Disclaimer: I do not own Evangelion or any of the characters from the anime or manga. Nor do I own any of the RPGs mentioned in this story.

Session 1 – Character Creation

“This is going to be such a ficken waste of time,” Asuka grumbled as they walked down the line of apartment doors to get to their destination, tossing her long mane of red hair in that oh-so-imperious way of hers. She was a lovely young girl, though calling her completely lady-like might be a little bit of a stretch. None the less she was without a doubt the center of attention at school and the most popular girl of her year. The German girl was still dressed in her school uniform and had her bag up and over her shoulder, holding it by the handles of course. Her attire and current possessions all indicated she’d just come from school.

“You didn’t have to come,” Shinji mumbled, half wanting her to hear what he had to say, the other half hoping she wouldn’t. Walking beside the redhead was one of the least likely people. Yes, the brown haired, coppery eyed boy was a school celebrity of a sort as well, considering he too was an Eva pilot, but nowhere near Asuka on the social ladder. He was her roommate however and they were a fairly common sight together, in and out of the apartment.

“What else have I got to do? This city is so boring anyway. Even if it means I have to spend time with you losers.”

Shinji lowered his eyes. Sometimes he could argue with Asuka head to head, as proved by their synchronization training, but now wasn’t one of those times. He was still recovering from asking their third companion to join them. Considering how flustered, tongue-tied, and awkward he got around Rei Ayanami even doing that was a leap. Without a doubt that had been completely mortifying.

‘I mustn’t run away. I mustn’t run away. I mustn’t run away!” Shinji chanted his constant mantra in his mind as he slowly started to walk towards the back of the classroom where Rei Ayanami sat, gazing out of the windows despite the fact it was lunch time and the room was filled with groups of eating students, talking, laughing, joking, and relaxing. Oh how Shinji wished he could be one of them. He wouldn’t have to pilot Eva anymore, to face the pain it always brought. He would have had a caring father and maybe a living mother. He would be able to laugh more easily. Maybe he would have grown up less of a wimp, less sneaky... and maybe cooler. Hell maybe then Asuka wouldn’t disdain him so much... maybe then Rei wouldn’t hate him. True she’d never said anything to him, but she had to hate him, right? All of his attempts to follow and talk to her she must have found bothersome. All the times she’d been put in danger because of him and nearly been made to fight because he wouldn’t...

‘Oh god, I can’t do this.’ Shinji thought, attempting to abort the mission his own mind had set him to. But his feet kept moving, carrying him closer to the blue haired, red eyed objective. At least they seemed to be listening to his constant ‘I mustn’t run away’s’. ‘What am I supposed to say? She won’t be interested.’

What was anyone supposed to say with Rei for that matter? Shinji would be the first to admit he was inept at establishing meaningful relationships and even more so at maintaining them. Even communicating with people was difficult for him. True he’d become more open and in a way warm after getting settled and becoming friends with Touji and Kensuke, but that wasn’t saying much. Shinji was still very much an introvert. But with Rei he was absolutely helpless. He could talk to others if he tried hard enough, but with Rei no amount of trying seemed to help. All of their brief conversations, brief as in single sentence reply or two from her, ended very quickly. Rolled over and died more like. Talking to her seemed impossible. It didn’t help that he got so shaken up when he did it either. If only he was stronger, cooler, like Kaji.

He reached his destination a little too soon for his liking. He felt tense, like liquid energy was pouring from his rapidly beating heart into the rest of his body. He became ultra self aware, like his perception had temporarily been heightened and he had to fight to stay calm. Talk about nerve wracking. As if sensing his presence, or maybe having seen his reflection in the glass, Rei turned and looked up at Shinji with her crimson eyes. They told him about as much as her expressionless face. In other words nothing at all. Up close like this Shinji couldn’t help but notice how beautiful she was. When it came down to looks she could probably go blow for blow with Asuka. As for personality... well even Shinji didn’t know what went on behind those eyes.

“Um, hello Ayanami. Sorry to bother you, but... um... erm... I’m not bothering you am I?” No response. She simply continued to stare at him. “I came to... um...” Oh god, why did this have to be so hard. What had he come here for? Think! Don’t falter now. He had come for a reason. What was it again, damn it!?

