<<silently>>\n<<set $trust = $trust + 1>>\n<<set $talk = "YES8">>\n<<set $Q1 = "YES">>\n<<endsilently>>"Yeah, what about it?" she says impatiently. "Are you talkin' about how I made sure there was a vegan option? Any decent human being would have done that, duh."<<if $TurnAround eq "YES" && $Q2 eq "NO">>A light BLUSH reddens her CHEEKS, though you're uncertain if the FLUSH stems from your PROXIMITY or your PRAISE.<<endif>>\n\n<<if $Q2 eq "NO">>[["You're hurt, but despite that, you keep trying."|Q2]]\n\n<<endif>><<if $Q3 eq "NO">>[["You tried to become friends with me. You noticed //me//."|Q3]]\n\n<<endif>><<if $Q4 eq "NO">>[["Could you teach me how to be //myself//, rather than a doll, Asuka?"|Q4]]\n\n<<endif>><<if $Q1 eq "YES" && $Q2 eq "YES" || $Q1 eq "YES" && $Q3 eq "YES" || $Q1 eq "YES" && $Q4 eq "YES" || $Q2 eq "YES" && $Q3 eq "YES" || $Q2 eq "YES" && $Q4 eq "YES" || $Q3 eq "YES" && $Q4 eq "YES">>[["You could be a wonderful person if only you recognised your //own// value."|"your own value"]]\n\n<<else>>[["You could be a wonderful person if only you recognised your //own// value."|ED: Shut Up]]\n\n<<endif>>[[You say nothing.|ED: Say Nothing]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $face = "ASUKA">>\n<<set $talk = "YES8">>\n<<endsilently>>"How?" Her DESPERATION mounts: ASUKA does not plead, but her TONE quivers on the PRECIPICE of DESPAIR. "You're just a damn puppet! How could you even have feelings?"\n\n[[You turn around.|Turn around]]\n\n[["You took me to the diner after the attack of the Tenth Angel."|Q1]]\n\n[["You're hurt, but despite that, you keep trying."|Q2]]\n\n[[You say nothing.|ED: Say Nothing]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $trust = $trust + 1>>\n<<set $talk = "YES9">>\n<<set $Q3 = "YES">>\n<<endsilently>><<if $Q4 eq "NO">>You think that you might be able to SEE the GHOST of a faint SMILE curving her LIPS.<<endif>>"I didn't do that for you, y'know," she says."\n<<if $TurnAround eq "YES" && $Q4 eq "YES">> Her CHEEKS appear to have flushed further. Her LEFT HAND rests on her HIP, while her other ARM dangles loosely at her side: open and welcoming. The CHANGE surprises you. <<endif>>\n\n"I thought I'd meet my competition. Not that you could compete with me." Yet there's no VITRIOL behind her WORDS, only a strange PLAYFULNESS you weren't expecting. "But I suppose you're right. I did notice you. And now you've ... well ... noticed me back."\n\n<<if $Q1 eq "NO">>[["You took me to the diner after the attack of the Tenth Angel."|Q1]]\n\n<<endif>><<if $Q2 eq "NO">>[["You're hurt, but despite that, you keep trying."|Q2]]\n\n<<endif>><<if $Q4 eq "NO">>[["Could you teach me how to be //myself//, rather than a doll, Asuka?"|Q4]]\n\n<<endif>><<if $Q1 eq "YES" && $Q2 eq "YES" || $Q1 eq "YES" && $Q3 eq "YES" || $Q1 eq "YES" && $Q4 eq "YES" || $Q2 eq "YES" && $Q3 eq "YES" || $Q2 eq "YES" && $Q4 eq "YES" || $Q3 eq "YES" && $Q4 eq "YES">>[["You could be a wonderful person if only you recognised your //own// value."|"your own value"]]\n\n<<else>>[["You could be a wonderful person if only you recognised your //own// value."|ED: Shut Up]]\n\n<<endif>>[[You say nothing.|ED: Say Nothing]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $trust = $trust + 1>>\n<<set $talk = "YES8">>\n<<set $Q2 = "YES">>\n<<endsilently>>"I'm hurt?" ASUKA's EYES narrow nearly imperceptibly, and for a moment you wonder if your TURN OF PHRASE has closed off her HEART once more. Then she dips her HEAD ever so slightly as if in agreement.\n\n"I do keep trying. 'Cause I know if that I don't, no one will."<<if $TurnAround eq "YES" && $Q1 eq "NO">> A light BLUSH reddens her CHEEKS, though you're uncertain if the FLUSH stems from your PROXIMITY or your PRAISE.<<endif>>\n\n<<if $Q1 eq "NO">>[["You took me to the diner after the attack of the Tenth Angel."