AGE PLOT SHENANIGANS

[microbrobotics]

WHO: Everyone and anyone!
WHERE: De Chima, various
WHEN: Around 6 PM EST, March 25th
WHAT: Age plot kickoff!
WARNINGS: Cuteness.

[ LET'S GET THIS PARTY OFFICIALLY STARTED! Opening events so we don't do too much comm flooding (although people are welcome to make their own posts for the event). You're welcome to toplevel with your character if you'd like to have them show up somewhere else for this plot.

Current toplevels:
Spring Festival in a De Chima city park
De Chima #1
De Chima #1, later (Minato)

The age plot will run from March 25th through Sunday, March 29th. More deets available at the plotting post. ]

Comments

[microbrobotics]

[ Hiro's ... okay, he's been more concerned about the wreckage of his generator and watching the comm to try and figure out how far the effect spread - but he looks up from what he's working on when he sees Ken come in. Huh. It takes him a moment to realize who he's looking at. ]

Yeah! Uh - oh man, I'm so glad I'm not the only one who aged up.

[ He was beginning to wonder there. ]

[orangehoodie]

Yeah, it's... It's only you and me, so far. Even Koromaru's smaller.

[He says, as the tiny dog comes shuffling across the floor towards them. He's younger but his memories are apparently still intact so there's a small yip up at Hiro before he flops down on his stomach on the floor again. And Ken sighs.]

... Do you know what's going on?

[microbrobotics]

[ Oh my god. It's a puppy. Hiro brightens considerably and leans down to pet the puppy right on his soft, fuzzy belly. Who's a good dog? Koromaru's a good dog. It's almost enough of a distraction for him not to wince at Ken's question. But no, there's the flash of guilt and inability to met Ken's gaze that says way more about the situation than his words can. ]

Uh, that ... might ... kind of be my fault? Ish?

[orangehoodie]

[Oh. Oh Koromaru's so happy for the attention, rolling right over to accept the pets and wag his tiny tail. Ken's happy enough that the puppy is adjusting to his new body well, and the feeling that actually hits him when Hiro admits that is relief. It's a weird situation to be in, but if this sudden age-change came from Hiro, then he can at least assume that it probably isn't harmful. Especially if he the guy himself isn't panicking.]

Oh. [He just blinks down at him.] Was it an experiment?

[microbrobotics]

[ He's pretty chill by now, even if seeing more and more affected people is kiiiind of killing whatever joy he had for the project. He definitely screwed this up. Screwed it up bad. But it could also be much worse. ]

Yep. You ever hear about those generators the Hornets were after? Well, we got one.

[orangehoodie]

...

[He crouches to give Koromaru some attention too and also because it was weird standing while Hiro was down there with the dog.]

And they make people change ages?

[microbrobotics]

[ Whoops. He just kind of forgot to stand back up. Blame the dog. ]

Uh ... no, they dampen powers. Or at least the original did. We wanted to try make it broadcast something else instead. Except I kind of overloaded it, so it went way, way too far...

[orangehoodie]

[Ken doesn't mind, and really, neither does Koro. In fact Ken is just picking up the pup now and holding him out to Hiro. Wanna hold him?]

I guess they messed with the... um, nanites, or whatever. [He sighs.] I found Minato-san in his room. He, um... doesn't remember anything.

[microbrobotics]

[ Yesssss. He totally does. Being extra careful, he cradles the puppy in his arms for more belly rubs. ]

That's the whole idea, yeah. [ But memories ... that part is alarming. ] They shouldn't affect that part though. Just the body, y'know? Otherwise it'd end up being brain damage.

[orangehoodie]

[Yeees that's perfect. Koromaru paws at him as he's handed over but he settles perfectly comfortably in Hiro's arms, tongue lolling happily.]

I'm not affected. Koromaru isn't, either. I don't think it's everyone, but Minato-san's, definitely. Do you think something else might've happened at the same time to affect people mentally too? It's possible that magical stuff can affect people's memories even if their brains are okay.

