Evangelion Gendo's Day Off

[Lord Raa]

Here's something.

I don't know what it is at the moment.


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Gendo’s Day Off


By Lord Raa


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Disclaim-me-do: There is no such thing as “cooking wine”. Seriously.


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“Tedious,” Gendo Ikari muttered after he replaced the receiver of his phone. “Mind-numbingly tedious.”

“What is?”

“Sensei, do you ever really think that we would end up having to deal with the inanities and minutiae of running Tokyo-3?”

“No, but it’s a task that we have to fulfil in order to complete Instrumentality,” the grey-haired man answered. Though, if he was honest, he did like those aspects of his job.

It made him feel like a respected member of a city council, rather than the second in command of a shadowy organisation with a history of morally dubious decisions.

“It’s been a long day, Ikari. Getting out of here will help clear our heads.”

“Indeed, Fuyutsuki. However, I’m not sure that an evening away from here will be enough to re-energise me. I’m taking tomorrow off. Maybe the day after,” the bearded man announced.

“On such short notice?”

“Yes. Short of Angel attack, NERV can spare me for a couple of days. And even then, remember that the fourth Angel attacked while we were in Antarctica.”

“We did only have Shinji to pilot then, but the Angels have been increasingly challenging to defeat...”

“We now have three operational Evangelions and experienced pilots,” Gendo added. “But in the event of an attack, I’ll return to take my post.”

“Very well, I’ll let people know. What are your plans for tomorrow?”

“I don’t know yet. For once, I would like to not have to think about plans for such things. That said, I might visit Shinji...”


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Shinji wasn’t surprised to hear the doorbell ring. It was usually around this time that his friends stopped by to pick him up on the way to school.

At least, that was the official explanation for their visit.

The real truth of the matter was that the two young lechers wanted to see Misato.

Shinji certainly wasn’t blind, and Misato wasn’t exactly shy, but that didn’t mean he thought it was appropriate for his friends to behave like they did around the purple-haired woman.

Of course, he did know that it could be worse – they could be trying to peep on Asuka.

The young Ikari shuddered as he thought about just how much suffering would be inflicted on his friends, and possibly him, too, if she caught them “being perverted” near her.

When he opened the door, he was surprised to see his father standing there, looking down at him.

“F-Father...”

“Shinji,” the bearded man greeted tersely.

“Shinji, your friends better not be...” Asuka trailed off when she saw who was at the door.

“C-Commander!”

“Yes. Is Major Katsuragi in?”

“Y-yeah, I’ll go get her...” the redhead nodded.

Moments later, Misato emerged from her room. She blinked in surprise, the Commander didn’t make social visits. And certainly not to see Shinji.

“Commander, what can we do for you?”

“Aren’t you going to invite me in, Shinji?”

“I... yes, I’m sorry, Father,” Shinji bowed apologetically before gesturing to the inside of the apartment.

Just as he was about to close the door, Touji and Kensuke arrived.

“Ikari! So, you ready to go to scho...” Touji trailed off when he saw that there was an intimidating man in the apartment. “Who are you?”

“Shinji will not be attending school today,” Gendo said sternly.

“Wait... are you Shinji’s dad?” Kensuke asked. He’d heard things about Shinji’s old man, but to be face to face with him made him panic.

“It’s time for you to run along to school and tell them that Shinji and Asuka will not be attending today. Go now,” Gendo growled. “You do not want to defy me.”

Touji and Kensuke swallowed nervously and nodded before rushing off to school.

“F-Father, is there something you wanted?” Shinji asked after shutting the door.

“Yes,” the bearded man nodded. “I see today ending in one of two ways. The first, is that you end up more miserable than you are now because you tried to rebel. The second is a better option for all involved.”

“How can we help you, Sir?” Misato asked, hoping to gain some idea of what was going on.

“I haven’t been to the beach in a long, long time. You have ten minutes to prepare yourselves, if you’re not ready you’ll have to make your own way to there,” the Commander said, starting the timer on his watch.

“Which beach?” Asuka asked.

“You’ll find out when we get there. That is, if you’re ready to go in nine minutes and 50 seconds.”

“All of us?” Misato asked. It had been a while since she’d had the chance to go to the beach herself, but was this some kind of game from the Commander?

He did have a Machiavellian reputation. Was he hoping to gain some kind of leverage over them? Was it just as he claimed and just a trip to the beach with his son?

“Yes, all of you are invited. But as I said, if you’re not ready, you’ll have to make your own way to the beach.”

That spurred Misato and Asuka into action, though Shinji was more hesitant. When they were alone, he asked his father what was going on.

