He woke up, which was interesting because that was an experience he believed he had already gone through for the very last time. Eyes blinking in the unexpected light, a hand tracing down towards what should have been a monument to pain. Something wasn’t right here. No, more like nothing was right.
<i>Alive? But how...</i>
Lelouch vi Britannia sat up and took in his surroundings. This place - C’s World? So he wasn’t alive at all. This was the afterlife, a single part of the swirling unconsciousness that his father called “God”. Well, he didn’t quite expect to have physical form, but - Hold on. Something still wasn’t quite right here. He wasn’t in C’s World at all, was he? This looked more like -
“Ahem.”
Lelouch turned around and stared at a table with an empty chessboard atop it. Sitting opposite him was a slightly overweight man with unkempt hair and a spark of fascination in his eyes. He waved his hand and the chair slid out. Lelouch took it and stared quite intently at this person for a full minute before speaking.
“It’s quite an interesting thing you’ve done,” Lelouch said. “Making me self aware?” The man said nothing. “Why would you do something like that? I’ve considered all the angles, and all possible answers can be summarised as personal amusement. Tell me, Mister Self-Insert. What should I call you?”
“Lumitiel will do,” the man said. “I usually detest things like this, but the idea… Oh, it was so sweet and so irresistible that I had to indulge, just this one time. Please, dear reader, forgive this one transgression. Any other setup would seem trite and dull by comparison.”
“They might forgive you faster if you proceeded to the point,” Lelouch said. “No doubt it is something perverse and imaginative.”
“Naturally,” Lumitiel said with a faint but growing smile. “I have a game to play with you. Not chess, naturally. You’d stomp me into the dirt. I know the rules, but I lack your experience with the game. Even if the show got a few basics wrong. Moving a King into check? Ridiculous!”
“Yes, yes, it was all symbolic,” Lelouch waved the issue aside. “What game do you intend to play with me? Depending on how interesting it is, I may even take you up on it.”
“To begin with,” Lumitiel said. The air around him seemed to grow a little more intense. More focused. “I intend to send you back in time.”
Lelouch let out a weary sigh. “Again? Have you any idea how often my character has been put through so-called Peggy Sue stories? Put them all together and Lelouch vi Britannia has travelled in time more often than The Doctor.” He stopped and frowned. “And I don’t even know who that is.”
“Sorry, can’t help the references,” Lumitiel chuckled. “I really shouldn’t put words in your mouth like that, but the point is rather taken. If you were to actually and properly Peggy Sue, you’d probably have the whole damn series sewn up in a couple of months. Knowing then what you know now…” He whistled and shook his head. “Not much room for drama there. Or sexy fun times. No, no. I’ve got something else in store. I won’t insult your significantly-greater-than-my-own intelligence by asking if you know what a harem is…”
“Let me guess. You intend for me to acquire a harem.”
“Not exactly,” Lumitiel replied. “In fact, you couldn’t be more wrong. I want you to try and <b>avoid</b> building a harem. Under certain provisions, naturally.”
Lelouch stared unblinking and pondered whether his Geass would even work on a self-insert. Unlikely. There had to be a trick to this. Obviously there was. He could refuse to play, but then again did he really have any say in it at all?
“Tell me the rules,” Lelouch finally said. “And then we’ll see what I decide.”
<hr>
So, once again Lelouch woke up. In a room that he hadn’t slept in for oh, so long. He stumbled out of bed and looked at himself in the mirror. Over a year younger, and no sign of Geass in his eye. He activated it, kept his mouth tight lipped and then deactivated it again. That done, he reached for the clock next to his bed and looked at the date.
“Just like he said,” Lelouch whispered. “The day after I killed Clovis.”
Yes, he remembered that rather well. His brother cowering and pleading not to be shot. The feeling of satisfaction he took on finally setting foot on the path to avenging his mother… But he also quite clearly remembered other things as well. Things like, for example, the game.
<i>”The first rule is fairly obvious. You can’t remember <b>everything</b> or it will be way too easy for you. Therefore, you’ll be sent back with… Most of your memories about future events erased. Most of them, though you will remember the rules of the game and your final dying moments as a freebie. I will also permit you to remember exactly five facts of your choice, with each fact being expressed within five words. No more than five, remember that. Ah! I will permit names and numbers to count as a single word. So, go right ahead. You’ve probably already picked out your facts.”
