive updates, message me. I--I will bring him to safety, Misato."
The business card is set before Misato, the door opens, and Calibur is gone.
- ---
NERV is in Tsutsujidai? Calibur's lips twitch toward something like a frown. Pulling out his phone, he scrolls to his photos, opening a hand-drawn chart. Hmm.
...
Yes, there, under the "NERV" heading, "GGG" is listed as a subgroup. And GGG is indeed in Tsutsujidai.
"I--I see." Calibur puts his phone back away. He is no Newtype, but Shinji's clipped response seems proof that there's more to this issue than a small GGG division residing in Tsutsujidai. "I--I 'get it'."
Shinji is going to be more difficult than Calibur assumed. If he won't go anywhere with NERV personnel, that rules out a few more options, most notably the PPL. The Hyper Agent considers contacting Sayla Mass. This sort of thing is her specialty... but Shinji is in a delicate spot. If Calibur makes the wrong move, the young man will spook and skitter away.
Steel-blue eyes watch Shinji for a long few moments. Calibur's heart is telling him he needs to solve this one himself. Think. While NERV is not a particularly massive organization, its subgroups have spread out to nearly everywhere Calibur would trust to shelter Shinji.
Slowly, Calibur turns his attention away from Shinji, deep in thought. Mentally, he runs through his catalog of allies. Earth is ruled out entirely. The Colonies... After Princess Mineva's speech, there's been more uncertainty around space-faring people. But NERV's hold is decidedly looser away from the planet.
...
"Ah." Says Calibur.
Princess Mineva and her companions are children in just as much danger as Shinji. While Calibur doesn't know the Princess, he does know many who fought alongside her. That list is narrowed down in kind, until one name remains.
"T--there is an enormous ship in space, captained by a powerful and fair woman. N--no chance of other factions using it as an outpost." Calibur looks at Shinji again, finally. "I--it is named the Ra Mari II, captained by Eight York. D--distant from the planet. N--no interaction with NERV or any of its allies."
A ship like the Ra Mari II has the benefit of being easier for Calibur to reach from Tsutsujidai, as well, should Shinji need his aid. Yes. This is a good solution. There are even people Shinji's age with similar experiences for him to bond with.
"I--is this acceptable?"
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
Family... Misato doesn't know. She was definitely playing family for a while with Shinji and Asuka. But is that the same as being a real family?
So she doesn't confirm or deny that either. Instead, she takes the business card, looking down at the name circled therein. Then she meets Calibur's eyes and nods once.
"Thank you," she whispers.
----
"Do you?" Shinji mutters, low and petulant. "Whatever. You're only doing this because it's what Gridman would what you to do, anyway." It might be counter-productive for him to lash out at Calibur when he's only trying to help, but Shinji needs to be angry at someone and Calibur is a better target than most he's run into.
Still, at least for now, he doesn't get up and run away. That duffel bag is heavy, and where else would he go, anyway? If Calibur were to try to grab him or pick him up, that'd be a different story--but he doesn't, so Shinji stays parked where he is. Calibur's decision to take a somewhat lighter touch here is a wise one.
Eventually, a suggestion is made. Shinji's gaze slides back to him in a side-eye. He doesn't tell Calibur that NERV has had contact with the Ra Mari II before--by necessity, considering that they've cooperated with and received cooperation from NERV in the past--but it's true, as far as Shinji knows, there's no actual NERV personnel on the ship. And, thinking on it, they aren't with the Federation anymore, so NERV really doesn't have any jurisdiction there. The more recent cooperation they'd done was because of Kaworu's friendships with Ruri and Eight, and Kaworu's in space now.
So: "...Fine," he mumbles, glowering at the concrete. "If you insist."
It could have gone way worse, really. At least now he'll get up and start following Calibur.
He didn't have anywhere else to go, anyway.
<Pose Tracker> Neon Genesis Junior High Students has posed.
Calibur regards Shinji calmly as he lashes out. In a way, it's nostalgic, reminding the Samurai of another destitute, starving young man. The memories of Anti's fury have somehow become warm and sweet, after all this time.
"I--I am Gridman." Calibur states. "O--or I was. I--I am only a broken fragment of his soul. W--what he wants is what I want. A--and he would want me to help you." A pause. "B--but the being that is me doesn't like to see anyone left to fend for themselves. E--especially not a friend."
Calibur's voice stays monotone as he watches Shinji. There's anger in the young man, justified and fierce. Maybe the Samurai should teach Shinji how to sword fight after all... Having an outlet for extreme emotion is very important.
Slowly, Calibur straightens his long legs, one hand resting back on his remaining three swords. He only has one more to give away. Does Shinji's heart call to it? Steel-blue eyes close.
No.
Shinji is a young man who longs for peace and kindness. A sword would be a burden to him. Calibur removes his hand from his third katana. The best gift Calibur can bring to Shinji is a place where he can recover, free of violence.
"I--I will carry your bag if you want me to." Calibur betrays no sign of his inner dialogue. And yes, he does insist. "O--or I can also carry you and flash-step us there."
It's hardly a dignified way for someone to travel, but it's unbeatably fast. In any case, Calibur will begin their journey to the nearest space port with little else said. Shinji is not in the mood for conversation, and Calibur is content to simply take in the world around him.
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
"That's what I was saying--" Shinji starts to say heatedly. Then he cuts himself off and shakes his head, shoulders hunching. It's not an argument worth having, he tells himself. "Whatever. Never mind."
There is anger in him. Violence too, even. But it's not his default state of being. It's not his true self--only an extreme that emerges when it must. Shinji is capable of fighting, and he's even pretty good at it, for all he personally thinks otherwise. But Calibur is right: that sword would only be a burden to him, especially now. Right now, his soul calls to nothing(ness).
"I don't," he says curtly, pulling the strap of his bag closer to his chest as if he needs to protect it from him. The other suggestion gets a guarded frown. "Flash-step?"
...Hopefully Calibur doesn't take that as an invitation. Either way, Shinji will follow him out of town--even wait for him if he needs to make a stop somewhere to gather a few things. And, unless Calibur does pick him up and flash-step them out of there (in which case there will be A LOT of screaming), he'll do it in silence.
For however long that trip lasts.