[lonewolf]

Ah, yes. This was something that looked familiar. A person that did not want to use their quirk.

Well, okay, Mark less didn't want to use his quirk, and more wanted people to underestimate him by thinking he didn't have a quirk. The former was because in a combat situation his quirk wasn't suited well, and if it came down to it in order to find out some sort of information he'd need some kind of support. That, and it was just much funnier to make an opponent think he was quirkless.

What was he doing again? Oh right, Elijah. Didn't know much about him, an alright student. But he had a quirk, claimed he didn't have a quirk, and then didn't use it. He had watched Elijah for a time, and it didn't make much sense to Mar. It couldn't be a similar situation. He was pretty sure. Maybe? Either way, he had called Elijah out in order to do a private session. Nothing to do with awareness, or being mindful of ambushes and the like. Assuming Eli was as paranoid as most of the student body, he'd probably be even more paranoid once he found the teacher sitting on a lawn chair in the middle of the road eating an apple like those assholes from the moves. Ominous.

Though once Eli came into picture Mark would throw the half-eaten thing to the side, dusting his hands off. "Ah, there you are!" He'd get up from the flimsy excuse for décor and set one of his feet on the seat, looking at the student. "I know what you're thinking. 'Why the hell am I here? Did I do something wrong?' And the answer to that is no. Assuming that was your question, which is was because as rule one in my classroom states, I'm always right."

Elijah

[Elijah]

A private session with one of the hero professors was not what Elijah expected to get one day.

He wasn't a troublesome student. Beyond some blunt opinions on the lessons being taught, he was attentive albeit on the quiet side, getting average grades on tests written or practical. Well, average when it came to being in the top hero university in Japan at least.

But that was the thing- he wasn't gifted either by any stretch of the imagination. He was a guy of average physical capability; a pretend Quirkless surrounded by monsters already showing their prowess in harnessing whatever power was bestowed upon them. People were not created equal.

So yes, the freshman wondered why the man didn't take any of the other more suitable prospects under his wing. But he would meet him regardless. One didn't just refuse an opportunity to get private training with a hero.

Elijah made his way to Ground Beta in his P.E. uniform, strapped with his usual weaponry and his hands lazily tucked in his pockets. He squinted once he was close enough to see the teacher just... lounging and eating an apple. Ominous indeed. And also one to litter. "Yikes," would be his response to the toss in lieu of a greeting.

Though he should give a better one, so he waved with his human hand. "Hey Lone Wolf." Elijah put it back in his pocket as he eyed the man. "I was only thinking the first question, not the second. I did nothing wrong." And what a bold claim that was. It's just that he felt that, since he was passing his classes, he was doing fine. "So why did you wish to see me really?"

lonewolf

[lonewolf]

"See? Always right," he says, shrugging as he takes the Carry from it's holster, beginning to spin it like one would see in some of those old cowboy movies. "Well, I have reason to believe you're holding back when it comes to your assignments. And I don't mean the ones that involve bookwork because reading is lame and for nerds."

He'd get off of her perch, beginning to move around to the other side of the chair. "The short of it is, I want us to have a spar. One non-quirker to another. I wanna see everything you can do. And I mean everything." He looked over at Elijah, giving him a pointed look. "No holding back, on anything. Got it? You better, because spar starts now." And without dropping a beat he'd kick the lawn decor his way, raising his gun up and prepared to pepper Elijah with a few well-placed paint rounds if he didn't get out of the way fast enough. C'mon, kid, show me what you got.

Elijah

[Elijah]

Elijah's eyes were immediately on the man's gun, already growing more alert. He may be experienced enough not to fire it while it's spinning, but the knowledge didn't ease the freshman's tension at a weapon being drawn. Especially with the reasoning the hero decided to provide. "Holding back?" Because that couldn't be right, he was working through in his exercises just fine.

He squinted at Lone Wolf, removing his hands from his pockets to ready himself. "Yes. One non-quirker to another." So that was it, wasn't it? Because he decided he didn't need his Quirk, he was accused of not giving his all. What of the man then? He was Quirkless himself, at least supposedly. Whether that really was true or not, it still proved that much like his father who really was Quirkless, it was very possible to succeed in the hero field without one. So why was he on his case exactly? He may never know.