“There’s a lot you don’t know, Shinji. Indeed, one could compare your knowledge to that of Jon Snow.”

“Who’s Jon Snow?”

“He’s a fictional character in a series of books, but that’s not important right now. What is important that you help me enjoy my day off today. I will not forgive those that get in my way, regardless of their intentions,” the Commander warned.

“W-what are your intentions? If I know, maybe I can help,” Shinji replied.

“That I enjoy my day off. There is a reason why I have invited your roommates along for this trip, but that will become obvious enough in due course. Now, get ready.”

“Yes, sir,” the pilot said reflexively before rushing to his room to get his swimwear.

Gendo smiled as he pulled out his phone. “Akagi, I trust you are ready for today?”

“¬I am... though I’m a little unsure of what you’re planning.¬”

“Good. I want to keep it that way until the last possible moment. A car will be arriving at your apartment soon, you will take a detour to Rei’s apartment and then you will join us at our location. The driver knows the plan.”


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Ritsuko frowned as she moved her bags to the front door of her apartment. It wasn’t that she didn’t like the idea of going to the beach with Gendo Ikari, in fact she was quite enamoured with thought of spending time with the man she found herself increasingly attracted to.

But did this trip have to include Rei?

Yes, Rei Ayanami had admirers at school, and she was certain that if things had been different, once she grew up she’d have many suitors.

But one would not describe Rei as a guarantee of a good time in any situation, never mind a social setting like a trip to the beach.

Still, the Commander had a reputation for covering all the angles and ensuring a favourable outcome for his scenarios.

The only thing that rankled the scientist was that she didn’t know exactly what today’s scenario was; only that it involved a good time at the beach.


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It wasn’t a surprise to Shinji and Asuka that Misato was the last to be ready to go to the beach.

The purple-haired woman beamed as emerged from her room. “Shinji, have you got towels for us?”

“Yes, Misato-san,” the young man nodded. He had made sure that everyone had at least two towels.

“Good. That means I can grab some beer,” Misato said reflexively. Just as she stepped towards the kitchen, she remembered who was going with them. “I...”

“Grab a cooler and fill it with whatever you want to drink, Major Katsuragi, but be quick about it. Shinji and Asuka will take their things to the car and if you’re not done by the time they get back, you’ll have to go without.”

Misato jumped back into action and started to fill her cooler with cans of beer and ice.

‘Sorry kids, but I don’t have time to get you sodas,’ she thought as the pilots went to load up the car.

Gendo smiled as Misato lifted up the cooler to show it was ready. ‘Things are coming together nicely.’

“I must say that I’m surprised that you want to take a trip to the beach with us, Sir.”

“I might have a reputation for being dour, austere and unfriendly but I can experience joy and wish to do so today. Besides, your office is being upgraded today, or did you forget?”

“I didn’t, I just was focused on other things...” Misato insisted weakly. Fortunately for her, Asuka and Shinji returned.

“It’s time for us to leave.”


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Ritsuko sat as quietly as Rei during the trip to the beach.

Eventually, Rei spoke up. “Doctor Akagi, do you know why the Commander has ordered us to go to the beach?”

“No. What has he told you?”

“That we are to meet him at the beach and we should pack appropriate swimwear.”

“That’s about all I know, too,” Ritsuko answered as she looked outside. “I think we’re nearly there.”

“Given that there are suitable swimming facilities in Tokyo-3, it is clear that we are not going to the beach solely for the purposes of swimming. Do you know who else will be attending?”

“No. We’ll find out soon enough though, we’re here.”


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The beach Gendo had selected was one of the nicest stretches of coastline in Japan. It still benefitted from being a protected site for many years, with the penalty of jail time for any trespassers.

The soft, golden sand stretched out for over a kilometre in either direction, with the clean, blue water of the Pacific Ocean reaching out to the horizon. The only thing that seemed to indicate that it was a tourist location and not an undiscovered wilderness was the presence of three temporary structures.

“Wow...” Asuka said, clearly impressed with the Commander’s choice in locations.

“I thought this place was off-limits?” Misato asked, noting that a car had just pulled up.

“Normally, it is restricted. Normally,” Gendo allowed a small smile to appear on his face. He turned to see where Misato was looked and nodded. “It seems our other companions have joined us.”

“Ritsuko?” the Major asked, unsure of what to think about her friend’s presence.

Sure, Ritsuko could be fun when you got a couple of drinks in her, but generally speaking, she was quite stuffy and boring. Misato wasn’t even sure if she had a bikini.

“Wondergirl?” Asuka frowned. “Can she even get a sun tan?”