|Q1]]\n\n<<endif>><<if $Q3 eq "NO">>[["You tried to become friends with me. You noticed //me//."|Q3]]\n\n<<endif>><<if $Q4 eq "NO">>[["Could you teach me how to be //myself//, rather than a doll, Asuka?"|Q4]]\n\n<<endif>><<if $Q1 eq "YES" && $Q2 eq "YES" || $Q1 eq "YES" && $Q3 eq "YES" || $Q1 eq "YES" && $Q4 eq "YES" || $Q2 eq "YES" && $Q3 eq "YES" || $Q2 eq "YES" && $Q4 eq "YES" || $Q3 eq "YES" && $Q4 eq "YES">>[["You could be a wonderful person if only you recognised your //own// value."|"your own value"]]\n\n<<else>>[["You could be a wonderful person if only you recognised your //own// value."|ED: Shut Up]]\n\n<<endif>>[[You say nothing.|ED: Say Nothing]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $trust = $trust + 1>>\n<<set $talk = "YES9">>\n<<set $Q4 = "YES">>\n<<endsilently>><<if $Q3 eq "NO">>You think that you might be able to SEE the GHOST of a faint SMILE curving her LIPS.<<endif>>"What, you're asking //me// for advice? Finally realised how right I am, huh?"<<if $TurnAround eq "YES" && $Q3 eq "YES">> Her CHEEKS appear to have flushed further. Her LEFT HAND rests on her HIP, while her other ARM dangles loosely at her side: open and welcoming. The CHANGE surprises you.<<endif>>\n\nHer SMILE curls into a SMUG SMIRK. "Not everyone gets to talk to me, y'know, or gets my advice. I'm a //terribly// busy person. But I //guess// I could find some time for you."\n\n<<if $Q1 eq "NO">>[["You took me to the diner after the attack of the Tenth Angel."|Q1]]\n\n<<endif>><<if $Q2 eq "NO">>[["You're hurt, but despite that, you keep trying."|Q2]]\n\n<<endif>><<if $Q3 eq "NO">>[["You tried to become friends with me. You noticed //me//."|Q3]]\n\n<<endif>><<if $Q1 eq "YES" && $Q2 eq "YES" || $Q1 eq "YES" && $Q3 eq "YES" || $Q1 eq "YES" && $Q4 eq "YES" || $Q2 eq "YES" && $Q3 eq "YES" || $Q2 eq "YES" && $Q4 eq "YES" || $Q3 eq "YES" && $Q4 eq "YES">>[["You could be a wonderful person if only you recognised your //own// value."|"your own value"]]\n\n<<else>>[["You could be a wonderful person if only you recognised your //own// value."|ED: Shut Up]]\n\n<<endif>>[[You say nothing.|ED: Say Nothing]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $trust = $trust + 1>>\n<<set $talk = "YES9">>\n<<endsilently>><<if $TurnAround eq "NO">>You're so close to her that a single STEP would close the GAP between your HEARTS. Her PUPILS have swallowed her IRISES whole; her BREATHS are warm and smell faintly of COFFEE. <<endif>>Her HEARTBEAT pulses at the hollow of her THROAT. "I know my own value," she says.\n\n[["Then love yourself."|"love yourself"]]\n\n[["So do I."|"So do I"]]\n\n[[You say nothing.|ED: Say Nothing]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $trust = $trust + 1>>\n<<set $talk = "YES12">>\n<<endsilently>>ASUKA snorts. "Shut up, Shinji. You're just jealous you can't even recognise your own value." Gripping your HAND tightly, she pushes back IKARI-KUN as you step out of the ELEVATOR.\n\nTogether.\n\nYou're not quite CERTAIN what's about to happen. You're not even quite CERTAIN about what //has// happened. Yet since you first entered that ELEVATOR the WORLD has SHIFTED.\n\nYou were right. Her WARMTH has reached your CORE. You never want to let go.\n\n"I really wanna get outta these clothes. They're so, ugh, y'know?" Her TONE is nonchalant, casual, as though you two had been <<if $yuri eq "KISS">>DATEEFRIENDS<<else if $yuri eq "HEAD">>QUASIPLATONIC<<else>>TOGETHER<<endif>> forever. "Wanna hit the locker rooms together, Rei?"\n\nYou must still face a DESTINY for which you never asked, must still REND APART the SOULS of HUMANITY, must still DISMANTLE the EARTH as you were ARTIFICIALLY CREATED to do. But this time, you FEEL as though you have ALTERED the COURSE.\n\nThis time, you are not [[alone|credits]].

