expiationlogs | [CLOSED] got a colony of ants underneath my skin

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[CLOSED] got a colony of ants underneath my skin

Who: Morph and Douman, Marco, Scott, Kotone
Where: Around Aldrip
What: Closed event starters for gnosia!Morph being a menace.
Warnings: Violence, potential body horror. Further warnings will be marked.

(Stated days optional, if any of these need to be rearranged let me know! If you'd like to encounter Morph during the event please contact me at

evilbo or on Discord.)

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[Good. His opponent seems disturbed. That is exactly what Douman wants: to perplex and unsettle his opponents during a fight to the point where they can't tell what he can and cannot do and make mistakes because of it. Getting overestimated is just as useful as the opposite. There is no need for anybody to know that he is actually using three techniques in unusual ways to create the illusion of a single overwhelming one.]

Tsk, tsk. Trying to catch a Nurarihyon... How very unwise of you.

[He doesn't try to evade the grasp. Moving around carelessly on a rooftop is dangerous even if nobody is coming after you, and his boots weren't made for that kind of acrobatics either. Besides, that'd be giving ground. Running from the one who has been messing with him. Undignified. The word is whispered in his mind in the amused lilt of a rival long dead. It's making the scar over his right eye ache and burn.

The moment colossus' plated iron grip closes around it, his ankle - and a good part of the leg it's attached to - simply fragments and disappears, dissipating like a bank of fog while only leaving the unsatisfying feeling of almost having grasped something behind.

Douman uses the chance to aim a kick at Colossus's face with his remaining foot before he lets his form dissolve fully and reappears at the other side of the roof like a ghost flowing apart and then back together again. The feeling of his presence disappears again, even though the killing intent can still be clearly felt.]

You are no Japanese, are you? Everyone knows that trying to attack me is doomed to be futile. I, on the other hand, can do a whole lot of things to you.

[Just not try to kick him again. That must've hurt Douman a lot more than Morph just now!]

[CLANG! goes Morph's metal head as Douman's foot hits him squarely, but with their metal skin a simple kick barely registers. No, they're far more bothered by the fact that the guy disappeared so easily - it had to be a form of teleportation, but dealing with it was going to be a real pain. They couldn't hope for backup of any kind, not while whoever might come running at the sound of a fight was a potential enemy, too.

They pull themself up on the edge of the roof, very carefully, aware of how more shingles are fracturing under their weight.]

Sorry, despite accent right now, I am dumb American. But you are no mutant, I am guessing. So - you say I cannot attack you, eh? Let us see how far that goes!

[With that, Morph briefly shifts back to their natural form as they dash across the roof at Douman - but instead of launching a direct attack, they just as quickly shift back into Colossus in front of him and slam their fist down against the roof. It's too delicate to support their increased weight and being smashed, so predictably, Morph falls right through it, swinging their fists at the lumber holding it up in an effort to take Douman down with them.]

Is that so? [His voice sounds way too casual as he shifts into his chanting stance again.] That's a pity. ℜ𝔦𝔫! 𝔓𝔶𝔬𝔲! 𝔗𝔬𝔲! 𝔖𝔥𝔞! 𝔎𝔞𝔦! 𝔍𝔦-

[This time he doesn't bother to interrupt his chanting as he dodges again. With his youkai trait already set up as the big power that he's using, Douman has no problems switching from relying on it to using Divine Step instead, a technique that lets him pass through walls and appear anywhere at will. Most would consider a magic that is limited to only those who have close ties to at least one god a step up rather than down from using his innate youkai powers, but he knows his limits. It's far easier and more comfortable for him to simply sink into the ground as he makes a show of dissolving his form into black mist again, only to resurface from the other end of the floor on the level below Morph before the other has even gotten to finish his attack.]

-𝔫! ℜ𝔢𝔱𝔰𝔲! ℨ𝔞𝔦! ....ℨ𝔢𝔫!!

