[16:27] <Pendragon> Rembrandt wakes up in one of the group dormitories of the Nerv base. That was a hell of a simulation marathon Dr. Savez put him through... Tamara is back to wandering the Nerv base, as the OpsDir was called to the VC's office. The bullet train Lydia and Molly are on arrives in LA-2, and there is a car waiting for them.
[16:28] <Lydia_Martel> Lydia gathers up her things and heads out to the car without a word.
[16:29] * Molly_Heron tags quickly and quietly after Lydia.
[16:30] * Lydia_Martel looks back at Molly, then at the car. "Did I upset you?"
[16:32] * Molly_Heron looks at Lydia, then to the car. She's a little worried who they'll be sharing it with. She shakes her head.
[16:32] * Lydia_Martel nods and gets in the car.
[16:32] * Rembrandt_Hauer woke up with a yawn and stretch and started getting ready for the day.
[16:33] * Molly_Heron takes her seat in the car with a quick glance over her shoulder.
[16:35] * Tamara_Ushakov slowly, aimlessly makes her way through the NERV base. She puts her crutches out far ahead of her and then swings forward in a wide arc before landing with a clatter on her feet. The personnel who see her odd 'game' simply smile or ignore her.
[16:36] <Pendragon> This time Kate's driving, with Jack trying his best not to take up too much space in the back. Dr. Hansen again commandeers the passenger seat. As she starts driving, Kate speaks: "Now that we're in LA-2, you can finally get some answers. Put simply, any of you guys watch that Power Rangers show back in the day? This is kinda like that."
[16:36] <Lydia_Martel> "Excuse me?"
[16:36] <Pendragon> Rembrandt, you know that today's the day the rest of the team is meant to arrive in LA-2 - the Operations Director and two other pilots.
[16:38] * Molly_Heron 's attention springs front and center. "Actually... no, I don't know Power Rangers very well, could you... explain?"
[16:38] <Pendragon> "Er. Basically, kids in giant robots fight aliens to save the planet."
[16:39] * Molly_Heron stares. "Which has to do with us in... what way?"
[16:39] * Rembrandt_Hauer dressed up nicer than usual. He decides to go look for Tamara while the new kids weren't here yet.
[16:40] * Lydia_Martel tries to get a glimpse of Dr. Hansen's face in the rear view mirror, in hopes of gauging her reaction to this.
[16:41] <Pendragon> "Well... you're kids, who'll be piloting giant robots to fight aliens and save the planet." Kate is regretting her choice of analogy right now. Dr. Hansen is trying, or at least pretending to try not to laugh.
[16:42] <Lydia_Martel> "I see." Lydia says as she fiddles with something on her cellphone.
[16:42] * Molly_Heron doesn't try not to laugh--it's not mocking or derisive, that's just hilarious! So she laughs. Her voice rasps a little when she laughs above a giggle.
[16:44] * Tamara_Ushakov can be found absentmindedly swinging/skipping through the reception area, she seems fairly focused on her little game. She's well-dressed too, having came out to the base to meet their new Operations Director as he arrived.
[16:47] <Pendragon> "/Anyway/. The other two pilots are already at the base. We'll meet up with them there, the scientists will have you do a Synch test, and then we'll get you settled in. Sound good?"
[16:48] * Lydia_Martel just nods. Though it's pretty clear she doesn't understand any of this, she doesn't seem too concerned about it either way
[16:48] * Rembrandt_Hauer calls out to Tamara when he saw her. "Tamara!" His mismatched eyes scan out the area as he made his way to her. "You're looking rather nice today. Anxious to make good first impressions?" He stretched his arms.
[16:48] * Molly_Heron 's laughter stops. She looks at Lydia, then the agents. "Wait, you are joking, aren't you...?"
