[ In response to the warning, Endo holds up his hands in a reassuring manner. Of course he isn't going to do anything with it — does he look like the kind of guy who would mess with someone's mobility aid? (Probably.) He's an instigator but he's really not one to make the first move — he invites it, and then waits for the other guy(s) to get pissed off enough to come at him. Besides, it'd be a waste of this opportunity to learn more about Accelerator's abilities (and limitations) if he were to to chuck it into the street.
But as for holding it out and casually dangling it over the edge as he engages in an expressive conversation? That may have crossed his mind, just to see what kind of reaction it would draw forth. But hey, he's a fair guy — if it's off limits, then it's off limits.
For the most part.
When Accelerator finally hands it over, Endo begins examining it, turning it over in his hands and getting a good look at everything. He goes so far as to press the most obvious switch, the one he saw Accelerator use earlier, to extend the crutch. By the time Accelerator makes his demand, Endo is busy tapping the ground with it.
He looks up with mild, feigned surprise, as though just remembering that there's a violent brawl beneath them. He has the impulse to laugh, because it's obvious that this guy doesn't do polite conversation, but he chooses instead to say: ]
Oh —
[ He glances down at all the chaos. ]
You know how it goes. [ A sweeping motion of his hand. The free one, since he's nixed the idea of precariously dangling the crutch. ] A group of guys come around, cause some trouble, and then someone's gotta clean it up. That's what we do. It's like a hobby.
[ They're the troublemakers. Not the cleaning crew. This centers around a specific job and the opposing gang has been putting up quite the fight, hence Noroshi's direct involvement.
[With the crutch handed over, Accelerator's attention turns away from it and more firmly onto the fighting. He's comfortable enough with the idea that nothing is going to happen with his crutch that he starts examining the state of the fighters below, his gaze flicking from person to person. There's only so much data he can draw through a visual inspection, and from his distance away, but it's better than disregarding it all completely. He came out to deal with it, after all.
He only breaks what he's doing to stare back at Endo, balking at that explanation.]
That's a shitty hobby to have.
[He's not one to talk, his hobbies extend only to reading and sleeping.
Turning his gaze back to the kids below, he finishes his observation and absently reaches up to fiddle with his choker again. He's still got some time, so as long as no one is overly stubborn he's fairly sure he can end this quickly and efficiently. Scooping up some rocks that are near where he's sitting, he starts tossing one into the air, over and over again.]
Clean up, huh? [That's with the distinct tone of, "I hate having to clean up other people's messes."]
[ Endo is very careful not to stare as Accelerator touches his choker again, lest he appear too interested, but he feels a small burst of glee at the fact that his suspicions seem to be true. There's no reason for Accelerator to mess with his choker unless it's on his mind, and if it's on his mind, there's got to be a reason. And that, in turn, gives Endo more motivation to keep this conversation going — to see if Accelerator hits a limit or experiences some kind of backlash from keeping his power contained. He still itches to touch the choker himself, but he busies himself with the crutch: retracting the cane and examining the cuff.
Noting the tone, he says: ]
It's a hassle but someone's gotta do it. It helps the guys blow off some steam, too.
[ The best lies have truths buried within them, and this is one of them. Noroshi — and the other gangs under Endo's umbrella — need the chance to stretch their legs and move their fists, even when things are relatively quiet. They'd get antsy otherwise, and antsy gang members cause trouble.
Likely, Accelerator will know the truth by the time their meeting ends. At some point, Endo will have to make a move, whether prompting him into a fight or trying to get his hands on that collar — but who knows? Maybe they'll end this amicably and Endo will keep his number handy for some future fun. Ultimately, though, if the guy were to do any digging on him, he'd easily uncover Endo's status as a legend and the fact that he's never cleaned up for the greater good.
He watches Accelerator toss the rocks into the air, imagining the force with which he could throw them down below — how easily he could stop a person in their tracks. ]
What do you do with all your power?
[ Fight for justice? Put down brawls? He used the word massacre before, and Endo has to wonder if that involves real casualties, not exaggeration. It's clear he came here to interrupt the fighting, so it's safe to catalogue him as a wannabe hero at the bare minimum — but Endo thinks there's more to it.
[With his focus mainly on the fighters he's paying less attention to Endo. All of this is one big pain in the ass. He wants to go home and take a nap, because he doesn't see anyone here he can safely fight. That means any violent urges he might be having from years of a shitty, violent life need to get buried in favour of being responsible.
This time he doesn't look over at Endo.]
Shut up.
[He's right. He needs to do something about this. It's annoying, but as the strongest esper he feels obligated to stop these dumbasses. Clicking his tongue, Accelerator hauls himself to his feet. If he's going to do this, then he may as well do it properly.
'Properly' meaning 'extra as hell,' because an absolutely unhinged grin is lighting up his face and he's stomping a foot on the parapet as four small tornadoes explode from his back like windy wings. If the booming noise doesn't get their attention he's still rolling the rocks around in his palm, tossing one into the air once more before flicking it at the nearest fighter. It speeds diagonally downwards like a bullet, nailing him on the leg and sending him toppling over with a surprised yelp.]
Listen up, you fucks!
[Is he altering the vectors of his voice's soundwaves to make sure it travels all the way down there? Yes, yes he is. And he's flicking more stones at any gang members who weren't smart enough to stop fighting, disabling shots instead of killing ones. There's a moment where he debates pulling together some thunderclouds and calling down a few lightning strikes but he holds off for the moment, not because it'd be too over the top, but because these are normal kids and it could be too dangerous for them.]
Unless you shitty third-strings got a death wish then go home! 'Cause if you don't you're gonna be dealing with me, and I'm starting to feel bored!
[There. That's usually enough to send normal humans running, and scaring the hell out of people is at least a little fun, so he'll let himself have this.]
[ It's a shame that Endo knows Accelerator has no real fighting technique beneath that immense power. He almost looks beautiful like this: that grin, that potential, that demonstration of absolute strength. He'd be lying if he said he didn't want to step in front of him, eclipsing all that he's worried about below, just to draw forth anger and have it fixated upon him. Endo could lose to him — but maybe, just maybe, he could get into his head instead. Stick his hands right into the gaps that surely exist and widen them until he fits himself completely inside. He wants to touch the choker; he wants Accelerator's throat in his hands. He wants to keep him, even if he believes that all this false power is what truly makes him the third-string in this equation.
He is completely and utterly calm. All he does in response to this demonstration is get to his feet and then move backwards, just in case those tornadoes decide to branch out. Like Accelerator, there's now a grin on his face, and this time it hints to something else beneath the surface — something wild that Endo is keeping maintained.
He still has the crutch in his hand, fingers resting over the switches he was examining before Accelerator so rudely decided to interrupt their conversation. As he watches these dramatics, he assesses speed, force, and the possibility of Accelerator's abilities extending beyond mere tornadoes. Then he weighs how likely it would be for him to hold his own against him for a while — how much time he could burn before a rock or gust of wind managed to tag him.
Below, there's more chaos than before. Everyone is scrambling over each other, half-fighting, half-attempting to run away. It's easier to pick out the weaker group from the stronger ones now; only the remaining members of Noroshi remain standing, ready, looking up in their direction. Endo makes no motion and they therefore do not disband; in fact, a couple of them grab some guys intent on leaving and land an extra punch or two before they can escape.
And Endo, standing atop this building with a guy who may try to send him flying at any moment now, abruptly moves from approaching a frenzied state of his own to looking inexplicably sappy. ]
I should've brought him.
[ Spoken softly, mostly to himself, with no further elaboration as to who he's talking about, Endo sighs.
He means Takiishi of course. It's hard to imagine him losing any fight, but he has to admit it could be a real possibility in this case — though Takiishi would have better odds than him. Not that it would matter — he knows that Takiishi would have the time of his life fighting this guy. He would smile, without a doubt. He'd be happy.
Ah, but he can't spend too much time thinking about what-ifs. Not when there's a whole meal in front of him, ready to be picked to pieces. ]
I guess we've talked enough for me to decide.
[ He looks down at the commotion below. A couple of guys are trampling over each other in an effort to run. Noroshi is heightening the chaos. For a moment or two, it looks like Accelerator made the situation worse. ]
You're the one who's a [ a brief pause, as though he needs to remember the phrasing ] "fucking asshole."
[ Refusing to have a proper conversation with his "host," interrupting, yelling and chucking rocks at people. Causing panic. The list goes on. ]
[Huh, not all of them are turning tail. That stubbornness is something he's seen in other espers, even low level ones, but powerless humans usually have enough sense to understand when they're outmatched. Or at least, they become overwhelmed with existential terror of someone who can so easily warp physical laws into something that suits his needs. Do they even have the slightest bit of magic? Or guns? Accelerator can't decide if they're stupid or gutsy.
Or desperate. Hamazura was like that the few times they faced off. He doesn't like the guy, but he respects him for that. Either way, it's something he can dwell on later. Right now he needs to finish this clean up before he runs out of battery time.
He reaches up to the side of his head, sighing and cracking his neck casually. His mind is buzzing with possible strategies, no different than evaluating possible plays in a chess match. Some of them are a lot simpler than others, some of them involving coating the entire street in blood. His more extreme options are dismissed out of necessity - the goal here is to make them all stop fighting and leave, not kill them. As far as he's aware, none of them deserve to die, so he needs to keep on showing restraint.
He's picking through his options when, through the roar of the tornadoes at his back, comes a few soft words. Realizing it's coming from Endo Accelerator lifts his head a bit, curious. 'He'? Who the hell would he want here? Who the hell would anyone want here? That's fucking strange, and might be something he needs to poke at later. For now he just files that away in his memory and exhales, slowly.]
Nah, I'm a lot worse than that.
[He tilts his head back, gaze focusing on Endo, his voice a lazy drawl.]
I'm a fucking monster.
[And then he's gone, stepping off the roof and launching himself at the nearest member of Noroshi like a rocket. Really like a rocket - the parapet under his one foot is crumbling from the force and there's a resounding boom left in his wake.
He slows down before the impact, though, to keep from caving the guy's skull in. Instead the heel of his shoe makes contact with his nose, breaking it and sending him crashing to the ground. Accelerator hits the ground a split second after, amplifying his footfall to break the pavement and send a spiderweb of cracks throughout the street. There's a moment where he knows he should turn and go after the other gang members, for efficiency's sake, but at the last second he decides to pivot and pick up the guy with the newly broken nose by his face.
It's just to scare them some more, is what he's telling himself.]
How about you take a break, huh?
[A squeaky chuckle leaks out of him and the member of Noroshi is suddenly twitching unnaturally. No killing, absolutely no killing a bunch of stupid punks, but he can mess around a little bit with the electrical signals in their brain and make them wish they were dead.]
[ Damn. Endo once tried to jump off a building and look cool while doing it, and it did not go in his favor. He's gotta say, this is the first time throughout this exchange that he's kind of jealous. But he can't dwell on that, because he has to jump back to avoid getting knocked down by the aftershocks of those dramatics; they force him to slide backwards during his landing, which means he's missing the show.
When he walks back to the ruined parapet, he's careful not to fully expose himself, looking over far enough to see but not enough that the rest of him will be fully visible.
