exeggutorhead | 40th Transformation [video/action for Lavender Town

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40th Transformation [video/action for Lavender Town | BACKDATED to 10/10]

A lot can change in two years. It's an odd thing for someone who's been alive for close to four centuries, someone who assumed he was done changing a long, long time ago, to think about. Envy was always someone who changed his appearance, not his thoughts.

He thought he knew exactly what he wanted, and exactly what he was. He was a homunculus, an incomplete transmutation of a human without a soul or emotions, and one who had no need for either. A monster in almost every sense of the word. All he wanted was revenge on that bastard and whatever other pathetic alchemists thought they could play at being gods. He wanted to outlast humanity until there was no one left alive but homunculi. It was the only way he would be able to just forget, and that was what he wanted most of all.

Envy has never liked being unsure. Or mistaken. He's never let on to anyone in Johto, or in Amestris that time last year he went back, that he doesn't know exactly who or what he is anymore. Not Tulio, not Yao, not Nanao, not even France. How could two measely years out of four hundred have done this much to him? It had been easy to write off at first. Of course he was feeling things, he was stuck as a human here. Of course he wasn't causing wanton hurt and destruction, he had to gather and keep allies now that he was by himself in a strange world. He didn't need friends, he wasn't really attached to any of these people, it was just as it always was. Just an act.

Writing it off has since gone from easy to impossible. To be sure, he still has a hell of a lot of fun whenever he has the opportunity to trick and manipulate and cheat, or to cause a little chaos, or to plot complex and nefarious revenges. But here, he has people he cares about and wants to care about. He's protected, willingly, and where he used to be intensely grudging about it and only willing if it was most convenient for him, it's grown more and more natural. He comforts people who are hurting, the ones he cares about anyway, without expecting anything in return. He plays games and tells the truth sometimes and laughs without malice. He loves. None of it makes sense, none of it fits what he's always thought of himself, and he can't stand thinking about it. So he doesn't. And maybe that's how this all managed to sneak up and tangle into him until one day he looked up and realized that he was happy. Whether this was a mistake or not, he doesn't know, and that's almost as terrifying as the thought of losing this. Not that he's afraid of anything, of course.

Anniversaries make it difficult not to think. Envy goes about his morning normally, without mentioning the date to Tulio or Miguel. And in the afternoon, when he can't stand it any more, he does what he always does when he doesn't want to think. He gets himself to the highest place he can find. And sitting on the edge of the roof of the Lavender Radio Tower, leaning back on his hands and absently kicking his feet, he Doesn't Think about one thing in particular.

That there might be more than one way to forget after all.

---

[It's not long after sunset, and the starts are coming out when Envy turns on the feed. He's wearing a sleeveless shirt on account of the day's heat, so the fading blue splotches running down his arms are visible. There's wind whipping his hair around since he's so high up, and the large metal radio structure behind him explains where he is. An Aerodactyl, looking like some massive gargoyle's silhouette in the faded light, is perched on the only other edge of the roof that's still in the frame and explains how the hell he got up there.]

[Envy doesn't look thoughtful or nostalgic or anything of the sort. In fact, he's got a smirkish half-grin on his face, an altogether normal expression for him.]

So, two whole years in this place. It sure doesn't feel like that long to me, but I guess time flies when there's some new disaster every few weeks.

Still, I guess I've got to do something to mark such a momentous occasion.

[He holds up a string of red firecrackers.] These ought to work just fine for that.

[Without further ado, he stands up, putting the firecrackers down on the ground, and the 'Gear as well while he fiddles with the matches and manages to get the fuse lit. Then the camera is back in his hands as he films the bright and noisy results. It's definitely not an unimpressive sight; they were a gift from China himself back at Christmas. And since today would have been China's two year anniversary too, it seemed fitting somehow. Once the last of the string has popped, Envy turns the camera back on himself, grinning a little wider than before.]

Here's to another year.

[He ends the feed there, although those with good ears might have heard a few alarmed shouts and footsteps coming up the stairs to the roof. Seems like setting off small explosives on top of the tower isn't exactly appreciated, whoops. Time to jump back onto his dinosaur and vanish into the night.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm glad you made it two years. I'm glad I got to meet you.

[Envy looks almost surprised for a second; hearing things like that is probably never going to stop surprising him, honestly. But then Henry gets a grin, a genuine one.]

Glad I met you too. And with luck, we'll both make it longer.

[Let's not go back home where our lives suck!]

_{[You get a smile, Envy!]}

Two more years. Forever maybe. I'd be fine with that.

[He nods.]

Hey, how long have you been here?

Hmm...

_{[Here comes Henry's thinking face. He isn't a fantastic judge of time.]}

Do you remember...when there were all these really angry bug pokemon?

Yeah. I don't think I'm ever going to forget those.

