[ Endo's self-confidence is impervious except when it comes to one very specific matter, and since that matter is irrelevant here, he's entirely unfazed by this guy's attitude. Talentless, third-string, blah blah blah, at this point he's heard anything and everything delivered in the form of bluster, and while he will allow his gaze to drop in order to witness the way that light boot-tap has such a drastic impact, his stare is calm and unaffected as he raises his eyes again.
This guy is no Takiishi. That isn't a disappointment so much as a fact. No one can match his power; no one can hope to stand alongside him. But if he had demonstrated even a small hint of that fire, then Endo would have easily made a space in Noroshi for him. But this? This is something else. Something he assumes is external — probably technological, given the collar, although there's got to be more to it. Where would that tech have come from in the first place? Not anywhere near this town. He'd have heard if there was anything close to it being handed out behind closed doors. ]
Aah, this is troublesome.
[ He scratches the back of his head as though he's puzzling his way through this. And he kind of is, if you count navigating this new space of near-uncertainty, which still feels entirely foreign to him. He isn't afraid, nor is he worried about himself, but this is a lot less cut-and-dry than he wanted it to be — to the point where he's starting to feel like it's not worth the hassle. ]
I had a whole welcome party planned, but now I wanna go back home to take a nap.
[ None of this is confirming (nor denying) the guy's statement; he's essentially having a conversation with himself, which is more or less par for the course, albeit for more complicated reasons than simply trying to irritate a person.
Sounding bored: ]
Magic tricks look a lot cooler on TV.
[ Just like jumping off second-story buildings. He would know! There's no real oomph in using force fields or whatever it is that the guy's got going for him. That's what's talentless.
But Endo is still curious. Maybe not so much about the guy anymore, but about what he can do — and why. He's not exactly inclined to get into a fight with someone who might actually be able to kill him with a well-aimed, super-powered punch, but if there's a limit, somehow — if Endo can rival him in speed and dodging, would he be able tire him out? Could he get his fingers around that collar to see what happens if he pulls? There are a lot of possibilities but he doesn't know how likely any of them are. None of the fights lasted long enough for him to guess, and no one else will be able to go head-to-head him. Endo is the only one in attendance who could try, but without more information, it would be a risk.
[Throughout his life, Accelerator has only gotten a few reactions regarding his ability. The main one has always been fear; once people see that such a skinny twig isn't so much a fighter as he is a force of nature that can crush them like an ant it's as if their entire life flashes before their eyes, and they succumb to fear. It's a normal reaction, honestly, and something he's very used to by this point. Another one is anger, though that occurs in more specialized settings. Often it's some scientist with million dollar equipment they assume can handle his ability, and when he inevitably breaks it they get pissed off.
Aside from that there have only been a few other special reactions from specific individuals. A Magic God who thought he was amusing, or that Level 0 who, despite being completely outclassed, kept on getting up until he managed to win each and every fight they had. Fear and anger occurred often enough that they blur together, while these reactions have always remained clear in his mind.
But he's never gotten disappointment before. His brain stalls out a little as he stares, reminded of his own nonchalance when he's gone up against most opponents. It isn't that he has much in the way of pride, so there's only slight offense at his esper ability being called a magic trick. Mostly, he's bewildered, and he inclines his head as he tries to puzzle this out. Does this guy have a deathwish? He sounds bored, so that doesn't seem quite right. It can't be that he's just used to esper powers, because even by those standards his own is an outlier, and from his words it's unlikely that he's a magician.
So what is it? Accelerator's stare is enough to bore holes at this point, and he purses his lips.
Okay, well. He should at least do the responsible thing, get that out of the way.]
Did you start this whole mess? [He waves a hand at the fighting then steps closer. In spite of being shorter and smaller, his posture and tone are turning more authoritative.] Shut it down.
[ Under the force of that stare, Endo grows a little amused — a small, lazy smile working its way across his face as he anticipates a response that will be far from an amicable departure — but won't lead straight into violence, either. He's amenable to that, his interest hooked enough that he could be convinced to stick around and play this out for a while, though he's still leaning toward this enounter not being worth the amount of effort it'll take to get his questions answered.
