<ShepherdsPie> The pilots are sitting down to lunch at the on base cafeteria. Rose sits down with a plate of sushi; it is almost exactly like the sushi she had made herself when she fist introduced herself to the pilots, back at the high school.
* Adrastea is already picking at a plate of rather un-appetizing plate of the typical artificially processed food served at the cafeteria.
* Tyler_Xu is slowly eating a bowl of noodles. Ramen, it would seem this time.
<ShepherdsPie> "It appears that we will be working together from now on." Rose says, "So, I think that we should get to know one another better." She smiles at Delphine, "I know Adrastea well enough," She looks over to Tyler, "But other than what Catherine has told me, I don't really know you anything about you, Tyler."
* Tyler_Xu chews his food and swallows before replying. "Doesn't really seem to be that much to tell. Been with some military force or the other ever since I could remember... And what stories did cat tell of me?"
<ShepherdsPie> Rose looks down for a moment, "I mean... had told me..." She corrects herself slowly.
* Adrastea winces.
<Tyler_Xu> "...She still lives... In me if not in some far away place. Don't worry about it. Please, I would like to hear more of what she said."
<ShepherdsPie> Rose looks back up to Tyler, "Oh, she always talked about how you were such a great person." She says, "She also said that when she first met you, you had said you were an intern for NERV."
* Adrastea looks at Tyler, curious.
* Tyler_Xu stratches his head. "Strange times. When I first got into Miami, Cat didn't know anything about what her father did. Me and max cooked that story up on the spot to explain why we were here in the first place.2
<ShepherdsPie> "She also said that you two tried to be there for her after her father died, but you two were kicked out by... her maid? Something to that effect."
<Tyler_Xu> "Something like that. OD Winters died during an angel attack... Someone had to break the news and me and Max volunteered..." he leans back in his chair, "I tried to spin a over story but max couldn't control his emotions. He told her almost everything. I wonder if she would been caught up in all this if she only had not known..."
<ShepherdsPie> "She said Easterling asked if she wanted to join." Rose says, "Your Easterling, not our Easterling."
<ShepherdsPie> Rose takes a piece of sushi and eats it.
<Adrastea> "She might have been acting under orders," Delphine protests.
<Tyler_Xu> "...damn that woman..." he sighs, "but no real use worry about what-ifs... That she might, Adra. Still doesn't make it any nicer."
<Adrastea> "Nice? If you're given orders, you don't have a choice, 'nice' doesn't factor into it!"
<ShepherdsPie> Rose looks between Tyler and Delphine. "Are you two okay?"
<Tyler_Xu> "I have to live, wondering if she would have survived if not for a single question. No adra, it is not 'nice' for me either."
<Adrastea> "I just...don't want you blaming Easterling for it, Tyler. Please."
* Tyler_Xu sighs. "No, shes not all that bad. Someones pulling all of our strings. Hers included..."
* Adrastea winces again at the choice of the phrase Tyler chose. "Y-yes. Somethhing like that."
<ShepherdsPie> "It was Catherine's decision." Rose states with a hint of anger, "She wanted revenge, I doubt asking or not asking her would have changed anything. She ... was just that kind of person."
<Tyler_Xu> "She might have tried but few people would have taken her too seriously... But yea, she would have tried. Maybe it didn't matter at all." He rubs his face.
<ShepherdsPie> Rose looks around during the awkward silence. "What... do you think would have happened if she was never recruited?" She asks to end the quiet.
<Adrastea> "Foster care," Delphine states flatly.
<Tyler_Xu> "Probably." He returns his attention to his food.
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<ShepherdsPie> "So, Tyler." Rose says, "Is there anything about me you would like to know?"
<Adrastea> "If you ask her three sizes, I will punch you," Delphine warns.
<Tyler_Xu> "Is that a dare adra?" he smiles, "I just might try it."
<ShepherdsPie> "Oh?" Rose asks, "Is Tyler... one of those kinds of people?"
* Adrastea brandishes her fork at Tyler threateningly. "Not really. I think spending too much time around Takeshi has just made me paranoid."
* Tyler_Xu holds up his hands in mock surrender. "alright alright, no need to stab in the eyes. Rose, where was your home? How in the world did you end up as a pilot?"
<ShepherdsPie> "Both of my parents died and NERV seemed like a better alternative to the foster system." Rose responds bluntly before taking another piece of sushi.
* Adrastea asks after a moment, "What's having a family like?"
