He makes note of the collar first. That's pretty weird, but plenty of the fighters in attendance have their gimmicks. A couple of the members of Noroshi are particularly annoying with theirs, so though he flags it as worthy of looking into, he files it away for later — or at least that was the plan, before the first fighter runs up to the guy and botches his punch so thoroughly, it almost seems as though an invisible force field turns it back on him. Upon seeing that, Endo's brain starts moving very quickly, trying to make sense of the technique, catalogue the guy's abilities and non-abilities, and figure out how the collar might relate. He spends that first (non-)fight being intrigued but not quite entirely sold on what he's witnessing.
The second fight, however, confirms that whatever this guy is doing is on another level entirely. That really gets his interest piqued, in a way it hasn't been in a long time. He wants to test it for himself: poke, prod, determine the limitations and how much power this guy truly has at his disposal — and maybe, just maybe, keep him to himself. By the time he's standing in the street, his hands are trembling with barely contained excitement and his grin is a little too wide — his eyes a little too focused. It takes immense self-control not to call off the member of Noroshi before he makes contact, but he forces himself to wait; he wants to see just how quickly this guy will put him down. He brings his thumb to the infinity tattoo on his neck and presses it there as he watches —
— the worst punch he's ever seen.
Somehow, it's effective, but the whiplash that Endo experiences is almost as bad as the kind he inflicts on others when he's genuinely irritated — or outright angry. He goes from approaching a near-point of no return in the amplification of his interest to deflated, albeit not entirely. Just enough to keep him from cajoling this guy into a brawl of his own, in order to experience how thorough that "power" of his really is — and maybe also to see if he can get his hands on that collar. For fun.
Now, though, Endo finds himself standing in a middle ground, which is unusual enough for him to take a few seconds to decide how to approach this. Normally, if he's truly taken by someone, he burns hot, consumed entirely by the need to possess. Otherwise, people aren't worth his attention — at least not enough of it to warrant giving a fight his all. But a feeling that is simultaneously greedily curious and unimpressed? Talk about mixed messages from his own brain. He'd rather be all or nothing.
It's too late to blend back into the fray now that he's surrounded by all this fighting, especially since he's a suspicious sight himself: all these brawling teens, and he's standing in the middle of the action entirely untouched. One even swings in his direction, but upon realizing who he's swinging at, immediately pulls the punch and hurries away.
So Endo clicks his tongue in a chiding manner while he sticks a hand in his pocket, revoking his overinvested stance in favor of being relaxed: Tsk, tsk, tsk. Then, when he's sure he has the guy's attention, he says: ]
I heard there was gonna be a massacre. No one said anything about cheating.
[ His tone is bored, though his eyes are still a little sharp. If nothing else, he has learned that this guy is capable of destruction — it just doesn't seem to come from his own hand. ]
[Accelerator ambles on through the fighting, his brain quietly taking in his surroundings - both through his normal senses and his ability - to filter and analyze what he's seeing. It's less the move of the fighters and more identifying people who aren't just low level grunts. If he can pick out the leaders, the idiots at the top of the food chain, then beating them up would be a faster way of ending this whole brawl.
(It'd also be a lot less effort for himself.)
So yeah, picking out the guy who happens to just be standing there in the middle of the fight like it's no big deal definitely qualifies. He stops, narrows his eyes, and recognizes his own words being thrown back at him. Guess this guy wasn't lying about the brawl, and maybe by normal standards some of the people here are strong fights.]
Only a completely talentless third-string would call it cheating.
[His tone is very dry and if anything, he just looks irritated. As he responds, he casually lifts a boot up and taps the back of some delinquent's leg, the slight touch sending the kid tumbling to the ground.]
I take it you were talking about yourself.
[He should've figured that out earlier. It seems obvious in hindsight.]
[ Endo's self-confidence is impervious except when it comes to one very specific matter, and since that matter is irrelevant here, he's entirely unfazed by this guy's attitude. Talentless, third-string, blah blah blah, at this point he's heard anything and everything delivered in the form of bluster, and while he will allow his gaze to drop in order to witness the way that light boot-tap has such a drastic impact, his stare is calm and unaffected as he raises his eyes again.
This guy is no Takiishi. That isn't a disappointment so much as a fact. No one can match his power; no one can hope to stand alongside him. But if he had demonstrated even a small hint of that fire, then Endo would have easily made a space in Noroshi for him. But this? This is something else. Something he assumes is external — probably technological, given the collar, although there's got to be more to it. Where would that tech have come from in the first place? Not anywhere near this town. He'd have heard if there was anything close to it being handed out behind closed doors. ]
Aah, this is troublesome.
[ He scratches the back of his head as though he's puzzling his way through this. And he kind of is, if you count navigating this new space of near-uncertainty, which still feels entirely foreign to him. He isn't afraid, nor is he worried about himself, but this is a lot less cut-and-dry than he wanted it to be — to the point where he's starting to feel like it's not worth the hassle. ]
I had a whole welcome party planned, but now I wanna go back home to take a nap.
[ None of this is confirming (nor denying) the guy's statement; he's essentially having a conversation with himself, which is more or less par for the course, albeit for more complicated reasons than simply trying to irritate a person.
Sounding bored: ]
Magic tricks look a lot cooler on TV.
[ Just like jumping off second-story buildings. He would know! There's no real oomph in using force fields or whatever it is that the guy's got going for him. That's what's talentless.
But Endo is still curious. Maybe not so much about the guy anymore, but about what he can do — and why. He's not exactly inclined to get into a fight with someone who might actually be able to kill him with a well-aimed, super-powered punch, but if there's a limit, somehow — if Endo can rival him in speed and dodging, would he be able tire him out? Could he get his fingers around that collar to see what happens if he pulls? There are a lot of possibilities but he doesn't know how likely any of them are. None of the fights lasted long enough for him to guess, and no one else will be able to go head-to-head him. Endo is the only one in attendance who could try, but without more information, it would be a risk.
[Throughout his life, Accelerator has only gotten a few reactions regarding his ability. The main one has always been fear; once people see that such a skinny twig isn't so much a fighter as he is a force of nature that can crush them like an ant it's as if their entire life flashes before their eyes, and they succumb to fear. It's a normal reaction, honestly, and something he's very used to by this point. Another one is anger, though that occurs in more specialized settings. Often it's some scientist with million dollar equipment they assume can handle his ability, and when he inevitably breaks it they get pissed off.
Aside from that there have only been a few other special reactions from specific individuals. A Magic God who thought he was amusing, or that Level 0 who, despite being completely outclassed, kept on getting up until he managed to win each and every fight they had. Fear and anger occurred often enough that they blur together, while these reactions have always remained clear in his mind.
But he's never gotten disappointment before. His brain stalls out a little as he stares, reminded of his own nonchalance when he's gone up against most opponents. It isn't that he has much in the way of pride, so there's only slight offense at his esper ability being called a magic trick. Mostly, he's bewildered, and he inclines his head as he tries to puzzle this out. Does this guy have a deathwish? He sounds bored, so that doesn't seem quite right. It can't be that he's just used to esper powers, because even by those standards his own is an outlier, and from his words it's unlikely that he's a magician.
So what is it? Accelerator's stare is enough to bore holes at this point, and he purses his lips.
Okay, well. He should at least do the responsible thing, get that out of the way.]
Did you start this whole mess? [He waves a hand at the fighting then steps closer. In spite of being shorter and smaller, his posture and tone are turning more authoritative.] Shut it down.
[ Under the force of that stare, Endo grows a little amused — a small, lazy smile working its way across his face as he anticipates a response that will be far from an amicable departure — but won't lead straight into violence, either. He's amenable to that, his interest hooked enough that he could be convinced to stick around and play this out for a while, though he's still leaning toward this enounter not being worth the amount of effort it'll take to get his questions answered.
Nonetheless, he decides to approach this a little more carefully than he might otherwise. Endo's dangerous and he likes to provoke, but he isn't stupid. Too much anger may cause the guy to reactive erratically; too harsh a push might encourage him to deliver than mere bruises — as well as no answers. There's a balanced to be struck, and since Endo is at an informational disadvantage, he needs to ensure he doesn't put himself so far on one side that he has to text Takiishi, of all people, to (hopefully) pick him up.