The game... right, the game. Kensuke’s game. The boy had come to both Shinji and Touji with an idea for their spare time, which they all seemed to have copious amounts of once school let out. With his parents newer hours Touji had more free time and Shinji’s tests were few and far between. As it was Kensuke had no life anyway. Being the nerd that he was, Aida had access to all sorts of things, most of them games or military paraphernalia. The game in question was one of those, an RPG, role playing game, to be precise. Shinji had no clue how to play Dungeons and Dragons or whatever the hell it was called and neither did Touji, but they’d agreed.

Kensuke had explained it as a group storytelling game, one where they played fantasy characters through a storyline like a book or movie. Dice were needed for random chance and determining things like combat, but more than that Shinji didn’t know. He’d find out when they did it.

He didn’t know where he’d gotten the crazy idea to ask Rei to join them. Looking at how things were now it was a stupid idea. Maybe it started when, for no reason apparent to Shinji, Hikari had asked to join. The fact a girl would want to join them in something like Kensuke’s nerdy game must have sparked the idea. It seemed like such a lame thing to do now, asking a ‘girl’ to an RPG game.

Well, mind as well get it over with and let her shoot the idea down. “Kensuke wants to... um... ‘start running a game’ for us... at least I think that’s how he said it. Dungeons and Dragons. It’s a role playing game, but I don’t know much about it.” He was falling apart; there was no way he was making sense. “I don’t know what it is going to be like. Sorry. I just wanted to ask... um... if you wanted to join us.” Shinji finally stopped. He’d said it at least and now he was gearing up to flee. As soon as she gave the answer no he could go. Unfortunately he got nothing. She continued to stare at him. He waited. She stared. Nothing seemed to be happening. “Uh... I’m sorry to have bothered you.”

“Why are you sorry?” Rei finally spoke, her soft voice barely loud enough for Shinji to hear.

“Because I bothered you. I asked you about something that you’re not interested in anyway. I’m sorry, Ayanami.”

“Why did you ask me?” He winced even though she didn’t sound in the slightest bit perturbed. Perhaps it was because he lived in a house with two very temperamental women.

“Um well, I...” He shifted uncomfortably. He hadn’t been expecting that. “I guess I just... I wanted to... find a way to talk to you. I mean... erm... find out more about you.” That much was true. Doing something together would give him some insight, right? Again it felt lame that Kensuke’s game was the only thing that came to mind to ask her about.

“When do you plan on doing this?” Rei asked. No expression crossed her face at Shinji’s answer, but she did blink once or twice, almost as if in surprise.

“Uh, we haven’t set down a day yet. Just when everyone is free and we don’t have anything else to do. Maybe even today if it’s alright with everyone.”

“Very well. I will come.” With that she turned back to look out of the window like she did during their sensei’s lectures.

“Really, you’ll come!?” Shinji’s brain short circuited for a second, then, “But why? I mean... ah... I’m glad to know you’ll be coming.”

“As long as it does not interfere with our duties there is no reason not to.” That seemed to be as close of an answer as he’d get from her.

Needless to say Shinji wondered what the quiet girl behind him and Asuka thought about all of this. Course that wasn’t anything new. “Hey, dork. This is the one. Don’t walk past it.” Shinji stopped at the sound of Asuka’s voice. Turning to look back at her and the door in question he found that, sure enough, he’d walked right past it. “Moron.” Asuka muttered.

“Um, sorry.” Shinji replied somewhat sheepishly, stepping up and knocking on the door. “Kensuke, it’s us.”

“Coming,” came his friend’s voice. There was a click and then the door opened, revealing their four eyed friend. “Glad you could make it... oh my god! What are you doing here!?” Kensuke’s finger shot out and pointed at Asuka.

“What do you think I’m here for? Hikari’s here and I’m not going to be left to be bored all by myself. You should greet your guests a little more politely.”

“Oh... wonderful, you too.” Kensuke grumbled a bit; then let the three of them enter. The main room was sparse with a small couch, a table, and little else. On the couch, both looking somewhat awkward, were Touji and Hikari. On the table as a large stack of books, what looked like a grid map, and lots and lots of weird dice. “Well I guess have a seat wherever you like.”

“Mein gott! This place is tiny. How do you Japanese live in such tiny places?” Asuka’s opinion wasn’t entirely unexpected nor was it entirely mistaken. This apartment was small.

“Why did she even have to come here in the first place?” Kensuke muttered, and then shook his head. “You’re not planning on playing, are you?”

