[007 | public | Japanese audio | text translation]

[ceiling_cat]

So we've got earthquakes again... I haven't felt any tremors over here, though. Anyone know what might be goin' on over there?

That aside... I've been stuck in here more'n long enough. Gotta keep myself entertained somehow. Anyone up for a card game? Poker, blackjack; anything but solitaire. I'm settin' up in the front hall of Latimir.

Comments

[Commentlog]

[greatcuppajoe.livejournal.com]

"Hey now, don't despair," Hanekoma said with a chuckle. "You've won a few times."

Collecting the cards and shuffling, he fixed Lelouch with an intent stare. "Explain all your abilities to me, and don't skimp the details."

[Commentlog]

[eyesofgeass.livejournal.com]

"Two times as compared to...? Keep your sunglasses on, please."

There's something he can chuckle at. Skimp details, hm? Why hadn't Sho thought of asking something such as that? Either way, Lelouch is popping out his contacts. Have a nice long look through the safety of your shades, Mr. H. It should be evident now...

"Geass, in its earliest form, is only a partial code given by a Code Bearer. It manifests in the eye to start with and is completely voluntary upon activation. Each person is unique. Each activation is unique. Some need only think about it. My particular Geass need eye contact. Light hits my iris and penetrates the central nervous system of the person I am attempting to use it on. It does a bit of damage to the brain, causing a bit of short-term memory loss. However, I can command the person according to my will. They might resist, but not for long. Mine only works once and no longer is voluntary. It's active at all times, Sanae. Hence the very specialized contact lenses."

Lelouch slowly replaces the contact lenses. Demonstration shouldn't be needed.

"The more you use it, the more powerful it becomes. Mine spread to both of my eyes, so I doubt that it really needs said that my Geass is quite the threat."

And the clincher.

"It works on gods as well."

[Commentlog]

[greatcuppajoe.livejournal.com]

Hanekoma nodded as Lelouch spoke, intent on the gleam of red irises through his sunglasses' protection. He could see something there, a faint pattern. Tempting, but he wasn't inclined to look any closer.

This explained why Joshua was wary of the young man. Control of others, even if only once per person, so long as it could not be resisted... and when they were all trapped on the same plane, Lelouch was no doubt right about its effectiveness. A useful skill for someone who had the brains to use it well. And yet, contact lenses blocked it, or sunglasses; that meant Lelouch must need a direct, clear line of sight to exercise the ability.

He smiled. "Ain't that interestin'."

Five cards for Lelouch, five for himself. He set the deck down at the center of the table and picked up his hand.

[Commentlog]

[eyesofgeass.livejournal.com]

"I suppose, but the little factors and rules I had to learn on my own," Lelouch says, an eyebrow cocked.

Three sixes, an ace, and a king. Lelouch places both cards face down.

"My predecessor didn't tell me much of anything. Not that she really had the chance upon being shot."

[Commentlog]

[greatcuppajoe.livejournal.com]

"Your predecessor bein' that code bearer you mentioned?" Hanekoma prompted, glancing at his cards. Two jacks, a few lower cards. He discarded the three low ones and dealt himself and Lelouch replacements.

Nothing better. Oh well, he'd won hands with worse, he thought, and set his hand down face-up. "Pair of jacks."

[Commentlog]

[eyesofgeass.livejournal.com]

"Four sixes," he states, laying the cards down himself.

And picking the cards back up himself. "Code Bearers lose their Geass ability. In exchange, they get immortality, access to the World of C, and can connect with the thoughts of others through touch. Naturally they can also give a partial Code to another. But, yes. She gave me the ability in a do or die situation... One in which she took a bullet for me."

Shuffling and dealing. "Now for my question... What exactly is the true relationship between you and Joshua? There's obviously more to it."

[Commentlog]

[greatcuppajoe.livejournal.com]

"World of C?" he asked, casting Lelouch a curious glance before settling back in his chair to consider the young man's question.

"Now, that's gonna be a long answer," he said, gaze resting thoughtfully on the cards as they ruffled through Lelouch's fingers. "Narrow it down for me a little: you talkin' about the professional or personal side of the relationship?"

[Commentlog]

[eyesofgeass.livejournal.com]

"So was mine..." A sigh and going to go ahead. "It's basically the realm of god, or the streaming consciousness of everyone that has exited and currently exists. You cannot hide anything there, really."

He picks his cards up to take a look. Not bad really. Just a regular straight. "You're not a Reaper, so that either means you are at the Composer level or something higher. So, no... I'm more interested in personal."

[Commentlog]

[greatcuppajoe.livejournal.com]

"Careful with the assumptions, there, Horatio!" Hanekoma chuckled, picking up his own hand. "Personally? I've known Josh a long time. He used to visit my coffee shop when he was alive. Didn't have a whole lot in common with kids his age, so he'd talk with me instead...." He trailed off, surprised for a moment by sudden memories. Joshua hadn't changed much over the years, really. Calcified, but not changed.

