A general trend that has been occuring for some time is the migration of experienced fanfic writers - e.g. John Biles,
Rod M, Chris Davies, Lara Bartram et al - from Ranma into NGE. Though this bodes well for the quality of NGE fanfiction
overall, I am troubled by the impression that there are really two Eva fanfic worlds that don't really communicate with each
other: firstly, the FFML/FFIRC group and the evaFic/IOW crowd.

Now, where was I? Oh yes, the review. Following her much-acclaimed 'Pages' (which examines Gendou, Yui and Fuyutsuki pre-Second Impact), 'Role-Playing' is a comedy spawned from a spamfic by Ammadeau - which forms the very first (and very funny + bizarre) scene of the fic.

Asuka skillfully 'persuades' Shinji to re-enact scenes from NERV's history with the aid of costumes, theatrical props, scripts and security tape recordings. Later Rei is roped in to help. All of this culminates into something quite unexpected - which I suspect that many NGE fans (with the definite exception of Mercutio) will enjoy.

All the way, we are continually entertained by the Childrens' antics, Misato's near nervous breakdown and the NERV senior
staff's voyeuristic fascination. Rei is used to great comic effect - she's in on it but doesn't quite get it. Pen-Pen
also produces gut-busting moments when he is press-ganged into role-playing by Asuka. Great gags throughout: the refrigerator, dark glasses, how to bribe Rei, penguin jokes, the dish cloth and the riding crop. My favourite has to be the running joke about waffles. More hilarity ensues in the 'outtakes' which also explain the rationale of the entire fic.

Shinji and Asuka's interaction is balanced and nuanced with layers of meaning, best exemplified by the line:

"Asuka smiled and patted [Shinji] on the head in a both affectionate and condescending manner."

There is strong feel of the Children simply being children, a humanity that is celebrated despite all the darkness of NGE -
making the fic successful in a similar sort of vein as Rod M's 'Vacation'.