< idiot teens with a deathwish. > | Official Roleplay Thread

Kristi · 20 July 2023 06:23

I have too much guilt to be a leader, i’m not a hero or a leader i’m a teenage girl who wants to go to college, that’s who Carmen Liu is, a student athlete who has never lead in her life and would rather live a life never leading or following- the instinct

Bunch of kids, Bunch of kids, they were all a bunch of foolish kids and it was pissing Carmen off. From what Carmen gathered, Her assumptions about Erek King were way off; he wasn’t some villain out to kill them. Nope, he was just using them as child warriors to safeguard himself and his tribe. Talk about a brilliant plan - gather a bunch of kids for protection! Genius level: monstrous!

Gotta love your child warriors.

How intelligent. Yes, that was sarcasm if you could not tell. Carmen was even dumbfounded at the teenagers, they were reckless, really reckless, quick to accept anything with asking for side effects or what other danger than defeating an evil that even has a born alien scared, because of their desire to be heroes. Hero complex, that’s what they had, a hero complex and a brain that was smooth- she did not mean it as an insult, ok maybe she did, but it was more concern that an actual insult of their intelligence. Carmen knew some of them and they were really smart, so she knew they were not actually dumb, they were teenagers- reckless. And yes sure she did not know this people that well, heck she was not friends with this people and from what it looks like, she did not feel the desire to be friends with them, just like she did not feel the desire to ever be friends with Erek though she found him intriguing and he was a friend of a friend. But, “It’s really hard not to figure out why I would care Jame-Jamie,” Carmen said addressing Jamie, a weird person she had seen once or twice in one of her classes that was really reserved like her (or well like she is supposed to be) and whom Carmen had once mistaken as a man, “I care because I have fcking empathy, and because an alien is injured means you should put yourself and a bunch of young kids who are not even old enough to drive life in danger?” When Carmen said child she pointed at the 5’1 short wavy brown haired person (Delphi), The 5’4 boy with an athletic build, seriously why was everybody so short, (Jo) “You’re 17, you’re supposed to know better than to put a bunch of kids at risk for your desires to be what? A Percy Jackson? If you wanted to put your life at danger fine do it, but honestly what’s the point in involving a bunch of kids? Especially when you did not ask for the side effects or the dangers? The least someone of your age could do, is ask for what possible side effects the crystal could cost on humans, how long it would last and if there would be intense pain or not. You could have ask for a step by step procedure on all the things that might happen to everyone or not and ways to at least have a little protection against this evil that you guys say will attack the alien boy- I mean Erek. But no, because you want to be a little edgy kid and btch and moan about how I don’t know you and should not care about you or everyone else because oh you want do d!e oh you listen to rock music and cry yourself to sleep-ok sorry, that was a little harsh. Anyways, and permission for what? to touch the little blue crystal? Did you even ask what may or not happen?” Ok, Carmen was obviously angry. She did not talk a lot unless she was near people she liked or she was really angry.

And Carmen was angry, she was angry that they were acting like a bunch of little kids who want to put on red capes and fly without any second or 5th thoughts. Ready to risk their lives without putting any deeper thoughts and involve a bunch of 15 year olds in this. She was angry that they were making her seem like she was crazy for caring about people who go to her school safety whether she was friends with them or not and she was angry that Erek would involve a bunch of kids in his little surviving scheme instead of involving adults or more capable people.There was really no adults he could trust to do whatever he wanted to do with this teens?

Carmen was not their mother, she was no one’s mother and she would not be anyone’s mother until years or maybe even never, but she knew a lot about playing heroes and putting yourself in risk without thinking. I mean that’s what got her running away from her old home to the Drews. She was a little kid who wanted to be a hero and payed the price of it, watching her elder sister d!e in front of her. She had trusted people blindly because at that time they seemed reliable friendly and trustworthy and she had not asked questions. Carmen let out a deep breathe, maybe she should be a little more understanding. Though Erek was an alien monster freak he was still a human-person- well young person. Though he was an alien monster ghost whatever, Carmen was pretty sure Erek was young for his kind and he was helpless. She could emphasize with that- helplessness.

Besides, it’s not a good thing to be angry- anger leads to stupid decisions, so Carmen turned to Hayden- he kind of remembered her of one the kids from her old life, just the way he looked and the way he talk, and calmed down. She walked closer to Hayden looking at the runt (affectionately runt! Her nickname for him now) and a small smile briefly appeared on Carmen’s face, but she quickly shook it off and sighed, her mind racing with concern and determination. Standing in front of Hayden, she turned to Erek and began, “Okay, let me get this straight. You’re in danger, and you want to save yourself and your fellow aliens. Turning a bunch of reckless kids into child warriors is incredibly reckless itself, but they seem hell-bent on doing it.”

And you’re a friend of a friend so Carmen could really not let him d!e even though she did not really care about him or would care if he was not friends with her friend (that was a lie, she would still find a way to care and blame her caring on someone else because though Carmen would never admit it, she cared about people, she has always cared about people and she will always care about people. It was a curse she had gotten since birth) “You’re obviously in danger too,” she continued, her tone serious. “Have you tested this crystal on humans before? Is there a possibility of it being too powerful and causing… uh… deadly consequences?” Sure, joining an alien to defeat an even more powerful alien organization? was definitely deadly consequences, but they were deadly consequences that was already bound to happen and could be avoided with the right plan. What Carmen wanted to know if the crystal could kll them, if after the evil alien is defeated, what side effects would the crystal have on them or would it go away? “And do you have more information about your attackers? Their strong points, what to avoid-you know things to prepare ‘them’ for when they touch the crystal.” By them Carmen meant them, because she was not being part of any of this crystal touching all she wanted to make sure was that everybody would be somewhat safe and then she could live on with her life.

She would not join this crystal touching thing because she had to focus on college and being an athlete, not on fighting monsters and living out her savior complex- She was not the second coming of Christ and she definitely was not trying to be, besides she would find a way to push all this in the back of her mind like she did with her past. She just hoped Hayden did not decide he wanted to be reckless and join them too, because that would mean she would have to join.

Carmen had only known Hayden for less than a day, she did not even know his last name, but she could not allow anything to happen to him. She could not fail him, and he had helped her see light, so she owed him something and honestly Carmen did not trust any of these people with Hayden. Did they even have a plan on how they would defeat the big bad guy?