[He doesn't hold back with the lightning-aligned attack that he's slinging at Morph. If the other wants to hide within a metal-armor, then Douman will show him what it's like to be a living lightning rod!]

Allow me to teach you to fear me the hard way. 𝔎𝔶𝔲 𝔎𝔶𝔲 𝔑𝔶𝔬-

[His voice is a happy sadistic little purr as he lets his grid take over all of the floor beneath them, leaving nowhere to run. If his enemy insists on flitting around, then Douman will simply catch and bind him with some chains.]

[Not fast enough. She could try boosting their agility one rank further to its max, but it still probably wouldn't be enough to match the blur that's Morph. Her heart rises into her throat as Morph sweeps Scott's legs out from under him, and she brings her Evoker up in preparation to cast another Tetrakarn to block a physical attack.

But- no. Wait. That's not a normal attack. Her eyes widen as Morph shifts and changes into an amalgamation straight out of a horror film. The shapeshifter would fit right in with some of the horrors of Tartarus and then some; it's almost like a reminder of home, but in the worst possible way. Adrenaline spikes in her veins as time seems to slow, Morph's clawed hands reaching for her boyfriend. Her left hand flies to her heart and clutches it tightly, her eyes flashing with a defiance fit to defy death itself.]

No.

[It's not a scream or a plea, but a simple declaration of fact. Death will not claim any of them this day. A white, semi-translucent figure, beautiful like a Greek statue, appears between Scott and his attacker. A Messiah with flowing hair and a tear-streaked face opens her arms wide to absorb the attack, accepting it almost like an embrace -- but halting the Gnosia-powered mutant as surely as if she were made of stone.]

[Well, that didn't work. It's the one thought that flashes through their head in the instant that their enemy disappears, leaving Morph to fall through the hole in the roof on their own. That shouldn't have been a problem while they were using an armored form, but they weren't anticipating the lighting that hits them on the way down.

Morph slams into the floor hard, in a shower of sparks and debris, the impact leaving a little crater that doesn't quite allow them to fall through entirely. There was no missing the grid this time, the lightning strike seizing up their muscles before they could react, along with a good dose of pain. They can feel the grid draining their strength somehow, and frantically slam a metal fist against the floor, once, twice - but they're losing cohesion quickly, forcing them to shift back into their natural state.]

What are you...?!

[Morph doesn't look very good. Their skin is starting to drip like melted wax, but they're at least able to keep their humanoid shape for now. They might not have any actual spiritual power to speak of, but it's still doing a number on their life force, making them feel awfully weak.]

[ There's more than one set of wings in the sky tonight as Marco's circling the town as well, this time with the sharp glare of an osprey as he keeps his eyes out for any signs of suspicious behavior.

He knew the supposed lack of Yeerks here was too good to be true. Gnosia, slugs, what difference did it make when the end result was all the same? And yeah, maybe he has some sort of 'cure' now that they sure as hell could have used back home, but it's not like he wants the responsibility especially when he can't even tell who's been infected - as far as he's concerned, it'd be better if he'd gotten no role at all so he'd have an excuse to stay hidden and let everyone else sort this mess out. Instead, he's forced to listen to that annoying voice in his head nagging that he should be doing more and helping out with this power he never asked for.

Ugh. Morals. Cassie's been too much of a terrible influence on him.

The osprey's eyesight begins declining as the sun sets and dusk settles in, and he's nearing the two-hour limit anyway, so he lands on a park bench in order to start demorphing. Before he does though, he spots a familiar pale form nearby and hesitates. He knows it's stupid to trust anyone in this situation, but he can't help feeling a pang of empathy...morphers gotta show solidarity, right? ]

< You and me both. How are you holding up? >

[Morph is visibly surprised to hear the telepathy, and looks around for a moment before their gaze lands on the osprey. Okay yeah, that's a really unusual animal to see in the middle of a city. They were still used to looking for a person first, but this meant it could only be...]