But Elijah's stance was clear. He will not use it.

And that decision would cost him. While he stepped back in time to avoid the chair, he wasn't fast enough to avoid a couple paint bullets on his real shoulder. A hiss of pain escaped him as he leaned back but he eventually stood firm, brandishing some knives from his vest. He didn't expect the spar so he didn't have any wooden ones with him, but Lone Wolf told him not to hold back so...

Two blades would soar towards the man before Elijah pulled out more and attempted to close the distance between them.

lonewolf

[lonewolf]

Lone Wolf took a step to his right, the blades passing just past his cheek. He raised an eyebrow as actual knives weren't expected, but that was on him. He told the boy not to hold back, and that counted. At the very least he had his own justification for not holding back. Well, not totally. If he went as hard as he could then things could get dicey.

Regardless, he drew a bead on Elijah and fired several more times, following his every movement. While Mark knew how to brawl, it was heavily unrefined, hence the heavy focus on gunplay. Though...

"You know, if this were a real situation you'd probably be swiss cheese right about now. Dontcha got something to level the playing field? I mean, I know some kids can dodge real bullets, turn themselves into stone or something along those lines to outright negate guns, and it's probably the best thing in the world as the most tragic thing to hear about is some punk with a gun getting the best of you dumbasses. How do you intend to deal with 'em?" In the process, he'd be working his way around and away from Elijah as best as possible to keep him beyond arms reach. Though there was only so long he could keep up with this...

Elijah

[Elijah]

Getting close to the hero was hard. Elijah should've known he would favour distance as a gun user. The freshman was at a disadvantage from the start. Tenacity would have him push on anyway. Though it could very well be stubbornness in Lone Wolf's eyes.

More bullets hit the student despite his dodging and weaving. He grit his teeth. "You've read what my Quirk does yes?" The instructor had to have, right? It was registered. Faculty would have access. The staff were the only people in UAU he couldn't hide his Quirk from. "You would know it's useless if you did."

Elijah tried to catch a bullet with his blade mid-air but missed, prompting another hit on his vest. "I assumed this was training on what to do in those situations as a Quirkless." More daggers thrown, though to his credit in remembering this was only an exercise, at least he didn't aim for the man's face.

Again.

lonewolf

[lonewolf]

A smile broke across the cowboy's face as he moved his body to avoid the incoming knives, one getting dangerously close to him and being forced to bring an arm up to deflect it. Thankfully, he managed to catch it against the flat and not the point, sending it off to the side, though not before the edge bit into is jacket and leaving a nice mark underneath. It was a good thing that this was a throwaway coat.

"I'm glad to hear that you're not completely stupid," he says, letting the magazine fall out of his pistol before slamming in a fresh one, sending the slide forward. "Also glad that you're capable of admitting your talents. You got a good arm, but in a war of attrition like this the punk with a gun will always have more ways to hurt you than you him." It would be hear that Mark would change tactics, and instead of aiming center mass he'd start to aim lower, intending to pelt Elijah's legs and force him off balance so he couldn't accurately throw. "Now, is your quirk useless because in a situation like this it'd be useless? Or you just blowing smoke up my ass and looking to do things the hard way?" Mark personally didn't care. The paint rounds, surprisingly, had a shelf life, and if he didn't use them all up it was possible they could go bad. If Elijah kept this up, he'd be decked head to toe in welts and a neon substance that would take a while to wash out; however, if he did what Mark was expecting, and he instead dove headfirst into the ground like a land shark, it'd put him on the defensive.

Based on Elijah's track record...it was gonna be the former.

Elijah

[Elijah]

The longer the fight went on, the more spot on Lone Wolf's words seemed to be. Elijah had to expend more energy due to his swings, and the shots the man were firing aided in slowing him down. There wasn't much in terms of cover either other than the lawn chair that had long since been abandoned. In every sense of the word, the freshman was at a disadvantage.