Probably not. Seriously, they were a bunch of kids, a bunch of idiot kids with a serious d@ath wish, they really needed a planner, hopefully they found one.

@Ouijaloveletters - Jamie
@phnx - Erek
@M0thpawz - Hayden
and ig @/Animorphs

phnx · 21 July 2023 02:50

NPC Post

Erek sighed. He’d expected that not everybody would be on-board immediately- how could they? But, he’d offered them a choice, and a choice came with the implication that they could refuse. The red pill, or the blue pill. Part of him suspected he’d made a similar choice long ago, one which now came back to eat at him with guilt, a half-memory that’s he’d lost. Damn it.

"Hayden, if you call me ‘Freddy Fazbear’ one more time, I’m going to, in the most pacifist way possible, find a way to shove your camera down your throat."Erek considered Scarlett’s question. “Everything I know? Yes. You have to understand, my kind has kept our secret for the better part of five thousand years. I wouldn’t be telling you this if it wasn’t absolutely my last resort.” He was taken aback, however, by Carmen’s sudden aggression. “I suppose you could call the police. Let them know there’s a dying android and an evil billionaire in the ancient history section of the Eureka Museum of the Arts.” He said it in an even tone, not at all mocking or disparaging- he knew what he was saying was absurd as-is.

Her second outburst hit a little bit closer to Erek. He flinched at her words, taking a moment to articulate a response. “I agree with Camlyn, Carmen. I wouldn’t make this decision lightly. I know you’re capable of making a choice- all of you. You might not believe me, but it’s in my programming that I literally cannot harm. If I knew the choice I was offering right now would cause more harm than good in the long run, I’d be incapable of even suggesting it.” Erek murmurmed his next words. “Plus, quite frankly, I doubt you could break it if you tried.”

Erek watched as a few of his groupmates placed their hands on the box. Jamie. Camlyn. Halia. He listened, silent, as Carmen went off on her fellow groupmates, before she turned back to him. “Like I said, that’s all I know, and I wouldn’t try to harm anyone intentionally. And, if it brings you any comfort, I know this technology is safe for humans.” Part of him wanted to add that he didn’t quite remember how he knew, but he knew it would only cause more distrust towards him- and besides, within his programming, a lie of omission didn’t quite count as truly causing harm.

A moment passed. “I understand this is a big choice. I won’t force any of you. But… I need you to be careful. Even if you choose not to take this power, Berenson & Co. has eyes and ears everywhere.” Erek’s voice got even graver than it had been throughout the encounter. “If you speak of what’s happened to day to anyone that’s not in this room, anywhere where they can hear you… I cannot guarantee your safety.”

@Animorphs

idiot.exe · 21 July 2023 13:57

Scarlett felt conflicted. Every bone in her body was telling her to touch the cube. A chance like that, to gain superhuman abilities and save the world, it was never going to come again. She saw her group as they placed their hands on the device, one by one. They all seemed to blindly trust Erek and were willing to help in a heartbeat. But Scarlett couldn’t help but worry, that this was all a trap, that he wanted to take advantage of the group for his own gain. No matter how sincere he sounded, there was still doubt lingering in Scarlett’s mind.

When Carmen stood up to protest against Erek, Scarlett only felt more tempted. She felt the need to prove her bravery by accepting the mission. Though she was just as scared and confused as everyone else, she started to feel insecure seeing the rest were braver than her. She listened to Erek speak, answering all their questions, as she hesitantly moved her hand towards the cube.

She knew that her choice would change her entire life for good, but she was prepared to face the consequences. Her neglectful parents, meaningless family connections, fake friends and everyone who ever hurt her, she would be leaving all of it behind. Scarlett placed her hand on the glowing object, but with confidence, knowing that it would only make her stronger. Her entire life, she’s wanted a change, to be confident and brave, someone who could never be broken down. It was finally her time, to gain a purpose in her life.

@ EREK (MENTIONED) || CARMEN (MENTIONED) || ANIMORPHS

Tellyg47 · 21 July 2023 19:24

Nathaniel Darkthorne

Nate had finally heard enough from all sides. Closing his notebook and slipping the pen between the pages, he stood up with an air of determination. Everyone in this room knew how surreal this situation was, and Nate have considered a few situations. He imagines the cops stumbling upon a group of teens in a room with a dead robot. Panic fluttered in his chest, and he knew it was time to step up and speak his mind.

The choice he knew he would make was undoubtedly biased. The allure of obtaining power, the chance to become something more than a nobody, to gain the ability to seek what Nate had always wanted— It secretly filled him with newfound confidence. But there was more to it than that; by taking this leap of faith, he acknowledged that they were already a part of the situation, whether they liked it or not. So, even if he fully couldn’t trust Erek, they were already entangled in his plans.

He also had to remind himself that the company that attacked Erek was capable of killing an android offering them great power. Now they would come after this group, regardless of whether that company was good or not. The reality of this situation seemed to hit everyone differently, but for Nate, the surge of adrenaline in his veins propelled him toward Carmen and the device.

As he approached Carmen, Nate made sure to creep up to the door and lock it before anyone else could wander in. His expression showed an understanding of her fear and hesitation. He allowed her to see that he cared for the other kids here (even though he didn’t really). Convincing her that this was the best option wouldn’t be easy, but Nate knew the time of waiting for someone else to step up was over.

“Carmen, we all understand that this isn’t a light decision, but we can’t ignore the fact that we’re already in danger,” he began, his voice laced with urgency and conviction. “I don’t trust Erek either, but we have to understand the biggest picture. This power is the only way that we can defend ourselves. This company, whether good or bad was able to attack a robot and escape unscratched. The police can’t protect us, and once they find out about us, we are fucked.”

He glanced around at the faces of his peers, searching for any signs of agreement or dissent. The weight of responsibility pressed upon him as much as it did Carmen. knowing that whatever decision they made would shape their fate. He had gathered enough information to understand that they couldn’t afford to be regretful.

“We have to decide as a group,” Nate suggested, reminding a calm and steady tone. “We cannot let fear paralyze us, and we can’t let them catch us unprepared. This is the best option; if we take this power, we’ll face the consequences together, but we’ll also have the means to protect ourselves and each other. And I promise you that I will learn and investigate everything I can.”

