IC: Cellular

[thekingsgambit]

[After hearing that C.C. has been unable to determine Euphie's whereabouts within the past week, Lelouch finds himself on edge. It is illogical, he knows this. Even if Euphie were somehow still here, her existence is as transient as his. Yet, he can't stop wishing that she could still enjoy things here, if only for a brief while. Camp had always granted him an odd sort of retreat, not that he'd ever admitted it, a chance to appreciate things he had little time for in his other life. And while his ever-restless soul had always demanded escape from the tedium and a return to his battle, his pursuit, his wish, he still held onto those moments. Lelouch Lamperouge had been happy here. He had had everything he wanted but had been unable to understand that back then.

Now, Lelouch vi Britannia only wants to hear his half-sister's voice again, teasing him about his pets and lamenting the last days of autumn. It had been so important to get rid of her that day...

Out of options, he reaches for the communicator he received his first night back. If C.C. can't find Euphie, there are only two other people who could. And one of them was still too quick to suspect any unusual queries, especially about her. The other... It's a risky move, but he has decided that this time, Euphie is more important. His fingers push the button, no doubt intended for immediate connection .]

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[ascendthethorns]

[Her own device rests upon the desk before her, just slightly to her left, just slightly out of reach, beeping and flashing one rotation, two, three, before she leans forward, retreives it, rises, raises it to her ear, and answers.]

What is it?

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[He hesitates and holds the communicators away for a moment so he can breathe carefully, aware of the anxiety that might seep into his tone. When he returns to it, his voice is almost neutral. Almost.]

... Have you seen Euphie lately?

[He knows how out-of-place the question must sound, his first conversation with the speaker in almost a week, but he shoves the concern to the back of his mind. Answers first.]

[ascendthethorns]

[Hesitates in turn.]

You ask because you know the answer already. Isn't that right, Lelouch?

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[Ignores the question, more focused on the fact that Cornelia is likely admitting that she has seen their sibling no more than him.]

I have been told she has not been around camp. I thought, perhaps back at the cabin...

[ascendthethorns]

You thought incorrectly. She is not here either.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[Feels the communicator shake slightly by his ear.]

... I see. It is unusual for her to stay away this long.

[ascendthethorns]

... stay away?

[ascendthethorns]

[Voice falls; is lightly tinged with resignation.]

Do not delude yourself. Euphie is not absent of her own volition.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[Cornelia's tone a moment ago and her last words now have him backing against the wall, the memory of a single shot in constant replay within his mind. A necessary action but... He closes his eyes.]

How do you know this?

[ascendthethorns]

I have my sources and with them, no reason to believe otherwise.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[Sources? Others who had been present at Euphie's attempt? What had happened then? What exactly does Cornelia know?]

Then you know... when she will be back.

[When. Not if. He wouldn't allow his mind to stray down that path. Not here. Not in the place where Euphie had been truly able to just be herself.]

[ascendthethorns]

[Another long pause, as she debates her response.]

I know nothing of her impending return.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[Holds the communicator closer to his face. Half answers. As much as he's turned to them in the past, they only serve to prick at his fears now. Fears of a repeated mistake. But Cornelia's responses, her reactions around him, none of them spoke to anything so dire.]

No, but you know she is coming back, that this is not an act of the director. And you know why she is gone.

[ascendthethorns]

Hmn. I have my suspicions. But you are the one with the greater understanding, are you not? So come, tell me — what truths will you offer now?

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[Sighs, this time not bothering to remove the communicator. He can give her this much; it doesn't matter.]

I know nothing more than you, maybe less.

I just want to know she is safe, elder sister.

[ascendthethorns]

Is this a battle of semantics? Very well. Perhaps you do know less than I, I shall grant you that. But what you do know, without question, bears more significance to what you have asked. And as I have already said I have only my suspicions. But you.. you have your involvement, don't you? So I will ask you once again; do you have complete control over your power?

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[Eyes widen, finally grasping the meaning of Cornelia's questions from the other day. Of course, she would have made the connection. Had she been there as well? C.C.'s knowledge was limited. But if she suspected him... why had she done nothing that morning? Cornelia had moved past setting up traps. His voice is firm, as he tries to hide his new confusion.]

I told you I do.

[He pauses, anticipating her follow-up and after moment or so adds in what is hardly more than a breath --]

... now.

[ascendthethorns]

Fool... is your present control the result of an evolution? Or is there a countermeasure in place?

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

Evolution? Your knowledge extends further than you showed the other day... No, this is not that type of evolution.

A filter is required.

[ascendthethorns]

A filter?

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

Ah. Camp is unpredictable so methods beyond control are necessary. In this case, something that inhibits the effect.

[ascendthethorns]

... methods beyond control..? Are you saying that without camp's interference, your power would never have acted independent of your will?

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[His answer is strained and tight, as one would expect, but not with frustration. As the "what ifs" that he had only let cross his mind once or twice since then return.]

... no.

But you already know that. You spoke of evo --

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[He stops, letting the full measure of what she is saying sink in. She knows about the massacre. She knows about camp's version as well. Yet... she considered his power was not in his control? Why? Why would she ask that? It made little sense the initial time, and it makes far less sense now. Why does she keep pushing this? How can she know... ? More than that, she knows who she is asking. As much as it only adds to his confusion over her actions, it is a fact he has to acknowledge. So why? Why give him this chance?

His tone softens into something natural, demanding and accepting at the same time.]

Elder sister. You once asked me about my intentions. I return the question.

[ascendthethorns]

[Speaks stiffly, in a voice trained distant and detached.]

No. First..

Euphie was forced into massacring those people gathered at the Special Administrative Zone. By your order — your power. You gave her that command. But it was never your intention to do so. In the end, perhaps you had even decided to work together with her. But your Geass would have it otherwise. It had grown too strong for you to control and by the time you realized this, it was too late. You could not stop what had been set into motion. None could.

Those are the real truths, aren't they?