III. [Accidental video + Action for the Goldenrod Tunnel] | Fourth Wall Event

[shakespearealien]

[Gorthan should have known.

He should have known that the human body he had been granted was merely a temporary condition.

And now he's an Evronian again. Thick violet-magenta skin, four fingers on each hand, a beak and webbed feet, pupil-less blue eyes. Sure, his de-humanization has come with a fully functioning set of tanks full of emotional energy that will be Gorthan's nourishment. But what will happen once they run dry? Will he be forced to turn the denizens of Johto into soulless, brainless Cool Flames in order to live? Or have all the new emotions that he's been experiencing since coming here finally rendered him capable of feeding on himself?

... And while he's busy reflecting on all this, he hasn't noticed that his Kirlia is freaking out, holding Gorthan's Gear in Video mode and pointing it at his Trainer. Where is Kirlia's trainer, and who is this duck monster?! Johto needs to know!

In response to that, Gorthan tries to cover his face with a four-fingered hand, while his other hand gestures for Kirlia to stop filming him.]

... Don't! Please, don't. It's just me, Kirlia, don't be afraid! Put it down, now!

[But Kirlia won't listen. Because Kirlia is afraid. And he will continue to be afraid, so long as Gorthan continues to be afraid of himself.]

Comments

action

[her-mouse-jesty.livejournal.com]

[In the mist of this fresh chaos, a white light appears only a few feet from Gorthan's vision. Then, in the same area, down suddenly plops a startled mouse, as if someone had just picked her up and dropped hr without a care. Grumbling, she manages to stand up straight, smooth down her dress, and begins looking around for her dropped tiara.]

Oh, where am I now...?

action

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

[Dear Evron, what is that... NO, not now!

And he thought he'd be safe in the Goldenrod underground in the early morning... Wait. She's a woman mouse, wearing regal garb...? Could it be...?]

... Minnie?

action

[her-mouse-jesty.livejournal.com]

[She huffs, finally able to find her tiara and placing it back where it belongs. But then she hears her name.]

Huh?

[She turns and...

... Hearing a description of him and seeing what he actually looked like turned out to be two different things. She stares, eyes widened, suddenly filled with slight terror - but then the terror increases when she does recognize him. She'd been willing to listen and forgive, yes, but on her terms - right now she suddenly feels ambushed, memories spring, and she starts walking backwards, though she trips and winds up back on her rear again, staring all the while with a stupidly open mouth.]

action

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

[As he watches Minnie step back in terror, sorrow makes Gorthan's eyes of melting ice glisten. This is how earthlings will always see him, in spite of his temporary delusion. For every Evronians was born to instill fear, and he is no exception.]

You've recognized me, haven't you? ... Minnie, I... I have no intention to hurt you, and I...

[He approaches her, extending a hand to help her up. As he does so, there is... something in his eyes, right where blue meets black, that he needs to blink away.]

... I am so sorry, Minnie... I regret... I regret it all! ... But I'm aware that what I did is unforgivable, and as such... I don't expect you to forgive me. Even now, if you want to leave, you are free to do so. I do not intend to keep you here... not when I've already hurt you so much...

[Eh, screw Evronian pride, or... Evronian anything, for that matter. He's now officially crying.]

action

[her-mouse-jesty.livejournal.com]

[She would love nothing more than to run away, to dive into her fear and cry. But now was not the time for such childish things. Though still terrified, she can see he's being sincere. She swallows, but does not take his hand as she rises.]

... I'm afraid right now I cannot accept your apologies, Gorthan, as much as I want to. This is not out of spite, or hate, or fear... but because, in a few day's time, neither of us will remember this moment.

[Standing up 'tall', she gestures to her body.]

This has happened once before. We return to our original bodies, our powers are restored, Johto is flooded with newcomers, and we are constantly put in random places on the map. And when it's all over... We do not remember it. Until it happens again, months later.

[She's avoiding eye contact for the moment, because she knows if she stares any longer, she'll start crying too.]

action

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

[He listens attentively to Minnie's every word. And he believes her.]

Is that so? How strange... And yet, you've been here far longer than I have, so... I believe you.

[He retreats a few steps, showing his back to Minnie as he joins his hands behind said back. So neither of them will be able to remember anything...

... It's perfect. Simply perfect.

What is, you ask?

The moment. To do this.

He abruptly spins back 180 degrees to face Minnie again. At which he closes the fair bit of distance between himself and her in a single, agile leap, before wrapping his arms around her, holding her firmly, but gently.

