27th Transformation [video/action for anywhere | FOURTH WALL]

[exeggutorhead]

[Oh look, on Envy's video feed today it looks like…the sky? And the tops of some of the buildings in Goldenrod. Did the 'Gear fall on the ground, or--]

[OH, hello there giant green serpent-dragon face! That is one displeased and confused looking dragon there. Spoilers: it's Envy.]

[Envy shakes his head slightly, as though still disoriented,

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[eliciadaddy]

[ Since he's got no special powers, Maes isn't really affected by most of this. So, he's been going about his day as if it were any other normal day.

He's walking across the street, now, and hasn't noticed Envy yet. ]

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[exeggutorhead]

[Oh, but Envy notices Hughes. And hey, while he's got his powers back he might as well have some fun~ He doesn't know how much Hughes does or doesn't know, but he guesses he'll find out soon, because there is a terrible idea brewing in that cruel mind of his. But first he needs to get Hughes somewhere more isolated...]

[So, Hughes may notice a very familiar little girl hovering around the front of an alleyway, looking lost. And if he starts approaching 'Elicia', she'll run off down the alley for him to follow.]

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[eliciadaddy]

[ Unfortunately for him, Maes hadn't heard a thing about the existence of homunculus at all. He'd just been minding his own business, with his Eevee tagging along at his feet, when he stops suddenly.

It... couldn't be... but he'd recognize that adorable little head of hair anywhere. ]

Elicia?!

[ Wait... what's she doing running in the other direction? That alley... it doesn't look safe at all. She's only 3! He's running after her now. ]

Elicia!

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[exeggutorhead]

[When he reaches the alley, he'll see Elicia just turning a corner up ahead, going deeper into the small maze of buildings and narrow alleys. Guess she didn't hear you, Hughes! You'd best catch up, this doesn't look very safe at all.]

[If Hughes continues to follow, Envy will lead him down a few more twists and turns, until he's fairly sure there's not much chance of anyone else stumbling upon them. And around the next corner Hughes turns, who will be waiting but...himself? Himself with much too pale skin, violet cat's eyes, black clothes, and a bright red mark of ouroboros on the side of his neck.]

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[eliciadaddy]

[ He quickens his steps when Elicia makes that second turn. What was she doing, in a place like this? Where was her starter Pokemon to protect her...? He continues to call out her name, but she doesn't seem to hear. Something feels awfully off about this whole situation, but then again, there were many things that were strange in this world.

Thankfully, Maes is far bigger than Elicia, which meant that he could run a lot faster. He's gaining on her, and... yes! He's almost reached her now. Just one more cor--

He stops.

And then, immediately begins to look violently around. Where was his little baby girl?! ]

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[exeggutorhead]

[Envy just watches him do this for a few moments, feeling smug and very pleased with how this is going so far. He hasn't gotten the opportunity to do something like this in a while. Now he just needs to keep it up.]

[He's got his arms loosely crossed in front of him, head tilted with a casual smile on his face.]

Looking for something? Must be important, if it's worth more of your attention than me. Or do run into your own doubles often, Maes?

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[eliciadaddy]

[ His initial response is to reach for one of his daggers. But all Maes feels is empty air. He curses softly under his breath. By his feet, his little Eevee is glancing between the two Maes' with confusion. ]

What have you done with Elicia?

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[exeggutorhead]

Nothing, nothing. She's perfectly safe. How could I hurt her, with your memories in my head?

[He's still smiling, but his tone is a very real sounding bitterness. Envy's got plenty of that to draw on for this particular act.]

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[eliciadaddy]

My...

[ He takes a step back, right into a wall. ]

Who are you?

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[exeggutorhead]

Do you know what a homunculus is, Maes?

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[eliciadaddy]

[ He's heard vaguely of the term used, but mostly in fictional stories and such. That, and Maes is no alchemist, so he's never really paid attention to such things.

Now was a time he wished he had paid more attention.

So, have a very confused, shocked, and speechless Maes... ]

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[exeggutorhead]

I'll take that as a 'no'. But since I'm a generous guy, I guess I can tell you.

[He takes a step forward, leaning and holding a hand up to his face as though he's sharing some comical secret.]

A homunculus is what happens when an alchemist tries to bring a dead person back to life.

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[eliciadaddy]

[ At the word alchemist, his first thought was: damn you, Roy. Maes would laugh, but... nothing about this situation is particularly funny.

He takes a breath. ]

And you are... [ His last word is choked out. ] me?

[ His Eevee, sensing something is horribly wrong with her trainer, is pawing anxiously at his ankle. ]

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[exeggutorhead]

Well. I was supposed to be, anyway. Roy wasn't as good of an alchemist as he thought.

I'm just his mistake, stuck with your face and your damned memories in my head.

[His voice rises as he speaks; not shouting, but still louder than he needs to be. There's a barely restrained anger in his expression. Someone might be getting a little too into this act. But he figures that so long as this still serves his purposes, he can get back into control whenever he wants.]

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[eliciadaddy]

[ ... how horrible. Roy hadn't mentioned anything like that when they'd spoken about his death. Then again, it wasn't really anything one would want to bring up.

But he knows Roy. And it doesn't sound like anything Roy would do, no matter how desperate. ]

Roy wouldn't do that. He knows better.

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[exeggutorhead]

Maybe the Roy you knew when you were still alive knew better. He knew better for years, even.

But I'm standing right here, aren't I?