( Continued from here. )
[ Endo has never seen anything like this before.
He makes note of the collar first. That's pretty weird, but plenty of the fighters in attendance have their gimmicks. A couple of the members of Noroshi are particularly annoying with theirs, so though he flags it as worthy of looking into, he files it away for later — or at least that was the plan, before the first fighter runs up to the guy and botches his punch so thoroughly, it almost seems as though an invisible force field turns it back on him. Upon seeing that, Endo's brain starts moving very quickly, trying to make sense of the technique, catalogue the guy's abilities and non-abilities, and figure out how the collar might relate. He spends that first (non-)fight being intrigued but not quite entirely sold on what he's witnessing.
The second fight, however, confirms that whatever this guy is doing is on another level entirely. That really gets his interest piqued, in a way it hasn't been in a long time. He wants to test it for himself: poke, prod, determine the limitations and how much power this guy truly has at his disposal — and maybe, just maybe, keep him to himself. By the time he's standing in the street, his hands are trembling with barely contained excitement and his grin is a little too wide — his eyes a little too focused. It takes immense self-control not to call off the member of Noroshi before he makes contact, but he forces himself to wait; he wants to see just how quickly this guy will put him down. He brings his thumb to the infinity tattoo on his neck and presses it there as he watches —
— the worst punch he's ever seen.
Somehow, it's effective, but the whiplash that Endo experiences is almost as bad as the kind he inflicts on others when he's genuinely irritated — or outright angry. He goes from approaching a near-point of no return in the amplification of his interest to deflated, albeit not entirely. Just enough to keep him from cajoling this guy into a brawl of his own, in order to experience how thorough that "power" of his really is — and maybe also to see if he can get his hands on that collar. For fun.
Now, though, Endo finds himself standing in a middle ground, which is unusual enough for him to take a few seconds to decide how to approach this. Normally, if he's truly taken by someone, he burns hot, consumed entirely by the need to possess. Otherwise, people aren't worth his attention — at least not enough of it to warrant giving a fight his all. But a feeling that is simultaneously greedily curious and unimpressed? Talk about mixed messages from his own brain. He'd rather be all or nothing.
It's too late to blend back into the fray now that he's surrounded by all this fighting, especially since he's a suspicious sight himself: all these brawling teens, and he's standing in the middle of the action entirely untouched. One even swings in his direction, but upon realizing who he's swinging at, immediately pulls the punch and hurries away.
So Endo clicks his tongue in a chiding manner while he sticks a hand in his pocket, revoking his overinvested stance in favor of being relaxed: Tsk, tsk, tsk. Then, when he's sure he has the guy's attention, he says: ]
I heard there was gonna be a massacre. No one said anything about cheating.
[ His tone is bored, though his eyes are still a little sharp. If nothing else, he has learned that this guy is capable of destruction — it just doesn't seem to come from his own hand. ]
I gotta say, I'm a little disappointed.
[ Endo has never seen anything like this before.
He makes note of the collar first. That's pretty weird, but plenty of the fighters in attendance have their gimmicks. A couple of the members of Noroshi are particularly annoying with theirs, so though he flags it as worthy of looking into, he files it away for later — or at least that was the plan, before the first fighter runs up to the guy and botches his punch so thoroughly, it almost seems as though an invisible force field turns it back on him. Upon seeing that, Endo's brain starts moving very quickly, trying to make sense of the technique, catalogue the guy's abilities and non-abilities, and figure out how the collar might relate. He spends that first (non-)fight being intrigued but not quite entirely sold on what he's witnessing.
The second fight, however, confirms that whatever this guy is doing is on another level entirely. That really gets his interest piqued, in a way it hasn't been in a long time. He wants to test it for himself: poke, prod, determine the limitations and how much power this guy truly has at his disposal — and maybe, just maybe, keep him to himself. By the time he's standing in the street, his hands are trembling with barely contained excitement and his grin is a little too wide — his eyes a little too focused. It takes immense self-control not to call off the member of Noroshi before he makes contact, but he forces himself to wait; he wants to see just how quickly this guy will put him down. He brings his thumb to the infinity tattoo on his neck and presses it there as he watches —
— the worst punch he's ever seen.
Somehow, it's effective, but the whiplash that Endo experiences is almost as bad as the kind he inflicts on others when he's genuinely irritated — or outright angry. He goes from approaching a near-point of no return in the amplification of his interest to deflated, albeit not entirely. Just enough to keep him from cajoling this guy into a brawl of his own, in order to experience how thorough that "power" of his really is — and maybe also to see if he can get his hands on that collar. For fun.