Misato managed to contain her smirk at Asuka’s bitchy comment. “Be nice, Asuka.”

Ritsuko and Rei approached the quartet and placed their bags on the sand.

“So, why are all here?”

“Because I wanted to spend time at the beach with you. The ground rules for today. One, be civil. Two, we will be on first name basis for everyone. Three, do not make me regret inviting you here today. Are these rules understood?”

“Yes, sir,” Shinji replied.

“Good. I have taken the liberty of having some comforts brought out here,” the bearded man said as he gestured to the three structures. “There’s the toilet block. It has two stalls and a urinal. There’s the shower block, and there’s the rest area.”

The rest area had some sun loungers and fans pointed down to give some relief in the event someone was struggling with exposure to the sun.

“Nicely organised, S-... Gendo,” Ritsuko corrected herself as she nodded in approval.

“I’m glad you all approve. Now, I believe that it’s time for us to change into our swimwear, especially since the last one in the water is a ‘trash-eating stinkbag’.”

The pilots blinked in surprise when they saw the Commander remove his clothes to reveal a surprisingly buff body for an older man.

“Keep staring, it’ll only delay you,” Gendo smirked before he ran into the sea.

That shook everyone out of their stupor.

Rei, unashamedly started to change into her one-piece swimsuit on the beach.

“You can’t just start taking your clothes off here, Rei!” Asuka chided.

“Why not, it is not like we have people surrounding us,” the blue-haired girl replied.

“Do you want Shinji to see you naked?” Ritsuko asked, preparing her bikini.

“That would not bother me.”

“That might bother Shinji though,” Misato replied, dragging the two female pilots to the rest area to change. “No peeping on us, Shinji!”

“Yeah!” the redhead warned.

Fortunately for Shinji, he was able to shake the mental image of a naked Rei and continue to change. He covered his modesty with a towel before removing his shirts and joining his father in the water.

“Well, it looks like we Ikaris aren’t trash-eating stinkbags, son,” Gendo smiled.

“Not that I’m complaining, but why invite us all to the beach now?”

“Why not?”

“Well, I don’t know, you never seemed to care about me before.”

“I don’t need to explain myself. Not to you, not to anyone, not today. Just enjoy it while it lasts. Because if things go the way I want them to, you’ll remember this day for the rest of your life...” the bearded man winked playfully. “Now, where are our ladies?”


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Asuka’s choice of swimwear was a red and white striped two-piece. She took the opportunity to pose in the mirror before remembering that it was a race to the water and sprinted off.

Rei was next to follow, in her dark blue one-piece. As she ran out of the rest hut, she reached around and readjusted the material around her buttocks and caught up with Asuka and the Ikaris.

Misato was next out, not caring about her clothes as usual. She was now dressed in a sleek, purple one-piece, with white trim.

“Catch you later, trash-eating stinkbag,” she mocked as she chased after the pilots.

“I may be a trash-eating stinkbag, but I’m not the one who won’t be able to find their underwear later...” Ritsuko calmly said to the empty hut as she casually hid the undergarments of her fellow swimmers.

Ritsuko emerged in a bright yellow, strapless bikini. It also had an embroidered floral pattern, marking out as a high quality garment.

After enjoying the warmth of the sun on her body for a moment, she jogged out to where the others were splashing about in the waves.


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“Oh no, Ritsuko’s the trash-eating stinkbag,” Asuka said as she stepped out away from shore to start swimming.

The bottle blonde just shrugged, knowing that not only had she been beaten to the water fairly by everyone else, but that she had already taken a measure of revenge.

She did, however change the subject to a more serious matter. “So, are we going to put some sunscreen on today?”

“A good point, Ritsuko. I can’t speak for any of you, but I certainly don’t need to start looking like a furious lobster. Come on, I’ve got some high SPF lotion in the rest hut,” Gendo said.

This new, almost caring behaviour of Gendo’s was a little unsettling to everyone. Well, everyone except Rei.

Not because Rei saw the Commander’s kind, compassionate side, but because very little unsettled her.

Ritsuko wasn’t sure what to make of this volte-face. At some point the man must have at least been able to fake being kind enough to attract a mate, but she’d begun to think that he’d found that it was far too much like hard work and just decided to stop caring about anything that wasn’t Instrumentality.

She also wasn’t sure if she found it more or less attractive than his normal aloof attitude.

Misato turned to Asuka. “You don’t think he’s dying, do you? I mean, he’s never really said more than three words outside of briefings to us.”

“I don’t know,” the redhead shrugged. “It’s not like he’s open or anything. I suppose he could have been hit in the head and it’s a personality change.”