“Course I am. I’m not going to sit here and just watch. I’m going to do ‘something’.” She went to the couch and plopped down between Hikari and Touji, ignoring the latter. “Hey Hikari.”

“Hello Asuka.” Hikari gave her friend a smile, though one slightly forced. They were friends, let there be no doubt, although Hikari wasn’t exactly happy with where Asuka had positioned herself. “I didn’t know you liked this kind of thing.”

“Could say the same to you. Never tried it myself, but how hard can it be really?” Kensuke had to do his best not to smirk. “You doing alright? The dufus here keeping his hands to himself?”

“Hey, shut up! Don’t talk around us like that like we’re not here!” Touji all but shouted at the redhead, who just huffed.

“Um... this is everyone right?” Shinji asked hesitantly, seeing where this was going. He was sitting on the same side of the table as Rei, across from the couch.

“Yeah, this is it. Not anyone else I could get interested.” Kensuke shrugged. “Oh well, their loss. Have any of you ever played before?” No one answered and no hands went up. Shinji even shook his head. Kensuke sighed. “Guess today’s going to be pretty slow.”

“What do you mean by that?” Asuka asked, sounding half suspicious, half annoyed. She was now lounging back in the couch and Touji had scooted over to his end.

“Well Dungeons and Dragons storylines can go for sessions, the first usually being devoted to character creation and story building. It also looks like you’ll have to learn the rules today.”

“You mean this game is going to go on for days?” Asuka again was the one to interrupt first, not that some of the others didn’t feel the same way.

“Yeah, a continuous storyline can go on for sessions or meetings. A session can be like... one whole afternoon or for how ever long we meet. It’s like a get together thing.”

“Not sure I want to be hanging out with you stooges that often, but go on, what else?”

“The feelings mutual. Anyway yeah, today we’re just going to make characters and I’ll explain some things... erm... okay a lot of things.” He paused and when no one, namely Asuka, interrupted him he continued. “This is a storytelling game. You all are going to make story characters you’ll be playing through the game. I’m going to be the Dungeon Master, the DM, the storyteller...”

“Yeah, we know; the head honcho. You’ve gone over this part before.” Touji was the one to interrupt this time.

“Well I tell the story and play anyone not a character. Remember your characters aren’t you so keep that in mind. They’ll act differently if you play them right. In a way this is kind of like acting. You make their personality, back story, choose their race... you know like elves and dwarves, that sort of thing. Your class too, fighter, wizard, you know. Everything you’ll need to write down is on these.”

Out of his school bag Kensuke pulled out several sheets of paper and passed a set to each person. “What are these?”
“Character sheets. The back ones are role play sheets for your back history and such. Most everything else is game statistics.”

“HP!? Hit points? Looks like a video game character.” Asuka said, half to herself, half to her audience. It looked complicated to tell the truth. But if it was like a video game she shouldn’t have too much trouble.

“Yep, guess you might be a real redhead and not a blond after all.” She glared at him, being quite proud of her intelligence. She had after all completed college. “At below zero you’re out cold. At -10 you’re dead. This is the main book.” Kensuke pulled the top book off of the pile and held it up. It read Players Handbook. “I have two copies of this. I’ll go over everything on your sheets with you so you’ll know what they are when we’re done.” Rei had reached out and taken the second players handbook and had opened it to read. “When we’re done we’ll worry about characters, yeah.”

Kensuke was a long winded speaker, that much was for sure. He went over everything, from races to classes, what they did, and everything else. Well alright, most everything in the Players Handbook; the basics at least. Going over all that was Dungeons and Dragons could go on for a very long time. It wasn’t as bad as their teacher, they listened after all, but he could try to make it more interesting. It was a game for god’s sake. Rei was the only one not to ask a single question or to interrupt at one point or another. She simply read. She must have been fast, for by the time Kensuke finished she’d already put it down and it looked thick.

“Now we come down to what you want to play.” He paused as though waiting for instantaneous responses, but got absolutely nothing. “I mean what kind of characters do you want to play?”

Asuka by now had grabbed the book and was flipping through it, looking at pictures with Hikari, who was trying her best to read it while it was in Asuka’s lap. “Mein gott, give us a ficken moment. I’m just now waking up from the snooze you put me in.”

“Well get ready for another cause this could influence your decision.” He held up a second book titled Eberron. “This is the setting you guys are playing in. I like forgotten realms better, but I don’t have those books anymore. Oh well.” None of them knew what the hell he was talking about.