Hey, it's the TV-watching owl! Felt like wearing something different today?

[They stroll on over to the park bench, their demeanor as casual as could be, but they're eying the osprey a little too closely. Morph knows it's a person in disguise, but even if it wasn't, they're also immediately aware that their animal buddy isn't infected. And that could be a real problem.

Were they being hunted, or were they the one doing the hunting? The difference was awfully slim. It didn't matter - just like at home, Morph had suddenly become an endangered species, and despite their on-and-off years in the X-Men this is the most pursued they've ever felt. Blending in had become a necessity for survival, instead of the usual every day, slowly soul-crushing experience. And that meant having to be nice.]

I'm still alive, so y'know, it could be a lot worse. Are you doing alright?

[As Scott lands harshly on the ground, air temporarily leaving his body, he figures that he's going to die. It's a strange feeling, something completely foreign to him, but as his heart beats rapidly with the now changed Morph pinning him to the ground, it doesn't feel too scary either? Maybe because of all the talks he and Kotone have had in the past, maybe because he really doesn't have a chance to react to those claws plunging towards him, but he doesn't find himself too scared.

It's too possible that he's just overwhelmed with adrenaline pumping through his veins.

But instead of those claws piercing through his vulnerable flesh, the familiar form of Messiah blocks the attack-- no more than that, she's absorbing the damage and what the hell is he doing?? He has to fight like hell, fight like he wants to live so that he can continue to be with Kotone. To be with his friends. He doesn't want her to watch him die, because he doesn't want her to do the same thing.

So, even as Messiah continues to protect him, Scott yanks off his glasses to blast Morph with his powers. Yeah, hard to hold back when the older mutant looks like something straight out of the Alien movie. Hah, Xenomorph-- Summers take this seriously.]

[The flesh that Morph was expecting to rend simply isn't there. Their claws instead hit something solid, but ghostly, a figure in a pose like it's willingly taking the pain that Morph's trying to dish out. Their eyes widen in the few seconds that it takes to realize what's going on, right before Scott's optic blast nails them in the chest.

The force of it sends them flying across the street. They slam into the wooden boards covering a second story window, then fall to the pavement, hitting it with a sound that's more of a splat then a thud. Try as they might, Morph can't hold onto the gnosia form any longer - they're looking distinctly melted now as they struggle to push themself up on the extra arms that are slowly retreating into their body, their form shrinking back down, the faux outfit and scary features shifting away slowly but steadily. The power was gone, leaving Morph over-exerted and hurting from the damage of the fight.]

I can't... not like this...! [Despite the state they're in, Morph is trying to stand again, the urge to kill overwhelming their instinct to survive - though they're having trouble just getting up onto their knees.]

Didn't I already tell you? Nurarihyon.

[Douman is pleased with the damage his attacks have done. There is not really a good way to deal with shapeshifters. They're one of those annoying kinds that need to be constantly covered in attacks until they get exhausted or manage to escape, or they will just keep on bouncing around you over and over again. He is glad that this one seems to have low endurance. But he is still going to stay careful as he moves closer and shifts his mask partially to the side to get a better look at Morph.]

Call me the leader of the youkai, if you wish.

[He murmurs a spell that makes the grid change into a set of glowing chains that wrap around Morph tightly. Their energy drain is adjusted to exhaust them to the point where continued fighting is not an option, but not to the extent where they might faint or die -- that'd get in the way of questioning.]

You are more of a disappointment than I expected, though. Could it be that you are merely a shikigami for whoever is responsible for this?

[No matter how many times she's seen how strong Scott's optic beams are -- she even felt them once, indirectly -- it's still impressive! The corner of her lip quirks up into a proud little smile before a familiar wave of weariness slams into her in the wake of her guardian angel power. It's not quite drained her stamina, but it's the only way she knows how to describe it on the heels of the big attacks she was using. Odin's Thunder Reign is a big move all on its own, coupled with the others!