Now, though, Endo finds himself standing in a middle ground, which is unusual enough for him to take a few seconds to decide how to approach this. Normally, if he's truly taken by someone, he burns hot, consumed entirely by the need to possess. Otherwise, people aren't worth his attention — at least not enough of it to warrant giving a fight his all. But a feeling that is simultaneously greedily curious and unimpressed? Talk about mixed messages from his own brain. He'd rather be all or nothing.
It's too late to blend back into the fray now that he's surrounded by all this fighting, especially since he's a suspicious sight himself: all these brawling teens, and he's standing in the middle of the action entirely untouched. One even swings in his direction, but upon realizing who he's swinging at, immediately pulls the punch and hurries away.
So Endo clicks his tongue in a chiding manner while he sticks a hand in his pocket, revoking his overinvested stance in favor of being relaxed: Tsk, tsk, tsk. Then, when he's sure he has the guy's attention, he says: ]
I heard there was gonna be a massacre. No one said anything about cheating.
[ His tone is bored, though his eyes are still a little sharp. If nothing else, he has learned that this guy is capable of destruction — it just doesn't seem to come from his own hand. ]
I gotta say, I'm a little disappointed.
[Accelerator ambles on through the fighting, his brain quietly taking in his surroundings - both through his normal senses and his ability - to filter and analyze what he's seeing. It's less the move of the fighters and more identifying people who aren't just low level grunts. If he can pick out the leaders, the idiots at the top of the food chain, then beating them up would be a faster way of ending this whole brawl.
(It'd also be a lot less effort for himself.)
So yeah, picking out the guy who happens to just be standing there in the middle of the fight like it's no big deal definitely qualifies. He stops, narrows his eyes, and recognizes his own words being thrown back at him. Guess this guy wasn't lying about the brawl, and maybe by normal standards some of the people here are strong fights.]
Only a completely talentless third-string would call it cheating.
[His tone is very dry and if anything, he just looks irritated. As he responds, he casually lifts a boot up and taps the back of some delinquent's leg, the slight touch sending the kid tumbling to the ground.]
I take it you were talking about yourself.
[He should've figured that out earlier. It seems obvious in hindsight.]
(It'd also be a lot less effort for himself.)
So yeah, picking out the guy who happens to just be standing there in the middle of the fight like it's no big deal definitely qualifies. He stops, narrows his eyes, and recognizes his own words being thrown back at him. Guess this guy wasn't lying about the brawl, and maybe by normal standards some of the people here are strong fights.]
Only a completely talentless third-string would call it cheating.
[His tone is very dry and if anything, he just looks irritated. As he responds, he casually lifts a boot up and taps the back of some delinquent's leg, the slight touch sending the kid tumbling to the ground.]
I take it you were talking about yourself.
[He should've figured that out earlier. It seems obvious in hindsight.]
[ Endo's self-confidence is impervious except when it comes to one very specific matter, and since that matter is irrelevant here, he's entirely unfazed by this guy's attitude. Talentless, third-string, blah blah blah, at this point he's heard anything and everything delivered in the form of bluster, and while he will allow his gaze to drop in order to witness the way that light boot-tap has such a drastic impact, his stare is calm and unaffected as he raises his eyes again.
This guy is no Takiishi. That isn't a disappointment so much as a fact. No one can match his power; no one can hope to stand alongside him. But if he had demonstrated even a small hint of that fire, then Endo would have easily made a space in Noroshi for him. But this? This is something else. Something he assumes is external — probably technological, given the collar, although there's got to be more to it. Where would that tech have come from in the first place? Not anywhere near this town. He'd have heard if there was anything close to it being handed out behind closed doors. ]
Aah, this is troublesome.
[ He scratches the back of his head as though he's puzzling his way through this. And he kind of is, if you count navigating this new space of near-uncertainty, which still feels entirely foreign to him. He isn't afraid, nor is he worried about himself, but this is a lot less cut-and-dry than he wanted it to be — to the point where he's starting to feel like it's not worth the hassle. ]
I had a whole welcome party planned, but now I wanna go back home to take a nap.
[ None of this is confirming (nor denying) the guy's statement; he's essentially having a conversation with himself, which is more or less par for the course, albeit for more complicated reasons than simply trying to irritate a person.