Touji groaned as Kensuke went into yet another explanation. This one about the world they were playing in. A land divided by war and religion. The continents of mystery, dragons, darkness, and the main one called Khorvaire, or something of the sort. Shinji felt his head spinning as he tried to absorb it all. Kensuke was a little more entertaining with this one at least. Even Asuka paid attention as she looked through the book.

“But other than all that it’s like I’ve described before.” Kensuke finished, lamely. “Alright, I’ve given you enough time. What do you guys want to play?”

By now Shinji had gotten the other book and was leafing through it too. He was nowhere near close to making a decision. What did he want to play? Did his indecisive streak involve even this?

“A cleric,” Shinji turned to his left and everyone else looked up as well at the sound of Rei’s soft voice. “I will play a cleric.”

“Ah, the group healer. What religion or have you decided yet?” Kensuke said when he finally recovered. When Shinji had told him Rei would be coming he had no idea that she’d actually be participating. She never participated in sports or anything at school.

“Silver Flame.” Rei answered, referring to the religion of Thrane, a country ruled by a Theocracy. The religion was often known for its zealots in game.

“Um, alright. You remember how to roll stats, right? 4 six sided dice, remove the lowest.” Rei nodded. “10s human average... what about the rest of you Shinji? Shinji, hello?”

Shinji snapped back to looking at Kensuke. Unlike the others his eyes had never left Rei after she’d spoken. He’d been staring. “Oh me, uh...” he went back to the book. “Give me a moment.”

“I want to be the barbarian, man.” Touji, it seemed, didn’t need to think about what he wanted to play. As a very physical person in life it wasn’t too surprising he’d play a physical character.

“What’s your race, religion, and nationality?” Kensuke asked, earning a blank look from Touji.

He means what are you and where are you form, Suzuhara.” Hikari explained, translating Kensuke to Touji.

“Oh, erm... I didn’t...” he shook his head. “I don’t know. I don’t know anything about this, what’s a good thing to play?” Kensuke just sighed and put his face in his hands.

“Here,” Rei held out the Eberron book to him across the table. She’d obviously picked it up to take a look at one thing or another Kensuke hadn’t explained.

Touji took it and began to thumb through the book, his face becoming more and more tense as his frustration grew. “Damn it, I don’t’ know what half of this means!”

“Don’t strain your brain you big ape.” Asuka couldn’t help snickering at the jock’s apparent helplessness.

“Here... um... Asuka let me switch seats with you.” Asuka turned her head and gave Hikari a questioning look. “We don’t want this to take forever, do we?” Hikari offered as a feeble explanation. It wasn’t said with any malice however.

Asuka narrowed her eyes, gave Hikari the quick once over, then scoffed. “Fine, if you want to sit next to the stooge alright by me. That means I don’t have to.” Asuka and Hikari got up and switched seats. Once over by Touji Hikari leaned over the book with him and began to explain it from what Kensuke had told her. She wasn’t acting in the usual, bossy manner of the class rep, quite the opposite. She was very quiet and meek over with Touji on that end of the couch. Also Touji no longer looked like he was about toe explode. If anything he was the same way she was.

Everyone present stared at the spectacle, except for Rei of course, who’d picked up another of the game books titled, “Five Nations” and was reading through it. Kensuke and Shinji exchanged meaningful glances while Asuka only sniffed derisively. She knew full well what was going on.

“Mein gott,” Asuka cried in exasperation to the girl walking close enough beside her to wince at her pitch and volume. “You really are so pathetic sometimes.”

“Wha... what do you mean?” Hikari asked defensively. It was very rare for Asuka to talk to her of all people like that.

“You and that... jock. That stooge spineless Shinji is always hanging out with. Touji Suzuhara.”

Hikari’s face instantly took on a much more crimson pallor as a blush began to appear. “He’s not as bad as you say...”

“Like hell he isn’t. He’s always dropping by to see Shinji, or should I say Misato. Their such perverts like most guys. I don’t get your taste, Hikari?”