He holds both his ground and his languid demeanor as the guy steps closer. The guy clearly isn't afraid, and why should he be, with that false power at his disposal? But Endo isn't intimidated either, and backing down in the face of an open threat isn't part of his repertoire. Besides, this isn't the first time he's been on the receiving end of firm instructions that he chooses not to follow. ]
Oh, that's right. You said you could read people right away.
[ And assign them as asshole.
He shakes his head just once, as though disappointed. ]
But you didn't even give me a conversation first.
[ Not even a short one! A few words barely qualifies. If the original text message jumped the gun, this guy took off before the race was even set up.
Of course, his assumption is correct, but that's hardly relevant. ]
[His order being ignored doesn't go unnoticed. Accelerator narrows his eyes, his mouth a thin line. He could be within range to fight fast enough, but this guy isn't putting out any kind of aggressive body language, so there's no point. He isn't even sure how something like that would go - normally it's easy enough to predict how a run-in with him will end, because most of the time it ends with whoever he's facing down broken and terrified if they aren't simply dead.
This guy is still remaining so casual Accelerator is having trouble predicting that outcome, and that makes him want to be a bit more cautious.]
... You seriously want to talk?
[He's sounding a bit incredulous, and not just because this guy going from starting a massive mob fight to being bored to wanting to chat is weird. Socializing? Definitely not his strong suit.
More importantly, he's acutely aware that every second spent drawing this out means being one second closer to his choker's time limit. He needs to be careful about that. The last thing he needs is to hit his thirty minute limit before he can get somewhere private.]
[ There are a few things that suck about having a broken arm. Not being able to punch is one of them, but it's at the bottom of the list. Endo doesn't take most fights all that seriously, so the impact isn't as significant as it could be. He'd rather dodge around and play with an opponent than get all worked up for someone weak and unimportant, anyway. But there are other complications, the most annoying of which is how uncomfortable it is to fold his hands behind his head so he can walk around like he prefers. He still does it, but the effect isn't nearly as satisfying.
That's why receiving the news that his cast isn't getting removed any time soon nearly puts him in a rare bad mood.
Only nearly, however, because he finally has Accelerator in his presence again. Granted, it hasn't been too long — and Endo has been bothering him over text plenty — but nothing beats needling him in person and slowly building to his goal. He's tired of making his plans take a back seat, thanks to broken bones and pain medication. Those wings are on his mind a lot — and therefore so is his future with Accelerator.
Besides, Noroshi is already working on obtaining a way to fix his situation. It's easy to stave off annoyances when there's an (illegal) answer to this setback.
So! Endo stops thinking about that — and refrains from folding his hands behind his head — while he and Accelerator make their way to a small restaurant. Before Endo had an idea of Accelerator's deep pockets, he would've been prepared to spend a pretty penny on wining and dining him for the sake of the future. Now he's angling for Accelerator to pay instead. It hits different when the guy who said Endo (and his bedroom exploits) were a waste of money ends up being the one who funds him after all.
The walk itself has been a little quiet, between Accelerator's normal deep thinking sessions and Endo being a little distracted by the news he received at his appointment, but when they get to the small, chic, and very high-end restaurant, Endo announces: ]
This is it!
[ He holds the door open for him because he's such a gentleman. ]
I figured you'd prefer something nice and quiet.
[ It is quiet inside. But that's because it's also very intimate. All the booths are private. The atmosphere is more romantic than it is two frenemies eating lunch because one of them supposedly needs cheering up. ]
[Accelerator has been busy since he stormed out of the hospital. Thankfully, being in town on business (or rather, "business") is a great excuse to compartmentalize extremely messy feelings about everything surrounding one Endo Yamato. It gives him something else to focus on, something important.
At least, it does when he isn't getting texts from Endo. This, this is why you never lend your phone out to other people. They acquire your number and then start socializing with you relentlessly. And Accelerator, against his better judgment, responds to at least half of those texts. One part of him is convinced it's a terrible idea, another part figures it can't hurt (they had, after all, sort of gotten along in the hospital, however briefly), and a third part is just bewildered by the fact that he's doing something as normal as texting someone who isn't Last Order back for reasons that don't include world-ending catastrophes.
Look, he has a couple of names in his Contacts List, but he does not consider any of those people friends. Not even that Level 0. So this is new and strange behaviour for him. He's glad Last Order is back home, because if she stole his phone for the umpteenth time to take photos he'd never hear the end of it.
He'd definitely never hear the end of it if she knew he was going for lunch with Endo, too. But... it's fine, he's hungry, and he doesn't mind the company. Of course, he's expecting somewhere fast and casual, so when they finally stop at the restaurant Accelerator can only stare.]
..... I would've preferred fast food.
[Or a shitty chain restaurant, or even a convenience store. The idea of somewhere quiet is nice, yes, but he's never been a fan of high-end cuisine. When you grow up in a research facility you don't exactly develop high-end tastes, and he's vaguely uncomfortable as he steps inside, looking around.]
Is this the kind of place you normally eat at?
[He feels sorely underdressed for a place like this, having shown up in a long-sleeved shirt with a monochromatic geometric design on it and dark jeans. Oh well, too late to go change.]
[ From food, from company, from business. Every audience requires their own setting — and their own approach. In the end, it's less about the food and more about the impression — or creating a little discomfort, depending on his angle. Though, if he were to get too into the topic, he'd admit that he, too, eats a lot of fast food. It's what Takiishi prefers.
He gives the host his name. She confirms their reservation, then leads them to a booth in the back, even more private than all the others. It's the only seat completely hidden from the door, which gives the sense that aside from the comings and goings of a waiter, they'll be completely alone.
Sliding into the u-shaped booth, Endo says: ]
Don't worry, this place is good.
[ According to critics and those with sensitive palates, though the menus the host hands to them might suggest otherwise to someone unaccustomed to eating in such places — especially because the listed meals are a mix of American and French, rather than the high-end cuisine associated with Japan. But Accelerator can worry about that once he's nice and cozy in their shared booth.
[It's a perfectly normal, fancy restaurant, but as they follow the host further inside Accelerator starts to feel a mild, stifling feeling. It isn't as if the place is outright suffocating him, but the walls feel too close and he's getting the distinct sensation of standing out rather than blending in. He chalks it up to his own tastes not being anything close to this. If they were back in Academy City he wouldn't be caught dead in a restaurant this upscale. It's only a restaurant, though. He can tolerate it, especially since Endo appears perfectly comfortable.
.... Still. When they reach their booth, Accelerator squints and looks around, appraising their surroundings. The sheer amount of privacy they have doesn't escape his notice.]
...........
[He stares down at the spot Endo patted, his gaze so intense it's almost boring a hole into the seat. Then he moves to slide into the booth across from Endo, going through the whole process of retracting his crutch, then removing the arm cuff and setting is down next to himself so he can give his arm a break.
After taking the menu that's handed to him, he skims it over, and as he does his expression gradually drops. Parmesan lavash? Romesco glazed orzo? He doesn't know what half of this stuff is.]
[ In all the years since Endo grew self-aware enough to realize that he had a special talent for excelling in everything he bothered trying, he has rarely had one of his plans go awry. Whether he's waging war on a town or arranging a simple, well-timed birthday celebration, everything typically works out perfectly. There is the rare exception, usually involving Takiishi, but thwarted isn't a word that he's ever really had to apply to himself.
Which is why today is so damn annoying.
All he wanted to do was head to a specific shop a couple of towns over — a shopping district that has suffered due to an uptick in gang activity that rivals even some of the worst towns in Japan, but manages to retain enough business for a few specialty shops to remain open. One of them is a perfume store, and it's the reason Endo makes the journey. They have a nice selection of colognes, and he's in the mood for a new one.
The weather is unseasonably cold. They're barely into autumn and yet snow is predicted later in the day, a forecast that Endo should easily beat back home. The temperatures are expected to drop further, but not until the storm hits. Endo therefore dresses at the bare minimum of warmth, his outfit consisting of a turtleneck sweater, a light jacket, a sleek pair of gloves, and slacks, all of which give him the appearance of someone respectable, rather than a gang leader. That should have been more than enough coverage for the time he planned on expending on the shopping trip — and it would have been, were it not for a series of unfortunate mishaps.
