Overdue by years . . .

"So . . .when and how did this happen?" Fred begins awkwardly. "Maybe we could begin with the wings, if I am not being nosy?"

Granted, there were things that Fred could be doing that may have been more productive or what not. However, after spending an indeterminable amount of time in bloody combat back on ANOTHER world, it was a . . . nice change of pace. Besides, this is an old friend here who he is delighted to see! The fact that her personality has. . . .blossomed so much is icing on the cake for Fred.

He'd had real worries about Rei's development, you know! He'd go and ask about what had happened there (tactfully), but first something of an ice breaker. OH, a hug and such would be so nice after a long time apart, but somehow he felt a more subdued (genteel) approach was called for. Unfortunately, this had been all he could come up with on short notice. Somewhat obvious, but still...

As for Rei, she had been wishing to see Fred Takahashi for a long time because of doing so much for her! Oh, she does not discredit Shinji for having opened the door to change within herself. Shinji had been the VERY first person to have been an actual friend to Rei here. It is just that Fred here, having the background he had was able to do much MORE for Rei (and dared to do much more for Rei than most adults who recognized her problems)...

She wanted to thank him in so many ways, but she found herself upexpectedly . . . shy. Squaring her shoulders she decides to at least brazen it out to begin with . . . and then go from there whichever way seemed appropriate. In other words, she was winging it. Not literally, but . .. Sigh, there was also the some rather disturbing . . . things she had overheard people talking about Fred here that might explain a few things. That G-man in particular had been most . . . .Anyway!

"Well, first of all let me assure you it was not due to drinking too much Red Bull," Rei drawled, drawing a slight chuckle from Fred as her wings flutter a little bit. "Nore have I gone and become an underwear supermodel for Victoria Secret."

That one gets a small chuckle from Fred.

"I take it that if you're asking that the explanation I left in that letter got censored?" the blue winged woman asks softly, guessing the most likely explanation. She had told all in that letter, knowing full well that the ever vigilant Section 2 would cut out whatever they deemed was too sensitive for public knowledge. She HAD hoped that at least a simple explanation as to what had befallen her. What had happened to her that in the end turned out so well...

"Yeah it did at that," Fred grumbled, with a trace of chagrin . "Was barely anything left to read after Section 2 got done with it! But I did figure something was up."

Besides seeing the newscast video of the rescue of Unit 00 the Champion's had done, he'd spoke in passing with several of Rei's fellow pilots . . . it was just weird. Their long lost mothers had shown up (from what he'd gotten from them) at the very same time. Even IF said mothers somehow happened to be wearing bodies that looked JUST like Rei . . . before the wings anyway.

. . .

The Second Child, Asuka Langley Soryu, needed much counseling in addition to whatever psychiatric aid she’d been needing for her nervous breakdown soon after her . . . .er . . . encounter with that one Angel who’d mind raped her. Seems that while it had been wonderful to have old mom back, she had much to reconcile with the fact that she now wore the face of her old rival.

At that point in time Rei had not been . . . er. . . the girl's most favorite companion, shall we say. That however is mostly by the by, though Fred felt that somehow it was related to what had happened to Rei to give her wings.

"It had been an unexpected magical side effect from the to do when I was rescued from the Angel that had attack me in Unit 00," Rei begins, spreading her wings slightly. "It had a bit of transformative magicks in it and I ended up with them. They actually work rather well and I do VERY much love flying with them!"

Indeed, the love of flying had pretty much eclipsed her love of swimming. She still liked water and swimming--something to do with her artificial birth down in the bowels of NERV and such--but push comes to shove she'd rather fly any old day to swim!

This said, she then hesitates slightly, wishing to be honest with her long time friend but not exactly sure how to explain the next part. She hesitates a bit longer and then sighs. The longer she puts it off the worse it shall be for her and Fred when it finally comes to light.

"I-I am afraid that there is something I should tell you about myself that I just could not safely do without it resulting in the Bastard King . . . ., " Rei pauses, fighting down the urge to further curse the former commander of NERV.

1. "Gendo Akari would have ordered your death and disappearance if I told you the truth about me."

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