“T-taste? What do you mean?” Hikari was once again thrown off balance by Asuka’s blunt words

“I mean it’s as plain as day you like the jerk.” Hikari squawked and began to protest very vocally, but Asuka wasn’t fooled. “Oh, put a sock in it. I’m not stupid and if he wasn’t ‘maybe’ he’d see it too. Please, ‘hello Suzuhara’.” She began to mimic Hikari. “ ‘Aida, did you make sure Suzuhara got the assignment?’ ‘Do you know if he’s alright’? ‘Did he eat today’? Then today at the beginning of class you...”

“Alright, alright. You win; I do... umm... well... I do like him, but I just...” She shifted uncomfortably. “he’s a big jerk sometimes, but he’s so gentle others. Remember when his sister... oh yeah... you weren’t there.”

“Wasn’t there for what? I didn’t’ even know he had a sister.” They’d started walking again by this time, their destination being Hikari’s place.

“During the angel attack that purple robot, Evangelion, first defended us, Touji’s sister was injured; crushed by debris. She was put into the hospital. He missed school and everything else just so he could be with her, looking after her. His parents couldn’t, so he did... he really can be sweet sometimes.” She sighed.”

To her surprise Asuka didn’t comment. Instead she simply shook her head. “So you do like him.” Was all that came out.

Hikari nodded. “Yeah, I do only... well... I don’t think he’d really be interested in someone like me. We’re interested in totally different things. I’m the class representative and he’s well... one of the class stooges... he only knows the class rep anyway so... why would he...”

“You’re thinking too hard about it. Trust me; you’ve got it made when it comes to competition. You’re better than he deserves anyway. He’d be a bigger idiot than he already is to turn you down and it’s not possible for even him to be that stupid.”

“You really think so?” Hikari asked; eyes wide. “Honestly Asuka?” It was the almost stereotypical girl with a crush looking for comfort scenario, only this was entirely genuine.

“Course I do,” Asuka said with a confidant laugh. “I’m Asuka Langley Sorhyu after all. I should know.”

“I’m going to play a fighter. Looks more elegant than jock boy here’s barbarian. I’m going to be from Karrnath before you ask. I’m going to play an elf of course. Say’s here there are some in Karrnath.” Then without waiting for any response from Kensuke she snagged 4 dice, a pencil, and started to roll stats.

“Lovely role-players,” Kensuke muttered. This wasn’t exactly turning out as he planned. “Hikari, Touji, you two got anything yet?”
“Yeah, I’m going to play a Shifter from Eld...er.. Eldan...er however the fuck I’m supposed to say it!”

“Language Suzuhara,” Hikari shook her head. “I think I’m going to play... um...” her eyes went to Touji. “The rogue. I’m going to play a changeling rogue from Breland.”

“What!?” Everyone except Rei turned to Hikari in shock. “You? Playing the rogue? The outlaw! The Class rep playing the bad ‘guy’...er... girl.”

“Hey, I can handle it. I could break rules if I wanted to. Anyway you said our characters are not us anyway. So what’s so funny?!”

“Nothing... nothing!” Kensuke waved his hands at the outburst and suddenly everyone, again except for Rei, found great interest in what ever it was they’d been doing before. “Great. More power to you.” Hikari glowered at him; then took her dice and pencil to start. “Alright Shinji, it’s down to you.” Kensuke said after letting out an inaudible sigh of relief. “What do you want to play?”

Shinji bit his lip. God, he should just pick something. But what? ‘You’re wasting everyone’s time. Just get to is. It’s only supposed to be a game.’ “A... a wizard.” He finally cried almost as if under pressure. “I’ll play a wizard of...” His eyes flicked to Rei, “of the Silver Flame. Yeah that’s what I’ll be and I’ll come from Thrane.”

“A wizard of the Silver Flame?” Kensuke gave him a somewhat skeptical look, then it slowly shifted into a grin; a very evil grin. “You sure you want to do that? What do you like about the ‘Silver Flame’?”

“Um... well... if you’d rather I play something else I can... I could be from...” He had to think of a name and fast. What did Kensuke say the names were? “Cyre, yeah Cyre.”

“Show some spine Shinji, jeez.” Asuka rounded on Kensuke then. “If he wants to play something let him play it, even if he does want to copy his little doll.”

“I do not and don’t call her that.” It was as much a plea as a demand. Shinji was still wrong footed. It just bothered him when Asuka harked on Rei.

“Aw, little Shin-chan’s coming to the defense. How cute.” Asuka shook her head. “So what’s next?”

