[Funky aura? AIM diffusion field? Yeah, Leo has no idea what they're talking about anymore.
What he does know is that Accelerator seems kinda... freaked. Well, not that he's acting outwardly freaked, but he turned off his choker, so Leo thinks he's definitely shaken by what just happened.]
Are you gonna be okay? We can walk you back.
[He doesn't know exactly where Accelerator lives, but he figures they can just get him to his building, anyway.]
[Preoccupied as Donnie is with trying to work out this new puzzle, he isn't really paying as much attention to Accelerator as Leo is.]
We could run some tests once you do that, that seems the clearest way to figure it out. At least I'll kind of know what to expect, but it'd probably be better to do something small scale...
[He blinks then, prying his eyes from his computer as Leo asks the esper if he's okay, finally looking towards Accelerator again.
It is hard for him to really gauge someone like the esper. He's used to dealing with his brothers who more often than not broadcast every emotion they're going through. Not someone more like...himself.
That realization makes him frown as his brow furrows, but he doesn't reiterate Leo's inquiry, though he is now giving them both his full attention.]
[Getting into the details now would mean sticking around, which isn't something he wants to do. He shakes his head vehemently, reaching for his crutch.]
It's probably nothing. I don't need any damn help walking back.
[Let's run some tests is a reasonable suggestion to make, he knows this, but right now all it's doing is reminding him of the scientists back in Academy City. Follow our plans and participate in our experiments, they had said. Yeah, look how that turned out.
On top of that he really isn't used to being offered help. That's just - it's very uncomfortable for him. They mean well, and what does he even do with that except grumble and walk away as quickly as possible? Which makes him look like a huge asshole, though to be fair that's what he is, and at least he's holding back from berating them like he did when Donnie apologized back on the roof.
He clicks his tongue, irritated with himself.]
I'll figure this fucking thing out and get back to you two.
[It's not exactly how he goes about making his brothers stop bothering him when he needs some space but he recognizes it for what it is now.]
I'll let you know once I get something together for that crutch.
[He nods at Leo then, gesturing for them to go. Not that he had been doing physically as much as the other two had but keeping his ninpō running in the long run does about the same thing for his appetite.]
[Unsurprised, Donnie is, if only because he hasn't gotten a goodbye once from the guy before.
He's also not terribly surprised when Leo drops his question.]
Not very sociable, right? [Coming from Donnie, that's saying something.] He's pretty rough around the edges. But I guess considering what he told me about where he came from, it kind of explains some things.
[For Donnie to declare someone “not very sociable” is definitely something.]
Yeah, his world sounds rough. [Accelerator said it was better than being created to be soldiers like they were, but Leo isn’t sure. And anyway, it’s not like they actually got used as soldiers.] Maybe it’s normal there. Ooor he just doesn’t want to get close to people.
[Leo shrugs.] He seems invested in helping you get tech parts and I don’t get the vibe that he’s going to horribly betray us, so…
...I don't know. Maybe it was hard getting close to people there.
[Accelerator hadn't really gone into too much detail about how it was with the other people there, after all, but neither had Donnie asked.]
He offered to help when I mentioned I was pretty much building from the ground up. I figured it couldn't hurt if he found any places, anyway, and if he didn't, then it wasn't like it was going to change things.
Part of it did stem from when he mentioned that you two were looking into with that Fantastic guy.
Yeah, maybe... When I first told him I was going to school here he got really weird about it so the whole place must be pretty harsh.
[Even though now he is going to school. Ah well, it's not Leo's business... (yet).
At the mention of their anti-Fantastic pact, though, he nods.]
Yeah, we've been... looking into whether all his heroic escapades are real. And doing some low level internet trolling.
[It's nothing impressive yet, but maybe if they can help build the negative internet buzz around him it'll help sink his campaign to run the Alliance.]
That guy sucks. If he takes over the Alliance it'll be bad news. Huvrye hates him too; I think he's trying to come up with a way to stop him too, but I don't know what he has planned.
Because having a city of science purposely creating espers is totally normal otherwise, sure.
[Yeah, harsh is a word for it.]
Any results?
I'm surprised no one's dug any dirt up on him yet. No one can have a spotless record unless he's already somehow managed to make sure his bases were covered before he made a bid for Alliance leadership.
[But yeah, it's definitely not good. Guess he can't blame Accelerator for being a little antisocial, given the circumstances.]
Some small things... saves he claimed credit for that probably aren't his, rumors that he stages crimes just to stop them... and I don't buy that he's truly invulnerable. Everyone has to have some weakness, right?
Having to adjust to the situation here is a thing, so I guess he's at least trying? And he didn't have to lend me his teleporter to get here, but he did.
...even if he neglected to mention the existence of family in this particular city.