Shinji was sure it was a ploy, a plan to get something, but he couldn’t see what it was. At least his father was now spending time with him and making him feel that he was at least loved. ‘To hell with tomorrow, I’m going to enjoy today regardless.’

The swimmers returned to the shore for their sun protection, with Gendo asking if someone would take care of his back.

“I’ll do it,” Ritsuko offered. “But only if you don’t tell people how I’m trying to get in the boss’s good books.”

“I promise, Ritsuko,” the bearded man smiled.

“Ik... Shinji-kun, please will you apply sunscreen to my back?” Rei asked. She’d never really bothered with anything like that before, having never tanned.

But if they were going to spend the entire day outside in the sunshine, then she might end up with sore skin. And that would be a potential impediment to piloting her Evangelion.

Asuka also made a beeline for the sunscreen. Experience had taught her the hard way that she needed high SPF protection. The summer when she was ten had been painful, thanks to her sunburnt legs.

“You’re not going to fight over who does your back, are you?” Misato teased.

“Shinji, help both of them,” Gendo instructed. “It’s the gentlemanly thing to do. Which is why I’m going to help both Misato and Ritsuko.”

Misato paused. While she had wanted to put some sunscreen on, she wasn’t sure she wanted to Gendo to put his hands on her. Shinji was one thing, he was... Shinji. Someone who could be trusted not to do anything improper.

She didn’t know if that was the case with his father.

“Since you’re not comfortable, Ritsuko will help you, Misato.”

That caused the purple-haired woman relax enough to sit down next to Ritsuko.


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[H-Man]

I cannot see what comes from this, but I can foresee great and terrible things, as great and terrible as Lady Galadriel.

You have permit to continue.

 

[TkMacintosh]

...Oh god....I...I can't see ANYTHING. Why can't I make a prediction of what's to come!?

I...I have to know what's going on. PLEASE CONTINUE RAA! PLEASE!

 

[Lord Raa]

Have some more.


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Soon, everyone was appropriately protected from the sun and were now starting to relax.

Shinji had enjoyed rubbing lotion into Rei’s soft, pale skin, almost as much as he enjoyed applying Asuka’s sunscreen.

He didn’t know why that was exactly. Part of him reasoned that it felt like a victory to be able to do something nice and slightly intimate without being attacked.

Perhaps Asuka was beginning to accept him for being Shinji Ikari and not punish him for not being Ryoji Kaji?

Misato looked at the cooler she’d brought. “Thirsty...”

“Go ahead, Misato. We’re on vacation. Beers for all who want them.”

“But they’re _my_ beers...” the Major protested.

“You clearly didn’t look around the rest hut properly. If you had, you’d have seen the fridge and freezer in there. You don’t think I would have gone through the trouble of setting up toilet and showering facilities without making sure we don’t die of dehydration, do you?” Gendo chided. “Yes, there’s beer in the fridge. Soda, too. And ice cream in the freezer. There might be vodka, too.”

Ritsuko nodded in approval. She liked beer, not quite as much as Misato did, but it was nice to have an alternative. And the more she thought about it, the more the scientist was beginning to think that it was Gendo’s planning skills that made him attractive to Yui.

‘He certainly covers all the angles...’

“Now, children, go play. Or swim. Or sunbathe. Basically, have a good time.”

The pilots looked at each other and decided it would be nice to have a swim and briskly made their way to the sea.

Gendo looked at the women sitting near him. “I’m sure that you’re curious as to why I’ve brought you here today.”

“Yeah, you generally don’t want to know what we’re doing outside of work hours,” Misato said as she pulled out a can of beer. “You want one, Ritsuko?”

“It’s a bit early, but why not?” the bottle blonde shrugged.

“I’ll have one, too,” the bearded man said. “Well, I could give you all sorts of explanations, all them with varying degrees of believability. What answer would make you the most comfortable?”

“I don’t know...” Misato answered before opening her can and draining half of the beer. “I mean, you do act like a dick to Shinji.... well, all of the time.”

“You do treat Rei better than you treat your own son,” Ritsuko added as she opened her beer.

“True. Does me having a bout of mental illness explain my behavioural change sufficiently for you? What if I told you that it’s all a plan? A plan decades in the making,” Gendo posited.

“That would be... I don’t know how I’d deal with that...” Misato said. Suddenly, her can was very interesting.

“Neither do I,” Ritsuko admitted.

“If you don’t like those answers, what about knowledge about Shinji’s medical history? That he’s not going to see his twenties? None of the pilots are because of what the LCL is doing to their nervous systems?”

