He'd been forewarned.

Now that so many rifts had begun to open within Hoenn, reports of the myriad worlds within were making their rounds around the region. Still, to see it with his own eyes was an otherworldly experience all its own.

The Border between life and death. How could this be real? Better still, how did he manage to get funding for an expedition like this? It was ecstatically incomprehensible.

Seeing Caleb Harcourt and his younger brother conversing ahead, Gideon approached, his expression one of stoked enthusiasm. "You two have ventured here once before, right? Any thoughts on where we should travel first?"

As they responded, the two men and the nearby @rosie would notice something materializing behind GIDEON GRAVES.

Gunner Graves might recognize the stone-faced spirit and her unflinching, hollow eyes. She would have been around Gunner's age now, if she had lived that long. Her incorporeal form, however, would forever reflect that of a woman in her early twenties.

His ex-wife's little sister.

Lorelai.

Gunner Graves Caleb Harcourt @rosie

• 🗺️ GIDEON GRAVES's divorce experience must be explored in some way &/or he will be able to retrieve an artifact (be creative within reason) for his national museum of natural history.

☉

"Loralei...?"

Gideon immediately stiffened, but did not turn to face the specter behind him until a tense few seconds passed. In this time, he built the resolve necessary to face such a haunting evocation of his past failures. When he did, GIDEON GRAVES met those hollow eyes with a deep grimace and a visible shuddering of his body.

A memory of a conversation between himself and his ex-wife materialized in his mind as their eyes met; it felt thrust upon him, though, like some insidious trance. It was a snippet of a phone call that occurred after his ex-wife and her sister were in a car accident:

"... what do you mean you can’t?"

"I’m so, so sorry, Charlotte. But I’m halfway across the world. This expedition has been years in the making and by the time I’d get back home, her funeral would have already passed."

"I’m hurt, Gideon. My leg is shattered. My... my sister just died. I NEED you here with me right now. I don’t think I can do this without you..."

"I’ll leave as soon as I can, I promise. It’s only about another week’s worth of work."

"Are you serious...? You’re putting your work above me AGAIN, now? If I can’t even compete when my sister dies then... God, Gideon, what the hell is wrong with you?"

"Char, please... you know I’d be there if I could. It’s unfathomable what happened to Lorelai, but you have to see how I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place here."

"..."

"Charlotte?"

"...I-I need to go. The doctor just walked in. I’ll talk to you later."

"Alright. I love you."

Their relationship hadn’t lasted much longer after that.

Once the memory subsided, Gideon released a long-held sigh and responded with a morose, "Yes... that’s her."

The spirit of Lorelai didn’t appear conversational, although the professor had no intention of trying to directly communicate with her. In fact, he hoped she’d simply disappear into the expanse of this realm - leave him to his bitter memories without having to involuntarily relive them. As it turned out, however, her presence did just the opposite. Every second he spent here he was bombarded with flashes of past conflicts, miserable recollections, and even memories from his wife’s perspective he’d never been privy to before now...

It made the vengeful spirit that appeared feel like a reprieve; a merciful distraction from his own internal struggles. He’d let the Ranger and his own brother, who was more proficient at battling, take care of the threat. Instead, he took out a camera of his own much like @rosie, bringing it to his eye to document the encounter from a safer distance.

Gunner Graves Caleb Harcourt @rosie

• 🗺️ GIDEON GRAVES's divorce experience must be explored in some way &/or he will be able to retrieve an artifact (be creative within reason) for his national museum of natural history.

☉

Artistically speaking, it was all very aesthetic. The clash and rigor of battle was something Gideon actually enjoyed photographing; however, his usual shooting conditions were more controlled and mundane than this. Here, in the realm of the dead, anything could happen.

Which was what made their venture so thrilling.

The continual shutter of Gideon's camera was drowned out by the roar of conflict before him. Dr. Graves made sure to catch it all, paying special attention to the vengeful spirit at the center of the conflict. Perhaps, however, he was focusing a little too much on documenting and not enough on the battle itself... he noticed a moment too late what VICTINI's rage was aimed at next.

Gunner Graves.

Time slowed to a standstill. Gideon's body barely leaned forward to react before his brother's screams pierced the air. That sound... he could have gone his entire lifetime without hearing that horrid sound. That alone caused what seemed like a sudden fracture in GIDEON GRAVES' psyche. Lurching ahead with panicked footsteps, he felt like the ghosts all around them - detached from his earthly form and watching as someone other rushed to Gunner's side.

Somewhere along the way sound had failed him. There was nothing but a ringing thrum in his ear as he took in the severity of Gunner's injuries... parts were flayed, others scorched beyond recognition. The smell, though... that was enough to knock him back into reality.

The putrid scent of burning flesh filled Gideon's nose and made him want to vomit. He nearly gagged on the bile welling in his throat as he wailed desperately, "GUNNER!"

Then, something strange happened. It defied the laws of their world, but here, anything could happen... including the souls of the living separating from their physical vessels. As Gideon cradled his brother's bloodied body in his arms he felt the other man's breathing become shallower and shallower... until wisps of ephemeral light began emanating from within Gunner himself. Then, suddenly, something started to emerge.

It was like seeing a negative image of his sibling beginning to split from the original.

"NO! No, no, no, no, no..." This couldn't be happening. He couldn't lose him, not like this. It would be HIS fault. After all, it was Gideon who had been the one to ask Gunner to accompany him on this expedition into what was quickly turning into the deepest depths of hell. Please, you can't...

"Proteus, Heal Pulse - NOW!" His body acted on its own, releasing GIDEON GRAVES's SLOWKING to try and reverse whatever was happening to his brother.

Gunner Graves Caleb Harcourt @rosie

• 🗺️ GIDEON GRAVES's divorce experience must be explored in some way &/or he will be able to retrieve an artifact (be creative within reason) for his national museum of natural history.

☉