Disclaimer: See previous chapter.
Note: Italics are the lyrics of the song.
The Swedish Royal House proudly presents:
The Talent HuntChapter 2: Shinji's Performance/ Getting Even.
D-day
19:00 PM
Tokyo-3 Municipal High School, Gymnasium
The gymnasium was filled to the brim with chattering students and their equally loud parents.
At the far wall a large stage had been erected and fitted with the traditional coloured spotlights, strobes and smoke machines. Backstage Shinji was getting into his costume and trying desperately to remember the words of the song (and trying to keep his lunch down). He knew all of his friends, not to mention Misato, would be out in the audience, so screwing up was not an option. For the hundredth time he wondered how he had gotten himself into this mess. He knew it had something to do with Asuka, but he was too terrified for rational thought. At that moment Mr. Yoshida came into the room, looking all happy and cheerful, for a brief irrational moment Shinji wanted to strangle the man.
"Ok Shinji, I will be announcing you in a few moments and I have just one thing to say." A wide grin spread over his face, "Go get them kid." With that he walked onto the stage and started to address the audience, all of this was lost to Shinji who could only hear his raging heartbeat. Suddenly he heard his name blasting from the speakers, him to the stage, it was time.
"I mustn't run away, I mustn't run away, I mustn't run away." He chanted to himself while adjusting the wig on his head, and shakily walked out onto the darkened stage.
***
Asuka was standing in the audience together with Misato, Touji, Rei and Kensuke. She wouldn't have to get ready for her performance yet, and she was actually quite curious to see Shinji's appearance. She had tried to figure it out during an entire week, but to no avail, and she had been rather busy preparing for her own act. Suddenly Mr. Yoshida walked onto the stage and grabbed the microphone.
"Good evening everybody and welcome to our first annual talent hunt." He was met with cheers and applause from the audience, and on a given signal the stage was plunged into darkness and all other lights dimmed.
"Without any further ado I would like to present our first contestant: Shinji Ikari as Jonathan Davis!"
"SAY WHAT!" Misato exclaimed with a shocked cry.
"What? Who is Jonathan Davis?" Asuka asked, without getting an answer from the dazed major.
At that moment the sound of a distorted guitar screeched from the speakers, and she turned her head towards the stage with a curious frown.
Then the world exploded.
The bass hit like a sledgehammer to the chest, and the strobes turned the hall into a flashing chaos of white-hot light, and there in the middle was Shinji, headbanging. He was clad completely in black, the dreadlocks on his head was flailing around madly as he thrashed around with the microphone in hand, and if her eyes wasn't deceiving her he was wearing a ankle long skirt with a large silver cross on the front.
And the he started to sing.
"This time taking it away,
I've got a problem,
with me, getting in the way.
My final sign.
So I take my face and bash it into a mirror,
I won't have to see the pain bleed, bleed."
It was more of an enraged scream than actual singing; she had never heard Shinji so full of anger, she had suspected that he had something hidden deep inside, but this! It was almost frightening.
"This state is elevating.
As the hurt turns into hating.
Anticipating all the fucked up feelings again."
"The hurt inside is fading.
This shits gone way to far.
All this time I've been waiting,
now I cannot grieve anymore.
For what's inside awaking.
My god I'm not a whore.
You've taken everything,
and now I cannot give anymore."
Asuka scanned the faces of her friends; everyone was staring at Shinji with large, unbelieving eyes and their mouths hanging wide open. Except for Rei, who merely raised an eyebrow, which was just her version of staring slack-jawed. By now a couple of the schools rockers had made their way to the front, where they were happily trying to inflict concussions on themselves.
"My minds done with this,
Ok I got a question,
Can I throw it all away?
Take back what's mine?
So I take my time driving humbly down the line.
Each cut goes up to the vain bleed,
bleed."
"This state is elevating.
As the hurt turns into hating.
Anticipating all the fucked up feelings again."
"The hurt inside is fading.
This shits gone way to far.
All this time I've been waiting,
now I cannot grieve anymore.
For what's in side awaking.
My god I'm not a whore.
You've taken everything,
and now I can not give anymore."
Suddenly the music slowed, and the lights were dimmed, leaving only Shinji illuminated. And as he continued, almost whispering, Asuka could see an absolutely evil grin starting to spread over his face, and the sight sent shivers down her spine.
"I'm here to stay, bring me down.
I'm here to stay, bring me down.
I'm here to stay, bring me down.
I'm here to stay, bring me down."
Suddenly the music blasted back to full force, and Shinji's voice rose into a scream again.
"Gonna Bring me / you down.
Gonna Bring me / you down.
Gonna Bring me / you down.
Gonna Bring me / you down.
Gonna Bring me / you down."
"This state is elevating.
As the hurt turns into hating.
Anticipating all the fucked up feelings again."
"The hurt inside is fading.
This shits gone way to far.
All this time I've been waiting,
now I cannot grieve anymore.
For what's in side awaking.
My god I'm not a whore.
You've taken everything,
and now I cannot give anymore."
"Give anymore.
Give anymore.
Give anymore.
Give anymore."
The music faded into nothingness, and the stage was once again plunged into darkness.
Asuka and the others looked at each other for a moment, and then they spoke:
"HOLY SHIT!!"
***
Shinji was lying on his back in the dressing room, wheezing. This was the most exhausting thing he had ever done, both mentally and physically; piloting EVA's was a walk in the park by comparison.
"Never again." He managed to he whispered, his voice hoarse from all the yelling.
It had taken almost everything he had to emulate Jonathan's voice, and now he probably wouldn't be able to speak in weeks. But still, he had seen the faces on Asuka and the others and that had made it all worthwhile. With a tremendous effort he got up and walked out of the room to join his friends in the audience.
Next: Rei's Performance/ Broken Silence.
******************
I didn't have that many ideas on how to write this chapter, so I apologise for the lack of details and will try to make it up to you in the next one. Personally I have great hopes for that one. For those out there that doesn't know, Jonathan Davis is the singer of a band called "KoRn", and this song is titled "Here to Stay" from the album "Untouchables". I highly recommend listening to the song while reading the fic; it adds a whole new dimension to the experience.
From now on the chapters might come out a bit irregularly, I'm going on a vacation of sorts, and I don't know if I will have a computer handy. But as they say: "Good things come to he who waits."
