OPEN POST // LELOUCH LAMPEROUGE | LELOUCH VI BRITANNIA

[chessking]

( call me out. informal/formal/comment spam/AU/crosscanon/explicit/whatever tickles your fancy. need prompts? Geass permissions over this way. )

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[chessking]

[ This is one of the few moments that he's mildly irritated that this place has robbed him of his powers - if he'd still had his Geass, there would have been less conditions to clear, less conditions to keep track of, more things would have fallen into place easily. Even if Yagen tried to kill him now, a moment would have been all he needed to command Yagen to stop, to play the trump card hidden up his sleeve, to rearrange the pieces on the board until the odds are in his favour and there's a clear path to checkmate.

But then again, it would be a tepid match if that was the case.

The way Lelouch shifts his stance is graceful, befitting of royalty, with the same kind of charisma that has somehow swayed most of the people in this room into keeping him alive for the past few weeks, and when he speaks, it's not Lelouch Lamperouge the student that's speaking.

This is Lelouch vi Britannia, 11th Prince of the Holy Britannian Empire, mastermind. ]

Is that so?

[ And Lelouch notices - sees the way Yagen's hand is trembling around the hilt of the knife. He's holding back.

He has to win. He has too much riding on this game, for one, and he's the only one with the information to see this game through to its very end, to its desired outcome. ]

What if I told you that more blood has to be spilled, so that the blood that has already been spilled will not be in vain? That I have the means to end this game for good, and that you have to trust me if you want to win?

[ And his gaze locks onto Yagen's. He's also aware that almost everyone, facilitator included, is watching them both, the hushed whispers in the background reminding him that he has an audience, and Lelouch smirks, points at the bloodied weapon in Yagen's hand with an almost taunting flourish. ]

If you think I'm bluffing, go on then! Stab me where I stand and condemn yourself to eternity in hell!

[flagrated]

[ It was unmistakable that the dark-haired male's brows furrowed and his eyes narrowed for the first time the execution concluded. His grip tightened around the knife, and he paid little attention to the anxious murmurs by their side. If only for a moment because he weighed his options; Lelouch undoubtedly said those words aloud so that no one else would be eager to consider acting to end his life. Besides, of course, to stop Yagen himself from trying a repeat performance of earlier on Lelouch.

If his General was here, what orders would he give him? Perhaps he would be told to hold back; there were many reasons to not strike Lelouch down. Especially if his words were true, and unfortunately Yagen had a myriad of reasons to not doubt them in the slightest.

It may become obvious that Yagen's stance lacked the tension it held earlier. His hand no longer trembled. ]

You know the risk in even saying what you have in front of everyone. In addition, I would be a fool to kill you without proper evaluating the situation first and consideration.

[ Yagen already knew that not everyone would wish to go with Lelouch's plan—especially himself. He doesn't delude himself of the idea that there would be another way to end the game for certain, not yet. He's not cynical, but he's not foolishly optimistic either. ]

In the end, what you ask is for me and whomever else that would accept, is to be your pawns, isn't it?

[chessking]

[ A carefully arched brow, skirting the line between arrogance and mocking. Of course he knows the risk. Gambling is about taking calculated risks, battles even more so, shifting strategies around the clearing of conditions although he has to admit that Yagen is a condition that Lelouch hadn't anticipated.

Nothing irritates him more than an unexpected condition throwing a wrench into his carefully laid plans. ]

With the number of people left in this game, my identity and role would have been discovered at some point.

[ Just that. Well. it just means that Yagen's actions have forced him to accelerate his timeline, and for the detectives? They've finally discovered the person that they've been trying to smoke out for the past few weeks. This is troubling, but Lelouch is both a gambler and a strategist, and pushing through yields the best odds, the ones most in his favour. ]

And you're right. [ Somehow, Lelouch has the talent to make even that sound like a slightly condescending backhanded compliment. ] Are you confident of how much you know of the situation, Yagen? Only I know every single detail of this game, and I have acted accordingly for the best outcome possible.

[ He's always been about the dramatics, large, sweeping gestures to accompany his orations. ]

Even a pawn may eventually become a Queen if they can cross over the chess board. [ There's a ghost of a smirk, there. ] I do not sacrifice my own pieces unnecessarily.

[ His allies are all still alive for now, barring the most recent kill. ]

To defeat evil, I am prepared to become a greater evil, Yagen. That is my duty.

[flagrated]

[ Yagen's skills of observation currently proved to be a slight irritance rather than a boon, since it was painfully clear to him how much Lelouch considered himself to be in a position of power. It wasn't without good reason, seeing as what role exactly the man had been luckily (or unluckily) saddled with. What was only worse than that was the fact the other male could be right in insinuating plainly that he knew everything thus far. Though Yagen scoffed at the idea of him 'acting accordingly for the best outcome possible', as that part remained to be seen. As far as the sword spirit was concerned, anyway.

