the day we finally get free

dialogue prompts from animorphs #2: the visitor by k.a. applegate.

there really is something worse than death. i've seen it.

mostly, i still just feel like a normal kid, you know?

you were right. this is the coolest thing in the world.

____ don't usually turn down a challenge.

even though it was scary, it was also way cool.

relax. you know what you're doing.

sometimes, you have to learn to let go.

i don't think i like those guys.

you're way too young to be drinking.

you don't look so good, yourself.

i'm glad i don't have a mirror.

you look fairly smart, then you open your mouth.

you're just saying that to be contrary.

we gave ____ a reason to be afraid, at least.

when did we get to be such strangers?

i don't always do the sensible thing.

do you want a ride home?

it's just me. i have you.

i'm just tired, okay?

i don't know if i'm at my best right now.

you would tell me if something bad was happening, right?

we all know something is wrong in that house.

i don't know what i've done.

i don't care what it takes, or how many risks i have to run.

love is pretty important. it's like wearing a suit of armor. it makes you strong.

we are not superheroes. this is not a comic book.

can we deal with reality here?

what's the matter with combining green and purple?

i should be spending more time with ______.

there isn't much point in doing any of this, if we forget why we're doing it.

it was a dark and stormy night. sorry, i've always wanted to say that.

you know how parents are. don't ask me to explain them.

you scared me half to death.

this is not the time to be playing jokes.

you're not telling me everything. i'm not sure why.

busted.

we're in kind of a mess.

do you have a minute to fill me in?

i think maybe i'm in pretty big trouble here.

there is no way i'm going to leave you alone.

are you there? i've changed my mind.

no one ever accused you of lacking courage.

____ loves you more than you will ever know.

how is ______?

i know it was sentimental, but i don't care.

i had to do something.

i'm proud of what you did.

a selection of headcanon questions inspired by key bones in the human body.

skull.   what memories/thoughts do they guard the most from others ?

cheekbone. what makes them smile ?

mandible / jawbone. what are they incapable of saying out loud ?

teeth. what lasting mark do they leave on others ?

hyoid / neck. who taught them to speak up, or stay silent ?

clavicle / collarbone. who/what do they lean on when they're vulnerable ?

scapula / shoulderblade. what burden do they carry on their back ?

sternum. what makes their heart pound hardest ?

ribcage. who/what are they trying to protect ?

humerus. do they use humour as a shield or a weapon ? what from/to ?

radius. who/what do they reach for first in a crisis ?

ulna. who stands by them no matter what ?

carpals. what small habits do they have ?

metacarpals. do they ask for help or clench their fists and bear it ?

phalanges. what is their relationship with touch ?

spine. when do they lose their backbone, what scares them ?

pelvis. what future or legacy are they afraid/excited to be responsible for ?

sacrum. what sacrifices have they made ?

coccyx / tailbone. what outdated beliefs do they still carry, if any ?

femur. what drives them forward ?

patella / kneecap. how compliant/obedient are they, who will they kneel for ?

tibia. who/what keeps them moving forward ?

fibula. do they ever feel overlooked ?

tarsals. what past mistakes stick with them with every step they take ?

a moment of pain, and you'll be set.

some bastard tried to mug me. i handled it.

do i look like a priest that runs a charity to you?

it's common fucking knowledge.

i sometimes get the impression you forget you aren't from around here.

i'm open to other options.

i'm a man of my word, you know that.

how would i know? why would i care?

it's a hot item, and i know where to find it.

how am i supposed to do this?

well, who do we have here... [name]... long time. didn't know you were around.

no one calls me by my name anymore. almost forgotten how it sounds.

nothing ever changes here. i'd rather hear about you.

as you can see, i'm back. if it'd been better there, wouldn't've left.

maybe it'll all work out for the best.

stop the car.

looks like it's my lucky day.

one more fucking word...

stay outta this. i don't know you.

it seems our conversation has come to a close.

i'm pleased to see you have not forgotten your roots.

who was that?

pull up here. right here. i'll just drop down below.

maybe we can also work together again. take ourselves back two years.

see? we're rich.

get the fuck out.

don't move! you're under arrest!

stay where you are!

you know fuck all about me.

it's a waste of effort. i have no time to testify or play at an investigation.

honestly, for a second there, things looked iffy. wasn't sure we'd worm outta that alive.

eyes and ears open, all right?

elevator. this way.

you want nice, supportive? call a damn helpline.

nice. i couldn't done that better myself.

on your toes. more bodies incoming. they're almost on you.

shit, where the hell's our target?

heard people who live through shit like this get panic attacks.

is that even safe?