But there's no time to rest. Morph's still suffering from the Gnosia infection. She allows herself the time to take a breath, then forces herself forward, running toward Scott with the intent to help him up in spite of her own exhaustion.]

C'mon, let's heal them. [Scott can get the infection, and Kotone herself can use the last of her stamina to heal any physical wounds.]

[Now it's chains?! Morph squirms, but they soon discover that there's absolutely no give afforded to them, leaving them bound uncomfortably on the cratered floor. They could change that by shifting, probably, but doing it without a plan was what landed them here in the first place. If the guy was going to keep talking, then Morph could use the time to think.]

W-Wait, you're - a Japanese demon? Is that why you're hauling out the kinky stuff?

[They really can't claim to know anything at all about yokai. They're pretty sure that Logan told them a fable about yokai once, but it was at a bar and Morph had been pretty drunk at the time. Something involving pearls? Yeah, they're super out of their depth with this one.]

Look, I'm not whatever that is! I'm a mutant! And I'm not working for anyone, either!

[He's already getting up to his feet by the time Kotone runs over to him, but he's nonetheless thankful for her assistance and he finally steadies himself on his feet with a shaky little sigh. Okay, maybe he's more affected than he thought, his heart now pumping furiously in his chest now that death has turned away from him. But as much as he wants to get his bearings, Scott knows that he can't and he looks at the struggling form of his future teammate.

There's some relief seeing them like this. Like, his blasts didn't kill them-- struggling is better than Morph remaining entirely still. It's important to him. He didn't kill someone-- a mutant like him. A X-Man. Someone that's been nice to him, despite the craziness of their timelines and everything. Sure, they tried to kill him just now, but... that's just the infection. Right??

...Okay, heal, Summers. No thinking about what Morph said.

Readying himself, Scott places a hand against his chest for a moment, concentrating that energy, that healing power that was gifted to him when all this craziness started happening. Funny that he actually has full control of this ability, something that isn't his mutant power, but as he pulls his hand away, a blue beam shoots out from his chest towards Morph. Hopefully the healing properties of that shot will hit its mark and cure the other of their infection.

He wonders if it's irony that this power is something that comes from his chest, the same way that Alex uses his.]

[Morph is halfway to kneeling by the time the other two gather themselves, and Kotone's comment about healing doesn't go unnoticed - in fact, distinct fear flits over their features, perhaps dampening the effect of their otherwise defiant anger.]

You - think about what you're doing! Do you really want to kill a new species?!

[That's all they manage to get out before they're squarely hit by the healing beam, their body briefly jolting. The energy that washes through them is uncomfortably hot, burning away the infection unimpeded. Morph goes shock-still for a moment, then their blank eyes roll back and they slump sideways onto the pavement, like their strings have been cut.

Having now completely reverted, Morph has ended up half-melted but still in a mostly humanoid form. They're totally unconscious, even if the whole ordeal has left them breathing heavily even while they're otherwise unresponsive.]

[Morph's seen it before, the way Kotone seems to just accept most things and roll with it. Maybe it's no surprise that she can look toward them and just shrug in response to their plea about "killing a new species."]

Sure.

[If it means her friends will be safe, if it means Scott will be safe, she'll do it. She'll die for her friends. She'll kill this Gnosia infection for her friends, or at least, support the people who can. The second Morph slumps, Kotone exhales a breath and brings her Evoker back to her temple to cycle through her Personas.]

Salvation, [she murmurs as she pulls the trigger, the sound of shattered glass from the Evoker echoing in place of a shot as she summons a different Messiah, this one less translucent and decidedly more masculine than the guardian angel that had protected Scott. Her Persona extends one hand toward Morph's motionless form, a green energy suffusing their body, her own, and Scott's -- and, theoretically, curing their injuries. During the Dark Hour, Salvation would have completely cured every status ailment and injury her whole team had sustained after a fight; here in Aldrip, healing magic doesn't tend to be as consistent, meaning it may heal everything, or it may only heal a small amount.]

