[timestamp: midnight]

[chosenthird]

[the tv, which was showing static, suddenly goes clear, showing a shot of an empty train showing the seats. The train seems to be moving, and for a few seconds all you can hear is the sound of the machine; but soon there is a quiet lithany of words growing louder as the shot starts panning towards the right]

Can't run away, can't run away, can't run away...

[the shot stops when it finally reaches Shinji, who is sitting with his face facing down and his hands holding his head. You can't see his expression, but it's obvious he's one the speaking.

Suddenly, he sits up and faces the camera]

Just kidding!

[Shinji has a big smile on his face, a look that's particularly uncommon with him, and his arms are carelessly thrown over the back of the seats. Overall, he seems pretty relaxed]

I love it here! I don't have to worry anymore, I can just stay here forever, and not care about anything or anybody. No more [with a pretend voice] "Shinji-kun, you have to fight that angel!", no more "Ikari-kun, ride the EVA", no more "If you're not gonna do it, then just leave".

[Shinji seems angrier after he says the last one, but he shakes his head and he's smiling so widely again that it has to be hurting his face]

They're all probably dead right now in Tokyo-3 anyway, so who cares what they think, right? Serves them right! I bet if I stayed longer at that island it would have been the same thing all over again, so forget about that place, too!

Ah, I hope I can stay here forever!

[he leans back on his seat, and the connection ends]

Comments

[notdogmatic]

I see.

[chosenthird]

Do you, Kaworu-kun?

[notdogmatic]

I was not able to make you happy enough to forget your troubles.

[chosenthird]

But now I have no more problems! Isn't that better?

[notdogmatic]

I would have preferred to accomplish that myself.

[chosenthird]

Not like you could, anyway, so why are you worrying?

[Audio]

[coimiceoir]

We will come for you. Don't worry.

[Audio]

[chosenthird]

That's fine! I don't want you to.

[Audio]

[coimiceoir]

[Her voice grows soft and brittle.]

I know. But we will anyway. You're not alone.

[Audio]

[chosenthird]

I wanna be alone. What don't you understand about that?

[Audio]

[coimiceoir]

I understand more than you realize. You want to be alone. But you want people to see this. To know this. But you don't. You're of two minds.

[notvictorious]

You don't really feel that way about leaving your friends.

[chosenthird]

And how would you know, anyway?

[notvictorious]

Nobody would really feel like that!

[chosenthird]

But I do! I'm happier now that I ever was when they were around! And I'll be happier when I can just be by myself, here.

[notvictorious]

If that's actually true, they don't sound like very good friends.

[perseverant]

We're coming to get you.

private

[dontmindmepleasecontinue]

I've met Ikari-san before. [By accidentally running into him under the mistletoe, actually, but that was neither here nor there.

Really, not the best connection to work off of, but...] I can find him.

[chosenthird]

I don't want you to!

[notdogmatic]

You will need my assistance.

[badnewsboy]

The change isn't a bad thing.

[chosenthird]

So you like me better like this? Me too!

[badnewsboy]

You could say to an extent then it's different. There are parts I miss.

[chosenthird]

What's there to miss?

[badnewsboy]

Er, my brother. I miss my brother.