[16:52] <Tamara_Ushakov> "Oh, good morning Rembrandt," she says as his voice snaps her out of her own head. She navigates a small semicircle to turn to face him. Her civilian clothing, a cream-coloured blouse and long skirt, look a little out of place on the girl who usually just wears a male school uniform around. "That's nice of you to say. I thought it might be appropriate as I met the new operations director earlier as well. You're not looking too
[16:52] <Tamara_Ushakov> shabby either."
[16:55] <Pendragon> The agents don't really reply. The awkward silence is enough of a response. The car heads towards what looks like a /gigantic/ bunker - a black dome that's completely out of place with the rest of the city.
[16:56] * Rembrandt_Hauer pat the collar of his black blazer down. "I figured I might as well." His curiosity piqued, "I was with Guile all of yesterday. What's our new director like?"
[16:57] * Molly_Heron shuts up. Just... shuts up. They're actually serious, almost definitely. Oh God.
[16:59] <Tamara_Ushakov> "So that's why I couldn't find you." Tamara tilts her head to the side as she thinks on Rem's question. "Ehhhhh. He seemed easy-going and he has a sense of humour, but he is ultimately our boss. I hope he will act more authoritatively when we are in the field."
[17:01] <Pendragon> The car enters what seems to be a parking garage of sorts. Its actual purpose is quickly revealed as it descends on a slope - it's an elevator-platform.
[17:03] * Rembrandt_Hauer scratched the area around his blue eye. "We'll just have to see, won't we?"
[17:03] * Molly_Heron watches out the window, face bloodless. She's in trouble.
[17:05] <Lydia_Martel> "No use worrying about what you have no control over." Lydia mutters
[17:06] <Tamara_Ushakov> "Guess so," Tamara agrees with a sharp nod. "I hope they're going to go The School, then we'll have enough pilots for group projects." Tamara plans ahead you see.
[17:08] * Molly_Heron has always found that the things she has no control over are the things she's punished for most severely. She hears Lydia's reinforcement of the opposing view, though, and tries to latch onto it. No use worrying, no use worrying--old habits are going to die hard if they aren't already immortal.
[17:10] <Pendragon> It takes quite a while before the elevator platform reaches the bottom, into a giant chamber. Hansen has finished her book and drops it. "Alright. The other pilots will be around here somewhere. Time to go meet them."
[17:11] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "The school..the school. It's gonna be better with two more at least."
[17:12] --> ktforg has joined this channel (~chatzilla@Rizon-C451DED9.hsd1.wa.comcast.net).
[17:14] * Molly_Heron checks Lydia's expression.
[17:15] * Lydia_Martel furrows her brow as she fiddles with someone on her phone
[17:15] <Lydia_Martel> something*
[17:17] <Molly_Heron> "Um. Good," she says, and leaves it at that for the moment. She's preoccupied with the word 'pilot'.
[17:18] * Lydia_Martel follows along, not paying much attention
[17:20] *** ktforg is now known as Cpt_Karl.
[17:22] * Tamara_Ushakov quietly swings her legs back and forth, waiting for their new comrades. "Do you think we ought to throw a welcoming party or something?"
[17:22] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "A welcoming party? That wouldn't be a bad idea if we have the time." He smiles, "I can't cook though."
[17:24] <Tamara_Ushakov> "I have some MREs hidden under my bed we can use if the cooking turns dire," she confides, as if an MRE is a good substitute for real food.
[17:27] <Pendragon> There is enough time to set up a welcoming party of sorts, and Tamara can co-opt a number of Nerv staff who actually /know/ how to cook.
[17:28] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "MREs would be better than my last attempt at pancakes from last week atleast." He grins to himself as he played out last week's botched breakfast in his head.
[17:30] <Pendragon> By the time the other pilots arrive on base, there's already a "Welcome to Nerv" banner hanging from the ceiling in the cafeteria, and food galore. Captain Karl's been able to contribute significantly to that.
[17:35] <Tamara_Ushakov> Most excellent.
[17:35] * Lydia_Martel looks up at the banner and blinks
[17:36] * Tamara_Ushakov is greatly pleased at the results of their last-time scrambling. She has a wide banana grin on her face as the new folks enter the cafeteria.
