Dartz Wrote:I'm trying to leave *something* for people to do when they arrive on Frigga, while still moving the plot forward in an interesting way.
Okay, I can take a hint...
Quote:Jet's voice came over the intercom. "Shinji! You have visitors!"
Already?
Anika grimaced. "I was hoping they wouldn't arrive just yet, but I guess the first group of well-wishers have shown up. Do you want to go see them?"
"It wouldn't be polite to ignore them."
"Screw 'polite'," Jet's disembodied voice said. "Do you want to see them?"
"I think I'd better."
"Okay," replied Jet. "If you're sure that's what you want. I have to talk with most of them first - give them the standard lecture about how dangerous a place Frigga is and how they shouldn't wander off on their own - but one of them's been here before. I'll send her to the park near your apartment."
"Thank you, Jet. I'll be there shortly."
Despite how long the trip was, he still got there first. He sat down on one of the benches and waited... but not for long.
"Hello, Ikari-san," the newcomer - a very attractive young woman - said in Japanese. "My name is Fujisawa Yayoi. I've heard quite a bit about you."
"Hello, Fujisawa-san." Shinji sighed.
"What's wrong?"
"You've heard about me. Everybody's heard about me. You all already know who I am, and what I am. But I don't know anything about any of you beyond what I've seen here in Frigga."
Yayoi smiled - a sad smile, but a smile nonetheless. "I've heard quite a bit about you from the mailing list. I know almost nothing about the television show that everyone else here has seen - it was before my time."
"Before your time? This is your time, isn't it?"
"Oh, no. My time is the year 2357; this is only 2022." She sat down across from him. "I'm a lot like you, Ikari-san. We're both constructed people with memories from other universes. Would you like to learn about me by watching the show that I'm in?"
There were others like him? Not just basing themselves on characters from shows they'd seen, but actual people from those shows?
She must have seen the question on his face. "There are hundreds of us scattered throughout the Solar System. There are even some duplicate characters from the more popular works of fiction; I personally know two people based on Readman Yomiko-san."
"That must be awkward for them, whoever they are."
"Not really; they treat each other as sisters and lend each other books all the time."
Shinji hesitated. Should he ask? Maybe it would be better to work up to the question he wasn't sure he wanted answered. "Fujisawa-san, how popular is the story that you came from?"
Yayoi didn't say anything for a moment. When she did answer, her voice was strained. "The only reason most people have heard of it nowadays is because Noah Scott named his space station after the one in the show, and built me. I've never heard of anyone else from Uchuu no Stellvia being Awakened."
He could hear the capital letter; but didn't comment. It wasn't the right time. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked."
She shook her head. "No, it's all right. I've had a decade to get used to the idea that I'm never going to see Ayaka or Shima-san or Akira-san or Kent-san or the others ever again. I think I know why you asked, though. Ikari-san, your story - Noah tells me it's not just the story you're from, it's your story - it's very well-known in this reality. I don't know of any one else sharing your name and memories, but as I said, your story was before my time."
"And the others? Rei? Asuka? Misato? My father?" Shinji stopped when he saw how she reacted to the mention of his father. He almost didn't see her wince.
"It isn't my place to answer that question. But it will be answered, soon. Maybe even today, but definitely before I go back home."
He was getting tired of secrets. "And if nobody else answers my question?"
"Then I don't leave. I had a piano delivered here before I came; maybe I'll get a chance to play it while I'm waiting for you to get your answer."
"You play? Not classical, I hope."
Yayoi smiled - a genuine, happy smile. "I play whenever I have the chance, which hasn't been very often lately. And remember when I'm from, Ikari-san - to me, 'classical' includes The Beatles, Two-Mix, and Gregor Samsa."
"I've never heard of Gregor Samsa."
"Oh, you're lucky - you still get to look forward to hearing them for the first time!"
"They're that good?"
"They're that different. And I think they're good. I'm told you play the cello. Did you want to try a duet? Even if we don't know any songs in common, I can read the sheet music to what you do know."
Shinji hesitated. "I don't know if I'm as good a musician as you."
"Considering how out-of-practice I am, you're probably better than me. By now, the others should be waiting in the auditorium where they set up my piano. Do you want to go see them, or stay here and talk for a while?"
Edit: Samsa
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."
- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012