I really wanted to try a new thing, AU. but I never liked just changing the whole world. so I chose to make it all a virtual reality that the three pilots would all be in. this is HEAVILY based off a manga I started reading and a fanfic called Eva and dragons. the biggest issue was writing from Rei's point of view as I had to boil it all down to fact, but keep her want to understand the new feelings she would be getting. anyhow I hope i did not fuck this up. not sure about the pairring so I hinted both, maybe even a three way pairing? idk.
The water washed over me as it fell from the shower head. I had finished cleaning myself a while ago, just enjoying the warm water at this point. While I disliked bathes, I enjoyed showers. The water seem to wash away most of my stress and sorrow that lingered when I was in a bath.
I turned the water off and started to move before the cold would overcome me, reaching for my towel. I covered my hips with the towel, not caring if the cold reached my chest.
I was here for a new sync test they had planned up, something about LCL and dreaming. I had arrived after Rei had but still before Asuka, who was still not here as far as I knew. I was a bit curious about how they planned to change how the sync test worked.
"I guess as long as it is not being tested naked again" he had enjoyed seeing more of Asuka and rei, but it did not make up for the stress of being naked with others around. I had never been one to be at ease near people, nude or not. Maybe they would make us take the test in the same tube? Also an idea that was both stressful and pleasant, closer to the two girls but also means possible upsetting Asuka.
I sighed as I finished drying myself off. Getting into the plug suit as I had done many many times now. The suit felt like a second skin to me now, a skin tight form I wore when I fight for people I don't know. Now donning the blue set of second skin, I made my way to the test room.
I ran into Rei right after I exited the shower room. Her white suit was always a good sight to him. It brought back a scary but pleasant memory of his third battle. Her rare and gentle smile, turning her pale and lifeless face into a a beautiful and soft one.
"Pilot Ikari" Rei greeted me with her stiff way of speaking.
"hello Ayanami" I had grown to kinda like her way of talking, or maybe I just enjoyed her cute voice in general.
"has Asuka arrived yet?" I assumed if she had, they would have met in the shower room.
"The second child has yet to arrive." she stated.
"shall we head to the test area together?" I offer my hand as a gesture, tensing up when she reached out and grab my hand.
"That is agreeable" I stared at the point where we connected.
"w-why did you take my hand?" Rei was not know for physical displays and the fact that she was holding my hand was indeed shocking.
"you offered your hand. I believe this is the socially accepted response, am I correct?" I felt a small wave of annoyance as I should have guessed that she would have such a reason.
"I am sorry Ayanami, I meant it as a gesture, I did not expect you to take it" she let go of my hand as I said this and nodded.
"Understood" I smiled at her straight forward reply and start walking to the testing are with her following me. The walk was very silent, to be expected of Rei. I dabbled with the idea of trying to see if I could start a conversation with her, may as well.
"do you play games?" I asked the first thing that came to mind that was not too stupid.
"no" I had guessed as much.
"shame, I have been getting into a few old games thanks to Kensuke" he forced them onto me, but I was enjoying them.
"what do you gain from them?" I was surprised she asked, but I guess the idea of doing anything not needed was odd to her.
"I enjoy it, it is fun. It is just for entertainment" I had found myself spending hours at a time getting lost in the idea of making the perfect Team for the RPG he lent me.
"enjoyment" the word rolled off her tongue as if it were alien.
"I spent more time than I would like to say creating a perfectly balanced team"
"a balanced team?"
"yea, a four man team. I like to go with a tank, healer support, a speed based DPS and lastly a mage with some decent health and Defence so my team is not too squishy" I knew as I was talking she would not understand any of it, I would most likely have to answer her questions if she even cared.
"i see. You seek a formation that offers a balance that covers its own weaknesses" I was happy to see she understood the concept at least.
"Yea, you should try, you may like the team building" I doubted she would want to try.
"I shall keep that in mind Ikari" I use to think she was being short with me, that she disliked me. I was told the opposite by the people I asked, seems Rei is rather talkative and friendly with me compared to others who she would just ignore or answer with a blunt reasoning.
"or you could go with a single character RPG. Maybe play as a mage, using illusion and darkness to bend enemies to your will" I laughed at the idea of Rei playing a game and getting into it.
She did not answer, but I was happy with the fact that I had gotten her attention to begin with.
And it had killed enough time, we had arrived at the testing room. Misato was waiting for us with Dr Akagi.