He did his best to pay not too much attention to Lelouch's dramatics, though something about them unfortunately does seem familiar. But, what was even moreso was the last two sentences he spoke. For some reason, it made him think of Oda Nobunaga and his justified (or so Yagen's biased thoughts slant it) attempt to unify Japan under his banner. In his own attempts to do so, Nobunaga was willing to commit drastic acts and it was only a sudden betrayal that destroyed his efforts.

He didn't like making the comparison between his former master and this man because it made him waver. Naturally, he didn't speak of it. ]

I know more than most [ Some of it due to his role, some due to his close watch and networking. ], but not as much as I wish to know. It is true that it is possible you are one of the people who hold the most information about this game. I doubt you are the only one, no matter how many times you create the needless insistence that you are.

[ The only other person he presumed would be the Overseer/Facilitator for the trials and the game itself. That was probably being pedantic, but he cared little in the face of the man's arrogance.

In the end, it was partially Lelouch's fault Souza was dead and that Souza had been in so much pain before he died. What did it all matter anymore if nothing can be guaranteed? Even if Lelouch could assert that this game would end, does it mean that all iterations of the game would be put to a halt as well? If he couldn't assure he could or would find a way to not only end this game but all instances, then...

Nobunaga had also descended to hell, so perhaps it only be natural that Yagen may follow suit. ]

Lelouch, there is something I wish to know:

You claim you're able to do so much and even have the knowledge to end the game. But, do you speak of just this one game or do you mean to imply that you also have the power to even stop any further occurrence of future games such as this one?

[ Here he gave pause, and paid close attention to Lelouch—it would be attempt to search for any tells of dishonesty if Yagen could manage. ]

dun dun duuuuun.

[chessking]

I'm not omnipotent, Yagen. [ And here his features twist into a reluctant show of anger, of frustration, but it's brief, barely a few seconds before Lelouch forces himself to retain his neutrality. The perils of navigating the royal court have given him enough experience to know that he's navigating a landmine in this place, and he's in something of a rather precarious position. In full view of everyone, it's easy to make missteps. It's easy to lose whatever support he's already received.

It's a mistake that has cost him dearly before, and he's not about to make the same mistake twice. He'd be a fool if he did. ]

I have a question for you. [ Well, not really just for him, but more directed towards him specifically, but also addressing the room at large. Lelouch is good at things like that. ] What would you do when there is an evil you cannot defeat by just means? Do you stain your hands with evil to destroy evil, or do you remain steadfastly just and righteous even if it means surrendering to evil?

I know which one I chose, and I know which choice will ensure that no one's sacrifice will be in vain at least in this instance of the game. Souza's death was unfortunate, but necessary.

[ There's a challenge in Lelouch's words, thinly veiled arrogance and the spark of something that's the complete opposite of resignation, although there's no bluff there, only genuine conviction.

The King moves. ]

You say you know more information than most. [ There's something almost predatorial in the edge of his lips, something manic in his gaze. ] Tell me, do you know the condition to win this game?

[ Not whatever rubbish is in their rulebooks. Because he's fairly certain he's the only one who knows it. It's part of the deal, the contract that he's made with the powers that be running this game.

You can revive all the dead if you and one other person remain at the end of the game. If you are slain by their hand, you trade your life for everyone's.

Lelouch vi Britannia is no stranger to death. It's probably why he took the damned contract in the first place. ]

WELL THEN...

[flagrated]

[ So, this is it, is the thought that crosses Yagen's mind at the time, and for a moment, he takes two steps towards Lelouch—his expression all the while unreadable in that span of time. But, he doesn't take further action following that, and most of the time he's just standing there, evaluating the man's words, his own reactions. What he'd decide to do, as the choice to follow Lelouch or not is one he'll make on his own. Whether he does, someone in the crowd is undoubtedly making the decision to side with Lelouch, or not to.

Yagen has always painted himself a picture of calm, but the trouble with that is the fact that even he can lose himself easily to the side of him that's hotblooded enough to do something incredibly foolish. His mental state is dubious right now, and he had even considered going rogue in the sense of saying 'fuck it all'. But, what would that do, if it tosses it all to the flames? If he and Souza aren't alive, they can't return to serve their Master. Yet, he is sure that they can be replaced.

Even if he feels anger, at the idea of someone he's grown to care about could be considered so easy to discard. And once again, Lelouch's arrogant words concerning Souza's death.

Still, not everyone here could be so easily substituted for another. ]

To answer your question:

I'd stain my hands gladly, if I were given orders that required me to do exactly that. In the absence of orders, I would do anything to take that evil down with as much minimal innocent casualties as possible. Since that is what my Master would wish of me.