look sharp. not done yet.

it can wait. let's just focus on getting home.

so you can be nice when you feel like it.

you get any sleep?

oh, i get it. you wanna get rich off my blood, sweat, and tears.

good to see you, [name]. it's been a while. to what do i owe the pleasure today?

keep your guard up, that's all.

sounds like it could come in handy, then.

we'll work something out.

don't be mean now.

draw your weapon.

i've got this delicate matter. it's why i called you.

i know exactly how that sounds.

if i get a tip about a possible attack, i'll give you a call.

how's your mom?

would you rather live in peace as mr nobody, die dipe, old, and smelling slightly of urine? or go down for all times in a blaze of glory, smelling near like posies, without seeing your thirtieth?

let me hear it. what's the job?

not a sales pitch. it's a warning.

think you can handle it?

so what went wrong?

i like to know everything about the people i work with.

why we meeting here? any particular reason?

you have trouble accepting compliments?

they   feel   like   a   kicked   puppy.   arin   had   heard   the   rumors   -   that   mina   ha   had   blamed   arin   for   their   own   apparent   * death;   surely   it   had   been   arin's   fault   for   letting   a   * bullet   go   through   them,   for   * allowing   their   dad   to   leave   them   for   dead   in   an   alleyway,   broken   leg   and   wound   to   the   chest.   they   can't   help   but   visibly   * shrink   into   themselves,   as   if   hiding   behind   their   popped   shirt   collar   would   be   able   to   hide   them   from   mina's   words.   it   didn't.

❝ i   have   a   good   enough   reason,   mina.   i'm   sorry   you're   still   upset   with   me   -   i   didn't   mean   any   * harm   to   you   or   your   goals   in   life. ❞

they   still   couldn't   * quite   believe   it.   though   their   life   had   been   marred   with   survival   and   finding   their   way   through   a   new   world,   they   had   felt   quite   bad   for   mina.   at   one   time,   arin   felt   like   there   could've   been   a   future   with   the   two   of   them;   maybe   they   both   would've   never   been   each   others'   * first   choices,   but   maybe   they   could've   been   * happy.   arin   felt   bad   for   no   longer   believing   it.

they   exhale,   looking   long   and   hard   at   their   former   fiancée's   new   vampiric   form.   of   course,   they   hadn't   expected   mina   to   pursue   anything   * less   -   she   was   determined   and   sought   out   nothing   but   the   best   for   herself,   and   at   one   time   arin   had   admired   it.   now?   they   weren't   too   sure   * what   to   think   about   it.

❝ i   don't   want   any   trouble,   mina.   i   just   need   * revenge   -   and   then   i'm   gone. ❞

maybe   arin   was   too   different   now   as   well   -   more   quick   on   their   feet,   more   * vengeful.   they   hadn't   been   someone   soft   and   naive   beforehand,   not   by   a   long   shot,   but   there   had   been   a   distinct   change   in   the   last   five   years.   pocket   was   * smarter,   more   determined   on   what   they   wanted;   they   knew   what   they   were   * owed,   and   they   would   drag   their   father   and   the   rest   of   their   family   ( save,   hopefully,   their   sisters )   down   with   the   fairfax   empire.

Revenge, Arin says, while they're hiding behind their shirt like a little scrap of fabric would save them from Mina's fangs if she really wanted to give in to base instinct. If it weren't for that one word, she might've doubted the idea that they'd even make for a satisfying meal in the first place, pathetic as they now seem otherwise.

It's almost enough to make her laugh, despite herself. Almost.

"Please. You were stupid enough to get yourself shot the first time—you think a tacky new outfit is going to save you from another bullet?" At least the ambition is respectable, but they clearly don't have much to show for it, which pretty much takes away any chance they have of Mina taking them seriously.

She'd have reached out and flicked their collar just to hammer home the point, but she doesn't know where that shirt's been. "If I were you, I'd crawl back into whatever little hole you were hiding out in and, I don't know, sit around and be glad it's not a grave."

Biting jabs delivered, Mina takes a step back with a prideful smile—an imperfect cover for the feverish upset that a few sharp words haven't done the work to quell down. She can only tell herself they're not worth the trouble so many times before it starts to feel like they might be, if only so Mina can have the satisfaction of ruining whatever plans they have to reclaim their station, or whatever.

She's considering leaving things there for that reason alone; throwing a wrench in the life that Arin apparently still has would be too big of a distraction, right now, from the greater heights she knows she's going to achieve. But there's something about the timing that calls upon that quiet interest she's been content to ignore up until that point.

"—Wait a second; don't tell me you're here because of that little ritual everyone's been talking about."