“Well, I have these.” Kensuke pulled out yet another group of papers. “Since you’re all new,” and obviously not experienced roll players, “I thought it would be best if you guys rolled up the details of your back history randomly and then linked them together into a coherent story. It’ll be easier on you guys.” While Kensuke was an experienced role-player he knew new players more often started out as “roll” players than role players. But hell, he could work them up to that point... he hoped. Maybe they’d be rid of Asuka by then. “You go down these charts, rolling on the percentage tables with your percentage dice, and write down your results. You connect them into a story on your role-play sheet. More experienced players often create stories on their own from scratch, but hey, whatever works man.”

Soon the dice were rolling, each recording his or her results. Shinji was the last to find a set of dice, having actually turned the first pair he found over to Ayanami, who didn’t seen to care about the scrambling of the other players to get dice first.

The first thing on the list Shinji came to was Family. Status of mother. He rolled. Missing, probably dead. Shinji paused and stared for a moment before writing it down. Then he looked up again when he head Hikari ask, “Asuka, are you alright?”
Asuka was staring almost fearfully at her sheet. Shinji couldn’t remember ever having seen that kind of expression plastered across her face. It was so un-Asuka-like. Then in the next instant she seemed to snap out of it. “Yeah, just had trouble reading the dice. Just finished family section.”

‘What was that about?’ Shinji wondered. What had upset Asuka like that? Maybe later he should take a peek at the sheet and see what she rolled. Better than asking her and getting his head bitten off. For now though it was back to his sheet. His character’s father was alive and their relationship was...very poor. Shinji again paused. What the hell? It was like... him. Was that what had given Asuka pause? Had she, like him, rolled up something that had hit a bit too close to home?

Early life was next and he rolled up raised by family, but not by parents. Had to find for himself and other such events. His character was apprenticed for a short while, then disaster occurred. Well at least that didn’t mimic his life. The second impact happened a long time ago, whereas the Day of Mourning, the event that destroyed Cyre, happened not long before their story was to begin. That made him feel better slightly. Still, he wondered if anyone else was getting stuff like this.

“Thank god we’re finally done.” Kensuke sighed in relief. It had been hell getting all of their characters together while teaching them the game. By the amount of light filtering in through the windows it was getting dark. “Let me go over this once, and then we’re done.”

He flipped to the first character. “Kurbon Steelcaw, a shifter barbarian from the Eldeen Reaches. Left his family to take up adventuring, coping with the loss of his sister due to disaster. Hooked up with, blah, blah, blah. If this isn’t a stereotype I don’t know what is.” The character he was reading the horribly written back-story of felt so hollow.

“Shut up. Don’t see you making characters like the rest of us.” Touji muttered sullenly. “I’ll still kick ass. That axe is going to be so awesome.”

Kensuke shook his head and went to the next character. “Wroan Wrighten. A changeling raised in Sharn by her non-changeling parent along with her two also non-changeling younger sisters. Your family was poor and lived in the wrong part of the city. Heh, if it’s Sharn there are a lot of places like that. You had to resort to theft and other dirty dealings as soon as you were old enough to support your family. I should be able to play with this a little. Nice job for your first time. I’ll read over all this later.”

“Um, thanks.” As Hikari said this she looked at Touji nervously. “But I like Suzuhara’s better.”

Kensuke didn’t reply. He’d already moved on. “Miahel of the Stillborn. An elf that served in Karrnath’s military, even having attended the Rekkenmark, graduating with honors.” Kensuke’s expression was now growing more skeptical as he read it. “Secretly a Blood of Vol worshipper and supporter of the Emerald Claw, which would put you at odds with the current leadership. You’ve now left the service and, blah, blah, blah. Your mother committed suicide, father abandoned you... I think that’s most all of the highlights.”

“There’s more you idiot. Why don’t you actually read that last page? You ‘are’ supposed to know all of this after all.”

Kensuke cleared his throat and continued, suppressing a comment that could get him jumped and murdered on the spot. “Well... holy shit, how much did you write!?” Sure enough there were a few notebook pages with the sheet itself. “For a waif your character’s got a lot on her. Half-elf, no parents, cleric of the flame, marked but not in a house.” He scanned down the actual roll list. “Wow, you’ve had some fucked up things happen to you.” She lowered her head in the slightest of nods.