"hello Rei, Shinji" Dr Akagi was the first to greet them. Misato was annoyed to be the second.
"Hey kiddos" she stood up and waved us over to the window looking at the testing area. We both walked over to her and looked at the three large tubes that we used to test, the same we used in the Eva units.
"so while we are missing one of you, I still wanna get this started" she grinned as she spoke, clearly very happy about this test. Dr Akagi was the one who did the explaining though.
"We set up the entry plugs with a system that will ease you all into a state of R.E.M sleep. We will see if the LCL becomes more accepted by your body if you get use to it in R.E.M. much like how racers will train in thin aired areas to increase their lung capacity" I kinda understood, she wanted to make it so the LCL was less foreign to us.
"we have also hooked up some pretty sweet things to the plugs, we will be able to set up a world for you all to explore!" Misato chimed in with glee as she talked about some kinda VR system.
"so.. we are gonna play a game together while the test happens?" It sounded a lot like an MMO but with your mind.
"I guess, we need you all to dream but if we can make it so you are all in the same dream world and maybe entertain you then why not?" Misato seem to be enjoying the idea of doing this for us.
"fine lets start then" I jumped as I hear Asuka talk from behind me, how did she get here without me hearing.
"well now that we are whole, I guess we may as well throw you kids in" we were all guided to the entry plugs, and as usual entered the tube that filled with blood like water. Things changed there, a sudden need to sleep overtook me.
I opened my eyes to see an empty white room, a bed under me and a screen floating in front of me. I had been in this room a lot after an angel attack.
"Ok Shinji, time to get you set up" a male voice rang in, I knew he was with NERV but his name escaped me.
"we are gonna start with your character, and firstly your race" the screen came to life with color as a picture of me appeared on it, but shorter and with an odd beard.
"DWARF SHINJI" he laughed as he showed me the picture.
"no" I did not want to be a joke for him.
"ok, ok. How about something powerful like a giant?" the screen showed a huge me with a massive club.
"I would rather fit in a house"
"ok, lets see Demon Shinji" the me now was red with horns, a seductive grin on my face.
"you would be stronger, with a small set of magic. You would have fits of temptation and want, but you will have the power to act on them. If you like playing the good guy then this is not the best" I liked the horns, but I would not want to have stronger temptations near Asuka.
"i would rather something a little more neutral" I did not need to be a paragon, but I would not wanna be chaotic either.
"ohh, this may appeal to you" the me on screen looked just like me, was he suggesting human? But soon the screen me started to bend over in pain and a horrific sight unfolded as I turned into a werewolf. The black furred me was a massive and powerful being.
"you will be neutral, as you asked. Your power in human form will still be better than any human, sight, smell, hearing and physical strength. The wolf you however, will make you far beyond what you were. There are a few downsides to this. You will be a little more aggressive all around, also more prone to give into rage. You will also crave the hunt in everything, most things that seem like a chase will get your attention. And to finish it off, when you get into a bloodlust or battle rage you will be an unstoppable monster, ripping your enemy apart like it was nothing"
The last part made me wince, thinking back to my first Eva battle. But that was also what made me want this. I would be strong, but not tied to any one side.
"I will be a werewolf" the guy laughed and agreed that I made a great choice.
"now your class, I am guessing if you are a wolf you would want a berserker?"
I thought about it, I would want to be strong and someone others would want to depend on. Someone better than the me now.
"I want to be a Knight, lets go with a tank" I grinned as I thought about a heavy knight who morphed into a werewolf when I needed to.
"okay, we have you set up. You will see people you know, we used memories from you guys to craft some of the faces and people. OHH also we will be reading your life sighs and stress, but we cant see what you see or do. So enjoy~"
I was kinda happy that Misato would not be watching me, I would feel better about making mistakes now.
Everything went black, darkness was all that was in this room. And then the light flashed, forcing me to shield my eyes. When I looked again.
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I washed myself in the shower, getting anything that would get in the way of my sync test. My body had to be clean before I got into the plug suit.
Don't say goodbye
I recall Pilot Ikaris words very often when I am changing into my plug suit, the reasons were still unknown to me. He had told me while crying that to say goodbye to him like that hurt me, about not saying I had nothing. His concerns were still puzzling to me, even if I had felt so warm when he asked me to smile.
I started out to the hallway, stopping when I saw the showering center for the males. Ikari was in there. Noting that served no purpose, but I had anyhow. I decided to wait for him, not knowing the reasons.