[But it had worked out, and Accelerator had at least said he was sorry once Donnie grilled him for it. It was a very stressful day.]
Right. How long has this guy even been around here? Is he a local?
That’s true… I mean he could be wreaking havoc. Even with just thirty minutes, you can do a lot of damage.
[As both of them well know.]
But yeah, that was a dick move. He had to know we were brothers! He messaged me after all, Hamato.
[He’s still mad about it! But… he did get Donnie here, so Leo will provisionally forgive him.]
I’m pretty sure Fantastic is local. From what I could see he’s been doing the hero thing since he was a kid. Seems really into the influencer side of things.
Kinda weird that he talks about us like we’re soldiers, actually… He looks like he’d rather have us all be TikTok stars repping Bang Energy.
[Donnie sighs, shaking his head. He already spent all his emotional credits being angry at the esper so he forces himself not to backtrack. Anyway, he and Leo found each other somehow, so...it worked out.]
That...doesn't make sense. I heard about the ...he's an actor or something? But you're right, he doesn't look the part to be suggesting something like that. The Alliance hasn't talked about it at all?
I know, right! [Maybe he can be a little more frustrated... But he can move on for now.] Whatever, it worked out, I guess.
As far as I know they haven't. I think there's some feuding going on at the top, but I'm too much of a low level grunt to hear about it. [He's been getting the money and the free housing and doing easy stuff here and there, but hasn't exactly been trying to get on anyone's radar.] It's definitely sus... Maybe there's something deeper going on.
I think we should get to work on the lair idea… have somewhere to bug out to if things get bad. Having money and the big apartment is nice and all, but not if some guy is going to try to use us.
[It’s their normal to scavenge and scrounge, so he’s not too worried about that part now that he’s not alone.]
[It's both concerning and reassuring to hear, weird as that may be. But Donnie nods. A backup plan just seems the better idea, especially in a place where so much is different.
People may be more aware of their existence, but it's still been unfortunately proven that it hasn't changed things for the better, and for all that the systems in place look like they're trying to be helpful, there's a lot of things Donnie doesn't trust about it and he knows he's not the only one either.]
I've been looking- still looking, but Central's not New York. But there's gotta be some place.
I'll help you look. [With everything going on he's getting behind on school, but that's fine - he can just get more behind on school, why not?] You're right that there has to be somewhere...
Or... [He frowns.] We could go to this world's New York.
[He's not thrilled about that idea, though. He's not familiar with Central, but that's because he just hasn't lived here that long - easily explainable. If he went to this different world's New York, he thinks it would hit him a lot harder when things aren't where they're supposed to be; when things are different from how he knows them to be.
He already had a minor crisis when he realized this world doesn't have Famous Lou-Mike-Tony-Toney's and that was just one pizza place.]
[To be fair, Donnie's had the same concern and he hadn't even gone to this world's version of New York. Sure, it had been his initial plan, but in retrospect he wonders that it could have just made things worse.
But now there's no real reason to go there anyway. It's not their New York. It won't be home. Anyway, Leo's here, and he hasn't found any reason to go there. Except for perhaps the superior pizza. That he suggests it's an option means so much, especially when Donnie knows his brother's established himself here in Central to some degree. He...doesn't want to take that away from him.]
I don't know if I could take it, honestly. [It's a hard thing to admit.]
[Leo is relieved that Donnie doesn't want to go there, which is such a weird thing to feel when he's never lived anywhere else before. But it's true - it's not home, and without their family New York is just a city like any other. A really big one, true, but still just that.
Ultimately all that matters is that they're together; the postal code is just the set dressing. (Though, he'd still rather not go to Kansas.)]
Yeah, me either. [Since Donnie admits it, he will too.] It'd be too weird.
We will figure it out. ...Just... don't work yourself too hard, alright?
[Kansas is definitely not on the short list of potential residences and only a little ways up from New Jersey.
Donnie snorts, rolling his shoulders back as he flashes Leo a smirk.]
No promises!
[The List, it never ends...
But it gives him things to do, because if he doesn't have things to think about and work out then he'll have time for hopeless other thoughts to pop in his head and he doesn't want to get sucked into that mess. ...no, it's probably not healthy but it's the only thing working for him right now.]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2023-05-03 02:16 am (UTC)What he does know is that Accelerator seems kinda... freaked. Well, not that he's acting outwardly freaked, but he turned off his choker, so Leo thinks he's definitely shaken by what just happened.]
Are you gonna be okay? We can walk you back.
[He doesn't know exactly where Accelerator lives, but he figures they can just get him to his building, anyway.]
no subject
Date: 2023-05-03 04:16 am (UTC)[Preoccupied as Donnie is with trying to work out this new puzzle, he isn't really paying as much attention to Accelerator as Leo is.]