Mission accomplished! [As Messiah fades away, his job done, Kotone holsters her Evoker and gives her boyfriend a tired smile, tilting her head toward Morph and taking a few steps their direction.] Where should we take them?

[Hey, you need to keep up with the times and always have a new trick up your sleeve when you're dealing with students. Using the five elements to attack as well as bind are still entry level for Onmyoji like Douman and Seimei.]

Kinky? I haven't even used the flesh-eating tentacles yet.

[His tone is perfectly level, not betraying whether it's a joke or a threat. Douman doesn't see any need to correct the assumption of him being a "Japanese demon" either. Youkai and Ayakashi might lack the clear distinction of good and evil that some Western cultures seem to be so fond of, but it's close enough in context.

At least in that nobody would ever consider him a good spirit.]

I'm not really in the mood to talk retro-comics and evolution theory, so let's just cut to the chase. I'm looking for the one who is upholding this realm. The pillar.

I don't have anything against you personally, but a lot of my precious time has been wasted already and it's a little annoying. So I am just going to beat you until I get the answers I want.

[Scott turns slightly to look at Kotone with a raised eyebrow. Wow, a little cold, babe, but it's hard to be mad at her when Morph will most likely be okay. He steps closer to the fallen mutant with undisguised concern because they're half goop and everything, but the subtle rising and falling of their chest relieves a lot of his worry. They're gone of their infection, they'll be okay, although it's probably best not to leave them alone like this for long.

Scott doesn't even have to ask his girlfriend before she's summoning one of her Personas, the replenishing heal making him close his eyes for a moment before smiling at her with gratitude. One day, he'll tease Kotone about her having an ability called Salvation and a Persona called Messiah because it's a little on the nose. He wonders if anyone else has ever commented about it before. Although, Jesus never said 'perish,' right--

Anyway, she may be a little ruthless, but she will go out of her way to make sure people are safe too.]

I can call Rogue to bring them back. I know she's not infected. [And Morph and Rogue are teammates, the two X-Men from the same timeline. He knows that she's been worried about the shapeshifter, so this will probably be for the best.] If she doesn't answer, guess we can take Morph back with us. I'm just not leaving them here.

[Even if Scott's exhausted. He wants nothing more than to just slink to bed and take a nap for a couple of hours. Or 8. However, he can't rest until he makes sure that Morph will be taken care of in some way.]

The what?!

[Ohhh boy. That didn't sound good - none of it sounded good - but Morph also didn't quite understand what the yokai wanted. Morph could guess that this was a 'take to me to your leader' situation, but in that case they couldn't tell him what he wanted to know regardless of if torture was going to happen or not. If they had any idea what was going on, they wouldn't be stuck here in the first place.]

Comics and pillars? Are you nuts? Look, I obviously can't give you what you want, and this just isn't my thing. It's not me this time, it's definitely you.

[And with that, Morph rapidly starts to shrink.

It's the tiniest form they've ever tried to take, as anything smaller than the cat was something that they normally shied away from doing - but if anything qualified as an emergency, this was it. They push themselves to do it, fighting against the fatigue, until they become a little white mouse that could fit in the palm of someone's hand.

Immediately they burst forward with panicked squeaks, attempting to slip past the chains. Their target is a crack in the floor, the crater they left behind earlier having ripped up parts of the carpet to expose jagged edges of plywood and the darkness beyond it.]

[Listen, it's not that she wants to hurt Morph, but she does want to get rid of the infection at any cost. She's tired of her and her friends being distrustful and afraid, so whoever or whatever this "Gnosia" garbage is, she'll get rid of it, no matter what.

