[IC:] AUverse

[thekingsgambit]

[It's nearing mid-evening at the estate of the Governor-General, where one severely out-of-place prince is fingering the heavy curtains that edge a massive window. The soft glow of the city's nightlife, just starting to stir, masks the dark world that lies in the ruined cities beyond this oasis of civilization and prestige. He knows both worlds entirely too well, along with their protectors. It is not a sight he ever expected to bear witness to again. Maybe that's why he cannot pull himself away from this stark reminder of a course charted in blood. It would be easy enough to explain anyway, a quick line about contemplating the challenges before them or about the providence they were bringing to this land. Either way, his claim is to the duplicity, not the clutching, affectionate arms of his younger sisters, both eager to tell him about their days before launching into another of their playful squabbles for his attention. And while he cannot (or maybe will not) completely keep himself from indulging in their presence, those moments of simple joy, neither will he allow himself to forget that this is wrong.

The worst part is that after almost a week, he knows they are still no closer to figuring a way back. (Or maybe the worst part is that part of him wonders why they still try.)

Maybe that's why...]

Comments

[ascendthethorns]

General Anderson, I will not give him special treatment. The Colonel will fulfill his duties as ordered or face reassignment.

[Her voice is crisp but low, an attempt at discretion that's failed by the amplificating quality of palatial emptiness. She only listens to the response for a moment.]

Stop. No, I cannot guarantee that he will keep his rank.

[As she turns down the corridor she's quick to spot Lelouch by a window. Pausing, considering turning back in honour of the general's privacy, she soon decides that it doesn't matter with this displaced brother. She continues in his direction, stopping at the first window so she can complete her call, quieter.]

It is inappropriate, as is this conversation.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[He turns slightly, detecting the voice even within his never-slowing thoughts. He had expected to seek her out later, but there was no point in ignoring the opportunity now. He releases the curtain, completing his turn and leaning back, arms crossed, against the cloth-covered pane, as he makes a motion for her more immediate attention.]

[ascendthethorns]

[Gestures him over, but denies him her attention while she makes notes in her phone.]

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[Makes a soft sound to himself, pushing himself off the window and making his way over to her.]

[ascendthethorns]

General Anderson is a good woman. But her son... hmn. He merits vicariously through her name. You'll know him as the commander who lost a shipment of Sakuradite to the JLF.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

I should have guessed it would be easy enough for you to return to your old command. I suspect even keeping to the same hours.

[ascendthethorns]

I'd keep fewer if my deputy was less inclined toward daydreaming.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

I have been performing my part well enough. I even managed to offer some additional hours last night.

I heard that the Governor-General had requested a substantial part of the evening to herself and figured her knights would tolerate my accepting the reports in her place just this once.

[ascendthethorns]

...very well. I'll inform them of your intention.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

They were not overly concerned with my proposal. It seems they had other things on their mind.

[Pause]

... She loves that dress. At least that is what I gathered in between the hour she spent relaying each and every notion she shared with you. Her interest in these matters is still dangerously simple but has been under-appreciated for far too long. Last night meant a great deal to her.

[ascendthethorns]

[Blanks for a moment, then shakes her head.]

Not here. We can discuss this in my office.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

Ah, I expect you may have something to share with me as well on this topic.

[Starts heading in that direction.]

[ascendthethorns]

[F-f-f-fast forward! In the large office with its sparse furniture and ample decoration, and the window that stretches from ceiling to floor. Cornelia takes her seat behind the desk and places her phone beside her computer. There's a pile of paperwork already out. She waits.]

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[Brushing his hand over the desk and glancing at the pile of work by habit.]

I lingered around the counsel room after meeting with your knights. As you can probably guess, I offered my time for this precise purpose. I was not aware of your actual agenda for that evening. In any case, I heard them having having a short, ah, discussion.

[ascendthethorns]

[It's the entirety of paperwork from her efforts these AU days.]

It sounds like you were eavesdropping on them.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[Looks up]

They are starting to notice the differences.

[ascendthethorns]

Starting? No. They've had their suspicions from the first day.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

The first day?

[ascendthethorns]

[Frooooowns.]

Begin with what you overheard.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

For the most part, they seemed to be joking about it, but they referred to a general change in demeanor and approach.

... Nunnally has brought up similar points in the same lighthearted manner. I think, for now, they suspect it is merely their own imagination. But I was also expecting we would have more leads on our transfer by now.

[ascendthethorns]

Darlton was the first person I encountered here, before I understood the situation. Guilford came upon us later. They were concerned then, and have been approaching me with further concerns daily because my fitness is their obligation. Euphie any Nunnally, they— have known our alternate selves — not you and I — their entire lives. The only thing keeping them from questioning our true identities is that they exist in a world driven by logic.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[Running hand through his hair]

How much longer do we have before this becomes a larger point of concern? I originally suspected this was one of that place's manipulations, but it has never shown interest in supplanting alternate time lines. It has nothing to gain from offering us the chance to see things differently. We already know of the illusion.

[Glancing at the door.]

Though, that is a notion easier said than put into practice, it seems.

[ascendthethorns]

In two days it'll have been a week. Until then, stop humouring alternatives to camp's involvement.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

Perhaps. For now, we have no course but to continue as we are, using what we know of the others' suspicions to tailor our roles accordingly.

[Not that it will be particularly easy, considering Nunnally's plans for the morrow.]

[ascendthethorns]

No. Fulfill the responsibilities set before you, but reconsider basing your approach in the facade. We risk hurting Euphie and Nunnally through it.