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

[talkshitgetsis]

[Okay, she's definitely seen that face before, but she's still mulling over whether or not Shinji would be okay with her spilling the beans.]

...What kind of person gives their phone number out to complete strangers?

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[imbibing]

[Misato frowns critically at Rei, as if trying to sum her up.]

It's not like you guys are strangers, perse... [Except they are.] I mean, we're all in this together, aren't we?

[Forced smile.]

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[talkshitgetsis]

That doesn't mean people here aren't creeps and weirdo's from time to time. You're already in a dangerous situation. You're just making it worse for yourself.

And before you make a comment about it, yes, I am indeed a fourteen year old girl lecturing an adult.

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[imbibing]

[If this were a cartoon, a vein would be pulsing on the side of her head. But since it's not, Misato's smiling, tight-lipped through clenched teeth.]

Is that so? Well, it's a good thing that I'm a grown woman and perfectly capable of taking care of myself.

[neopianangst]

[Oh god. Well, this is unexpected...and extremely awkward, considering what he recognizes her from. It was one of his first echoes...]

Um...I think calling a stranger from here like that might be kinda weird...

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[imbibing]

Is it? I don't think so! I mean, if we know each other from a past life, we're not really strangers at all, are we?

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[neopianangst]

I guess that's true...

[Should he risk telling her and her possibly asking to see the picture? He could easily just...not. Lie and say he remembers her some other way and she might ask what she was doing in the memory. He could always let her remember him and pretend he'd never known anything.

He's already responded to this, though...]

But I don't really know much about you from back then, so.

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[soulsborderline]

Just FYI before you start handing out your social security number, you can get secure lines out of this thing too. Someone just has to write down your, you know, Number number.

[Lecture trifecta. Look, Major, you're already getting them to work as a team.]

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[imbibing]

[What's with all these kids lecturing her tonight? Shouldn't they all be in bed by now?

Regardless, Misato still somehow manages a smile, albeit a strained one.]

That's rather impersonal, don't you think? I prefer a good old-fashioned phone call.

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[soulsborderline]

Do you really just throw personal information out where random strangers can read it?

[Asuka you're making a goddamn video reply with your dorm room in the background.]

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[dragon_blossom]

Oh my God you're trusting... do people on the outside of this think we're all one big happy family? Is that they're all saying?

Do you even know whether or not some of us are total assholes?

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[imbibing]

[Smile, smile.]

Well, I do now!

[So much for maintaining her reputation!]

[dragon_blossom]

Wow, aren't you so clever.

[ Ugh. ]

Most of us are stupid fucking teenagers.

[espigeonage]

[From this close you can't really tell that Julien's got winged arms or anything, it just seems like he has feathery sleeves. He's been on the news as a white-feathered harpylike thing.]

Regrettably, it's real! And I'm not sure I believe the past lives theory, for all that it's popular.

[He smiles like the sun coming through clouds.]

Anyway! Congratulations, and condolences, on your number. I'm Julien!

[imbibing]

[Wow, so there are nice people on this thing after all! She was starting to give up hope.]

Nice to meet you, Julien! [It's difficult to tell whether or not she's flirting from her delivery. She does smile, though.]

If you don't believe the whole past lives thing, what do you think, then?

[espigeonage]

Well, the pleasure's mine, Misato! I understand you're a model?

Ah, well. [He's let the smile fade, but it lingers a little. Julien's is a happy nature.] I'm fonder of the idea of these people existing in parallel, connected to us somehow. Maybe as we get things from them they get things from us, maybe not.

[Video]

[scramasax]

[A rather soft, mumbly:]

We don't know if they are past lives; I wish people would stop - speaking like we're sure that we are.

[And tightening that up back to clarity, shakes his head and ducks it a tad in an apology - that wasn't anything against the woman he's talking to!] But excuse me, umm.

You're right, it's er. It's real... And umm. -- My name is Anthony, ma'am - I can't uh. Tell you - tell you anything about - your... other self, but I could - I could try to answer other questions you might have...

[Thins and mild-ens up to a trail-off.]

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[imbibing]

[Whoa, this guy looked like a total weirdo! Still, Misato manages to force a smile for him, albeit a shaky one. There was bound to be one or two in this place, after all.]

Well, then--

[Misato leans slightly forward. She's frowning slightly.]

-- if you don't believe the whole past lives thing, then what do you believe?

Personally, I find the whole idea of past lives to be pretty romantic. [Her thoughts flicker to Shinji, and the conclusion she came to last night.] Well, kind of.

[She shakes her head.]

Well, anyway! Is there any must-know information for us newcomers? Any special Numbered meetups I should know about? An introductory manual?

Any of that would be great.

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[scramasax]

[Rushed out from a thick sticking.] ...Oh, I don't know -- what I think, er - yet...! [Which is a lie, but he'll not babble his beliefs off to a stranger.

Swallows. Twitches a sheepish smile.] And uhh - yes, uh - actually, there's umm. A guide. They - call it the F.A.Q. - I'm still not uhh - not sure how to link it, from. Uhm. Paper, but if you... If you ask one of the others, they could, uhh - show it to you. I'm sure... I - apologize, ma'am...

How -- [Coughs. Attempts to project his voice from a lower point, it comes out hollow-ish.] How long have you been err - have you been connecting...? [And pressed out slightly nasal toward the end.

"How long have you known your number? is probably the better question, but alas.]

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[unelven]

[ He does recognize her face from ads and magazines, and that's really the only reason he responds at all. Its not everyday that someone else known to the general public shows up on the network. ]

You don't know what sorts of people are on here, why would you give your phone number freely?

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[imbibing]

[Misato frowns. This is almost as bad as being called out by those teenagers earlier!]

You do realize I'm an adult, don't you? I know perfectly well what I'm doing!

[At this point, she regrets it -- though she'll never admit it.]

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[unelven]

More reason to not act like a child.

( video )

[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?