It's too bad this guy's all about playing hero. With an attitude and idiosyncrasies like that, he'd fit right into Noroshi. All its members are strong with their own version of unhinged going on, which is exactly why Endo recruited them. They're the kind of stubborn who will stand their ground no matter what — especially if backing down is going to anger Endo (or Takiishi). It's part of the reason why they didn't cower after that first demonstration of power. But not all of them will be keen on dealing with this "monster" up close and personal, as demonstrated by the way they finally stop fighting to stare at Hashirao, the guy who's now dangling from Accelerator's grip, once he starts twitching like he's being zapped by an electrical device.
This is perfect. Despite the fact that several members of Noroshi are going to be out of commission for a while at this rate, Endo is pleased with how everything is unfolding. If they can occupy Accelerator for at least a little while, then he might get to see if his time runs out.
Better them than him.
He pulls out his phone and texts the group, ordering them to send forth one specific member of Noroshi: Banjo, the third-strongest of the gang, right under Endo himself. But he doesn't choose him for his strength. Banjo is the masochist of the group. He lives for pain and loves fighting under the threat of death. He will embrace whatever Accelerator is dishing out, even those (presumably) painful little twitches, and that'll keep Accelerator going for a least a little bit longer.
One member reads the text, gestures at the rest, and everyone starts to back off. Then Banjo moves forward, ready to fight — and probably make all sorts of disturbing comments in the meanwhile, which Endo hopes will throw Accelerator off a tiny bit before he puts Banjo to sleep.
With that done, Endo walks back toward the stairwell, taking his time to descend. ]
[That no one backs down after that stunt is, in Accelerator's opinion, fucking bewildering. One punk steps up and the others falls back, but no one actually leaves. Crazy. Completely crazy.
Accelerator has never fought a masochist before. People who made a living out of fighting, sure, and tons of arrogant, cocky idiots, but never an actual masochist. Even the literal god he had taken on in England, playful as she had started out, began to take him seriously once he was able to injure her. This guy is just genuinely into getting wailed on in a fight. It's a strange sensation, inflicting physical violence on someone who wants it.
Humans really are screwed up creatures, aren't they?
Of course, he can't go all out despite that, and to begin with he's thrown off by this new kind of opponent. But rationality tips over into desire and Accelerator decides to indulge himself a little more. Objectively, he understands violence is a bad thing. It screws up relationships, ruins lives, and it can utterly destroy people. He understands that his capacity for it and the ease at which he can slide into a mindset where it's enjoyable to crush other people is part of what makes him so monstrous. He isn't going to forget that any time soon, but he's never encountered a situation where someone could come out of a fight with him happy.
Especially not when that someone can spout remarks that are even more crude than what he can come up with. He can get pretty raunchy with his insults as a form of intimidation, so when the trash talking starts flying he doesn't bother holding back. He drops the scale of his ability down, avoiding quick one shots like the bioelectricity trick and cutting the wind tornadoes off, and instead plays around with his meal by manipulating air currents to knock Banjo off-balance and enhancing his own physical speed and strength. It still requires him to overwhelm with pure force, since his poor technique isn't just limited to punches (raising the question of whether Accelerator has ever been in a real fight without his ability), but he has fun regardless.
He's going to beat Banjo, no doubt about that, but he's going to waste a lot of time fooling around before getting around to that.]
i'm so glad you know & appreciate him - he's such a trip!
[ Although Endo has had a large part in influencing the way Accelerator's visit has gone thus far, and although he planned for the variety of ways it could pan out, he didn't at all expect to see Accelerator willingly pull himself back while fighting. As the theatrics come to a close and Banjo begins to look like he's completely in his element, Endo is surprised to see that Accelerator also seems to be fighting for the thrill of it. Which of course means that he's wasting more time, an even better result than he anticipated. On top of that, Banjo's loyalty should be nice and bolstered after they're done. There's nothing like a fight perfectly catered to his interests being handed over on a silver platter.
Unfortunately, this also means that the fight has become less interesting for Endo as a whole, because watching Accelerator do anything other than dangerous, flashy tricks leaves so much to be desired that some small piece of Endo hopes that he doesn't run out of time, simply because he thinks the real version of this guy is going to be pathetic — worse than those no-name Bofurin kids running around all the time. At least they know how to throw a punch. But there's still plenty to be gained from this, and once Endo is near enough to watch the fight, he stops, his attention focused — though he continues to idly play with the crutch.
He allows them to have their fun for as long as it's serving his purposes, but once Banjo is pretty hurt and his mood starts to dip, as Endo always figured it would if he were pushed far enough, he claps his hands to interrupt — a slow applause. The sound isn't quite as startling as he wants it to be, since the crutch gets in the way, but it's enough for Banjo to look at him with wide, wild eyes. He stops babbling about death and allows himself to collapse to the floor. ]
Look at that. He's crying.
[ And sure enough, he is! Though whether it is out of bliss or fear — or both — isn't something Endo cares about. It's probably pleasure, with the way he's shivering all over. Maybe Endo will keep Accelerator on the backburner as a nice reward for him in the future — especially since they both seemed to have enjoyed themselves. Two birds, one stone. ]
He looks like he had the time of his life. I'm starting to feel left out.
[ This is a risk, albeit a calculated one. He doesn't know how much time this guy has left, but he can't send more Noroshi members his way. Accelerator has already taken a few of them out, so their numbers are going to be suffering for a while the future. Plus, he does want to assess Accelerator for himself and see if he can get his fingers on that collar, even for a brief moment. The only good way to do that is to go back-and-forth with him a little. But if Accelerator keeps his power toned down and Endo is light on his feet — if he frames it as friendly (enough) sparring match — then he's confident he can draw it and stay mostly uninjured.
So he spreads his arms, grins as though he's been waiting for this moment, and says: ]
Punch me.
Edited 2025-07-05 09:42 (UTC)
I'm reading Endo's chapters too he's such a little weirdo lol his faces are amazing
[It's entirely possible that the Will of the Network, the main presence allowing him use of the Sisters' processing power, will get fussed about this later. But it isn't as if he's sliding back into old habits - he's pulling his punches, he's doing this to break up a large fight before it gets too dangerous. These kids will be nursing bruises and some broken bones, but he isn't ruining anyone's life or ending it.
He isn't falling back into that same darkness. He's just letting himself have a bit of a release. It's some fun. A screwed up kind of fun, yes, but still just some fun. If the Will has a problem with it, he'll deal with her later.
(Which means get bullied by her, but such is life.)
There's a buzz starting up in Accelerator's head, the same energizing kind of feeling he gets when he first downs a can of coffee, though it's abruptly interrupted by the clapping. Banjo stops and he stops, glancing over in surprise, having expected this to go on until one of them (Banjo) was knocked out. There's a wild glint in his eyes, as well as a twitch indicating irritation. He doesn't want an interruption, and he only stops and listens because it's Endo, and that guy is still a big question mark in his mind.]
........
[His gaze trails back over to Banjo, seeing the tears in his eyes. He's unmoved. That isn't an unusual reaction from his opponents, though in the past it's always been because of fear. This guy is probably going to get off on it, or something. Accelerator focuses back on Endo, absently flexing his fingers. The option to ignore him and go finish off this fight crosses his mind.
It's summarily squashed. It isn't as fun finishing off someone as it is wrecking the hell out of someone opening his arms to him in the exact same way Kihara Amata did the night he tried to kill him. The memories of that ugly night bubble up and there's a smirk on his face, but it isn't a happy one.]
Tche. It's your funeral, bastard.
[He lunges at Endo, swinging his fist at his face in an incredibly telegraphed punch. His reflection is still readjusted to prevent any permanent injuries, and at the last second he drops it around his fist to allow him to actually make contact, instead of Endo hitting the field a few centimetres above his skin. It's fine, he's still reinforcing the rest of the body and can alter the signals of his neurons so it won't hurt himself.]
he's SO unhinged, you're in store for some good (aka crazy) stuff!
[ That wild stare, and the subsequent smirk, seizes Endo's full attention, the rest of Noroshi completely eclipsed. A thrill travels up his spine and he grows excited, despite the danger involved in what he's welcoming. It isn't the result of his arrogance. He isn't stupid; he knows that if he goes up against someone who is so overpowered, they never tire, lose their abilities, or fall under someone else's control, then he really doesn't stand a chance. He's exceptional at dodging, to the point where he is almost never touched by an opponent while fighting; he therefore has the confidence that he can carry on that way for a while, though things may get a little tight if he has to start dodging weather events in the process. But he has his own limitations, too. If Accelerator never slows down, then Endo will be the one who loses in the end.
But it's been a long time since he last felt all the emotions that come with being in real danger. It's been years since the rollercoaster of emotions he's felt since meeting Takiishi have included the flip-flop of something akin to anxiety in his stomach. Takiishi has almost killed him a few times over; this guy could very well do the same. And even though Endo has labeled all that power as false, he's always been drawn to that which makes him feel. And in this moment, feeling is all he's doing.
Still, even as Accelerator lunges and swings, Endo doesn't react in the way a normal person would when faced with a dangerous opponent. That's something he's never done, and he isn't going to start now. Rather, his grin grows a little wild — and as Accelerator aims for his face, he doesn't move at all.
He takes the full punch.
He also moves back with the force of it, skidding to a halt and wiping at the blood that now stains his lip. Then he laughs, a burst of an obnoxious sound that carries on for a beat too long. ]
That was a strong punch, but somehow still the worst I've ever felt.
[ Endo may win all his fights, but he has a lot of experience in getting punched. Takiishi whales on him all the time, and Endo always lets him. His tolerance for hard hits and the pain that results is pretty damn high, regardless of his own dominance during brawls. That's why it's so easy for him to lick at his now-bloodied fingers and maintain his cool.
His choice to take the punch was an indulgence first and foremost, but it was also strategic. Endo is gauging speed, initial force, and the way Accelerator's (lack of a) technique looks when it's directed at him. He's determining what he needs to do to spend the next several minutes evading — and deciding whether or not he has a chance at getting to the collar.
All the while, he keeps the crutch in his hand. ]
C'mon, man. You've got to do better than that.
[ And if he can play upon Accelerator's emotions to open up room for exploitation, then Endo is going to do that, too. ]
[That impact feels pretty great. It's a different sensation than flesh hitting his reflection, in those cases nothing ever actually touches him. His brain senses the vectors - a very bizarre form of ESP, essentially - and automatically flips the direction of them one hundred and eighty degrees, so neither party experiences any physical contact. That in itself has its ups and downs, though right now Accelerator isn't considering the disadvantages.
In that split second after the impact the only thing that enters his mind is that Level 0. Accelerator has rarely ever bothered to attack people without using his reflection or handgun, but Kamijou has neither and has spent who know how long of his life in fights. Is this the same kind of satisfaction he feels when he punches someone? When they were fighting months ago in the train yard? Probably not, since he was desperately fighting to save the life of #10 032 --
The sound of laughter cuts that thought off, and Accelerator refocuses on Endo, what he's saying. That laughter.
What the hell?
He's dumbfounded. How can he still be acting so casual after getting punched square in the face?]
..........