<ShepherdsPie> "I never really knew my father, and my mother ... my mother was not a very good mother." Rose responds to Delphine, "So, I am unsure about what it means to have a real family, as I am not sure I ever had one."
<Tyler_Xu> "Mine wasn't normal. My foster mother was a Sgt Major in the Marine Corp. My family was the unit. It has kinda hard but they never did let you down."
<Adrastea> "Oh..." said Delphine, in a small voice.
<ShepherdsPie> "Oh?" Rose asks, "What was that like, Tyler?"
<Tyler_Xu> "Kinda strange. Very strict. I joined the drills, lessons and exercises. Pushed me as hard as I could go. I think they were expecting me to join when I was of age. Didn't really expect NERV to come my way."
<ShepherdsPie> "Why... did you sound so ... disappointed, Adrastea?" Rose asks.
<Adrastea> "I've just always wondered what a normal family was like, that's all. I'm sorry if I offended you."
<Tyler_Xu> "We're all oddballs. I guess that makes us family? Heh."
<ShepherdsPie> Rose shakes her head, "No, it is fine." She then turns back to Tyler, "So, did NERV not give you a choice in joining?"
<Tyler_Xu> "The choice wasn't mind to make. I was taught to serve in the greatest capacity I could. When they told me I could be a pilot, there really was no choice at all."
<ShepherdsPie> "I see." Rose says. "I guess we are family then, in some sense." She looks over the Delphine, "I guess that makes us sisters, doesn't it?"
* Adrastea blinks, confused, for several moments. "I...guess it does. I've never had a sister before, or at least one I knew. I've been told that the girl whose genetic material I'm based off of is dead, so..."
* Tyler_Xu lightly hits adra's head. "You're you. Not some carbon copy."
<Adrastea> "I know that, but she's the closest to a sister I've ever had."
<Tyler_Xu> "No longer, Rose is your new closest sister."
<ShepherdsPie> Rose nods, "He is correct."
* Adrastea drums her fingers on the table. "Under this family analogy, wouldn't that make Easterling our mother?"
<Tyler_Xu> "You would like that wouldn't you?"
<Adrastea> "W-what does that mean?"
<Tyler_Xu> "Thoooough, you wouldn't want max as your brother, hmmm?" He smiles evily
<Adrastea> "I'm not particularly eager to partake in incest, no."
<ShepherdsPie> "But you are eager to partake in Max, yes?" Rose asks.
<Adrastea> "Let's say it's an appealing prospect."
* Tyler_Xu chuckles.
<ShepherdsPie> Rose giggles and says, "Oh my. So, what is Max like, if you do not mind me asking?"
<Adrastea> "He's honest, sweet, and a little bit clumsy about things..."
<Tyler_Xu> "Very clumsy. Sometimes doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut."
<ShepherdsPie> "Oh? I take it he can never keep his story straight."
<Adrastea> "Something like that. There's only two things I know of that he's managed to keep secret. I can't tell you what they are, of course."
<ShepherdsPie> "Oh? Well, now I need to know." Rose comments, "What are the secrets?"
<Tyler_Xu> "3? Hes missing one size then."
<Adrastea> "I haven't let hem feel the third one yet, Tyler," Adrastea retorts. "One of the secrets has to do with my most recent death, the other, I absolutely can't tell you anything it relates to.
<Adrastea> *"
<Tyler_Xu> "...wait.. feel? so.. hes..."
<ShepherdsPie> "Oh my. Max is quite the man, it seems." Rose comments with a giggle. "But... wait... your death?"
<Adrastea> "We've discussed this, Rose. I'm a clone, right? Whenever I die they just remake me? It's how I lost weight so fast."
<ShepherdsPie> "O-oh. Is that how you..." Rose makes a motion around the form of Delphine's body. "What ... what is that like?"
<Adrastea> "Honestly? It's like waking up the next morning. I don't remember the events of my death, just the last time they recorded my brain patterns...so around every other day, when we do our syncro tests."
<ShepherdsPie> "I see..." Rose says.
<Tyler_Xu> "sounds like crap."
* Adrastea shrugs. "It's only happened 3 times or so, and they don't ever tell me directly that I've died. The month or so gap and the loss of every scar and imperfection make it easy to guess, though."
* Tyler_Xu gets up. "If you'll excuse me. Nature calls. I'll be back in a bit."
* Adrastea plays with her fork. "I also don't have a navel and I suspect, but I've never proven, that there's a tattoo of a number or barcode somewhere on my body that only shows up under certain wavelengths. I'm probably just being paranoid, though. Any other questions?"