Taking a deep breath, he held his head high. “I know… I know this is a lot to take in, but our lives are already at stack. So Carmen, if you truly want to protect us…” Nate paused, his glaze moving towards Hayden, “this is the only way.”

He looked at Carmen once more, before placing his hand on the device.

@Kristi - Carmen
@/animorphs - this is rushed

eunoia · 21 July 2023 20:07

Delphi shivered as she looked out at the darkening of everyone’s faces, feeling a sense of foreboding creep into her chest. She clung tightly to Josias, seeking solace in his strong embrace. As her group mates bickered back and forth, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease at the decision that hung in the balance.

Carmen’s voice was sharp and seemingly heartless, piercing through the night with a cruel edge. She spoke of danger and the true consequences of wielding such a powerful weapon. Delphi could hear the concern wrapped in her words, but she pushed it to the side. Nate, her usually reserved friend, was vivacious and passionate, his skepticism toned down in certain aspects from the face of the cube’s obvious power. The air was thick with tension and Delphi’s heart was racing as she clung closer to Josias.

She knew what had to be done, and she could feel the weight of her decision pressing down upon her. The magic cube was calling out to her, begging for her to accept it, to unlock its full power. She had seen the devastation that it could bring, Erek being shot, and knew that with great power came great responsibility. He had to have some trust to offer it to them, and not just die without them ever knowing the cube existed.

She would accept the magic cube, no matter the risk. For she knew that it was her destiny to wield it, and, if fate hadn’t originally planned it Erek did. For in the end, it was a choice between darkness and light. That darkness who had fled once Erek brought out the cube, that darkness that was scared of it. Delphi was not willing to let the darkness win.

Delphi felt a sense of relief wash over her as Nate spoke up, his words carrying a calm and steady tone that she found comforting. She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with a newfound hope. Nate was right; they couldn’t let fear paralyze them, not when their lives were already at stake. It was time to put aside their differences and work together as a group. Delphi knew deep down that the magic cube was their best option, despite the dangers that came with it.

As Nate spoke, his words washing over her like a comforting balm, she nodded in agreement. It was true that they would face the consequences of their decision together. But they also had the means to protect themselves and each other.

Delphi’s gaze drifted towards Carmen, hoping that she too would see reason. It was the only way to survive, to come out on top. And as Nate finished speaking, she knew what she had to do. Nudge Jojo to put them down, Fifi slid to their wobbly feet. She took a deep breath, her heart racing as she spoke up. “Nate is right. We need to take this power, and face the consequences together. We can’t let fear hold us back. It’s time to act, to take control of our lives. And I believe that we can do it, together.”

Her voice was filled with conviction as she looked around at her group mates, hoping that they too would see the potential that lay before them. It was a risky move, but Delphi knew that it was the right one. And in that moment, she vowed to do whatever it took to protect her group, to keep them safe from harm, no matter the cost.

Orp •

@Tellyg47 - Nate mentioned
@Kristi - Carmen mentioned

M0thpawz · 22 July 2023 00:48

HAYDEN POWELL: What’s this button do?

“So, like, it’ll give us the power to become animals? Cool!”

Hayden felt Carmen’s apprehension about the situation radiating off of her like a dense fog, and yet the sophomore was none the wiser.

Actually, he was very wise about it, but he had grown accustomed to tuning the sounds of arguments out. Still he could tell the girl he forged a brief friendship with was wracked with worry and doubt about the pressing development that suddenly appeared in the hands of several high schoolers, and as he was want to do, he tried his best to mitigate it. In his own way, of course.

“And I think Fre…Erek is just working with what he’s got, y’know?” He added, tilting his head. “My mom always said that company was evil…no good comes from same day delivery. But I bet he would’ve chosen a bunch of muscly army guys or something if he could. That has to mean something!”

Hayden shrugged, moving forward as he extended a hand out for Carmen to follow.

“I promise if we touch the cube and it blows up you can say you told us so…okay?”

With that he held his free hand out, prepared to change everything with simple geometry.

Six sides. Technology built lightyears away by a species whose arrogance would cost the lives of millions.

And now it would be used to save just as many.

“It’s warm…” he murmured, awe tinging his voice as he watched the small cube sparkle in response. After a few moments he smiled. Almost a bit smugly.

“Welp! I’m not blown up! So now you gotta do it too!” He chirped, gesturing to Carmen.

@Kristi - Carmen
@/animorphs -mentioned ig?
@/Erek - mentioned

Bexs · 22 July 2023 02:09

Saige Armony

“Suicide mission…?” Saige mumbled, trying to process everything Erek was saying. But he kept going, there wasn’t time to stop and process everything.

Saige pulled out her phone and quickly opened the voice memos app to record everything Erek was saying so she would be able to listen to it again later while also giving her the chance to focus on other things Erek was saying.

“Chee…alien species…androids…pacifists…alien device…powerful technology…turn into animals…try and stop them”

Words, thoughts, and questions fluttered through Saige’s head. What Erek was saying made sense…and yet it didn’t at the same time. How could a company kill almost an entire race…or uh species…without anybody knowing?! It seemed impossible! Not to mention this weird crystal thing…if these guys have been here for over five thousands years…then were these guys the reason why dinosaurs went extinct? With like…the meteor wiping them out? Why were they here? How could anybody know if the Chee influenced natural technological evolution of-

“We have to decide as a group…I don’t trust Erek either, but we have to understand the biggest picture."

The sound of Nathaniel’s voice brought Saige out of her thought tornado. She had, indeed, blocked out the entire conversation.

"I know… I know this is a lot to take in, but our lives are already at stack…this is the only way.”

Saige watched as Nathaniel placed his hand on the box. Something stirred in her as he did so. He was willing to risk everything even though he didn’t have the full picture. It was really inspirational, selfless, and brave.

I really should be giving this more thought… Saige thought, knowing deep in her gut that what she was about to do was the right decision.

There wasn’t time to ask further questions. Saige knew that Erek could leave them any minute, but had a strange idea she wanted to test first before she touched the box.

“Screw it.” Saige said affirmatively as she pulled a flash drive out of her bag. “I’m a sucker for a good insirational speech.”