[His gaze flicks briefly down to his right hand, still in the shape of a fist. Wasn't that the same way Kamijou punched? Of course, it's been a while since he's been on the receiving end of that fist, but he's sure what he did wasn't any different. Plus, with it being enhanced by his esper ability, how could it be the worst??
It isn't that he has much of an ego, and most of his pride was beaten out of him in the train yard. Regardless, Accelerator clicks his tongue in irritation. Nobody likes being mocked, and after the performance he's been putting on it's baffling to see Endo not even be a tiny bit concerned for his well-being. The hell, is this guy a masochist just like that previous dumbass?
Maybe they're all just nuts. Is it worth dwelling on, especially right now? No, not really. He can think about all this later when he's alone, as right now he isn't really in the mood to be picking apart behaviour and body language. He just really wants the satisfaction of punching that smirk off Endo's face. So yeah, he comes at him again, his grin fading as he takes this a bit more seriously. He remembers Kamijou hitting him with some type of hook punch, so he's doing his best to remember the motions and trying that next.]
absolutely! also "maybe they're all just nuts" < real
[ Endo catches Accelerator's brief glance at his own fist. He takes that as a sign that he's successfully getting into his head — just a little, but a little is all he really needs. His goal isn't to win by force or prove his ability to take punches; all he wants to do is buy time. And if his dodging around leads Accelerator to think that he is nimble but not very strong, then he'll likely be underestimated, which will work to his advantage if he ends up needing to get serious.
But despite having this planned out in his head — despite preparing himself for the various possible paths this fight may take in the end — Endo's excitement is heightening. Watching Accelerator's grin fade makes his heart pound in his chest; it gets his blood moving, because he knows that for all Accelerator's shortcomings, this is still going to be good, for as long as the fight lasts. And Endo hasn't had good in a long time.
He lets the next punch come so close to hitting him that he feels the rush of air on his face. Then, at the last possible moment, he slides out of the way with impressive litheness for someone so tall. Still grinning, albeit a little wildly now, he says brightly: ]
Whoa, that was close!
[ Then, quickly, he goes in for a crappy punch of his own, swinging in a way that he would never under any other circumstance. It's a sloppy movement, and he goes as far as barely missing Accelerator — as well as the small space around him that Endo has judged to be too dangerous to risk entering. ]
Huh. I guess it's been a while since I tried that.
[ He looks down at his own fist as though it has betrayed him.
Noroshi is still watching, though they've moved further back toward the sidelines. Despite Endo's botched fighting, none of them say a word. They watch wide-eyed and silently, and don't even smile, though Endo knows a few of them would, if they didn't already know that Endo would be very angry if they gave anything away. ]
Lemme go again.
[ Though he says this, he's relaxed in demeanor once more and doesn't bother to raise his fists. But man, is he nearly vibrating with anticipation of Accelerator's next move. ]
[If it wasn't for his brain running the calculations needed to keep himself balanced, Accelerator would be stumbling from such a close miss. If it was even close, though that consideration is overwhelmed by a flare of frustration for not getting a second hit in. It's partly directed towards himself for missing, partly towards Endo for being agile enough to avoid it.
He doesn't have any time to dwell on it, seeing Endo's counter coming at him (because it's obvious enough that any poor fighter would recognize it). Reflexively, he takes a couple of steps backwards. It isn't much, but it's leagues better than his old strategy of allowing his reflection to handle each and every attack. Narrowing his eyes, he doesn't look impressed.
His pulse is thrumming in his ears. Turns out Banjo was a good warm-up for him - unlike fighting those other kids, he actually put in some effort. His adrenaline is high, and that's lowering his tolerance for casual bullshit.]
Tche.
[He doesn't let Endo have another try. The guy isn't even readying another attack, and Accelerator is feeling more than a little impatient. Is it really a fight if he just waits around for his opponent to figure out what their next move is going to be? No, it isn't, it's just pathetic. He wants to punch him again, not be friendly.
There's that click of his tongue and closes the distance between them again. His second punch didn't land so he lowers his aim to Endo's solar plexus. While his knowledge of fighting isn't great, he is familiar with biology, and he knows a hit to the solar plexus means hitting the diaphragm, which can knock the air out of a person's lungs. Landing that means he could follow up with another attack - maybe a kick into the nearest wall? Or sending him flying into those other gang members - he isn't sure, but his mind is eagerly running through the potential options.]
[ Endo doesn't have much time to decide how he wants to receive this next attack, but his mind works through it quickly. He could take it full-on, continuing to lean into the impression that he sucks at fighting, he could dodge it entirely, or he could choose an approach between the two.
He really doesn't want to be injured in any significant way, and letting himself get severely winded will trend in that direction. If he can't breathe, or if the force makes him double over, then it'll be easy for Accelerator to follow up with a more serious attack. But if he slides out of the way again, his skills may become a little too obvious, his bad performance called into question — which could then lead to Accelerator turning it up a notch. Better to ride a careful line somewhere between the two.
As Accelerator's fist flies toward him yet again, Endo jumps back a step, rather than to the side. It's an attempt to escape the attack that is only partially effective. Accelerator hits him right where he intends, hard enough that Endo makes a strangled sound without quite meaning to, but not enough to temporarily paralyze his diaphragm. It winds him, and his first breath thereafter wheezes into his chest, but he gets air in, which is enough for him to brace himself for whatever Accelerator chooses to do next.
And enough for him to tremble, visibly, that grin still on his face, color now dusting his cheeks. He's exhilarated — and he wants more. ]
Better.
[ Is all he says; his voice is a little strained, but he still manages to drag out the word, which in turn makes him sound like he's deriving some pleasure from this. And he is! Though it isn't for the same reasons as Banjo — not that he cares if Accelerator realizes that or not.
Despite his amped energy and winded state, he knows another attack is coming fast, and so he doesn't let up on bracing himself. For the next hit, Endo tentatively plans to block it with his forearm, whether it's another punch, a kick, or a knee. It won't be the first time he's taken the full brunt of an attack against his arm; the maneuver is yet another under-the-radar talent of his. Doing so will allow a couple of seconds for him to recover further and then make another move of his own, but whether or not he'll be successful entirely depends on how much of that false force Accelerator puts into his move. As long as he continues to to fight as he is, then Endo should be able to pull it off — but he remains ready to change up his technique on the fly. ]
[The punch lands, and again there's another burst of satisfaction as he actually gets to feel the impact of it through his hand, this time with the added bonus of knocking that noise out of Endo. That was pretty great, not on par with people begging him for mercy or anything, but still wonderful to hear in its own way. There's a familiar sensation in the pit of his stomach, the desire for more of that, though he's almost distracted from it when he looks up at Endo's face.
It's entirely possible for someone to be in charge without being strong themselves. Most of the Board of Directors are like that, just useless adults relying on money or connections instead of any personal qualities they have. Accelerator seriously doubts any of them could throw a punch, but they don't need to in order to command all the people underneath them. They have other means of control, and from Endo's lackluster performance so far that's what he thinks this situation is.
That Banjo guy had been a better fighter than him. Accelerator isn't even moving as fast as he could be and he still isn't dodging everything, yet he's acting like he's the one here with more fighting experience. Seeing Endo's face - the bastard even looks happy about it, no doubts there. He's smiling and the tone of his voice, it all feels condescending to Accelerator. He doesn't need some asshole running commentary on whether or not his punches are any good.
A scowl settles onto his face as he shifts his weight to adjust for the change in momentum as he rotates his arm and swings his upwards, an uppercut aimed at Endo's chin. That Level 0 had done such a move on him months ago back in the train yard, and it had hurt so much it's basically burned into his brain.
.............. Of course, part of the reason for that was he was so unused to being touched that his nerves were highly sensitive, but his body has gotten slightly more adjusted to physical contact since then. It's whatever, he had deserved getting socked, so he may as well put that knowledge to good use.]
That's the thought that immediately springs to mind when Accelerator goes for an uppercut. Endo could try to block it, but the effort would be sloppier than he would like to risk. A head-on punch or kick would've been easier — and if his block had been successful, he could have attempted to shove that momentum back at Accelerator. But now he has no choice but to dodge again — though he executes the move differently this time.
The clock is ticking and Endo has no idea when, or if, Accelerator will hit a time limit. He can't overplay his hand, but he also can't risk Accelerator getting frustrated enough to amp his abilities up again. Technically, all this playing around was to make Accelerator underestimate him; if he was successful, even a small amount, he might be able to get a solid hit in of his own. So far, it hasn't seemed as though Accelerator has a barrier up in that space immediately around him — but it's still a risk. He may be able to get it up before Endo lands his hit.
He doesn't have time to overthink any of it. So when he dodges, he does so with more agility than he put on display this first time. The uppercut doesn't miss him just by a hair; it doesn't come close to hitting him. Then, banking everything on a single counterattack of his own, Endo pulls back his fist and aims it right at Accelerator's face. He puts everything he has into this punch, intended to hit much faster and harder than he usually does during his fights, since stunning or otherwise incapacitating Accelerator is the only path forward, short of his choker malfunctioning or otherwise shutting down. If Accelerator blocks it or sends that force back him, then Endo has a good chance of being pummeled into the ground, which would be pretty damn crappy, considering that he's completely uninterested in losing to that false strength.
But the risk is invigorating all the same. Though his grin doesn't falter, his focus hones in and allows him to unleash as precise a hit as possible within his unaugmented limits. ]
[Fully expecting the uppercut to land, shock hits Accelerator full force when he swings upwards and only hits air. That's followed by a frustrated noise - he missed? How the hell did he miss? This guy isn't that good of a fighter - and a lack of attention paid towards the counter from Endo.
His reflection is still up, albeit toned down to avoid any death or serious injuries, so dodging to avoid a direct punch to the face doesn't occur to him. This guy isn't that Level 0, he isn't even Kihara with that goddamned counter move. It's fine, his reflection can tank it and redirect the force of the punch back into Endo's arm, and he can use that opportunity for another attack -
There's only one problem, and it occurs to Accelerator as Endo's fist hits the very edge of his reflection. His eyes widen and suddenly he's ducking back, cursing under his breath.]
Shit.
[The use of his ability snaps Accelerator back to reality, the realization of the amount of time spent on this fighting clicking in his mind. His gaze drops down to his right forearm, where the arm cuff of his crutch would normally be.
Oh, this isn't good. This really isn't good. Endo still has it.
Abruptly, Accelerator's demeanour shifts from offensive to... what, retreating? He takes several steps backwards, uncharacteristically backing away as his hand flies to his choker. It isn't just that he's running low on time, it's bad enough that he's nearly drained the entire battery. There's maybe half a minute of esper mode left, which still translates to a just under an hour of normal mode, so he's getting to the point where he needs to charge the damn thing. The small charger for the battery is in his back pocket, so he needs to find somewhere private with an outlet soon.
Accelerator keeps on moving away until his hand finds a streetlight decorated in graffiti, then he stops to lean a shoulder against it. The reason for such strange behaviour will quickly become apparent when he hits the switch on the calculation assistance device, the light on it going from red to green as it changes back to normal mode. His legs wobble a bit as the support he had to stand through his ability fades, and he gives Endo a sharp, expectant look.]