[He really won't. He did not like getting attacked by exploding pinecones and rock hurling dragonflies at all.]

You didn't show up in the middle of that, did you?

No, I showed up a little before that. I had just gotten a job at some fried food stand on the beach when it all went down.

_{[He still has the fry basket he stole to use as a melee weapon too.]}

I don't even remember what month it was.

[Good thinking, Henry. The Jennies can't arrest you for a fry basket!]

Still, you have to have been here more than a year to have been here for that disaster.

I guess...maybe I should ask Heather. I hadn't been here too long before she and Mr. Mason found me in the woods.

In the woods?

[...not actually that uncommon a location to be in Johto, but still. He's curious if there's a story here.]

Yyyyyeah.

_{[Henry made a long suffering expression. He didn't really want to tell Envy how an unfortunate hotel room number around violet had driven him into the hobo life so he just hoped the sad face he made would make up for it.]}

What was it like when you got here?

It was cold.

[He half grimaces at the memory. It wasn't really that cold, but when you show up in an outfit that is practically nothing and you've never been cold before, even very chilly is not fun at all. :( ]

I wish it'd been as warm as it is today.

[He had to wrap his sleeping bag around himself like a cape to get to Cherrygrove.]

And I hadn't even been here a month when something happened and everything went flat and blocky and monster skeletons started trying to eat everyone.

_{[Henry's eyes widen at the mention of the Missingno disaster. He was glad he missed that.]}

Oh.

_{[Yeah, OH was about all you could say to that.]}

[He snorts.]

Yeah. I guess there isn't really ever a time someone could show up here without something insane happening right after.

Wow, cool! [The little kid is quite impressed.]

They are pretty cool, huh?

[Even though he had nothing to do with the fireworks beyond lighting the fuse, he will still count this as a compliment to himself, and look smug. He's more okay with little kids as long as they come with compliments.]

Someone I know gave them to me a while back, but I don't know where he got them or I'd buy more.

Really? That's sad...fireworks are the best part of celebrations!

Then maybe shops will start selling more when there's some holiday to celebrate them with.

Maybe! [A pause] Wait, if this is a different world, do they have the same holidays?

Ah, I didn't realize you wanted to stay. [ Understandable since you'rea Different Envy. Still Awkward. ]

I only realized it recently myself.

[Yep. Kind of awkward. But all of his people are here and the only things he knows for sure are waiting for him if he goes back are Gatebabies.]

May I ask why? If you aren't open to revealing your reasons on the network, I'd be willing to hear in another place. [ It's so weird thinking Envy has the desire to stay in Johto for, like, ever. But it's no skin off of Lust's nose. At least he isn't the real Envy. ]

Well, things back home weren't exactly going my way. And I've got way more allies here.

[...'allies' meaning 'real friends and a boyfriend' shhh. He shrugs as though to say it's no big deal at all. NOT AT ALL. Simple as that!]

Allies? You mean France and your traveling companions? [ She can't allow this! She has people to terrorize with you back home. ] So I guess you won't be returning with me? [ THE POSSIBILITIES OF TWO ENVIES... SHE CAN'T LET THIS HAPPEN. ]

Among others. And you, of course.

[BUT LUST DO YOU REALLY WANT TO DEAL WITH TWO ENVIES?]

Are you telling me you've found a way to go back home at will and take me with you?

Why thank you. I quite enjoy your company as well. [ even if you are a total softie ):

Lust chuckles. ]

No, but, I've thought of something. You see, Johto is a meeting center for all of the worlds, right? Leaving simultaneously, and by choice, would mean we'd have to fulfill conditions to trigger these effects. It's entirely plausible you could return home with me if we were ever able to find a way to leave.

[The Friendship got him Lust. ): You gotta be careful of Friendship in Pokemon land.]

[Envy grins at her plan.]

Sounds plausible enough for me. If we ever find a way to choose, I certainly wouldn't mind being in a world where I had my powers back and getting to have some fun with them.

[It's pretty much impossible to tell if he's lying or not.]

Ah, I figured you wouldn't. Your brand of fun has always been very distinct, Envy.

[ She figures it could be either given what he just said minutes ago but she's unsure. It'd be a loss to let him leave, but it wouldn't be a significant gain either. Daddy didn't make two envies for a reason. ]

You know I pride myself on being distinct.

[Put two Envies in the same room and watch as they argue forever and nothing productive ever happens again. Although maybe Lust would be able to keep them in line.]

I take it you can't wait to get back, then.

Of course. This meaningless detour has kept me from accomplishing my actual goals. [ Her voice is cold. It's apparent just how much disregard for Johto Lust has.

And yeah. She'd definitely keep them both in check or she'd send one off to do something else under Father's wishes. No way she's going to be hindered by siblings (again!) ]

Edited 2012-11-01 18:15 (UTC)

Guess it helps that the one goal I have left might actually be convenient enough to appear here one day.