Saige turned to Erek. “Erek, I am so sorry for what I am about to do, but I have to try. If there is a chance we can talk to you after this, we have to try. We are going to have questions.” Within seconds, Saige had moved Erek’s head to the side, and plugged it into Erek’s neck with the hope that he would upload his consciousness into it so he could answer their questions later.

“I really hope we don’t regret this.” Saige sighed as she stood up placed her hand on top of Nathaniel’s hand, next to Hayden who had slipped in and taken up any available room on top of the box for Saige to place her hand on.

Saige felt her hand tingle, then felt that same sensation run through her body. It felt almost electric…powerful, really. It felt like Saige finally had a connection to something outside of her family.

There was no going back.

@phnx - Erek (mentioned)
@M0thpawz - Hayden (mentioned)
@Tellyg47 - Nathaniel
@Kristi - Carmen

Kristi · 22 July 2023 02:38

They were all crazy, and there was no denying it.

Carmen looked at them, arms crossed and rolling her eyes as they kept talking about choices, how he needs to be saved and how the world depends on them- do they think they are the avengers? Or is it Percy Jackson they think they are? The world’s resident heroes- they were not that, none of them were that, they were just reckless teens with no regards for their future. But she did not say anything. When nate started talking about how they need to decide as a group, Carmen raised a brow, “Who and you are a group? Because when you say group, I know you’re not counting me in this nor Hayden.” She standing standing in front of Hayden protectively, "You guys need to decide as a group, me? I am not doing anything with you guys. I’d rather go to college than fight monsters. I’m just a regular teenage girl, not the next Annabeth Chase. And honestly, you all seem well-protected, I mean you guys are so quick to trust and they have you already, Nate. I’m sure you will be their voice of reasoning, though there is not a whole lot of reasoning inthis. " she said bitterly, preparing to leave. She tried to hold onto Hayden, who seemed to be muttering something nonsensical, but he pulled away.

When Hayden was about to touch the cube, Carmen tried to stop him but it was already too late and now that everyone but her has touched the cube, they all turned to her, “Crazy- that’s what all of you are, teenagers with a deathwish,” Carmen thought idiot but she did not say that because she knew they would be offended. “I’m j-just going to leave,” Carmen said weakly moving closer to the door, but when she tried to open it was lock then something clicked it her mind- Nate, “Did you freaking lock the door? Open it,” Carmen said but Nate did not bulge.

“Fine I will do it myself,” She muttered,

Carmen pulled a hairpin from her hair, attempting to unlock the door. To her surprise, it actually worked, and she was now free to escape the bewildering situation. She opened the door and turned on the flashlight of her phone, illuminating the dark hallway.

“I hope your quest goes well,” Carmen said to the others, her voice tinged with uncertainty. As she began to leave, she hesitated, her eyes lingering on Hayden. Could she really leave him here alone with the rest of these reckless teenagers? She couldn’t bear the thought of failing Hayden; it would be like failing them all over again, and she knew he might be in real danger without her guidance.

Carmen paused, weighing her options. Erik was already suffering from whatever this cube had unleashed, and she couldn’t imagine the consequences if the others acted carelessly. “Damn it,” she muttered to herself, her resolve firming up.

She closed the door and walked right back into the room, staying close to Hayden and flinching and moving away as one of them tried to touch her. “Alright,” she muttered, “I’m staying, but only because I can’t let you guys get killed- especially you Hayden. I can’t believe I am saying this but i’ll help you guys figure it out, and be a part of your little group but do I really have to touch the cube?” When the others nodded Carmen sigh. She waited a little before touching the cube, hesitating as she looked at the rest, waiting for side effects to show up. When nothing happened, she pursued her lips and reached out to touch the cube. She did not really want to but she had to for Hayden and for the rest of them, with a sigh she touched the cube and flinched and pulled back she felt a sensation in her body. She did not feel pain but a sensation that made her feel really weird.

@M0thpawz - hayden (mentioned)

@Tellyg47 - Nath (mentioned)

@phnx - Erek (mentioned)

Ouijaloveletters · 22 July 2023 02:49

Too much was going on. Way too much. They couldn’t breathe. Jamie backed up, sliding past the people crowded around the object. Free of the crowd, they took a breath, sliding down the wall. Jaime then pinched themselves harshly, ending up drawing blood. They had opened their mouth to say something, but no sound came out. Great. They were having a panic attack. They closed their eyes, a loud ringing filling their ears. Yep. 100% panic attack. Oh well. That device was probably radioactive.
@Animorphs

phnx · 24 July 2023 15:20

GM Post

Nate put his hand on the device. Then Hayden. The twins. One by one, each character touched the box, the glow turning from a deep indigo to a blinding blue-white. Erek couldn’t feel what was happening, but he could sense it- a faint spark, almost like electricity, running through the device and up to each of them. They now held immense power- and a heavy burden.

Erek watched as the others took it all in. Jamie seemed to be taking it the hardest, stepping outside for a moment. “I’m going to self-destruct now,” Erek said plainly. “I can’t let anyone find me in this state- especially not Berenson & Co. Your school will claim it as some sort of attack. There will be police, but nobody will be hurt- I checked the security cameras, and nobody’s close enough, except for you. You have three minutes to make it to the entrance-”

Before Erek could finish, he felt Saige plunge something into his neck, below his hologram. “Ah, what the-” He gently guided Saige’s hand away, though he felt a bit woozy. “Like I said, three minutes to make it to the entrance.” The words slipped easily from him now, almost as if they weren’t his. “Be careful. Don’t get caught. And don’t stay over two hours in morph.”

And without further elaboration, he started the self-destruct sequence, and the countdown to the rest of their lives.

It was just as Erek said it would be. There was a small explosion in one of the Ancient Egypt side rooms, where, miraculously, nobody was around at the time. Police came, interviewed a few people. The news outlets came, interviewed more. You noticed, out of the corner of your eye, Jake Berenson. The gaggles of reporters attempted to get comment from him. He ignored them.

They checked security footage, and from what faint murmurs you could hear, the cameras had been on the fritz all day- from the moment you and your schoolmates had stepped inside the building.

Now it was around one in the afternoon. The school decided to cut the trip short, for several obvious reasons. So, there you were, the forsaken group, huddled around in the school parking lot, one question on your minds…

Where do we go from here?

