CONGRATULATIONS SHINJI

[failtactical]

[s-s-surprise candle call?!]

Comments

[oedipuswreck]

That's why I was asking if it's my fault.

[failtactical]

It's not your fault. It's... nobody's fault, really.

[she sounds like she wants to add something else, but ends up saying nothing instead]

[oedipuswreck]

. . .

Misato-san . . .

Would it have been better if I never . . . if you didn't speak with me again . . .?

1/2

[failtactical]

[she seems really taken aback at first, but when she speaks her tone is serious and unwavering]

... No. No, I—I don't understand where you'd get an idea like that, but no.

[failtactical]

If there's anything I regret about you it's... not having been able to empathize with you more. [a beat] I kept projecting all of my issues and desires onto you without ever giving you much of a choice.

So I'm glad that we're speaking again. I wanted to see you again, Shinji-kun.

1/2

[oedipuswreck]

[sucks in a breath, eyes widening, jerking a little]

[oedipuswreck]

[then just crumples forward, covering his mouth as he lets out a short, broken sob]

[failtactical]

[nnnoooooooo]

—Shinji-kun!

[oedipuswreck]

[he's struggling a little, fighting between the kneejerk reaction to always keep his emotions tucked away, and just—the sudden stab in his chest, tears streaming]

M-Misato-san, Misato-san . . . I'm sorry. I'm sorry . . . I'm sorry . . .

[failtactical]

[instinctively leaning closer again, one hand half-reaching for him]

W-What? No. There's nothing you need to apologize for!

[oedipuswreck]

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry—!

[failtactical]

Shinji-kun! It's okay!

[oedipuswreck]

I'm sorry—I'm sorry I called—if you were happy, if you were fine, I shouldn't have—

[failtactical]

—I'm happy you called!

[oedipuswreck]

I caused the Third Impact!

[failtactical]

Wh...?!

[oedipuswreck]

[. . . lapses into silence after that outburst, not meeting her gaze]

[failtactical]

[please hold this isn't processing at all]

[oedipuswreck]

[okay I will just enter a self-hate spiral]

[it's cool]

[failtactical]

[still not processing this at all but no let's keep talking]

Shinji-kun, what happened...?

[oedipuswreck]

[flatly, toneless]

I just told you.

[failtactical]

... I don't understand...

[oedipuswreck]

Asuka was piloting Unit-03. It was—corrupted by an Angel, and Father overrode me using the Dummy System. Asuka—Asuka was—. . . I—. . . ran away. I didn't want to fight. But—the Angels attacked again, and Makinami-san pulled me out just in time to see Ayanami get—devoured by an Angel. I—went back to Unit-01, but when I tried to save Ayanami, we—. . . I don't know. Something happened, and Eva-01 activated and opened the Door of Guf . . .

[failtactical]

[????????????!!???!?!?????¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿]

Wait—who? I still don't... [shakes her head] Asuka was not in Unit-03.

[oedipuswreck]

She was in my version.