Video - Late Friday Night

[imbibing]

[The video flickers on to a close shot of a dark-haired woman's face. It's possibly you might have seen her face before, on the ad at the bus stop, or model that new dress in a magazine. She usually appears to exude pure confidence in her photographs, but right now, she doesn't look confident in the least.

If anything, she appears to be a bit apprehensive.]

I don't know if this is the right place for this. [She runs a hand through her long, black hair.] I'm not even sure if all this is real.

[Her thoughts flicker to the newly-formed scar on her chest. She shakes her head, as if to dismiss the thought entirely.] What am I saying? It had to be real!

[She forces her lips to curl up into a small, tight-lipped smile.]

I'm Misato Katsuragi. I don't remember any of my past life, but I'm hoping that someone out there might be able to tell me more. If that name or this face mean anything to you, I'd like you to call me. My number's 555-736-7360.

[Her smile widens now. It's certainly more genuine than the smile a few minutes before -- and relaxed, too.]

Hope to hear from you soon!

Comments

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[argents]

[ Wow. ]

That's one way to see if anyone can recognize you. [ Or pulse from, but he wisely refrains for now. ] I wouldn't say everyone has a "past" life to remember though.

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[imbibing]

No past life?

[Misato frowns a bit at that.]

What would you say, then?

[argents]

If you remember stuff from some kind of future, it can't really be a past, right?

[imbibing]

I mean... I guess not? But there's been some people around talking about alternate realities or something, too. So who knows what's actually going on.

[A beat.]

What's your name, anyway?

[argents]

Sorry, that probably seemed rude. It's Banagher. And no one's really been able to figure out which it is yet, probably because both sound really crazy.

[imbibing]

No kidding. I'm still not sure what to think of all this. That's probably why I try not to overthink it. [She laughs weakly.] Or think about it at all, actually.

It's good to meet you, Banagher. You find out anything about your past and/or alternate history?

[argents]

[ He smiles pretty patiently. Boy, does he know what that's like. ]

I don't want to say you really get used to it, but... well, in a way, you do. I can piece together stuff by now, but all my memories are from some kind of future Earth. People living in space, things like that.

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[imbibing]

People living in space?

[A beat.]

Well, that sounds like something.

I don't remember anything about the place I came from, but from what I've gathered from talking to the others, it's probably from the future too. Giant robots weren't exactly common around here until the Numbered started appearing.

[argents]

I didn't think they'd get that common even when we started remembering them!

[ A lot of something, apparently, if him leaning back and staring owlishly at the network is anything to go by. It's clear he hadn't really expected that quick of a jump in. ]

You know about them? Besides what's on the news.

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[imbibing]

No, not really. I mean, apparently I know some kids who pilot giant robots. Or knew them, anyway. I don't know if I had anything to do with the robots themselves, though.

What about you? Are there giant robots in your grand vision of the future?

[argents]

[ Kids... not like he isn't one, but hey. ]

I don't know if I'd call it grand, exactly... humans actually making it up there aside. But there are — Gundams. There are three of us, so far. It sounds like you might know the other pilots though.

[imbibing]

Gundams, huh? Can't say that I know what you're talking about.

[Then again, she doesn't know anything about the giant robots Shinji or Rei mentioned.]

Maybe? Do you know Shinji or Rei Ikari?

[argents]

If you didn't pulse off that alone, then I think we got it in one. I only knew Rei before the fight downtown, mostly.

[imbibing]

Was she fighting in her robot-thing? Does it look anything like yours?

[argents]

I didn't see any fighting, exactly! They look really different though, Gundams and Evas. I'm not a robot buff or anything, but I didn't think there'd be so many differences.

[ ...He doesn't know if he's supposed to let the names slip, but she was a fellow networker, right? WHAT'S THE HARM, RIGHT? ]

[imbibing]

[And suddenly, it comes to her. The purpose of Eva.]

Yeah, well... the Eva units were built with the intentions of fighting Angels, aliens that are entirely different from the ones we're dealing with now.

What did people use the Gundam for? Do you -- do you remember?

[argents]

That's what I was told... [ Or rather, what Asuka kept saying. ] Angels though, huh? What a name.

[ Almost entirely rhetorical at this point, while he tries to drum up an answer. ]

People were still stuck fighting among themselves, from what I remember. Gundams, and everything like them, were built for that, initially. But everyone must think that way. "Build something strong to end it quickly", when really all that does...

[ Well, let's just say no wars ended. ]

Mine isn't like that though, I think.