“And Shinji.” Kensuke said as he composed himself again. “Human wizard brought up by House Cannith in Cyre before the day of Mourning, which forced you from your home into Breland, killing all of your family except your father. Your father had nothing to do with raising you... oh...” He gave Shinji a wary stare. “Do you want to re-roll this?”

“Um...” Shinji seriously considered doing just that. This had hit very close to home down to the Day of Mourning, which wrecked Cyre like the Second Impact wrecked their world. Still it was different enough that he could deal with it. Besides, he didn’t want to cause them anymore trouble than he already had. “No, this’ll be alright.”

“Alright. Well this is the group. Think about your characters goals and if any of you are already together before the story starts. Tonight we’re done though.”

“What?! You mean all of that and we’re not even going to play tonight?” Asuka fumed.

Kensuke, of course, cowered. “Well, its getting late and I need to go over all of this and see how it effects what I’m going to do with the story. This game happens over time. If you really don’t like it you don’t have to play.” That last part was said with a bit of a hopeful tone.

“After wasting this much of my time you bet I’m going to damn well play and it had better be worth it stooge, or else I’m going beat the crap out of you.” Then she rounded on Shinji. “Come on Shinji let’s get out of here. If we’re not going to be playing a game there’s no point in being here.”

Shinji flinched instinctively and nodded. “A...alright; I guess I’ll see all of you tomorrow at school.” Shinji said, getting unsteadily to his feet. He wasn’t going to argue with Asuka.

“Aida,” Shinji paused and looked in the same person as Kensuke. Rei had just spoken. “May I borrow these in preparation?” She motioned to one of the stacks of books.”

“Uh... I don’t mind. All I need is the DMG, I’ve got all my notes.” Kensuke was again a little offset by the fact she’d addressed him directly.

“Then I shall.” She got up elegantly, reached out and picked up the stack she’d motioned to, Shinji watching her every move carefully like he was enthralled. This wasn’t the first time he’d watched her like this however nor would it probably be the last. Whenever she moved with purpose, whenever she sat still, he always did end up staring. God, how pathetic was he? Yet it was because of this staring he noticed the trouble she was having. Those textbook sized D&D books must have been extremely heavy piled up like that and balancing them also had to be difficult; difficult enough for Rei’s plight to become obvious to him.

“Here Ayanami, let me help.” Shinji offered, reaching out and taking the stack from her. The instant he did so his arms screamed in protest and part of him instantly regretted it. Damn, they were heavy. How many books was she borrowing? Still he couldn’t go back now and truthfully better him miserable than her. He was worthless anyway; why not actually do something for someone else for once? Besides he didn’t want Rei to hate him anymore than she already did. Shinji could suffer in silence. Rei gave him a blank, unreadable look then slowly inclined her head. “Um, are you walking back or taking the subway?” ‘Please let it be the subway!’ He mentally begged, but he already knew it was pointless. He’d been to Rei’s apartment from here and because of the distance there was no reason to take the subway. It wasn’t that much of a walk. Of course the fact he’d be lugging these books with him all the way now made it seem so much longer than it really was.

“I will walk.” Rei answered simply, her soft voice informative, but little more. Nor did she add anything to the statement.

“What!? You’re going to walk your little doll back to her ficken apartment instead of me?” Shinji didn’t even see her start to move before it was too late. The next thing he knew Asuka was knocking all of the books out of his hands, causing him to drop them all over the place, several on his feet. They weren’t light and yes, they did hurt. “Carrying her books like the good little slave you are. Moron! And I’m willing to grace you with my presence and you’re going to follow this doll home like a puppy.” She made a low growling sound and threw up her hands in what appeared to be frustration. “Fine, be an idiot. Come on Hikari let’s go!”

Hikari, startled by Asuka’s reaction, got up as well. “Bye Suzuhara, bye Aida; tell me when we’re meeting next time.” Then without another word she followed the furious redhead of the apartment.

“I can’t believe it! He really would rather walk that stupid doll home than come with me. If we weren’t both Eva pilots and didn’t live together...errrg!” To say Asuka wasn’t happy would be an understatement. She seemed to be only a few seconds away from hitting something.

Hikari shifted her bag uncomfortably from one hand to the other. Part of her wanted to say ‘well it was sweet of him’, but she wasn’t that stupid. Besides it was sort of rude in Hikari’s eyes for him to go off with Ayanami like that anyway. Couldn’t he see that... well no he probably couldn’t. He was a boy, so why should he?

