Just for show

[char-char-char.livejournal.com]

Char has only one focus in mind when he reaches the hangar - well, technically, two.

Sure enough, there stands his Sazabi, looking to be completely undamaged from its fight with the Nu Gundam standing next to it, despite Char having a rather vivid memory of it being nearly totaled no more than a day ago, tops. Pleased as ever, Char mounts the scaffolding next to it and makes a beeline for the cockpit. He doesn't have any particular plans for the unit (although Nu being right there within punching distance made vandalism awfully tempting), he just feels the need for the familiarity of its cockpit, and the psycoframe system, in the strange, strange new world he had suddenly found himself in.

"Never thought I'd be this attached to a unit," Char mutters to himself as he starts the machine up and dons the psycommu helmet unit to link up with the sensor and weapons systems. "I must be getting dependent in my old--"



"Wh-what the hell is this pressure?" Char practically yells once he's connected to the psychoframe. "It's enormous...could it be the ship?"

Char takes the helmet off, disconnecting himself from Sazabi's psychic enhancement. He's breathing heavily from the effects of the shock. "That's going to take some getting used to."

Comments

[char-char-char.livejournal.com]

"Well, the scientific term is 'Newtype'," he explains, "but since there are people from different worlds here, I figured I should be more general."

Char pauses, trying to explain. "Pretend you can feel the presence of other minds. Now consider that this whole ship is a living being with its own mind. Opening my mind here is like expecting a room full of candles, then staring directly into the sun instead."

[rekindle.livejournal.com]

She nodded as he explained; it took her a moment to realize he couldn't see her, so after he was done speaking, she called up once more.

"I think I've got it."

[char-char-char.livejournal.com]

Char, pretending this thread is after he's already dealt with Amuro okay, gets out of the cockpit and climbs down. "Oh. You're that young woman from earlier. Thanks for your help."

"I'm Char Aznable," he says. "I'd say it's a pleasure to meet you, but I honestly would have preferred different circumstances."

He looks at her oddly for a split second before his face returns to a sympathetic mask. Hm...now that she has clothes on, she reminds me a little of...nah, the feeling is completely different.

[rekindle.livejournal.com]

"I'd say you're welcome, but I didn't really do anything warranting a thank you," she replied with a matter-of-fact tone and a slightly confused expression. "Despite that, it's been interesting meeting you, too."

She held out her hand once more, this time for a handshake. Nothing wrong with civility, right?

"I'm--" she hesitates, assessing the situation. He most definitely looked like experienced military, his posture and demeanor expressing as much. If things were as dire as they were made to believe, she should act professionally, making sure people were able to take her seriously.

"Representative Cagalli Yula Athha of the Orb Union. Horrendous circumstances aside, I hope we can make the best of things here."

[char-char-char.livejournal.com]

"Captain Char Aznable," he says, returning her handshake and confirming his military status. "I would say I was also the leader of Neo-Zeon, but I more or less left that to my second in command even before I wound up here. In the end, I was just a pilot."

[rekindle.livejournal.com]

The first thing Cagalli did when the handshake ended was to shake her head in regards to his last statement.

"I don't believe that. In my mind, there is no such thing as 'just a pilot.' Each person plays an important part, no matter what the role is," she pauses again, choosing her next words carefully. "Those who fight always have someone who cares for them. They aren't 'just a pilot' in the eyes of that person, and they aren't that way to me."

[char-char-char.livejournal.com]

Char's...actually shocked at that statement. Sometimes he forgets that there are still people who can form deep connections like that.

He recovers his composure in a second, though. "I appreciate that, Miss Athha. I still prefer it to politics, though."

[rekindle.livejournal.com]

"Politics is a battlefield of its own," she muttered offhandedly, momentarily letting her political persona fall away. "Not everyone's doing it for the right reasons. Some people are just selfish."

It took her a moment to realize what it may have sounded like. Quickly, she clarified, "That's just my experience with a few others."

[char-char-char.livejournal.com]

"Really? Because it's mine with everyone," Char observes.

[rekindle.livejournal.com]

"That isn't how it is everywhere. There are plenty of people who genuinely believe in the good of things and try to work towards it, whether it's politics or piloting," she responds, sounding slightly defensive.

[char-char-char.livejournal.com]

"I only said it was my experience," Char says, mollifyingly. Or trying to be, anyway. "It might be that my universe just got all the manipulative jerks and all the sheep, for all I know."

[rekindle.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry that's all you had the chance to deal with, then," she said after a bit of silence. "It sounds very disheartening."

[char-char-char.livejournal.com]

"You're definitely not wrong there," he replies with a sigh.

[rekindle.livejournal.com]

"Maybe things will be different here."

[char-char-char.livejournal.com]

"One can only hope, Miss Cagalli."

[rekindle.livejournal.com]

"It should be, when you think about it. What would someone have to gain here by acting selfishly? We all want our homes back, and not doing something for the good of the ship could easily mess that up."