Give me my crutch back.
Edited (Sorry for the late edit I got super curious about the battery time and did some math to make it more accurate (lmaooo Accy is screwed).) 2025-07-09 15:41 (UTC)
[ During that fleeting contact with Accelerator's barrier, Endo genuinely thinks he's fucked up. He believes he miscalculated and that he's going to end up with a broken hand. That'd suck for a variety of obvious reasons, but what really has an impact on him — what makes his eyes widen and his stomach clench in anticipation — is the prospect of returning to Takiishi so injured. No one has even beaten him to the extent that he needs professional medical attention. But it isn't embarrassment, nor even the fact that he'll have to explain himself, that bothers him. It's the apathy he'll see in Takiishi's eyes as a result — and the answer that Endo knows he'll receive if he asks, Wanna come with me to the hospital? That'd be the last thing that Takiishi would want to do.
But all that flashes through his mind quickly — the shock, the flip-flop of anxiety, the realization — and then Accelerator is pulling back. Endo's hand remains uncrushed. He'll be able to punch again.
As for Accelerator — well, isn't that nice. He's retreating, or more like scrambling, with how his hands fly to his choker. It seems that Endo was not only right, but played this perfectly, down to the second. He's feeling pretty damn good about himself as he watches the choker's color indicator, admiring the visual confirmation of his plan coming to fruition.
And not a moment too soon. Endo seamlessly transitions from battling his own little internal hitch to straightening and casually brushing off his clothes. He's in no rush to finish this now that Accelerator is on the defensive. He's going to take his time — and keep the hostage he still holds. ]
Huh?
[ He asks this as if he doesn't hear the demand, then begins walking toward Accelerator and his streetlight, albeit very slowly. His pace is deliberate, his demeanor smug. ]
We're in the middle of a fight, man. You can't throw it 'cause you feel like it.
[ He holds the crutch out and sweeps it in a half-circle to indicate the onlookers around them. The remaining members of Noroshi still stand at the ready. In fact, they look a lot more pumped now — almost like Accelerator pissed them off and they're itching for revenge. ]
You beat a lot of guys up today.
[ He doesn't miss the wobbling of Accelerator's legs, nor how heavily he uses that streetlight as support. He's gotta admit, it is amusing how Accelerator played big and bad with that false (and limited) power of his, only to expect Endo to play by his rules now that he's the one at a disadvantage.
[Despite having to switch to be on the defensive, Accelerator doesn't look scared. If anything he looks even more focused than before - being at a disadvantage means he can't screw around anymore. Now's the time to be careful and start thinking things through.
His pulse is still pounding in his ears and he's locked on Endo as he slowly closes the distance between them, his gaze following the motion of his crutch over to the remaining gang members before darting back to Endo. It's an incredibly quick movement that only serves to appraise their numbers and not whether any of them are a threat. They aren't, not in his mind, regardless of their numebrs. From his experiences with the dark side of his own city, including the gangs, taking out the leader is a potential way to get the rest to back off. Skill Out had done just that after he had killed Komaba, and right now it's clear Endo is his equivalent. His eyes narrow, his gaze intensifying as his mind calculates several strategies and the rough probability of success for each of them based on how things have gone so far.
He has thirty seconds of esper mode left, Endo in front of him, the rest of the gang off to the side. From what he's seen, Endo isn't much of a fighter. He must be leading through charisma or, judging by his tattoos, maybe he's got connections to some criminal underworld. He should be able to knock him out by touching him, and if he does that there's a chance at least a number of the others will back down. A few might be too nuts to do so, like that goth punk, but they're all in small enough numbers he should at least be able to manipulate another few tornadoes into knocking them out or off their feet. That'd give him time to get to the next street over, where he could switch back to normal mode and leave.
... It'd be cutting it close. He'd have to find the nearest internet cafe or something to charge the choker battery in private, and he'd have to do it all in normal mode. There's the option to just run, but he'd have to switch back to normal mode and there's a chance they would simply follow him.
Okay, plan set. He's got this.]
I went easy on them. [They're all still alive, he's very proud of himself for that. Accelerator waves his hand dismissively, shifting his lean against the streetlight slightly.] I don't give two shits about the rest of you, so give me my crutch back and I'll leave.
[There, that's a completely reasonable trade he's offering. He isn't convinced Endo will take it, but it's something.]
he's a complete menace but he only wants (1) thing in life....
[ Endo hums as he finishes making his way over to Accelerator, as though considering his defense, which is honestly pretty boring. It takes away from the thrill that he was starting to feel when he saw that look in his eyes. And though he thinks that Accelerator is either a shut-in in his normal life or incredibly deluded, given that he's failing to see why his arguments are worth nothing after everything he did while he was riding high and mighty, he still takes him seriously enough to stop with a little distance remaining between them. He isn't a fool; he doesn't take anything at face value.
Besides, it's more fun to hold the crutch just out of reach, allowing it to dangle loosely from his hand. ]
You don't spend a lot of time with other people, do you?
[ He's making an educated guess. Technically, Endo is supportive of the whole not-caring-about-other-people approach to life. It's his opinion that Takiishi's absolute lack of interest in anyone but himself is the key to his strength as a fighter. The difference is that Takiishi truly doesn't care — and doesn't even try to pretend otherwise. If he were in Accelerator's place, he would've swooped in, put everyone down for the count, and left. No monologues, no appeals, no bragging or inflated opinions. Accelerator's punch may have the capacity to be many times stronger than Takiishi's, but it will never hit as hard — because he's wrapped up in the drama of it all. He's stuck in the muck of his own ego.
There's nothing so devastating as being punched by someone with a blank look on his face. Nothing hurts more than being beaten into the ground by someone who truly doesn't care. Endo would know. He's been on the receiving end many times.
Truthfully, he doesn't give two shits about Accelerator either. All that excitement he felt wasn't for him specifically; it was the challenge that his false power provided. It was that choker. Accelerator might as well be a gnat; as soon as his juice is all gone, Endo could crush him with ease — but why would he bother, when he's so insignificant like this: barely standing and yet clutching desperately to a minimal amount of perceived power. ]
You're pretty bad at this, so I'm gonna help you out. You better shut up, and fast, because everything coming out of your mouth is only adding fuel to the fire that's about to consume you.
[ As always, he remains loose in body language, relaxed as he gives this lecture. ]
You beat the crap out of our own, which we're already pissed about, and you're going to say that was going easy on 'em? You chose to pick these last few fights, involving yourself in something that had nothing to do with you, and you're gonna say you don't give two shits? You stopped fighting because you ran out of strength, but you sure as hell didn't stop knowing that no one else was as strong as you. It was all fine when you were doing the overpowering, but it ain't cool if you're about to be overpowered.
[ Endo laughs. He finds Accelerator's lack of logic genuinely funny. The guy has absolutely nothing going for him without his choker. Endo's losing interest in the device on principle alone — what's the point of it, if it'll just make the wearer complacent and weak in the long run? Look at what it's done to him.
But hey. He can be a fair guy when he wants to be. He'll throw a bone, even though Accelerator can't seem to conceptualize the ways in which he's been unfair. ]
Give me one good reason to call them off, and I will.
[ He'll do it, too. But it has to be an actual reason, or an offering, or a deal that really wows him. Because otherwise it's only fair to give him exactly what he gave. ]
brb having Accy break Endo's arm so he can take him to the hospital
[He's being given a choice? Accelerator blinks at that, surprised at the offer.
The easiest option would be to just crush everyone here. The next would be his plan to knock Endo out and leave. By far the hardest option for himself would be to try and talk his way out, and because of that he'd love to just dismiss the offer outright. Who wouldn't want to take the easy option when it's right there? But... it's the option that offers the least amount of violence, and what was it the Will of the Network had told him?
"You are the #1 monster, so isn’t the most comfortable thing for you easy conflict and easy violence followed by easy victory /escape?"
He's quiet as he listens to Endo, really listens to him. He isn't wrong about getting involved in something that wasn't his business -- he could've easily left the fighting alone, for better or for worse. By choosing to get involved, especially in the way that he did, that's on him. The consequences of that choice are on him, not anyone else.
“Struggle for someone’s sake /return. Struggle in the way that is truly hardest for you /return."
So whether or not he responds to this using violence, that's his choice too. And those consequences are on him as well.
"And if you take the easy road out and became a monster, I will throw you into a hell several sizes larger than you are imagining /return.”
Goddamnit.
He claps a hand to his forehead and sighs heavily. Shockingly, he doesn't make the slightest attempt at arguing.]
You're right. I'm not good at this. I'm the last person who should be telling anyone what to do.
[Ugh, he wishes that Level 0 was around. He's so much better at talking to people, he has actual friends. Chances are if he was here there'd still be a fight, but Accelerator is utterly confident in his ability to somehow de-escalate situations through violence where no one gets permanently hurt and everyone gets a happy ending. He isn't like that. Like the Will had told him, he struggles.]
... If you seriously think that I'm powerless just because this thing - [He jabs a finger at his choker] - is running low on battery, you're dead wrong.
[There's no point in trying to hide it. Given the subject matter - his strength - it's clear to anyone with eyes that the two are intrinsically tied together. He still isn't sure why his doctor added that stupid light to the choker, but he has to just deal with it. Besides, his brain injury and just about everything that goes along with it are common knowledge back home. This isn't the first time he's had to talk about it to an opponent, and that softens the blow.]
I'm not. The problem is, as far as I can see, you're just a bunch of delinquents. None of you deserve to die, not even that masochist, as much as he might beg for it. If you walk away right now, the most anyone's gonna have is some bruises, maybe a sprain or two, and a killer headache in the morning. You'll gonna walk away in one piece. But if you don't, the probability that someone will die is gonna skyrocket. I'm not exaggerating, and I'm not gonna put any blame on whoever gets killed. It'll be my fault and only my fault for not being more careful, but that's just the reality of it.
[He isn't sure. He really isn't sure. His wings don't require any calculation effort on his part, meaning the device can be in normal mode or powered down and they can still manifest -- and that's the problem. Those things require a certain mindset, and he's uncertain he'll get to that point. There's a chance he won't. But if he does and those things come out, and he doesn't have the presence of mind to contain the damage that they can do --
It would be bad. Unpleasant memories of crushing Kihara, tearing up the Russian countryside, nearly ripping apart law enforcement back in the city flash through his head. Shifting some more, he slumps with his back against the streetlight and drags his hand down his face.]
I messed up. I should've given more thought to whether or not I should get involved. And since I did, I should've just knocked everyone out in the first few minutes instead of screwing around. [Instead of having fun. Very rude of him to do that.]
he should break it bc it's what endo deserves for being Like This after that genuine effort
[ This is the worst please-let-me-go speech that Endo has ever heard.
He was angling for something like a bribe, or information, or anything, really, that wasn't a weird self-depreciating yet still egotistical acceptance of his chiding. Yeah, he pointed out Accelerator's flaws and lack of logic, but it wasn't to get him to renege on his actions. These negotiations usually end in full-on groveling, frantically rambled bank account numbers, or juicy pieces of knowledge that will benefit Endo in the long run.