Sounding bored: ]
Magic tricks look a lot cooler on TV.
[ Just like jumping off second-story buildings. He would know! There's no real oomph in using force fields or whatever it is that the guy's got going for him. That's what's talentless.
But Endo is still curious. Maybe not so much about the guy anymore, but about what he can do — and why. He's not exactly inclined to get into a fight with someone who might actually be able to kill him with a well-aimed, super-powered punch, but if there's a limit, somehow — if Endo can rival him in speed and dodging, would he be able tire him out? Could he get his fingers around that collar to see what happens if he pulls? There are a lot of possibilities but he doesn't know how likely any of them are. None of the fights lasted long enough for him to guess, and no one else will be able to go head-to-head him. Endo is the only one in attendance who could try, but without more information, it would be a risk.
He keeps it on the table anyway. Just in case. ]
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. ]
[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.
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.
[ In all the years since Endo grew self-aware enough to realize that he had a special talent for excelling in everything he bothered trying, he has rarely had one of his plans go awry. Whether he's waging war on a town or arranging a simple, well-timed birthday celebration, everything typically works out perfectly. There is the rare exception, usually involving Takiishi, but thwarted isn't a word that he's ever really had to apply to himself.
Which is why today is so damn annoying.
All he wanted to do was head to a specific shop a couple of towns over — a shopping district that has suffered due to an uptick in gang activity that rivals even some of the worst towns in Japan, but manages to retain enough business for a few specialty shops to remain open. One of them is a perfume store, and it's the reason Endo makes the journey. They have a nice selection of colognes, and he's in the mood for a new one.
The weather is unseasonably cold. They're barely into autumn and yet snow is predicted later in the day, a forecast that Endo should easily beat back home. The temperatures are expected to drop further, but not until the storm hits. Endo therefore dresses at the bare minimum of warmth, his outfit consisting of a turtleneck sweater, a light jacket, a sleek pair of gloves, and slacks, all of which give him the appearance of someone respectable, rather than a gang leader. That should have been more than enough coverage for the time he planned on expending on the shopping trip — and it would have been, were it not for a series of unfortunate mishaps.
First, the store was closed in advance due to weather. This rendered the entire trip useless, which skewed his overall day. He decided to stop for a bite to eat, which also was a mistake, because the sky began to look threatening while he was finishing his last bites. He still would have had enough time to reach home before the storm unleashed ahead of schedule, but as he left the restaurant, he ended up embroiled in a brawl with a bunch of rowdy kids. They were fresh high school students who were no way near as organized as Furin, and they were fighting over something stupid. Endo was going to leave them to it, but one of the kids decided to try to punch him, and well — he had to exert a little time and effort on taking care of that, as well as the backup team that ran to the area and identified him as an opponent they had to take down.
All in all, it was an easy affair, though one that Endo would have preferred to send someone else to deal with. The initial punch never made contact, and he wasn't touched thereafter. The only real consequence was the snow that started to fall quite heavily before he was done, and the temperature that dropped thereafter. What should have been an easy walk quickly became impossible as visibility plummeted and wet snow seeped into his jacket.
Now he has no choice but to take shelter from the wind in a random, run-down building that once housed a bar and now mostly contains litter, graffiti, and a distinct lack of anything that could make this detour a little easier on him. There are no blankets, no extra clothes — and there's no power, either. Which means no heat.
He has to take off his jacket and shoes because both are wet enough to be dangerous in these temperatures. His sweater and slacks aren't faring great either, but they aren't so damp that he'll freeze to death if he keeps them on. Just in case, he rolls up the legs of his slacks, keeping the wettest parts of the fabric off of his skin. In the end, he huddles in what was once a booth, more irritated than anything else. Stuff like this doesn't, and shouldn't, happen to him — and yet here he is.
And here someone else is, too, apparently, because the door creaks open. Though he's cold, Endo forces himself to stand and adopt his usual languid body language, that way he won't have to exert more energy by putting down someone who takes him to be an easy target. He also speaks before the (other) intruder gets any ideas: ]
Yeesh, can't a guy get some privacy? Who just goes wandering into abandoned buildings these days?
[ Clearly, Endo does. But just to drive home the point, in a more serious tone: ]
This spot's taken.
Which is why today is so damn annoying.
All he wanted to do was head to a specific shop a couple of towns over — a shopping district that has suffered due to an uptick in gang activity that rivals even some of the worst towns in Japan, but manages to retain enough business for a few specialty shops to remain open. One of them is a perfume store, and it's the reason Endo makes the journey. They have a nice selection of colognes, and he's in the mood for a new one.