We could run some tests once you do that, that seems the clearest way to figure it out. At least I'll kind of know what to expect, but it'd probably be better to do something small scale...
[He blinks then, prying his eyes from his computer as Leo asks the esper if he's okay, finally looking towards Accelerator again.
It is hard for him to really gauge someone like the esper. He's used to dealing with his brothers who more often than not broadcast every emotion they're going through. Not someone more like...himself.
That realization makes him frown as his brow furrows, but he doesn't reiterate Leo's inquiry, though he is now giving them both his full attention.]
no subject
Date: 2023-05-03 04:56 am (UTC)[Getting into the details now would mean sticking around, which isn't something he wants to do. He shakes his head vehemently, reaching for his crutch.]
It's probably nothing. I don't need any damn help walking back.
[Let's run some tests is a reasonable suggestion to make, he knows this, but right now all it's doing is reminding him of the scientists back in Academy City. Follow our plans and participate in our experiments, they had said. Yeah, look how that turned out.
On top of that he really isn't used to being offered help. That's just - it's very uncomfortable for him. They mean well, and what does he even do with that except grumble and walk away as quickly as possible? Which makes him look like a huge asshole, though to be fair that's what he is, and at least he's holding back from berating them like he did when Donnie apologized back on the roof.
He clicks his tongue, irritated with himself.]
I'll figure this fucking thing out and get back to you two.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-03 02:53 pm (UTC)But he will this time, because Accelerator isn’t family or even really a friend; if he doesn’t want help then Leo won’t force it.]
Alright, well, let us know what you figure out. Worse comes to worst we just won’t use our abilities around you while you have that thing turned on.
[It’s not like they’ve never gotten around without them before, Donnie especially. They can make it work.]
Come on, Dee. I wanna get food on the way back.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-03 05:00 pm (UTC)[It's not exactly how he goes about making his brothers stop bothering him when he needs some space but he recognizes it for what it is now.]
I'll let you know once I get something together for that crutch.
[He nods at Leo then, gesturing for them to go. Not that he had been doing physically as much as the other two had but keeping his ninpō running in the long run does about the same thing for his appetite.]
Sure. Pizza or something else?
no subject
Date: 2023-05-03 06:07 pm (UTC)He turns to go, not bothering with a goodbye or anything, because that's just how he is. Have fun with getting food-that-is-probably-pizza!]
no subject
Date: 2023-05-03 07:09 pm (UTC)Pizza sounds good to me!
[He’ll wait until they’ve left the building and Accelerator is nowhere in sight to do a little debrief.]
So what do you think of this guy, actually?
no subject
Date: 2023-05-03 07:24 pm (UTC)He's also not terribly surprised when Leo drops his question.]
Not very sociable, right? [Coming from Donnie, that's saying something.] He's pretty rough around the edges. But I guess considering what he told me about where he came from, it kind of explains some things.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-03 08:06 pm (UTC)Yeah, his world sounds rough. [Accelerator said it was better than being created to be soldiers like they were, but Leo isn’t sure. And anyway, it’s not like they actually got used as soldiers.] Maybe it’s normal there. Ooor he just doesn’t want to get close to people.
[Leo shrugs.] He seems invested in helping you get tech parts and I don’t get the vibe that he’s going to horribly betray us, so…
no subject
Date: 2023-05-03 09:14 pm (UTC)...I don't know. Maybe it was hard getting close to people there.
[Accelerator hadn't really gone into too much detail about how it was with the other people there, after all, but neither had Donnie asked.]
He offered to help when I mentioned I was pretty much building from the ground up. I figured it couldn't hurt if he found any places, anyway, and if he didn't, then it wasn't like it was going to change things.
Part of it did stem from when he mentioned that you two were looking into with that Fantastic guy.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-04 03:30 am (UTC)[Even though now he is going to school. Ah well, it's not Leo's business... (yet).
At the mention of their anti-Fantastic pact, though, he nods.]
Yeah, we've been... looking into whether all his heroic escapades are real. And doing some low level internet trolling.
[It's nothing impressive yet, but maybe if they can help build the negative internet buzz around him it'll help sink his campaign to run the Alliance.]
That guy sucks. If he takes over the Alliance it'll be bad news. Huvrye hates him too; I think he's trying to come up with a way to stop him too, but I don't know what he has planned.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-04 03:38 am (UTC)[Yeah, harsh is a word for it.]
Any results?
I'm surprised no one's dug any dirt up on him yet. No one can have a spotless record unless he's already somehow managed to make sure his bases were covered before he made a bid for Alliance leadership.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-04 04:02 am (UTC)[But yeah, it's definitely not good. Guess he can't blame Accelerator for being a little antisocial, given the circumstances.]
