trans_9 | Bruised egos hurt the worst.

After a series of vicious ego-bruising arguments, Asuka had slipped away from the observation deck to go sulk. Well, she wouldn't call it sulking, but really, that's what it was. She already hated this place and, by extension, most of the people on board. No one cared about what she'd managed to accomplish. No one cared that she was a prodigy, that she was intelligent, that she was the best Eva pilot in the world. They just wanted her to be quiet. The fact that this was partly (if not mostly) her own fault seemed to not register to her (or if it did, she was ignoring it very effectively).

She found herself just... wandering. She didn't know this place and she hated it, anyway. She didn't have anywhere to go - all she knew was that she wasn't going back so she could just be humiliated again. She found a quiet corner, away from everyone (she hoped) and buried her head in her arms. She wasn't crying - she was never going to cry again - she was just thinking, away from everyone. That was all.

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Julian was bored, and was mostly mindlessly milling about the ship. Spotting the girl who was kind of cute and alone, he figured he'd at least say hi.

"So what are you doing out here all by your lonesome?"

Asuka scrambled to her feet, arms folded across her chest, "Nothing! I'm just... exploring this stupid ship."

"And not crying at all," he stated, faux cheerfully.

"I don't cry!" Asuka snapped, "What are you doing out here, anyway?"

"Wandering aimlessly," he answered with a shrug. "I really haven't had much of a chance to look around the ship.

"Wanna join me?"

Asuka hesitated for a moment, then shrugged with a small groan, "Ugh, why not? It's not like I have anything better to do."

He shrugged, turned to his left since that was as good a direction as any, and started walking.

"Is there something else you were supposed to be doing?"

"No," Asuka replies, still in sulk mode, "I don't even know why I'm on this stupid ship!"

"Welcome to the club, sweetheart. None of us know why we're here," he stated casually.

"You one of the new arrivals, I take it?" Because he would have remembered seeing her before.

Asuka shoots him a glare, "My name is Asuka Langley Soryu. Not sweetheart."

She paused and inwardly fumed. Was she that obvious?

"...yes. Yes I am."

"What'd you do back on your world?"

Asuka perks up, "Oh, I was an Eva pilot. The best pilot in the world, in fact."

"Really?" He smirked a little at the change in mood. "What's an Eva?"

"Only the greatest fighting machine known to man!"

"Oh? You'll have to show me sometime." This girl was definitely a curiosity. "Though it kind of begs the question... why was the best pilot of the greatest fighting machine known to man so down just a moment ago?"

"How could I do that? Unit 02 probably isn't even here..."

Although if what Brainiac number two said is true, then it might actually be on board. Somewhere.

"And I wasn't down. I was just thinking!"

"It might be on board. And if not, there's always the sensoriums," he stated easily. Normally he would have gotten an attitude by now, but he really wasn't bothered by her attitude.

"Still trying to process all of this?"

"Something like that," Asuka admits grudgingly, "...wait, what are the sensoriums?"

Asuka always has an attitude. It's virtually the law of the universe.

So does Julian. Though he's learned to rein his in. A little.

"Uh... basically holographic generators on steroids. Huge rooms that can conjure up most anywhere and anything, probably including your Eva."

Asuka's eyes widen and she glances up and down the hallway, "That's... that's so cool! Where are they? I need to find one!"

Julian held out his hand, "I'll show you."

Asuka hesitates for a fraction of a second, then grabs his hand, keeping her small package of belongings tucked under the other arm, "OK! Let's go!"

And she's not blushing at all. What are you talking about?

Of course she's not blushing.

He pulled her closer, and wrapped his other arm around her waist. "Hang on, sweetheart," he told her. And a moment later, they were rocketing though the halls, propelled by his telekinesis.

Asuka had been about to slap him for taking liberties with her, but she's far too breathless to worry about that right now as they rocket through the halls like a pair of human pinballs.

He wasn't taking liberties. His hands were still in almost too friendly territory.

The trip was short, though had they been walking, it might taken them a while to get there. But when the dizzying ride stopped, they were in the hall way, outside the Sensoriums. Julian set her down gently and released her.

"We're here... and let's see if we can find one that's empty."