Accelerator (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
levelshift) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
metalogs2023-04-02 08:05 pm
levelshift) wrote in metalogs2023-04-02 08:05 pm
[Closed] Rooftops are where all the cool kids meet
Who: Donnie purplexing and Accelerator levelshift
What: Some dorks learn Donnie has a new power in the worst way possible.
When: Early-mid April
Where: The roof of the Diadem hotel.
Content Warnings: Talk of traumatic brain injuries, maybe some other medical stuff. Will update as needed.
[It's been a bit since Accelerator has gotten back from Excelsior. That trip had turned out to be a dead end regarding his original reasons for travel, but it hadn't been a total waste of time. Running into a second mutant turtle had been, at the very least, an interesting experience, especially when having a normal conversation with a peer that's even close to being on his level is so totally unheard of.
He isn't sure if that means he's still going soft, which is a little unnerving. Being in an entirely new universe means he needs to keep his guard up, not turn into Yoshikawa... but on the other hand, he did learn some new and interesting things. And she, Yomikawa and Last Order would be fucking thrilled if they knew he could manage being sociable in a somewhat normal context (outside of the whole sentient meat thing).
He'll need to mull this over later, when he's feeling less tired.
At any rate, there's the matter of the teleportation amulet device. Donnie has it, and he needs to return it to the Alliance before they start asking questions. The two of them have agreed to meet on the roof of the Diadem hotel, which Accelerator is perfectly fine with. It, unlike the lobby, is completely empty, and it offers a better view than having to wait around in some dark, dank back alley. It wasn't as easy to get up here as it should have been thanks to the underpowered garbage that is the supercomputer connected to his brain, but he's choosing to ignore that for the moment. Honestly, it isn't so bad, and he makes a mental note to come up here when his hotel room feels too claustrophobic.
... And to drink coffee, which he is currently doing. He's sitting against one of those big curved air intake vents, his crutch on the ground next to him, sipping from a can of coffee (some skull and bones brand, the same one he's been obsessively drinking since he got here). It's nice, the quiet and the breeze are nice. If there were a couple of slowly rotating wind turbines within view he could almost be tricked into thinking this was some roof in Academy City.]
purplexing and Accelerator levelshift What: Some dorks learn Donnie has a new power in the worst way possible.
When: Early-mid April
Where: The roof of the Diadem hotel.
Content Warnings: Talk of traumatic brain injuries, maybe some other medical stuff. Will update as needed.
[It's been a bit since Accelerator has gotten back from Excelsior. That trip had turned out to be a dead end regarding his original reasons for travel, but it hadn't been a total waste of time. Running into a second mutant turtle had been, at the very least, an interesting experience, especially when having a normal conversation with a peer that's even close to being on his level is so totally unheard of.
He isn't sure if that means he's still going soft, which is a little unnerving. Being in an entirely new universe means he needs to keep his guard up, not turn into Yoshikawa... but on the other hand, he did learn some new and interesting things. And she, Yomikawa and Last Order would be fucking thrilled if they knew he could manage being sociable in a somewhat normal context (outside of the whole sentient meat thing).
He'll need to mull this over later, when he's feeling less tired.
At any rate, there's the matter of the teleportation amulet device. Donnie has it, and he needs to return it to the Alliance before they start asking questions. The two of them have agreed to meet on the roof of the Diadem hotel, which Accelerator is perfectly fine with. It, unlike the lobby, is completely empty, and it offers a better view than having to wait around in some dark, dank back alley. It wasn't as easy to get up here as it should have been thanks to the underpowered garbage that is the supercomputer connected to his brain, but he's choosing to ignore that for the moment. Honestly, it isn't so bad, and he makes a mental note to come up here when his hotel room feels too claustrophobic.
... And to drink coffee, which he is currently doing. He's sitting against one of those big curved air intake vents, his crutch on the ground next to him, sipping from a can of coffee (some skull and bones brand, the same one he's been obsessively drinking since he got here). It's nice, the quiet and the breeze are nice. If there were a couple of slowly rotating wind turbines within view he could almost be tricked into thinking this was some roof in Academy City.]
