GBG Session 6.5: Sorting it Out

<Darkling> "Well, at the moment there's no good news. Not until I hear from base again." Lit explains, looking none too pleased that he has to pass on what he's been told.
<Darkling> "It appears that one of the workers at the harvest dome that was attacked got a hold of the feed from the cameras, and leaked it to the media."
Rasia stares at him, clearly ignorant of the implications of that.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> ". . ."
<Darkling> "You're likely unaware, though might have guessed, that the Aesir are not known publicly. Until now there has been no outside footage of them, anywhere."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja's posture stiffens a bit. She takes a deep breath. It doesn't seem to be working.
<Corrin> "Until now, sir?"
<Darkling> "Well, the footage from the weather camera is a bit blurry, but its enough to get a lot of people asking questions and rumors stirring."
<Darkling> "Before you worry, your identities are safe. Nothing but video footage was leaked, and none of that can be traced to you in any way."
Corrin nods. "Can't NERV simply order the footage to be destroyed, sir?"
<Darkling> "Of course, they could do a cover up and destroy the footage, that could cause other complications though."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...better to spin than deny."
Corrin looks confused.
<Darkling> "While we don't want to cause panic, EI may lean to being more open."
Rasia tics, standing up straighter.
Corrin waits for the Captain to continue, still in the same posture.
<Darkling> "I have no idea what they are going to choose to do. They'll be in meeting for the rest of the night likely."
<Darkling> He takes a seat finally. "I've been asked to find out your feelings on the matter, and how you would feel about denying it, or telling the public the truth."
Corrin just stands there, listening. His brow furrows as he processes the Captain's words.
<Darkling> "So?"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja looks from one pilot to the other, then finally to Lit. "It's not something we can keep a secret forever."
<Corrin> "I'll do what I'm ordered to, sir." Corrin responds after a while. "It's all the same to me."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...I...really don't care."
<Darkling> Lit nods, listening to each of them.
<Rasia> Rasia, for obvious reasons, declines to reply. We're honestly pretty lucky she's still paying attention.
Corrin is wavering a bit, but staying in his posture as much as he can.
<Darkling> "Well I don't know what will happen exactly, but you should think about it a bit more. I doubt they will put you in the spotlight, it's too risky. I do think they'll try to explain the Aesir though."
Corrin nods again.
<Darkling> "I have some paperwork I need to do now, try not to take this badly." He gets up and heads to his room.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja's posture relaxes. Or maybe it's a disappointed slump. Either way, she nods in acknowledgement. "That's fine. The media would probably have a field day with us anyway."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...some things even the public shouldn't know." He slips his hands into his pockets.
<Corrin> "Why?"
Corrin is looking at Lahja as he speaks, dropping into the nearest chair now that Lit is gone.
<Corrin> *Why's that?
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He runs a hand through his hair and heads for the balcony again.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja looks at Corrin for a few long moments. "Because we're children. What do you think the popular opinion on child soldiers is?"
<Rasia> It doesn't take long for Rasia to abandon the conversation in pursuit of Wilhelm. 'Child soldier' was a word she didn't like anyway.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...what?" He looks to Rasia, eyes narrowed.
<Rasia> She doesn't sign anything. But her gaze is harder than usual, and she doesn't leave the ladder.
Corrin shrugs. "I don't know, but it's our duty to pilot the Aesir. Without NERV, we wouldn't be here. None of us would. They have to understand what NERV does, right?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...don't stare...just...leave me alone." He's up onto the roof.
<Rasia> Sheeee doesn't seem to be obliging you.
Lahja_Ilvainen> "We're a necessity, yes, but I don't expect everyone to understand." Lahja's tone sounds much like that of an annoyed parent or teacher lecturing a child. "For everyone who thinks it's great there will be someone else who's going to analyze every single quirk we have and loudly proclaim that we're the abused, brainwashed slaves of an evil organization."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> ". . ." He'll ignore her then, an arm across his eyes as he lies there.
<Rasia> Creep, creep...could he hear her coming?
<Corrin> "Well, they're wrong. And they should know better than to talk like that. You'd think they'd want the enemy to win." Corrin huffs. "And quirks? What quirks? I don't have quirks!"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> If he could, he couldn't. Blocking her and the rest of the dome out.
<Rasia> --That seems unwise. Two hands smash into his chest and stomach, one each. Neither is damaging, but it'd wind the Aryan.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He curls up and rolls into his side if possible, managing only to gasp when he wishes to insult.
<Rasia> Wilhelm gets manhandled, forced onto his back and his eyes uncovered, only to be met with hers. That isn't aggression...
<Rasia> It's...anger? No, little more complex...why couldn't you be better at talking with your eyes, you stupid beast.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He stares up at her. A cough as he catches his breath, but he doesn't look away.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja gives Corrin a blank stare. "Well, Pilot Corrin, to start, do any of us have much in the way of friends at school?"
Rasia sits up, giving the simple message 'no moon'.
<Corrin> "No." Corrin replies, eyes closed.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...I'm not here to look at the moons tonight."
Rasia grabs his lapels, shaking the boy and signing it again, more vigorously.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Expect people to nitpick. Expect people to be stupid. Most people aren't trained to recognize their superiors and follow orders." Lahja says, her tone steadily growing sharper.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He grabs at her arms. "Stop it, I'm going to get a headache."