<<silently>>\n<<set $anger = $anger + 1>>\n<<endsilently>>"You're so full of shit. Always trying to be a real Wonder Kid, huh? Pretending that you care about other people when you're just as self-absorbed as the rest of us!" She pauses, her BREATHS coming in short bursts.\n\n[["It is still possible to pilot the EVA."|"but you can"]]\n\n[["I care about you."|"I care"]]\n\n[[You say nothing.|"Fancy you"-2]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $trust = $trust + 1>>\n<<set $talk = "YES6">>\n<<endsilently>>Her SURPRISE temporarily lessens the BARRIER between you. "What. How could //you// possibly need //me//?"\n\n[[You turn around.|Turn around]]\n\n[["You mean so much to me, Asuka."|"You mean so much"]]\n\n[[You say nothing.|ED: Say Nothing]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $trust = $trust + 1>>\n<<endsilently>>"//Sure// they do," ASUKA answers dryly. "That's what they tell you so you don't feel bad when you fuckin' die, isn't it? " Her A.T. FIELD intensifies to push you increasingly away; your LIMBS tremble in your ATTEMPT to stand your GROUND. "Ugh! You just do whatever you're told! You'd die if Commander Ikari told you to, wouldn't you?"\n\n[["Yes."|ED: Puppet]]\n\n[["I need you."|"I need you"]]\n\n[[You say nothing.|ED: Say Nothing]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $trust = 0>>\n<<set $face = "FRONT">>\n<<set $anger = 0>>\n<<set $talk = "NO"\n<<set $talkNow - "NO">>\n<<set $TurnAround = "NO">>\n<<set $ShutUp = "NO">>\n<<set $Q1 = "NO">>\n<<set $Q2 = "NO">>\n<<set $Q3 = "NO">>\n<<set $Q4 = "NO">>\n<<set $Rei = "NO">>\n<<set $yuri = "">>\n<<endsilently>>Your name is AYANAMI REI. You are standing in an ELEVATOR, facing the FRONT DOOR. Behind you, leaning against the WALL, is SOHRYUU ASUKA LANGLEY, who is not having a GOOD DAY whatsoever.\n\nRecently, her SYNCHRONISATION RATE with EVA UNIT-O2 has decreased significantly. You feel the PAIN OF LONELINESS in her heart. Perhaps you should reach out.\n\n[[You say something.|"The EVA won't move"]]\n\n[[You give her space.|ED: Say Nothing]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $trust = $trust + 1>>\n<<set $talk = "YES10">>\n<<set $Rei = "YES">>\n<<endsilently>>\n\n"Rei..."\n\nYour NAME. No, your IDENTITY, from a VOICE you'd never thought you'd hear like this: directed towards you with a TONE so affectionate, so genuinely IN LOVE.\n\nYou respond with the NAME of the GIRL you LOVE: "Asuka."\n\n[[You smooch her.|Smooch]]\n\n[[You rest your head on her chest.|Head rest]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $TurnAround = "YES">>\n<<set $face = "ASUKA">>\n<<endsilently>>You're so close to her that a single STEP would close the GAP between your HEARTS. Her PUPILS have swallowed her IRISES whole; her BREATHS are warm and smell faintly of COFFEE.\n\n[["You took me to the diner after the attack of the Tenth Angel."|Q1]]\n\n[["You're hurt, but despite that, you keep trying."|Q2]]\n\n[[You say nothing.|ED: Say Nothing]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $trust = $trust + 1>>\n<<set $talk = "YES12">>\n<<endsilently>>IKARI-KUN stares at you in AMAZEMENT. You grip ASUKA's HAND tightly as you step out of the ELEVATOR.\n\nTogether.\n\nYou're not quite CERTAIN what's about to happen. You're not even quite CERTAIN about what //has// happened. Yet since you first entered that ELEVATOR the WORLD has SHIFTED.\n\nYou were right. Her WARMTH has reached your CORE. You never want to let go.\n\n"I really wanna get outta these clothes. They're so, ugh, y'know?" Her TONE is nonchalant, casual, as though you two had been DATEFRIENDS forever. "Wanna hit the locker rooms together, Rei?"\n\nYou must still face a DESTINY for which you never asked, must still REND APART the SOULS of HUMANITY, must still DISMANTLE the EARTH as you were ARTIFICIALLY CREATED to do. But this time, you FEEL as though you have ALTERED the COURSE.\n\nThis time, you are not [[alone|credits]].

