Hannah

Look, I just think that tearing an enemy mech limb from limb would give the pilot the best orgasm of their life. Am I wrong?

Mech Pilot who, you know...

Hrm. Ok. Lemme think. I'm not gonna mention any Gundams, because that could be it's own whole fuckin' thing.

1. Code Geass
   Surprising no one (who was around while I was Geass posting, which come to think of it was kind of a long time ago). I wrote a whole post on why I love Code Geass so much. Lelouch is one of my favorite characters in all of fiction. Is the show sometimes very dumb? Yes. Is it also a staggering work of genius? Yes. It is extremely good at hitting the emotional notes it wants at critical storytelling moments, and has one of the best endings of any anime, period. Watch Code Geass.

2. Promare
   Promare is Studio Trigger's over-the-top and extremely unsubtle movie about queer liberation. I'm surprised it's not talked about more, because it's so incredibly gay. If you like Trigger's work, you'll adore it, and if you're iffy on Trigger, I still think it's worth a shot.

3. Neon Genesis Evangelion
   Like... it's Evangelion. We're still talking about it in 2023. How have you not seen it yet?

Honorable Mention: Last Exile
Last Exile is not a mecha anime. But it feels like a mecha anime. You just replace the mecha with steampunk airships. Honestly, it's one of my favorite shows of all time, and it's a fucking tragedy how hard it is to find now. It is streaming, somewhere. Physical copies are limited to out-of-print DVDs. Every pirated copy I've found has been scuffed. But it's so good, and it deserves to be remembered. Formative anime for me.

Mech Pilot who doesn’t listen to the voices.

I awake this morning to a new message from Central Command, a blue light blinking on my private terminal. We had been on the front last night; I am owed a recovery day. But there are no new orders, it's merely the bi-annual NSAS questionnaire. Automated. I have five days to complete it or be suspended from active duty. I'm not the type to put these things off, so after a private breakfast I sit down at my terminal to complete the form.

Early detection of Nerve-Synchronization Anthropomorphism Syndrome is critical to keeping pilots safe and effective. Your honesty is essential if we are to...

I've heard it all before. I skip to the first question.

Do you have a name for your synced Mechanized Enhancement Suit (Mech)?

Of course I do, everyone does. Command tries to discourage this, but people have been naming their machines forever, long before Nerve-Sync was deployed. Mine is called Agatha. It's no secret, best to be honest here.

How would you describe your Mech?

Agatha is a scout model, fast and sleek. A thing of beauty. She's capricious too; moody even. Prone to bouts of violent glee that border on manic. Sometimes it's a struggle to keep her in line. I say none of this. I detail her technical specifications, her armament, the shade of purple I have painted her. I throw in a few flowery descriptors so I don't appear too aloof.

When deployed, do you consider your Mech's feelings before engaging the enemy?

Of course not. Agatha is eager for battle, it's in her nature. But that's none of Command's business.

Does your Mech ever speak to you?

I spend a long time on this one. Agatha... does not have a voice. At least that is not how I would describe it. She makes her wishes known to me, but I do not think she's ever used words. She uses impressions, abstract thoughts and feelings, communicated to me through our link. I don't let her boss me around though. I'm the pilot - I'm in control. Agatha does what I ask, not the other way around. She certainly doesn't speak to me. My relation to her is of no concern. Not to Command, not to anyone but me. A simple 'No' will suffice for this question.

This concludes the questionnaire. If you experience any abnormal sensations while synced to your Mechanized Enhancement Suit, you are bound by regulation to contact...

On and on it goes. None of it is relevant to me. Agatha and I get along just fine. I've seen NSAS claim other pilots. They start treating their Mech like a person, and totally lose all perspective. It's only a matter of time until they're pulled from active duty and sent to some kind of recuperation center, never to pilot a Mech again. I'm not going to be like them. I'm in control of my own faculties. And Command can't tell me how to feel about my own machine. Agatha and I have a bond. We can survive anything. They'll never take me away from her.

Never.