[week once || day cinco || video]

[keptdown]

[SUDDENLY --

See Suzaku -- well, see Zero. See Zero's mask, and see Zero nodding to himself. See the bark of the tree -- hell, maybe even see leaves.

See Zero falling off of the branch he was sitting on, in that tree. Watch him flip in midair and land perfectly, splendidly --

-- into the pond. The koi swim away immediately, and Zero brushes himself

Comments

[reaction] time = a couple hours after the end of the C.C. log

[dramatic_cape]

[ It's strange how familiar things remain familiar even long after they have been replaced by other settings, objects, people as the norm. Lelouch lived in this house in Kusasato for nearly two months (two months that felt like another separate lifetime), and now, here in it again with C.C., it almost feels as if he had never returned to his world. As if this was how it always was and it had never changed. The only difference is that there are now neighbors in the other houses, neighbors with marks on their foreheads peering nervously every now and then when they walk past the houses in the hills

[reaction 2] electric boogaloo

[dramatic_cape]

[ His knuckles grow white on the Hitomi. Clench until the bones in them ache.

What the hell.

That's not. That is. It's... it's Zero.

But, Lelouch is here.

This is unheard of. Can it be...himself? From another point in the history of his world? But the gods have never brought anyone twice at once - returned and switched and jerked back once again like fishes on a line, yes. But a direct contradiction like this - no.

Not to mention, Lelouch couldn't pull off a stunt like that in a thousand years. He'd break every bone in his body.

He replays the video. Listens to the audio. His own voice changer is now working against him, preventing him from ascertaining this imposter's identity.

One sentence, almost a non sequitur, stands out. "It saved me again." What could that mean?

What could any of this mean? ]

[video]

[dramatic_cape]

[ Time for some answers. Hopefully, C.C. won't come back until Lelouch has gotten something of a handle on this. ]

You're not Zero. [ Lelouch says this with all the conviction he himself possessed as Zero himself. Perhaps he says it in Zero's own voice. ] Who are you? By what authority have you taken that identity?

[video]

[keptdown]

[Hauntingly familiar face. Hauntingly familiar voice. Ohhh, is the kitty angry --

-- this isn't a dream. He had confirmed it himself.

This is ... not settling well for Suzaku's stomach.

Blank as ever, looking over to the pond and finally -- finally, sitting down near it, watching the koi behind the mask. Not even paying attention to the Hitomi anymore.

Ha. This is not good. Not good at all. He'd heard about people claiming to see dead people, but ... yes. That must be it. A good old hallucination after coming down from the control of Geass.]

I am Zero. [The same conviction (practiced, over and over again, "No, no, you're saying it all wrong!"), but should it matter? It's just a ghost. That's right. He's finally hit the deep end and lost his mind. He's not surprised in the least.]

[Video]

[redeyeslasher]

[Break actually laughed watching this person land spectacularly into the pond. Such interesting new arrivals these days.]

If it was a dream you would expect that pond to be deeper no?

[Video]

[keptdown]

Ah. [Uh. Normal conversation. He can. So do this.]

Probably? And there would be several other things, too ...

Re: [Video]

[redeyeslasher]

O? Like say dancing rabbits on unicycles playing the trumpet?

[Why not keep up this charade for a bit.]

Re: [Video]

[keptdown]

[...] I don't think I could dream of anything like that anymore.

[Video]

[stray_dog0303]

[what's with all the weirdoes popping in all of a sudden. Break wants nothing to do with any of em unless he absolutely has to. That is until this guy makes a show of himself.]

You're lucky that was only a pond.

[there is a hint of bitterness in Heine's voice. He still hasn't gotten over his arrival]

[Video]

[keptdown]

Mm. I am. Then again, maybe it's more to say that I'm lucky my will to live isn't my own.

[Have equal bitterness, Heine! Maybe he's concerned about Heine's own bitterness, but -- doesn't find it in him to ask about it just yet.]

Re: [Video] OOC: FAIL NAME USE IS FAIL IN MY LAST POST T_T *shoots self*

[stray_dog0303]

[Heine blinks and eyes this guy like he's high on something]

then whose is it?

[blunt question right back at ya]

Re: [Video] ooc: lmao, it's all good, bb. C: /petpet

[keptdown]

Not mine; maybe it's the Emperor's. I've resigned to death. [Ahhh ha ...]

[video]

[flightandfire]

[She watches the whole display with a sense of curiosity, and that curiosity is piqued even more when Zero speaks. She has no idea what's going on, but those flips were pretty cool.]

What a strange human you are. What was the purpose of all of that?

[video]

[keptdown]

[Give him a moment to actually register the 'human' part of it, used to the 'strange' part.

And then, an answer to the question as he recovers:] The purpose? Assuming the fall was broken [which is was, but he doesn't remember so he's assuming] are you talking about my fall or the process in the middle?

[video]

[flightandfire]

Both. It is quite curious that you would fall out of a tree, only to tumble into a pond. Was it on purpose?

[video]

[keptdown]

[So it was broken. Good to know that order to "live" hasn't disappeared.

...] I don't know. [Admittably.] I only remember falling. And from the height I was at -- I would have died. [Without the Geass --] I guess the pond broke my fall.

The purpose, maybe, was to live at any cost.

[heartofjustice]

[A costume. A very nice costume, though Amelia isn't sure if it's meant to be a hero's costume or a villain's.]

Well, there's a place for newcomers to stay in Hisato, Mister Masked Man.

[She could ask. But if he was a villain, he'd lie. Maybe. So she'd just play along.]

[keptdown]

[Ah?] Is ... that so? Where is Hisato at then, miss ...?

[video]

[heartofjustice]

Well, there's a map on the Hitomi, if you press some of the buttons.

Um, the Hitomi is the thing we're talking through, so I can't really show you. But if you walk a half-hour southeast of the big tree, you should get there.

[video]

[keptdown]

Ah, alright then. I'll keep that in mind. [A pause, as he apologizes to the koi once again. He's taking this well. It's not a dream, and Nunnally wasn't with him --

-- before he starts walking.] Would I be able to access it through the ... Hitomi, then, even if I'm talking to someone?