<<silently>>\n<<set $trust = $trust + 1>>\n<<set $talk = "YES9">>\n<<endsilently>>She wavers. Her HEART is exposed; you can SEE the tendrils of ABANDONMENT and SEPARATION ANXIETY curling black around her SOUL. When she speaks her VOICE has diminished to a MURMUR: "That's easier said than done."\n\nHer WARMTH radiates across the GAP. You wonder, if you could TOUCH her, whether that WARMTH would spread also to your CORE.\n\n[["I love you."|"I love you"]]\n\n[[You smooch her.|Smooch]]\n\n[[You rest your head on her chest.|Head rest]]\n\n[[You say nothing.|ED: Say Nothing]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $talk = "YES3">>\n<<endsilently>>"<<if $talkNow eq "YES">>Only because you think you're finally better than me! <<endif>>Fancy you starting up a conversation." Her VOICE shifts to a seemingly more nonchalant TONE. Yet you can SENSE her underlying FEAR. "Maybe it’ll snow tomorrow! What, are you happy that I can’t pilot my EVA?"\n\n[["No. Not at all."|"not at all"]]\n\n[["But you can pilot your EVA."|"but you can"]]\n\n[[You say nothing.|"Fancy you"-2]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $trust = $trust + 1>>\n<<set $talk = "YES11">>\n<<endsilently>>"Hey, Asuka, Ayanami - //oh//!" You recognise IKARI-KUN's VOICE. Perhaps IKARI-KUN is surprised by finding you and the GIRL you LOVE <<if $yuri eq "KISS">>kissing<<else if $yuri eq "HEAD">>cuddling<<else>>like this<<endif>>.\n\nYou could ignore the INTRUSION with your typical brand of APATHY. Yet ASUKA has stiffened from the UNWELCOME ATTENTION. With a small TWINGE of REGRET you lift your HEAD towards IKARI-KUN, who appears DUMBFOUNDED. "Wh - why - what - ?!"\n\n[["This is my girlfriend, Asuka."|girlfriend]]\n\n[["This is my quasiplatonic partner, Asuka."|qpp]]\n\n[[You say nothing.|say nothing]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $trust = $trust + 1>>\n<<endsilently>>"You're just saying that," ASUKA growls, but her TIMBRE has grown QUIETER. "Everyone's always just saying that." She inhales. The MOMENT lengthens.\n\n"It doesn't matter." Her WORDS press METAPHYSICAL NAILS into the back of your SKULL. Of course it matters. ASUKA matters. "There’s nothing to worry! If that Angel attacks us, the great, invincible Shinji-sama will take care of it for us! We don’t have to do anything! All they need is Shinji."\n\n[["They need us as well."|"They need us"]]\n\n[["I need you."|"I need you"]]\n\n[[You say nothing.|"Fancy you"-3]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $trust = $trust + 1>>\n<<set $talk = "YES12">>\n<<endsilently>>IKARI-KUN stares at you in AMAZEMENT. You grip ASUKA's HAND tightly as you step out of the ELEVATOR.\n\nTogether.\n\nYou're not quite CERTAIN what's about to happen. You're not even quite CERTAIN about what //has// happened. Yet since you first entered that ELEVATOR the WORLD has SHIFTED.\n\nYou were right. Her WARMTH has reached your CORE. You never want to let go.\n\n"I really wanna get outta these clothes. They're so, ugh, y'know?" Her TONE is nonchalant, casual, as though you two had been QUASIPLATONIC forever. "Wanna hit the locker rooms together, Rei?"\n\nYou must still face a DESTINY for which you never asked, must still REND APART the SOULS of HUMANITY, must still DISMANTLE the EARTH as you were ARTIFICIALLY CREATED to do. But this time, you FEEL as though you have ALTERED the COURSE.\n\nThis time, you are not [[alone|credits]].