"I care about him," he admitted, simply. "I'm not the fatherly type, but if I were, I'd be proud of a son like him."

[Commentlog]

[eyesofgeass.livejournal.com]

"It's not an assumption. Not entirely. You already gave me a vague idea of what your role in the Game is. I know that Taboo Refining is not common knowledge among Reapers from Sho. I can't imagine that you, as a Reaper, would have been permitted to continue on with that sort of knowledge... So it leaves very few possibilities, doesn't it?"

Notice Lelouch isn't putting cards down. Nope! Luck is on his side. Though his expression isn't anything other than contemplative. He really does have abandonment issues. His father threw them aside as did their mother. Lelouch has always been the one to take care of Nunnally and himself. It's the way it has always been... Really he doesn't know what a father figure is supposed to be like nor does he really have that sort of... Understanding. Not that he wouldn't mind it.

"I see."

[Commentlog]

[greatcuppajoe.livejournal.com]

Hanekoma glanced at his cards. Eight, nine, jack and queen of spades; there was real promise there, but it was a long shot. He pushed the odd card out across the table. C'mon, ten of spades....

"Minamimoto only knows about his area of responsibility," he replied, tossing Lelouch a smile. "There's a lot that goes into keeping the Game running, after all, and erasin' Players is only one part of it. I take Joshua's orders too."

Well, at least when it came to the Game. That should be enough to send Lelouch off on a fishing expedition in the wrong river, he thought, and smiled again.

[Commentlog]

[eyesofgeass.livejournal.com]

"I sort of got that, but in the end it's Joshua's call about who gets to return to life, right?"

Too bad Lelouch isn't really one to be too deterred. Mao did say that he thinks about several different things at once. He hands Hanekoma another card. There are two questions that are floating in his mind right now. Hopefully... He'll get to ask them.

"Ready?"

[Commentlog]

[greatcuppajoe.livejournal.com]

"It sure is," Hanekoma agreed amiably, tossing his hand down. "One queen."

[Commentlog]

[eyesofgeass.livejournal.com]

To which Lelouch puts down his hand. "A straight."

Sliiiiiding over his cards now. Which one to ask? Well... While they are on the subject. "Where is Joshua right now? He hasn't really been responding like usual over the network."

Is that a bit of worry?

[Commentlog]

[greatcuppajoe.livejournal.com]

"Aah, Lady Luck, why so fickle?" Hanekoma complained lightly, taking the cards and shuffling them once more.

"I can't answer your question. He's been avoiding me, too, and he hasn't been back to his apartment in almost two weeks. So far as I know."

Five cards for each of them. "Want to pick a different favor?"

[Commentlog]

[eyesofgeass.livejournal.com]

"All right... Why is he avoiding you?"

Sorry. Not going to leave this one alone. Even if he's picking up the cards.

[Commentlog]

[greatcuppajoe.livejournal.com]

"I told him that he couldn't wall himself off forever without causing problems, and Discedo'd be a good place for him to practice opening up." Hanekoma picked up his cards, glancing over them. Two pair: tens and fives. Not bad.

[Commentlog]

[eyesofgeass.livejournal.com]

Wow. This catches Lelouch by surprise. Even with his bad hand.

"You told him..."

Lelouch is actually laughing. Oh the irony of that.

[Commentlog]

[greatcuppajoe.livejournal.com]

"Mmhm," Hanekoma agreed, amused. "That funny, is it?" He put down the odd card out, dealing himself a replacement.

[Commentlog]

[eyesofgeass.livejournal.com]

Four cards out. Lelouch coughs a little bit, but he soon regains his composure.

"I won't lie... It's disconcerting to hear, since he offered similar advice to me. He and Maka have been... Helpful."

[Commentlog]

[greatcuppajoe.livejournal.com]

He dealt Lelouch four replacement cards, and glanced at his own. Nothing new there.

"Nobody's as good at seein' themselves as they are at seein' someone else," he said, laying down his hand face-up. "Two pair."

[Commentlog]

[eyesofgeass.livejournal.com]

"Luck has turned yet again..."

His hand? Nothing but cards of different suits and numbers.

[Commentlog]

[greatcuppajoe.livejournal.com]

"Don't bring any of this up with Joshua," Hanekoma said, and pushed the deck in Lelouch's direction.

[Commentlog]

[eyesofgeass.livejournal.com]

A pause. And a suspicious look as Lelouch takes up the cards again.

"If I didn't know any better... I'd say you could read minds too."

[Commentlog]

[greatcuppajoe.livejournal.com]

Hanekoma laughed outright, spreading his hands in a gesture of innocence. "Course not, Catnip. Chip's still in," he said, and winked.

"I'm just a good guesser. Gonna deal?"