The longer Accelerator speaks, the more Endo looks at him like he's the unhinged one in this interaction. At the end, he motions at Noroshi, sending them on their way, but it's not because he's giving in to the guy's monologue. If he really gets into the thick of it, that's not even a true acceptance of his lecture, since he's still on the I'm-gonna-kill-you kick, only softened.
It's not that he doesn't believe Accelerator. He's seen enough of what he can do to take his warnings seriously, even if he's still going to laugh in the face of them. Which he does. He laughs, again. ]
You got it wrong, man. What you did was great. It helped me kill some time and have a little fun. All fights should be chaotic, otherwise they'd get stale. It's kind of a buzzkiller that you're going back on all that.
[ He abruptly becomes very serious — some would even say scarily so: ]
It's your attitude. You're pathetic underneath all that power, and everything that comes out of your mouth makes it worse.
[ But he transitions away from that easily, brightening a little too quickly thereafter. ]
Alright! I've got a deal for you. Let me punch you. Just once, no barrier. Then I'll give you your crutch and let you go back where you came from.
oho we could do that!! either via reflection or Accy's black wings
[His eyes flick back over to the other gang members, silent as he watches them leave. Did that work? Did that seriously work?
He isn't good at speaking. He isn't charismatic, he's never been and he has no idea how other people can manage something like that. Being honest seemed like the most difficult option for him, the riskiest but also the one that would result in the least amount of bloodshed, and he was fully expecting it to fail. But they're leaving, they're going who-knows-where and that means those kids, at least, don't stand a chance of being killed today.
Accelerator is grateful for that and glances back over at Endo. He isn't leaving. That's okay. This is better than he hoped. He doesn't bat an eye at being called pathetic (self-loathing is a bitch), instead making some mental notes about Endo. This is giving him some interesting insight on the guy, stuff to think about later. Strange how this is the only time he's seen him be serious. That change is shut on and off like a light switch, and it's a little unsettling.
But more importantly --
Just one punch? That's it? Accelerator stares back, shocked that he's getting off so easily. One punch even without his reflection is okay, he can handle that. It's hardly comparable to some of the things he did to Endo's subordinates. It doesn't take him any time to consider the offer, with the shock on his face fading he gives a firm nod.]
Okay. Fine.
[He pushes away from the streetlight, legs still trembling, so that the pole is no longer behind him. It would suck for this to be a punch to the face and his head got bashed into the metal -- he doesn't want another brain injury. Moving so it's next to him, he rests a hand against it so he still has a bit of support.]
One punch.
let's do it! endo deserves to be humbled a little and that prob won't happen with anyone else
[ He tosses the crutch over to where Accelerator was leaning against the streetlight before he moved to the side, essentially handing it over ahead of time, overly confident that this guy is going to be true to his word. He seemed pretty earnest in that terrible speech of his, and despite his many shortcomings, he does seem to operate on some kind of moral scale. Endo's also confident that if he does go back on his word, this won't be the end of this little situation of theirs. His strengths don't end with fighting.
But! No need to worry about that now. Once the crutch is out of his hands, he closes the gap between himself and Accelerator at that same lazy pace as before.
He does indeed intend for this to be a punch to the face, and he also believes that Accelerator will underestimate the force of it. He put on a show of being shoddy at fighting, so there's no reason for him to believe that this punch is really going to hurt. That's why Endo's looking at this like a twofold gotcha: making it clear he's actually good at fighting, while also humbling him a little once his shield is down.
He knows that it's still just a punch, no matter how much power he puts into it. He isn't doing the damage that Accelerator is capable of; but this isn't about revenge. Contrary to what many think, he doesn't care about petty matters like that.
He raises his fist up high and takes his time in winding up correctly — from the base of his stance, his core, his arms, all the way into his fist. He puts full momentum into the punch, and when he drives his fist down, he does so quickly, intending the impact to be both fast and incredibly hard. It's a finisher move, though there's nothing to finish — except for Accelerator's ego. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
But as for holding it out and casually dangling it over the edge as he engages in an expressive conversation? That may have crossed his mind, just to see what kind of reaction it would draw forth. But hey, he's a fair guy — if it's off limits, then it's off limits.
For the most part.
When Accelerator finally hands it over, Endo begins examining it, turning it over in his hands and getting a good look at everything. He goes so far as to press the most obvious switch, the one he saw Accelerator use earlier, to extend the crutch. By the time Accelerator makes his demand, Endo is busy tapping the ground with it.
He looks up with mild, feigned surprise, as though just remembering that there's a violent brawl beneath them. He has the impulse to laugh, because it's obvious that this guy doesn't do polite conversation, but he chooses instead to say: ]
Oh —
[ He glances down at all the chaos. ]
You know how it goes. [ A sweeping motion of his hand. The free one, since he's nixed the idea of precariously dangling the crutch. ] A group of guys come around, cause some trouble, and then someone's gotta clean it up. That's what we do. It's like a hobby.
[ They're the troublemakers. Not the cleaning crew. This centers around a specific job and the opposing gang has been putting up quite the fight, hence Noroshi's direct involvement.
They're winning now. ]
no subject
He only breaks what he's doing to stare back at Endo, balking at that explanation.]
That's a shitty hobby to have.
[He's not one to talk, his hobbies extend only to reading and sleeping.
Turning his gaze back to the kids below, he finishes his observation and absently reaches up to fiddle with his choker again. He's still got some time, so as long as no one is overly stubborn he's fairly sure he can end this quickly and efficiently. Scooping up some rocks that are near where he's sitting, he starts tossing one into the air, over and over again.]
Clean up, huh? [That's with the distinct tone of, "I hate having to clean up other people's messes."]
no subject
Noting the tone, he says: ]
It's a hassle but someone's gotta do it. It helps the guys blow off some steam, too.
[ The best lies have truths buried within them, and this is one of them. Noroshi — and the other gangs under Endo's umbrella — need the chance to stretch their legs and move their fists, even when things are relatively quiet. They'd get antsy otherwise, and antsy gang members cause trouble.
Likely, Accelerator will know the truth by the time their meeting ends. At some point, Endo will have to make a move, whether prompting him into a fight or trying to get his hands on that collar — but who knows? Maybe they'll end this amicably and Endo will keep his number handy for some future fun. Ultimately, though, if the guy were to do any digging on him, he'd easily uncover Endo's status as a legend and the fact that he's never cleaned up for the greater good.
He watches Accelerator toss the rocks into the air, imagining the force with which he could throw them down below — how easily he could stop a person in their tracks. ]
What do you do with all your power?
[ Fight for justice? Put down brawls? He used the word massacre before, and Endo has to wonder if that involves real casualties, not exaggeration. It's clear he came here to interrupt the fighting, so it's safe to catalogue him as a wannabe hero at the bare minimum — but Endo thinks there's more to it.
He adds, as though it makes his point: ]
You gotta do something with it.
no subject
This time he doesn't look over at Endo.]
Shut up.
[He's right. He needs to do something about this. It's annoying, but as the strongest esper he feels obligated to stop these dumbasses. Clicking his tongue, Accelerator hauls himself to his feet. If he's going to do this, then he may as well do it properly.
'Properly' meaning 'extra as hell,' because an absolutely unhinged grin is lighting up his face and he's stomping a foot on the parapet as four small tornadoes explode from his back like windy wings. If the booming noise doesn't get their attention he's still rolling the rocks around in his palm, tossing one into the air once more before flicking it at the nearest fighter. It speeds diagonally downwards like a bullet, nailing him on the leg and sending him toppling over with a surprised yelp.]
Listen up, you fucks!
[Is he altering the vectors of his voice's soundwaves to make sure it travels all the way down there? Yes, yes he is. And he's flicking more stones at any gang members who weren't smart enough to stop fighting, disabling shots instead of killing ones. There's a moment where he debates pulling together some thunderclouds and calling down a few lightning strikes but he holds off for the moment, not because it'd be too over the top, but because these are normal kids and it could be too dangerous for them.]
Unless you shitty third-strings got a death wish then go home! 'Cause if you don't you're gonna be dealing with me, and I'm starting to feel bored!
[There. That's usually enough to send normal humans running, and scaring the hell out of people is at least a little fun, so he'll let himself have this.]
no subject
He is completely and utterly calm. All he does in response to this demonstration is get to his feet and then move backwards, just in case those tornadoes decide to branch out. Like Accelerator, there's now a grin on his face, and this time it hints to something else beneath the surface — something wild that Endo is keeping maintained.
He still has the crutch in his hand, fingers resting over the switches he was examining before Accelerator so rudely decided to interrupt their conversation. As he watches these dramatics, he assesses speed, force, and the possibility of Accelerator's abilities extending beyond mere tornadoes. Then he weighs how likely it would be for him to hold his own against him for a while — how much time he could burn before a rock or gust of wind managed to tag him.
Below, there's more chaos than before. Everyone is scrambling over each other, half-fighting, half-attempting to run away. It's easier to pick out the weaker group from the stronger ones now; only the remaining members of Noroshi remain standing, ready, looking up in their direction. Endo makes no motion and they therefore do not disband; in fact, a couple of them grab some guys intent on leaving and land an extra punch or two before they can escape.
And Endo, standing atop this building with a guy who may try to send him flying at any moment now, abruptly moves from approaching a frenzied state of his own to looking inexplicably sappy. ]
I should've brought him.
[ Spoken softly, mostly to himself, with no further elaboration as to who he's talking about, Endo sighs.
He means Takiishi of course. It's hard to imagine him losing any fight, but he has to admit it could be a real possibility in this case — though Takiishi would have better odds than him. Not that it would matter — he knows that Takiishi would have the time of his life fighting this guy. He would smile, without a doubt. He'd be happy.
Ah, but he can't spend too much time thinking about what-ifs. Not when there's a whole meal in front of him, ready to be picked to pieces. ]
I guess we've talked enough for me to decide.
[ He looks down at the commotion below. A couple of guys are trampling over each other in an effort to run. Noroshi is heightening the chaos. For a moment or two, it looks like Accelerator made the situation worse. ]
You're the one who's a [ a brief pause, as though he needs to remember the phrasing ] "fucking asshole."
[ Refusing to have a proper conversation with his "host," interrupting, yelling and chucking rocks at people. Causing panic. The list goes on. ]
no subject
Or desperate. Hamazura was like that the few times they faced off. He doesn't like the guy, but he respects him for that. Either way, it's something he can dwell on later. Right now he needs to finish this clean up before he runs out of battery time.
He reaches up to the side of his head, sighing and cracking his neck casually. His mind is buzzing with possible strategies, no different than evaluating possible plays in a chess match. Some of them are a lot simpler than others, some of them involving coating the entire street in blood. His more extreme options are dismissed out of necessity - the goal here is to make them all stop fighting and leave, not kill them. As far as he's aware, none of them deserve to die, so he needs to keep on showing restraint.
He's picking through his options when, through the roar of the tornadoes at his back, comes a few soft words. Realizing it's coming from Endo Accelerator lifts his head a bit, curious. 'He'? Who the hell would he want here? Who the hell would anyone want here? That's fucking strange, and might be something he needs to poke at later. For now he just files that away in his memory and exhales, slowly.]
Nah, I'm a lot worse than that.