<<silently>>\n<<set $trust = $trust + 1>>\n<<endsilently>>"Ugh. That's what they all say. You can, you can, you can. But what if I can't? What if - ?" ASUKA's jaw snaps shut. You HEAR her TEETH grating against one another. "Why am I telling you any of this?"\n\n[["Because I care about you."|"I care"]]\n\n[["Because your heart must open."|ED: Shut Up]]\n\n[[You say nothing.|"Fancy you"-2]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $talk = "YES4">>\n<<set $anger = $anger + 1>>\n<<endsilently>>"There’s nothing to worry! If that Angel attacks us, the great, invincible Shinji-sama will take care of it for us!"\n\nHer HEARTBEAT has risen; you can HEAR her HEART thudding against her STERNUM as though attempting to expose itself through the FLESH and BONE of her CHEST.\n\nA VISION flashes unbidden through your MIND, of another GREAT BEING with her CORE exposed, a RECEPTACLE for a FRUIT. The VIOLENT COLOURS fade back into the grey-blue of the ELEVATOR DOOR as ASUKA's WORDS cut through your thoughts.\n\n"We don’t have to do anything! All they need is Shinji!"\n\n[["I need you."|"I need you"]]\n\n[["You're afraid that they don't need you, aren't you?"|"question"]]\n\n[[You say nothing.|"Fancy you"-3]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $talk = "YES5">>\n<<set $anger = $anger + 1>>\n<<endsilently>>She SEETHES with FRUSTRATION and FEAR. Somehow you can almost FEEL her A.T. FIELD physically preventing you from facing her.\n\n"First, I get Shinji’s sympathy, and now, even from the mechanical puppet kid. I’ve really lost my edge."\n\n[["I am not a puppet."|ED: Shut Up Full]]\n\n[["You're afraid that they don't need you, aren't you?"|"question"]]\n\n[[You say nothing.|ED: Say Nothing]]