“LCL isn’t dangerous,” the scientist snapped. “We would have seen evidence of that by now. Hell, it would have shown up when we first discovered it!”

Gendo smirked before opening his can. “You do know the lie we told everyone about the Second Impact, right? If we can perpetuate a lie of that magnitude, what makes you think that we couldn’t cover up something like neurological damage caused by LCL?”

Misato’s face fell. “Seriously, is that what’s happening? Are we killing Shinji, Rei and Asuka?”

“No,” the Commander answered. “That is the truth. Ritsuko is right, we would have seen evidence of LCL’s side-effects long ago. But that would explain my apparent change of heart towards my son, would it not?”

The three of them drained the drinks as they contemplated what the Commander had just said.

“Why are we doing this?” Misato asked. “Didn’t you say that this was supposed to be us having a good time?”

Ritsuko retrieved fresh beers for them. “I’m with Misato, we need to find a better, happier reason for why you brought us out here today, Gendo.”

“Then how about you apply Occam’s Razor?”

The faux-blonde nodded. “OK, empirical evidence tells us that you don’t do anything without a plan. Today fits into your plan for some reason.”

“We just have to find out how us going to the beach could help your master plan,” Misato pondered.

“I decided I needed some downtime and I thought that five important people at NERV could also benefit from a day off. Us preventing the extinction of the human race would fit nicely into my plan, would it not?”

“Works for me, but the timing is a little suspect,” the Major admitted. “It does look like you’re trying to patch things up with Shinji too much too fast.”

“I suppose it does,” Gendo smiled wryly. “But I wasn’t close to burn out earlier and was too busy for Shinji until today. It won’t make up for the years apart, but if things continue the way I intend them to, it’ll certainly smooth things over.”

“I’ll buy it. Maybe not unconditionally, but I’ll let it slide,” Ritsuko decided. She opened and held up her can. “To not burning out and causing the deaths of untold scores of people.”

“To not burning out,” Misato smiled as she toasted her friend. “And not causing the extinction of the human race.”

“To getting drunk at the beach with babes,” the Commander smirked. “I actually don’t give a fuck about the rest of the human race right now. All that matters is the people I’m with are having a good time.”

Though they weren’t going to say it out loud, both Misato and Ritsuko would agree that Gendo not caring about the rest of the human race was one of the most honest things he’d ever said. They toasted their commander and savoured their beers while enjoying the sun.


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Out in the surf, Rei was quietly swimming while Asuka was teasing Shinji by splashing him.

“Asuka,” the young man whined.

“What’s up, Shinji? You’re not scared of the water, are you?”

“No, I just don’t like it splashed in my face.”

“Alright, I’ll stop,” the redhead smirked. “Just don’t complain if I get bored and do something to keep us all entertained.”

“Like what,” Rei asked, swimming over to the roommates. “What is the sort of thing that you would find entertaining?”

“Oh, I don’t know, something like...” Asuka trailed off. “Well, maybe I’ll show you later. I feel like swimming.”

With that, the redhead swam off along the coast with a standard front crawl.

“Bet you can’t catch her up,” Shinji blurted out.

“I believe I can, Shinji-kun,” Rei smiled softly before chasing after Asuka.

The young Ikari blushed as he looked at the pale girl’s slender legs kicking in the sea. ‘I shouldn’t think about Rei like that... especially when people can see me.’

Ducking down into the water, Shinji started to swim in the same direction of his fellow pilots, albeit with a much slower pace.


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I might have had an idea that I could blend in with this one. A twisted idea from a recurring joke from an internet review.

But if that is the case, then there will probably have to be some kind of rewrite for parts of this one.

 

[PCHeintz72]

joining his father in the water.

I might be missing something, but I thought Shinji could not swim.

 

[Lord Raa]

I don't recall him not being able to swim, rather than him not liking swimming.

Plus he's with people who would be able to save him if he got into trouble.

Gendo may have moments of not giving a damn, but he's not about to let one of the three pilots drown while he's there. That would raise far too many questions.

 

[Predhack]

I'm surprised there aren't men in dark suits sitting in the wings ensuring everything goes smoothly. The idea of a man in black manning a barbecue stoically strikes me as quite amusing.

I'm enjoying this, please keep going.

 

[WarGiver]

I would find it more funny if the group (kids) were to stumble upon section 2's own beach party (men and women), with afore guy with a barbecue, along with a DJ with a straight face while the entire group of officers dance in perfect formation. When Gendo is brought on the scene the entire thing is completely gone.

 

[13ry4n]

If Gendo doesn't mess with Misato's car I'm going to be extraordinary disappointed.