audio;

[extradite]

[ As it happens, the boy's voice could be a little quieter, a little more distant - possibly, if he'd ridden in with a horde of the undead. ]

How do you... resign?

[ Slight pause. ]

When I tried to, they weren't the right words. Right sounding. Right on paper. Right to think abou - ...right. Sorry. That's impolite to ask all of a sudden, without a proper greeting. My bad.

[ A hint louder, more rehearsed - ]

Good day. Pleased to meet you. How do you do.

[ And now back to the pathetic old track. ]

If it's all the same to you: how do you resign from something like this?

Comments

[extradite]

...right. That's - numbers. I meant, the types of people in each. That sort of thing.

[corona]

I was explaining the giants? But - the houses themselves are complicated. No one knows for sure why people get put where they do. It's all speculation. Theories? And only a few really show any obvious pattern.

See— People in my house, for example? They're usually creative somehow. Or— Hm. They like pleasurable things. And if you meet anyone in Sigyn. Heh. They're the nice house. Everyone in Sigyn is either nice or nice and quiet. Odin is for bookish types...

But otherwise? [ a shrug ] It's hard to say, Shinji. I know similar people in different houses and total opposites who got sorted together. And either way... you have to wonder how the gods knew anything about us in the first place if sorting is based on traits people have in common.

[extradite]

[ He needs a moment to process all this.

And another.

And another.

And maybe a fourth to wrap it up all even.

Oh, what the hell, five's a nice number. ]

Do you know anyone in - [ And yes, he has to read this out slowly. ] - ...'Heimdall'?

[glistens]

Sure. [ quietly ] I have some really good friends in Heimdall.

[extradite]

[ Quiet.

Quiet.

Quuuuuuiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeet. ]


...oh. That doesn't count if you have friends everywhere.

[corona]

[ AKLSDJA DAMN IT

STUPID SHINJI ]

What makes you think I have friends everywhere?

[extradite]

[ BE NICE, RAPSUKA ]

Am I wrong?

1/4

[glistens]

[glistens]

...

[glistens]

..............

4/4

[glistens]

[ STUPID SHINJI ]

So - are you in Heimdall?

1/4

[extradite]

I was... right?


[ AND YOU WERE WRONG. ]

[extradite]

I was right...



[ LOOK AT YOUR WRONGNESS.

NOW BACK AT THIS EXCEPTIONALLY WHINY BOY, IF ONLY HE SHOWED HIS FACE.

NOW BACK AT YOUR WRONGNESS. ]

[extradite]

...I was right!




[ YOUR WRONGNESS IS NOW DIAMONDS. ]

[extradite]

I'm not anywhere. Because I'm resigning.

[glistens]

[ CONGRATULATIONS WELL DONE SHINJI. Of all her hobbies, blushing is actually not one of them! You have successfully flustered The Flusterer. Please have some MAN POINTS for your trouble.

Also what is he- oh. ]

Oh.

Right. Well - where would you be if you weren't going to resign?

[extradite]

...don't humour me, if you don't believe it.

[glistens]

I'm not humoring you, Shinji. Even here you're free to make whatever choice you like.

No one has to fight in this war if they don't want to.

[extradite]

[ a hesitant pause - then a sigh. ]

Heimdall. That. That's where they sent me.

[corona]

Hm. That's... interesting. That's very interesting.

[extradite]

[ ....... ]



What makes it - interesting?

[corona]

I don't know. [ Which, in part, is true. None of the Heimdall people she knows have anything in common whatsoever personality-wise. Some are morbid and somber, others are feisty and loud, and still there are people like Charles - Charles, who can't hold a conversation without bitching to save his life. They come from different worlds, different family types... They have different priorities.

But the one thing she knows about all of them is the one thing she hadn't realized about Shinji until now, and it makes her smile. ]

Heh. You were wrong before, you know.

[extradite]

I'm not asking you what about. You want to tell me too much.

[corona]

Maybe. But it's not hurting me, so I'm fine with that. You can ask or not ask whatever you want. [ shrug ] I win either way.

1/2

[extradite]

[ HE WILL NOT SUCCUMB TO CURIOSITY.

HE IS BOY.

HE IS SOLDIER.

HE IS SAVIOUR.

HE WILL NOT SUCCU - ]