[17:36] <Tamara_Ushakov> (last-minute*)
[17:37] * Lydia_Martel examines the gathered crowd. "H-hello.."
[17:39] * Molly_Heron nods, echoing Lydia's tone with a hint of her own bewilderment. "Hello," she makes herself say. "My name is Molly."
[17:41] * Rembrandt_Hauer had been brushing off any dirt on his pants when the new pilots arrived. The brown hair and spectacles looked somewhat familiar until recognition struck him. Hard. "Lydia?" He says aloud, mouth open.
[17:42] * Lydia_Martel stares at Rembrandt like a deer caught in the headlights. She then runs over and hugs him. "Rembrandt!"
[17:43] <Lydia_Martel> She then takes a step back, blushing profusely. "I.. uhm.. I missed you."
[17:44] * Tamara_Ushakov stifles a chuckle. "Hey, mister," she says faux-indignantly to Rembrandt, "You didn't tell me you had a girlfriend already!"
[17:45] * Lydia_Martel gives Tamara a strange look, before looking back at Rembrandt. "Oh.. who is she?"
[17:46] <Molly_Heron> "Girlfriend?" Boyfriend? She straightens her glasses, spliting her gaze between Rembrandt and Tamara.
[17:47] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "Hmff-" The boy blushed as he hugged Lydia back. "I missed you too Lydia! I- Oh.." He pulled out of the hug to gesture to Tamara, "Oh, this is uh, Tamara. She's a pilot as well Lydia. And no, Tamara, uh.." The barrage of questions was too much for him.
[17:48] * Lydia_Martel straightens out her skirt nervously, then looks at Tamara with a slight smile. "I'm Lydia Martel."
[17:48] * Rembrandt_Hauer rubbed his temple.
[17:49] * Tamara_Ushakov guffaws and pats the overwhelmed Rembrandt on the back. Tamara maneuvers close to Lydia and extends a hand. "Tamara Ushakov," she says with the same wide smile on her face.
[17:51] * Lydia_Martel shakes her hand. "Nice to meet you." Her voice goes back to lacking any great amount of emotion.
[17:51] * Rembrandt_Hauer turns to Molly, "And you must be the second pilot?" The boy hopes his white hair, blue/brown eyes and scar of a claw mark across his eyes and throat didn't frighten her too much and smiles. He offers a hand, "I'm Rembrandt."
[17:52] * Lydia_Martel stares at Molly
[17:53] <Pendragon> Whilst the kids are talking, Dr. Hansen will go introduce herself to Karl as a representative of Project PROMETHEUS.
[17:53] * Molly_Heron shakes Rembrandt's hand, and nods just once. "I...don't know about second, or pilot," she says. "They've only just told me. It's nice to met you, Rembrandt." She blinks back at Lydia.
[17:56] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "Nice to meet you too Molly. They really just dragged you here huh? Well, if you ever need help with anything, please, *please* just let me know. I'd be more than happy to help." He nodded eagerly, smiling.
[17:57] * Tamara_Ushakov extends her hand to Molly as well, "Tamara," she reaffirms. "He's very useful at getting stuff off the top shelf," Tamara agrees with a sage nod.
[18:00] * Molly_Heron pulls her attention back to Rembrandt to say "Thank you, I will." She shakes Tamara's hand. "That's very good to know. Thank you," she responds, as though this makes perfect sense--must be a in-joke; she'll pretend to get it, and play it straight, and smile. She doesn't dwell on having been dragged there, so she doesn't comment eiter. "I look forward to getting to know all of you, even
[18:00] * Molly_Heron if I don't understand what's going on yet."
[18:04] * Rembrandt_Hauer chuckles, "Hilarious, Tamara. Don't worry Molly, you'll understand soon enough." He says with another nod of his head. He pats Lydia on the head,"I'm glad you're with us now Lydia. What've you been up to since last time anyway?" He doesn't mention the scars on his face.
