Day 60: Music Room (Fourth Shift)

[stray_shinigami]

It wasn't often that Renji felt less like punching people in general as his day wore on. This was a new experience for him. A not unwelcome one, if he was being honest. And the fact that he felt less like punching Fai? Kind of mind-blowing. The sort of thing Zen masters would probably use as a kouan to reach an all-new level of non-punching

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[hasnomeaning]

Nothing had given itself to change. And yet everything had. In the interterm of time’s passing, life had continued to move. As she had known it would. For she was but an outside participant, an observer in place to bear witness to the rotations of the earth. There was little more to categorize it as. She could not think of anything else

[no_dont_go]

[hei yurself~]Aigis had little knowledge of music. The closest she had really come to understanding it had been her knowledge that Minato had liked music. He always had his headphones on his person even if they were not placed over his ears. Curious, she opted to go with the institute's planned activity rather than seeking to lose herself in the passage of time in the sun room

[hasnomeaning]

As if by thinking it, the mind shifted reality to suit the will, and the girl thought of simply appeared.

There was a beat of loss, of the mind's faltering catch on the the current movements of reality, a blank look and a faraway place, and then Rei's mouth slightly opened in surprise, eyes holding something close to relief. For this was one. One of the bonds created. And Aigis was still here.

If the other was too close, Rei had no mind for it. Human decorum was beyond her, and she wasn't able to tell. "...Aigis." Quieter than was normal even for Rei. A beat, and then she moved her head, shook it firmly. Despite the threat given the shift before, the irregularities lined up before her, she would hold to what she deemed as truth. "I never left."

[no_dont_go]

Aigis smiled and nodded at the return of her name from Rei's lips. So she had not forgotten either. Some had said the people who disappeared would often forget. Like Utena before her, Rei had managed to cling to her memories.

"Never left?" Aigis wasn't certain how that was possible. Surely if Rei had been here someone would have mentioned her. Unless...

"The military. Aguilar. Did he do something to you, Ayanami-san?" Aigis' eyes subconsciously sharpened and her mouth lost its smile, settling into a suspicious frown. If what she suspected was true then her captors were more devious than she had originally imagined. Using her friends to bring her strife. That was lower than anyone could sink. It was on par it Ikutsuki's level of evil.

She awaited her friend's response, hoping to hear maybe a little something more about the institute's hidden agenda.

[hasnomeaning]

Ayanami flinched as if struck

[no_dont_go]

Rei was visibly just as troubled as Aigis was by the thought. Perhaps even more so, but Aigis had never been terribly good at reading the faces of others. The small responses that Rei displayed were far too human for Aigis to ever fully comprehend but their general feeling was understood.

Perhaps it had been too much to hope that Rei could remember anything from her time away. Likely she had been drugged and kept incapacitated throughout whatever procedures she had been given. It was an unfortunate probability. "Then perhaps we should investigate."

The only question was how. Aigis looked around the room hoping for some inspiration. There was none to be found.

"You do not remember anything? What was your last comprehensible memory?" Her question was completely objective. Certainly she did not want to cause her friend discomfort but even the smallest clue could help.

[hasnomeaning]

Aigis's offer came as unexpected. Again, Rei gave a strange show of emotion, strange tingeing her expression. The offer to investigate, for one. That Aigis had said we, for the other. The girl's questions were far easier to come to terms with. "I've been unconscious," she gave by way of explanation. "My last memory is of Saturday night, talking with a comrade." A comrade who was now gone, if the past shifts had shown anything.

But answering Aigis only circled Rei back to her offer, and the pilot's eyes flicked up to her, cautious. "Investigate." The word was said slowly, as if in musing. "Is that even possible?"

[no_dont_go]

Aigis nodded, her frown deepening a bit more at hearing Rei had been gone longer than she had suspected. "This comrade of yours. Do you believe he or she might possibly know anything?" It was unlikely, but every route needed to be pursued.

Aigis paused, her head tilting to the side at Rei's own inquiry. "Investigation is something that I do." It was difficult to describe how she and her friends went about searching for clues as to when and where the Shadows would appear. Investigation was what they called it. Perhaps it was not quite that but Aigis wouldn't know. "It is the only thing I can do in this situation."

Perhaps she was wrong, though. Aigis subconsciously breathed out a puff of air, her eyes sliding away from Rei for the first time as she began to doubt. "If we cannot find out, I do not suppose it will change things. But it was... difficult, thinking they had changed your memories. Made you into... someone who is not you, Ayanami-san

[hasnomeaning]

[ scream that icon.... ]If the Second Child did know anything, she was not likely to share it. And more to the point.... Rei's eyes watched Aigis, then she gave a slight incline of her head. "I am not certain, but all of my comrades may be gone." The males she was more sure on. Soryu, Ayanami had not seen in parts. It could be that the other pilot was still around. Somewhere

[no_dont_go]

[You like it? :3 Also, sorry for late >_<;;]

"Oh." Aigis' brows drew together in sympathy. It was a sad thing to lose one's comrades. She understood very well that pain. "I am sorry for your loss. All my friends from home are gone as well."

Rei seemed to hold onto Aigis' assertion that she would always be herself, no matter what. They were of a like-mind in that sense. However, Aigis was beginning to see that 'change' was possible, but 'change' did not mean becoming a different being altogether. It was subtle and augmented oneself, but it did not change one completely.

"Yes." Aigis nodded again in affirmation. "We should do what we can to gather information on what truly happened in your absence. It may not culminate into conclusive data. However, we may discover at least a little more about the institute's goals for us all."

[hasnomeaning]

[ extremely!~ very cute~ ]

Empathy was not an aspect Rei held to, but she could understand. Both she and Aigis were now the only ones left from their comrades. Ayanami nodded slowly. "...We're the ones that were left." Or the ones that were strong enough to not vanish. She could not claim to know what happened to those who disappeared. It was not of her mind to tell it.

She hesitated only for a moment after Aigis spoke again, then gave another nod. "All right," she said softly. "I'll follow your lead in this."

[no_dont_go]

[\o/]

Being left hurt, but it was perhaps for the best that they were not mindlessly following the institute's influences. It still pained Aigis to know most of her friends had succumbed, but she wouldn't let it get to her. She would stay strong. For her friends still here and those now gone.

Aigis was surprised by Rei's sudden proclamation of allegiance in the matter. Pleasantly surprised. "No one has ever followed me before." She was always the follower. Following Minato or Heat or Utena. But this time, Rei was relying on her to lead them in this mission. Well, she would take up that offer then.

Reaching out with a smile, Aigis finally felt she had the the right to hold her friend's hand. She never initiated these things on her own, but right now it felt like the "right" time for such a move. She could have been wrong, but she was willing to take a chance.

[hasnomeaning]

Despite Aigis' claim, Rei would hold to what she had said. Aigis was more knowledgeable. Therefore, it would be Rei who followed. She was one who could switch to any role, provide support and backup or move to lead others, but if asked a preference--which had never been done--Rei would move to support more than any other. She would guard another's back wholly and completely, and this was what came as truth