But he saw the hit on the arm. The knife was deflected, sure, but it did connect to some degree. It only bolstered the student further despite getting hit in the legs with more bullets. "The only use my Quirk has is to escape. Unbecoming of a hero who's supposed to protect others." Elijah drew both kukri from their hilts. "The threat doesn't get removed if I run away." If his accuracy was getting compromised, then getting close really was the only option.

But that would never happen. With all the shots Elijah endured, it was getting difficult for him to stay upright due to all the pain. As a final attempt he would throw one of his kukri towards the hero, aiming to knock the gun off his hand before the freshman fell on the pavement.

lonewolf

[lonewolf]

For almost anyone else the flying kukri would be a threat, but Mark had caught enough flying beer bottles chucked his way to know when to reach out to grab something. Still, just in case he turned his body so his dominant hand wouldn't lose a thumb or something, and timing it just right he'd hold the knife in his hand. "Man, UA doesn't know how to promote creativity," he says, holstering the gun and looking over the knife. "Or rather, it doesn't know how to promote it outside the support department. You'd think you kids with your fancy quirks that can rip up the skyline and call down the finger of God could figure out a way to do something mundane with 'em. Like cook up the world's greatest grilled cheese sandwich."

His stomach growled at the thought. That apple earlier didn't do him much in terms of whetting his appetite, so food was something on the brain. Either way, he'd get to just barely out of arms' reach of Eli, squatting down as he appreciated the hefty curve of the kukri, bringing a thumb up and lightly pressing the edge of it into his skin. "If you think that your quirk is only good for running away, then you're not thinking strategically enough. I'm proud that you're capable of recognizing some of your weaknesses, especially with your quirk, but sometimes you gotta realize the best way to deal with ranged opponents is to put something between you and them." He set the knife down, letting Eli pick it back up. "I'll give you five minutes to lick your wounds. If you want a hint, bullets have a hard time penetrating asphalt, even from high caliber guns. You'd have to keep in mind that anything hitting above you could ricochet, but you seem mindful enough to think ahead."

Elijah

[Elijah]

The pain only worsened when he hit the ground. Elijah forced a harsh sigh through his nose in lieu of a hiss; an attempt to hide just how much his bruises hurt at the moment. His eyebrow twitched. He didn't know how well he was doing at masking the pain.

He opened his eyes - when did he close them? - to look at the hero as he spoke. Watched as he holstered the gun to examine his kukri. That he caught with his bare hands. The shock from that nearly rendered him speechless. "I doubt mine is useful for making sandwiches," he quipped. But he did remember the mundane actions of going from one floor to the next in his home without taking the stairs. It conserved his energy. It let him bypass people already using the stairs.

It made him lazy and impatient.

His stare hardened when Lone Wolf crouched close to him, blade still in hand. Some cynical part of him wondered if the hero would use his own weapon against him; inflict injuries more severe than the paint bullets he'd been firing. Another part was disappointed the kukri was relinquished back to him instead.

He supposed he should thank his instructor. No villain would give him the luxury of five minutes.

Instead Elijah took in a deep breath and sighed. "I'm aware the ground is more durable than me." His movement was slow, and when he picked up the weapon the hero oh so graciously gave back, he remained crouched close to the floor, his prosthetic supporting his upper body. "You wish to see everything from me correct? You never did mention what happens if I refuse. Isn't there an advantage to not revealing fully what you're capable of?"

lonewolf

[lonewolf]

Mark thought for a moment, holding a finger up. "Obviously," he says, waggling it back and forth. "But people like you and me, there ain't a whole lot that our quirks can do. Some of us would have a better time of confronting our limitations than others."

He stood back up, wiping his thumb on his jeans in order to get the excess blood off. "If you want to refuse, then that's totally up to you. But between me and you, I'd hate getting peppered with glorified paintballs. Besides, you need to consider that this is, again, a facsimile. Guns might be hard to come by in Japan, but they do exist and based on what I've seen...well, you're dead. Even if they were all nonlethal, you'd be inconvenienced in the worst possible way."

