Bruised egos hurt the worst.

[redheadcarrier.livejournal.com]

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.

Comments

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"I imagine not. But your Eva requires maintenance, doesn't it? Power? Ammunition?"

[redheadcarrier.livejournal.com]

"Well, yeah, but those people aren't elite."

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"How long does your Eva's internal power last? What happens when it runs out? What happens if your ammunition isn't stocked, or any damage you sustain repaired? What happens when something goes wrong that you can't fix, Miss Soryu? Everyone's elite. Everyone is needed. Everyone is valued."

[redheadcarrier.livejournal.com]

Asuka waves a hand dismissively, "They can be replaced. I can't."

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"That's the wrong attitude to have, especially since you're the second child, Miss Soryu. If they found a first, and you were the second, I'd say they could find a third."

[redheadcarrier.livejournal.com]

Asuka actually busts up laughing for a few moments, "The Third? The Third couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag without my help! I know the First and the Third and neither of them are as good as me and their units aren't anywhere near as good my own! They had to transfer me in because the First and the Third couldn't handle it!"

Which isn't entirely true, but she's not going to tell him that.

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"My point stands, Miss Soryu. Where there's a third, there's a fourth, there's a fifth, and so on. Sometimes, the strongest person in a battle or conflict is the one who admits he or she can't do it alone. Sometimes, Miss Soryu, asking for help is the strongest thing a person can do." Picard smiled as he said this, a certain Klingon crewman coming to mind.

[redheadcarrier.livejournal.com]

"Bullshit. I don't need help and I shouldn't have to ask for it. I'm strong enough to stand on my own," She settles her hands on her hips, daring him to challenge her assumption, "Asking for help is weak and there's no way in Hell that I'm ever going to need to ask for it."

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"Miss Soryu, I will readily admit that what you say right now may be true in your home situation. However, you are no longer on Earth, and this isn't NERV. We may face enemies so powerful that you wouldn't stand a chance against them alone. It's not simply possible, it is probable. I just hope you learn that needing assistance now and then isn't weakness before then."