I had spend time needlessly thinking of things that do not concern piloting. Ikari had done things like this more than once, cleaning my living space and checking on my well being at school. His actions seemed unnecessary, but benign. His reasons were unknown and asking only served to make him flushed and unnerved.
Ikari walked out of the shower center as I was thinking about him.
"Pilot Ikari" I greeted the third child.
"hello Ayanami" he smiled while greeting me, he had smiled when after the 5th angels battle.
"has Asuka arrived yet?" he asked about the second child.
"the second child has yet to arrive" Ikari nodded as I answered his question.
"shall we head to the test area together?" Ikari asked, offering me his hand, just like back then. I reached out and took his hand, moving without thinking about why I moved.
"that is agreeable" I said, still holding onto his hand. The warmth that I felt during that moment once more filling my chest.
"w-why did you take my hand?" His nervous question made me think harder on why I took it.
"you offered your hand. I believe this is the socially accepted response, am I correct?" I answered with the logical reason for my actions.
"I am sorry Ayanami, I meant it as a gesture, I did not expect you to take it" I released his hand and withdrew my own. I was unnerved by this, why was letting his hand go upsetting.
"understood" I followed him as he headed to the testing room, taking notice of his back. Ikari was not like the commander, he was thin and fragile unlike the broad and strongly built Commander. But the feeling of ease and warmth from the small boys body was more than that of the commanders larger frame.
"do you play games?" he questioned me as we walked. The electronic entertainment he was talking about was not something that served any purpose to my mission of piloting.
"No" most of the staff stopped there, I had answered the question. Ikari however kept talking.
"shame, I have been getting into a few old games thanks to Kensuke" I was unsure as to why he would keep talking, or why I felt a push to reply.
"what do you gain from them?" Ikari seem to think about my question for a moment before coming to his conclusion.
"I enjoy it, it is fun. It is just for entertainment" his reason was something very disconnected to piloting, he acted of his own volition.
"entertainment" the word, I understood the meaning of it perfectly but still the practice of it was lost on me.
"I spent more time than I would like to say creating a perfectly balanced team"
He sounded happy as he spoke, he gained a sense of joy from talking about this?
"Balanced team?" I wanted to understand the concept more as it seem to matter to the Pilot.
"yea, a four man team. I like to go with a tank, healer support, a speed based DPS and lastly a mage with some decent health and Defence so my team is not too squishy" he was quite pleased with himself as he spoke. It made sense to me now, by balanced he meant a team that had no glaring weakness, having others make up for another members weakness. I had heard the term tank bu a few staff of Nerv when they talked about some online game. So DPS must make up of the tank, meaning it was most likely about dealing damage. Mage was clear to me, the term was based off the word magic much like how Magi was from the same term.
"i see. You seek a formation that offers a balance that covers its own weaknesses" he seemed to be impressed with me as I spoke, this brought forth a need to impress him more. I was unsure why, but I got a similar feeling to when Commander Ikari would praise me. Pilot Ikari brought with him a list of unknown reasons and feelings.
"Yea, you should try, you may like the team building" I saw no purpose in trying this practice out, however when he spoke of it I was drawn to the concept.
"I shall keep that in mind Ikari" I should had answered 'no' I had no reason to ever think about this again. But I did not want to say no after he had talked it up so much.
"or you could go with a single character RPG. Maybe play as a mage, using illusion and darkness to bend enemies to your will" he laughed as he said this, I found no reason this was funny, maybe this was a case of laughing from joy? I wonder why he saw me as a mage, and why would I bend people to my will? Again I started to question how Ikari viewed me, what was I in his eyes?
I had lost track of time as we arrived at our desired location. Dr. Akagi and captain Misato were waiting for us, still no sign of the second child. They started to explain what they had set up, they wanted to test us while we were dreaming. The entry plug would also fabricate a shared dream for the three of us.
The second child had made her way in as Ikari was talking with Dr Akagi. Pilot Ikari did not seem to notice her, or did not care as he went on talking. I could not place what kinda relationship the two pilots held, I had hear student at school call them a couple and others say she hated him. He often seem to be more passive and almost scared near her, then other times he should yell at her or they would have verbal fights.
"fine, lets start then" The second child spoke up, surprising Ikari as he visibly jumped at her voice.
"well now that we are whole, I guess we may as well throw you kids in" Captain Misato urged us to start moving. The Plug looked no different than the others we had used for testing. I sat down and calmly let the liquid fill the dark chamber. Images of Ikari crying, offering me his hand, asking me to smile and finally his face full of fear.