[18:05] * Tamara_Ushakov motions at the tables and chairs. "Let's have a seat while we talk. I've been walking around all day and it feels like my legs are going to fall off."
[18:07] <Pendragon> "Charming as this is, we do have a schedule to keep," Dr. Hansen claps. "Synch Testing. You kids can have your party afterwards, but work comes before play." She'll head off towards the Evangelion hangar afterwards.
[18:09] * Molly_Heron blanches, and turns to follow the doctor with a tiny wince.
[18:12] <Tamara_Ushakov> "Ah, duty beckons," Tamara says in a resigned voice. She tucks her crutches back under her arms and begins to follow after the good doctor.
[18:13] * Rembrandt_Hauer follows behind everyone else. Man, things are gonna be great from here on.
[18:16] * Cpt_Karl having finished his meeting with the VC, arrives at the party... slightly more than fashionably late. oh well.
[18:21] <Pendragon> Within minutes, all four pilots are suited up. The suits aren't difficult to get on - a bit baggy, with a dial to make them fit the pilot perfectly. Tamara and Rembrandt already know this, though Molly and Lydia may have trouble with them at first.
[18:22] * Lydia_Martel gets suited up without saying anything.
[18:24] <Pendragon> Meanwhile, Hansen and Karl go to an observation deck. All four Evangelions are visible from here, locked into restraints. "Any preference who you want to see go first?" Hansen asks Karl
[18:24] * Molly_Heron stares blankly at the suit, fiddling with the dial until it constricts. "...wh..Lydia, do you know why we have to wear these...?"
[18:27] * Tamara_Ushakov has to remove her prosthetics and then replace them over the plugsuit. And she'll have to remove them again when she gets into the entry plug. She has no problem suiting up in front of the other girls, though she doesn't comment on her plastic and metal legs.
[18:27] <Cpt_Karl> "No preference. So these things actually work, hmm?"
[18:28] * Rembrandt_Hauer suited up in the silence of the boys' changing room.
[18:33] * Lydia_Martel doesn't seem to pay her prosthetics any notice
[18:33] <Pendragon> "They sure do - the finest warmachines the world has to offer." The Japanese man you saw with the vice-commander appears in the observation deck. "I'll take over from here - these are /my/ babies, after all." Leaning over a microphone, he says "Tamara, can you start us off? Just head to your unit, please?"
[18:35] * Molly_Heron straightens her glasses and crosses her arms--skintight isn't exactly her look.
[18:36] * Tamara_Ushakov fixes her hair-clips into place and totters out of the change rooms. "Yes sir, en route." She's painfully aware of the fact it takes her twice as long to make the trip to the entry plug's loading dock as it would for the others, as well as all the watchful eyes on the observation deck.
[18:40] * Molly_Heron calls after Tamara. "Good luck!"
[18:45] <Pendragon> Once she's gotten into her Eva, a bunch of panels in the observation deck light up, and Dr. Nakamura explains they measure current synch levels and the pilot's physical condition and such. There's nothing unusual otherwise - the Evangelion's eyes light up, but it still remains dormant. "Thank you Tamara. Rembrandt, can you go next?"
[18:46] <Cpt_Karl> "Interesting..."
[18:48] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "Of course!" Rembrandt takes off to entry plug in a jog, and made a note on any new faces there on the observation deck.
[18:50] <Tamara_Ushakov> "молодец жар-пти́ца," Tamara says quietly to her Evangelion. She leans back in the entry plug, toying idlying with her long, LCL-soaked hair and thinking about how much of a pain it was to clean after each test and simulation.
[18:52] <Pendragon> It might occur to Molly, if she's stopped thinking this is just a dream or an elaborate prank, that she doesn't know which of the 40 foot tall robots is 'hers'. Rembrandt's test goes just as well as Tamara's, and Lydia is called up next.
[18:53] <Lydia_Martel> Lydia gets in the robot.