He had indeed. It hadn’t taken much consideration at all, really. It took him about the same time it took to write them down to figure out what they should be. Considering the way he’d act when sent back with this knowledge, they seemed like the best strategic moves to make.
“The second rule is your handicap. To begin with…”</i>
So here he was standing naked in front of a full-body mirror and staring in awe at his inexplicably giant phallus. This was the first and most obvious alteration intended to make it more difficult for him to resist establishing a harem. Such a stupid game, really! Why did he even wind up agreeing to play it in the first place? There really wasn’t much of a point to it all. Why allow himself to go through the past, through the torment and through the death again while fighting off his newly increased sex drive? It just didn’t seem like something he’d agree with -
Unless… Not only his memories of the future were altered, but also the conversation they had. The thought sent a chill down Lelouch’s spine as he pondered what the stakes might have been. Something that would make him willing to go back in time and go through it all over again? While trying to avoid handicaps intended to make it inevitable he would build a harem…
“Well then,” Lelouch said. “If I’m stuck in this stupid game, I’d at least better play to win.”
- What other handicaps are in place for Lelouch?
- A group of writers gather to discuss the game in progress, including how to mess around with events to make things more challenging/sexy for Lelouch.
- Turns out Lelouch isn’t the only one playing a game against a higher power.
- Follow the plot of the third episode, right up until he encounters Kallen in the shower.
- Something else
"My, my, isn't this all a bit meta, especially for an erotic tale?"
ReplyDeleteStepping out from the endless void of impossible possibilities, thoughts manifested and forgotten never-weres, was a short freckled young man with a thick line of stubble on his face and an impish twinkle in his eye, an overstuffed black computer bag slung over his shoulder.
"Though it must be said that this wouldn't be the first time a smutty storyline has included the various authors who wrote them (though I never really gave them much thought, truth be told), to have the protagonist of the tale KNOW that he is but a plaything of a perverted higher power, Lelouch at that..." The man's grin turned downright devious, "I'd be mindful if I were you Lumitiel, you would not be the first to try and manipulate those like him and, well, we all know how things tend to end for them...
"Still, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't at least a little interested in how this little "game" of yours would play out and I'd be more than willing to act in an advisory position if you'd let me." Crossing an arm over his chest he gave a short mocking bow.
"I'm quite pleased to see you are intrigued by the game," Lumitiel said, swirling a glass of milk around in a glass as though it were wine before gulping it down. "Of course, I chose Lelouch precisely because he would make such an... Interesting opponent. It wouldn't do to make things too easy on myself. What's the point in playing a game when you know you will win before the die is even cast?"
ReplyDeleteLumitiel straightened himself out, and then reached over to the chess board which was now filled up with pieces. Peculiarly enough, the pieces had the faces of various Code Geass characters engraved upon them. The black king was plucked from his starting place on the board, and moved closer to the centre. Symbolic? Of what, Lumitiel would rather leave that to the imagination of others.
"If you wish to participate, you have full permission to do so at your leisure. The only thing that I ask is that you do so with care: Consider the facts about his future that Lelouch might view as important for a game like this. He's an excellent schemer, and grows better still the more hard data is available to him."
"As for how the game will play out. Well. It should go without saying that his enhanced libido is not the only handicap Lelouch will have to suffer. Then again, he's the kind of person that would see a handicap set in place by someone else, and then turn it to his own advantage somehow, I'm sure you can imagine various ways that could turn out."
Lumitiel then reached across the board and turned it around, so that now the white pieces were nearest to him.
"On the other hand... There isn't anything stopping any other authors from playing a game with another member of the cast. A completely different game, with different rules that Lelouch would not be aware of. Nor myself obviously, because if I were to become aware and believed it would interrupt our game in some way - Why, I would have to tell him whatever I found out. Do you have any more specific questions for me to answer? Or would you prefer to remain aloof and mysterious for a little more vague banter? The ball is rather in your court."
Plopping himself down in a chair and crossing his legs, Lawless regarded the man with a thoughtful pause.
