Etraya Inbox

[levelshift]

un: Accelerator
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[levelshift]

[Fun fact, with so few kids around it turns out Ramsey farm is pretty quiet a lot of the time, making it a great spot to do some reading. That's what Accelerator is doing today, curled up in the farmhouse's living room and reading one of the recommendations Harold had given him during their earlier talk.

The silence makes it easy to hear that loud, unnatural thud outside. Accelerator actually starts, glancing up from his book with a bewildered expression. A moment later, he sets it aside, grabs his crutch, and heads outside in time to see Jon making his way over to the chicken coop. Following slowly, by the time he gets over there the kid is crying.

Oh, geez. He doesn't think he's any good with kids when they're being emotional, but there isn't anyone else here and he damn well can't just leave Jon alone with his misery... so awkwardly, he steps closer.]

Hey.

[solarson]

( he wasn't sure anyone else would be here, so when accelerator makes his way over — when he reaches out to him with an almost uncertain greeting, he looks up from his hands to the boy there with him. blue eyes brimmed with tears, he sniffles some before he forces himself to look away. not so much embarrassed as he is... feeling a lot of things. )

What are you doing here?

[levelshift]

[Accelerator's gaze hangs on Jon quietly for several moments. Something is very, very wrong, and though he's keeping his expression neutral he's pretty damn concerned.]

Reading. [Nothing interesting, in other words. He gets straight to the point as he continues:] What's going on?

[solarson]

( he hiccups a couple times — knows that he's getting a little emotional, but. he doesn't care. he's upset. he's upset. )

Nothing. ( sharp, but. that's a lie. ) Didn't you see about the next mission?

[levelshift]

Yeah.

[He doesn't hesitate in giving an honest answer, just like he doesn't hesitate when he adds:] You had some strong opinions about it.

[It isn't that Accelerator stalks the network. Since it's a form of socialization he generally makes a point of avoiding it. But Aurora's messages are important, so he tends to read through her replies to anyone in case she offers more crucial information about Etraya or upcoming missions. That means he had seen Jon's conversation with her, and since he's bringing the mission up he's guessing that has something to do with his mood.]

[solarson]

And you don't?!

( it comes off a bit harsher than he means it to — tears brimming his blue eyes as he looks over to accelerator there. )

We're supposed to go to some planet in a universe that's going to die and just do nothing to help. I'm not ok with that.

[levelshift]

[Accelerator remains calm, staring back at Jon. Sheesh, this is hitting him hard, isn't it?]

It isn't the first time we've been on a mission to somewhere that's apparently dying. Chances are it won't be the last, so you're going to have to learn to be.

[solarson]

( not the first? probably not the last? no! he won't stand for this! ...except he does actually stand then, hands curled into fists at his sides. )

I won't!

( what seems like a regular stomp of his foot to the ground in irritation is actually a kryptonian kind of stomp... which not only breaks the ground beneath him around his foot, but sends a powerful shockwave flying towards accelerator there. oops. )

[levelshift]

[Accelerator knows what he's saying isn't the least bit reassuring, but it's honest. Sometimes the missions they have to go on suck, and he thinks it's better for Jon to start processing that instead of being sheltered from the reality of it.

Unfortunately, he's dealing with a superpowered kid. Maybe he should have switched modes on his choker before approaching, but he figured just talking meant that wasn't necessary. Whoops!

The shockwave reaches his feet before his finger can reach the switch on the calculation assistance, and his crutch isn't enough to keep him on his feet. Losing his balance, he falls onto the snowy ground with a curse.]

[solarson]

( part of him feels bad for that. really and truly. he likes accelerator. likes to think they can be friends, but. he's also upset... upset and angry and not necessarily because of what the other kid said to him. it's just a lot for him to process and with being the half-kryptonian kid that he is, well. it's hard to keep a good control on his emotions when they get the better of him. )

I won't be part of that. I won't just stand by and let people die.

( and as he says that, blue eyes glow red, hands still balled into fists at his sides. )

[levelshift]

[Upon seeing the expression on Jon's face Accelerator refrains from complaining, silently reaching up to hit the switch on his choker before climbing to his feet. Not that he's expecting a fight, but he knows what it's like being an upset little kid with a lot of power.]

I doubt you're gonna get a choice in the matter if Aurora shut you down.

[solarson]

Then I'll find Echo and make them understand!

( not... entirely sure how to do either of those things, but. he throws his arms down at his sides in anger — another shockwave from his brute strength flying off him and towards accelerator. the chickens fly the coop and later he'll need to repair any damage accidentally done to it but for now he's just... Feeling A Lot Of Things. )

[levelshift]

[This time he's prepared! The shockwave hits him and with a few quick calculations Accelerator redirects it downwards, deeper into the earth where it won't accidentally hurt anyone or damage anything. That means he remains standing, and inclines his head slightly. He isn't about to stop Jon from having his tantrum, but he also isn't about to coddle him.]