Nonetheless, he decides to approach this a little more carefully than he might otherwise. Endo's dangerous and he likes to provoke, but he isn't stupid. Too much anger may cause the guy to reactive erratically; too harsh a push might encourage him to deliver than mere bruises — as well as no answers. There's a balanced to be struck, and since Endo is at an informational disadvantage, he needs to ensure he doesn't put himself so far on one side that he has to text Takiishi, of all people, to (hopefully) pick him up.
He holds both his ground and his languid demeanor as the guy steps closer. The guy clearly isn't afraid, and why should he be, with that false power at his disposal? But Endo isn't intimidated either, and backing down in the face of an open threat isn't part of his repertoire. Besides, this isn't the first time he's been on the receiving end of firm instructions that he chooses not to follow. ]
Oh, that's right. You said you could read people right away.
[ And assign them as asshole.
He shakes his head just once, as though disappointed. ]
But you didn't even give me a conversation first.
[ Not even a short one! A few words barely qualifies. If the original text message jumped the gun, this guy took off before the race was even set up.
Of course, his assumption is correct, but that's hardly relevant. ]
[His order being ignored doesn't go unnoticed. Accelerator narrows his eyes, his mouth a thin line. He could be within range to fight fast enough, but this guy isn't putting out any kind of aggressive body language, so there's no point. He isn't even sure how something like that would go - normally it's easy enough to predict how a run-in with him will end, because most of the time it ends with whoever he's facing down broken and terrified if they aren't simply dead.
This guy is still remaining so casual Accelerator is having trouble predicting that outcome, and that makes him want to be a bit more cautious.]
... You seriously want to talk?
[He's sounding a bit incredulous, and not just because this guy going from starting a massive mob fight to being bored to wanting to chat is weird. Socializing? Definitely not his strong suit.
More importantly, he's acutely aware that every second spent drawing this out means being one second closer to his choker's time limit. He needs to be careful about that. The last thing he needs is to hit his thirty minute limit before he can get somewhere private.]
[ Interacting at this level with someone who is entirely unknown to him is a little unusual. Endo likes to collect information first, whether by observing for himself or sending in a satellite gang to gather details for him. If he has at least minor background on a person or their involvement in an important matter, then Endo can guess at what buttons will be most effective when pushed — and figure out how to elicit specific reactions and turn tables in his direction. But when it's a total stranger — especially one that is far from the typical fair around his district — there's always the possibly of something going awry. Endo could hit a nerve or go too far, and while he is confident in his ability to twist things back in his favor — or put an end to an impromptu fight — there's always the possibility of a slipup.
And he is, by his own admission, not a great judge of character.
But this feels like a hook slowly working its way into a catch: the disbelief in the guy's tone and the ease with which he is distracted from his authoritative demeanor. Endo can't help but feel a little thrill — a little pleasure in capturing the guy's attention when he seemed so keen on ordering him around. He has to be careful not to seem too eager, since the guy's (more or less) acceptance of this path means that he may get an answer or two after all — without having to lift a finger. But even as he keeps his demeanor nonchalant, his lazy smile becomes a little more alive — approaching genuine, though it's colored only by his own selfish interest. ]
Why're you surprised? Talking is what you do when you meet new people, isn't it?
[ He did say meet, after all. Not fight. Which is, of course, splitting hairs, since this was all predicated upon fighting, but why get lost in the weeds? ]
Come with me. It's quieter over here.
[ As he says this, he spreads his arms in a warm, inviting gesture, before turning toward a building adjacent to their location. It's an industrial structure, long abandoned, but it has roof access — and all good conversations seem to happen on roofs these days. If the guy doesn't try to stop him, then he'll approach and enter the building without looking over his shoulder to see if he is following, confidently assuming he'll do just that. ]
[God, any reasonable person would have stranger danger alarms blaring in their head at this. Accelerator is aware of the increased potential danger here, but he's also finding this guy's very relaxed demanour more and more bewildering. Is he getting under his skin? Maybe a little, that happens sometimes. He's grateful he's learned how to be more patient after that first fight with that Level 0, because that makes it easier to appraise the situation and decide if he wants to a) follow him, b) leave or c) punch him out.]
..................................