[18:56] <Pendragon> One of the monitors spikes for a bit, and Lydia's Evangelion clenches and unclenches its fists before going dormant again. Dr. Nakamura takes a few notes, before calling up Molly.
[18:56] * Molly_Heron stares with a bit of wonder and horror at the hangar bay--she's never seen infrastructure on this scale, let alone humanoid war machines. She takes note of where Lydia, Rembrandt and Tamara went, and--
[18:57] * Molly_Heron starts a bit, and trots toward the giant orange machine, looking up to the observation deck. "This one?"
[18:58] <Lydia_Martel> "This machine is mine, hmm.." Lydia examines the interior of the entry plug
[19:00] <Pendragon> "Er, yes. That's your Evangelion, Unit-02. Please enter the Entry Plug." Covering the microphone, Dr. Nakamura continues "I'd forgotten she'd never seen one of these before..."
[19:01] * Molly_Heron swallows, and pads around the Eva like she's afraid it's going to wake up. She slips into the entry plug, takes her place, and gives the entry plug interior a look. "Giant pumpkin robot...?"
[19:01] <Cpt_Karl> "I'm not surprised."
[19:06] <Pendragon> Again, nothing out of the ordinary happens, though no doubt, the plug being suddenly filled with LCL shocked Molly a bit. "Alright, test over! Feel free to get out anytime, and be sure to wash the LCL off."
[19:07] * Molly_Heron chokes, and is more than a bit surprised she didn't just drown, having been locked in a giant metal pill!! "What! Is this!" She claws her way out of the entry plug, and promptly voids her lungs of liquid, coughing.
[19:09] <Pendragon> "Ah, should've warned her about that, too... Too late..." He'll switch off the microphone before continuing. "Well, that's interesting. The Heron girl's got the best Synch Ratio of all of them, and Lydia's not far behind. Anyway - we'll have one of these tests a week. Feel free to try experimenting with the kids, see how that affects their Synch Ratio, eh?"
[19:11] *** Killy is now known as Killy|AFK.
[19:12] <Tamara_Ushakov> Despite being used to inhaling the oxygenating liquid, her body hated yaking the stuff back up. Tamara wipes her mouth, a futile gesture as the liquid coats the rest of her quite thouroughly. Tamara grabs the hatch of her entry plug and hauls herself onto the loading bay deck. In a few moments her prosthetics are reattached and she's up on her crutches again. "Tastes like I bit my tongue," Tamara complains to no one in particular. "
[19:12] <Tamara_Ushakov> You okay new girl?"
[19:12] <Lydia_Martel> Lydia is back in the changing room, coughing up LCL where she hopes no one can see her.
[19:14] * Molly_Heron looks up at Tamara, then the observation deck, then Eva 02. She nods a bit. "I am, thank you..." Just need to wake up and I'll be fine, she thnks.
[19:16] * Rembrandt_Hauer gave Molly an encouraging pat on the back on their way to their respective changing rooms. He dressed back into his previous clothes quietly.
[19:17] * Tamara_Ushakov nods and leaves Molly to her own thoughts. She makes her way to the change room, ignoring Lydia's retching and hits the showers.
[19:17] <Cpt_Karl> "Experimenting, you say? Well, I'll... keep that in mind."
[19:18] * Molly_Heron smiles at Rembrandt, and pulls herself together to get rid of the plugsuit and wash the LCL out of her hair.
[19:23] <Lydia_Martel> Lydia exits the changing room in her normal clothes
[19:24] <Lydia_Martel> She looks around for Rembrandt.
[19:24] <Pendragon> When everyone's clean and dressed back in their usual clothes, it's time to get back to their welcoming party - this time without interruptions.
[19:25] <Cpt_Karl> AND this time with your Operations Director.
[19:26] * Lydia_Martel stays close to Rembrandt. "You know what those machines are?"
[19:27] * Molly_Heron blinks warily at the new authority figure in the room, listening for Rembrandt's answer to Lydia.
