*Whimper* This was painful. I can only think of a few stories that have affected me as deeply as your work here, and I know I will return to it again and again. It took me a rather long time to finish this fic, because I kept stopping after every sentence to savor your words. You write with such poetry, and yet I rarely had to struggle to understand your meaning. At least not your concrete meaning, because a million deeper meanings roiled under the surface of everything you wrote.
The scene at the beginning in which Suzaku tears out Lelouch's eye was the perfect introduction to their twisted, dysfunctional, and strangely beautiful relationship. I'm not the biggest fan of Suzaku (mostly because I'm a huge fan of Lelouch), and yet you've taken everything I dislike about him and made it suddenly endearing. For instance: "Suzaku had to take everything so personally." That observation was spot on and absolutely adorable. Maybe I should revise my feelings about Suzaku, because bad qualities can be good qualities (or at least charming ones) when you think about them the right way. You said this best yourself when you wrote: "His conclusions about his only friend are never flattering, but are always made with love."
Like the other people that reviewed, I also really enjoyed the crane scene. In the comments above, you said that you were nervous about making Lelouch cry, and I can understand why. Even though I adore angst, I admit that really emotional, teary scenes are rarely as satisfying as one would hope. But I wouldn't worry in your case. That scene was so quiet and understated, much like Lelouch's tears: "Lelouch cries without any theatricality or fuss, cries as if that was the most natural thing in the world." What a striking and heartbreaking contrast to his normal behavior! And then, when you wrote, "Suzaku doesn't shy away when he hears that little boy, always so proud, always so brave, say the bravest, most grown-up words he can say for himself," I just...it was so inspiring and hopeful and horribly, horribly sad.
Finally, Lelouch's last letter was pretty suspenseful (for me, at least). I thought for a moment that, despite his moving breakthrough in the previous scene, he had gone off alone to Britannia without Suzaku. I was so relieved when Suzaku appeared beside him. It wasn't a happy ending, but at least it was a hopeful one.
That was a really long review. It's just that this fic is exactly what I think CG has failed to be. Don't get me wrong, I love the show, but it tries so hard to be everything to everyone, what with the mecha sequences and the shameless fanservice and the intrigue and the product placement. This, it seems, is the reason it's been so successful. Yet it's also the reason it fails to make any real artistic statement. It's too unfocused, too afraid of taking chances. This fic, on the other hand, *does* make a statement, and even though it hurt to read, I can't be more grateful to you for writing it.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2008-08-21 07:29 am (UTC)The scene at the beginning in which Suzaku tears out Lelouch's eye was the perfect introduction to their twisted, dysfunctional, and strangely beautiful relationship. I'm not the biggest fan of Suzaku (mostly because I'm a huge fan of Lelouch), and yet you've taken everything I dislike about him and made it suddenly endearing. For instance: "Suzaku had to take everything so personally." That observation was spot on and absolutely adorable. Maybe I should revise my feelings about Suzaku, because bad qualities can be good qualities (or at least charming ones) when you think about them the right way. You said this best yourself when you wrote: "His conclusions about his only friend are never flattering, but are always made with love."
Like the other people that reviewed, I also really enjoyed the crane scene. In the comments above, you said that you were nervous about making Lelouch cry, and I can understand why. Even though I adore angst, I admit that really emotional, teary scenes are rarely as satisfying as one would hope. But I wouldn't worry in your case. That scene was so quiet and understated, much like Lelouch's tears: "Lelouch cries without any theatricality or fuss, cries as if that was the most natural thing in the world." What a striking and heartbreaking contrast to his normal behavior! And then, when you wrote, "Suzaku doesn't shy away when he hears that little boy, always so proud, always so brave, say the bravest, most grown-up words he can say for himself," I just...it was so inspiring and hopeful and horribly, horribly sad.
Finally, Lelouch's last letter was pretty suspenseful (for me, at least). I thought for a moment that, despite his moving breakthrough in the previous scene, he had gone off alone to Britannia without Suzaku. I was so relieved when Suzaku appeared beside him. It wasn't a happy ending, but at least it was a hopeful one.
That was a really long review. It's just that this fic is exactly what I think CG has failed to be. Don't get me wrong, I love the show, but it tries so hard to be everything to everyone, what with the mecha sequences and the shameless fanservice and the intrigue and the product placement. This, it seems, is the reason it's been so successful. Yet it's also the reason it fails to make any real artistic statement. It's too unfocused, too afraid of taking chances. This fic, on the other hand, *does* make a statement, and even though it hurt to read, I can't be more grateful to you for writing it.
Anyway, sorry for gushing so much :)