shinji, you fucker (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
imusntrunaway) wrote2023-01-02 11:10 pm
imusntrunaway) wrote2023-01-02 11:10 pm
IC >> INBOX (EXSILIUM)
The person you are trying to call is not available. Please leave a message after the beep.
[Beeeeeeeeeeeep.]
The person you are trying to call is not available. Please leave a message after the beep.
[Beeeeeeeeeeeep.]
I have this strange feeling you're saying that with a pleasant look on your face, Ikari Shinji-kun. Are you actually annoyed?
[Shintaro, unaware of what's happening inside Shinji's head, just answers without much thought.]
Yeah, here and there. There aren't a whole lot, but sometimes, you can find a novel or a book that talks about somewhere that isn't Exsilium or the United Earth.
Yeah, here and there. There aren't a whole lot, but sometimes, you can find a novel or a book that talks about somewhere that isn't Exsilium or the United Earth.
And you said there's similar histories to your world?
[He nods.] The same countries, the same incidents, the same wars, the same names. Sometimes, there are differences, but some are close. I guess not every world is completely different from the others.
... Exsilium, too. Countries like England, Japan, and America existed in my world, too.
... Exsilium, too. Countries like England, Japan, and America existed in my world, too.
I see. Well, I wasn't doubting you anyway. But I appreciate that.
[He takes a moment to think over this information. Does he really want to proceed with his next question?] ... what's your Japan like?
[That's a hard question for a two-year-shut-in to answer. Maybe it'll be hard for Momo, Kano, or Kido, too.]
The thought I had a day before I got here was that things got peaceful. Not a while ago, the news was all about an upcoming apocalypse predicted by some ancient civilization. But that passed. The meteorites never came. Despite all the hype, the news that morning was about some idol's first drama series.
[And then he got dragged into a terrorist attack, but that got quelled by a bunch of teenagers.]
The thought I had a day before I got here was that things got peaceful. Not a while ago, the news was all about an upcoming apocalypse predicted by some ancient civilization. But that passed. The meteorites never came. Despite all the hype, the news that morning was about some idol's first drama series.
[And then he got dragged into a terrorist attack, but that got quelled by a bunch of teenagers.]
[So his world seemed to have its apocalypses in better order than Shinji's did.]
What about the weather?
What about the weather?
We've got seasons -- it snows in winter, and this summer was as hot as usual. Clear skies and blazing heat. [Ene said people had heat strokes. Really, he would never understand that virus and her ways of trying to persuade him to do anything.] There's spring, and fall, too.
[Not that he's seen any of in two years. Only from the window on days he opened the curtains and either online or on TV.]
[Not that he's seen any of in two years. Only from the window on days he opened the curtains and either online or on TV.]
Spring and fall... [He's seen winter here, briefly, when that winter spirit had been here and made it snow. But the other seasons aside from boiling summer were all part of textbooks and old movies.] They're in-between, aren't they? I heard the trees changed colors during those times.
Some trees do. In spring, the cherry blossoms would bloom so people liked to go see them. It was sort of a tradition. And in the fall, there were ginkgos and momiji trees.
Fall was when the trees would turn red and gold, right? Did people watch those trees, too?
Some places were famous for the trees, so tourists would go there. They didn't go see them the way people went to see the cherry blossoms, though.
I guess... they were nice.
I guess... they were nice.
It sounds nice. [He pushes his empty ice cream carton aside.] The only season we had back home was summer.
... I think I would've preferred to stay inside all the time.
[Not.. that he didn't already. He wonders if there's a reason why it's like that. Maybe, if there could be a nicer mission (nicer? was that even the right word?) like the one Kano and Kido talked about before, maybe it could be to a Japan with seasons and Shinji can check it out.
That's a weird hope to have for someone he doesn't know so he doesn't say anything.]
[Not.. that he didn't already. He wonders if there's a reason why it's like that. Maybe, if there could be a nicer mission (nicer? was that even the right word?) like the one Kano and Kido talked about before, maybe it could be to a Japan with seasons and Shinji can check it out.
That's a weird hope to have for someone he doesn't know so he doesn't say anything.]
[What a depressing answer...]
It wasn't so bad. [Says the eternal summer child.] There were months when it wasn't as hot as it would be.
It wasn't so bad. [Says the eternal summer child.] There were months when it wasn't as hot as it would be.
That's good.
I'm not that good with the heat. [Because he hasn't been without AC in two years.] My skin would also burn in the sun, so I'd probably go down with a heat stroke there.
I'm not that good with the heat. [Because he hasn't been without AC in two years.] My skin would also burn in the sun, so I'd probably go down with a heat stroke there.
You're lucky to be here then. I don't think it'll be anywhere near that hot here. [Or that they'd see the sun, to be honest.]
... "Lucky," you say...
Well, I guess so. Small fortunes.
Well, I guess so. Small fortunes.
[... that was a choice in words, wasn't it. There's no need to apologize, but--]
... I'm sorry. I meant the weather.
... I'm sorry. I meant the weather.
Huh? Aah, no, you don't have to apologize.
Besides, who knows when... if they'll throw us into the Sahara or something?
Besides, who knows when... if they'll throw us into the Sahara or something?
I think they'd give us a fair warning before they do.
Even if they give us a warning, you shouldn't underestimate my delicacy.
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