The weather is unseasonably cold. They're barely into autumn and yet snow is predicted later in the day, a forecast that Endo should easily beat back home. The temperatures are expected to drop further, but not until the storm hits. Endo therefore dresses at the bare minimum of warmth, his outfit consisting of a turtleneck sweater, a light jacket, a sleek pair of gloves, and slacks, all of which give him the appearance of someone respectable, rather than a gang leader. That should have been more than enough coverage for the time he planned on expending on the shopping trip — and it would have been, were it not for a series of unfortunate mishaps.
First, the store was closed in advance due to weather. This rendered the entire trip useless, which skewed his overall day. He decided to stop for a bite to eat, which also was a mistake, because the sky began to look threatening while he was finishing his last bites. He still would have had enough time to reach home before the storm unleashed ahead of schedule, but as he left the restaurant, he ended up embroiled in a brawl with a bunch of rowdy kids. They were fresh high school students who were no way near as organized as Furin, and they were fighting over something stupid. Endo was going to leave them to it, but one of the kids decided to try to punch him, and well — he had to exert a little time and effort on taking care of that, as well as the backup team that ran to the area and identified him as an opponent they had to take down.
All in all, it was an easy affair, though one that Endo would have preferred to send someone else to deal with. The initial punch never made contact, and he wasn't touched thereafter. The only real consequence was the snow that started to fall quite heavily before he was done, and the temperature that dropped thereafter. What should have been an easy walk quickly became impossible as visibility plummeted and wet snow seeped into his jacket.
Now he has no choice but to take shelter from the wind in a random, run-down building that once housed a bar and now mostly contains litter, graffiti, and a distinct lack of anything that could make this detour a little easier on him. There are no blankets, no extra clothes — and there's no power, either. Which means no heat.
He has to take off his jacket and shoes because both are wet enough to be dangerous in these temperatures. His sweater and slacks aren't faring great either, but they aren't so damp that he'll freeze to death if he keeps them on. Just in case, he rolls up the legs of his slacks, keeping the wettest parts of the fabric off of his skin. In the end, he huddles in what was once a booth, more irritated than anything else. Stuff like this doesn't, and shouldn't, happen to him — and yet here he is.
And here someone else is, too, apparently, because the door creaks open. Though he's cold, Endo forces himself to stand and adopt his usual languid body language, that way he won't have to exert more energy by putting down someone who takes him to be an easy target. He also speaks before the (other) intruder gets any ideas: ]
Yeesh, can't a guy get some privacy? Who just goes wandering into abandoned buildings these days?
[ Clearly, Endo does. But just to drive home the point, in a more serious tone: ]
This spot's taken.
Edited 2025-06-29 22:02 (UTC)
[ 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. ]
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.]
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. ]
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. ]
[ Nirei has made many mistakes in life and today is no different. The first one was wearing a flimsy hoodie and a threadbare sweater because 1, he runs hot and 2, he figured he'd be home early. The latest one is not recognizing Endo's voice right away because of the howling wind. So he steps in anyway despite the threatening tone, shuts the door to keep the cold from creeping inside even further, and politely greets who he thinks is just a defensive stranger in a bad town. ]
Sorry! I just want to wait out the storm. I promise to stay out of your way so please just... [ When his eyes finally adjust to the sparse light coming in from the dirty windows, his voice trails off into a squeaky little whimper. ] ...ignore...me...
[ His eyes dart around the decrepit bar then snap back to Endo. Then he blinks. Once, twice. When his worst nightmare doesn't disappear, when it finally hits him that this isn't some delirious hallucination brought on by hypothermia, a small part of him actually considers going back outside and letting the snow take him. The logical part doesn't even need to point out that's a bad idea because his legs aren't working no matter how much he wants to run. He can't even take a step back to press against the door. ]
I, um...I...oh no...
[ Unlike Endo, Nirei is far too used to things not going his way. So used to it, in fact, that he very rarely feels annoyed or devastated when things go wrong. Scared, yes, but he's used to that too and can push through it half the time. Like when his train was delayed and he made it to the town later than he meant to, when the shop he wanted to check out was closed because of the weather forecast, even when it started snowing and he got lost, he took it all in stride and forced himself to focus on getting from point A to point B. Sure, his phone didn't have any signal and the one place for shelter he found looked haunted, but he kept telling himself that soon this would all just be a bad memory and a morbidly funny story to tell his friends when he gets home.