Oh? How the hell are you going to find them? No one else has been able to do that.

[solarson]

I'll punch my way through the dome! Scan every inch of this planet we're on! I won't stop until I find them!

( little dramatic but... he's a kid? feeling a lot of things? also half-kryptonian and still trying to work with that coupled with explosive emotions at times. at that, he lifts himself up into the air, eyes burning red again, hands tightly balled into fists. )

My dad's birth planet died. No one did anything. I won't let that happen to another one.

[levelshift]

[Remaining where he is, Accelerator eyes Jon carefully. The farm is pretty empty outside of Toph, but there are the chickens to consider... and if the kid is serious about punching a hole in the bubble then he's going to have to stop him.]

Sorry that happened to him, but it's out of your hands. You're just as helpless as the rest of us.

[Which isn't something most people like to hear. He's well aware of that.]

[solarson]

Stop saying that!

( again, a shockwave comes off him from the brute force of his movements, this one a little sharper and harder, enough to cut through the ground and crack it up some. he will totally feel bad about this after for real. but he can feel his frustration building up inside him — feel the way it almost burns from the inside out and he just... doesn't know what to do with it. )

I'll find a way!

[levelshift]

[This new shockwave is enough to startle the chickens, sending them scurrying into their coop for safety. Accelerator's frown increases slightly, and with a quick glance at the ground he makes a mental note to get Toph over here to fix the ground later.

Then he looks back up at Jon, his gaze steady.]

It's the truth. I know it's shitty to have to hear it, but you need to accept it, brat. Punching a hole in the barrier isn't going to do anything. At worst, it might hurt some of us. We don't even know if Echo is on the planet, and given what little we know, my guess is they aren't. They're probably some insane, unimaginable entity that you can't even conceive of, let alone touch.

[He exhales slowly.]

There isn't anything you can do, so just accept it.

[solarson]

No!

( that comes off so much louder than he intends it to, but. super strength, super speed, super vision... super voice. it reverberates around them, jon's frustration rising within him as he lifts himself a little higher into the air. his eyes burn red — he doesn't use his heat vision but he's just... so upset. so angry at this situation. he hates it so much. and that's when another shockwave leaves him, this one harder than the last and rushing its way towards accelerator. )

[levelshift]

[Accelerator is entirely prepared for any more shockwaves, no matter how powerful they are. Once again he redirects it downwards so that the force doesn't hurt himself or the chickens.

Thanks to the use of his ability shockwaves aren't a concern to him, but the way Jon's eyes are glowing has him watchful. Subconsciously, he's running the mathematical calculations needed to let his ability function as a sixth sense, taking in any unusual vectors that Jon may be giving off beyond the shockwaves.]

Throwing a temper tantrum isn't gonna change anything.

[solarson]

I'm not having a temper tantrum! I'm upset and rightfully so!

( ok.. not as loud as before, but! still upset. still with the glowing eyes. still feeling the heat begin to radiate off him and pulse towards accelerator. )

What would you do?! Do you even care?!

[levelshift]

[Heat flux happens to be a vector and the formulas for its transfer are ones Accelerator knows well, so he's able to pick up on the unusual amount of heat radiating off of Jon. That keeps his attention, and he isn't sure if it's related to Jon's eyes glowing, but either way it's something he needs to keep an eye on. Just in case.]

It doesn't matter whether I do or not. It won't change anything, and besides, I have my own priorities.

[solarson]

And what are those? What are your priorities?

( the air's getting hotter around him and he's trying... so hard... to not lose it. )

[levelshift]

[Well... Jon probably isn't going to like this answer, but Accelerator isn't about to lie. His answer comes firmly and without even a hint of hesitation.]

I'm responsible for almost two million kids back home. I'll let every other damn universe out there die before I let anything happen to them.

[solarson]

( that... is not what he expected to hear? and it's enough to get those glowing red eyes of his to fade back to blue from the sheer DISBELIEF at what accelerator just said. he floats there. dumbfounded. staring to the boy from where he is in the air and can't help but ask. )

You would... even let my universe die?

[levelshift]

[That glow fading doesn't feel enough for him to let his guard down, so Accelerator doesn't reach for his choker.]

Yeah, I would.

[As much as he'd like to say otherwise, he can't. He isn't that Level 0, he isn't the kind of person who will kill himself trying to save everyone. The list of people he's willing to protect has grown exponentially, sure, but at the end of the day his priorities lie with the clones and the espers from Academy City. So it is what it is.

(This is why he wishes Kamijou Touma was here. Can he fill that idiot's shoes? He doubts it.)]