tampered | [log] [ongoing]

Current Mood: calm

[log] [ongoing]

When; September 28, early morning
Rating; PG
Characters; Lelouch Lamperouge [

lel0uch] & Ophelia [

therippling]
Summary; Lelouch visits Ophelia as promised.
Log;

Lelouch had chosen to wear something especially inconspicious that morning. It was far from the kind he would have preferred to wear, he had to admit to himself he looked very ragged, but he knew it was for the best. He wore a baseball cap and shades for extra measure too. The baseball cap was really just to make it harder to get a look at his face and hair, but the shades he picked to avoid issuing the wrong order at the wrong time. The Geass was on at all times now, and he knew he was far from successfully controlling it on his own. The last thing he needed in this place was to have a repeat of the events that lead to Euphemia's death.

Even if he knew he could never repeat that mistake, a part of him was frankly afraid.

He stopped at the forest entrance and took the time to survey his surroundings. After two whole days of night, non-stop celebration, and very crowded streets, the streets looked empty. Lelouch appreciated that, but at the same time, it meant that if anyone were to be present, then he would be noticed easily.

But there was no use worrying about that now, was there?

Once satisfied, and knowing that Dietrich's Autojägers would follow him shortly, Lelouch took small step forward, remembering not to breach the barrier Lilith had erected. There was silence, and anticipation. Then, finally, he began calling for the Claymore.

"Miss Ophelia?"

He remembered her request last night, about bringing water, and so he took the bottled water from his jacket and held it in a hand. He hoped Ophelia wasn't asking for a bucketful of it. He didn't think he could carry it, and he didn't like the idea of having the Autojägers carry it either.

For one, Dietrich would probably find it amusing. And secondly, he didn't think Ophelia would react well in the presence of those things.

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The soft sound of slithering began to be heard, approaching slowly, the dry, cracked noise of scales brushing against rock and ground, grating on back and root as the Awakened being made her way through the forest. This form was serpentine, the long tail a good fifteen meters at least, twining out behind her in loops and waves of motion.

First to emerge was her head, skin gone gray and slick, scales and skin where lone blonde hair had been, followed by the bare humanoid torso and then that tail, her arms no longer with hands, but obscure blades, the same sort on her shoulder blades, clearly a creature made for war, for fighting and killing and ripping.

Blood, dried, remained on her female lips, remnant of her meal, guts, fresh human guts, that kept her sated, kept her, for the moment, calm and agreeable.

"Le..." Ophelia began to speak his name, slowly and carefully. It was clear that, even now, she had lost more of herself than when they had last spoken. Speaking had become hard, concentration and humanity, her eyes, normally a dull silver, now bright gold, vainly dilating in and trying to settle on the human before her.

"Le... louch..."

Ophelia had truly become someone beyond the realms of humanity. He had read about the change Ophelia had come to, but to see it with his own two eyes, let alone to stand on the same ground, face-to-face with the Awakened Ophelia, was simply something Lelouch couldn't have expected. In his short life, Lelouch had become witness to many horrible things and become suitably desensitized, but at that moment, he knew he was far from being calm, even if he kept his face a picture of it.

Lelouch vi Britannia was afraid, and it took a lot of effort to simply not freeze.

"Lulu," he repeated what he said last night. It was easier to pronounce. With his free hand, that shook slightly, Lelouch removed his hat and stuffed it into his jacket.

"How are you, Miss Ophelia?" he spoke again. "I brought you water. You do not mind it bottled, do you?"

Frankly, he wasn't expecting a sane answer. In his head, he was already thinking about the order he would deliver.

Return to your senses!

Control yourself!

There was a slight chance that it wouldn't work. Lelouch had thought about that, though the possibly did nothing to deter him from coming. Was it over-confidence that spurred him on, or desperation? Would Dietrich's Autojägers truly be able to keep him from harm against this... thing?

He wanted to laugh, the presence of danger was almost suffocating, but he kept a calm face.

Too soon, he thought. It was too soon yet to Geass her.