[He tilts his head back, gaze focusing on Endo, his voice a lazy drawl.]
I'm a fucking monster.
[And then he's gone, stepping off the roof and launching himself at the nearest member of Noroshi like a rocket. Really like a rocket - the parapet under his one foot is crumbling from the force and there's a resounding boom left in his wake.
He slows down before the impact, though, to keep from caving the guy's skull in. Instead the heel of his shoe makes contact with his nose, breaking it and sending him crashing to the ground. Accelerator hits the ground a split second after, amplifying his footfall to break the pavement and send a spiderweb of cracks throughout the street. There's a moment where he knows he should turn and go after the other gang members, for efficiency's sake, but at the last second he decides to pivot and pick up the guy with the newly broken nose by his face.
It's just to scare them some more, is what he's telling himself.]
How about you take a break, huh?
[A squeaky chuckle leaks out of him and the member of Noroshi is suddenly twitching unnaturally. No killing, absolutely no killing a bunch of stupid punks, but he can mess around a little bit with the electrical signals in their brain and make them wish they were dead.]
no subject
When he walks back to the ruined parapet, he's careful not to fully expose himself, looking over far enough to see but not enough that the rest of him will be fully visible.
It's too bad this guy's all about playing hero. With an attitude and idiosyncrasies like that, he'd fit right into Noroshi. All its members are strong with their own version of unhinged going on, which is exactly why Endo recruited them. They're the kind of stubborn who will stand their ground no matter what — especially if backing down is going to anger Endo (or Takiishi). It's part of the reason why they didn't cower after that first demonstration of power. But not all of them will be keen on dealing with this "monster" up close and personal, as demonstrated by the way they finally stop fighting to stare at Hashirao, the guy who's now dangling from Accelerator's grip, once he starts twitching like he's being zapped by an electrical device.
This is perfect. Despite the fact that several members of Noroshi are going to be out of commission for a while at this rate, Endo is pleased with how everything is unfolding. If they can occupy Accelerator for at least a little while, then he might get to see if his time runs out.
Better them than him.
He pulls out his phone and texts the group, ordering them to send forth one specific member of Noroshi: Banjo, the third-strongest of the gang, right under Endo himself. But he doesn't choose him for his strength. Banjo is the masochist of the group. He lives for pain and loves fighting under the threat of death. He will embrace whatever Accelerator is dishing out, even those (presumably) painful little twitches, and that'll keep Accelerator going for a least a little bit longer.
One member reads the text, gestures at the rest, and everyone starts to back off. Then Banjo moves forward, ready to fight — and probably make all sorts of disturbing comments in the meanwhile, which Endo hopes will throw Accelerator off a tiny bit before he puts Banjo to sleep.
With that done, Endo walks back toward the stairwell, taking his time to descend. ]
omg I read Banjo's chapters he's hilarious
Accelerator has never fought a masochist before. People who made a living out of fighting, sure, and tons of arrogant, cocky idiots, but never an actual masochist. Even the literal god he had taken on in England, playful as she had started out, began to take him seriously once he was able to injure her. This guy is just genuinely into getting wailed on in a fight. It's a strange sensation, inflicting physical violence on someone who wants it.
Humans really are screwed up creatures, aren't they?
Of course, he can't go all out despite that, and to begin with he's thrown off by this new kind of opponent. But rationality tips over into desire and Accelerator decides to indulge himself a little more. Objectively, he understands violence is a bad thing. It screws up relationships, ruins lives, and it can utterly destroy people. He understands that his capacity for it and the ease at which he can slide into a mindset where it's enjoyable to crush other people is part of what makes him so monstrous. He isn't going to forget that any time soon, but he's never encountered a situation where someone could come out of a fight with him happy.
Especially not when that someone can spout remarks that are even more crude than what he can come up with. He can get pretty raunchy with his insults as a form of intimidation, so when the trash talking starts flying he doesn't bother holding back. He drops the scale of his ability down, avoiding quick one shots like the bioelectricity trick and cutting the wind tornadoes off, and instead plays around with his meal by manipulating air currents to knock Banjo off-balance and enhancing his own physical speed and strength. It still requires him to overwhelm with pure force, since his poor technique isn't just limited to punches (raising the question of whether Accelerator has ever been in a real fight without his ability), but he has fun regardless.
He's going to beat Banjo, no doubt about that, but he's going to waste a lot of time fooling around before getting around to that.]
i'm so glad you know & appreciate him - he's such a trip!
Unfortunately, this also means that the fight has become less interesting for Endo as a whole, because watching Accelerator do anything other than dangerous, flashy tricks leaves so much to be desired that some small piece of Endo hopes that he doesn't run out of time, simply because he thinks the real version of this guy is going to be pathetic — worse than those no-name Bofurin kids running around all the time. At least they know how to throw a punch. But there's still plenty to be gained from this, and once Endo is near enough to watch the fight, he stops, his attention focused — though he continues to idly play with the crutch.
He allows them to have their fun for as long as it's serving his purposes, but once Banjo is pretty hurt and his mood starts to dip, as Endo always figured it would if he were pushed far enough, he claps his hands to interrupt — a slow applause. The sound isn't quite as startling as he wants it to be, since the crutch gets in the way, but it's enough for Banjo to look at him with wide, wild eyes. He stops babbling about death and allows himself to collapse to the floor. ]
Look at that. He's crying.
[ And sure enough, he is! Though whether it is out of bliss or fear — or both — isn't something Endo cares about. It's probably pleasure, with the way he's shivering all over. Maybe Endo will keep Accelerator on the backburner as a nice reward for him in the future — especially since they both seemed to have enjoyed themselves. Two birds, one stone. ]
He looks like he had the time of his life. I'm starting to feel left out.
[ This is a risk, albeit a calculated one. He doesn't know how much time this guy has left, but he can't send more Noroshi members his way. Accelerator has already taken a few of them out, so their numbers are going to be suffering for a while the future. Plus, he does want to assess Accelerator for himself and see if he can get his fingers on that collar, even for a brief moment. The only good way to do that is to go back-and-forth with him a little. But if Accelerator keeps his power toned down and Endo is light on his feet — if he frames it as friendly (enough) sparring match — then he's confident he can draw it and stay mostly uninjured.
So he spreads his arms, grins as though he's been waiting for this moment, and says: ]
Punch me.
I'm reading Endo's chapters too he's such a little weirdo lol his faces are amazing
He isn't falling back into that same darkness. He's just letting himself have a bit of a release. It's some fun. A screwed up kind of fun, yes, but still just some fun. If the Will has a problem with it, he'll deal with her later.
(Which means get bullied by her, but such is life.)
There's a buzz starting up in Accelerator's head, the same energizing kind of feeling he gets when he first downs a can of coffee, though it's abruptly interrupted by the clapping. Banjo stops and he stops, glancing over in surprise, having expected this to go on until one of them (Banjo) was knocked out. There's a wild glint in his eyes, as well as a twitch indicating irritation. He doesn't want an interruption, and he only stops and listens because it's Endo, and that guy is still a big question mark in his mind.]
........
[His gaze trails back over to Banjo, seeing the tears in his eyes. He's unmoved. That isn't an unusual reaction from his opponents, though in the past it's always been because of fear. This guy is probably going to get off on it, or something. Accelerator focuses back on Endo, absently flexing his fingers. The option to ignore him and go finish off this fight crosses his mind.
It's summarily squashed. It isn't as fun finishing off someone as it is wrecking the hell out of someone opening his arms to him in the exact same way Kihara Amata did the night he tried to kill him. The memories of that ugly night bubble up and there's a smirk on his face, but it isn't a happy one.]
Tche. It's your funeral, bastard.
[He lunges at Endo, swinging his fist at his face in an incredibly telegraphed punch. His reflection is still readjusted to prevent any permanent injuries, and at the last second he drops it around his fist to allow him to actually make contact, instead of Endo hitting the field a few centimetres above his skin. It's fine, he's still reinforcing the rest of the body and can alter the signals of his neurons so it won't hurt himself.]
he's SO unhinged, you're in store for some good (aka crazy) stuff!
But it's been a long time since he last felt all the emotions that come with being in real danger. It's been years since the rollercoaster of emotions he's felt since meeting Takiishi have included the flip-flop of something akin to anxiety in his stomach. Takiishi has almost killed him a few times over; this guy could very well do the same. And even though Endo has labeled all that power as false, he's always been drawn to that which makes him feel. And in this moment, feeling is all he's doing.
Still, even as Accelerator lunges and swings, Endo doesn't react in the way a normal person would when faced with a dangerous opponent. That's something he's never done, and he isn't going to start now. Rather, his grin grows a little wild — and as Accelerator aims for his face, he doesn't move at all.
He takes the full punch.
He also moves back with the force of it, skidding to a halt and wiping at the blood that now stains his lip. Then he laughs, a burst of an obnoxious sound that carries on for a beat too long. ]
That was a strong punch, but somehow still the worst I've ever felt.
[ Endo may win all his fights, but he has a lot of experience in getting punched. Takiishi whales on him all the time, and Endo always lets him. His tolerance for hard hits and the pain that results is pretty damn high, regardless of his own dominance during brawls. That's why it's so easy for him to lick at his now-bloodied fingers and maintain his cool.
His choice to take the punch was an indulgence first and foremost, but it was also strategic. Endo is gauging speed, initial force, and the way Accelerator's (lack of a) technique looks when it's directed at him. He's determining what he needs to do to spend the next several minutes evading — and deciding whether or not he has a chance at getting to the collar.
All the while, he keeps the crutch in his hand. ]
C'mon, man. You've got to do better than that.
[ And if he can play upon Accelerator's emotions to open up room for exploitation, then Endo is going to do that, too. ]
unhinged lil guys are the best
In that split second after the impact the only thing that enters his mind is that Level 0. Accelerator has rarely ever bothered to attack people without using his reflection or handgun, but Kamijou has neither and has spent who know how long of his life in fights. Is this the same kind of satisfaction he feels when he punches someone? When they were fighting months ago in the train yard? Probably not, since he was desperately fighting to save the life of #10 032 --
The sound of laughter cuts that thought off, and Accelerator refocuses on Endo, what he's saying. That laughter.
What the hell?
He's dumbfounded. How can he still be acting so casual after getting punched square in the face?]
..........
[His gaze flicks briefly down to his right hand, still in the shape of a fist. Wasn't that the same way Kamijou punched? Of course, it's been a while since he's been on the receiving end of that fist, but he's sure what he did wasn't any different. Plus, with it being enhanced by his esper ability, how could it be the worst??
It isn't that he has much of an ego, and most of his pride was beaten out of him in the train yard. Regardless, Accelerator clicks his tongue in irritation. Nobody likes being mocked, and after the performance he's been putting on it's baffling to see Endo not even be a tiny bit concerned for his well-being. The hell, is this guy a masochist just like that previous dumbass?