Also wow did Jesus have a gun?? Don't call out her symbolism like that-

Rogue, huh? There's a crease to Kotone's brow at the reminder that Rogue had been all "mutants over humans" or whatever, but, well, Morph is a mutant. Probably better for Rogue to take over, huh? So she agrees with an,] Okay! [and in the meantime, leans up to press a quick kiss to Scott's cheek before making her way toward Morph, dropping down to sit beside them. If they're cured, there's no guarantee another Gnosia won't target them, right? So better to make sure they're taken care of.]

I kinda wanna take a nap. [Besides, carrying Morph seems like an awful lot of work. Rogue can do it! Resting her chin in her hands, Kotone adds,] Morph's power is pretty incredible, huh? You did really good fighting them, though!

[Good job, boyfriend!]

[Oh, that reaction is even better than he had been anticipated. It would be easy to blame the happy little hop his heart is giving at Morph's yelp on his infection, but the truth is that Douman is simply a sadist through and through. He has this part of him under very good control, but he'd be lying if he claimed that coming up with entertaining ways to "punish" those who annoy him too much weren't one if his favorite games. (Un)fortunately some of his latest hirees tend to provide plenty of chances to live it out, too.

So it's not actually any real greed that has him smirk and play up the 'horror' element of their encounter even more. It's just like with a cat and a string. Morph is currently dangling the string, so of course Douman's got to bat ~~hit it.]~~

What? I thought you wanted kinks- Hey!

[He is alarmed when he sees his quarry shrink, already worrying that the other might turn into a bee or some other agile and hard to catch insect. But no, it's a mouse. The unintentional play on his mental analogy from just now has Douman almost laugh. It's with an instinctive fondness that he lets the chains fall rather than tightening them into a cocoon.

This little sly fellow... !

If he really isn't involved with the upkeep of this trap realm or whatever it is Douman will have to congratule them. That's a lot of spirit energy they had him waste on them so far, and seeing their will to continue fighting is pleasing. Not many youngsters still have that kind of spunk nowadays.]

You know, you remind me of somebody from back home. Only of my loyal and oldest followers. He scurried away from me like that too when I showed him the difference between our powers.

[Tesso aka. Mouse-sensei is one of the most reliable ones out of his bunch, even.]

Ice.

[There is no chance that Douman can just catch Morph like this and he knows it. He only has human-like agility and stamina. But he can manipulate the water and heat in the area to seal up all the cracks in the room they are in, so he is aiming to do just that.]

Keep amusing me, and I'll make this easy for you. You just have to give in and submit yourself to me.

[Scott's already typing a quick message over to Rogue when she plops herself next to Morph, hitting the 'send' button before making his way over to them as well. He'll wait a few minutes for Rogue to respond before resorting to Plan B and taking the fallen mutant back home. He's with Kotone on this one, he'd rather avoid trying to carry and lift Morph around unless they really have to. Rogue's the one with super strength and aerial flight, not him!!

With a slightly exhausted noise, Scott plops himself next to Kotone, just barely resisting the urge to poke at Morph from where he's sitting. As long as he can continue to watch their chest fall up and down, then he won't bother them more than needed. Getting blasted by his powers-- getting hit by Kotone's Persona, would take a lot out of anyone.]

Just a small nap. [Even though he can feel his eyes droop behind his shades now that the adrenaline from the battle has faded. Maybe not the best time to rest, since they're still out in the open, but he can't fully stop himself. Still, Scott smiles at her compliment, the teen lightly bumping their shoulders together as he slides one hand into hers.]

You saved my ass like three times during that fight.

[Oh sure, they hear that bit about loyal followers and everything, but Morph is too determined to get the hell out of there to slow down. Their only real warning about what's about to happen is the sudden drop in temperature - and then there's ice forming right over the crack that was their one chance at escape. Morph runs into the ice head-first, with a wet thunk as they half-splatter against the obstacle, the tiny mouse-body quickly reforming from off-white goo before they scramble back in the opposite direction.