First, the store was closed in advance due to weather. This rendered the entire trip useless, which skewed his overall day. He decided to stop for a bite to eat, which also was a mistake, because the sky began to look threatening while he was finishing his last bites. He still would have had enough time to reach home before the storm unleashed ahead of schedule, but as he left the restaurant, he ended up embroiled in a brawl with a bunch of rowdy kids. They were fresh high school students who were no way near as organized as Furin, and they were fighting over something stupid. Endo was going to leave them to it, but one of the kids decided to try to punch him, and well — he had to exert a little time and effort on taking care of that, as well as the backup team that ran to the area and identified him as an opponent they had to take down.
All in all, it was an easy affair, though one that Endo would have preferred to send someone else to deal with. The initial punch never made contact, and he wasn't touched thereafter. The only real consequence was the snow that started to fall quite heavily before he was done, and the temperature that dropped thereafter. What should have been an easy walk quickly became impossible as visibility plummeted and wet snow seeped into his jacket.
Now he has no choice but to take shelter from the wind in a random, run-down building that once housed a bar and now mostly contains litter, graffiti, and a distinct lack of anything that could make this detour a little easier on him. There are no blankets, no extra clothes — and there's no power, either. Which means no heat.
He has to take off his jacket and shoes because both are wet enough to be dangerous in these temperatures. His sweater and slacks aren't faring great either, but they aren't so damp that he'll freeze to death if he keeps them on. Just in case, he rolls up the legs of his slacks, keeping the wettest parts of the fabric off of his skin. In the end, he huddles in what was once a booth, more irritated than anything else. Stuff like this doesn't, and shouldn't, happen to him — and yet here he is.
And here someone else is, too, apparently, because the door creaks open. Though he's cold, Endo forces himself to stand and adopt his usual languid body language, that way he won't have to exert more energy by putting down someone who takes him to be an easy target. He also speaks before the (other) intruder gets any ideas: ]
Yeesh, can't a guy get some privacy? Who just goes wandering into abandoned buildings these days?
[ Clearly, Endo does. But just to drive home the point, in a more serious tone: ]
[ Nirei has made many mistakes in life and today is no different. The first one was wearing a flimsy hoodie and a threadbare sweater because 1, he runs hot and 2, he figured he'd be home early. The latest one is not recognizing Endo's voice right away because of the howling wind. So he steps in anyway despite the threatening tone, shuts the door to keep the cold from creeping inside even further, and politely greets who he thinks is just a defensive stranger in a bad town. ]
Sorry! I just want to wait out the storm. I promise to stay out of your way so please just... [ When his eyes finally adjust to the sparse light coming in from the dirty windows, his voice trails off into a squeaky little whimper. ] ...ignore...me...
[ His eyes dart around the decrepit bar then snap back to Endo. Then he blinks. Once, twice. When his worst nightmare doesn't disappear, when it finally hits him that this isn't some delirious hallucination brought on by hypothermia, a small part of him actually considers going back outside and letting the snow take him. The logical part doesn't even need to point out that's a bad idea because his legs aren't working no matter how much he wants to run. He can't even take a step back to press against the door. ]
I, um...I...oh no...
[ Unlike Endo, Nirei is far too used to things not going his way. So used to it, in fact, that he very rarely feels annoyed or devastated when things go wrong. Scared, yes, but he's used to that too and can push through it half the time. Like when his train was delayed and he made it to the town later than he meant to, when the shop he wanted to check out was closed because of the weather forecast, even when it started snowing and he got lost, he took it all in stride and forced himself to focus on getting from point A to point B. Sure, his phone didn't have any signal and the one place for shelter he found looked haunted, but he kept telling himself that soon this would all just be a bad memory and a morbidly funny story to tell his friends when he gets home.
Now he's wondering if he was evil in a past life or if his ancestors pissed off a god. Because what are the odds here? ]
...h-hello. [ Unsure of what else to say or do, he awkwardly takes his hand out of his hoodie's pocket and holds out the disposable handwarmer he's using. It's the cheap kind that's a bit less warm than body temperature and only lasts about an hour or so, but he figures it's better than nothing. ] Handwarmer? This brand's kinda bad, but it's...it's uh, it's all I got...sorry...
[ He tries not to cringe at how pathetic he sounds, at the fact that Endo just standing there is making him shake harder than the freezing cold. ]
Edited (rewrote some stuff that bothered me when I reread. sorry for the extra notif!) 2025-06-30 23:01 (UTC)
i hope he likes cuddles :') endo's been saving them up since his takiishi comment........
[ Although Endo isn't in the mood for Bofurin heroics — or fighting in general, given that even the slightest sheen of sweat could be dangerous in temperatures like this — Nirei is an unwelcome sight. He's probably one of the easiest students to manage, given that Endo could stand over him with a whispered boo and he'd likely fall to his knees immediately, but he's one of Sakura's more annoying friends. There's just enough gumption inside of him to hinder Endo's ongoing presence in Sakura's life, but not enough to be anything remotely close to a challenge. He's a babbler and runs his mouth without thinking, which means he'll be even more insufferable than the other non-entities that interrupted his fight with Sakura, and his self-preservation varies from reasonable to completely out the window. On most days, Endo would be more or less fine with going back and forth with him to pass the time, scare him a little, maybe drag some information out of him, but he's cold and in a genuinely bad mood — not the kind he adopts to intimidate, but one that has him seriously considering walking closer and closer to Nirei until he willingly turns tail and runs out the door.
But there are many problems with forcing him back in the storm to potentially freeze to death, namely the deal he made with Sakura: a promise for a promise. He has no intention of extracting himself from Sakura's life, which means that being the cause of injury or death to one of his friends is decidedly off the table, even if he doesn't lift a hand in the process. And there's also the more pragmatic consideration that is survival. He isn't going to accept dying here, but that means using everything at his disposal to survive — Nirei included.
Nevertheless, there's no warmth to be found — not in their shelter, and nor in Endo's demeanor. Although he allows his initial disdain to drain from his face, replaced instead by his typical lazy expression, there's an edge to it — sharper than it normally would be.
That does not, however, stop him from looking at the proffered handwarmer, held out to him like he's a common thug looking for lunch money. A beat passes, and then he laughs, abruptly but without any actual good humor. ]
C'mon, man. If I wanted to shake you up, I'd expect something better than that.
[ For example: info on Sakura. Umemiya's untimely disappearance. Whatever dry clothing he has on his back — though, that last one would probably be as useless as the handwarmer, considering how short Nirei is.
Then he sighs, running a hand through his damp hair. He isn't shivering yet, still running off of the meager warmth he maintained while huddling in the booth, but the longer he stands around, the more likely it becomes. ]
What a pain. Now I need to do something with you.
[ He isn't entirely serious — at least not in a clear-cut threatening sense — but he doesn't plan on letting him hang around without being of some use. ]
oh noo not the cuddles D: (>:3).......oh well what's one more harrowing humiliation on his long list
[ For a fleeting moment, Nirei's proud of himself for not flinching or falling backwards when Endo laughs suddenly. Then the vague threat pulls an embarrassing squeaky noise out of him and he's right back to hating himself and cursing his nonexistent luck for putting him in this situation. ]
R-right! Right. Got it. Of course. I...
[ He swallows, resists the urge to lick his freezing lips, and pockets the handwarmer. He's not sure yet if getting to keep it is good or bad, but something in his gut tells him he should lean on bad just to be safe. Endo's unpredictable — unhinged, really, but not even Nirei would say that out loud — and the only thing about him that can be counted on is his obvious need to survive this.
Now that the initial shock is wearing off, Nirei's all too aware again of how cold he is, how wet his clothes are, and he forces his legs to function again and take him to the booth furthest from Endo's. Contrary to his reckless and self-sacrificing ways, Nirei doesn't secretly want to die. He especially doesn't want to die in a crusty old building with nothing but the dust and a madman as witness. So fear be damned, he's not going to wait for permission to stay. He physically can't. ]
I'm sorry. I uh, I understand, but I'm reeeally not worth the waste of energy. So please just- [ He looks at Endo from the corner of his eye as he walks, hunched over and careful like an anxious dog. ] -just sit down and ignore me. Please. Please.
