uuing | ten. ☆ ( video / backdated to before the spring cleaning plot )

Uu-! Hi everyone..! Today Maria and Beato have a question for everyone!

[ Maria is practically as cheery as ever when she waves at the camera - except she's not alone right now, there's someone sitting there with her, and she turns to that person with a smile as if urging her to speak on.

Beato waves too, as excited about this as ~~HER TINY ONEESAN~~ Maria. ]

We thought of this some days ago, while watching the people in the tea house. You all come from very diferent places, are we wrong? I can only imagine how many wonderful stories you all have!

And so we want to hear e-verything about you and your world! [ she's just fistpumping here now, look at all this double excitement. ] Uu-, so everyone, please tell us your stories, okay? Beato and Maria re-ally want to know!

We'll be waiting! Thank you so much!

( ooc: replies will come from both Maria and Beato (

fathersbeloved) and will be a bit delayed (especially on my side, since I'm going to bed right now and will get to them tomorrow)! )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ It's still a little complicated of a story, but it's a good thing that despite being a nine year old Maria is used to reading lots of occult stuff, so it doesn't even strike her as too difficult or weird when she nods. ]

Uu-.. So you can't feel any emotion? That's so sad..

It depends on what you mean by "you".

We Evronians in general cannot feel any emotion, indeed.

I, however...

[And suddenly, Gorthan feels very, very self-conscious.]

... Perhaps telling you this was a bad idea. I... I am sorry. I will bother you no longer.

[ She's listening pretty intently, but then he cuts off halfway through..? Huh? ]

Don't get it.. Why did you stop talking about it, uu-? It's not bothering Maria at all, Maria just wants to know now..!

Is there anything special about you?

... Like many other Evronian scientists, one of my tasks was to investigate the culture of Earth, the planet we were going to invade.

But the culture of Earth... is so much more complex than that of Evron. So much more beautiful. It infected me, causing a disease that is rare in Evronians, a mutation... I can safely say that, as an Evronian, I was the only one able to feel emotions.

Before my mutation, I was the most respected scientific authority of Evron. But when my mutation was discovered... when it became clear that I had spontaneously detached myself from the Evronian hive mind, I instantly became an outcast. I was persecuted and forced into exile.

[There is more to his story, of course. But he pauses at this point to see a reaction, if there's one.]

That's so rude, uu-..! [ Well, there sure is a reaction - she seems rather worked up over this, even puffing out her cheeks again and all. ]

They shouldn't do that to you just because of that..! Feeling emotions is a good thing, if they get mad at you for it they're bad people!

As you can imagine, I felt a lot of resentment towards earthlings in the beginning. I hated that, because of them, I had lost all I had. But at the same time... I loved all that they gave me. A completely new outlook on life, all the emotions I never thought I would feel... and, to some extent... friendship. When an earthling, a sworn enemy to my species, saved me from certain death, I...

[He's not really sure how to continue this one. There is so much he learned and understood and felt then.]

[ It's okay, Maria has a vague idea of how to continue - and it seems to make her happy to hear at least this much, considering she smiles. ]

Uu-, Maria gets it! You felt really grateful to that person, and really happy, right?

[Gorthan smiles at that.]

So happy, that I quite frankly did not know what to do with myself.

[That... is not quite it. The reality is actually a little more complex. That specific point is kind of a WTF moment for everyone, including himself, when he recalls it. It involves a huge boulder, believe it or not.]

Now I do not fault my brothers and children for having persecuted me. But I do not fault earthlings for making me what I am, either. I have discovered that my situation has certain... perks, so to speak.

Maria's glad to hear that.. After all, Maria thinks it's a very good thing to feel emotions! Even if being sad is.. sad, uu-, without being sad you can't be happy either!

And being happy is there greatest thing there is! [ she giggles. ] Don't you think so too now?

[Gorthan pauses for a moment, blinking.]

That is deep, Maria.

And yes, I agree. Among my species, I was the only one who had a chance at achieving true happiness...

[He looks at his hands now.]

And now I have turned into an earthling completely... what a strange turn of fate.

[ Maria's smile is pretty much just unwavering. ]

But you don't mind being an earthling, right..?

To an extent, I was looking forward to it.

But now that I have told you my story... May I know yours in return?

Kyakyakya, that's good!

And.. uu-.. What exactly do you want to know..? Should Maria tell about the story of how she got her best friend, maybe? Maria likes that story!

Of course, Maria. Go ahead, I'm listening.

Uu-, okay!

You see, Maria's ve-ry best friend in the whole wide world is Sakutaro! Mama told Maria she would make Sakutaro as Maria's birthday present, so Maria thought about his name for a long time! But in the end Maria decided Sakutaro would be the most fitting, uu-. And then right on Maria's birthday, Maria got Sakutaro! He was just the cutest lion, kyakyakya! [ It's a lion plush though, it'd make more sense if she mentioned that.. ]

And from that day on Maria and Sakutaro did everything together! Even if Mama would leave or be busy with work, Sakutaro would always be there with Maria! We would do fun things like having sleepovers together and mix different kinds of soda or go out shopping with him in my backpack.. Every day became a lot more fun with him around, kyakyakya! Isn't it great to have a friend like that?

... Your best friend... is a lion?

[This alien is so confused for a moment. Until he recalls that children from Earth tend to be very imaginative. Which is so much nicer and more poetic than... anything that Evronian children do.]

... I see. A lion that your mother made.

That's right, a lion Mama made for Maria..! And he's Maria's ve-ry best friend, Sakutaro and Maria are always together!

... Uu-.. even if Johto sent him away a while ago. Now he's back home.

I... I am sorry... is there anything I can do?

[This... this is very undignified for an Upper Caste Evronian like him. But. Unhappy children make Gorthan really, really sad.

... Aaah, screw that. Sometimes he doesn't even think he can call himself an Evronian anymore.]

[ You're so nice, Gorthan. And Maria blinks a little at that, almost surprised.. but then she shakes her head, and tries to smile. ]

Uu-. .. No, it's fine. Maria will be fine. Maria has to make sure to keep smiling so the magic of smiles can help out everyone.

ten. ☆ ( video / backdated to before the spring cleaning plot )

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