This was bad. Morph was running out of ideas; it seemed like the creepy masked-guy had enough different powers at his disposal to counter everything Morph could pull off. Even if they shifted to another muscular form and tried busting the wall down, the yokai could just use the lasers and chains again. All they were really accomplishing was to wear themself out faster with every attempt.

Morph scampers up onto a mostly-intact part of the floor before shifting again, growing back to their natural humanoid form. They're still looking a little melty, and now they're out of breath too, eying the yokai suspiciously. They're trying to stay defiant but there's some definite fear mixed in, thanks to their growing realization of just how outclassed they were.]

What, are you practicing your villain speeches, too? I don't know anything, and I'm not going to sit here and let you beat me! We shouldn't be doing this - there's a lot of other people out there that'll be coming for us.

[In Morph's mind, becoming gnosia mixed in all too well with being a mutant, being hunted. The world had always been out to get them, and now it had only gotten worse.]

[Don't poke!!

Kotone huffs a little through her nose and bumps him back. Now that the adrenaline is wearing off, it feels like when she'd talk to her teammates in Tartarus. Of course, her only teammate here is Scott, but she thinks he's a good one to have even without a Persona! Still, they are out in the open, so even as she takes his hand, she only lets herself rest shoulder-to-shoulder with him for a moment before shifting her grip and turning to press her back to his instead. This way, at least they can be aware if a normal attack comes. She can't use her guardian angel defense again, so if another Gnosia comes after them... there's no guarantee they'll make it out, but at least they can fight like hell.]

I usually focused more on damage than support, but somebody's gotta protect your butt!

[Luckily for Morph that they're unconscious, because Kotone definitely does poke Scott in the butt with her free hand. You know, to prove her point.]

We gotta figure out better timing, though. Tetrakarn would probably block your optic blasts, so...

[Well, they can talk strategy whenever. Hopefully Rogue can swing by to pick up her teammate, and then these two can get some well-deserved rest.]

[Oh, that looks like it hurt. Douman flinches in empathy even though a huge smirk is spreading over his face at the same time. If it weren't so undignified, he'd be taking a page out of his charges' books and film the whole thing. Not for social media, of course, just for personal use.

But he is also a little concerned with how melty the other is looking. Is it a sign of bad health? Or are they preparing another trick? The gnosia part of him is leaning towards the first. If they're the same, then shouldn't he be lending a helping hand rather than keep twisting the thumbscrew? But his paranoia disagrees, saying that he can win first and always apologize later.

His boots make dull sounds of somebody who is very real as he calmly crosses the distance between them to loom over his target (and with his 6'1" even without his heels on, he's got plenty to loom.) He knows that Morph's still capable of fighting if they want to. But if his instincts are right, then being able to fight and having any fight left in them are two different things.]

Villain speeches? I don't waste my breath on that. [First kill, and then make a show for the ones left, maybe. But no such nonsense as leaving an opening.] Like I said, I want to be sure. Hold still, and it'll be brief. Struggle...

[He waves the rest of the threat away like the tired phrase it is. Crouching down to be on eye level, Douman offers Morph his hand with his palm up.]

They can come, but I'll be the one doing the hunting. Don't you want to be on my side, if you're as innocent as you claim?

[Morph watches him approach like they're expecting another nasty surprise, which is probably the safest bet here. Cowed as they are, their gnosia side is unhappy that another has proven to be the better predator, and Morph still feels a distinct urge to strike out, fight back until they had nothing left. But Morph is also not stupid, and the idea that they might survive long enough to kill the people who need it is keeping them from pulling any other desperate moves.

There's no way they can trust Mr. Masked-and-creepy, but what choice did they have? Morph knows there's a good chance they'll end up regretting this later, but...

They reach up tentatively, hesitant to take the offered hand, but they do take it.]

Fine. I submit. Is what what you wanted to hear?

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[CLOSED] got a colony of ants underneath my skin

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idk scott, seems like normal reactions to things to her??

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time out corner both of you

okay fine X(

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