Nunnally had forced herself to watch his reaction as she spoke, despite her own misgivings and discomfort, and was left even more conflicted in the end by the reactions she could both see and sense. She didn't need to see him to know his reaction, didn't need close contact to notice the shift in his breathing or the soft rustling of fabric as his posture shifted and he looked away. For years she'd been able to read his emotional state -- even from across the room she could tell when he was upset, and being able to actually see it only made it more simple.
Clearly he not only understood what she was telling him but why his future (or alternate?) self had chosen to do what he did. There was no denial or confusion, although his reaction -- he didn't seem to enjoy the realization, at least. But did he recognize that plan? Was it already in the works in the time he was from? If so, would it be possible to change?
It was similar to what Schneizel had planned with the Damocles, but Lelouch had been right: a person was far easier to comprehend, a much better focus than an air fortress. Even so, though, was it necessary for so much death, so much destruction and fear and despair? A world created in such a manner, no matter how peaceful in the end, would always be tainted by the means used to accomplish it. That left her not entirely innocent, of course, her own hands dirtied by her acceptance of Schneizel's plan and the use of F.L.E.I.J.A. but -- it had seemed necessary at the time. The Emperor -- Lelouch -- had to be stopped.
She could understand why he had felt it necessary now, but still...if it could be changed, it should be. If there was a way they could both live together peacefully, Nunnally hoped that he could find it, once they returned home. It all depended on him, now, and what he could do once armed with the knowledge he'd obtained in this place.
When he spoke again she realized that her gaze had slowly dropped to where her hands lay folded in her lap, as though wondering if she could see the stains of the sins she had brought upon herself. Nunnally glanced up at him again, mildly startled by his tone, but the surprise faded away again as he apologized. She couldn't blame him; it would have been easier and more comfortable to stop there, but if she wanted to change the past he had to know. She had to tell him.
"The Damocles." She drew in a breath, absently rubbing her hands together before realizing what she was doing; she clasped them together and forced herself to sit quietly as she continued, her attention fixed somewhere on the wall past his head. "A sky fortress, equipped with the most advanced weapons technology -- including F.L.E.I.J.A. warheads. Schneizel intended it to draw the attention of the world, to become a focus of hatred and fear. He began with...with the destruction of Pendragon."
The city should have been empty. Evacuated of all innocents caught in the explosion. It wasn't until later that Nunnally had learned the truth, and the weight of that -- she should be grateful to Lelouch for stopping them, stopping her, as he had.
"When the Britannian forces attacked, I...asked for the key to the Damocles. The trigger that would fire F.L.E.I.J.A. It was the only way I could help." Her gaze shifted to focus on him again, her face washed of color and hands closed tightly about each other. "You made your way onto the ship and...forced me to give you the key."
Re: F23
Clearly he not only understood what she was telling him but why his future (or alternate?) self had chosen to do what he did. There was no denial or confusion, although his reaction -- he didn't seem to enjoy the realization, at least. But did he recognize that plan? Was it already in the works in the time he was from? If so, would it be possible to change?
It was similar to what Schneizel had planned with the Damocles, but Lelouch had been right: a person was far easier to comprehend, a much better focus than an air fortress. Even so, though, was it necessary for so much death, so much destruction and fear and despair? A world created in such a manner, no matter how peaceful in the end, would always be tainted by the means used to accomplish it. That left her not entirely innocent, of course, her own hands dirtied by her acceptance of Schneizel's plan and the use of F.L.E.I.J.A. but -- it had seemed necessary at the time. The Emperor -- Lelouch -- had to be stopped.
She could understand why he had felt it necessary now, but still...if it could be changed, it should be. If there was a way they could both live together peacefully, Nunnally hoped that he could find it, once they returned home. It all depended on him, now, and what he could do once armed with the knowledge he'd obtained in this place.
When he spoke again she realized that her gaze had slowly dropped to where her hands lay folded in her lap, as though wondering if she could see the stains of the sins she had brought upon herself. Nunnally glanced up at him again, mildly startled by his tone, but the surprise faded away again as he apologized. She couldn't blame him; it would have been easier and more comfortable to stop there, but if she wanted to change the past he had to know. She had to tell him.
"The Damocles." She drew in a breath, absently rubbing her hands together before realizing what she was doing; she clasped them together and forced herself to sit quietly as she continued, her attention fixed somewhere on the wall past his head. "A sky fortress, equipped with the most advanced weapons technology -- including F.L.E.I.J.A. warheads. Schneizel intended it to draw the attention of the world, to become a focus of hatred and fear. He began with...with the destruction of Pendragon."
The city should have been empty. Evacuated of all innocents caught in the explosion. It wasn't until later that Nunnally had learned the truth, and the weight of that -- she should be grateful to Lelouch for stopping them, stopping her, as he had.
"When the Britannian forces attacked, I...asked for the key to the Damocles. The trigger that would fire F.L.E.I.J.A. It was the only way I could help." Her gaze shifted to focus on him again, her face washed of color and hands closed tightly about each other. "You made your way onto the ship and...forced me to give you the key."