Maybe they're all just nuts. Is it worth dwelling on, especially right now? No, not really. He can think about all this later when he's alone, as right now he isn't really in the mood to be picking apart behaviour and body language. He just really wants the satisfaction of punching that smirk off Endo's face. So yeah, he comes at him again, his grin fading as he takes this a bit more seriously. He remembers Kamijou hitting him with some type of hook punch, so he's doing his best to remember the motions and trying that next.]
absolutely! also "maybe they're all just nuts" < real
But despite having this planned out in his head — despite preparing himself for the various possible paths this fight may take in the end — Endo's excitement is heightening. Watching Accelerator's grin fade makes his heart pound in his chest; it gets his blood moving, because he knows that for all Accelerator's shortcomings, this is still going to be good, for as long as the fight lasts. And Endo hasn't had good in a long time.
He lets the next punch come so close to hitting him that he feels the rush of air on his face. Then, at the last possible moment, he slides out of the way with impressive litheness for someone so tall. Still grinning, albeit a little wildly now, he says brightly: ]
Whoa, that was close!
[ Then, quickly, he goes in for a crappy punch of his own, swinging in a way that he would never under any other circumstance. It's a sloppy movement, and he goes as far as barely missing Accelerator — as well as the small space around him that Endo has judged to be too dangerous to risk entering. ]
Huh. I guess it's been a while since I tried that.
[ He looks down at his own fist as though it has betrayed him.
Noroshi is still watching, though they've moved further back toward the sidelines. Despite Endo's botched fighting, none of them say a word. They watch wide-eyed and silently, and don't even smile, though Endo knows a few of them would, if they didn't already know that Endo would be very angry if they gave anything away. ]
Lemme go again.
[ Though he says this, he's relaxed in demeanor once more and doesn't bother to raise his fists. But man, is he nearly vibrating with anticipation of Accelerator's next move. ]
no subject
He doesn't have any time to dwell on it, seeing Endo's counter coming at him (because it's obvious enough that any poor fighter would recognize it). Reflexively, he takes a couple of steps backwards. It isn't much, but it's leagues better than his old strategy of allowing his reflection to handle each and every attack. Narrowing his eyes, he doesn't look impressed.
His pulse is thrumming in his ears. Turns out Banjo was a good warm-up for him - unlike fighting those other kids, he actually put in some effort. His adrenaline is high, and that's lowering his tolerance for casual bullshit.]
Tche.
[He doesn't let Endo have another try. The guy isn't even readying another attack, and Accelerator is feeling more than a little impatient. Is it really a fight if he just waits around for his opponent to figure out what their next move is going to be? No, it isn't, it's just pathetic. He wants to punch him again, not be friendly.
There's that click of his tongue and closes the distance between them again. His second punch didn't land so he lowers his aim to Endo's solar plexus. While his knowledge of fighting isn't great, he is familiar with biology, and he knows a hit to the solar plexus means hitting the diaphragm, which can knock the air out of a person's lungs. Landing that means he could follow up with another attack - maybe a kick into the nearest wall? Or sending him flying into those other gang members - he isn't sure, but his mind is eagerly running through the potential options.]
no subject
He really doesn't want to be injured in any significant way, and letting himself get severely winded will trend in that direction. If he can't breathe, or if the force makes him double over, then it'll be easy for Accelerator to follow up with a more serious attack. But if he slides out of the way again, his skills may become a little too obvious, his bad performance called into question — which could then lead to Accelerator turning it up a notch. Better to ride a careful line somewhere between the two.
As Accelerator's fist flies toward him yet again, Endo jumps back a step, rather than to the side. It's an attempt to escape the attack that is only partially effective. Accelerator hits him right where he intends, hard enough that Endo makes a strangled sound without quite meaning to, but not enough to temporarily paralyze his diaphragm. It winds him, and his first breath thereafter wheezes into his chest, but he gets air in, which is enough for him to brace himself for whatever Accelerator chooses to do next.
And enough for him to tremble, visibly, that grin still on his face, color now dusting his cheeks. He's exhilarated — and he wants more. ]
Better.
[ Is all he says; his voice is a little strained, but he still manages to drag out the word, which in turn makes him sound like he's deriving some pleasure from this. And he is! Though it isn't for the same reasons as Banjo — not that he cares if Accelerator realizes that or not.
Despite his amped energy and winded state, he knows another attack is coming fast, and so he doesn't let up on bracing himself. For the next hit, Endo tentatively plans to block it with his forearm, whether it's another punch, a kick, or a knee. It won't be the first time he's taken the full brunt of an attack against his arm; the maneuver is yet another under-the-radar talent of his. Doing so will allow a couple of seconds for him to recover further and then make another move of his own, but whether or not he'll be successful entirely depends on how much of that false force Accelerator puts into his move. As long as he continues to to fight as he is, then Endo should be able to pull it off — but he remains ready to change up his technique on the fly. ]
no subject
It's entirely possible for someone to be in charge without being strong themselves. Most of the Board of Directors are like that, just useless adults relying on money or connections instead of any personal qualities they have. Accelerator seriously doubts any of them could throw a punch, but they don't need to in order to command all the people underneath them. They have other means of control, and from Endo's lackluster performance so far that's what he thinks this situation is.
That Banjo guy had been a better fighter than him. Accelerator isn't even moving as fast as he could be and he still isn't dodging everything, yet he's acting like he's the one here with more fighting experience. Seeing Endo's face - the bastard even looks happy about it, no doubts there. He's smiling and the tone of his voice, it all feels condescending to Accelerator. He doesn't need some asshole running commentary on whether or not his punches are any good.
A scowl settles onto his face as he shifts his weight to adjust for the change in momentum as he rotates his arm and swings his upwards, an uppercut aimed at Endo's chin. That Level 0 had done such a move on him months ago back in the train yard, and it had hurt so much it's basically burned into his brain.
.............. Of course, part of the reason for that was he was so unused to being touched that his nerves were highly sensitive, but his body has gotten slightly more adjusted to physical contact since then. It's whatever, he had deserved getting socked, so he may as well put that knowledge to good use.]
no subject
That's the thought that immediately springs to mind when Accelerator goes for an uppercut. Endo could try to block it, but the effort would be sloppier than he would like to risk. A head-on punch or kick would've been easier — and if his block had been successful, he could have attempted to shove that momentum back at Accelerator. But now he has no choice but to dodge again — though he executes the move differently this time.
The clock is ticking and Endo has no idea when, or if, Accelerator will hit a time limit. He can't overplay his hand, but he also can't risk Accelerator getting frustrated enough to amp his abilities up again. Technically, all this playing around was to make Accelerator underestimate him; if he was successful, even a small amount, he might be able to get a solid hit in of his own. So far, it hasn't seemed as though Accelerator has a barrier up in that space immediately around him — but it's still a risk. He may be able to get it up before Endo lands his hit.
He doesn't have time to overthink any of it. So when he dodges, he does so with more agility than he put on display this first time. The uppercut doesn't miss him just by a hair; it doesn't come close to hitting him. Then, banking everything on a single counterattack of his own, Endo pulls back his fist and aims it right at Accelerator's face. He puts everything he has into this punch, intended to hit much faster and harder than he usually does during his fights, since stunning or otherwise incapacitating Accelerator is the only path forward, short of his choker malfunctioning or otherwise shutting down. If Accelerator blocks it or sends that force back him, then Endo has a good chance of being pummeled into the ground, which would be pretty damn crappy, considering that he's completely uninterested in losing to that false strength.
But the risk is invigorating all the same. Though his grin doesn't falter, his focus hones in and allows him to unleash as precise a hit as possible within his unaugmented limits. ]
no subject
His reflection is still up, albeit toned down to avoid any death or serious injuries, so dodging to avoid a direct punch to the face doesn't occur to him. This guy isn't that Level 0, he isn't even Kihara with that goddamned counter move. It's fine, his reflection can tank it and redirect the force of the punch back into Endo's arm, and he can use that opportunity for another attack -
There's only one problem, and it occurs to Accelerator as Endo's fist hits the very edge of his reflection. His eyes widen and suddenly he's ducking back, cursing under his breath.]
Shit.
[The use of his ability snaps Accelerator back to reality, the realization of the amount of time spent on this fighting clicking in his mind. His gaze drops down to his right forearm, where the arm cuff of his crutch would normally be.
Oh, this isn't good. This really isn't good. Endo still has it.
Abruptly, Accelerator's demeanour shifts from offensive to... what, retreating? He takes several steps backwards, uncharacteristically backing away as his hand flies to his choker. It isn't just that he's running low on time, it's bad enough that he's nearly drained the entire battery. There's maybe half a minute of esper mode left, which still translates to a just under an hour of normal mode, so he's getting to the point where he needs to charge the damn thing. The small charger for the battery is in his back pocket, so he needs to find somewhere private with an outlet soon.
Accelerator keeps on moving away until his hand finds a streetlight decorated in graffiti, then he stops to lean a shoulder against it. The reason for such strange behaviour will quickly become apparent when he hits the switch on the calculation assistance device, the light on it going from red to green as it changes back to normal mode. His legs wobble a bit as the support he had to stand through his ability fades, and he gives Endo a sharp, expectant look.]
Give me my crutch back.
np at all! i don't mind late edits
But all that flashes through his mind quickly — the shock, the flip-flop of anxiety, the realization — and then Accelerator is pulling back. Endo's hand remains uncrushed. He'll be able to punch again.
As for Accelerator — well, isn't that nice. He's retreating, or more like scrambling, with how his hands fly to his choker. It seems that Endo was not only right, but played this perfectly, down to the second. He's feeling pretty damn good about himself as he watches the choker's color indicator, admiring the visual confirmation of his plan coming to fruition.
And not a moment too soon. Endo seamlessly transitions from battling his own little internal hitch to straightening and casually brushing off his clothes. He's in no rush to finish this now that Accelerator is on the defensive. He's going to take his time — and keep the hostage he still holds. ]
Huh?
[ He asks this as if he doesn't hear the demand, then begins walking toward Accelerator and his streetlight, albeit very slowly. His pace is deliberate, his demeanor smug. ]
We're in the middle of a fight, man. You can't throw it 'cause you feel like it.
[ He holds the crutch out and sweeps it in a half-circle to indicate the onlookers around them. The remaining members of Noroshi still stand at the ready. In fact, they look a lot more pumped now — almost like Accelerator pissed them off and they're itching for revenge. ]
You beat a lot of guys up today.
[ He doesn't miss the wobbling of Accelerator's legs, nor how heavily he uses that streetlight as support. He's gotta admit, it is amusing how Accelerator played big and bad with that false (and limited) power of his, only to expect Endo to play by his rules now that he's the one at a disadvantage.
Cheaters get cheated. ]
thkssss also omg I feel bad for Endo lolol
His pulse is still pounding in his ears and he's locked on Endo as he slowly closes the distance between them, his gaze following the motion of his crutch over to the remaining gang members before darting back to Endo. It's an incredibly quick movement that only serves to appraise their numbers and not whether any of them are a threat. They aren't, not in his mind, regardless of their numebrs. From his experiences with the dark side of his own city, including the gangs, taking out the leader is a potential way to get the rest to back off. Skill Out had done just that after he had killed Komaba, and right now it's clear Endo is his equivalent. His eyes narrow, his gaze intensifying as his mind calculates several strategies and the rough probability of success for each of them based on how things have gone so far.