<Rasia> Ahh, there's that familiar low growl.
<Corrin> "So expect the worst?" Corrin says, slightly drowsily.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Has her skin always been this warm? He frowns a bit, reaching up to feel her forehead with one hand.
<Rasia> She's pretty toasty. Are you sure it isn't you?
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Yes." She says with a nod, sounding slightly less annoyed. "Expect the worst."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He pulls his hand away. He knew there was a diffrence in his body temperature now, but...
Rasia finally lets go of his clothes, sniffing at him. She thinks you're chilly too, it seems.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Can he really blame her?
<Corrin> "You're a good shot, Pilot Lahja." Corrin comments absently, slumped in the chair. "What was your score?"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Thank you, but my score?" She asks, obviously having no clue. On the bright side, she sounds almost jovial now. "I was never graded at shooting things."
<Rasia> Another growl. She stands.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He sits up, watching her warily.
<Corrin> "Oh." Corrin says, disappointed.
<Darkling> A random voice screams down the street. Looks like some people having a good time. "Look a me! I'm a giant robot! RAWR!"
Corrin realizes something, and suddenly jerks upright, looking around the common room for a certain fuzzy shape...
<Rasia> Hel backs her way out of a milk glass, licking her nose. ?:3
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "At least... not to my knowledge." She seems to say this more to herself, looking more than a little disturbed. "What was it like for you before you came here, Pilot Corrin?"
Rasia clenches and unclenches her fists a few times, her eyebrows pushed together.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He lays back down, closing his eyes.
<Darkling> Lit finally shambles out of his room and into the common area, he looks at his watch, then to Corrin and Lahja.
Corrin keeps an eye on the furball, but glances at Lahja. "It was different." he says simply. "We spent most of the time preparing for wherever we-" He stops abruptly. "Sir!"
<Darkling> "Carry on." He waves a hand dismissively.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> She salutes Lit with a smile, then looks to Corrin, echoing Lit's words, albeit with a lot of enthusiasm. "Carry on!"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...you can stay...if you want." He opens an eye.
<Darkling> Lit picks up Hel, and opens the fridge peering in. "I bet you want a snack too."
<Rasia> :3~ Hel dangles from the huge man's huge hand, staring into the fridge.
<Corrin> "Yes, sir." Corrin responds. "It was different." he repeats, tone now subdued. "Mostly training. Preparing for our assignments. Some of us were more focused than others."
<Rasia> Rasia sits, some feet away, on all fours. Her head cocks back, listening to the city.
<Darkling> Lit pulls out some fish, placing it on the counter and breaking off a piece for the kitten.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...you said you were made to pilot."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I see." Lahja nods, somewhat disappointed. "There were no others where I was. It was just me."
<Rasia> She nods, gaze dropping to her hands.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...we're alike, that way."
Rasia puts her finger to her nose.
Corrin pauses, uncertain, then speaks. "Well, there are four of us here. All focused on fighting the enemy."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I never knew there was an enemy before I came here. It's nice." Lahja responds in a pleasant tone.
<Darkling> Lit seems content feeding Hel, who is content on his shoulder eating.
Corrin nods. "Good to know what we were training for."
<Darkling> "It's always good to have a purpose." Lit chimes in as he walks over, leaving the kitchen behind.
<Corrin> "Yes, sir."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...is that right?"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "It is, sir." Lahja nods in agreement. "Do you enjoy your job, sir?"
<Rasia> Her mouthguard flexes. She tried to smile.
<Darkling> "I do. It's my duty to care for you, the saviors of our world. It is a big responsibility I do not take lightly."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He sits up and reaches over, fingertips almost touching the latch.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja beams. Her ego just got stroked.
<Rasia> She pulls away, far too fast for it to have been a conscious reaction.
Corrin does his best to repress the grin that appears on his face anyway a moment later. "Thank you, sir."
<Darkling> He takes a seat again, Hel pawing at his beard.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "..." Hrm.
Corrin watches the kitten, for once just looking at the animal. "Careful, sir..." he warns. "It almost got a grip there."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> For a moment or two Lahja wonders if that's how Lit got his scars. She decides not to ask.
Rasia looks back at him.
<Darkling> "She's just getting comfy. Takes more than a kitten to hurt me." He grins and chuckles.
Corrin nods and looks away. When it gets a good grip and tugs...
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...I don't know why...but thanks."
Rasia narrows her eyes at him.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> ". . ." He snorts and looks away.
<Rasia> She snorts back!
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Another snort...and what might have been a brief laugh. He's quick to get it under control
<Corrin> "Another one dead and gone."
Corrin grins again, right hand flexing.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He stands. "...I'm going to bed."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He offers he a hand, though he's confident she won't take it.
<Rasia> She doesn't, but she stands up after.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Good to know some things havn't changed. Down the ladder and inside.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I'm going to bed now. Can I show you my skeleton later, sir?" Lahja rises, addressing Lit.
<Darkling> "Of course. Have a good night." He salutes her casually.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...are those books helping?" He asks in passing, hearing her mention a skeleton.
<Corrin> "Good night, Pilot Lahja."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> She returns the salute. "Yes, Wilhelm. They are, and good night. Good night, Hel. Please don't eat the intestines when I bring it out." And with that she skips off to her room, humming.