the hellevator

<<silently>>\n<<set $trust = $trust + 1>>\n<<set $talk = "YES10">>\n<<endsilently>>Her MOUTH closes. Her EYEBROWS slope downwards. Her BREATH catches in her THROAT, and the TENSION in her STANCE has drained away to leave the LIQUEFIED FORM of an OPEN SOUL.\n\nASUKA's EYES glisten. You feel WETNESS tracing a PATH down your CHEEK.\n\n"I... Wonder Kid..."\n\nYou know what these are.\n\nTears.\n\n[["My name is Rei."|Rei]]\n\n[[You smooch her.|Smooch]]\n\n[[You rest your head on her chest.|Head rest]]

<<silently>>\n<<set talk = "YES1">>\n<<set anger = anger + 1>>\n<<endsilently>>Her HEARTBEAT quickens. You're not entirely certain HOW you can sense her PULSE, but you've felt increasingly PERCEPTIVE in the past few days.\n\n"Those puppets?!" she snaps.\n\n[["You should know that."|"Fancy you"]]\n\n[["They're not puppets."|"not puppets"]]\n\n[[You say nothing.|ED: Say Nothing]]

You SENSE her lift her HAND long before her PALM connects to your CHEEK. The TASTE of ABSOLUTE TERROR and RAGE is coppery on your tongue.\n\nThe ELEVATOR dings. Your CHEEK throbs. The whites of her EYES glimmer as though wet with a film of TEARS.\n\n"You really //are// a puppet!" she screams. I’ve always really hated you because you’re so much like a puppet! //Everyone//! I hate //everyone//!"\n\nASUKA whirls around. She LEAVES. As always, you are [[alone|credits]].

<<silently>>\n<<set $trust = $trust + 1>>\n<<set $talk = "YES9">>\n<<endsilently>>She wavers. Her HEART is exposed; you can SEE the tendrils of ABANDONMENT and SEPARATION ANXIETY curling black around her SOUL. When she speaks her VOICE has diminished to a MURMUR: "I do have value, don't I?"\n\nHer WARMTH radiates across the GAP. You wonder, if you could TOUCH her, whether that WARMTH would spread also to your CORE.\n\n[["I love you."|"I love you"]]\n\n[[You smooch her.|Smooch]]\n\n[[You rest your head on her chest.|Head rest]]\n\n[[You say nothing.|ED: Say Nothing]]

<<if $talk eq "YES12">>[intense clapping] Congratulations on reaching the Good End.<<else>>You might not have been able to advance, but you can always [[redo|Start]].<<endif>>\n\nThank you for playing //the hellevator//, GC's first twine-test! If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, let GC know at fiendswithbenefits.tumblr.com or @queereva on Twitter.

<<silently>>\n<<set $anger = $anger + 1>>\n<<endsilently>>She slams her SHOE on the FLOOR. The VIBRATION trembles your SOLE. "Why the fuck would you ask me something like that? You think you can just say things to me?"\n\n[["I understand you."|ED: Shut Up]]\n\n[["I care about you."|"I care"]]\n\n<<if $talk eq "YES1">>[["...I'm sorry."|"Fancy you"]]\n\n<<endif>><<if $talk eq "YES4">>[["...I'm sorry."|"Fancy you"-3]]\n\n<<endif>>[[You say nothing.|ED: Say Nothing]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $anger = $anger + 1>>\n<<set $trust = $trust + 1>>\n<<endsilently>>"Shut the hell up! What else could they be? They can't do anything by themselves!" A thread of DESPERATION has slithered into her VOICE. "They're completely dependent on our orders!"\n\n[["Are you dependent on the orders of others?"|"question"]]\n\n[["No."|"Fancy you"]]\n\n[[You say nothing.|ED: Say Nothing]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $talk = "YES1">>\n<<set $anger = $anger + 1>>\n<<set $talkNow = "YES">>\n<<endsilently>>"What the hell does that mean?" You hear her cross her arms over her chest, a BARRIER between herself and the TRUTH. "Your heart's a million times more closed than mine! You never even say anything!"\n\n[["The EVA have souls."|"EVA have souls"]]\n\n[["I'm talking to you now."|"Fancy you"]]\n\n[[You say nothing.|ED: Say Nothing]]