Now he's wondering if he was evil in a past life or if his ancestors pissed off a god. Because what are the odds here? ]
...h-hello. [ Unsure of what else to say or do, he awkwardly takes his hand out of his hoodie's pocket and holds out the disposable handwarmer he's using. It's the cheap kind that's a bit less warm than body temperature and only lasts about an hour or so, but he figures it's better than nothing. ] Handwarmer? This brand's kinda bad, but it's...it's uh, it's all I got...sorry...
[ He tries not to cringe at how pathetic he sounds, at the fact that Endo just standing there is making him shake harder than the freezing cold. ]
Sorry! I just want to wait out the storm. I promise to stay out of your way so please just... [ When his eyes finally adjust to the sparse light coming in from the dirty windows, his voice trails off into a squeaky little whimper. ] ...ignore...me...
[ His eyes dart around the decrepit bar then snap back to Endo. Then he blinks. Once, twice. When his worst nightmare doesn't disappear, when it finally hits him that this isn't some delirious hallucination brought on by hypothermia, a small part of him actually considers going back outside and letting the snow take him. The logical part doesn't even need to point out that's a bad idea because his legs aren't working no matter how much he wants to run. He can't even take a step back to press against the door. ]
I, um...I...oh no...
[ Unlike Endo, Nirei is far too used to things not going his way. So used to it, in fact, that he very rarely feels annoyed or devastated when things go wrong. Scared, yes, but he's used to that too and can push through it half the time. Like when his train was delayed and he made it to the town later than he meant to, when the shop he wanted to check out was closed because of the weather forecast, even when it started snowing and he got lost, he took it all in stride and forced himself to focus on getting from point A to point B. Sure, his phone didn't have any signal and the one place for shelter he found looked haunted, but he kept telling himself that soon this would all just be a bad memory and a morbidly funny story to tell his friends when he gets home.
Now he's wondering if he was evil in a past life or if his ancestors pissed off a god. Because what are the odds here? ]
...h-hello. [ Unsure of what else to say or do, he awkwardly takes his hand out of his hoodie's pocket and holds out the disposable handwarmer he's using. It's the cheap kind that's a bit less warm than body temperature and only lasts about an hour or so, but he figures it's better than nothing. ] Handwarmer? This brand's kinda bad, but it's...it's uh, it's all I got...sorry...
[ He tries not to cringe at how pathetic he sounds, at the fact that Endo just standing there is making him shake harder than the freezing cold. ]
Edited (rewrote some stuff that bothered me when I reread. sorry for the extra notif!) 2025-06-30 23:01 (UTC)
[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.]
What the hell did you want to talk about?
..................................
[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?
[ 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. ]
Please, have a seat.
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.
i hope he likes cuddles :') endo's been saving them up since his takiishi comment........
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
consumingly
2025-07-01 12:52 am (UTC)(link)
[ Although Endo isn't in the mood for Bofurin heroics — or fighting in general, given that even the slightest sheen of sweat could be dangerous in temperatures like this — Nirei is an unwelcome sight. He's probably one of the easiest students to manage, given that Endo could stand over him with a whispered boo and he'd likely fall to his knees immediately, but he's one of Sakura's more annoying friends. There's just enough gumption inside of him to hinder Endo's ongoing presence in Sakura's life, but not enough to be anything remotely close to a challenge. He's a babbler and runs his mouth without thinking, which means he'll be even more insufferable than the other non-entities that interrupted his fight with Sakura, and his self-preservation varies from reasonable to completely out the window. On most days, Endo would be more or less fine with going back and forth with him to pass the time, scare him a little, maybe drag some information out of him, but he's cold and in a genuinely bad mood — not the kind he adopts to intimidate, but one that has him seriously considering walking closer and closer to Nirei until he willingly turns tail and runs out the door.
But there are many problems with forcing him back in the storm to potentially freeze to death, namely the deal he made with Sakura: a promise for a promise. He has no intention of extracting himself from Sakura's life, which means that being the cause of injury or death to one of his friends is decidedly off the table, even if he doesn't lift a hand in the process. And there's also the more pragmatic consideration that is survival. He isn't going to accept dying here, but that means using everything at his disposal to survive — Nirei included.