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In a heartbeat his mind is filled with numbers, running, shifting, formulas and complex calculations that simultaneously seem like gibberish and yet make complete sense. It's too fast to parse, although in some instinctual effort to focus he can make out some of the information, process it as more than just a blur of mathematics before it's all too swiftly ripped away like he's caught in some wild rapids consisting entirely of codework.
And there is encoding, a background to the shuffle of numbers, adjusting, readjusting in subtle sync, maintaining a careful order to the numerical chaos, keeping things flowing, moving, functioning. It's a temporary solace, a promise that all other processes will make sense.
It slips from his focus, another heartbeat, another rush.
Everything is a rush. A blissful world both beautiful and terrifying, but at its fringes he can tell something's going wrong. He can't quite determine 01100101 01110010 01110010 01101111 01110010 the source he can't focus it's too much this isn't rightwhat'shappeningmyheadisgoingtoexplodestopSTOPSTOP--
His fingers pull away from the device, more an act of gracious gravity than by his own power. Donnie's not even aware he's falling, his mind abruptly going blank like a power cord's been pulled. His eyes remain aglow, the same if fainter hue of magenta that accompanies his brand of ninpo.]
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The calculation assistance device's light flickers again, and it lets out a little beep as it course-corrects and its normal closed circuit resumes.
Accelerator remains lying there for several seconds as the synapses in his brain fire and this thoughts start connecting, aided by the computer. He's on the ground, he fell and hit the ground after Donnie looked at the device. It... failed? It malfunctioned? Something happened, he isn't sure what, and that's probably the most terrifying thing out of all of this.
With a badly shaking hand he does what his reflexes have learned to do with this thing. He fumbles around at his neck until he finds the device, then the switch on it, and hits it a few times. He damn well can't remove it to examine what went wrong, this is literally his only option if it was to ever break.
It switches into esper mode with a beep, and he feels a flood of familiar, comfortable calculations enter his head. Then he changes it back to normal mode (another beep), and that flood becomes an uncomfortable trickle. Then, finally, briefly, he turns it off (yet another beep), keeping his hand clamped on the device so he doesn't lose the switch. A very painful lack of everything again, more missing cogs.
He turns it back on (the final beep), and his brain is back to bog-standard calculations. It seems to be back to normal....
Dropping his hand, he starts to push himself up. It's only now he's realizing his heart is thundering in his chest and it isn't just his hand that's shaking, but his entire arm. His whole body is twitching.]
Wh - what the fuck was that??
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The bulk of his battle shell at least saves Donnie from hitting his head once he'd fallen. He doesn't offer an immediate response, still staring blankly skyward as his senses try to reconnect after whatever had threatened to disrupt them in the first place.
Abruptly he gasps like he'd momentarily forgotten to breathe, wincing as he finally registers the pain from the awkward angle and the glare of light in his eyes. He blinks and he swears he can still see numbers, but the washed out world is starting to slowly come back into focus.
Shakily, Donnie pushes himself up to sit, still trying to catch his breath, letting his hand rest on the rooftop to help ground him. He looks at his other hand like it's some foreign thing, the residual light from his eyes gradually fading.
Sorry Accelerator, he's still not quite all there yet, give him a sec.]
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Looking around, he sees Donnie and catches the unnatural light in his fading, making his own widen. His initial assumption had been that the computer failing was due to it being so underpowered, but this is making him connect the dots.
His first instinct is a violent one. He reaches up, his hand on the choker, intending to flip the switch to esper mode. Normally he'd utilize his ability, either a burst of wind or more likely, his reflection and his hand to start crushing organs and demanding answers. But he knows objectively that behaviour is wrong and that Donnie isn't a bad person, something bad just happened and he needs to figure out what without being the monster that he is.
He doesn't let go of his choker, but he doesn't flip the switch, instead growling out in a threatening manner.]
What the hell did you do?
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He sees Accelerator's hand around the device and his eyes widen as his mind races filling in gaps for what must have happened. The conclusion has Donnie looking utterly horrified. No wonder the other teen looks so upset, he has every right to be if....]