[There's a long period of silence in which Accelerator stares hard, practically burning a hole in the guy's back. Still completely casual, acting like it's not a big fucking deal to turn his back on someone who could kill him just by touching him. He clicks his tongue and there's another noise - the feet of his crutch hitting the ground as he starts following.
Information gathering is something he also places a lot of importance on. You don't wind up being named after particle accelerators if it isn't in your nature to learn and understand the universe, even when the universe happens to be some cocky asshole with no sense of self-preservation. He can't deny it's an irritating quality to have sometimes, though.
The building is run down, abandoned, and the interior of it is dark and musty. It's enough that Accelerator keeps his reflection up as they make their way through it to the stairwell solely to reflect any particles in the air that could make him cough, though as they head up the stairs to the roof he uses his free hand to fiddle a bit with his choker, checking on his time. This is more time than he expected to spend in esper mode tonight and thirty minutes total isn't a lot, but he should still be alright for now.
Once they reach the rooftop he spares a moment to look around - it at least looks stable, so that's good - before glancing back over expectantly. The sounds of the fighting continuing on below cause his scowl to remain plastered all over his face.]
[ As Endo walks into the building and makes his way to the stairs, he listens for the sounds of the guy following him — the belated opening of the door, the footsteps that resound in the run-down stairwell as they work their way up. He doesn't spare a glance behind him, satisfied by what he hears. There's no outright aggression in those steps, no quickening pace to grab him from behind. Hence, there's no reason for Endo to turn around, not even when they reach the roof. While the guy examines the state of it, Endo walks toward the parapet to look down below. There's still chaos in the streets, although not nearly as much as when the brawl started. Somewhere in the middle, the remaining members of Noroshi are waiting for his signal.
At the question, Endo turns around, but he makes no effort to retreat from parapet. Though it forms a low barrier around the perimeter, he could easily be thrown over, a fact that doesn't influence his chosen spot at all. His smile has not faltered, but it shifts marginally — still not conveying his internal enthusiasm for how this is playing out, but easing out of the lazy quality he's been maintaining. ]
I figured we'd introduce ourselves to start.
[ He is, after all, perfectly capable of being polite when he needs to be. Charisma is a tool he's honed since childhood, strategically employed when necessary — and this is a prime example. He does not go so far as to bow, but he does offer his full name: ]
Yamato Endo.
[ After which he sits on the parapet and gestures for his guest to do the same. ]
[It'd be really, really easy to kick this asshole off the building.
That thought crosses Accelerator's mind as he hangs back at the stairwell entrance for a few moments, and he has to shake it off. They're up here to talk, not for whatever violence is lurking around in the back of his head, so he heads on over towards the edge of the roof.
Hitting a switch on his crutch, the cane portion of it retracts into the arm cuff. Standing on his own two feet isn't an issue with his ability going - he can run the calculations to reinforce his leg muscles no problem - so there's no point in keeping his crutch out. After dropping down on the parapet, he removes the entire thing from his right forearm and sets it on the ground. It's a lot more comfortable not having that thing attached to him, and he absently rubs his arm as he glances over, looking this guy - Yamato Endo - up and down with a critical eye.
The tattoos are what stick out the most, particularly the infinity symbol due to its placement and his own knowledge of its meaning of potential infinity in mathematical history. Numerous formulas that utilize it pop into his head all at once, as well as formulas that use the notation for actual infinity. Not that he's the type to have opinions on tattoos, but he thinks that one is in good taste.
The next thing that sticks out to him is that Endo's a lot bigger than him. Not really a big deal, he's had to deal with people like that before. Komaba was a fucking tank of a person and a lot smarter than he looked, so that's something to keep in mind. The final thing he notices are his clothes, that the brand is a high end one. That gets filed away in the back of his mind, though he doubts it'll be useful information.
His own introduction comes bluntly.]
Accelerator.
[That's it. No first or last name, just a strange English word despite him being Japanese. The way he's reciting it though, it may as well be a real name and not something like a nickname or other kind of moniker. As far as he's concerned it may as well be the former and not the latter.]
