YOU WROTE "IRREGARDLESS" as an actual word, and not a pun or joke!

"Irregardless, it interests me."

'Twas a blade betwixt my ribs. Oh, I am diminished! *floats away*

ALL YOU'RE STORIES R TOO LNOG. I COULD NAUGHT RED THEM. THIS IS WAT YOU D ON CMOPUTAR? NOW I UNDRSTUND.

I told you I would do this. I told you but, you ignored me! You always ignore me! Now, I shall have my revenge on you!

REVENGE IS HAD... DELICIOUSLY.

Ah, sorry it took me so long to get a chance to read this.

This chapter feels like a set-up for the future plotline, with some very nice conversations that grapple quite well with the issues the characters are facing at the moment. The theme of the chapter seems to be 'protection'. On Kallen's part, how can you protect your friends? On the part of Lelouch and Ougi, how can you protect your loved ones? For Mr. Stadtfelt, he believes he is protecting his daughter, but is he really protecting himself?

It's a wonderful handling of the stressful theme running through the plot right now, so I'm looking forward to future developments. Keep up the good work!

-Varanus

Sorry about the radio-silence regarding your PM, but I was away from a computer for a week. I was about to reply, but then I saw you updated, so I'll just say it here!

I was really pleased with your reply- your reasoning behind your portrayal of C.C. shows a lot of thought, such as the subtle examples of trust you pointed out and especially your suggestion that she isn't being entirely honest with herself either. The new chapter supports this when C.C. denies repeatedly that she's human. Loved your portrayal of her in this chapter, plus the scene with Suzaku reads like something he would actually do, ie, refuse to let someone be sold back into life as a lab rat.

Lelouch swallowing his pride to apologize for being a prick to C.C. looks like the first step to repairing the damage to their relationship, said damage being my primary reason for posting such an in-depth review before. Thinking back, I was probably too hasty making such a concerned reply before waiting to see what would happen. Problems arise before solutions appear, obviously, so your handling of the stresses they both felt during the past chapters is excellent characterization, subtle, in character and very human, which is fantastic.

And, like you said, your portrayal of C.C. isn't strictly canon anyway. You don't need to ask me for a break, looking at characters from a new perspective is what fanfiction should be about, after all. So I'll trust the plan you have and look forward to the next update!

-Varanus

amazing chapter, my favorite so far - I love the interaction between CC and Suzaku and then with Lelouch and Nunnally.

“The romance in it dies when the roses lose their reds,” the response was dry as he buried himself in a world of language and metaphor.

I kind of feel sorry for Nunnally, not only for being handicapped but she is gradually losing the brother she adores. I'm also a little confused, Cornelia should remember that Zero is Lelouch or was she brainwashed by the Emperor to capture Lelouch for him?

Since the fic only takes R1 as canon, I'll limit any examples to it.

You've captured the essence of Lelouch and Suzaku's conflict quite well, making the story dark and angsty while keeping them both sympathetic and in character to R1, which is great. Similarly, Kallen's turmoil reads like a missing chapter from the year between R1 and R2 as she tries to figure out where her loyalty lies. The Link to the Unconscious scene was another great example o your skill with characterization, and I'm looking forward to Lelouch's.

However, I'm not really fond of how you're portraying C.C. as truly emotionless. My favorite aspect of R1 was the interactions between Lelouch and C.C. and the bond of trust between them. Their whole 'partner' relationship, ie, how they began to shift from strictly 'business' partners to true partners-in-crime and the growing, unspoken reliance on each other. She was the only one who saw all aspects of Lelouch (as Terrorist Leader/Exile Prince/Caring Brother/Teenage Boy) and he was the only one who realised she was, despite her code, still human. She challenged him when his resolve would waver (ie, after Shirley's father was killed) and served as his emotional lifeline when tragedy became overwhelming (the aftermath of SAZ). Similarly, he declared himself a warlock in order to affirm his position as her partner.

By making C.C. emotionless, or even just making her believe she is emotionless, it implies that she has been faking that bond of trust with Lelouch, that all those scenes where she began to open up her true feelings to him were just, on some level, manipulation. That the character we see comforting and being comforted by Lelouch is, in essence, a lie. As a result, the interactions between the two in your story suffers, as C.C. seems unconcerned with Lelouch's mounting frustrations.