She regarded him blankly, eyes dulled and distand, slowly slithing closer until the long serpent's tail and looped loosely around him, a gathering gesture as it brought her torso loser until her face was a mere foot from his.

"Lulu..." Ophelia repeated slowly, with effort, a faint grin tugging at the corners of a mouth filled with sharp, ripping, teeth, proud of herself for saying it.

"I'm..." She paused, as if she had to think about it. "You smell... nice..." The Awakened Being, once Ophelia breathed in and exhaled through that mouth, with breath that smelled like old blood. "... like guts."

She shuddered.

"But I'm... full..." It was her being full that was protecting him, that she was sated and not at all ruled by the hungerhungerhunger that drove her instincts now.

"... I'm thirsty." Almost pitifully, she raised her arms, tipped in harsh talon, not hand, staring at them oddly as if she could not comprehend them as hers.

"But... I can't drink it like that..."

Lelouch breathed in sharply at the mention of smelling like guts. For a second, it felt like his heart had stopped beating. It was both frightening, and frankly, exhilarating to think that this creature could kill him with one swift blow that his eyes probably wouldn't even be able to follow.

He opened his mouth to speak, but it was seconds later until he found his voice. He was thankful to know that she was full. Without a doubt, if she had not been, then he would have found his insides being chewed on in that monstrous mouth by now. If C.C. were present, she would have also reminded him of his recklessness. And it was, wasn't it? He had the chance earlier to Geass her, and he didn't.

Luck was on his side yet, Lelouch thought, and there was no use thinking of what-would-have-beens now.

"I will pour it for you, if you like," he offered. He unscrewed the cap from the bottle and held it up.

After that was done, he would ask her to look into his eyes, and speak.

"Ahhh..." Ophelia eyed the water, a thick tongue dryly wiping at gray lips, dusted with powdered, flaking, red.

"... Bowl." The Awakened Claymore cast about, slithering away, body sinuous and lithe, moving around the clearing evenly, the two bladed limbs attached to each shoulder blade moving along with her, overturning rocks splashed in blood themselves, rooting about under trees and bushes until one taloned arm pulled back a bush to reveal shattered and torn bits of silver armor, the remnants of the clothing she'd occupied before her body had mutated.

"Thirsty..." She repeated, jaw beginning to crack and morph as she spoke, teeth sharpening and muscles tightening, scales shuffling down her body as she dragged out a piece of armor in a rough cup shape, pushing it pathetically at him by tip of talon, rustling the tail and the shiver running down it.

"Pour... ?" Ophelia was starting at the armor, though, at the reflection in it, her shivers becoming more like shudders, breath quickening and more cracking noises heralding the motions of the blades on her back, slowing agitating the longer her eyes stayed locked with her reflection.

The way Ophelia seemed to become agitated, looking down at that armor, told Lelouch he had to keep her attention away from it. Lilith had taken drastic measures to keep the Claymore from learning the truth about her transformation, and this must have been the reason.

If Ophelia were to lose control further, not only could he be injured, he could also lose all chance at restoring her old self. There was no more delaying.

"Ophelia," he said firmly, dropping honorifics and cutting straight to the point. "Do something for me, and look at me, please. I'll pour the water while you are, but first, there's something I need to ask."

He would remove his shades once she did.

Why... did she look like this? Had she always looked like this? Was her skin grey... ? Hadn't it been pale? Where... blonde hair, shouldn't there be blonde hair? And eyes... shouldn't those be silver? Slowly, Ophelia began to tremble, her skin to crackle and jump under the electric shock of yoma energy releasing, pulsing.

"Lu..." She slowly looked up, golden eyes dilating as she met his gaze. "... Lu-" A tear had slipped from an eye, beginning to slowly sink in, slowly come to the realization that something was horribly wrong.

Even if Ophelia had clearly become a monster, Lelouch couldn't help but be reminded of the being, the human, he had spoken with days ago over the network. If the Claymore was coming into a realization, then he, too, was coming to his own realizations. Perhaps, to someone like Suzaku or Kallen, he had become someone like this; a monstrous being incapable of love and feelings. Would anyone still see Lelouch inside Zero?