Nevertheless, there's no warmth to be found — not in their shelter, and nor in Endo's demeanor. Although he allows his initial disdain to drain from his face, replaced instead by his typical lazy expression, there's an edge to it — sharper than it normally would be.
That does not, however, stop him from looking at the proffered handwarmer, held out to him like he's a common thug looking for lunch money. A beat passes, and then he laughs, abruptly but without any actual good humor. ]
C'mon, man. If I wanted to shake you up, I'd expect something better than that.
[ For example: info on Sakura. Umemiya's untimely disappearance. Whatever dry clothing he has on his back — though, that last one would probably be as useless as the handwarmer, considering how short Nirei is.
Then he sighs, running a hand through his damp hair. He isn't shivering yet, still running off of the meager warmth he maintained while huddling in the booth, but the longer he stands around, the more likely it becomes. ]
What a pain. Now I need to do something with you.
[ He isn't entirely serious — at least not in a clear-cut threatening sense — but he doesn't plan on letting him hang around without being of some use. ]
But there are many problems with forcing him back in the storm to potentially freeze to death, namely the deal he made with Sakura: a promise for a promise. He has no intention of extracting himself from Sakura's life, which means that being the cause of injury or death to one of his friends is decidedly off the table, even if he doesn't lift a hand in the process. And there's also the more pragmatic consideration that is survival. He isn't going to accept dying here, but that means using everything at his disposal to survive — Nirei included.
Nevertheless, there's no warmth to be found — not in their shelter, and nor in Endo's demeanor. Although he allows his initial disdain to drain from his face, replaced instead by his typical lazy expression, there's an edge to it — sharper than it normally would be.
That does not, however, stop him from looking at the proffered handwarmer, held out to him like he's a common thug looking for lunch money. A beat passes, and then he laughs, abruptly but without any actual good humor. ]
C'mon, man. If I wanted to shake you up, I'd expect something better than that.
[ For example: info on Sakura. Umemiya's untimely disappearance. Whatever dry clothing he has on his back — though, that last one would probably be as useless as the handwarmer, considering how short Nirei is.
Then he sighs, running a hand through his damp hair. He isn't shivering yet, still running off of the meager warmth he maintained while huddling in the booth, but the longer he stands around, the more likely it becomes. ]
What a pain. Now I need to do something with you.
[ He isn't entirely serious — at least not in a clear-cut threatening sense — but he doesn't plan on letting him hang around without being of some use. ]
[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.]
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.]
[ Accelerator.
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. ]
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.]
Explain what the hell is up with the fighting.
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.
oh noo not the cuddles D: (>:3).......oh well what's one more harrowing humiliation on his long list
dandelionheart
2025-07-01 08:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[ For a fleeting moment, Nirei's proud of himself for not flinching or falling backwards when Endo laughs suddenly. Then the vague threat pulls an embarrassing squeaky noise out of him and he's right back to hating himself and cursing his nonexistent luck for putting him in this situation. ]
R-right! Right. Got it. Of course. I...
[ He swallows, resists the urge to lick his freezing lips, and pockets the handwarmer. He's not sure yet if getting to keep it is good or bad, but something in his gut tells him he should lean on bad just to be safe. Endo's unpredictable — unhinged, really, but not even Nirei would say that out loud — and the only thing about him that can be counted on is his obvious need to survive this.
Now that the initial shock is wearing off, Nirei's all too aware again of how cold he is, how wet his clothes are, and he forces his legs to function again and take him to the booth furthest from Endo's. Contrary to his reckless and self-sacrificing ways, Nirei doesn't secretly want to die. He especially doesn't want to die in a crusty old building with nothing but the dust and a madman as witness. So fear be damned, he's not going to wait for permission to stay. He physically can't. ]
I'm sorry. I uh, I understand, but I'm reeeally not worth the waste of energy. So please just- [ He looks at Endo from the corner of his eye as he walks, hunched over and careful like an anxious dog. ] -just sit down and ignore me. Please. Please.
[ Once he's close enough, he begins emptying his pockets onto the dirty table — the shitty handwarmer, a few small packs of gummi candies, his phone — and starts stripping off his snow soaked hoodie. He's still half-focused on Endo through it, like looking away for too long will make him materialize closer. A millisecond glance while laying the wet fabric on the booth's backrest, another while stepping out of his soggy shoes, another while double-checking if his socks are dry enough to keep on.
If Endo's watching Nirei back, it's plain to see that his laughably thin clothes are not where his use will lie.