@Animorphs

Mouschi · 24 July 2023 16:00

Note: This is her behavior and thoughts, she hasn’t said anything besides FML out loud.

In the school parking lot, the group huddled together. Everything was a messy blur to Halia, but to the rest, they were processing a scene as clear as daylight. She shifted her weight, uncomfortable and shaken up. Despite the nervous lip biting, fingernail chewing and pacing, one thing plagued her mind. “I think I should try it? I mean try morphing. Just so I know for sure, that I’m not crazy, that this is real”. The silence reamined unchanged in her mind as she was only focused on one thing - answers. Her awkward pacing and the hair draped around her face depicted the dilemma she faced with each step. “If you guys want to, I’ll be your guinea pig, I just have to know”. Halia kept mumbling interally, “For Erek, we have to try for Erek”. In reality, her words would barely make sense, she sounded like a madman. She sat on a car and threw her head up, looking at the sky, there was a quiet “FML”. Her voice faltered, like she was about to cry, she shook her head and swung her feet. Suddenly, she stopped, she sat motionless, “That guy, the Berenson & Co guy, he was there”. Her inner voice spoke with a newfound clarity, like a weight lifted from her shoulders. Perhaps she should have spoken her thoughts aloud, maybe she could have broken the ice, but she didn’t. Instead, her eyes followed the squirrels in the bushes, the birds in the trees and the rabbits in the grass. She sighed loudly and looked at Carmen. She had the leadership, she could break the ice.

@Kristi (Carmen) (Mentioned)
@/Animorphs

Kristi · 24 July 2023 21:23

Carmen was good at reading people, she had always been good at reading people and sometimes she wished she wasn’t. Especially when she could feel what other people thought of her- anger, love (well sometimes she could tell romantic love, other times not so well- in fact Carmen remembers this…) friendly or disgust. Most of the time, people’s opinions of her seemed to be neutral though, after all Carmen did not give them much to have an opinion of. She was always in the shadows. You would think the shadows were her home.

Forever, Carmen could tell how everyone was feeling right now, an emotion even she felt- confusion. Erek was dead- well destroyed and it was just them- the’ now evil robot slaying avengers’ in a parking lot together. They didn’t have any sense of direction or knew what to do-which was why Carmen had told them to be cautious and not freaking jump into just anything, or what to say. Just a long pregnant silence and Carmen normally adored silence, but right now, the silence was eating her alive and she had to break it.

“We are a team now.” Carmen said, her voice was soft- nothing like the time she was speaking angrily to them. She was calling whatever they were a team- a group, after not even up to two hours ago telling Nate she was not part of their ‘little group’ and they had to figure it out themselves.

Hilarious, really. She could not believe she allowed herself to get roped into this, yes she had asked for a little excitement for her senior year but when she said little she meant little

“We have to make discussions together, from a plan.” Carmen continued, her eyes scanning each of her group members and Hayden, “We can’t just wander around aimlessly, hoping for the best. There’s too much at stake now… So, I guess we should try morphing now. So we can get the hang of it, who wants to go first?” Carmen bent down, to tie her shoes- she didn’t have to tie them really, but she just did not want to look them in the eye, especially if they wanted her to go first. Carmen did not want to go first, she didn’t even want to go second third fifth or last, she wanted to go home and not have to worry about all this but she can’t- she couldn’t and that made her stomach tie in knots.

Still tying the shoe laces she had untied, Carmen looked up, she looked up to look at Hayden, “Hayden, under no circumstances you are going first so don’t even think of it, you are too reckless- we need someone more mature and trustworthy… Someone who we can trust to not go over the 2 hour limit Erek gave us, the opposite of you,” Carmen could not tell if her voice was harsh or not, but she hoped it was not. She meant it in the softest and nicest way ever- don’t do things that would lead to serious consequences, they could not afford consequences or had the time for that. They needed to figure out this morphing thing, defeat Benson& co and return back to normal- normal, she wondered if that was still possible.

Carmen considered the options for who represented what she said- mature, trustworthy. Delphi, Hayden, Josias were out of the equation- they were too young and Josias from what she can tell; was shy, and Delphi seemed to be exactly what some one age 14-15 would be like- easily distracted, not focused enough. It was down to “Nathaniel? Halia? Camlyn? Jamie?” When she said Jamie her tone was uneasy due to how she could feel Jamie distaste for her- it would be good for them to hide it as best as they could tho- they could not afford fighting between each other now, the had better more serious things to worry about, anger and hatred could lead to betrayal, Carmen did not want traitors.

Moreover, Scarlett also remained but there was a reason why Carmen did not want to consider Scarlett to be the first to morph- Scarlett seemed to reckless which is not someone she wants to morph first.

@Animorphs-

Ouijaloveletters · 24 July 2023 21:47

Welp. They ended up touching the cube after getting themself together. Quite a lot had happened, including the bizarre death of an alien. Later, they were standing in the parking lot with everyone, when Carmen spoke up, asking who would morph first. Jaime exhaled, knowing there couldn’t be any bad blood between them. At the sound of their name, they slowly nodded. “If everyone is ok with it, I can.” With difficulty, they made eye contact with each person in the group. “Carmen.” They sighed. “I definitely don’t hate you, ok? I was just too overstimulated back there, so I shut down. I don’t hate any of you, I’m just absolutely sh*t when it comes to communication.”
@Kristi - Carmen
@Animorphs

Bexs · 25 July 2023 00:05

Saige Armony

Saige listened as Erek said his last words, carefully watching his reaction after she plugged the flash drive. There was a slight change in the way he talked, but it wasn’t very noticeable.

“Thank you, Erek.” Saige softly smiled at him before running out of the exibit with the rest of her group members.

Huddled in the parking lot, the group of students looked at each other. After a long awkward silence, Carmen spoke up. “I’ve never been part of a team before…at least one that wants me.” Saige thought. “Though I guess this doesn’t really count…we kind of all were in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“It’s too dangerous to morph out here.” Nathaniel interrupted Carmen. “We can decide who morphs first once we are some place private. You heard what Erek said.”

“Yeah,” Saige backed Nathaniel up. “Also, hi, I’m here too.” She glanced at Carmen who had clearly forgotten she was there and existed, which was the norm for Saige but severely did not appreciate in this moment since everyone Carmen mentioned all were mature…except Saige which Saige felt implied she was not mature in any way. “Benson was here. We all saw him. Even if he wasn’t around, it still doesn’t mean we should try to morph, even if we knew how, out in public. Erek died protecting this technology, we shouldn’t immediately fail him and blow his secret the moment we get out of school.”