* Tyler_Xu leaves the table
<ShepherdsPie> "Mmm... Not really..." Rose says. She nods to Tyler as he leaves. Once he is out of earshot, she quickly turns back to Delphine and asks, "So, what's Max like? ... In the ... romantic sense?"
* Adrastea smiles. "A little naive, and quick to champion me if anyone - particularly Takeshi - makes a move."
<ShepherdsPie> "Oh?" She asks, "He's the jealous type?"
* Adrastea blushes heavily. "It's...probably for the best. I'm um, susceptible to um, being swept off my feet by near any scoundrel that makes the right moves. I'm not very used to being called attractive."
<ShepherdsPie> "Oh my." Rose says. She eats another piece of sushi and then asks, "So what is Max like when... you know you... You two are ... alone together?" She smiles devilishly.
<Adrastea> "W-we haven't gone very far," Delphine protests. "And neither of us are particularly good at making moves."
<Adrastea> "What about you, who do YOU like?"
<ShepherdsPie> "W-who do I like?" Rose asks, "I ... I never really thought of that, but I did like messing with Boris." She smiles, "But now he's a million miles away so it doesn't really matter." She sighs.
<Adrastea> "He's only a few thousand miles away, it's not THAT impossible. I would have pegged you for going after the nerd type, though."
<ShepherdsPie> "W-why would you think something like that?" Rose asks.
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* Solus_Aldrain is now known as Takeshi_Kovacs
<Adrastea> "You seem like you'd like a cute boy to boss around," Delphine grinned.
<ShepherdsPie> Rose blushes. "I... I won't say that the thought hasn't crossed my mind."
* Takeshi_Kovacs walks into the cafeteria, carrying a small stack of envelopes and a tiny grin.
* Adrastea looks up at him. "Should I go call a bomb squad?" she whispers.
<Adrastea> *to Rose
<ShepherdsPie> "Hm?" Rose looks over to see Takeshi. She sighs and says to Delphine, "It's fine. Easterling told me something. In short, he shouldn't be any trouble anymore."
<Adrastea> "Oh? This should be interesting."
<Takeshi_Kovacs> "And why is that? When have I ever bothered you?" Takeshi, says confused, "You should speak properly; I cant bother you again if I ever bothered you before."
<ShepherdsPie> Rose looks over to Takeshi, "I'm sorry, I must have had you confused with someone else." She says, "My sincerest apologies."
* Adrastea looks puzzled. "So, Takeshi, what are the envelopes?"
* Takeshi_Kovacs hands Andra an envelope with her name on it, "Here, you go Andra," he says, handing her a wedding invitation.
* Takeshi_Kovacs shuffles through the stack, "Hmm, and what is your name," he said, directing his question to Rose.
<ShepherdsPie> "Oh, we haven't met. I doubt you would have anything for me." She says.
<Takeshi_Kovacs> "You know that doesn't answer my question."
<ShepherdsPie> "Well, a gentlemen should introduce himself first before asking the name of a lady."
<Takeshi_Kovacs> "My name is Takeshi Kovacs, pilot of The Leviathan."
<Takeshi_Kovacs> "And you are?"
<ShepherdsPie> "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Takeshi Kovacs, pilot of the Leviathan." She says, "I am Rose Dupaul."
* Takeshi_Kovacs begins shuffling through the stack upon hearing her name, "Uh-huh. Nice to meet you Rose." He finds her envelope and hands it to her, "Ah, you must be one of my fiance's friends. Here you go."
<ShepherdsPie> She takes the envelope. "Well, I guess I am." She says.
* Takeshi_Kovacs organizes his deliveries and turns to leave, "I guess I'll see you two later."
<Adrastea> "I...guess, yes."
* Takeshi_Kovacs walks out of the cafeteria holding up a gesture of farewell.
* Takeshi_Kovacs whips out his cellphone in an attempt to call Tyler
<Adrastea> "I'm not sure what to be more confused about. His change, which I...think I understand, though I'm really, really scared now, or the fact he's engaged."
<ShepherdsPie> "I think the fact that he is engaged is scarier." Rose comments.
<Adrastea> "To you. Did you know that Takeshi was...more or less, my prototype? If they can do this to him, what's to say they can't do it to me? Or have already done it?"
<ShepherdsPie> "I... I'm sorry." She says, "I didn't know. I ... That is scary, but they wouldn't have done that to you, right? I mean, Takeshi is something else entirely."
<Tyler_Xu> "Just meet me at the table. I'll be there in abit."