And that will be Gorthan's very first hug.]

action

[her-mouse-jesty.livejournal.com]

[When his back was turned, she resumed watching him carefully. Maybe he was going to leave, or try to explain himself further, despite circumstances. She sighed...

- And then she was caught, and she jerked, oh Walt no, was he going to hurt her, was he going to break her like Ivan did, no no no no no -

But then she understands, frozen in his grasp. Her muscles slowly relax, and her queenly demeanor wavers. She can't be this strong. She whimpers, and tears begin to flow, pressing her head against his body.]

I-It's not fair... It's just not fair.

action

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

[He's about to retreat abruptly, believing he just scared her again, when he feels that.. she's actually leaning into him. He shakes his head, attempting a smile, though he's crying, too.]

You've shed enough tears for me, Queen... please, don't shed more, when I don't even deserve one.

Again, what I did is unforgivable. It tears away at my heart at all hours, it keeps me awake at night. But Minnie, there is so much I have to tell you, and I hope you will listen when the time is right.

As you could guess, Minnie, I'm not just not native to this world, or yours - I am not from Earth. I have never been.

video

[partyofwin.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, I've never seen a duck person before!

[Pinkie, at least, doesn't seem even remotely afraid of him. She's seen weirder!]

video - wah! This is my first thread with a pony! \o/

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

[... Oh, look, it's a pink pony. ... That talks.

A pink talking pony.

... Then again, Gorthan figures that he cannot look much weirder than that to her. Sort of like a pink talking duck, really.]

... Duck people and races are fairly common in my world. Am I entitled to assume the same thing about your world of origin and... ponies?

glad to break your pony virginity \o/

[partyofwin.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, for sure! Ponies are all over Equestria!

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

Equestria? I have never heard of such a place... Will you tell me more?

[partyofwin.livejournal.com]

Well sure! What all d'you wanna know?

[Video]

[onceaman.livejournal.com]

[Hey Gorthan? Remember the Commander? This is the same guy, from just a bit further in his canon. He's somehow operating the Gear, but his mind has degenerated a fair bit. Also, the hissing is worse. A lot worse.]

ssssss...not ssssssssss human?

[Video]

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

[Gorthan knits his... eyebrow-less brow together. Something is not the way it should be - the hissing never quite interfered with the Commander's speech pattern like that...]

... Commander?

[Video]

[onceaman.livejournal.com]

Sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

[There's a click as his faceplate unlocks. It's still on for now, but it doesn't really fit his head anymore.]

Commander? sssssssss

[Video]

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

Commander. What is this nonsense? Stop it at once.

[But he can tell that the Commander isn't his usual self, and that something must have happened to him. Otherwise, he'd have adjusted his mask thing by now.]

[Video]

[onceaman.livejournal.com]

Can't ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssstop it sssssssssssss

[And the plate's starting to slide off, showing some scales here and there.]

[Video]

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

[Gorthan steadies himself. He has always wanted to know what was behind that mask. The sight of scales is unsettling, but Gorthan figures that it cannot be much worse than... several things he's seen. And created.]

... Commander, are you alright?

[Video]

[onceaman.livejournal.com]

[The plate falls off, showing his mutated face.

And all he's doing now is hissing.]

[Video]

[stalkscyclops.livejournal.com]

[Here Gorthan, have an evil mutant geneticist who is very interested in your current state.]

My, my. What an interesting appearance you have.

[Video]

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

[Evil mutant geneticist? ... That sounds familiar somehow. >>; ]

Why, I could say the same about yours. Your name?

[Video]

[stalkscyclops.livejournal.com]

[Any resemblance to any other evil mutant geneticists in Johto, living or dead, is purely coincidental.]

Oh yes, where are my manners? I am Mister Sinister, the world’s foremost authority on mutant DNA!

[Video] Sorry for slow tags. Finals owned me. ;;

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

Such a bold claim. I am Gorthan, my planet's lead scientist in genetic manipulation.

I am acquainted with the works of quite a few geneticists from Earth, though none of them are quite near my level. And yet, your name never came up in my research. I'm curious now - what, exactly, makes you deem yourself better than them?

[Video] I hope you did well!

[stalkscyclops.livejournal.com]

Ah, a fellow scientist. What a surprise.

[He’s not surprised Gorthan hasn’t heard of him. Few living people know of his human self, and only the X-Men and a few others are aware of his existence as Mister Sinister.]

As to how I differ from the rest, I do not restrain my research with human ethical or moral constraints. I have no qualms about human experimentation…or experimenting on myself. I have evolved myself beyond such trivial taboos.