Fic: The Path of Carnage (Suzalulu)

[realms-of-life.livejournal.com]

Title: The Path of Carnage
Rate: T, maybe?
Summary: Lelouch’s house of mirrors hurts that much because their distorted images are too real. But they don’t hurt half as badly as the truths Lelouch refrains from reflecting on him. Suzaku/Lelouch. Beware of yaoi. Sequel to The Emperor´s Waltz.
Disclaimer: Code Geass is not mine.
SPOILERS: Yes.
Word Count: 4,792 (!)

A/N: This happens about three years after The Emperor's Waltz . You’d better read that first otherwise you might get really, really confused. This fic is so AU I should be ashamed. Alas, I’m not. You will notice there is a bit of the story missing. That’s because there will be a tiny sequel.
:-)

The Path of Carnage

*takes a deep breath and smiles nervously*

I was trying to imagine how Suzaku and Lelouch’s lives would be if they ever managed to survive each other and find a modus vivendi in about ten years or so. A VERY unlikely premise, I know, but I quite enjoyed the challenge.. Hopefully not so terribly OOC. One of my fevourite CD themes is how people mess up the whole world for very personal reasons. This fic is very much about it.

And I’m afraid it ended up really, really long and full of words. The characters have very few redeeming qualities. I deeply apologize for that. >_<

Crossposted to suzalulu

Comments

[nayami.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if my thoughts on this one are coherent since the whole mysterious sickness/growing insanity loses me a bit. I also read this at 3 a.m. I am extremely intrigued with the idea of Zero eventually becoming the one who puppets Suzaku's war, and the inescapable guilt Suzaku feels in the midst of things but knows he cannot have it any other way. And how Suzaku just can't end the war without having Lelouch make that concession first. As well as the idea of Suzaku unable to distinguish among himself, Euphie and Lelouch at this point. The letters lost me because while they were tragic and revealing of Lelouch's mentality, I think they may have been more strongly served and present without the reader actually seeing them. I know this stands in defiance of the "show don't tell" rule of writing, and I only wish I could better defend my reasoning. I do like how the sex is portrayed so it's both the greatest lie and the greatest truth the boys have at this time.

I absolutely adore this: He likes to believe his time with Lelouch is nothing but a rightful sacrifice in the name of a more peaceful world. He believes it hard enough, but it is always Lelouch who shatters his carefully woven lies and shows him this has nothing to do with sacrifice and everything to do with selfishness. A selfish love of two lost children who have nothing else to cling to but each other. Lelouch, who even in his deepest raving madness seems to get some perverse pleasure in showing him his worst side, the side which is still capable of loving him.
I just love the dichotomy it shows about Suzaku's true character.

I also find irony in that the fic describes Suzaku as Lelouch's inspiration since as the drama CDs show, as a child Suzaku actually indirectly encourages Lelouch to care about himself for once and not just the ones he loves (mainly Nunnally). As fake!Suzaku is all about focusing on others, I think this viewpoint is a good nod to the more inwardly-focused true!Suzaku that is presented post-23. And yes, I have to comment on the cute of the mini-Arthurs. The boys need a family of kitties.

I think the thing I like the best about this fic is how cruel it is because it manages to balance a forced tranquility with the harsh reality of war and madness. What the boys have will always be broken, but that is truly the only way it can ever and will ever work. It's just a matter of whether they're willing to make that sacrifice, that acquiescence.

[realms-of-life.livejournal.com]

Wow, thanks for the very elaborated comment. Yes, the growing insanity comes mostly from the previous fic, but (hopefully) the sickness will be further explained in the next sequel. There is nothing really special about it. :-)

I find it very interesting your comment about the letters, because I had some doubts about adding them *exactly* because Lelouch's insanity would be more expressive if I just let the reader imagine them. In the end, I felt Lelouch just wanted to speak up so I let him. Also, I thought his insanity had been dealed with enough in the previous fic and will be dealed with again in the next. But most of all, what made me decide was that I felt I *really* needed a stronger, and yet not too obvious, counterpoint to Suzaku's POV and that is their main purpose in this fic. They work as Lelouch's indirect comment on what is going to happen in the next bit... Or at least that was the whole idea. *g*

So I had to make a hard choice. :-)

I'm almost sure didn't listen to the drama CD show you are talking about. If I had I would probably agree with you. Would you like to point me to it? I could use more CD shows in my life.


Thanks again. Really. That was an awesome review.

[realms-of-life.livejournal.com]

Oh wait. Now I get what you were saying about the drama CDs. Sorry about that. Also reading your comment at late hours. I totally agree, and that irony is sort of intended. My take was that both Suzaku and Lelouch could have been more healthy people with what they gave each other when they were children, but things went downhill - of course - and now they are turning the meaning of many of those experiences upside down. Everything is still there, but broken and misdirected.

Of course, that's just a take on their situation. Many others would be possible. :)

[nayami.livejournal.com]

I'm chatty. No really, I have this optimistic belief that longer reviews give people more incentive to write more. And I definitely want to see more of your work. It scares me at times, but the writing is always beautiful and so well thought out.

Your explanation of why you went with the letters makes more sense for me now. Having another viewpoint in the story did add something extra.

Everything is still there, but broken and misdirected.
And there you have the Geass boys in a nutshell. It irks me when the creators say things like true friends don't ask each other whether they're still friends because it was clear that when they were children, the boys *were* friends. There was nothing false or convoluted about that. Suzaku truly did want to help Lelouch, and Lelouch, in turn, was all about teaching. I also have to point out the utter *protectiveness* Lelouch has about Suzaku, even now... Heh I should stop before I go into a full-fledged rant completely apart from your fic.

[realms-of-life.livejournal.com]

You do give me incentive. And thanks for taking your time to comment. :D

lol. These days I firmly believe that no canon is closed until it is closed -until that everything is speculation. :D But I totally agree with your interpretation so far. Their relationship was a weird relationship - because Lelouch was a hostage - but probably even more real because of that. In the end, and in spite of all pressure and context, they were just two boys who wanted to play like healthy children are supposed to. I find the concept really beautiful.

And yes, Lelouch's protectiveness of everything he loves is just too endearing for words. I LOVE Stage 25's last scene, in which Lelouch only raises that gun after Suzaku has said all the wrong (right?) things. It's my favoure scene in the show so far.

And rants - full fledged or not - are completely welcome.