* Takeshi_Kovacs moves back inside and sits where Andra and Rose were, "Back again. So, what have I missed?"
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* Latooni (Latooni@Rizon-E58641C4.lightspeed.sndgca.sbcglobal.net) has joined #miami_ic
<ShepherdsPie> "Hello again. You have missed nothing, actually." Rose says.
* Latooni is now known as Adrastea
* Tyler_Xu returns to the table
<Takeshi_Kovacs> "Uh huh. You know-- Oh, hey Ty." Takeshi rummages through the stack of letters, "Here's your invitation to the wedding."
<ShepherdsPie> "Hello again, Tyler." Rose says.
<Tyler_Xu> Oh thanks... You're finally going through with it..."
<Takeshi_Kovacs> "Yup! The wedding is in a few weeks and I wanted to get everyone in the loop before I tied the knot."
<Adrastea> "This sounds too much like a noose analogy."
<Takeshi_Kovacs> "Andra, you like death a little too much. Have I told you that?"
<ShepherdsPie> "Who's noose, I wonder." Rose says.
<Adrastea> "No, but NERV psychologists do all the time."
<Takeshi_Kovacs> "Okay, we have two out of three. Tyler, do you planning on hating on my wedding, too?"
<Tyler_Xu> "If shes happy with it, its not for me to say."
<Takeshi_Kovacs> "Ok."
<ShepherdsPie> Rose eats another piece of sushi.
<Takeshi_Kovacs> "Yeah, NERV shrinks creep me out. I've been seeing shrinks for a long time. Thank goodness it stopped. I was getting tired of hearing about 'anger issues', 'explosive temper' and 'homicidal thoughts'."
<Adrastea> "When did it stop?"
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<Takeshi_Kovacs_> "Before I joined NERV Miami," Takeshi said, slowly reaching for Rose's sushi, "the shrinks decided I was without redemption and they said I couldn't be helped."
<ShepherdsPie> As Takeshi goes to reach for one of the pieces of sushi, Rose stabs down her chopsticks around Takeshi's fingers. "It is rude to take things without asking." She states.
* Takeshi_Kovacs has quit (Ping timeout: 240 seconds)
* Takeshi_Kovacs_ is now known as Takeshi_Kovacs
<Takeshi_Kovacs> "Hmm? What have I taken from you?"
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<Tyler_Xu> "The sushi, obviously?"
* Takeshi_Kovacs pulls his hands from the chopsticks, grabbing a piece of sushi as he does so, "This sushi?" he asks, "I suppose so," he adds between chews, "My apologies. I haven't had sushi in forever."
<ShepherdsPie> "You have the subtlety of a thunderstorm, Takeshi Kovacs, pilot of the Leviathan." Rose says, "And the manners of a pig."
<Takeshi_Kovacs> "Yeah, you might think my methods are crude, but here's what you don't understand: I still got the sushi."
* Takeshi_Kovacs licks his fingers quickly, "Mmm, that was tasty."
<Adrastea> "Are you going to tell him that was wasabi?" Delphine asked Rose.
<ShepherdsPie> "I will let him figure that out on his own." Rose responds.
<Takeshi_Kovacs> "So this had wasabi in it, that explains why it is so tasty. Sorry to disappoint, but was never spicy to me."
<ShepherdsPie> "It did not have wasabi, it WAS wasabi." Rose corrects Takeshi.
<Takeshi_Kovacs> "Ah. Oh well."
<Takeshi_Kovacs> "I'll have better luck next time."
<ShepherdsPie> Rose takes another piece of her sushi and eats it.
<Takeshi_Kovacs> "Man, I haven't gotten in a fight in forever. Hey, Ty, are you ever scared of losing your edge as a pilot?"
<Tyler_Xu> "I probably am already. I'm not in the cockpit as mch as I should. Busy making sure the base the forces are ready to support us."
<Takeshi_Kovacs> "I don't know why you waste your time playing with the distractions. The only thing that can kill a hurricane is the Leviathan."
<Tyler_Xu> "You've killed one, o
<Tyler_Xu> to date."
<Adrastea> "That was an inert core."
<ShepherdsPie> "Logistics is just as important as weapons, Takeshi, if not more important." Rose remarks before eating another piece.
<Takeshi_Kovacs> "Yeah, unfortunately all the others blew up in my face. "
<Takeshi_Kovacs> "I can kill hurricanes easily enough. It's just they all cop out and blow the hell up. That's why I got transferred in the first place."