[19:29] * Tamara_Ushakov salutes the Captain when they meet again. "Sir."
[19:29] <Cpt_Karl> "Alright pilots, I'l your Operations Director, Captain Karl Willhelm. It's good to finally meet the rest of you."
[19:30] <Lydia_Martel> Lydia glares at Karl for a moment before looking back at Rembrandt
[19:31] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "Lydia? Oh..sort of. It's got to do with combat, that's for sure." He smiles, "So what have you been-" He stops and salutes the captain. "Sir."
[19:31] <Lydia_Martel> Lydia regards the Captain
[19:31] * Molly_Heron isn't sure if she's supposed to salute, too. She thinks she's a civilian. Isn't it an insult to salute if you are?
[19:32] * Cpt_Karl reflexively does a quick salute back, then smiles
[19:36] *** Pendragon is now known as Dinnerdragon.
[19:37] <Lydia_Martel> "So, we're going to use those machines to fight? I see.."
[19:37] <Molly_Heron> "Fight what?..."
[19:37] <Cpt_Karl> "Just let me know if you need anything."
[19:39] * Cpt_Karl helps himself to a quantity of food and sits down
[19:40] <Lydia_Martel> Lydia eyes the food, but doesn't take any
[19:40] <Lydia_Martel> "Mr. Kari. Are you friends with Doctor Hansen?"
[19:42] <Cpt_Karl> "Not yet, no. I really just got here a short time ago."
[19:44] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "Fighting.." He frowns and pats Molly on the shoulder. "You'll see in a bit Molly."
[19:44] <Lydia_Martel> "I see." She continues to scrutinize the Operations Director
[19:45] <Cpt_Karl> He's a tad over average height, light brown hair and blue eyes. there's a few small scars apparent on his face, but nothing huge.
[19:46] <Cpt_Karl> And he's demolishing his food with practiced efficiency
[19:46] * Molly_Heron gives Rem an odd look. "And why are we using mecha? And why are the mecha filled with liquid?"
[19:47] * Molly_Heron twitches, and corrects herself: "S-sorry, 'giant robots'." Most people aren't horrible nerds, Molly. Reel in your power level.
[19:49] <Tamara_Ushakov> "Hey Remmy, let's get some food," she suggests politely. Her hands are busy with the crutches so she can't get it for herself and asking outright is a little blase.
[19:49] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "So how're you doing Lydia? What have you been up to since last time?" Rembrandt asks, and to Molly: "Mecha? Oh! Well, I honestly don't know Molly. But the liquid is LCL. It's oxygen rich so you can breath in it, and I guess it's so you don't get motion sickness. Or something."
[19:50] * Lydia_Martel perks up when Rembrandt speaks to her. "Ah! Uhm.. well.. I've been going to s-school and I've been doing more drawing.."
[19:51] * Molly_Heron lets out another pitched little giggle. "I see!" She gets up, and gets herself some food without paying too much attention to what it is. Her gaze returns to the OD, trying to figure him out.
[19:52] * Rembrandt_Hauer starts filling up two plates full of food. One with what Tamara usually would get, and the other for himself. "Drawing? You must be really good! I wanna see it sometime.." he puts the plates down on a table and sits.
[19:53] * Cpt_Karl stops eating for a moment, glancing up as he feels the eyes upon him, then goes back to finishing off his food
[19:55] * Molly_Heron turns her eyes away and goes back to eating. She tries to plate him to some kind of rubrik in her head. Parent figure? Teacher figure? Ultimate Authority(tm)?
[19:55] * Lydia_Martel looks at the food spread out.
[19:56] * Tamara_Ushakov thanks Rembrandt. "I've heard the LCL is also to cushion us from any sudden movement caused by the war-machines," she says to Molly. "At 40 feet tall, their movements carry quite some momentum."
[19:57] * Molly_Heron blinks at Tamara, flinching a bit as her focus is shifted. She nods, swallows a mouthful of food. "I see," she says. She read something like that in a sci-fi book once, she thinks. But that was a book. "Thank you..."