[ Once he's close enough, he begins emptying his pockets onto the dirty table — the shitty handwarmer, a few small packs of gummi candies, his phone — and starts stripping off his snow soaked hoodie. He's still half-focused on Endo through it, like looking away for too long will make him materialize closer. A millisecond glance while laying the wet fabric on the booth's backrest, another while stepping out of his soggy shoes, another while double-checking if his socks are dry enough to keep on.
If Endo's watching Nirei back, it's plain to see that his laughably thin clothes are not where his use will lie.
His socks are safe, thankfully, but his pants are too wet from slipping in the snow earlier to just roll up. Nirei makes a face, then sighs and gets on with unbuckling his belt. This time, he doesn't look anywhere but a random wall as he steps out of his pants and hangs them next to his hoodie. It's not like he's never undressed in front of someone before, but changing near his friends and family is completely different from standing in a damp sweater, star patterned boxer briefs, and old gym socks around his worst fears personified. ]
[ Outside, the wind is howling. The storm doesn't sound like it will let up any time soon. The amount of snow buildup will be an issue, too, potentially trapping them in this dilapidated building even after the storm ends. And while trying to wrap himself in his meager body heat without the aid or a blanket or better clothing is not the best approach to surviving, Endo stands by his original assessment: this is a real pain, and it's only going to get more irritating.
He's quickly running through some possibilities for using this opportunity to his advantage as Nirei babbles. He could force him to do another sweep of the building; his own search was thorough, but putting Nirei to work would mean getting some peace and quiet — and the (unlikely) possibility that Nirei could find something that he missed. There's also the roof, difficult to access but it should be the best location for trying to get cell phone service. Endo could make him try that, though the chances that they get a signal are slim — and it doesn't solve the problem that is his promise to Sakura and the very specific way in which his hands are tied.
It only takes the few seconds of Nirei's stuttering reaction and subsequent decision to turn around for Endo to internally raise those ideas and then dismiss them. Like all things that have happened on this day, his lack of a real plan — other than the one obvious solution, which he puts at the far bottom of the list — is unusual. As is someone so unwisely dismissing a conversation with him, and thus: ]
Hey. [ His tone isn't quite as serious as before, venturing back into his more typical unhurried arrogance, with a threat less apparent but still underscoring his words. ] You got a death wish? I wasn't finished with you.
[ He watches Nirei's back as he says this, opting to put his hands in his pockets as they're starting to hurt. Plus, returning back to his languid body language is more intimidating that standing around with enough tension to make his inner state obvious. He has no real barrier against the cold, and this is better than nothing; it'll help a small amount until he returns to his own booth.
Nevertheless, upon making that movement, he gives way to a shiver and sniffs, though the latter sounds more disdainful than functional.
With that, he steps closer to Nirei's chosen table — not quite enough to lay his menacing vibe on so thick that Nirei stops his task, but near enough that he looms behind him while he gets a good luck at the junk he's been carrying around. Not much, it seems, but the gummies will be useful if they're stuck for more than a couple of hours.
All Endo has is his phone and his wallet, and the former might as well be a brick in this rundown area.
Nirei's phone is probably similarly useless, but while he's busy wiggling out of his wet clothes and proving that he is as useless as Endo expected, Endo finishes the short walk to the table and picks it up. He turns to Nirei with it in his hand, on the verge of saying something, but takes one long look at him and bursts out laughing again. This time, a hint of real but no less unnerving amusement makes its way into the sound. ]
What the hell? I thought you were part of Furin.
[ As in trying to play it hard and run around with the big boys. Pattern boxers fit his overall demeanor, sure, but it's still surprising that he wears underwear that pings him as a first-year junior high student, rather than a tough member of Bofurin.
Don't get Endo wrong. He isn't typically in the business of judging people by what they wear. Takiishi's taste in clothing wouldn't be considered standard by most people's views, after all, and his preferred outfits don't paint him as the dangerous person that he is. It's just that Nirei isn't doing himself any favors by bolstering his weak — and even childish — image. ]
Haaah — [ A long exhalation. ] I really got a bad roll today.
[ All of Sakura's friends are meddlesome brats and none of them would be welcome in this space, but at least some of the others are serious. This guy's just laughable — as pathetic as Endo originally labeled him. ]
[What happens to a soccer player who fails out of Blue Lock completely? Some are scooped up by international soccer clubs. But others are brought to a secret facility run by the fat cats that funded the project in the first place, hoping to recoup their investments in less than wholesome ways.
Yukimiya is one of those, particularly as in his current condition, he's not much use for soccer. He had a degenerative eye disorder before arriving at Blue Lock, and the strain of training and games had made his eyesight worse, particularly at the periphery. He's wasted potential in the highest degree. But he's pretty, so very pretty. He'd been asked to model once or twice when younger, before declaring soccer his true life's goal.
The boys for sale are kept in small cells, still dressed in soccer kits, so those buying them could marvel at having genuine article Blue Lock players. Sitting on the floor of his, Yukki glares straight ahead. He wouldn't be able to see those coming to gawk at him, otherwise.]
[ Truthfully, Endo's never cared all that much about Blue Lock.
For a while there, he used the popularity of the sport to gather bets and make a profit — for himself, and for a bored old man who backed anything that Endo told him to. That old man kept the money flowing as long as Endo was capable of paying him back dividends, which Endo of course was, and so they had a good thing going for a while. But the old man eventually grew bored and moved on to other illegal betting venues, and Endo himself lost interest in keeping his side venture going while his other "businesses" were doing so well, so he ultimately stopped following the sport — and caring about it at all.
Until, that is, the old man contacted him again and told him about this highly illegal auction and its new bounty of Blue Lock players. Endo's technically here on his behalf, but his eyes start to wander for himself instead. He's big on recruiting for Noroshi in an entirely different manner, but this wouldn't be about that. He has enough members in his gang. This is entirely selfish: there's something to be said about holding someone's freedom entirely in his hands, like a hummingbird enclosed in his fist. Someone he doesn't have to release, unlike everything else he's ever wanted to keep close.
He texts the old man pictures and notes, while keeping tabs for himself, until he gets to a particular cell — where he takes one look, stops, and then pockets his phone entirely.
The old man can wait. ]
Hey.
[ He speaks quietly, a small smile playing upon his lips while he surveys the guy on the floor. Endo decides to squat in front of him to get a good look. ]
[It's not really the oddest thing someone's asked of him today; more than once, someone's wanted to know if he's a virgin. But still, this is a demand for him to make himself more vulnerable, and he's still trying to pretend he has enough agency to keep his dignity about him.
It's not that he doesn't realize what sort of situation he's in. He's fully aware he's fucked.
Heh. You're not really in a position to refuse are ya?
[ Endo leans forward, grabbing the bars even though that puts him in striking reach. He has no idea if this guy is one of the bad-tempered, violent soccer players, or if he's polite and would never hurt a fly, but he tempts him all the same. ]
Or are you curious to see what happens if you do? Hmm, what'll happen if I call someone over...
[Is there such a thing as a polite soccer player? At least, one who made it anywhere within Blue Lock?
...maybe. Yukimiya lets out a heavy sigh, taking the glasses off and staring at the blur of dark and light that Endo becomes, his eyes a rather striking shade of brown, almost orange in the harsh fluorescent light of the cell.]
I'm not going to be much use to anyone unless I'm wearing them.
Takiishi doesn't leave often, but on the nights that he does, Endo finds himself restless. He wasn't like this before — if Takiishi disappeared for a while, Endo would simply carry on as normal until he came home — but ever since that night on the roof, it's been different. Takiishi is expanding his world, meeting new people, and spending entire nights with new "friends," while Endo feels stuck in place, languishing without his purpose, pining for Takiishi's return.
Nowadays, Endo spends these nights pestering someone into giving him attention. He usually picks Sakura, though sometimes he'll head out somewhere by himself, looking for a different form of company. Anything to distract himself — and force someone to look at him for a time.