Endo does not repeat the name out loud, though he does roll it over in his mind, stretching out the syllables. He may technically still qualify as gifted, and he may be naturally good at everything he tries, but he is not fluent in English. Going to a school that primarily consists of delinquents (and poor test scores) and then dropping out doesn't exactly lend itself to picking up a second language, and since he never bothered to try to learn it on his own, it's an area that remains out of his intellectual repertoire. He knows some basics, as well as some pop culture references, and he has enough knowledge to identify the guy's name as a probable English word in the first place, but not enough to define it.
That won't be the case after today. Endo will spend some time digging into the language on phone later.
But for now, he lets it go, even though it sounds less like a name and more like a title, especially since it's only one name instead of a first and last.
He's more interested in the crutch, anyway. Namely, how important it is to the guy and how much he really needs it. Endo considers the possibility that it's more for show and creating an image of himself as weak while he hides his true strength, but that can't be it. With the amount of (still false) power at his disposal, there's no point in tricking people into underestimating him. He doesn't need that kind of advantage. Which leads Endo to believe that it might relate to the collar somehow — or at least to his abilities overall. Maybe the exertion of such extreme power exhausts him by the end of a good fight, or maybe the strength he has at his disposal doesn't aid mobility the way it needs to.
Ah, but polite behavior first. He needs to be a gracious host now. ]
It's nice to meet you.
[ He offers a bright smile, as though he's now truly happy to be in his company. And he is — there's so much potential in these upcoming moments that Endo already feels close to seizing it. ]
Can I see that? [ He indicates the crutch that now lies on the ground. ] I broke my leg once, when I was a kid. It was real nasty. I almost needed surgery, but I got lucky and got a cast and crutches instead. They were the kind that go under your arm — man, those hurt after a while.
[ This is a true story, although not a complete accounting of facts. Endo did not break his own leg, and the real reason he found the crutches to be so painful is because he accompanied Takiishi everywhere — and Takiishi did not slow down, nor make it easy on him to follow.
But it is a story that serves a purpose — and he would like to look at the crutch. ]
[Accelerator furrows his brow at the request. His crutch, really? He wants to look at that thing?
It isn't the subject of conversation he was expecting, and it takes him a beat to realize that story is an attempt at relating to his need for the damn thing. That in turn only confuses him more, and he glances down at it. It's an expensive piece of equipment, but he supposes it can't hurt. If Endo throws it off the roof it won't break, and he wouldn't stand a chance if he tried to take it (though, why on earth would he bother?). So... it likely can't hurt to let him look at it. Maybe he's actually a huge nerd and thinks mechanical engineering is neat.
Glancing back up, he shoots Endo a warning glare.]
If you do anything with it I'm beating the shit out of you.
[Grabbing his crutch, he holds it out for Endo to take.
It's far nicer than the kind of typical elbow crutch one would receive from a hospital. This thing is custom. The elbow cuff has a modern embossed design on it, and two metal straps to attach to Accelerator's forearm so it stays there. There's a switch that extends the cane portion, which ends in four small feet that can also act as grabbers, like a claw from a gachapon machine. The materials used to make the thing are durable and high-end, and there are gyroscopic stabilizers built into it so it can stand on the four feet on its own.
There are also switches in the cuff to turn on and adjust a built-in wireless signal jammer. That's the most important part of the entire thing and the most dangerous, though Accelerator is doubtful Endo could figure it out quick enough to jam the signal his choker is receiving.
He watches him for a few moments before glancing at the fighting below. It's tempting to stop what's remaining from up here, though for now all he does is jab a finger in the mob's direction.]
[ 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. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
np!
This guy is no Takiishi. That isn't a disappointment so much as a fact. No one can match his power; no one can hope to stand alongside him. But if he had demonstrated even a small hint of that fire, then Endo would have easily made a space in Noroshi for him. But this? This is something else. Something he assumes is external — probably technological, given the collar, although there's got to be more to it. Where would that tech have come from in the first place? Not anywhere near this town. He'd have heard if there was anything close to it being handed out behind closed doors. ]
Aah, this is troublesome.
[ He scratches the back of his head as though he's puzzling his way through this. And he kind of is, if you count navigating this new space of near-uncertainty, which still feels entirely foreign to him. He isn't afraid, nor is he worried about himself, but this is a lot less cut-and-dry than he wanted it to be — to the point where he's starting to feel like it's not worth the hassle. ]
I had a whole welcome party planned, but now I wanna go back home to take a nap.