You say NOTHING, as you always have. No matter the circumstances, the only WORDS to fall from your SOUL were those of NOTHINGNESS.<<if $talk eq "YES1">>\n\nASUKA locks her jaw. "I thought so. You really just a doll, aren't you? Shut up and back off." She returns to her POSITION leaning on the WALL. SILENCE falls.<<else if $talk eq "YES5">>\n\nASUKA locks her jaw. "You really just a doll, aren't you? A mechanical puppet. You're so damn pathetic." She returns to her POSITION leaning on the WALL. SILENCE falls.<<else if $TurnAround eq "TALK9">>\n\nShe seems uncomfortable in the QUIET. "What, got nothing else to say?" A PAUSE. "Hey." Another PAUSE. Your WORDS fail you. "Wonder Kid." Her SMILE wavers. "Rei."\n\nSilence.\n\nASUKA locks her jaw. "I thought so. No one needs me. Not even a mechanical puppet." Her BREATHS slow into those of RESIGNATION; you can HEAR the TEARS in her VOICE, no matter how she might try to hide them.\n\nThe DESPAIR has returned to film her EYES and shroud her HEART.\n\nShe turns away from you. The GAP widens into an IMPENETRABLE RIFT.\n\n"You really just a doll, aren't you? Shut up and back off." She returns to her POSITION leaning on the WALL. SILENCE falls.<<else if $TurnAround eq "YES">>\n\n"What, got nothing else to say?" ASUKA locks her jaw. "I thought so. No one needs me. Not even a mechanical puppet." Her BREATHS slow into those of RESIGNATION; you can HEAR the TEARS in her VOICE, no matter how she might try to hide them.\n\nThe DESPAIR has returned to film her EYES and shroud her HEART.\n\nShe turns away from you. The GAP widens into an IMPENETRABLE RIFT.\n\n"You really just a doll, aren't you? Shut up and back off." She returns to her POSITION leaning on the WALL. SILENCE falls.<<else if $talk eq "YES6">>\n\n"What, got nothing else to say?" ASUKA locks her jaw. "I thought so. No one needs me. Not even a mechanical puppet." Her BREATHS slow into those of RESIGNATION; you can HEAR the TEARS in her VOICE, no matter how she might try to hide them. "You really just a doll, aren't you? Shut up and back off." She returns to her POSITION leaning on the WALL. SILENCE falls.<<else if $talk eq "YES8">>\n\nASUKA locks her jaw. "I thought so. I don't matter to anyone, don't mean anything to anyone. No one needs me. Not even a mechanical puppet." Her BREATHS slow into those of RESIGNATION; you can HEAR the TEARS in her VOICE, no matter how she might try to hide them. "You really just a doll, aren't you? Shut up and back off." She returns to her POSITION leaning on the WALL. SILENCE falls.<<else if $ShutUp eq "YES">>\n\nASUKA locks her jaw. "I thought so. You don't even know what to say." She returns to her POSITION leaning on the WALL. "S'not like you know what being human is. S'not like you know what it's like to die." SILENCE falls.<<endif>>\n\nThe ELEVATOR dings. ASUKA leaves.\n\nAs always, you are [[alone|credits]].