“I know a shed in the woods behind the school we can go to. It will give us some cover until we get something better since we are probably all itching to try this thing out.” Nathaniel continued.

Saige ignored the awkward conversation that started to occur between Jaime and Carmen and just looked at Nathaniel. “Lead the way.” She simply said, following Nathaniel when he started to move and hoping the others would follow them.

@Kristi - Carmen (Mentioned)
@Ouijaloveletters - Jamie (mentioned)
@phnx - Erek (mentioned)
@Tellyg47 - Nathaniel
@Animorphs

Tellyg47 · 25 July 2023 02:28

Nathaniel Darkthorne

Before time skip

After Erek’s self-destruct sequence began, Nate felt relief and apprehension beginning to wash over him. His mind understood the weight of the situation, but his body was narrowly settling in, and his adrenaline-fueled high wore off. He knew he had to act quickly, so he departed from the group and headed to the nearest bathroom, his movements shaky and confused.

The bathroom door creaked as Nate pushed it open, echoing in the empty exhibit. The fluorescent lights constantly flickered overhead, casting an eerie glow on the worn-out titles. The air was heavy with the scent of disinfectant, and for Nate, his senses were still operating at maximum level. His heart pounded in his chest like a drum, everything becoming too overwhelming for him to handle.

Once inside the bathroom, Nate’s hand trembled as he gripped the edges of the sink. The events of the day frightened him, and the confidence he felt from gaining powers had left him, leaving behind nothing but questions. Did I make the right choice? He was both terrified and shocked at his decisions.

Nate leaned over the sink, his lanky body reflecting in the mirror, but the face staring back at him was almost unrecognizable. Instead of the usual confident Nate, there was a face whose breaths came out in short, ragged gasps. A face that was wrecked with sweat and tears. The adrenaline that had coursed through his veins was now completely gone, leaving him weak and vulnerable. His mind raced with a whirlwind of emotions - fear, doubt, more doubt, and determination all mingled together like a chaotic dance.

The sound of water dripping from the faucet seemed amplified, each droplet echoing in Nate’s ears like a metronome, marking the passing seconds. He couldn’t help but stare at his ghostly and pale condition, his hair looking more like a mess than it did this morning…

He couldn’t hold it - a sudden wave of nausea and pain swept over Nate, and he doubled over the sink retching. The acidic taste of reality filled his mouth, and he closed his eyes tightly, wanting the sensation to be done with already. His body convulsed with each heave, and he clutched the sides of the sink, his knuckles turning completely white. The bathroom seemed to swirl like a vortex with emotions and sensations. Nate’s heart seemed to pound even harder in his ears, drowning out the sound of his vomiting. His breaths came in shallow gasps, and the floor beneath him seemed to disappear.

As he buckled his legs, the waves of nausea subsided, still kneeling on the floor, Nate wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He felt weak and drained, but a sense of clarity began to emerge from the fog. He didn’t know if this was the right choice, but he had to be stronger, and he had to do whatever he could to survive.

Taking a deep breath, Nate stood up, splashing cold water on his face, the refreshing sensation soothing his flushed cheeks. He looked at his reflection one last time, the boy in the mirror didn’t look afraid; instead, he stood even taller. The journey had just begun, and Nate needed to be at one hundred percent to face the challenges ahead.

“Nate… Are you okay?” He heard someone ask outside the bathroom, whoever it was Nate wasn’t sure. “Better than most,” Nate replied and truly meant it.

Nate noticed the collective looks of uneasiness between the group. Even after everything that just happened, Nathaniel was at a loss for words, so as the awkward silence carried on, Carmen spoke.

Ease proceeded to flow through Nate’s body. He felt relaxed listening to Carmen’s words, she was the last to touch the device but the first to speak when it mattered. So he paid attention to her instinctively, only cutting in with a suggestion.

“It’s too dangerous to morph out here.” Nathaniel interrupted Carmen. “We can decide who morphs first once we are someplace private. You heard what Erek said."
“I know a shed in the woods behind the school we can go to. It will give us some cover until we get something better since we are probably all itching to try this thing out.” Nathaniel continued, leading the group through some dense woods behind the school.

The tall trees loomed overhead, their branches intertwining like ancient sentinels guarding a long-forgotten secret. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor. It was as if nature itself was cloaking the path in secrecy, shielding them from prying eyes.

As they ventured deeper into the woods, the air grew cooler, and the sounds of civilization faded, replaced with the sounds of different animals. Nate’s heart raced with each step, a mix of fear and rejection filling his chest. It was risky, letting people in on his hideout, one that he did a lot of convincing to share with the janitor.

Finally, they arrived at the shed. It stood there, unassuming and weathered, nestled amidst the foliage. The wooden planks were aged but taken care of, the new paint clearly rushed, but the structure looked surprisingly sturdy. Nate turned the rusty doorknob, and the door creaked open with a protesting groan.

He stepped inside, and a bright light flickered to life, casting an eerie glow across the space. Nate had spent numerous hours cleaning and organizing the shed, turning it into his makeshift headquarters. The walls were adorned with maps, posters of notorious criminals, and information on major companies. The tables leaning on the wall had tons of weird items and objects, with a fish tank, and a resting spot for a cat. Old computers also lined a wooden table, their screens displaying a trove of more research Nate had compiled. A few files on companies, new articles, and suspicious incidents were all laid out, forming a web of interconnected information.

“There are tons of animals outside, a few fish in the tank, and the cat that comes and goes.” Nate took in the sights and stares from those around him. “So who wants to go first?”

@Animorphs - add whatever you want to the hideout this is just the base. There’s a few rooms in the shed and a bathroom (:

eunoia · 25 July 2023 14:26

Delphi’s heart sank as Erek’s words slipped from his lips in an almost effortless manner, as if they didn’t truly capture the depth of his emotions. Her eyes glazed over with tears as she silently watched him. She knew the imminent danger that lay ahead, and the thought of leaving him behind only intensified her sorrow. As the group began to depart, Delphi knelt down beside Erek, her emotions overwhelming her. She leaned in to give him a soft kiss on the cheek, struggling to find the words to convey her gratitude. She thanked him for his protection and for blessing her with the ability to morph, and for being a vital part of their journey. Only for Erek to hear, only for Ereks ears, even as the imminent shadows of sorrow loomed over their bittersweet farewell.