Tonight, as he goes through his recent messages, he pauses at Umemiya's last check-in, which he left on read. Umemiya's another complication in everything that's been going on lately, and though Endo's gotten a little better about it, he still vacillates between wanting their arrangement and pushing it away. It's difficult for him to find a middle ground — and it's difficult to accept his needs — when Umemiya is giving him everything that Takiishi won't.
A significant part of him still deeply yearns for it to come from Takiishi.
But the part that wants it from Umemiya isn't small, either.
Endo lies on his couch and stares at the ceiling. They're overdue for another session, but he's been dragging on the wait, trying to be there for someone he isn't sure wants him anymore.
Without fanfare or preamble, with no hello or sorry I didn't get back to you, Endo texts: ]
He can't quite articulate why him going to Endo and Takiishi's home (he's certain they live together, despite never having asked explicitly) feels so much more dangerous than having Endo in his home. Both are expressions of vulnerability, of opening oneself up. But this makes the hair on the back of his neck stand up.]
[ It isn't, though, because the answer is no, he isn't sure.
It's a bad idea. Takiishi could return earlier than planned and walk in on them. Yeah, he probably wouldn't care, but Endo's never brought anyone into their space before. It feels like the violation of an unspoken rule, and he doesn't want to insert more distance in their relationship. But he can't leave — not if he wants to be here in case Takiishi needs something. So his options are being alone and this.
[ Endo starts by sending him the address to their house.
The question is a little tricky, though, depending on how he looks at it. On the one hand, he has pretty much everything they could need when it comes to food and entertainment. On the other, he has absolutely nothing for more involved sessions — no toys, no restraint. Endo's subsisted on Takiishi alone all this time. ]
bring whatever you want
[ He almost types more — a less kind continuation about how it's his job at the Dominant to figure out what's needed or not, but holds back. It may not always seem like it, but Endo is trying more lately. He just doesn't always do well at it. For better or for worse, Umemiya's really the only one he's ever been freely angry, irritated, and bitter toward. It's easy to fall back on that as a weird kind of comfort. ]
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@levelshift
[ Endo has never seen anything like this before.
He makes note of the collar first. That's pretty weird, but plenty of the fighters in attendance have their gimmicks. A couple of the members of Noroshi are particularly annoying with theirs, so though he flags it as worthy of looking into, he files it away for later — or at least that was the plan, before the first fighter runs up to the guy and botches his punch so thoroughly, it almost seems as though an invisible force field turns it back on him. Upon seeing that, Endo's brain starts moving very quickly, trying to make sense of the technique, catalogue the guy's abilities and non-abilities, and figure out how the collar might relate. He spends that first (non-)fight being intrigued but not quite entirely sold on what he's witnessing.
The second fight, however, confirms that whatever this guy is doing is on another level entirely. That really gets his interest piqued, in a way it hasn't been in a long time. He wants to test it for himself: poke, prod, determine the limitations and how much power this guy truly has at his disposal — and maybe, just maybe, keep him to himself. By the time he's standing in the street, his hands are trembling with barely contained excitement and his grin is a little too wide — his eyes a little too focused. It takes immense self-control not to call off the member of Noroshi before he makes contact, but he forces himself to wait; he wants to see just how quickly this guy will put him down. He brings his thumb to the infinity tattoo on his neck and presses it there as he watches —
— the worst punch he's ever seen.
Somehow, it's effective, but the whiplash that Endo experiences is almost as bad as the kind he inflicts on others when he's genuinely irritated — or outright angry. He goes from approaching a near-point of no return in the amplification of his interest to deflated, albeit not entirely. Just enough to keep him from cajoling this guy into a brawl of his own, in order to experience how thorough that "power" of his really is — and maybe also to see if he can get his hands on that collar. For fun.
Now, though, Endo finds himself standing in a middle ground, which is unusual enough for him to take a few seconds to decide how to approach this. Normally, if he's truly taken by someone, he burns hot, consumed entirely by the need to possess. Otherwise, people aren't worth his attention — at least not enough of it to warrant giving a fight his all. But a feeling that is simultaneously greedily curious and unimpressed? Talk about mixed messages from his own brain. He'd rather be all or nothing.
It's too late to blend back into the fray now that he's surrounded by all this fighting, especially since he's a suspicious sight himself: all these brawling teens, and he's standing in the middle of the action entirely untouched. One even swings in his direction, but upon realizing who he's swinging at, immediately pulls the punch and hurries away.
So Endo clicks his tongue in a chiding manner while he sticks a hand in his pocket, revoking his overinvested stance in favor of being relaxed: Tsk, tsk, tsk. Then, when he's sure he has the guy's attention, he says: ]
I heard there was gonna be a massacre. No one said anything about cheating.
[ His tone is bored, though his eyes are still a little sharp. If nothing else, he has learned that this guy is capable of destruction — it just doesn't seem to come from his own hand. ]
I gotta say, I'm a little disappointed.
ty for continuing!
(It'd also be a lot less effort for himself.)
So yeah, picking out the guy who happens to just be standing there in the middle of the fight like it's no big deal definitely qualifies. He stops, narrows his eyes, and recognizes his own words being thrown back at him. Guess this guy wasn't lying about the brawl, and maybe by normal standards some of the people here are strong fights.]
Only a completely talentless third-string would call it cheating.
[His tone is very dry and if anything, he just looks irritated. As he responds, he casually lifts a boot up and taps the back of some delinquent's leg, the slight touch sending the kid tumbling to the ground.]
I take it you were talking about yourself.
[He should've figured that out earlier. It seems obvious in hindsight.]
np!
This guy is no Takiishi. That isn't a disappointment so much as a fact. No one can match his power; no one can hope to stand alongside him. But if he had demonstrated even a small hint of that fire, then Endo would have easily made a space in Noroshi for him. But this? This is something else. Something he assumes is external — probably technological, given the collar, although there's got to be more to it. Where would that tech have come from in the first place? Not anywhere near this town. He'd have heard if there was anything close to it being handed out behind closed doors. ]
Aah, this is troublesome.
[ He scratches the back of his head as though he's puzzling his way through this. And he kind of is, if you count navigating this new space of near-uncertainty, which still feels entirely foreign to him. He isn't afraid, nor is he worried about himself, but this is a lot less cut-and-dry than he wanted it to be — to the point where he's starting to feel like it's not worth the hassle. ]
I had a whole welcome party planned, but now I wanna go back home to take a nap.
[ None of this is confirming (nor denying) the guy's statement; he's essentially having a conversation with himself, which is more or less par for the course, albeit for more complicated reasons than simply trying to irritate a person.
Sounding bored: ]
Magic tricks look a lot cooler on TV.
[ Just like jumping off second-story buildings. He would know! There's no real oomph in using force fields or whatever it is that the guy's got going for him. That's what's talentless.
But Endo is still curious. Maybe not so much about the guy anymore, but about what he can do — and why. He's not exactly inclined to get into a fight with someone who might actually be able to kill him with a well-aimed, super-powered punch, but if there's a limit, somehow — if Endo can rival him in speed and dodging, would he be able tire him out? Could he get his fingers around that collar to see what happens if he pulls? There are a lot of possibilities but he doesn't know how likely any of them are. None of the fights lasted long enough for him to guess, and no one else will be able to go head-to-head him. Endo is the only one in attendance who could try, but without more information, it would be a risk.
He keeps it on the table anyway. Just in case. ]
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Aside from that there have only been a few other special reactions from specific individuals. A Magic God who thought he was amusing, or that Level 0 who, despite being completely outclassed, kept on getting up until he managed to win each and every fight they had. Fear and anger occurred often enough that they blur together, while these reactions have always remained clear in his mind.
But he's never gotten disappointment before. His brain stalls out a little as he stares, reminded of his own nonchalance when he's gone up against most opponents. It isn't that he has much in the way of pride, so there's only slight offense at his esper ability being called a magic trick. Mostly, he's bewildered, and he inclines his head as he tries to puzzle this out. Does this guy have a deathwish? He sounds bored, so that doesn't seem quite right. It can't be that he's just used to esper powers, because even by those standards his own is an outlier, and from his words it's unlikely that he's a magician.