He took a few steps back, scratching his head. "Basically, between me and you, if you keep at this in this way then you're going to be at a major disadvantage. Knife to a gunfight and all that. Just saying, level the playing field a little. Make me work for it." He pulled out a clip, preparing for the next bout. "Whenever your'e ready."

Elijah

[Elijah]

Elijah raised his brow, minute yet it made his surprise evident. "So you do have a Quirk. Ironic given you're criticizing me for not revealing mine." Was he using it now even? He actually didn't know. The freshman squinted. "What's yours then if it doesn't do much?"

Standing up, he looked down at his clothes as the hero continued on. Splotches of paint were everywhere, mostly on his torso with some on his legs, and he could feel the bruises forming under every one of them. He sniffed. "Part of training is to learn how not to die though, Quirkless or not. Getting hit as often as I have means I need to be faster." He stared harder at the paint he was covered with before looking up. "But yeah. I understand using everything you have to stay alive."

A sign escaped him as he took his fighting stance, pressing his foot harder on the ground than usual. "So fine. I'm ready."

lonewolf

[lonewolf]

A smirk crossed Lone Wolf's face, dropping the expended magazine before inserting the new one. "Make ya a deal. Land a punch in melee, and I'll explain everything that my quirk can do."

Was he expecting much? No, not really. Elijah was stubborn and skilled in his own right, but far from perfect. Then again, who was perfect? He was right that these exercises were how not to die, but that was all the more reason to be extra hard on the students, to take them to their limit in order to force them to go beyond. A 'do or die' without too many terrible consequences...although there was some level of trauma that Mark wasn't going to bother unraveling.

And so with Elijah declaring his ability to press on, Mark would rack the slide back and point the Carry back at him. "Let's dance!~" And with that, he fired.

Elijah

[Elijah]

Elijah tilted his head at the bargain Lone Wolf offered. It made him consider something.

He had to make a decision here. For the whole session so far, he'd been steadfast in his refusal to use his Quirk, trying his hardest to- well. Not beat, really. He was a pro after all. But his goal was to at least survive a spar against Lone wolf. He made some close calls, several knives were thrown the hero's way, but the man dodged them all and even caught one with his bare hands. In return the freshman was peppered with several bullets, his body covered in paint.

Lonewolf was right. If the bullets were real, he would've been dead.

So technically, as a dead person, nothing he did beyond the final shot mattered. The point was proven already. He failed. Because he was "holding back" on his skill. Which was also why he was called out here in the first place. So with nothing left to lose, he might as well use this time to attempt to glean more information from the man. He knew what the freshman could do anyway.

One word was uttered in response then. "Deal." With that, Elijah tucked his kukri in their sheaths and sunk into the ground, the bullet scraping the top of his shoulder as he did so.

Finding the instructor while melded was easy enough; beyond guesstimating the distance he had to cover, he could sense the man's gravity pushing down on the pavement. It was a simple feat to pop up behind him and throw a right hook on Lone wolf's shoulder.

Or at least he thought it would be on his shoulder. Height was harder to pinpoint than location.

Doubly so if the hero decided to move.

lonewolf

[lonewolf]

The round grazed Elijah, but the fact he melted into the ground gave Mark pause. Huh. I don't know what I did, but I managed to motivate a student past their boundaries. I think. Jury's out for deliberation, but for now...where did he go?

Mark began to move laterally, slowly, eyes scanning the ground to try and get a read where Elijah might have gone. Initial consensus was there were no tells that he could use, so now it came to Elijah's own skill: could he see Mark? Did he have to guess? How proficient was he at incorporating all this into his fighting style?

It wouldn't be long before Mark got his answer. With Elijah appearing almost right next to him, he was half a second too late to react before feeling the blow against his side. It wasn't enough to incapacitate, but instinct enough kicked in. He raised his weapon to smack him with the butt of his pistol, but stopped partway through. "Alright. Little sloppier than I imagined, but I'll chalk it up to lack of practice. How'd that work?"

Elijah