Her heart heavy with sorrow, Delphi couldn’t help but feel sad about the knowledge that Erek would soon pass away. Though he had come to terms with it, Delphi couldn’t shake the overwhelming sadness that crept over her. She left the room quickly, eager to escape the inevitable explosions and the impending reality that their time together was limited.

Delphi was left in awe, her eyes fixated on Carmen as she radiated a sense of unyielding leadership. Her anger had ebbed away, and the group now stood in the parking lot. Carmen’s once harsh demeanor had softened, leaving Delphi feeling a sense of reliability and comfort. She had become someone who Delphi could trust, someone she desperately wanted to follow.

Even as Carmen chose not to nominate Delphi, Josias, or Hayden to morph first, Delphi understood that it was a protective ploy to shield them from harm. The thought settled her nerves and she soon found herself leaning into her twin brother’s support.

Delphi’s knees still trembled from the injuries sustained, but the presence of Carmen and Josias gave her strength in the face of this new reality.

@phnx • Erek mentioned
@Kristi • Carmen mentioned
@M0thpawz • Hayden mentioned

M0thpawz · 26 July 2023 00:37

Before time skip:

Summary

So much had happened in a short while.

Through Erek’s little self eulogy, Hayden was uncharacteristically quiet, eyebrows furrowed as he tried to take a mental picture (as opposed to a physical one) of the scene around them all.

Jake Berenson. Mom called him a “distrust fund baby.” Hayden couldn’t speak enough of his mom’s hatred for the wildly successful company.

And finally the little debrief outside. Hayden raised his hands up and shrugged as Carmen argued that he, alongside some of the small group would be better off not being the Guinea pigs (no pun intended) for this little powers test of theirs. Fine, but he definitely called second dibs when it was certain this wasn’t some slippery slope into radiation poisoning or something.

Fast forward to the shed.

Hayden shifted around a bit uncomfortably, more used to indoor, air confirmed spaces than creepy sheds cut in the woods.

As if to accentuate his discomfort, a mosquito bit him on the arm.

“Ow!”

He hissed through his teeth, brushing the bug away. The mosquito crawled around slowly for a moment, almost…drowsily? Before it buzzed away.

Hayden brought his attention back to the others, mulling over the options Nate had presented. Even if he had already been ‘voted out,’ as it were, for first volunteer, he still regarded them with interest.

“Well I feel like being a fish wouldn’t be very helpful…maybe the cat? People love cats!”

Hayden had a bad experience though when a stray cat tried to eat his ferret, Bingo. Fun times.

His arm began to itch from the troublesome insect’s intrusion earlier.

Darn mosquitoes… he thought, squinting a bit as he imagined the thing flying around with his blood.

Then his eyes widened.

Quite literally.

(Minor body horror, in which Hayden thinks too hard about the mosquito):

Summary

His eyes began to expand, ballooning out of his head like the world’s worst infection.

There wasn’t any pain, but as his vision began to shift, Hayden let out a worried noise.

“Uh…guys?” He began, then sputtered as his mouth fused together and pushed outward, as if it was forced through a narrow tube.

He let out a muffled scream and scrambled backward, breathing heavily, yet as quickly as it began the horrific changes reverted and soon he was a regular kid once again. Except now he looked like he wanted to cry, throw up, or both.

Well, now it was evident this power of theirs worked.

@/Animorphs (technically mentioned?)

Bexs · 26 July 2023 02:38

Saige Armony

TW: Blood and injuries

The shed was tiny. Just big enough for everyone to fit in it and have a seat against the wall, but what was it. Saige noticed a few other doors in the shed, places only Nathaniel would know would lead to. She looked around at her fellow classmates. The question of who would morph first lingered in the air.

Then Saige’s eyes landed on Delphi. Her legs had been wrapped in white bandages. Somehow she had gotten injured in the commotion at the museum, probably in one of the blackouts. Based on the wrapping, it was clear the EMS that had visited the museum after the explosion had examined and bandaged Delphi up. Somehow Delphi had managed to convince both the EMS to not take her to the hospital and the school not to call her parents to pick her up and take her home. Maybe the school just thought Delphi’s twin would be able to get her home safely.

Either way, Delphi was here, in the shed, with them, and different parts of her wrappings seemed either torn or a bit red.

Behind Saige, she head yelling and panic. A quick glance behind her told her that somehow one of her fellow class mates had figured out how to morph. In the confusion, Saige went up to Nathaniel and asked for some medical supplies and a room for some privacy, nudging her head at Delphi and her legs. Luckily, Nathaniel didn’t argue with her and handed her a first aid kit. He pointed to one of the doors with a look that said “Just go.”

Saige went up to Delphi and held up the med kit by the handle. “Want some help?” She quietly offered Delphi, giving the kit a little shake. She wanted to sneak Delphi out in the confusion to give her some privacy.

@Tellyg47 - Nathaniel (mentioned)
@M0thpawz - Hayden (mentioned)
@eunoia - Delphi

Kristi · 26 July 2023 03:13

before the morphing thingy

“I didn’t mean we morph right in the open, nate.” Carmen told the tall boy. Just wanted to have get an idea on who would morph first so me and Hayden wouldn’t. Also of course so no trouble will come out of it- Carmen absolutely did not want someone like Jo, Delphi or Scarlett being the first to morph, she had no trust in them yet, they didn’t seem to realize the serious trouble they were in, but Carmen had been in danger before and Carmen could grasps how dangerous this truly was. Hopefully nearly loosing her life when she first faced real danger did not mean that she will actually lose her life facing real danger for the second time.
When the short platinum hair girl Carmen knew as Saige from their shared chemistry class, Carmen blinked. Right, Saige was here too, and she would also be a really good choice to morph first. Not reckless, logical smart and a little bit like her to be honest- if Carmen had a clone wh was the opposite of her in looks but quite similar in personality it would be Saige. Carmen looked away, embarrassed at forgetting Saige, then again, Saige was not her friend- none of them were, she was just same girl in her class who was now in a group (no-Carmen should stop thinking that at least until this whole situation she has gotten herself roped to ends) “Do you really want to morph first?” Carmen asked Saige with her eyebrow raise, finally giving the girl a response.