[microbrobotics]

[ Is it possible? Sure. Hiro has no idea if it happened though. He keeps scritching Koro's chin idly. ]

I ... guess? Maybe? But it didn't come from here. I don't do magic at all.

[orangehoodie]

Yeah, it probably wasn't from here... If I hear anything, I'll let you know.

You think this will be temporary? I mean, I don't mind... this, but I'm worried about Minato-san. How's your brother?

[microbrobotics]

It was supposed to be temporary. I gotta run more tests now, though ... With all the power I put in there, it could be days. Maybe weeks.

[orangehoodie]

That long, huh? Well, [he shakes his head,] I think you'll be able to. If you need any help, let me know.

I can provide electricity, if you need that at least.

[microbrobotics]

[ Whoa. He's still a nerd, even older, so his eyes widen at that. ]

You can do that too?

[orangehoodie]

Huh? Oh, yeah. Nemesis can use Zio and Hama skills -- that's electricity and purification. I think if you can give me something that absorbs or stored electricity, we can make it work.

[microbrobotics]

That's awesome.

[ But ... his face falls anyway. ]

It's not gonna help us though. Generator's busted and it'll take weeks to fix.

[orangehoodie]

But it's fixable, right? At least?

[Maybe if they can find someone who's capable of mending broken objects...]

[microbrobotics]

Man, I really hope so. I gotta look at it with Tadashi...

[ He's not entirely sure - and coming from Hiro, the amazing tech prodigy, that means a lot. But he has faith in their abilities if anyone's. ]

[orangehoodie]

[If they get stuck like this... Ken tries not to think about it. He'll be fine. He can deal with it. But Minato had been so scared]

Um, if you decide to do anything about it, let me know. I'll take Minato-s-- kun out, because I don't think he'll really like the loud noises.

[microbrobotics]

If you want, I guess. It won't be that dramatic though. Gonna take weeks of work for sure.

[orangehoodie]

Try to hurry that.

[Hiro is the closest to Ken's age, aside from schoolmates, and of those people the closest Ken is to. Ken's not going to nag him, but, he's probably about the only person who'll get a comment like this from him.

He leans back against a nearby wall and stretches out his legs.]

I always thought I wanted to be older, since I'm always with high schoolers... but I didn't expect it to happen like this.

[microbrobotics]

[ Yeah, okay. He bows his head a bit, wincing guiltily. This ... is a major screw-up and he knows it. ]

Me too. I mean, all of my friends are older. I don't really have anyone my age to talk to. So I thought it'd be nice to just try this for a couple days.

[orangehoodie]

[If Ken were older and not actually eleven, it might've occurred to him to try comforting Hiro. But it doesn't. Ken doesn't actually see the direness of the situation; his biggest concern is Minato's state of mind, but as far as he's concerned, Minato won't be alone, so it isn't that big of a problem. They'll protect Leader, after all. And it wasn't like anybody was about to die from this. He completely misses the little wince, and even if he did, he wouldn't really understand. Isn't this still a smaller mistake than what he made?

Fortunately, Koromaru is more sensitive to such things so he's wiggling in Hiro's arms to bark up at him in concern and try licking his face. He's still a baby but he still has all his memories, and he has no blame for Hiro at all. And also does not like seeing him upset. Ken watches them, then raises his hands to observe them.]

... It does sound fun. I-- I think right now I'm about how old Minato-san and the others usually are. I wonder what would've been different, if we were our friends' age.

[microbrobotics]

[ Thanks Koro, you're the best. Hiro can't help but laugh when he's got a tiny puppy licking at his face. By the time Ken asks his question, Hiro's brightened a bit to be wistful rather than bitter. His childhood kiiiiind of sucked. A lot. ]

I dunno about you, but if I'd sure have been a lot happier. Some people talk about having friends all through school, and ... yeah, that never happened for me. You?