“Why would he choose to walk that bitch home anyway? Not like she’ll say anything to him anyway. She’s so boring; such a freaking doll.” More and more Asuka’s rant sounded like it was going in circles. She’d been repeating much the same thing, though her wording had varied each time. The meaning, however, stayed implicitly the same.

“Are you jealous Asuka?” Hikari asked without thinking. Instantly she regretted ever having said anything of the sort for Asuka whirled on her.

“Jealous? Why would I be jealous of that idiot or wonder girl? They both fucking deserve each other.” Asuka shouted, making Hikari flinch. She hated it when her friend turned her frustration on her. It was rare enough, but still...

“Sorry Asuka, my mistake.” Hikari quickly apologized, waving her hands in placation. ‘Me thinks she doth protest too much,’ that same troublesome part of her mind whispered to her, but she wasn’t stupid enough to say that aloud.

Shinji gave a relieved sigh as he set the stack of books down on the desk in Rei’s room, one of the few actual pieces of furniture in the apartment. It creaked in protest, but at least it couldn’t feel. Shinji’s arms could however and they were killing him after that long walk carrying those books with no break. At least it was all over now. Just in case he’d bring a backpack or something next time...backpack... on no, he’d left his school bag back at Kensuke’s. He’d have to go back and pick that up before going home. At least it was on the way.

The boy shook his head dejectedly and looked around the room. It was in much the same condition as the last time he’d been there. The bloody bandages were still present as was all of the trash that had been in the place before, plus some. The glasses too were still in their case sitting on top of drawers. The bed was untidy with only a single blanket, sheet and pillow. It didn’t look very comfortable or well taken care of. The sounds in the background too were still constant, despite the fact it was now dark.

The walk to the apartment had felt like an eternity, mainly because Shinji had been absolutely sure his arms were going to drop off at any second. Okay, maybe he was being a wimp about the books, but considering their distance and weight it was perfectly justified. Then there was the awkward silence. He’d made a few passes at conversation with the girl, but had gotten absolutely nothing in reply. Eventually he retreated back into his shell and they’d made the rest of the trip in silence. Now here they were, still draped in something resembling the Silence spell Kensuke had described, save that that infernal banging noise in the background.

“Um, well I guess that’s about it. Do you need anything else, Ayanami?” He asked, turning to the girl. She was standing by the bed, watching him. He wasn’t sure why, but it made him feel kind of like he was on the spot the same way one did when speaking in front of a class. “Uh, right. I guess I’ll be going then.” Shinji started to edge towards the door, and then stopped. “Sorry.”

The girl, who was still staring at him, tilted her head. “Why are you sorry?” She asked in much the same way she had earlier.

“For dragging you along to the game when we really didn’t do anything. You must have been bored.”

“Were you bored?” She asked. Shinji had to pause and consider his answer for a few moments.

“No, not really. I would have liked to have played, but it was better than doing nothing. Still it must have really bored you. I’m sorry again for having brought you.”

“Do you wish for me not to be present at the games?” Again she replied to him with yet another question.

“No, I didn’t mean it to sound like that. I was glad you got to come. I just don’t want you to be bored or upset... I’m sorry. You don’t have to come back if you don’t want to.”

“There is no reason to apologize.” Rei said simply. “If my attendance causes no problems I will return.”

“Wait... so you want to actually keep playing with us?” Rei’s face gave nothing away and she didn’t answer. Then it dawned on him and he felt like smacking himself in the forehead. “Oh right, I feel so stupid now. You wouldn’t have borrowed the books if you didn’t.” He looked to the books again. “To tell the truth you seemed to understand it better than more or anyone else besides Kensuke. You haven’t done anything like this before have you?” She shook her head. “Wow... you’re very smart, Ayanami.”

“It is simple enough.” Again with a short, enigmatic response. Finally she took her eyes off of him and walked to the dresser. Then she reached down to her uniform and began to undo it. She was getting undressed!

“I’m sorry! I’ll just be going now! Um...” He couldn’t take his eyes off of her even as he made for the door. When he reached it he turned away, but he still found himself wanting to turn just enough so he could see her out of the corner of his eye. ‘God, I’m such a pervert.’ “I’m glad that I could... uh...” his brain was short-circuiting. He wasn’t even sure of what he was saying. “Glad I could spend time with you. Goodnight Ayanami!” Then he opened the door and sprinted out.