Some small things... saves he claimed credit for that probably aren't his, rumors that he stages crimes just to stop them... and I don't buy that he's truly invulnerable. Everyone has to have some weakness, right?
no subject
Date: 2023-05-04 04:42 am (UTC)Having to adjust to the situation here is a thing, so I guess he's at least trying? And he didn't have to lend me his teleporter to get here, but he did.
...even if he neglected to mention the existence of family in this particular city.
[But it had worked out, and Accelerator had at least said he was sorry once Donnie grilled him for it. It was a very stressful day.]
Right. How long has this guy even been around here? Is he a local?
no subject
Date: 2023-05-04 04:08 pm (UTC)[As both of them well know.]
But yeah, that was a dick move. He had to know we were brothers! He messaged me after all, Hamato.
[He’s still mad about it! But… he did get Donnie here, so Leo will provisionally forgive him.]
I’m pretty sure Fantastic is local. From what I could see he’s been doing the hero thing since he was a kid. Seems really into the influencer side of things.
Kinda weird that he talks about us like we’re soldiers, actually… He looks like he’d rather have us all be TikTok stars repping Bang Energy.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-04 05:02 pm (UTC)[Donnie sighs, shaking his head. He already spent all his emotional credits being angry at the esper so he forces himself not to backtrack. Anyway, he and Leo found each other somehow, so...it worked out.]
That...doesn't make sense. I heard about the ...he's an actor or something? But you're right, he doesn't look the part to be suggesting something like that. The Alliance hasn't talked about it at all?
no subject
Date: 2023-05-05 03:40 pm (UTC)As far as I know they haven't. I think there's some feuding going on at the top, but I'm too much of a low level grunt to hear about it. [He's been getting the money and the free housing and doing easy stuff here and there, but hasn't exactly been trying to get on anyone's radar.] It's definitely sus... Maybe there's something deeper going on.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-05 04:55 pm (UTC)...are you sure it's going to be okay sticking around with them?
no subject
Date: 2023-05-06 05:07 am (UTC)[He might as well be honest about it.]
I think we should get to work on the lair idea… have somewhere to bug out to if things get bad. Having money and the big apartment is nice and all, but not if some guy is going to try to use us.
[It’s their normal to scavenge and scrounge, so he’s not too worried about that part now that he’s not alone.]
no subject
Date: 2023-05-06 05:17 am (UTC)People may be more aware of their existence, but it's still been unfortunately proven that it hasn't changed things for the better, and for all that the systems in place look like they're trying to be helpful, there's a lot of things Donnie doesn't trust about it and he knows he's not the only one either.]
I've been looking- still looking, but Central's not New York. But there's gotta be some place.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-08 01:45 am (UTC)Or... [He frowns.] We could go to this world's New York.
[He's not thrilled about that idea, though. He's not familiar with Central, but that's because he just hasn't lived here that long - easily explainable. If he went to this different world's New York, he thinks it would hit him a lot harder when things aren't where they're supposed to be; when things are different from how he knows them to be.
He already had a minor crisis when he realized this world doesn't have Famous Lou-Mike-Tony-Toney's and that was just one pizza place.]
no subject
Date: 2023-05-08 02:09 am (UTC)But now there's no real reason to go there anyway. It's not their New York. It won't be home. Anyway, Leo's here, and he hasn't found any reason to go there. Except for perhaps the superior pizza. That he suggests it's an option means so much, especially when Donnie knows his brother's established himself here in Central to some degree. He...doesn't want to take that away from him.]
I don't know if I could take it, honestly. [It's a hard thing to admit.]
We'll figure it out here.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-08 04:00 am (UTC)Ultimately all that matters is that they're together; the postal code is just the set dressing. (Though, he'd still rather not go to Kansas.)]
Yeah, me either. [Since Donnie admits it, he will too.] It'd be too weird.
We will figure it out. ...Just... don't work yourself too hard, alright?
[Seriously Donnie, how long is The List now?]
no subject
Date: 2023-05-08 04:19 am (UTC)[Kansas is definitely not on the short list of potential residences and only a little ways up from New Jersey.
Donnie snorts, rolling his shoulders back as he flashes Leo a smirk.]
No promises!
[The List, it never ends...
But it gives him things to do, because if he doesn't have things to think about and work out then he'll have time for
hopelessother thoughts to pop in his head and he doesn't want to get sucked into that mess. ...no, it's probably not healthy but it's the only thing working for him right now.]no subject
Date: 2023-05-08 04:56 am (UTC)Leo rolls his eyes, but he doesn't push the issue.]
Once we make you this lab you'll never come out... Just give me proof of life sometimes, huh?
[Shoulder bump!]
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