Accelerator (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
levelshift) wrote2024-04-26 02:03 pm
levelshift) wrote2024-04-26 02:03 pm
Etraya Inbox
un: Accelerator
[Text | Video | Audio | In-person]
un: Accelerator
[Text | Video | Audio | In-person]
[ John has no qualms about giving his room up for Accelerator and sleeping on the sofa. He'd much rather Accelerator stay where he can keep and eye on him, brokered truce or not. Dying isn't an easy thing and leaving Accelerator alone with that burden sits heavily in his chest. ]
You wouldn't be imposing. You can stay as long as you want.
You wouldn't be imposing. You can stay as long as you want.
[Having already gotten way too much kindness from both Harold and John, Accelerator irrationally wonders if he should take his chances out in the fog. It's silly, obviously, and he seriously isn't going out there right now, but he doesn't want to deal with even more of John being nice to him.
His tone is firm when he replies.]
My apartment is enough. Drop it.
His tone is firm when he replies.]
My apartment is enough. Drop it.
[ And he does drop it. He's not going to push Accelerator in this situation; the offer stands and they both know it. They both know where John stands in their relationship, though maybe not how far he's willing to go in the name of "friendship." ]
Coffee?
[ It's something Accelerator likes, and maybe having that will help him find one normal thing after waking up from death. ]
Coffee?
[ It's something Accelerator likes, and maybe having that will help him find one normal thing after waking up from death. ]
[John dropping the subject is a huge relief. Processing coming back from the dead a second time is more than enough for him to deal with right now, he doesn't want to further unbalance himself and potentially end up with RSPK Syndrome on top of everything else.
He sucks in a deep breath and nods.]
Yeah. I could use some.
[Coffee sounds fucking amazing right now.]
He sucks in a deep breath and nods.]
Yeah. I could use some.
[Coffee sounds fucking amazing right now.]
[ Doing something is good. It gets him away from the video feeds he's been glued to, and he's always been more action than discussion. He's had to do it more often over the past five years but it's still something he still lacks.
John moves into the kitchen area and begins preparing the coffee. Going through the motions is easy and mindless, but that leaves him struggling for something to say. There's no good way to discuss what happened, there's no words that can soothe the pain of death. So in the end he says nothing, just makes coffee. ]
John moves into the kitchen area and begins preparing the coffee. Going through the motions is easy and mindless, but that leaves him struggling for something to say. There's no good way to discuss what happened, there's no words that can soothe the pain of death. So in the end he says nothing, just makes coffee. ]
[Before following after John, Accelerator gives the feeds a long, nervous look. There's nothing on them that is unusual, but knowing this is in case Sleipnir decides to show up sends a spike of fear through him. He has to pull himself away from them, hoping the coffee will help.
Instead of following John into the kitchen he goes to sit at the table, equally silent. He isn't sure what to say, talking about his death is morbid and John has already done a lot. He doesn't want to put more on him. He sighs a little, absently rubbing his neck despite there being no scar.]
Instead of following John into the kitchen he goes to sit at the table, equally silent. He isn't sure what to say, talking about his death is morbid and John has already done a lot. He doesn't want to put more on him. He sighs a little, absently rubbing his neck despite there being no scar.]
[ The silence stretches on, too long. John has to find something to say, he shouldn't just leave Accelerator to stew. ]
If he bothers you again, tell me.
[ "And not Harold" is what he doesn't say. Harold would disapprove of what John would do with that information, but he doesn't care. Some things need to be solved with a gun. ]
If he bothers you again, tell me.
[ "And not Harold" is what he doesn't say. Harold would disapprove of what John would do with that information, but he doesn't care. Some things need to be solved with a gun. ]
[Right now, the thought of John going after Sleipnir is a conflicting one. There is nothing he'd like to see more than Sleipnir get some comeuppance, no matter how irrational it is, but it means John putting himself in a certain level of danger. Maybe if they were both two regular people it would be less of a problem, since he knows that John is about as capable as an unpowered human can be.
But Sleipnir isn't a normal human. There's something more to him, and Accelerator isn't sure what that is. That's why he hesitates.]
I can handle him. The only reason he killed me was because I couldn't use my ability.
But Sleipnir isn't a normal human. There's something more to him, and Accelerator isn't sure what that is. That's why he hesitates.]
I can handle him. The only reason he killed me was because I couldn't use my ability.
You don't have to. Let me deal with it.
[ It wasn't that long ago that Accelerator vehemently denied their friendship, but that didn't change how John feels. "Friendship" is an easy way of putting it, a light term to cover the truth. The truth is that he'd do anything to protect Accelerator. The truth is that he wants to see him healthy and happy, and he'd go to great lengths to see that happen. Making coffee is just the tip of the iceberg. Accelerator is old enough that he doesn't need John to mother him, and John knows to keep these feelings to himself. It would be catastrophic for Accelerator to find out the truth. ]
[ It wasn't that long ago that Accelerator vehemently denied their friendship, but that didn't change how John feels. "Friendship" is an easy way of putting it, a light term to cover the truth. The truth is that he'd do anything to protect Accelerator. The truth is that he wants to see him healthy and happy, and he'd go to great lengths to see that happen. Making coffee is just the tip of the iceberg. Accelerator is old enough that he doesn't need John to mother him, and John knows to keep these feelings to himself. It would be catastrophic for Accelerator to find out the truth. ]
... I don't know if you can.