<<silently>>\n<<set $ShutUp = "YES">>\n<<endsilently>><<if $talk eq "YES8">>ASUKA stiffens.<<if $TurnAround eq "YES">> Her BROW furrows for a moment as though processing your WORDS.<<endif>> You recognise your EARLY INTERVENTION in the instant before she<<else>>ASUKA<<endif>> intakes a BREATH more accurately described as a GASP of RAGE. Her HAND lands on your SHOULDER. AGONY erupts down your ARM.\n\n"Don't you dare talk to like that. Like you know me. Like you could possibly know my pain. Like ... like you can see into my heart!" Her FINGERNAILS claw into your SKIN, leaving behind horned moons of PAIN. "You don't even know what it's like to live! Hell, you’d die if Commander Ikari told you to, wouldn’t you?"\n\n[["Yes."|ED: Puppet]]\n\n[[You say nothing.|ED: Say Nothing]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $anger = $anger + 1>>\n<<endsilently>>She sniffs, as if to announce her PRESENCE. You ACKNOWLEDGE her EXISTENCE.\n\n"The EVA won’t move unless you open your heart," you say. It's all you can think of.\n\nYour CUTTING WORDS prompt her to ANGER. "Are you saying my heart is closed?!" she snaps. You can hear her BLACK SHOES tap on the FLOOR as she shift her POSITION to one of SELF-DEFENCE.\n\n[["Yes, the EVA have souls."|"EVA have souls"]]\n\n[["Yes, your heart is closed."|"heart is closed"]]\n\n[[You say nothing.|ED: Say Nothing]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $trust = $trust + 1>>\n<<set $talk = "YES10">>\n<<set $yuri = "HEAD">>\n<<endsilently>><<if $talk eq "TALK9">>ASUKA's EYES glisten. You feel WETNESS tracing a PATH down your CHEEK.\n\n"I... Wonder Kid..."\n\nYou know what these are.\n\nTears.\n<<endif>>\nYou gently take her HANDS into YOURS, your FINGERS resting in the valleys between her KNUCKLES. When you lower your HEAD down you notice how her ARMS tremble. As do yours.\n\nYou touch your FOREHEAD to her CHEST. ASUKA rests her CHIN on your the crown of your HEAD; you FEEL her HEARTBEAT at the hollow of her THROAT. You hug her, FINGERS linking behind her back. Returning the EMBRACE, she presses you closer to her in an envelope of HEAT and COMFORT.\n\n<<if $Rei eq "NO">>"Rei..."\n\nYour NAME. No, your IDENTITY, from a VOICE you'd never thought you'd hear like this: directed towards you with a TONE so affectionate, so genuinely IN LOVE.\n\nYou respond with the NAME of the GIRL you LOVE: "Asuka."\n<<endif>>\nHer EMBRACE is warm and her SKIN is soft and you think that you could like this FOREVER.\n\nThe ELEVATOR [[dings|ding]].

<<silently>>\n<<set $trust = $trust + 1>>\n<<set $talk = "YES10">>\n<<set $yuri = "KISS">>\n<<endsilently>><<if $talk eq "TALK9">>ASUKA's EYES glisten. You feel WETNESS tracing a PATH down your CHEEK.\n\n"I... Wonder Kid..."\n\nYou know what these are.\n\nTears.\n<<endif>>\nYou gently take her HANDS into YOURS, your FINGERS resting in the valleys between her KNUCKLES. When you tilt your CHIN up you notice how her LIPS have parted slightly. A PUFF of HEAT warms your NOSE.\n\nYou stand on your TIPTOES. ASUKA's TONGUE tastes like COFFEE. Your FAVOURITE TASTE is presently COFFEE.\n\n<<if $Rei eq "NO">>"Rei..."\n\nYour NAME. No, your IDENTITY, from a VOICE you'd never thought you'd hear like this: directed towards you with a TONE so affectionate, so genuinely IN LOVE.\n\nYou respond with the NAME of the GIRL you LOVE: "Asuka."\n<<endif>>\nHer MOUTH is warm and her SKIN is soft and you think that you could stay like this FOREVER.\n\nThe ELEVATOR [[dings|ding]].

<<silently>>\n<<set $ShutUp = "YES">>\n<<endsilently>>""Shut up!"\n\nASUKA stiffens. You recognise the FEAR in her SOUL flare up in SHADES of RED and GOLD in the instant before she intakes a BREATH more accurately described as a GASP of RAGE.\n\n"You do whatever you’re told! You’d die if Commander Ikari told you to, wouldn’t you?"\n\n[["Yes."|ED: Puppet]]\n\n[[You say nothing.|ED: Say Nothing]]

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