She followed Nate as he lead them somewhere less open, happy to not being the one to take the lead. Though, Carmen had a really sick feeling that this would not last, that she might have to be the one to take the lead a huge amount of times. Hopefully that does not happen because Carmen Drew Liu was not a leader and there was no leader in this group, maybe Nate could be if he wanted but Carmen was definitely not it. She couldn’t even lead her own mind to keep some very and really dark pessimistic thoughts away, she had absolutely no leadership skills, Carmen was just some girl.

Carmen was lost in her thoughts when she noticed Hayden looking at a mosquito for too long, “Hayden, leave the mosquito alone. We still have no idea how this morphing thing works , who knows it will activate the morphing thingy.” It looked as if it was too late because Hayden turned into a mosquito. Carmen watched in disbelief as Hayden transformed into a mosquito. Panic surged within her, and she felt her heart race. This was exactly what she had feared, someone especially Hayden morphing without understanding the process fully. She looked at the tiny mosquito that was once the runt and let out a sigh. “Well, I guess that answers the question,” she muttered. Carmen watched the now mosquito boy in fascination, fear and distress. “Come on, Hayden, focus! You need to change back!” she urged, her eyes darting between Nate and the mosquito. She looked at Nate for help, in encouraging Hayden to change back.

After what felt like an eternity, Hayden’s form wavered, and he returned to his human self, looking disoriented. Carmen let out a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness,” she said, trying to steady her racing heart. She walked up to Hayden, squatting to reach his level, “Hayden, are you ok? How did it feel?” She asked, visible concern on her face. She had no idea how to comfort people and she wondered if she should pat his head, or give him a hug- a pat of the head most likely. “It’s okay, your back now just take deep breathe. We are here with you- the human and ok.” Were they ok really? Meh.

@Tellyg47 - Nate mentioned
@Bexs - Saige mentioned
@eunoia - Delphi and Jo mentioned if you squint
@M0thpawz - Hayden mentioned

idiot.exe · 26 July 2023 18:06

Before coming to the shed

It all happened so fast. One moment, they were gathered around Erek, determined to accept the powers and help his goal. But the next thing they knew, they were running from the building to avoid the explosion.

Scarlett was conflicted on how to feel about Erek’s death. That was the first time they’d spoken. Previously, she’d see him around the hallway or school yard, not paying any attention to him. Who would’ve thought that he’s an alien robot hunted by billionaires? Scarlett still didn’t fully trust him, deciding to accept the responsibility on a whim. She was now stuck with an unavoidable mission to save humanity, with a group of random students.

And yet, as she rushed outside in a hurry, racing against time, she felt more alive than ever.

She had to accept that this was her life now. The life of excitement she had wished for was finally hers, even if it came unexpectedly. As they gathered in the parking lot, Scarlett couldn’t help but wonder what her aunt and uncle were going to think. They weren’t aware she was on a school trip, so they wouldn’t have anything to worry about. They would’ve most likely seen the event on the news, but because Scarlett rarely talked about her life with them, she didn’t expect any annoying phone calls from their end. It made her feel a bit bitter, knowing nobody would worry for her, even after what she went through. But Scarlett accepted long ago that she only had herself to rely on.

“We are a team now.” - Carmen spoke, breaking the silence.

Carmen was an interesting person. Scarlett had seen her before as one of her fellow athletes, but she never expected someone like her to take the lead in the group. Scarlett wasn’t prepared to follow someone else’s orders. She wasn’t used to working in a team, but she had no other choice. It wasn’t like she could run away and work on her own, considering she barely knew anything about her new powers. Not only that, but she didn’t know if they even worked. It felt unreal, to receive some foreign abilities that went against the laws of nature, as far as she knew. They could’ve even killed her. But that was the exciting part, as bizarre as it sounded.

Scarlett was a bit offended that Carmen skipped her when she started listing potential morph candidates. She wanted to go on a rant and explain how she would be the most fit to try morphing.

But her thoughts were interrupted by Nate, saying “It’s too dangerous to morph out here.”

The group followed him, as he lead them to the shed. Yet, Scarlett was hesitant. She didn’t want to listen to him, especially not after their first encounter. He always acted smart and rational, and it got on Scarlett’s nerves. When the last person of the group left the parking lot, she realized she had no choice but to follow too. She wasn’t about to be left behind, no matter how stubborn she was.

Not long after they arrived, someone already managed to have their head turn into a mosquito’s. Scarlett couldn’t recognize who it was, as she spent most of the school trip away from the rest. Watching his face distort and morph into something else was disturbing, yet a morbid curiosity lingered in Scarlett’s mind. After what she saw in the conference room, nothing could surprise her anymore. But at least it proved that the powers they received were real. They didn’t know the dangers yet, only that they can’t stay in their animal form for more than two hours. But they had to find out. Only, Scarlett now had to decide whether she wanted to wait for side effects to show on the guy’s body, or if she wanted to try too.

Well, it didn’t take long for her to decide.

After a short time, he morphed back and Scarlett realized it was the boy with the camera. He looked disoriented and sick, but she couldn’t tell if it was due to the shock or the powers. Maybe, she could handle it better than him?

Finally, Scarlett had enough space to speak up… And be very arrogant while she’s at it.

“Let me go next.” she addressed everyone. “I don’t think camera boy here could handle it as well as I could. You see the look on his face too, don’t you?” she claimed, pointing her hand towards Hayden. “I’ve dealt with way worse and my body is well trained, it’s unlikely that whatever side effects there are, would affect me badly. I’m stronger and more agile than the rest of you… So tell me,” she paused, approaching Hayden. “How did you do that?”

Beside her was Carmen, visibly concerned about the boy. Scarlett realized in retrospect, that that was probably the reaction she should’ve had first, instead of jumping straight to boasting about her skills.

@M0thpawz || HAYDEN (poor dude I’m sorry)
CARMEN || MENTIONED
EREK || MENTIONED
NATHANIEL || MENTIONED

@ ANIMORPHS

""

I didn’t wanna write just an empty reaction post after they leave the museum, so I skipped it and wrote this thing instead