I-I don't know! I wasn't trying to do anything! I was just going to look at the thing and then- [He gestures vaguely, still feeling slightly twitchy himself, like there's residual static of some kind but he can't make sense of it.]
...I think somehow your computer plugged into my head.
[It sounds utterly ridiculous but he looks completely serious as he tries to work out the how's there.]
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[Absolutely ridiculous. That sounds absolutely ridiculous. There's no way that can be true.
A dozen questions appear in Accelerator's mind, but he's totally silent as he considers this. What kind of answer is that? Why would Donnie think the computer plugged into his head? Is this supposed to be some kind of stupid lie? It isn't believable at all, he doesn't see why would Donnie be lying in the first place, and the turtle looks just as freaked out as he feels, so... this deduction has him nixing that possibility. He's telling the truth, which means he probably has some reason to come to that conclusion. It's far too specific to be some random thing he's blurting out. At the very least, the device doing something to him would explain why he's on the ground, too.
The gears in Accelerator's head keep on (wildly) turning, the desire to fix all of this serving as a focus. Zeroing in on Donnie's answer is serving as a way to ground himself. It isn't ideal as a way to calm down from being terrified and it certainly isn't deliberate, but it's better than nothing.]
It couldn't have. To connect it to someone's brain you need to use the electrodes, which are currently plugged into me. You didn't even take it out of its casing.
[His voice is still low, but the edge is gradually fading, and he doesn't move his hand from his choker quite yet.]
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Donnie tries to gather his thoughts, even as he pulls his knees in and wraps his arms around them, like he's physically trying to pull himself together.]
It shouldn't have. But something still happened. I...don't think it was your device, not necessarily. It must've been on my end, somehow- no I don't know how, it's never happened before.
[He sucks in a breath, squeezing his eyes shut as he tries to remember what happened.]
...there was a brief light, like when I use my ninpo. I wasn't even trying, I just, as soon as I came into contact with your device, everything blacked out and all I was seeing was numbers. Formulas.
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[Donnie is curled up. That kind of posture is the universal sign for super not okay, any idiot with eyes could see it. Accelerator doesn't know what to do with that, though. He can think of about a dozen ways to it worse, not better, so he just sits there for a moment.
In the end he decides to lower his hand down to the ground. It's becoming increasingly clear there's no need to use his ability here, he'd only be wasting the battery on something that was only an accident. Aside from that he still isn't sure what to do, so he glances around for his coffee. The can is on its side a few feet away, and what coffee had still been inside it has spilled out onto the concrete.
Well, that's just great. He still feels completely off-balance, though with there being no actual threat towards his life and having something to focus on, his pulse is gradually slowing back down to normal.]
... Your eyes were glowing. [He'll add that, in case Donnie couldn't tell just now. Who knows if it'll help, but it at least lends credence to the ninpo theory.
Then he finally, finally takes in a deep breath. It helps a little in processing the information Donnie is giving.]
Formulas, huh? That's basically how I see the world, fucking formulas for vectors and vector space. [He rolls that thought around in his head.] If that's what you saw when you touched the calculation assistance device....
[It would make sense, that's what the device is for. Numbers. Formulas. Hmm.]
Does your ninpo extend to electromagnetic control? [He hesitates, then adds:] The only people I know who would be able to... connect... to this thing have that ability. Sensing and manipulation of electrons would probably let them see the formulas like you did.
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He's grateful that Accelerator's there and speaking up again. Mention that his eyes were glowing has the turtle frowning into his arms. His brow furrow, but finally he opens his eyes again.]
No, it shouldn't. It's all external materialization, like I showed you. It's not a reactive power, it needs me to initiate it.
...it wasn't just formulas though. There was actual programming behind it, the computer functions itself.
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Accelerator clicks his tongue reflexively. It isn't just his typical power acting up, which makes this even more concerning. That, and the specification of programming rather than electrons....]
Not the same thing, then.
[As far as he knows, anyways. Last Order and the Sisters are very computer-y in and of themselves, though he supposes that has to do more with their nature as clones programmed by a computer than their esper ability.
(Thank god, at any rate. The last thing he needs is another lab-engineered electromaster in his life. One more is, honestly, terrifying.)]