[He has to be open about that. If John decides to take things into his own hands beyond monitoring the library it could be incredibly dangerous for him. Accelerator doesn't want to be responsible for anyone else getting hurt, especially someone like John. Who the hell knows what Sleipnir is capable of beyond coming back before Aurora's 48 hour limit?
He sighs a little.]
Besides, Finch told me not to do anything, and I won't.
[He has to be open about that. If John decides to take things into his own hands beyond monitoring the library it could be incredibly dangerous for him. Accelerator doesn't want to be responsible for anyone else getting hurt, especially someone like John. Who the hell knows what Sleipnir is capable of beyond coming back before Aurora's 48 hour limit?
He sighs a little.]
Besides, Finch told me not to do anything, and I won't.
[ Of course Harold would say that. It's severe what Harold can do when he makes up his mind, but mostly he holds himself back. John follows him, but some things can't be solved by doing it Harold's usual way. Still, if Accelerator has agreed to do nothing, that's probably for the best; even John can admit that.
Thankfully the coffee is ready so it's an easy change of subject. John brings two mugs of hot coffee to the table and sits opposite of Accelerator after placing one in front of him. ]
Hopefully it compares to your canned stuff.
[ It's meant as a tease, trying to distract Accelerator from the burden he now carries. ]
Thankfully the coffee is ready so it's an easy change of subject. John brings two mugs of hot coffee to the table and sits opposite of Accelerator after placing one in front of him. ]
Hopefully it compares to your canned stuff.
[ It's meant as a tease, trying to distract Accelerator from the burden he now carries. ]
[Accelerator is very quick to grab the mug, taking a long sip. It isn't the same as canned coffee, since the canned stuff is generally pretty damn low quality, which means it isn't hitting the same spot that satisfies his addiction. It's still good enough though, so it'll do for now.
He snorts before taking another sip.]
Have you ever had canned coffee before?
[Of course coffee that hasn't been made using a bunch of automated machines at a high volume is going to taste better.]
He snorts before taking another sip.]
Have you ever had canned coffee before?
[Of course coffee that hasn't been made using a bunch of automated machines at a high volume is going to taste better.]
I never went to Japan. They're at the 7-11?
[ He's traveled far and wide through work but never ended up in Japan. Kara probably would have tried the canned coffee just to make fun of it. Now he feels as if he should try it because of Accelerator, so they can talk about it. ]
[ He's traveled far and wide through work but never ended up in Japan. Kara probably would have tried the canned coffee just to make fun of it. Now he feels as if he should try it because of Accelerator, so they can talk about it. ]
Yeah. [He takes another sip of coffee. It feels so strange talking about something so normal to him.] You can find canned coffee pretty much everywhere back home. Convenience stores, grocery stores, vending machines, it's normal.
[Maybe that's why he asked for the convenience store to be added to Etraya. The Qwik Trip is American, so having the 7-Eleven around is like a little bit of home.]
[Maybe that's why he asked for the convenience store to be added to Etraya. The Qwik Trip is American, so having the 7-Eleven around is like a little bit of home.]
[ It is strange, but John isn't a conversationalist and isn't sure how to say the right thing to Accelerator. Is there anything more to say? He's already offered both protection and retribution. Maybe all that's left is trying to make Accelerator feel more comfortable. ]
Which brand should I try?
[ Both because he's a little curious and because he wants to have something to talk about with Accelerator once the fog lifts. ]
Which brand should I try?
[ Both because he's a little curious and because he wants to have something to talk about with Accelerator once the fog lifts. ]
[They're all equal amounts of terrible, and Accelerator should probably just say that. But he does have a favourite brand, despite not being the kind of person to usually express that kind of enjoyment towards something.]
BOSS. It's one of the bigger brands in Japan.
BOSS. It's one of the bigger brands in Japan.
I figured.
[That's some boomer texting, Viktor.]
I can meet you on the first floor of the library.
[He's lazy, and since he's living on the second floor now it's just a matter of going down the stairs.]
[That's some boomer texting, Viktor.]
I can meet you on the first floor of the library.
[He's lazy, and since he's living on the second floor now it's just a matter of going down the stairs.]
Fine.
[Accelerator will head downstairs in a few minutes with the cane, parking himself in a cozy chair near the entrance. That way Viktor doesn't have to do any wandering in order to find him.
It's nice being back in Etraya. It isn't his home, but it's a hell of a lot better than that shitty fae land, so he's in a somewhat decent mood.]