<ShepherdsPie> "It does not matter who kills a Hurricane as long as it is dead." Rose comments.
<Takeshi_Kovacs> "It does matter. I aim to kill every hurricane I come across. If not, then put it in a world of hurt."
<Takeshi_Kovacs> "I love this place too much to have to move again."
<Adrastea> "Aren't you a noble sweetheart."
<Takeshi_Kovacs> "I try."
<Takeshi_Kovacs> "Well," Takeshi says, getting up, "I have to finish delivering these invitations. Good bye to you all."
<ShepherdsPie> "Good bye, Takeshi Kovacs, pilot of the Leviathan."
<Tyler_Xu> "Later, Takeshi."
* Adrastea tries to suppress a smile at Rose's comment. "Goodbye."
<Takeshi_Kovacs> "Don't make fun of my piloting skills. I mean it."
* Takeshi_Kovacs walks out of the cafeteria, carrying his stack of envelopes.
* Takeshi_Kovacs has quit (Quit: ChatZilla 0.9.87 [Firefox 3.6.20/20110803131630])
<ShepherdsPie> "Well, I see he hasn't changed at all." Rose comments.
<Adrastea> "No, he hasn't. I'm just...going to pretend you never suggested to Easterling that she should selectively delete his memories, though."
<ShepherdsPie> "I never suggested it." Rose says, "I was just told about it."
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<Tyler_Xu> "Delete his memories?"
<Adrastea> "He didn't remember Rose, nor did he challenge her."
<Tyler_Xu> "Ohhh... So thats why something felt strange. It was wayy to peaceful when he was around."
<ShepherdsPie> "And so the secret is uncovered." Rose states.
<Tyler_Xu> "it was worth it. At least that headaches gone."
<ShepherdsPie> Rose sighs, "With how he acts, I'm not sure if it will last for very long."
* Adrastea sighs, and looks away, upset.
<Tyler_Xu> "Whats wrong, Adra?"
<Adrastea> "Easterling told me there was only one thing deleted recently, but I'm still nervous."
<ShepherdsPie> Rose looks over to Delphine, then looks down, and then looks back to Delphine. "She's the kind of person who lies a lot, isn't she?" Rose asks.
<Tyler_Xu> "abut what, i could check up on it."
<Adrastea> "I don't know what was deleted. She's...honest wherever she can be. She's let me know things as best she could even if she was forbidden from telling me."
<Tyler_Xu> "and are you afraid yors might have been modified too?"
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<Adrastea> "Oh, I know at least one thing's been modified. She told me it was minor and I was better off without it, though."
<ShepherdsPie> "And... You trust her telling you that?" Rose asks with a concerned look on her face.
<Adrastea> "I don't have much choice, but I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt."
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<ShepherdsPie> Rose sighs and leans back in her seat. "So when you say that she can be honest whenever she wants to be. You mean that she isn't honest at all."
<Adrastea> "Whenever she CAN be! There's a difference!"
<ShepherdsPie> "My apologies, but I can not see much of a difference." Rose says, standing up straight in her seat once more.
* Adrastea struggles. "When...When I'm ordered by NERV, it's almost impossible to disobey. It's almost, implanted in me."
<ShepherdsPie> "But... That's you." Rose says, "That's not her. That's ... That's not the rest of us."
<Tyler_Xu> "What do you mean, Rose?"
<ShepherdsPie> "I mean..." Rose sighs, "Like me, you, Max ... everyone. We ... We can disobey orders."
<Tyler_Xu> "We have a choice. We can disobey and face the consequences. Adra literally cannot do so."
<Adrastea> "The commander is like me. The two Easterlings are...not siblings by birth."
<ShepherdsPie> Rose looks to Tyler, and then to Delphine. "Are you sure?"
<Adrastea> "I might as well tell you the rest of what I've learned about her. Easterling - that is, our, Easterling - once had a daughter who died young. Her name was Delphine."
<Tyler_Xu> WIT's somehow hardcoded into her. I could give her terrible orders and short of a inhuman act of will, she would have to follow them."
<Tyler_Xu> "....Ohhhh Boy."
<Adrastea> "Yes, Tyler has the authority to give just about any order he wants to me, and I'll follow them."
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<Tyler_Xu> "Thats a very good reaon why I don't do so these days."
<ShepherdsPie> "So... You're the commander's daughter?" Rose says.
<Adrastea> "I'm the clone of the commander's daughter, yes."
<ShepherdsPie> "And she made it so you have to follow every command someone gives you?"