[ None of this is confirming (nor denying) the guy's statement; he's essentially having a conversation with himself, which is more or less par for the course, albeit for more complicated reasons than simply trying to irritate a person.
Sounding bored: ]
Magic tricks look a lot cooler on TV.
[ Just like jumping off second-story buildings. He would know! There's no real oomph in using force fields or whatever it is that the guy's got going for him. That's what's talentless.
But Endo is still curious. Maybe not so much about the guy anymore, but about what he can do — and why. He's not exactly inclined to get into a fight with someone who might actually be able to kill him with a well-aimed, super-powered punch, but if there's a limit, somehow — if Endo can rival him in speed and dodging, would he be able tire him out? Could he get his fingers around that collar to see what happens if he pulls? There are a lot of possibilities but he doesn't know how likely any of them are. None of the fights lasted long enough for him to guess, and no one else will be able to go head-to-head him. Endo is the only one in attendance who could try, but without more information, it would be a risk.
He keeps it on the table anyway. Just in case. ]
no subject
Aside from that there have only been a few other special reactions from specific individuals. A Magic God who thought he was amusing, or that Level 0 who, despite being completely outclassed, kept on getting up until he managed to win each and every fight they had. Fear and anger occurred often enough that they blur together, while these reactions have always remained clear in his mind.
But he's never gotten disappointment before. His brain stalls out a little as he stares, reminded of his own nonchalance when he's gone up against most opponents. It isn't that he has much in the way of pride, so there's only slight offense at his esper ability being called a magic trick. Mostly, he's bewildered, and he inclines his head as he tries to puzzle this out. Does this guy have a deathwish? He sounds bored, so that doesn't seem quite right. It can't be that he's just used to esper powers, because even by those standards his own is an outlier, and from his words it's unlikely that he's a magician.
So what is it? Accelerator's stare is enough to bore holes at this point, and he purses his lips.
Okay, well. He should at least do the responsible thing, get that out of the way.]
Did you start this whole mess? [He waves a hand at the fighting then steps closer. In spite of being shorter and smaller, his posture and tone are turning more authoritative.] Shut it down.
no subject
Nonetheless, he decides to approach this a little more carefully than he might otherwise. Endo's dangerous and he likes to provoke, but he isn't stupid. Too much anger may cause the guy to reactive erratically; too harsh a push might encourage him to deliver than mere bruises — as well as no answers. There's a balanced to be struck, and since Endo is at an informational disadvantage, he needs to ensure he doesn't put himself so far on one side that he has to text Takiishi, of all people, to (hopefully) pick him up.
He holds both his ground and his languid demeanor as the guy steps closer. The guy clearly isn't afraid, and why should he be, with that false power at his disposal? But Endo isn't intimidated either, and backing down in the face of an open threat isn't part of his repertoire. Besides, this isn't the first time he's been on the receiving end of firm instructions that he chooses not to follow. ]
Oh, that's right. You said you could read people right away.
[ And assign them as asshole.
He shakes his head just once, as though disappointed. ]
But you didn't even give me a conversation first.
[ Not even a short one! A few words barely qualifies. If the original text message jumped the gun, this guy took off before the race was even set up.
Of course, his assumption is correct, but that's hardly relevant. ]
no subject
This guy is still remaining so casual Accelerator is having trouble predicting that outcome, and that makes him want to be a bit more cautious.]
... You seriously want to talk?
[He's sounding a bit incredulous, and not just because this guy going from starting a massive mob fight to being bored to wanting to chat is weird. Socializing? Definitely not his strong suit.
More importantly, he's acutely aware that every second spent drawing this out means being one second closer to his choker's time limit. He needs to be careful about that. The last thing he needs is to hit his thirty minute limit before he can get somewhere private.]
no subject
And he is, by his own admission, not a great judge of character.