If you weren't manipulating the electrons, then it sounds like you were interfacing with the computer. Just without all the peripherals someone usually needs for that kind of thing. [Keyboard, monitor, etc.]
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Yeah... Like that makes much more sense.
[He lets out a breath as he looks down at his hands again before letting them drop into his lap as he looks at Accelerator, lips pressed firmly into a line in preparation of his next words, but he finds them willing to come way more easily than apologies usually do for him.]
I don't know what's going on. I'm going to find out so something like that won't happen again but I am so, so sorry it happened in the first place.
I...I know what could've happened and the thought honestly makes me want to throw up but I will fix this and if anything I owe it to you even more to come up with an upgrade ugh why is this happening.
[By the end of it he's got his hands pressed against his face as he starts rethinking things like he's made some miscalculation of some kind, even though he knows there couldn't have been, why would there be, what's changed?]
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He's mulling all of that over - what else it could be, possible methods that could be used to narrow things down, he should probably still check the computer somehow, to make sure it isn't broken -
And then Donnie is talking again. Accelerator is silent the entire time, very quickly looking as if Donnie has grown a second head as he realizes what the turtle is doing.
Apologizing. He's apologizing? To him, of all people????
What in the goddamn hell?!]
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What the fuck are you doing? Don't apologize to me. It was obviously an accident, and as far as I can tell there wasn't any permanent damage. It's shitty that it happened, but it's fine. I'm fine. Use your energy to figure out what the hell this is instead of spending it on bullshit that doesn't matter.
[Seriously. No one should ever be apologizing to a mass murderer. Even though Donnie doesn't actually knows that's what he's doing Accelerator still can't help but think that's nuts.
He grits his teeth, looking away, still scowling.]
I'll help, if you need it. Whatever this bullshit is pisses me off, so I want to figure it out, too.
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The angry response has the turtle jerk back like he's been physically hit, and he stares at the other as if he's the one growing another head. This is way too much emotion than he ever wants to deal with. Donnie looks more than a little shocked. Why shouldn't he apologize? Yes, it was an accident but it was still something he'd done...somehow.
Blinking a few times, Donnie finally stops looking something other than startled, giving Accelerator a nod. At least they're in agreement on something.]
I need to figure out what triggered it. The only thing we have to go by is that it happened when I touched your device.
So far as electronic devices go I haven't really been using anything outside of my phone and my own computer... Simple appliances haven't done anything either.
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What's worse is he feels bad for lashing out. But he had to - he's right. He doesn't deserve the kindness that is an apology, so it's better to nip that in the bud right now. That's why, even though he knows he should say something apologetic himself (a better person certainly would), he doesn't. He focuses on Donnie's other, normal experiences with the technology here.
Great. If normal appliances, a phone, and a computer haven't been affected, then it could be localized to more advanced technology. It's only a theory, and sadly it's one that can't be easily tested. How are two kids not even from this universe supposed to get access to a supercomputer like the one around his neck?
He's filing through the options, of which there are pitifully few.]
The easiest thing would be for you to test my calculation device again, wouldn't it? Unless we break into a facility that has something similar for you to test.
[Which he has no problem with, though he doubts a hero like Donnie would be down for something illegal.]
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[He demonstrates by sweeping his hand over his left forearm, bringing up a projected screen that he taps at thoughtfully for a moment, frowning as nothing unusual happens.
It's easier for Donnie to move away from all the emotional stuff and slip back into a more logically minded mode. He's got a problem here to solve, he has to work out the potential avenues to be explored. Preferably ones that don't involve keeping someone's brain functioning.]
You have or know where I can have access to a computer? Just like, a normal one.
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I've got my phone on me. [He pulls it out of his back pocket. It might not be quite advanced enough though, if Donnie's phone didn't work. That's one option though, and another one is coming to him very quickly.] If that doesn't work, then a library should have regular computers for use. There's a branch nearby.
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Well, if something does happen I don't think I wanna freak anyone out at the library, especially with this whole situation.
[He gestures vaguely at himself before he holds a hand out, hesitating.]
Okay, phones shouldn't have that much going on, so...it should be easier to handle than all the constantly running processes that your device is running.
