The geass power grows in increments. [cool] Up until that day, I was able to activate it at will. That is no longer the case. I have taken countermeasures so that I can speak to people without geassing them, but at the time I obviously didn't know what was going on.
[they said so many things to each other in the moments after he felt that pain. so many almosts. almost any of them would have been far superior to the one command that finally took root. there is the tiniest bit of regret, steeled against, in his face; in the tightness around his eyes, the tension at his jaw; but nothing else. from the words themselves, you would think the outcome was of no consequences]