Not now, he told himself.

Lilith had said something about Ophelia merely needing to gain control of her other side. Then, perhaps, she really only needed a stronger power to help her do it.

"Ophelia," he began. "I, Lelouch vi Britannia, order you to gain complete of control yourself."

He held his breath then, as the Geass did what it had done many times before. Would it work, or would it not?

Lelouch could only stand to watch.

She froze.

Gain complete control of yourself.

Ophelia began to shudder, the geass hitting her, splashing against the out of control Yoma power, the form that was so unnatural, a twisted side of herself that should never have been let out.

Her tail whipped around, suddenly thrashing, yoma power exploding in a burst of energy that physically repelled anything near her, the silhouette of the Awakened bodu visible, writhing and thrashing powerfully in a whirl of energy and power, a burst of every bit of power she possessed, a loud, inhuman scream before suddenly, it all died.

Opehlia collapsed to her knees, nude but shameless in such a state, head lolling back weakly, eyes blank and out of focus, dazed, but fully returned to her other state, to the human looking Ophelia. The Claymore.

Lelouch was thrown back by the burst of power, but thankfully, it was only strong enough to push him backwards and onto the ground. He watched as Ophelia transformed from that monstrous form and back into her human self. It was a sight to behold, and Lelouch was truly in awe.

When it was over, he picked himself from the ground and simply stared for a while. The bottled water was on the ground, a waste of resource. He wondered if Ophelia remembered anything.

"Miss Ophelia...?" he asked hesitantly, acting as if he had merely spotted her during an early morning walk. He put the shades back on shortly.

"..." Ophelia slowly sat up straighter, small, deceivingly delicate hands running up her body, over hips, stomach, breasts and shoulders until they stopped at her face, feeling as if she was unaware, as if making sure.

"Ah..." She shook her head, silver eyes coming back sharp to focus, looking at him with head cocked, thankfully her long, thick hair covered some of her more feminine aspects. "Lulu."

They Claymore smiled childishly, shoulders hunched.

"You came to visit."

A small smile formed on Lelouch's lips, and he bowed his head in confirmation. "I did," he said, making sure his eyes stayed well away from her naked body. He removed his jacket, though first making sure to take the cap inside one of its pockets first, and extended it towards Ophelia. He looked away completely then.

"Would you like to take my jacket?"

Ophelia blinked.

"Oh..." She looked down at herself, tsking softly. "I'm naked." It was the most acute observation she could think of, pursing her lips and taking his jacket.

"I wonder where my clothes we-" Then she froze.

"Don't look-" The Claymore murmured, quickly covering the extensive system of scars and cuts that ran across her torso. From beneath her breasts to her hips, the run of scars from cuts and burns, from experimentations and the process that made her what she was, a rather gross, sickening sight that she hurriedly put behind cloth, hunching over.

"I promise not to look," Lelouch said honestly. Calmly, he waited until Ophelia deemed herself decent. He put on the cap too, to prepare for his departure.

He couldn't very well let anyone recognize him now, could he?

Ophelia squirmed into it, shivering slightly in chill and looking up, oddly noting the time of day.

"... What's the day?" She asked suddenly, cocking her head to the side. It was earlier, in the sun, than she could last remember.

Did time go backwards.

Lelouch paused to think. Would it be wise to tell Ophelia the date? It was September 25, and early morning. Perhaps, she remembered a different date before.

He decided that he wasn't going to risk that either. He smiled. "I'm not sure. I haven't looked into a calendar in a while. I can tell you that it's early morning, however. That, of course, may be very obvious as you can see."

"Oh..." Ophelia shook her head, slowly gathering all her hair and beginning to braid, slim, calloused fingers running through course blonde and twisting into the thick braid she usually wore.

"Well... you came to visit!" An innocent smile. "That makes me glad."

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