[He's more familiar with how phones work at least. It's clear there's some reluctance, more than reasonable though. Donnie quickly makes up his mind however, nodding at Accelerator as he reaches out.]
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He hands it over and watches.]
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There's a buzz, like a faint electrical current but he can feel it hold at his thought, waiting, if barely. He's only faintly aware that he's managed to bring the phone closer to him, and already his eyes echo that glow as his mind delves inward.]
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It's a little nerve-wracking seeing the same glow in Donnie's eyes. That must mean whatever happened before is happening again though, which is... good?
His phone is definitely a lot less complex than the calculation assistance device. It's a pretty standard smartphone with all the default apps and nothing he's downloaded himself. He's barely used it, since he's spent most of his time here wandering around or sleeping. There's only one person in his contact list, Leo, and despite his contact information being in here he's listed as 'Entry 1.']
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Oh this is amazing
The almost blank expression on his face twitches into a grin, which when paired with glowing eyes probably makes him look positively manic.
He wonders how much he should be poking around, but it becomes clear soon enough that this phone is practically new for how much it actually has on it. Kind of sad, really. It's clear it's been used for some time, not super long, but- oh, he has ...a contact wow that's super sad wait-
Outwardly his grin drops as he mouths a 'what the', and in a split second he's skimming messages- should he be doing this, probably not but he wants to verify something and ohmyg-]
-Seriously?!
[All the light winks out in an instant, but it seems Donnie's somehow managed to cut his connection without some nasty feedback, looking at Accelerator.]
You knew Leo was here the whole time?!
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Accelerator is guessing this test is going a hell of a lot smoother than the first fumble. Donnie must really, really like technology.
He keeps on sitting there waiting patiently, though that Seriously?! comes out of nowhere and makes him jump, startled. A split second later he's back to his normal I-don't-give-a-shit-about-anything-ever attitude though, and raises an eyebrow.]
Hah? Oh, yeah. I ran into him here in Central.
- Wait, were you going through my contacts? [Contact. He doesn't look overly bothered by this.] I've only got him in there because we're doing some work together.
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[He waves his hands- not important- he slashes his hands outwards abruptly.]
Not the point. You. Knew.
[And from the datestamp on that conversation, it was well before Donnie had ever run into Accelerator. There was no reason he couldn't have just...made mention.
The heat from his outburst tapers off. He's more hurt than angry. What if he'd never run into Leo out here? Someone still knew there was a possibility- not the case, probably doesn't matter now but it still bothers him.
He did not ask to ride the emotional rollercoaster today. Mentally he starts boxing those things up again. He'll deal later. At least he knows he's got a brother that'll be back at
home...at the apartment.For now he takes a deep breath, looking back down at the phone in his hand but not reacting simply by being there. Donnie flicks the screen active just to make sure he hadn't accidentally killed it.]
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....
[If Yomikawa or Yoshikawa had shown up here it wouldn't have mattered whether or not he found them. They're capable adults who can take care of themselves, and their lives are a lot easier without him in it. Last Order is more complicated, being a ten-year-old, but even she had managed to survive a week on her own. The only danger would be some unsavoury fucks realizing what she's capable of and picking her up for experimentation.
Both Leo and Donnie are around his age, and ninjas on top of that, so they should have no problems when it comes to surviving. Really, it isn't that different than when Last Order had run off to explore and he had gone out to find her in that stupid mall.
(At the time, he had told himself he had only gone out to look for her out of a self-serving interest to make sure the admin of his choker would stay safe. But he had put in the effort to keep her under control when she was running around in the rain. He had made that detour to buy her bandages for an insignificant little cut so she wouldn't cry about it.)
It takes all of that thinking, way more thought than it should have, for it to hit him that maybe, maybe it's less about whether or not a person can survive on their own in an unknown world, and maybe it's more about both turtles having embraced the consequences of taking part in life instead of having a solitary existence outside the lives of others.
Maybe it was just wanting their family around.
He looks down at his phone in Donnie's hands, then looks away.]
... Sorry.
[God, what is he even doing. Why is everything so much harder to deal with these days?]
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