So what is it? Accelerator's stare is enough to bore holes at this point, and he purses his lips.
Okay, well. He should at least do the responsible thing, get that out of the way.]
Did you start this whole mess? [He waves a hand at the fighting then steps closer. In spite of being shorter and smaller, his posture and tone are turning more authoritative.] Shut it down.
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Nonetheless, he decides to approach this a little more carefully than he might otherwise. Endo's dangerous and he likes to provoke, but he isn't stupid. Too much anger may cause the guy to reactive erratically; too harsh a push might encourage him to deliver than mere bruises — as well as no answers. There's a balanced to be struck, and since Endo is at an informational disadvantage, he needs to ensure he doesn't put himself so far on one side that he has to text Takiishi, of all people, to (hopefully) pick him up.
He holds both his ground and his languid demeanor as the guy steps closer. The guy clearly isn't afraid, and why should he be, with that false power at his disposal? But Endo isn't intimidated either, and backing down in the face of an open threat isn't part of his repertoire. Besides, this isn't the first time he's been on the receiving end of firm instructions that he chooses not to follow. ]
Oh, that's right. You said you could read people right away.
[ And assign them as asshole.
He shakes his head just once, as though disappointed. ]
But you didn't even give me a conversation first.
[ Not even a short one! A few words barely qualifies. If the original text message jumped the gun, this guy took off before the race was even set up.
Of course, his assumption is correct, but that's hardly relevant. ]
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This guy is still remaining so casual Accelerator is having trouble predicting that outcome, and that makes him want to be a bit more cautious.]
... You seriously want to talk?
[He's sounding a bit incredulous, and not just because this guy going from starting a massive mob fight to being bored to wanting to chat is weird. Socializing? Definitely not his strong suit.
More importantly, he's acutely aware that every second spent drawing this out means being one second closer to his choker's time limit. He needs to be careful about that. The last thing he needs is to hit his thirty minute limit before he can get somewhere private.]
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omg I read Banjo's chapters he's hilarious
i'm so glad you know & appreciate him - he's such a trip!
I'm reading Endo's chapters too he's such a little weirdo lol his faces are amazing
he's SO unhinged, you're in store for some good (aka crazy) stuff!
unhinged lil guys are the best
absolutely! also "maybe they're all just nuts" < real
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np at all! i don't mind late edits
thkssss also omg I feel bad for Endo lolol
he's a complete menace but he only wants (1) thing in life....
brb having Accy break Endo's arm so he can take him to the hospital
he should break it bc it's what endo deserves for being Like This after that genuine effort
oho we could do that!! either via reflection or Accy's black wings
let's do it! endo deserves to be humbled a little and that prob won't happen with anyone else
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I loled
he's ridiculous lol. also tysm for letting me fully embrace endo's insanity
Endo should always be living his best toxic life
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Post-Doctor's Appt + Eventual Rain
That's why receiving the news that his cast isn't getting removed any time soon nearly puts him in a rare bad mood.
Only nearly, however, because he finally has Accelerator in his presence again. Granted, it hasn't been too long — and Endo has been bothering him over text plenty — but nothing beats needling him in person and slowly building to his goal. He's tired of making his plans take a back seat, thanks to broken bones and pain medication. Those wings are on his mind a lot — and therefore so is his future with Accelerator.
Besides, Noroshi is already working on obtaining a way to fix his situation. It's easy to stave off annoyances when there's an (illegal) answer to this setback.
So! Endo stops thinking about that — and refrains from folding his hands behind his head — while he and Accelerator make their way to a small restaurant. Before Endo had an idea of Accelerator's deep pockets, he would've been prepared to spend a pretty penny on wining and dining him for the sake of the future. Now he's angling for Accelerator to pay instead. It hits different when the guy who said Endo (and his bedroom exploits) were a waste of money ends up being the one who funds him after all.
The walk itself has been a little quiet, between Accelerator's normal deep thinking sessions and Endo being a little distracted by the news he received at his appointment, but when they get to the small, chic, and very high-end restaurant, Endo announces: ]
This is it!
[ He holds the door open for him because he's such a gentleman. ]
I figured you'd prefer something nice and quiet.
[ It is quiet inside. But that's because it's also very intimate. All the booths are private. The atmosphere is more romantic than it is two frenemies eating lunch because one of them supposedly needs cheering up. ]
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At least, it does when he isn't getting texts from Endo. This, this is why you never lend your phone out to other people. They acquire your number and then start socializing with you relentlessly. And Accelerator, against his better judgment, responds to at least half of those texts. One part of him is convinced it's a terrible idea, another part figures it can't hurt (they had, after all, sort of gotten along in the hospital, however briefly), and a third part is just bewildered by the fact that he's doing something as normal as texting someone who isn't Last Order back for reasons that don't include world-ending catastrophes.
Look, he has a couple of names in his Contacts List, but he does not consider any of those people friends. Not even that Level 0. So this is new and strange behaviour for him. He's glad Last Order is back home, because if she stole his phone for the umpteenth time to take photos he'd never hear the end of it.
He'd definitely never hear the end of it if she knew he was going for lunch with Endo, too. But... it's fine, he's hungry, and he doesn't mind the company. Of course, he's expecting somewhere fast and casual, so when they finally stop at the restaurant Accelerator can only stare.]
..... I would've preferred fast food.
[Or a shitty chain restaurant, or even a convenience store. The idea of somewhere quiet is nice, yes, but he's never been a fan of high-end cuisine. When you grow up in a research facility you don't exactly develop high-end tastes, and he's vaguely uncomfortable as he steps inside, looking around.]
Is this the kind of place you normally eat at?
[He feels sorely underdressed for a place like this, having shown up in a long-sleeved shirt with a monochromatic geometric design on it and dark jeans. Oh well, too late to go change.]
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[ From food, from company, from business. Every audience requires their own setting — and their own approach. In the end, it's less about the food and more about the impression — or creating a little discomfort, depending on his angle. Though, if he were to get too into the topic, he'd admit that he, too, eats a lot of fast food. It's what Takiishi prefers.
He gives the host his name. She confirms their reservation, then leads them to a booth in the back, even more private than all the others. It's the only seat completely hidden from the door, which gives the sense that aside from the comings and goings of a waiter, they'll be completely alone.
Sliding into the u-shaped booth, Endo says: ]
Don't worry, this place is good.
[ According to critics and those with sensitive palates, though the menus the host hands to them might suggest otherwise to someone unaccustomed to eating in such places — especially because the listed meals are a mix of American and French, rather than the high-end cuisine associated with Japan. But Accelerator can worry about that once he's nice and cozy in their shared booth.
Endo pats the space beside him. ]
Don't be shy.
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.... Still. When they reach their booth, Accelerator squints and looks around, appraising their surroundings. The sheer amount of privacy they have doesn't escape his notice.]
...........
[He stares down at the spot Endo patted, his gaze so intense it's almost boring a hole into the seat. Then he moves to slide into the booth across from Endo, going through the whole process of retracting his crutch, then removing the arm cuff and setting is down next to himself so he can give his arm a break.
After taking the menu that's handed to him, he skims it over, and as he does his expression gradually drops. Parmesan lavash? Romesco glazed orzo? He doesn't know what half of this stuff is.]
Fuck, this is actually food?
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@dandelionheart
Which is why today is so damn annoying.
All he wanted to do was head to a specific shop a couple of towns over — a shopping district that has suffered due to an uptick in gang activity that rivals even some of the worst towns in Japan, but manages to retain enough business for a few specialty shops to remain open. One of them is a perfume store, and it's the reason Endo makes the journey. They have a nice selection of colognes, and he's in the mood for a new one.
The weather is unseasonably cold. They're barely into autumn and yet snow is predicted later in the day, a forecast that Endo should easily beat back home. The temperatures are expected to drop further, but not until the storm hits. Endo therefore dresses at the bare minimum of warmth, his outfit consisting of a turtleneck sweater, a light jacket, a sleek pair of gloves, and slacks, all of which give him the appearance of someone respectable, rather than a gang leader. That should have been more than enough coverage for the time he planned on expending on the shopping trip — and it would have been, were it not for a series of unfortunate mishaps.