ReplyDelete"Hm. Well, I suppose knowing what knowledge Lelouch chose to remember would be a good place to start. Though I could guess what clues I would wish to leave myself in such a scenario; future enemies and their abilities, the dangers of Geass, F.L.E.I.J.A., friends who should be protected, C.C.'s true name, etcetera, etcetea, Lelouch thinks in ways that far eclipse my own humble mind. For instance I wouldn't think it unreasonable to give himself hints on how Knightmare frames can be upgraded to 9th generations simply by referencing current controversial scientific articles on the subject that had yet to be verified.
"Then again, I'm assuming that you even know what those twenty-five words that he chose to remember were, though already we can see that he knew the general date of his death and that his Geass couldn't be turned off by his reactions upon waking... Or were those part of the "freebies" you gave him...?" Lawless mumbled curiously.
"Next I suppose would be asking whatever is stopping or dastardly hero from making himself a Eunuch, either by way of Geass, surgery or medication. I'd think it would be kind of hard to maintain a harem if you can't even get it up for the ladies. Or Geassing potential lovers into shifting their attentions elsewhere? A modified or altogether new Geass could handle the former and later, and a spoken or written threat to avoid such tactics would be effective all around, though lacking elegance...
"Also I apologize for the mysterious flair, though it does feel quite appropriate given the subject of our discussion, but it would seem that I am having difficulty discarding this mask of mine, talking to you though these personas." Lawless offered with an apologetic shrug. "Or if you were referring to the "endless void" line I was referencing the power of the internet and story ideas as a symbol of how those who read your works are connected." he explained, shattering the 4th wall like a certain immortal mercenary.
Lumitiel twitches with fury as he finds himself having to type out a response for the third time. "Blasted firefox," he mumbles. "And its stupid memory leaks! Honestly, I should just change browser already. Right! Let's try this again!
ReplyDelete"Lelouch's facts were chosen privately by himself but will likely become obvious based on his actions.
"His death was a freebie. Knowledge about Geass was not.
"He is physically immune to chemical or physical castration, and negotiated a punishment if he uses his Geass to directly prevent someone from having romantic/sexual interest in him. As for what that punishment is, please feel free to use your imagination. We simply draw from the "punishment deck" right here. Effect applies immediately. Some of them made him positively pale when he read them, but then again they were cards printed on psychic paper so they were just taking things from his own consciousness as suggestions. Feel free to take a look, his ideas were really quite fascinatingly terrible."
"Ah-Ah-AHCHOOO!" Lawless sneezed, nearly falling back out of his chair. "*sniff* Damn flu..." For a moment Lawless seemed to daze off before focusing back on Lumitiel with a slight grin. "Ah, it seems our friend Cross C has made an update during my absence. A very direct and straightforward move using one of the board's more erratic pieces. It doesn't look like tuatara is all too happy about it though."
ReplyDeleteWith a shrug Lawless pulled up his bag and unzipped it, digging around in it briefly before withdrawing an aluminum water bottle that he opened and took a sip from, leaning back in his seat and getting comfortable.
"I don't really see the need to complain. If he thinks things are skewed to much again him, then he can always throw his two cents in and give him a little bit of divine intervention of his own. Even something as simple as having the sex bring his libido temporarily under control and giving Milly a bad case of..." Lawless paused with a grimace, "the flu... should be sufficient to give Lelouch enough breathing room to recompose himself."
With a devilish grin Lawless continued, "I'd like to say right now that I am largely impartial in the matter, for the moment at least. On the one hand I love an underdog, to see someone win in spite of all of the odds stacked against them. On the other, I'm a pervert who loves to see people lose their sense of reason in the tide of lust and passion. That said, I would like to see where the lines in the sand have been drawn. The conditions of Lelouch's victory and defeat as it were.
For example, if Lelouch were to continue to have sex on a frequent basis with Milly, but only Milly, you couldn't really say that he has a harem, could you? Nor would it be a harem if he stopped having sex with Milly for a period of time only to move onto, say, Kallen. Or going the Barney Stinson approach, you couldn't say that a hundred one-night stands define a harem any more than you would call a prostitute's regular customers his or her harem. So... Just how does this game come to an end?"