I'm not saying C.C. isn't manipulative or that she doesn't subdue her emotions and responses. She does, however, take an interest in Lelouch's campaigns and discusses his plans with him, letting him vent his stress. She is concerned about him, so it just strikes me as hugely contradictory and out of character to make her outright lacking in emotion, especially if she pretends it's not the case to others.

If it seems like I'm condemning your story, I'm not. It shows a compelling and considerate look into the minds of the Code Geass characters immediately after R1 and, more importantly, the aftermath of SAZ, which I always felt was glossed over to a degree in the anime itself. For a story that is as focused on characterization as yours, I feel obliged to offer you a different perspective on one of my favorite characters of the series.

I hope I didn't sound pretentious or overly critical here, I'm just trying to explain my viewpoint as clearly as possible. Hope you continue writing to the high standard you've shown so far!

Looking forward to the next update,

-Varanus

Slap me, if you will. Because I have not reviewed... -sniffs-

-stares-... AH HA! THE NOTE THING HELPS ME! Rofl.

At first.. I was like.. WHOA... LOST... LOST LOST LOST... -reads note- FOUND! I AM ... -lost for a second- FOUND! :D

Anyways... I really like the angst between Lulu and Suza-kun. They were really in character, and C.C just coming outta the blue and like.. half attacking him... Yup. That'd be her. o-o

Aw.. Nunnally like.. the only 'tolertable' human she's met.

That's so nice. :P

I like how you wrote a lot of different scenes, to show the parts that C.C was interested in, and others that she passed. And when she would loose her interest, that she would move on.

Continue writing! :D I am lovin' this story.

OMG! LULUXC.C-ness coming up! WOOT! :D

~BR

I loved this angsty confrontation, it's too bad Suzaku would never buy the whole "I accidentally ordered a massacre" or is that Lelouch's pride getting in the way of wielding a double edge sword. Please update soon!

-proceeds to omg-

OM MY GOSH. YES... THEY'RE GONNA SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN... AND YES... SOMEONE WILL MOST LIKELY GET HURT! Rofl. oh wow. :P

O. But thx for a special thx. :D I feel special now~ :P

Hmm.. It did seem like there was a one-sided MillyxLelouch, but to me, that's perfectly fine.

And then when Kallen went to go visit Nunnally... Woo... I was 'oh crapping' at some times. Because Kallen didn't really know what to say. But I wouldn't really know what to say either, when you're having to hide the fact that you're in a resistance group and that you're older brother is more than he seems..

-sighs- Ahh... Suza-kun. He's still pissed off, and most likely will STAY pissed off at Lelouch for all the crappy things he did. And he was thinking about Shirley... I don't really like her, but Suzaku... Of course... He doesn't really know what had happened... I bet if he was told, then maybe he would think a bit more into it, but... Ha... That's not gonna happen anytime sooner...

Please do update soon! I'M WAITING... SERIOUSLY... WAITING! :D

~BR

hmm. this chapter was interesting. even though it only featured kallen and hse's hardly my favourite character, it was still pretty good. the character development was nice.

so, it seems like ohgi misses villeta, eh? can't really blame him...

anyway, update again soon please! i'll stay in tune for the next chappie.

Wow... I've actually been reading this story, but I haven't had the time to review! T_T I'm so srry! -sniffs-

That's very true though, Suzaku is very depressing, but he can be happy... Even if it does seem fake..

Lelouch is going through his own shit... His geass is gone, and the Black Knights are having trouble.

And then there's Kallen! :D Poor girl, totally lost right now. She's still having to cope up with the fact that Lelouch is Zero. o-o She totally would have died for Zero, but now that she knows that he's Lelouch... Wo.. Did that change a whole lotta things or what! o-o

And, to your other chapter (not sure which one, bc they are so awesomely long) But about where Suzaku said he loved Lelouch, you said that it was ment to be taken in a platonic I was like, DANG IT! :P

Please do update though, this is a really good fanfic! :D

~BR

interesting schneizel you described. it does sound a lot like the one in anime, if a bit more darker to match the angstiness (is that even a word?) of your story. it's still really good though, i mean, even though i normally don't read stories that are angsty. anyways, update again soon please!

sounds a bit morbid...and angsty. but still, it's really good! this chapter, i mean. update again soon!

Not impressive? Your ending stole Lelouch's geass, which has to count for something!

birthright to the power of c? i'm not sure i get that part...or what happened to lelouch at the very end of the chapter. he seems to be alright though but, what happened to suzaku? too many questions... well, update soon! i'm looking forward to reading the next chapter.