[20:00] <Tamara_Ushakov> "It's quite something," Tamara says between bites, "Hopefully we are allowed to do some field testing." She shoots a sideways glance at the OD.
[20:00] * Lydia_Martel gets a plate of plain roast beef.
[20:01] <Lydia_Martel> "Hey, Rembrandt.. that scar.. where did you get it?"
[20:01] <Lydia_Martel> "It uh.. it looks kinda cool.."
[20:03] * Tamara_Ushakov hides a grimace. Of course both of them had fielded such questions at School so it wasn't anything new.
[20:04] * Rembrandt_Hauer was about to put a forkload of roast beef into his mouth when she asked. He froze up for a moment before slowly setting his fork down and lowering his eyes to his plate full of food. "Oh, that..that's just from a..an incident." The bite mark on his throat was also slightly visible.
[20:05] * Molly_Heron eyes his scars, but can't guess what they're from. She assumes they're literal battle scars.
[20:05] <Lydia_Martel> "... Did someone hurt you?"
[20:06] * Lydia_Martel takes on a very dark expression.
[20:07] <Molly_Heron> "Maybe he would rather not talk about it," Molly suggests quietly.
[20:08] * Lydia_Martel looks sad. "I'm sorry.. I didn't mean to.."
[20:09] * Rembrandt_Hauer blinks. His face had a few scars as well, but the most obvious one was the three claw marks that went across left to right at his eye level. "No, no one did." He picked up a piece of bread and took a bite from that instead.
[20:11] *** Dinnerdragon is now known as Pendragon.
[20:14] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "Here, anyone want my plate?" He nudged it closer to the center of the table.
[20:14] * Molly_Heron tilts her head. "Are you feeling all right?"
[20:15] * Lydia_Martel seems to be absolutely crestfallen. Almost to the point of tears.
[20:16] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "I'm fine Molly." He looked up at Lydia when he noticed her. "Hey hey, Lydia, it's alright!"
[20:17] <Lydia_Martel> "Are you sure..?"
[20:17] <Tamara_Ushakov> "Crying at your welcome party is probably bad luck of some kind," Tamara jokes, trying to lighten the situation.
[20:18] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "Yes Lydia! You know, you should show us your drawings!"
[20:18] <Molly_Heron> "It's her party/And she can cry if she wants to~" Molly hates that song. Drawings! "Yes, please!"
[20:19] <Tamara_Ushakov> The cultural reference goes right over Tamara's head, who just blinks at Molly
[20:20] * Lydia_Martel seems to panic slightly. "No, they're not any good, r-really.."
[20:21] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "Don't be afraid Lydia! Show us!"
[20:22] <Molly_Heron> "It's been a long day," Molly suggests, "Maybe another time would be better? We did just move, after all."
[20:24] <Lydia_Martel> "But they're not any good.. really.."
[20:25] <Molly_Heron> "No true artist ever thinks so," she repeats, giggling. She gives Rem a quick look.
[20:25] <Cpt_Karl> "I might think my food is barely passable, but other people seem to like it."
[20:26] * Tamara_Ushakov whispers loudly to their little group, "Peeeeer pressurrrrre." But doesn't ask to see her drawings.
[20:27] * Rembrandt_Hauer glances back, "Well, if you aren't comfortable with it, then that's fine as well. But I can't say I wouldn't be disappointed not being able to see your hidden talent." He takes another bite out of the bread, "Where will they be staying sir?"
[20:28] * Lydia_Martel fidgets. "I'll make sure to show you when I get better.."
[20:28] <Cpt_Karl> "From what I gathered, NERV has dormitories on base, but if you'd prefer off-site housing they can do that as well."
[20:28] <Molly_Heron> "...we have a choice?"
[20:30] <Tamara_Ushakov> "Yes, the NERV L.A. dormitories are very spacious. You don't even have to share bathrooms with that many people. But the apartment they've set aside for us is nicer."