But this feels like a hook slowly working its way into a catch: the disbelief in the guy's tone and the ease with which he is distracted from his authoritative demeanor. Endo can't help but feel a little thrill — a little pleasure in capturing the guy's attention when he seemed so keen on ordering him around. He has to be careful not to seem too eager, since the guy's (more or less) acceptance of this path means that he may get an answer or two after all — without having to lift a finger. But even as he keeps his demeanor nonchalant, his lazy smile becomes a little more alive — approaching genuine, though it's colored only by his own selfish interest. ]
Why're you surprised? Talking is what you do when you meet new people, isn't it?
[ He did say meet, after all. Not fight. Which is, of course, splitting hairs, since this was all predicated upon fighting, but why get lost in the weeds? ]
Come with me. It's quieter over here.
[ As he says this, he spreads his arms in a warm, inviting gesture, before turning toward a building adjacent to their location. It's an industrial structure, long abandoned, but it has roof access — and all good conversations seem to happen on roofs these days. If the guy doesn't try to stop him, then he'll approach and enter the building without looking over his shoulder to see if he is following, confidently assuming he'll do just that. ]
no subject
..................................
[There's a long period of silence in which Accelerator stares hard, practically burning a hole in the guy's back. Still completely casual, acting like it's not a big fucking deal to turn his back on someone who could kill him just by touching him. He clicks his tongue and there's another noise - the feet of his crutch hitting the ground as he starts following.
Information gathering is something he also places a lot of importance on. You don't wind up being named after particle accelerators if it isn't in your nature to learn and understand the universe, even when the universe happens to be some cocky asshole with no sense of self-preservation. He can't deny it's an irritating quality to have sometimes, though.
The building is run down, abandoned, and the interior of it is dark and musty. It's enough that Accelerator keeps his reflection up as they make their way through it to the stairwell solely to reflect any particles in the air that could make him cough, though as they head up the stairs to the roof he uses his free hand to fiddle a bit with his choker, checking on his time. This is more time than he expected to spend in esper mode tonight and thirty minutes total isn't a lot, but he should still be alright for now.
Once they reach the rooftop he spares a moment to look around - it at least looks stable, so that's good - before glancing back over expectantly. The sounds of the fighting continuing on below cause his scowl to remain plastered all over his face.]
What the hell did you want to talk about?
no subject
At the question, Endo turns around, but he makes no effort to retreat from parapet. Though it forms a low barrier around the perimeter, he could easily be thrown over, a fact that doesn't influence his chosen spot at all. His smile has not faltered, but it shifts marginally — still not conveying his internal enthusiasm for how this is playing out, but easing out of the lazy quality he's been maintaining. ]
I figured we'd introduce ourselves to start.
[ He is, after all, perfectly capable of being polite when he needs to be. Charisma is a tool he's honed since childhood, strategically employed when necessary — and this is a prime example. He does not go so far as to bow, but he does offer his full name: ]
Yamato Endo.
[ After which he sits on the parapet and gestures for his guest to do the same. ]
Please, have a seat.
no subject
That thought crosses Accelerator's mind as he hangs back at the stairwell entrance for a few moments, and he has to shake it off. They're up here to talk, not for whatever violence is lurking around in the back of his head, so he heads on over towards the edge of the roof.
Hitting a switch on his crutch, the cane portion of it retracts into the arm cuff. Standing on his own two feet isn't an issue with his ability going - he can run the calculations to reinforce his leg muscles no problem - so there's no point in keeping his crutch out. After dropping down on the parapet, he removes the entire thing from his right forearm and sets it on the ground. It's a lot more comfortable not having that thing attached to him, and he absently rubs his arm as he glances over, looking this guy - Yamato Endo - up and down with a critical eye.
The tattoos are what stick out the most, particularly the infinity symbol due to its placement and his own knowledge of its meaning of potential infinity in mathematical history. Numerous formulas that utilize it pop into his head all at once, as well as formulas that use the notation for actual infinity. Not that he's the type to have opinions on tattoos, but he thinks that one is in good taste.
The next thing that sticks out to him is that Endo's a lot bigger than him. Not really a big deal, he's had to deal with people like that before. Komaba was a fucking tank of a person and a lot smarter than he looked, so that's something to keep in mind. The final thing he notices are his clothes, that the brand is a high end one. That gets filed away in the back of his mind, though he doubts it'll be useful information.
His own introduction comes bluntly.]
Accelerator.