"I will protect you" I had spoken those words to him, it was a mission then but even now I felt the need to protect him.
"what was that Rei?" Captain Misato's voice ringed in my head.
"I am ready" I felt the need to close my eyes as my body relaxed. When I finally closed my eyes and fell into slumber I found myself in a the changing room we shared on the day of the fifth angel attack.
"hey, I will be helping you out with making your character Rei." the captains voice filled the room, as if she were the room itself.
"Understood" the screen that split the room, I wondered if Ikari was on the other side fearing the battle to come. I disliked the terror he felt that day, the fear of death and pain.
"let's start with class, I think that's cooler than Race" I looked at the small monitor that appeared in front of the thin sheet.
"anything will be acceptable" I did not need to spend time thinking about small things, I just needed to take the test.
"nope~ I will not let you be passive here, you are gonna talk this out with me" I watched the monitor glow with life as a picture of me was on it.
"Understood"
"okay, lets try something fun like a ranger?" the image of me donned a cloak and held a long bow. This was most likely a class that depended on fighting at a range with bows. I was about to accept when I recalled Ikari's words.
"Mage"captain Misato made a surprised noise as I spoke up. The image now wore a large hat that seem to be too tall to stand up straight. A staff in my hands and a short cloack at stopped near my knees. Ikari said I would enjoy this.
"Acceptable" I looked over the image of me, thinking of how Ikari would think of it.
"ok, next we shall pick your race, any idea what kinda mage you wanna be? It may help with this" I thought about Ikaris words once more and replied.
"I wish to bend others to my will." there was a moment of silence as the captain did not reply to me.
"wow, kinky Rei" I did not understand, the word was lost on me.
"ok, let's try this then" the captain sounded far more happy than she often was.
The image of me started to smile, not like the smile I gave Pilot Ikari but the kind of smile the Dr Akagi gave the commander. my teeth looked normal besides my canine that had grown into fangs.
"vampire seductress Rei, with this all the boys you see will bow to you" I did not need males to bow to me. However Ikari had said I should bend others to my will. Had he meant in a sexual manner?
"acceptable" I found this mix of class and race to be close to what Pilot Ikari meant.
"ok, a few tips. You cant go into sunlight without something to cover you, you will feel a strong need to feed yourself on blood and to give in to temptations of a darker nature and you will find you will talk with a bolder tone and use of words. So enjoy yourself" I did not understand her use of the term 'darker nature' but nothing in this world mattered so it would not effect my piloting.
"understood" the monitor sank into the floor and the voice of the captain died out. I was alone in this room, not like I had been back then. I looked to the thin screen and started to walk closer to it. I started to see a silhouette of a lean male. I knew it was ikari, I had seen his frame often at school and during tests. I reached my hand out to the silhouette, my body moving before I thought.
"I will protect you" I almost was able to touch the silhouette of the scared pilot before my vision was overtaken with whiteness.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"FUCKING STUPID SHINJI" I threw the empty toothpaste tube at the mirror in the bathroom. I had told him to pick up more, yet here I was forced to use his tube of cheap shit. I had not been waken by the idiot when he left today and now I was late for this new test.
"stupid Shinji" I muttered as I left the bathroom, in raged at the weak willed dumbass. He lived with a stunning woman such as myself yet he ignored my needs and just locked himself away with his stupid music player. He annoyed me with his actions. I did not know if he hated me, liked me, wanted to fuck me or even cared that I was around. Sometimes he showed how weak he really was, other times he surpassed me and showed a raw power that I was failing to match.
As I walked into the living room I noticed a black bento box with a piece of paper with my name taped to it. He made me lunch.
"stupid Shinji" I softly uttered as I picked up the food made just for me. He was hard to understand.
I made my way out of the apartment with his bento box held close to my heart as I ran to try and make it there before the test starts, not that they would dare start without ME. I debated with myself if I should thank the dumbass. He had made me food without the need to like when he does for school. But if I thanked him he may think I was praising him, or that I liked the pervert. But if I did not thank him, then maybe he would hate me? Did it matter if he did?…yes it did, I hated it, but it was clear I did not want him to hate me. I wanted him to shower me with praise and affection.
I swiped my card and entered the Nerv base, still moving in a rush. I would not thank him, but he would not get chewed out for not waking me. It seemed like a fair trade off.