[Accelerator will head downstairs in a few minutes with the cane, parking himself in a cozy chair near the entrance. That way Viktor doesn't have to do any wandering in order to find him.
It's nice being back in Etraya. It isn't his home, but it's a hell of a lot better than that shitty fae land, so he's in a somewhat decent mood.]
[ True to his word, Viktor arrives exactly fifteen minutes later, the crutch in his hand. He is walking better now that he's been able to synthesize some of the compounds he'd been missing, but there's still a hint of a limp.
Without any ceremony, he approaches, holding out the crutch. ]
Now that we can speak freely, I would be interested in studying that alloy.
Without any ceremony, he approaches, holding out the crutch. ]
Now that we can speak freely, I would be interested in studying that alloy.
[Accelerator takes a second to look Viktor up and down.]
Wow, you weren't kidding about augmentations.
[He could fit right in back at Academy City, given the amount of cyborgs, androids and robotics in general. It gives new light to just how difficult it must have been for Viktor to be stuck in a low technology place like Auriel.
Accelerator climbs to his feet, leaning on the cane to do so, though he's quick to grab his crutch and get that back onto his forearm.]
Yeah, that's fine. The alloy isn't anything special for my city. It was just the most convenient combination of tough and lightweight.
[Of course, it isn't a material easily found outside of Academy City, having been developed there and thus proprietary to the city.]
Wow, you weren't kidding about augmentations.
[He could fit right in back at Academy City, given the amount of cyborgs, androids and robotics in general. It gives new light to just how difficult it must have been for Viktor to be stuck in a low technology place like Auriel.
Accelerator climbs to his feet, leaning on the cane to do so, though he's quick to grab his crutch and get that back onto his forearm.]
Yeah, that's fine. The alloy isn't anything special for my city. It was just the most convenient combination of tough and lightweight.
[Of course, it isn't a material easily found outside of Academy City, having been developed there and thus proprietary to the city.]
Edited 2025-12-16 18:37 (UTC)
No. I was not.
[ There's the faintest note of amusement in his tone, just barely there. ]
I might have under-exaggerated them.
[ Most aren't visible with his armor in place, his mask covering his face, but with his systems still in a pattern of recovery, some are more obvious. Like the heat vents that pour steam as his core works to mitigate the overworked augments as they come back online. ]
Do you have a sample of it? Or the process through which it was made. I can manage the rest.
[ There's the faintest note of amusement in his tone, just barely there. ]
I might have under-exaggerated them.
[ Most aren't visible with his armor in place, his mask covering his face, but with his systems still in a pattern of recovery, some are more obvious. Like the heat vents that pour steam as his core works to mitigate the overworked augments as they come back online. ]
Do you have a sample of it? Or the process through which it was made. I can manage the rest.
[There are a dozen questions in Accelerator's head right now, and more flooding in by the second as he glances down at his crutch.]
I don't want to take apart my crutch, but I can ask Aurora for that and the metallurgical engineering notes. [He doubts either would take many points, and he has tons to spare so he doesn't mind.] Just keep in mind this shit is proprietary to my city. I'm the Board Chairman so I can hand the data over, but don't go around sharing it.
[There is a mild threat in that statement, and he inclines his head.]
Why do you want it? Planning on making some upgrades?
[He's half-serious, okay. Given this Viktor's... everything... it seems like it's a valid question.]
I don't want to take apart my crutch, but I can ask Aurora for that and the metallurgical engineering notes. [He doubts either would take many points, and he has tons to spare so he doesn't mind.] Just keep in mind this shit is proprietary to my city. I'm the Board Chairman so I can hand the data over, but don't go around sharing it.
[There is a mild threat in that statement, and he inclines his head.]
Why do you want it? Planning on making some upgrades?
[He's half-serious, okay. Given this Viktor's... everything... it seems like it's a valid question.]
I would not ask that of you. And if I had, I would have simply taken a piece of it while it was in my possession. As you can clearly see, I did not.
[ Viktor hums at the threat. ]
I am more than familiar with the pain of having one's work stolen. [ There's a hint, just barely, of that pain in his voice, a wound that even a decade or so hasn't been able to heal. ] I assure you, the specifications would not leave my possession.
[ At that question, Viktor tips his head slightly and mulls over how truthful he wants to be. ] Considering I am asking you for proprietary information, I suppose that is worth, eh, a little honesty.
Yes. I suspect this alloy to be useful for reinforcing my spinal column.
[ Viktor hums at the threat. ]
I am more than familiar with the pain of having one's work stolen. [ There's a hint, just barely, of that pain in his voice, a wound that even a decade or so hasn't been able to heal. ] I assure you, the specifications would not leave my possession.
[ At that question, Viktor tips his head slightly and mulls over how truthful he wants to be. ] Considering I am asking you for proprietary information, I suppose that is worth, eh, a little honesty.
Yes. I suspect this alloy to be useful for reinforcing my spinal column.
Edited 2025-12-16 20:32 (UTC)
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