He has thirty seconds of esper mode left, Endo in front of him, the rest of the gang off to the side. From what he's seen, Endo isn't much of a fighter. He must be leading through charisma or, judging by his tattoos, maybe he's got connections to some criminal underworld. He should be able to knock him out by touching him, and if he does that there's a chance at least a number of the others will back down. A few might be too nuts to do so, like that goth punk, but they're all in small enough numbers he should at least be able to manipulate another few tornadoes into knocking them out or off their feet. That'd give him time to get to the next street over, where he could switch back to normal mode and leave.
... It'd be cutting it close. He'd have to find the nearest internet cafe or something to charge the choker battery in private, and he'd have to do it all in normal mode. There's the option to just run, but he'd have to switch back to normal mode and there's a chance they would simply follow him.
Okay, plan set. He's got this.]
I went easy on them. [They're all still alive, he's very proud of himself for that. Accelerator waves his hand dismissively, shifting his lean against the streetlight slightly.] I don't give two shits about the rest of you, so give me my crutch back and I'll leave.
[There, that's a completely reasonable trade he's offering. He isn't convinced Endo will take it, but it's something.]
he's a complete menace but he only wants (1) thing in life....
Besides, it's more fun to hold the crutch just out of reach, allowing it to dangle loosely from his hand. ]
You don't spend a lot of time with other people, do you?
[ He's making an educated guess. Technically, Endo is supportive of the whole not-caring-about-other-people approach to life. It's his opinion that Takiishi's absolute lack of interest in anyone but himself is the key to his strength as a fighter. The difference is that Takiishi truly doesn't care — and doesn't even try to pretend otherwise. If he were in Accelerator's place, he would've swooped in, put everyone down for the count, and left. No monologues, no appeals, no bragging or inflated opinions. Accelerator's punch may have the capacity to be many times stronger than Takiishi's, but it will never hit as hard — because he's wrapped up in the drama of it all. He's stuck in the muck of his own ego.
There's nothing so devastating as being punched by someone with a blank look on his face. Nothing hurts more than being beaten into the ground by someone who truly doesn't care. Endo would know. He's been on the receiving end many times.
Truthfully, he doesn't give two shits about Accelerator either. All that excitement he felt wasn't for him specifically; it was the challenge that his false power provided. It was that choker. Accelerator might as well be a gnat; as soon as his juice is all gone, Endo could crush him with ease — but why would he bother, when he's so insignificant like this: barely standing and yet clutching desperately to a minimal amount of perceived power. ]
You're pretty bad at this, so I'm gonna help you out. You better shut up, and fast, because everything coming out of your mouth is only adding fuel to the fire that's about to consume you.
[ As always, he remains loose in body language, relaxed as he gives this lecture. ]
You beat the crap out of our own, which we're already pissed about, and you're going to say that was going easy on 'em? You chose to pick these last few fights, involving yourself in something that had nothing to do with you, and you're gonna say you don't give two shits? You stopped fighting because you ran out of strength, but you sure as hell didn't stop knowing that no one else was as strong as you. It was all fine when you were doing the overpowering, but it ain't cool if you're about to be overpowered.
[ Endo laughs. He finds Accelerator's lack of logic genuinely funny. The guy has absolutely nothing going for him without his choker. Endo's losing interest in the device on principle alone — what's the point of it, if it'll just make the wearer complacent and weak in the long run? Look at what it's done to him.
But hey. He can be a fair guy when he wants to be. He'll throw a bone, even though Accelerator can't seem to conceptualize the ways in which he's been unfair. ]
Give me one good reason to call them off, and I will.
[ He'll do it, too. But it has to be an actual reason, or an offering, or a deal that really wows him. Because otherwise it's only fair to give him exactly what he gave. ]
brb having Accy break Endo's arm so he can take him to the hospital
The easiest option would be to just crush everyone here. The next would be his plan to knock Endo out and leave. By far the hardest option for himself would be to try and talk his way out, and because of that he'd love to just dismiss the offer outright. Who wouldn't want to take the easy option when it's right there? But... it's the option that offers the least amount of violence, and what was it the Will of the Network had told him?
"You are the #1 monster, so isn’t the most comfortable thing for you easy conflict and easy violence followed by easy victory /escape?"
He's quiet as he listens to Endo, really listens to him. He isn't wrong about getting involved in something that wasn't his business -- he could've easily left the fighting alone, for better or for worse. By choosing to get involved, especially in the way that he did, that's on him. The consequences of that choice are on him, not anyone else.
“Struggle for someone’s sake /return. Struggle in the way that is truly hardest for you /return."
So whether or not he responds to this using violence, that's his choice too. And those consequences are on him as well.
"And if you take the easy road out and became a monster, I will throw you into a hell several sizes larger than you are imagining /return.”
Goddamnit.
He claps a hand to his forehead and sighs heavily. Shockingly, he doesn't make the slightest attempt at arguing.]
You're right. I'm not good at this. I'm the last person who should be telling anyone what to do.
[Ugh, he wishes that Level 0 was around. He's so much better at talking to people, he has actual friends. Chances are if he was here there'd still be a fight, but Accelerator is utterly confident in his ability to somehow de-escalate situations through violence where no one gets permanently hurt and everyone gets a happy ending. He isn't like that. Like the Will had told him, he struggles.]
... If you seriously think that I'm powerless just because this thing - [He jabs a finger at his choker] - is running low on battery, you're dead wrong.
[There's no point in trying to hide it. Given the subject matter - his strength - it's clear to anyone with eyes that the two are intrinsically tied together. He still isn't sure why his doctor added that stupid light to the choker, but he has to just deal with it. Besides, his brain injury and just about everything that goes along with it are common knowledge back home. This isn't the first time he's had to talk about it to an opponent, and that softens the blow.]
I'm not. The problem is, as far as I can see, you're just a bunch of delinquents. None of you deserve to die, not even that masochist, as much as he might beg for it. If you walk away right now, the most anyone's gonna have is some bruises, maybe a sprain or two, and a killer headache in the morning. You'll gonna walk away in one piece. But if you don't, the probability that someone will die is gonna skyrocket. I'm not exaggerating, and I'm not gonna put any blame on whoever gets killed. It'll be my fault and only my fault for not being more careful, but that's just the reality of it.
[He isn't sure. He really isn't sure. His wings don't require any calculation effort on his part, meaning the device can be in normal mode or powered down and they can still manifest -- and that's the problem. Those things require a certain mindset, and he's uncertain he'll get to that point. There's a chance he won't. But if he does and those things come out, and he doesn't have the presence of mind to contain the damage that they can do --
It would be bad. Unpleasant memories of crushing Kihara, tearing up the Russian countryside, nearly ripping apart law enforcement back in the city flash through his head. Shifting some more, he slumps with his back against the streetlight and drags his hand down his face.]
I messed up. I should've given more thought to whether or not I should get involved. And since I did, I should've just knocked everyone out in the first few minutes instead of screwing around. [Instead of having fun. Very rude of him to do that.]
he should break it bc it's what endo deserves for being Like This after that genuine effort
He was angling for something like a bribe, or information, or anything, really, that wasn't a weird self-depreciating yet still egotistical acceptance of his chiding. Yeah, he pointed out Accelerator's flaws and lack of logic, but it wasn't to get him to renege on his actions. These negotiations usually end in full-on groveling, frantically rambled bank account numbers, or juicy pieces of knowledge that will benefit Endo in the long run.
The longer Accelerator speaks, the more Endo looks at him like he's the unhinged one in this interaction. At the end, he motions at Noroshi, sending them on their way, but it's not because he's giving in to the guy's monologue. If he really gets into the thick of it, that's not even a true acceptance of his lecture, since he's still on the I'm-gonna-kill-you kick, only softened.
It's not that he doesn't believe Accelerator. He's seen enough of what he can do to take his warnings seriously, even if he's still going to laugh in the face of them. Which he does. He laughs, again. ]
You got it wrong, man. What you did was great. It helped me kill some time and have a little fun. All fights should be chaotic, otherwise they'd get stale. It's kind of a buzzkiller that you're going back on all that.
[ He abruptly becomes very serious — some would even say scarily so: ]
It's your attitude. You're pathetic underneath all that power, and everything that comes out of your mouth makes it worse.
[ But he transitions away from that easily, brightening a little too quickly thereafter. ]
Alright! I've got a deal for you. Let me punch you. Just once, no barrier. Then I'll give you your crutch and let you go back where you came from.
oho we could do that!! either via reflection or Accy's black wings
He isn't good at speaking. He isn't charismatic, he's never been and he has no idea how other people can manage something like that. Being honest seemed like the most difficult option for him, the riskiest but also the one that would result in the least amount of bloodshed, and he was fully expecting it to fail. But they're leaving, they're going who-knows-where and that means those kids, at least, don't stand a chance of being killed today.
Accelerator is grateful for that and glances back over at Endo. He isn't leaving. That's okay. This is better than he hoped. He doesn't bat an eye at being called pathetic (self-loathing is a bitch), instead making some mental notes about Endo. This is giving him some interesting insight on the guy, stuff to think about later. Strange how this is the only time he's seen him be serious. That change is shut on and off like a light switch, and it's a little unsettling.
But more importantly --
Just one punch? That's it? Accelerator stares back, shocked that he's getting off so easily. One punch even without his reflection is okay, he can handle that. It's hardly comparable to some of the things he did to Endo's subordinates. It doesn't take him any time to consider the offer, with the shock on his face fading he gives a firm nod.]
Okay. Fine.
[He pushes away from the streetlight, legs still trembling, so that the pole is no longer behind him. It would suck for this to be a punch to the face and his head got bashed into the metal -- he doesn't want another brain injury. Moving so it's next to him, he rests a hand against it so he still has a bit of support.]
One punch.
let's do it! endo deserves to be humbled a little and that prob won't happen with anyone else
[ He tosses the crutch over to where Accelerator was leaning against the streetlight before he moved to the side, essentially handing it over ahead of time, overly confident that this guy is going to be true to his word. He seemed pretty earnest in that terrible speech of his, and despite his many shortcomings, he does seem to operate on some kind of moral scale. Endo's also confident that if he does go back on his word, this won't be the end of this little situation of theirs. His strengths don't end with fighting.
But! No need to worry about that now. Once the crutch is out of his hands, he closes the gap between himself and Accelerator at that same lazy pace as before.
He does indeed intend for this to be a punch to the face, and he also believes that Accelerator will underestimate the force of it. He put on a show of being shoddy at fighting, so there's no reason for him to believe that this punch is really going to hurt. That's why Endo's looking at this like a twofold gotcha: making it clear he's actually good at fighting, while also humbling him a little once his shield is down.
He knows that it's still just a punch, no matter how much power he puts into it. He isn't doing the damage that Accelerator is capable of; but this isn't about revenge. Contrary to what many think, he doesn't care about petty matters like that.
He raises his fist up high and takes his time in winding up correctly — from the base of his stance, his core, his arms, all the way into his fist. He puts full momentum into the punch, and when he drives his fist down, he does so quickly, intending the impact to be both fast and incredibly hard. It's a finisher move, though there's nothing to finish — except for Accelerator's ego. ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
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
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
accelerator is so cute lol
they're both doofuses omg
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)