"stupid Shinji" I whispered under my breath as I watched him enter the testing area with the doll following him like a loyal pup. I followed behind them slowly, not wanting to talk to him after he dared chose talking to her over me…even if he did not see me here THE FACT REMAINED!
I waited to calm myself before I entered the test area. I entered as they finished explaining the new test. Testing us while we dreamed the same dream, more or less.
"fine, lets get started then" I huffed out as I watched Shinji jump at my voice, it annoyed me how he was so weak yet still was my better when it came to his sync results.
"well now that we are whole, I guess we may as well throw you kids in" Misato said as she waved us in, I rushed past Shinji and Rei as I did not want to look at the pair at this moment.
I entered the plus and felt the rush as the blood like LCL filled the tube, the want to fight filled me like it always had when I did a sync test. It died down when I started to feel sleepy, I yawned before I dozed off.
I opened my eyes to find myself in a dark room filled with boxes. I was on my side on a soft futon, with a warmth pressing on my back. I remembered this, I slept in his room the first night I moved in. The whole night had been filled with a sexual tension, his eyes looking me over but his fear of me stopping him from even wanting to look at my face.
"hello Asuka" the voice of the Doctor filled the room.
"is this a joke? Why am I stuck in this room with stupid Shinji!" I yelled, surprised that Shinji did not tense behind me.
"I can't see you Asuka. I also did not choose this, it is pulled from a important memory you have" At least it was not the kiss or or mothers death.
"Fine, lets hurry so I can leave here" I felt the temptation to turn and see if he was looking at me, or if he was even there. Maybe I was just feeling the warmth in my mind.
"let us start with your race" I huffed, was I in some geeky MMO? A screen formed in front of me, blinking on.
"how about something strong?" I grinned as the Doctor knew me well enough to start with that.
"DUH" I scoffed at the voice. An image of me formed on the screen, but much bigger with blazing red skin and huge tits. I liked the look of it, but it was a bit too big.
"An oni, very strong and feared" I liked the idea of having larger tits, but I wanted to stay around the same size.
"too big, next!" the next image was me but with four arms, I looked very strong but I winced at the ugly body.
"NEXT" I yelled before I even heard the name of this ugly thing.
"ok, how about a centaur?" I hissed as I was now a human with a horses ass.
"I will not give up my legs and ass!" I wanted to stay this beautiful if I could help it. I wanted to be strong and sunning, someone Shinji would fear but also long for.
"Dragoon!" I grin as the old folklore of my home filled my head. The body of a human woman and the wings and power of a dragon.
"ohh that is very like you" the image now showed me, slightly taller. Bloody red wings broke out of my back and my arms and legs were covered in beautiful scales while still showing off my legs. My hands replaced with powerful claws, but still small and cute enough to hold and touch things gently. A strong red tail sprouting from my back, just above my butt. I liked this, I looked like a powerful goddess.
"I like this! I look hot" I grinned at the Dragoon me.
"okay, let us talk class shall we?" I did not know how to feel about the doctor, she strong, beautiful and held power over many of the staff. But she was also passive and causal about too many things. She was strong but seem to lack any real passion.
"I want to be able to hurt others a lot" I did not want to be healing others or playing second fiddle.
"sneaky or straight out battle?" I disliked the idea of sneaking about and killing in one hit.
"I want to fight head on" I still felt Shinji on my back, Would he have picked a Healer? Maybe he chose something that did not fight at all like a farmer or a salesmen.
"I think you may like a barbarian or Viking" I did not want to be a stupid moron.
"no, I want to have some class in my combat" I huffed at her.
"I want to be smart in my fight, but also overpower them" I did not know enough about this 'class' shit to know a name for such a thing.
"warlord. You want to be the ever cunning and charming Warlord. Urge others to follow you and want to please you. Overpowering others in combat and even making allies fight with more than they normally would." she sounded like she was reading from a book.
"Charming… Okay, I like it" I would be praised by Shinji and Rei, they would want to please me.
"Okay, get ready for the game to start, and we wont be able to keep an eye on what you see, but we will be here to unplug you if you are in danger".
Her voice died out and I was alone with Shinji in his room again.
"Shinji, do you hate me?" I turned to look at him, only finding his back. He was stuck in his own world as music stopped sound from reaching him. I reached out, wanting to rip the headphones off and tell him to look at me, to like me. Love me.
The world flashed white.
and now that it is over, I have the task of making the world, making them meet and keeping them the same person but slightly changing how they act due to the class and race system. thank you if you read this all, I am getting less and less nervous about people viewing my views.