But, if there's no other choice, I will do what I must. I will cut down anyone who would try to stop me and whoever that I need to, if I need to make that sacrifice.

[ For a brief moment, he's speaking again something unplanned and not very well thought out before he could stop himself. ]

In addition, it'd be wise if keep yourself in moderation regarding making any further unnecessary comments concerning Souza's death.

[ Yagen's voice is less neutral than he wants it to be. But the important thing is that he tried to not allow himself to descend into saying something explicitly unpleasant. It is beneath him to do so, even considering the circumstances. ]

I also informed you that I don't know enough as I wish to, even despite the knowledge I've managed to collect. If you know what this condition is, you may as well go ahead and tell us already. Then, I'll be inclined to make my decision.

[chessking]

[ This is Zero Requiem all over again. Except that this time, he's not Emperor, and his accomplices are not as loyal to him as Kururugi Suzaku, his Knight of Zero, was. Lelouch doesn't trust easily - each of his alliances formed during the course of this game were carefully brought to the table because of something they had to contribute, but he is also painfully aware of how fragile these alliances are. If he cannot keep them under his thumb, the conditions in his favour turn against him instead, and that is a mistake that he does not want to make again.

Lelouch actually flinches when Yagen takes one, two steps towards him, and even when the other stops, he doesn't relax, his eyes narrowed, his posture tense. His Geass lies dormant, although the itch to use it grows larger, and Lelouch clenches his fists, digging his nails into his palm, using that slight amount of pain to ground himself while his mind flies through every single plan that he's concocted in the event that things go south. ]

I understand.

[ Justice, then. No wonder Yagen reminds him of Guilford, that bastard. He's not really in the business of senseless sacrifices, either, but sometimes, sacrifices have to be made.

The sins are all his to shoulder, in any case. It's nothing new. ]

Would you cut me down, then?

[ There's a sharp intake of breath that spirals out into laughter, a characteristic break from the calm that has coloured Lelouch's actions. It's half theatrics, and half genuine fear that the board is spiralling out of control, there's too many conditions to reel back under him-- ]

I see. So you don't know. [ He's not surprised. ] The terms of my contract - I can trade my life for everyone's, if I decide to. However, I must be killed by the last person alive if I want to execute this contract.

[ It's spat out somewhat viciously, raw emotion bleeding into every syllable, and--

No one expects it, Lelouch least of all, when he doubles over in agony, drops to one knee, clutching at his heart, gasping for breath.

Seems like his contractor isn't very pleased about him divulging the details of his contract to the group at large. ]

[flagrated]

[ When Lelouch stated that he understood, Yagen instantly pondered if he was being sarcastic or mocking, even without the man making his usual obvious signs that he was. He merely pushed away the thought, and committed to memory the reaction the man had given him moments before just by his abrupt, but short advance. It always seemed to be the little things he'd take any satisfaction or joy out of—though it didn't last very long.

Lelouch's question brought a slight change in Yagen's expression, but he didn't seem inclined to answer right after. At least not until the man finished and completely divulged that last bit he was waiting for. Granted, when he did, it brought about a revelation that wasn't expected at all. ]

...

[ Yagen couldn't really imagine Lelouch as the self-sacrificial type, though, and even now it almost brought a scoff to pass his lips. It's halted by Lelouch's sudden crumpling over himself, and before he could stop himself, he's stepped closer and he uttered Lelouch's name in surprise. He drew his hand back (which he found he had reached out with involuntarily) and frowned.

He's used to treating the ailments/wounds of others, and so his body reacted instinctively, much to his chagrin. ]

What's wrong now? Did someone slip you some poison while you were unaware? Or was this from wound you foolishly left untreated?

[ He said he would make his decision and quickly he went over the series of events in his answer. Souza's death, Lelouch's reveal, and now... to factor in once more what his Master might've ordered him to do. He knew that he would be advised against killing Lelouch, but would he be advised to help Lelouch fulfill that condition? Even as he wracked his head viciously for an answer, reviewing past responses given to him by his Master, he couldn't come up with anything.

His personal feelings shouldn't affect whether so many innocent people come back to life or not. He gritted his teeth. ]

Regardless of your answer to my previous inquires, I believe it's time to let you know if I've decided to cut you down where you stand.

[ Yagen's hand that held the knife, gave a light swing with it, so that any running blood from the previous victim would flick against the ground. Then he drew it back into its hiding place, expression unreadable. He probably should've thought twice about making the sudden movement while he was so close to Lelouch but honestly, he's skilled enough that he wouldn't accidentally throw the blade into him or something.

Ha ha. ]

I've decided not to kill you. But, I will be watching you for as long as I am able—and I promise you this:

If you dare do anything that would involve turning on your word to bring everyone who is dead to their salvation, I will make you wish I had killed you here today. Do you understand?