[That's it. No first or last name, just a strange English word despite him being Japanese. The way he's reciting it though, it may as well be a real name and not something like a nickname or other kind of moniker. As far as he's concerned it may as well be the former and not the latter.]
no subject
Endo does not repeat the name out loud, though he does roll it over in his mind, stretching out the syllables. He may technically still qualify as gifted, and he may be naturally good at everything he tries, but he is not fluent in English. Going to a school that primarily consists of delinquents (and poor test scores) and then dropping out doesn't exactly lend itself to picking up a second language, and since he never bothered to try to learn it on his own, it's an area that remains out of his intellectual repertoire. He knows some basics, as well as some pop culture references, and he has enough knowledge to identify the guy's name as a probable English word in the first place, but not enough to define it.
That won't be the case after today. Endo will spend some time digging into the language on phone later.
But for now, he lets it go, even though it sounds less like a name and more like a title, especially since it's only one name instead of a first and last.
He's more interested in the crutch, anyway. Namely, how important it is to the guy and how much he really needs it. Endo considers the possibility that it's more for show and creating an image of himself as weak while he hides his true strength, but that can't be it. With the amount of (still false) power at his disposal, there's no point in tricking people into underestimating him. He doesn't need that kind of advantage. Which leads Endo to believe that it might relate to the collar somehow — or at least to his abilities overall. Maybe the exertion of such extreme power exhausts him by the end of a good fight, or maybe the strength he has at his disposal doesn't aid mobility the way it needs to.
Ah, but polite behavior first. He needs to be a gracious host now. ]
It's nice to meet you.
[ He offers a bright smile, as though he's now truly happy to be in his company. And he is — there's so much potential in these upcoming moments that Endo already feels close to seizing it. ]
Can I see that? [ He indicates the crutch that now lies on the ground. ] I broke my leg once, when I was a kid. It was real nasty. I almost needed surgery, but I got lucky and got a cast and crutches instead. They were the kind that go under your arm — man, those hurt after a while.
[ This is a true story, although not a complete accounting of facts. Endo did not break his own leg, and the real reason he found the crutches to be so painful is because he accompanied Takiishi everywhere — and Takiishi did not slow down, nor make it easy on him to follow.
But it is a story that serves a purpose — and he would like to look at the crutch. ]
no subject
It isn't the subject of conversation he was expecting, and it takes him a beat to realize that story is an attempt at relating to his need for the damn thing. That in turn only confuses him more, and he glances down at it. It's an expensive piece of equipment, but he supposes it can't hurt. If Endo throws it off the roof it won't break, and he wouldn't stand a chance if he tried to take it (though, why on earth would he bother?). So... it likely can't hurt to let him look at it. Maybe he's actually a huge nerd and thinks mechanical engineering is neat.
Glancing back up, he shoots Endo a warning glare.]
If you do anything with it I'm beating the shit out of you.
[Grabbing his crutch, he holds it out for Endo to take.
It's far nicer than the kind of typical elbow crutch one would receive from a hospital. This thing is custom. The elbow cuff has a modern embossed design on it, and two metal straps to attach to Accelerator's forearm so it stays there. There's a switch that extends the cane portion, which ends in four small feet that can also act as grabbers, like a claw from a gachapon machine. The materials used to make the thing are durable and high-end, and there are gyroscopic stabilizers built into it so it can stand on the four feet on its own.
There are also switches in the cuff to turn on and adjust a built-in wireless signal jammer. That's the most important part of the entire thing and the most dangerous, though Accelerator is doubtful Endo could figure it out quick enough to jam the signal his choker is receiving.
He watches him for a few moments before glancing at the fighting below. It's tempting to stop what's remaining from up here, though for now all he does is jab a finger in the mob's direction.]
Explain what the hell is up with the fighting.
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)
(no subject)
(no subject)
np at all! i don't mind late edits
thkssss also omg I feel bad for Endo lolol
he's a complete menace but he only wants (1) thing in life....
brb having Accy break Endo's arm so he can take him to the hospital
he should break it bc it's what endo deserves for being Like This after that genuine effort
oho we could do that!! either via reflection or Accy's black wings
let's do it! endo deserves to be humbled a little and that prob won't happen with anyone else
(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)