Observers: A study of the beings known as Children
Chapter Three: Two's a party, three's a crowd
***
43:09:12 Unknown variable 2B introduced
The sheer contrast of The Second and Third Children is so dynamic one would naturally assume that they would destroy each other if put into this situation. Oddly enough, however, it seems that they follow the pattern set by old romance novels about opposites attracting. I am not suggesting anything even remotely romantic between these two subjects, but they play very well off each other, which makes watching them all the more entertaining.
***
Sleep didn't seem very restful for Shinji. Without his SDAT sleep just seemed like being unconscious; a music-less delve into darkness. That's why he stirred at roughly 2:30 AM in the morning, slowly opening one eye and shifting to a sitting position, wincing as several joints made loud popping noises. A quick scan of his and Asuka's room showed nothing peculiar, the north (as far as he could discern) wall still had the landscapes drawn on it, the east wall had the portraits of the Evas and Children, he was leaning against the south wall, and there on the west wall was Ayanami.
"Ayanami?!" He choked out, getting over the initial shock of seeing the First Child just sitting, watching him and Asuka sleep. "Wha-....How did you get here?"
"I am not sure." She turned and looked at their cell, noting the drawings scrawled over its surfaces.
Shinji nodded, neither he nor Asuka knew how they came to be in the room in which they were trapped, or how they would get out.
Their attention was drawn to Asuka, yawning expansively and rolling her head around her neck, stretching all the tight muscles back into shape.
"Hey Shinji, any more food show- You!" Surprise flared in the redhead's eyes and pulled her knees to her chest. "The hell are you doing here?!"
"I do not know."
Asuka opened her mouth to say something but Shinji cut her off, opting to stamp out the flames before they grew into a blaze.
"Asuka, she's probably here for the same reasons we are. Like you said, its just some test Nerv is giving us."
It seemed that way, too much of a coincidence for all three Children to appear in a tiny cell where food and other objects randomly appeared.
"Of course I was right," She stole a threatening glare Rei's way. "The sooner you all realize that we'll all be fine." Shinji rolled his eyes and sat. Rei merely looked at Asuka, head tilted.
"As you wish."
***
46:32:22 Subjects 1A and 2A converse. Subject 2B remains along the south wall.
As much as the Second and Third Children had differences, they still managed to co-exist, and even to become closer. This, however, holds no same consistency with the First and Second. Further observation and investigation will be necessary to ascertain the reasons behind what seems to be a deep rooted hate of the First.
***
"I still think Kaji likes Misato." Shinji sighed as Asuka shook her head in denial.
"You couldn't be more wrong, Kaji has no interest whatsoever with that woman." And it had been like that for the better part of an hour. The topic of Misato had been brought up by Asuka when she had gotten bored by the silence and decided to start a conversation with Shinji. He had, in turn, said that he didn't know if Kaji would like the fact that Misato is a pig. Asuka had questioned why Kaji would care, to which Shinji offhandedly replied because he liked her; and the 'yes he does' 'no he doesn't' had begun.
"I know my Kaji, he happens to prefer mature women with a clear head and a good personality." Anyone inside Asuka's head would have heard her slip in , 'With red hair and blue eyes.'
"I don't know, you can tell whenever Misato talks about him being like he was in college she's always smiling." Shinji had watched the exchange a few times between Misato and Dr. Akagi, or Misato and one of the techs on the bridge.
"Who cares if Misato likes Kaji, I'm sure she's well aware that their relationship is purely platonic."
"Captain Katsuragi and Mister Kaji are currently in a relationship."
Both Children turned to look at Rei, sitting on her south wall and looking at them.
"Wondergirl, I didn't ask your opinion. Now go back to Wonderland and play with the Cat in the Hat."
"Uh...wasn't it the Chester Cat?" Shinji seemed to recall watching the animated feature known as Alice in Wonderland, but wasn't quite sure it was the same thing Asuka had insulted Rei with.
"It is fact. Captain Katsuragi and Mister Kaji were at the Indiquees sur l'emballage* five days ago. I am certain that this was a 'date'."
Asuka's face swelled up for a moment, then turned a bright, angry red. "You don't know what you're talking about! Do you really believe that Kaji would stoop so low as go on a date with Misato?!"
"I do not know."
The Second stood violently and jabbed a finger at the sitting First. "Don't give me any of your monotone 'I do not know' shit! Can't you just be normal?!"
"Am I not normal?" Rei asked the question one might take as challenging.
Asuka's face betrayed her rage. "Of course you're not! You're a stupid lifeless doll that can't do anything by herself and has to have everything explained to her three times before she understands it! All you are is just the body of someone; you have no life! No nothing!" With a huff Asuka got her breathing under control and slid down her wall and sat, glaring at the girl across from her.
"Asuka, Ayanami.....look, its obvious we're going to be here a while...so maybe we should try not to fight-"
"Shut up Shinji! Always trying to please everybody!. Just sit down and quit being a whiney little baby."
Shinji did just that, as if suddenly deflated he slowly sat down in the corner of the east and south walls, an equal distance from both girls.
***
57:56:19 Subjects finish supplied meal and sit silently.
I am still a bit shocked at the outright anger and defiance displayed by the Second and First Children. If things get too violent I may have to remove her. The Third seems neutral concerning any favoritism, which leads me to believe he himself is in conflict with his feelings.
***
"There, that's your side and this is mine. Stay over there." Asuka dropped the pen, exhausted of its last drop of ink. She'd drawn a line down the center of the room, and declared the side with the north wall hers. Rei replied by nodding and remaining on her side.
Shinji, lost in the waves of hate emanating from the north side of the room and the chill of cold unconcern radiating from the south, tried not to stare at either of them.
Where's my side? He thought sadly. He hadn't moved from his corner in quite a few hours, and standing seemed like heaven. He looked around the ceiling of the cell with some small, vain hope that an exit would present itself. Eventually his gaze rolled over to Rei's side of the room, and he slowly approached her.
"Hey, Ayanami?" She turned her attention from some invisible place past the east wall to him.
"Yes?"
Shinji squatted down next to her. "Mind if I sit here?"
"Why would I not mind?" Her question surprised him, he could come up with many million reasons why she wouldn't want him near her, but chose to keep those hidden away inside his mind.
"I don't know..."
"You may sit here." The look she gave him suggested that she might be slightly amused at his awkwardness, and Shinji gave a weak, nervous smile and sat next to her.
From the opposite corner of the room the sleeping Asuka jumped. Looking around groggily, she noted was still in a small cell with Shinji and Rei and directly across from her the said Third was sitting next to the First.
I see how it is. I'm asleep for two seconds and he takes the opportunity to go snuggle with the little tramp.
If Asuka had known the nature of his visitation to the First, then maybe she'd be a little more content with Shinji Ikari.
Continued...