First, the store was closed in advance due to weather. This rendered the entire trip useless, which skewed his overall day. He decided to stop for a bite to eat, which also was a mistake, because the sky began to look threatening while he was finishing his last bites. He still would have had enough time to reach home before the storm unleashed ahead of schedule, but as he left the restaurant, he ended up embroiled in a brawl with a bunch of rowdy kids. They were fresh high school students who were no way near as organized as Furin, and they were fighting over something stupid. Endo was going to leave them to it, but one of the kids decided to try to punch him, and well — he had to exert a little time and effort on taking care of that, as well as the backup team that ran to the area and identified him as an opponent they had to take down.
All in all, it was an easy affair, though one that Endo would have preferred to send someone else to deal with. The initial punch never made contact, and he wasn't touched thereafter. The only real consequence was the snow that started to fall quite heavily before he was done, and the temperature that dropped thereafter. What should have been an easy walk quickly became impossible as visibility plummeted and wet snow seeped into his jacket.
Now he has no choice but to take shelter from the wind in a random, run-down building that once housed a bar and now mostly contains litter, graffiti, and a distinct lack of anything that could make this detour a little easier on him. There are no blankets, no extra clothes — and there's no power, either. Which means no heat.
He has to take off his jacket and shoes because both are wet enough to be dangerous in these temperatures. His sweater and slacks aren't faring great either, but they aren't so damp that he'll freeze to death if he keeps them on. Just in case, he rolls up the legs of his slacks, keeping the wettest parts of the fabric off of his skin. In the end, he huddles in what was once a booth, more irritated than anything else. Stuff like this doesn't, and shouldn't, happen to him — and yet here he is.
And here someone else is, too, apparently, because the door creaks open. Though he's cold, Endo forces himself to stand and adopt his usual languid body language, that way he won't have to exert more energy by putting down someone who takes him to be an easy target. He also speaks before the (other) intruder gets any ideas: ]
Yeesh, can't a guy get some privacy? Who just goes wandering into abandoned buildings these days?
[ Clearly, Endo does. But just to drive home the point, in a more serious tone: ]
This spot's taken.
Nirei: fuck my stupid baka life
Sorry! I just want to wait out the storm. I promise to stay out of your way so please just... [ When his eyes finally adjust to the sparse light coming in from the dirty windows, his voice trails off into a squeaky little whimper. ] ...ignore...me...
[ His eyes dart around the decrepit bar then snap back to Endo. Then he blinks. Once, twice. When his worst nightmare doesn't disappear, when it finally hits him that this isn't some delirious hallucination brought on by hypothermia, a small part of him actually considers going back outside and letting the snow take him. The logical part doesn't even need to point out that's a bad idea because his legs aren't working no matter how much he wants to run. He can't even take a step back to press against the door. ]
I, um...I...oh no...
[ Unlike Endo, Nirei is far too used to things not going his way. So used to it, in fact, that he very rarely feels annoyed or devastated when things go wrong. Scared, yes, but he's used to that too and can push through it half the time. Like when his train was delayed and he made it to the town later than he meant to, when the shop he wanted to check out was closed because of the weather forecast, even when it started snowing and he got lost, he took it all in stride and forced himself to focus on getting from point A to point B. Sure, his phone didn't have any signal and the one place for shelter he found looked haunted, but he kept telling himself that soon this would all just be a bad memory and a morbidly funny story to tell his friends when he gets home.
Now he's wondering if he was evil in a past life or if his ancestors pissed off a god. Because what are the odds here? ]
...h-hello. [ Unsure of what else to say or do, he awkwardly takes his hand out of his hoodie's pocket and holds out the disposable handwarmer he's using. It's the cheap kind that's a bit less warm than body temperature and only lasts about an hour or so, but he figures it's better than nothing. ] Handwarmer? This brand's kinda bad, but it's...it's uh, it's all I got...sorry...
[ He tries not to cringe at how pathetic he sounds, at the fact that Endo just standing there is making him shake harder than the freezing cold. ]
i hope he likes cuddles :') endo's been saving them up since his takiishi comment........
But there are many problems with forcing him back in the storm to potentially freeze to death, namely the deal he made with Sakura: a promise for a promise. He has no intention of extracting himself from Sakura's life, which means that being the cause of injury or death to one of his friends is decidedly off the table, even if he doesn't lift a hand in the process. And there's also the more pragmatic consideration that is survival. He isn't going to accept dying here, but that means using everything at his disposal to survive — Nirei included.
Nevertheless, there's no warmth to be found — not in their shelter, and nor in Endo's demeanor. Although he allows his initial disdain to drain from his face, replaced instead by his typical lazy expression, there's an edge to it — sharper than it normally would be.
That does not, however, stop him from looking at the proffered handwarmer, held out to him like he's a common thug looking for lunch money. A beat passes, and then he laughs, abruptly but without any actual good humor. ]
C'mon, man. If I wanted to shake you up, I'd expect something better than that.
[ For example: info on Sakura. Umemiya's untimely disappearance. Whatever dry clothing he has on his back — though, that last one would probably be as useless as the handwarmer, considering how short Nirei is.
Then he sighs, running a hand through his damp hair. He isn't shivering yet, still running off of the meager warmth he maintained while huddling in the booth, but the longer he stands around, the more likely it becomes. ]
What a pain. Now I need to do something with you.
[ He isn't entirely serious — at least not in a clear-cut threatening sense — but he doesn't plan on letting him hang around without being of some use. ]
oh noo not the cuddles D: (>:3).......oh well what's one more harrowing humiliation on his long list
R-right! Right. Got it. Of course. I...
[ He swallows, resists the urge to lick his freezing lips, and pockets the handwarmer. He's not sure yet if getting to keep it is good or bad, but something in his gut tells him he should lean on bad just to be safe. Endo's unpredictable — unhinged, really, but not even Nirei would say that out loud — and the only thing about him that can be counted on is his obvious need to survive this.
Now that the initial shock is wearing off, Nirei's all too aware again of how cold he is, how wet his clothes are, and he forces his legs to function again and take him to the booth furthest from Endo's. Contrary to his reckless and self-sacrificing ways, Nirei doesn't secretly want to die. He especially doesn't want to die in a crusty old building with nothing but the dust and a madman as witness. So fear be damned, he's not going to wait for permission to stay. He physically can't. ]
I'm sorry. I uh, I understand, but I'm reeeally not worth the waste of energy. So please just- [ He looks at Endo from the corner of his eye as he walks, hunched over and careful like an anxious dog. ] -just sit down and ignore me. Please. Please.
[ Once he's close enough, he begins emptying his pockets onto the dirty table — the shitty handwarmer, a few small packs of gummi candies, his phone — and starts stripping off his snow soaked hoodie. He's still half-focused on Endo through it, like looking away for too long will make him materialize closer. A millisecond glance while laying the wet fabric on the booth's backrest, another while stepping out of his soggy shoes, another while double-checking if his socks are dry enough to keep on.
If Endo's watching Nirei back, it's plain to see that his laughably thin clothes are not where his use will lie.
His socks are safe, thankfully, but his pants are too wet from slipping in the snow earlier to just roll up. Nirei makes a face, then sighs and gets on with unbuckling his belt. This time, he doesn't look anywhere but a random wall as he steps out of his pants and hangs them next to his hoodie. It's not like he's never undressed in front of someone before, but changing near his friends and family is completely different from standing in a damp sweater, star patterned boxer briefs, and old gym socks around his worst fears personified. ]
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He's quickly running through some possibilities for using this opportunity to his advantage as Nirei babbles. He could force him to do another sweep of the building; his own search was thorough, but putting Nirei to work would mean getting some peace and quiet — and the (unlikely) possibility that Nirei could find something that he missed. There's also the roof, difficult to access but it should be the best location for trying to get cell phone service. Endo could make him try that, though the chances that they get a signal are slim — and it doesn't solve the problem that is his promise to Sakura and the very specific way in which his hands are tied.