His socks are safe, thankfully, but his pants are too wet from slipping in the snow earlier to just roll up. Nirei makes a face, then sighs and gets on with unbuckling his belt. This time, he doesn't look anywhere but a random wall as he steps out of his pants and hangs them next to his hoodie. It's not like he's never undressed in front of someone before, but changing near his friends and family is completely different from standing in a damp sweater, star patterned boxer briefs, and old gym socks around his worst fears personified. ]
R-right! Right. Got it. Of course. I...
[ He swallows, resists the urge to lick his freezing lips, and pockets the handwarmer. He's not sure yet if getting to keep it is good or bad, but something in his gut tells him he should lean on bad just to be safe. Endo's unpredictable — unhinged, really, but not even Nirei would say that out loud — and the only thing about him that can be counted on is his obvious need to survive this.
Now that the initial shock is wearing off, Nirei's all too aware again of how cold he is, how wet his clothes are, and he forces his legs to function again and take him to the booth furthest from Endo's. Contrary to his reckless and self-sacrificing ways, Nirei doesn't secretly want to die. He especially doesn't want to die in a crusty old building with nothing but the dust and a madman as witness. So fear be damned, he's not going to wait for permission to stay. He physically can't. ]
I'm sorry. I uh, I understand, but I'm reeeally not worth the waste of energy. So please just- [ He looks at Endo from the corner of his eye as he walks, hunched over and careful like an anxious dog. ] -just sit down and ignore me. Please. Please.
[ Once he's close enough, he begins emptying his pockets onto the dirty table — the shitty handwarmer, a few small packs of gummi candies, his phone — and starts stripping off his snow soaked hoodie. He's still half-focused on Endo through it, like looking away for too long will make him materialize closer. A millisecond glance while laying the wet fabric on the booth's backrest, another while stepping out of his soggy shoes, another while double-checking if his socks are dry enough to keep on.
If Endo's watching Nirei back, it's plain to see that his laughably thin clothes are not where his use will lie.
His socks are safe, thankfully, but his pants are too wet from slipping in the snow earlier to just roll up. Nirei makes a face, then sighs and gets on with unbuckling his belt. This time, he doesn't look anywhere but a random wall as he steps out of his pants and hangs them next to his hoodie. It's not like he's never undressed in front of someone before, but changing near his friends and family is completely different from standing in a damp sweater, star patterned boxer briefs, and old gym socks around his worst fears personified. ]
[ 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.
They're winning now. ]
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. ]
[ Outside, the wind is howling. The storm doesn't sound like it will let up any time soon. The amount of snow buildup will be an issue, too, potentially trapping them in this dilapidated building even after the storm ends. And while trying to wrap himself in his meager body heat without the aid or a blanket or better clothing is not the best approach to surviving, Endo stands by his original assessment: this is a real pain, and it's only going to get more irritating.
He's quickly running through some possibilities for using this opportunity to his advantage as Nirei babbles. He could force him to do another sweep of the building; his own search was thorough, but putting Nirei to work would mean getting some peace and quiet — and the (unlikely) possibility that Nirei could find something that he missed. There's also the roof, difficult to access but it should be the best location for trying to get cell phone service. Endo could make him try that, though the chances that they get a signal are slim — and it doesn't solve the problem that is his promise to Sakura and the very specific way in which his hands are tied.
It only takes the few seconds of Nirei's stuttering reaction and subsequent decision to turn around for Endo to internally raise those ideas and then dismiss them. Like all things that have happened on this day, his lack of a real plan — other than the one obvious solution, which he puts at the far bottom of the list — is unusual. As is someone so unwisely dismissing a conversation with him, and thus: ]
Hey. [ His tone isn't quite as serious as before, venturing back into his more typical unhurried arrogance, with a threat less apparent but still underscoring his words. ] You got a death wish? I wasn't finished with you.
[ He watches Nirei's back as he says this, opting to put his hands in his pockets as they're starting to hurt. Plus, returning back to his languid body language is more intimidating that standing around with enough tension to make his inner state obvious. He has no real barrier against the cold, and this is better than nothing; it'll help a small amount until he returns to his own booth.
Nevertheless, upon making that movement, he gives way to a shiver and sniffs, though the latter sounds more disdainful than functional.
With that, he steps closer to Nirei's chosen table — not quite enough to lay his menacing vibe on so thick that Nirei stops his task, but near enough that he looms behind him while he gets a good luck at the junk he's been carrying around. Not much, it seems, but the gummies will be useful if they're stuck for more than a couple of hours.