[20:31] <Lydia_Martel> "I can stay wherever is convenient."
[20:31] <Molly_Heron> "Ditto," Molly chimes.
[20:32] <Cpt_Karl> "I see. Well I'll pass that along then."
[20:34] <Tamara_Ushakov> "Will you two be attending The School once September comes? I've been told that getting a GED is very important for us."
[20:35] <Lydia_Martel> "If it is necessary."
[20:35] * Molly_Heron nods, then realizes...September is next month. She shivers.
[20:39] <Tamara_Ushakov> "It'll be good to have some more classmates. And if you both join we'll still have an even number," Tamara nods her head happily. Clearly being able to split into even groups is very important.
[20:40] <Molly_Heron> "How... long do you think they're going to need us?"
[20:40] * Molly_Heron isn't asking anyone in particular; she doubts there's a straight answer.
[20:42] <Tamara_Ushakov> "Well, I've been with NERV for nine years now," Tamara replies, only realizing after that it sounds like a boast.
[20:43] * Molly_Heron ...has no response to that. She isn't staying here nine years.
[20:44] <Lydia_Martel> Lydia looks at Rembrandt. "How long have you been here?"
[20:45] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "Oh, uhm..a bit longer than Tamara has."
[20:45] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "But hey,
[20:46] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "I'm not really complaining. We get free food, housing, schooling.."
[20:46] <Molly_Heron> "Wh--" She blinks. "Are your families on base here, or--?"
[20:46] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "Not to mention the thing we pilot."
[20:46] <Lydia_Martel> "The place I stayed at in Chicago was also run by NERV. But I've never seen these machines before.."
[20:47] <Cpt_Karl> "I've only been with them a little while. Oh, off-base. Wouldn't want to coop them up in here."
[20:47] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "Family? Nah. I was adopted."
[20:48] <Tamara_Ushakov> "Off-base and out of country," Tamara says tersely, not expounding any further
[20:50] <Molly_Heron> "Well, adopted family?" It's almost a statement. "That... would be family, too." She looks at the other three pilots, a bit confused, and lets it drop.
[20:53] <Cpt_Karl> "Adopted counts, for me at least. How's the food?"
[20:53] <Lydia_Martel> "i live with Doctor Hansen.'
[20:54] <Tamara_Ushakov> "Ish good food," Tamara says around a chuck of bread. It's important to note that she's been eating whenever she isn't talking.
[20:54] * Molly_Heron nods in agreement. "Very good, sir."
[20:54] * Rembrandt_Hauer closed his eyes and massaged the corner of his eyebrows for a moment. "Good, sir. I'm gonna go to the bathroom."
[20:55] <Cpt_Karl> "Don't let me stop you."
[20:57] <Tamara_Ushakov> Once Rembrandt heads for the head, Tamara leans close to the other girls and lowers her voice conspiratorially. "So, what's the deal between you and Remmy?" she asks Lydia.
[20:58] * Molly_Heron regards Tamara carefully.
[21:00] <Lydia_Martel> "What do you mean?" She says with a straight face.
[21:03] <Tamara_Ushakov> "Well, you two know each other. From Chicago I assume." She can't really keep her curiousity out of her voice.
[21:04] <Molly_Heron> "Is it really so strange they'd be friends?" Molly offers casually, taking up a piece of bread.
[21:06] * Lydia_Martel starts to blush.
[21:07] * Tamara_Ushakov tilts her head as the redness spreads across Lydia's cheeks and takes it for some kind of answer. "Hmm. I see." She leans back away to her ram-rod straight sitting position.
[21:20] <Pendragon> The party does slowly run down to an end as the day wears on and turns to night. Nerv staff have to get back to work, and well, everyone's probably a bit tired - especially the ones who've had to travel quite far to get here. Just as everyone's going to head off, however, an alarm sounds - a peculiar one, seven short blats and then one long one. Over the PAs, there is a shout "Angel sighted! Prepare for sortie!"