[Since his group of homunculi has already all (at least, he assumes they have; Pride would eventually age himself to death and Wrath was as good as dead when he left) fallen except for him, and he's not sure how well his master would be doing with all of them gone. All he's got waiting for him if he went back is his revenge.]

You can assure assistance with it, provided it keeps daddy's sacrifices in mint condition.

[ ....She's offering herself to wreck this old lady just for you, otoutou!!! FEEL GRATEFUL. ]

Firecrackers! [OH MAN SHE DIDN'T THINK THERE'D BE THOSE HERE. She can't help but look happy.

...Wait, where did you set those off!?] Uh-- Was that a radio...tower...? [ENVY PLS.]

[Responding to this from the back of his Aerodactyl as he ninjas away from the tower.]

Sure was. I don't think the workers were too happy about the firecrackers, though.

[...and he sounds proud of himself about this.]

Envy... [There is such disapproval there] Of course they weren't, you could've really done some damage!

[She has a feeling Envy doesn't really care though.]

They were just firecrackers, no big deal.

[Nope, definitely not a care in the world.]

It's not like I had them near the equipment or anything.

...You're impossible.

[Mio's quiet for a moment, thinking] ...You've really been here a full two years...?

[Being impossible is pretty much Envy's full-time job. He just looks amused when she says it, and then nods at her question.]

That's right. It's been interesting, I'll say that much.

Well, you know what they say. Time flies when you're havin' fun, right?

_{[She figures he won't be answering until after he's made his getaway, but she felt like weighing in. It's strange, thinking about how they're all slowly-- very slowly-- getting older in this place. A few months don't matter, but the years start to add up...]}

[And she would be correct about that! When he replies, it looks like he's hanging out in an alley or something, and definitely on the ground. He's also got his Tyranitar out, said dinosaur lying down dozing next to him, in case any ghosts come out now that it's getting dark.]

Right. [He lets out a short bark of laughter.] And who would've thought this place would be fun?

Oh, I don't know. After the shock wore off, this place was pretty nice.

_{[You know, when it came to most things...]}

So d'you like being here this long?

[Yeah, most things. Envy could do without Shedinjas and trash invasions. And being terribly confused.]

[But still, there's so much here he never could have had in Amestris. He nods.]

I'd stay if I actually had the choice. What about you, you've been here even longer.

_{[Yeeeeaaaah...]}

Oh, definitely.

... I mean... that's not to say that this place doesn't make me wanna scream sometimes, but...

_{[She pauses briefly, rubbing the back of her neck.]}

... Everything I ever could have wanted back home is here.

There's nothing for me back there.

If this place didn't make you want to scream sometimes, I'd wonder. But I'm glad you're still here.

[You're his friend and he wants you to stay.]

My world was...less complicated.

[He sighs.] But complicated might've been what I needed, I don't know.

_{[A smile creeps onto her face at that.]}

I've been here awhile. ... Somethin' tells me I'm probably not going anywhere.

_{[... Although just to be sure, she reaches out and raps her knuckles a little bit on the bed's wooden headboard.]}

... What WAS your world like?

I mean, I know you were a ... homunculus thing, but...

_{[She... doesn't know much more than that.]}

[Envy doesn't understand the knock on wood, but half-grins back anyway. And then has to pause for a second to think because how to describe his whole world.]

Well...the year's 1914, which I think is a lot earlier than a lot of people here. We've got electricity and phones and steam trains, but nothing as advanced as there is here. The country I live in is called Amestris, and it's run by the military. There's a lot of unrest and rebellions around the outer edges of the country, and we're at war with the countries around us a lot of the time, but it's not half bad the closer you get to the center.

[And well his group is responsible for all that war so his master can have her philosopher's stone made of people and live forever but details details.]

And there's the alchemy, I haven't met anyone from another world that has alchemy that works like ours does.

_{[... 1914? Holy SHIT.]

[She'd honestly never have guessed.]}

Whoa. Yeah.

I'm from after 2000.

[He laughs at the reaction. All the technology is still weird, even if he's gotten good at using it, but hey. When he was born, leeches were still a big thing; he's seen a lot of progress in his life already.]

I guess I've done a good job blending in with all you future-people.

[His time period might have been more recognizable if he walked around wearing stuff like this.]

Do you have things like computers and electric trains in your world, then?

Yeah. They're pretty standard.

Hell, there's like two computers in my HOUSE.

N'I rode the subway pretty much every single day to get around town.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

40th Transformation [video/action for Lavender Town | BACKDATED to 10/10]

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Sorry for the lateness. The giants winning the world series has made my schedule hectic!

No worries! My schedule's been pretty hectic too

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