All Endo has is his phone and his wallet, and the former might as well be a brick in this rundown area.
Nirei's phone is probably similarly useless, but while he's busy wiggling out of his wet clothes and proving that he is as useless as Endo expected, Endo finishes the short walk to the table and picks it up. He turns to Nirei with it in his hand, on the verge of saying something, but takes one long look at him and bursts out laughing again. This time, a hint of real but no less unnerving amusement makes its way into the sound. ]
What the hell? I thought you were part of Furin.
[ As in trying to play it hard and run around with the big boys. Pattern boxers fit his overall demeanor, sure, but it's still surprising that he wears underwear that pings him as a first-year junior high student, rather than a tough member of Bofurin.
Don't get Endo wrong. He isn't typically in the business of judging people by what they wear. Takiishi's taste in clothing wouldn't be considered standard by most people's views, after all, and his preferred outfits don't paint him as the dangerous person that he is. It's just that Nirei isn't doing himself any favors by bolstering his weak — and even childish — image. ]
Haaah — [ A long exhalation. ] I really got a bad roll today.
[ All of Sakura's friends are meddlesome brats and none of them would be welcome in this space, but at least some of the others are serious. This guy's just laughable — as pathetic as Endo originally labeled him. ]
He's quickly running through some possibilities for using this opportunity to his advantage as Nirei babbles. He could force him to do another sweep of the building; his own search was thorough, but putting Nirei to work would mean getting some peace and quiet — and the (unlikely) possibility that Nirei could find something that he missed. There's also the roof, difficult to access but it should be the best location for trying to get cell phone service. Endo could make him try that, though the chances that they get a signal are slim — and it doesn't solve the problem that is his promise to Sakura and the very specific way in which his hands are tied.
It only takes the few seconds of Nirei's stuttering reaction and subsequent decision to turn around for Endo to internally raise those ideas and then dismiss them. Like all things that have happened on this day, his lack of a real plan — other than the one obvious solution, which he puts at the far bottom of the list — is unusual. As is someone so unwisely dismissing a conversation with him, and thus: ]
Hey. [ His tone isn't quite as serious as before, venturing back into his more typical unhurried arrogance, with a threat less apparent but still underscoring his words. ] You got a death wish? I wasn't finished with you.
[ He watches Nirei's back as he says this, opting to put his hands in his pockets as they're starting to hurt. Plus, returning back to his languid body language is more intimidating that standing around with enough tension to make his inner state obvious. He has no real barrier against the cold, and this is better than nothing; it'll help a small amount until he returns to his own booth.
Nevertheless, upon making that movement, he gives way to a shiver and sniffs, though the latter sounds more disdainful than functional.
With that, he steps closer to Nirei's chosen table — not quite enough to lay his menacing vibe on so thick that Nirei stops his task, but near enough that he looms behind him while he gets a good luck at the junk he's been carrying around. Not much, it seems, but the gummies will be useful if they're stuck for more than a couple of hours.
All Endo has is his phone and his wallet, and the former might as well be a brick in this rundown area.
Nirei's phone is probably similarly useless, but while he's busy wiggling out of his wet clothes and proving that he is as useless as Endo expected, Endo finishes the short walk to the table and picks it up. He turns to Nirei with it in his hand, on the verge of saying something, but takes one long look at him and bursts out laughing again. This time, a hint of real but no less unnerving amusement makes its way into the sound. ]
What the hell? I thought you were part of Furin.
[ As in trying to play it hard and run around with the big boys. Pattern boxers fit his overall demeanor, sure, but it's still surprising that he wears underwear that pings him as a first-year junior high student, rather than a tough member of Bofurin.
Don't get Endo wrong. He isn't typically in the business of judging people by what they wear. Takiishi's taste in clothing wouldn't be considered standard by most people's views, after all, and his preferred outfits don't paint him as the dangerous person that he is. It's just that Nirei isn't doing himself any favors by bolstering his weak — and even childish — image. ]
Haaah — [ A long exhalation. ] I really got a bad roll today.
[ All of Sakura's friends are meddlesome brats and none of them would be welcome in this space, but at least some of the others are serious. This guy's just laughable — as pathetic as Endo originally labeled him. ]
[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."]
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.
He adds, as though it makes his point: ]
You gotta do something with it.
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.
[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.]
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. ]
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.]
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. ]
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.]
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.]
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