It only takes the few seconds of Nirei's stuttering reaction and subsequent decision to turn around for Endo to internally raise those ideas and then dismiss them. Like all things that have happened on this day, his lack of a real plan — other than the one obvious solution, which he puts at the far bottom of the list — is unusual. As is someone so unwisely dismissing a conversation with him, and thus: ]
Hey. [ His tone isn't quite as serious as before, venturing back into his more typical unhurried arrogance, with a threat less apparent but still underscoring his words. ] You got a death wish? I wasn't finished with you.
[ He watches Nirei's back as he says this, opting to put his hands in his pockets as they're starting to hurt. Plus, returning back to his languid body language is more intimidating that standing around with enough tension to make his inner state obvious. He has no real barrier against the cold, and this is better than nothing; it'll help a small amount until he returns to his own booth.
Nevertheless, upon making that movement, he gives way to a shiver and sniffs, though the latter sounds more disdainful than functional.
With that, he steps closer to Nirei's chosen table — not quite enough to lay his menacing vibe on so thick that Nirei stops his task, but near enough that he looms behind him while he gets a good luck at the junk he's been carrying around. Not much, it seems, but the gummies will be useful if they're stuck for more than a couple of hours.
All Endo has is his phone and his wallet, and the former might as well be a brick in this rundown area.
Nirei's phone is probably similarly useless, but while he's busy wiggling out of his wet clothes and proving that he is as useless as Endo expected, Endo finishes the short walk to the table and picks it up. He turns to Nirei with it in his hand, on the verge of saying something, but takes one long look at him and bursts out laughing again. This time, a hint of real but no less unnerving amusement makes its way into the sound. ]
What the hell? I thought you were part of Furin.
[ As in trying to play it hard and run around with the big boys. Pattern boxers fit his overall demeanor, sure, but it's still surprising that he wears underwear that pings him as a first-year junior high student, rather than a tough member of Bofurin.
Don't get Endo wrong. He isn't typically in the business of judging people by what they wear. Takiishi's taste in clothing wouldn't be considered standard by most people's views, after all, and his preferred outfits don't paint him as the dangerous person that he is. It's just that Nirei isn't doing himself any favors by bolstering his weak — and even childish — image. ]
Haaah — [ A long exhalation. ] I really got a bad roll today.
[ All of Sakura's friends are meddlesome brats and none of them would be welcome in this space, but at least some of the others are serious. This guy's just laughable — as pathetic as Endo originally labeled him. ]
As discussed
Yukimiya is one of those, particularly as in his current condition, he's not much use for soccer. He had a degenerative eye disorder before arriving at Blue Lock, and the strain of training and games had made his eyesight worse, particularly at the periphery. He's wasted potential in the highest degree. But he's pretty, so very pretty. He'd been asked to model once or twice when younger, before declaring soccer his true life's goal.
The boys for sale are kept in small cells, still dressed in soccer kits, so those buying them could marvel at having genuine article Blue Lock players. Sitting on the floor of his, Yukki glares straight ahead. He wouldn't be able to see those coming to gawk at him, otherwise.]
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For a while there, he used the popularity of the sport to gather bets and make a profit — for himself, and for a bored old man who backed anything that Endo told him to. That old man kept the money flowing as long as Endo was capable of paying him back dividends, which Endo of course was, and so they had a good thing going for a while. But the old man eventually grew bored and moved on to other illegal betting venues, and Endo himself lost interest in keeping his side venture going while his other "businesses" were doing so well, so he ultimately stopped following the sport — and caring about it at all.
Until, that is, the old man contacted him again and told him about this highly illegal auction and its new bounty of Blue Lock players. Endo's technically here on his behalf, but his eyes start to wander for himself instead. He's big on recruiting for Noroshi in an entirely different manner, but this wouldn't be about that. He has enough members in his gang. This is entirely selfish: there's something to be said about holding someone's freedom entirely in his hands, like a hummingbird enclosed in his fist. Someone he doesn't have to release, unlike everything else he's ever wanted to keep close.
He texts the old man pictures and notes, while keeping tabs for himself, until he gets to a particular cell — where he takes one look, stops, and then pockets his phone entirely.
The old man can wait. ]
Hey.
[ He speaks quietly, a small smile playing upon his lips while he surveys the guy on the floor. Endo decides to squat in front of him to get a good look. ]
Take off your glasses.
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[It's not really the oddest thing someone's asked of him today; more than once, someone's wanted to know if he's a virgin. But still, this is a demand for him to make himself more vulnerable, and he's still trying to pretend he has enough agency to keep his dignity about him.
It's not that he doesn't realize what sort of situation he's in. He's fully aware he's fucked.
But he doesn't want to give in, not just yet.]
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[ Endo leans forward, grabbing the bars even though that puts him in striking reach. He has no idea if this guy is one of the bad-tempered, violent soccer players, or if he's polite and would never hurt a fly, but he tempts him all the same. ]
Or are you curious to see what happens if you do? Hmm, what'll happen if I call someone over...
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...maybe. Yukimiya lets out a heavy sigh, taking the glasses off and staring at the blur of dark and light that Endo becomes, his eyes a rather striking shade of brown, almost orange in the harsh fluorescent light of the cell.]
I'm not going to be much use to anyone unless I'm wearing them.
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@fromsprouts
Takiishi doesn't leave often, but on the nights that he does, Endo finds himself restless. He wasn't like this before — if Takiishi disappeared for a while, Endo would simply carry on as normal until he came home — but ever since that night on the roof, it's been different. Takiishi is expanding his world, meeting new people, and spending entire nights with new "friends," while Endo feels stuck in place, languishing without his purpose, pining for Takiishi's return.
Nowadays, Endo spends these nights pestering someone into giving him attention. He usually picks Sakura, though sometimes he'll head out somewhere by himself, looking for a different form of company. Anything to distract himself — and force someone to look at him for a time.
Tonight, as he goes through his recent messages, he pauses at Umemiya's last check-in, which he left on read. Umemiya's another complication in everything that's been going on lately, and though Endo's gotten a little better about it, he still vacillates between wanting their arrangement and pushing it away. It's difficult for him to find a middle ground — and it's difficult to accept his needs — when Umemiya is giving him everything that Takiishi won't.
A significant part of him still deeply yearns for it to come from Takiishi.
But the part that wants it from Umemiya isn't small, either.
Endo lies on his couch and stares at the ceiling. They're overdue for another session, but he's been dragging on the wait, trying to be there for someone he isn't sure wants him anymore.
Without fanfare or preamble, with no hello or sorry I didn't get back to you, Endo texts: ]
wanna come over
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He can't quite articulate why him going to Endo and Takiishi's home (he's certain they live together, despite never having asked explicitly) feels so much more dangerous than having Endo in his home. Both are expressions of vulnerability, of opening oneself up. But this makes the hair on the back of his neck stand up.]
You sure?
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[ It isn't, though, because the answer is no, he isn't sure.
It's a bad idea. Takiishi could return earlier than planned and walk in on them. Yeah, he probably wouldn't care, but Endo's never brought anyone into their space before. It feels like the violation of an unspoken rule, and he doesn't want to insert more distance in their relationship. But he can't leave — not if he wants to be here in case Takiishi needs something. So his options are being alone and this.
And right now, Endo doesn't want to be alone. ]
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[Seems like they're doing this, risky though it might be.]
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The question is a little tricky, though, depending on how he looks at it. On the one hand, he has pretty much everything they could need when it comes to food and entertainment. On the other, he has absolutely nothing for more involved sessions — no toys, no restraint. Endo's subsisted on Takiishi alone all this time. ]
bring whatever you want
[ He almost types more — a less kind continuation about how it's his job at the Dominant to figure out what's needed or not, but holds back. It may not always seem like it, but Endo is trying more lately. He just doesn't always do well at it. For better or for worse, Umemiya's really the only one he's ever been freely angry, irritated, and bitter toward. It's easy to fall back on that as a weird kind of comfort. ]
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bed time for me :( i hope you have a good night!!
Sleep well!
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oops i am still awake so here's one more tag
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Here's a threat: I could bring Takiishi home early. :P
omg if you're up for it i support this immensely
*cracks knuckles*
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