"Okita it is." Elijah eyed the guard as he followed the woman further in, noting how her refusal for scrutiny extended to him as well. She must be high up the Tiamat food chain if the man would follow her orders not to vet a complete stranger.

He shrugged at her apology. "You don't need to be. It's not like you're the one who removed it." The subject surrounding his arm always involved pity somehow. The that must be terrible's and I can't imagine the pain you've been through's overlayed over each other as time and again he'd hear those words. He was silently thankful that Sumi went straight to an explanation of her company and the reason for his visit instead of delved further into it. "A new prosthesis is my aim. I was given a unique opportunity to use them as tools, so I plan to benefit from it in any way I can." They would be stronger than his regular arm, that was for sure.

Elijah's eyes were looking beyond the glass as they stepped in the elevator and it went up, brows raised at the sight before him. Research facilities, rooms to run experiments, boards filled with equations he wouldn't understand even if he had the time to review them. He's not one to give compliments unprompted - it was much more likely for him to spout criticisms when he didn't need to - so the fact he was silent meant everything was in order to him.

When they reached the correct floor he listened to the support major's instructions, shutting his eyes as he stepped through the decontamination chamber. Blinking the mist from his eyes once the process was complete and he got to the other side, Elijah turned his head to her. "You mentioned regrowth being a possibility. How fast can that occur if you don't need to replicate my arm?" He's not looking to have the same one after all.

He wanted something better.

Sumi Okita

Okay. So Cloud could subdue the average hostile person. It was a good sign; it meant their chances of controlling the situation had gone higher with both of them having experience in combat.

But then Cloud hit him in the head. It's not infighting by any means, but it was the start of a disagreement. Generally not good.

Elijah rubbed his head, more out of surprise than pain as he eyed his partner critically. "Yes, I'm to state our intentions in the middle of their attempt at grabbing us." He hoped the other student could understand the sarcasm in his words. "We are also heavily outnumbered. The faster we even the playing field, the better."

Their numbers were further made known when they stilled at the leader's command. Elijah pursed his lips. "I would hardly call keeping patrons here against their will courteous. I'll repeat myself only once: Let. The hostages. Go." But of course they didn't listen.

He sighed. Here we go then.

His eyes immediately landed on the meek fellow with the firearm. Guns were risky in any situation, but a scared man with a gun even moreso. None of the other weapon holders mattered as far as Elijah was concerned. He glanced at the other freshman. "Dispatching the one with the pistol needs to be our priority. I'm going after him." He didn't know who was the faster of the two, only that he himself could weave past these people if the first men were any indication.

Elijah wasn't going to leave his partner to fend for himself though. He opted to split their enemies' numbers evenly, aiming to grab one man's arm before arcing a kick on his jaw. Should the man land on the table as a result, the freshman would turn to the guests sitting there. "Move to the furthest wall. We'll try to resolve this quickly."

As for the other man who was owed a beating, Elijah simply tried to aim a metal punch to his abdomen, then another punch to the face if he leaned over on the first blow. It was surely drastic measures but they needed to work fast.

He had to get to that gun before someone really got hurt.

Claudio Bernardo

He did it. He'd done his job. His efforts combined with those outside was causing the armour to fall away, revealing what surely would be some weak point they could target.

This would usually be a good thing but as it happened, Elijah was still inside its crumbling armour.

He ignored the shaking as best as he could, redoubling his efforts to escape as the monster moved to stand. He was lucky with his choice to go down the leg as doing so meant he didn't need to double back and change course, but it also meant he had to reach its foot else he wouldn't survive the fall if he got out early. More shaking, cracks surely forming. He didn't have much time.

Elijah could sense the end of his path though. He was going to make it.

But something crashed against the golem's boot and Elijah was violently ripped from hiding.

In normal circumstances, his transformations acted as if he was dipping himself in and out of water. Maybe he was getting sucked into the material at best. It was smooth. Careful. He had ample time to position himself so he always landed safely. But this? The force of the mini golems colliding with the armour would transfer to him, launching him out of the metal like a cannon and causing him to hit the ground hard. He tumbled several times before he skidded to a stop several meters away from where he exited.

And there he was. Out in the world again. And it was in arguably a worse state than when he left it.

But Elijah didn't know that. As he was turned away from the golem, he didn't see the attack it was preparing. He was too dazed to realize he needed to move despite the pain he was in.

Instead he rested his head on the asphalt, giving himself time he didn't have to process what just happened.

---

OOC: Boy returns to the party and eats dirt! Elijah is now back in the real world, his exit injuring him as he was launched from the armour to the ground. He's lying motionless now.

Emilia Hall Fanthes Bakiri Retsu Shion Utsui Claudio Bernardo

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

"Hello Aomi. That'll be all then."

A pause.

"Thank you."

CHIRP ♪♪

He sighed. "Do you know where he is?"

CHIRP ♪♪

Elijah didn't slow his pace, trusting the other student to continue floating in a way that would avoid their collision. He raised a brow at his reasoning for enrolling in UAU. "Strange. Heroism is an end goal for most. I applaud your ability to get accepted despite having less dedication to the career." It was a genuine compliment. In his opinion, outclassing people who spent their whole lives dreaming of becoming a hero showcased true skill.

He hummed, considering the sentient cloud's question. "I would probably pursue music. I can play a few instruments so might as well." Elijah imagined for a moment of what could've been. Well-versed in the classics so he'd play in an orchestra. Precise enough to have the privilege of perform solos maybe. He would've played alongside his mother.

And just like that, the dream was gone.

He sighed. "As it stands though, heroism is my only choice." He wouldn't delve into why if asked.

Fortunately for Elijah the question never came, as their attention was caught by a commotion in one of the buildings instead. As they were permitted to act in times of crisis they were quick to respond, with the Canadian huffing at the lack of a window to assess the situation inside once they got close. They'll just have to risk it and let themselves in.

And what a precarious sight it was once he opened the door. Ugh. Hostage situations. Negotiations were not something Elijah specialized in. He was better in combat, as displayed by him ducking under the oncoming pursuer's arms and twisting around, taking advantage of the man's momentum by planting a foot on his behind and kicking him out the door.

Elijah locked it before turning to the supposed enemy leader. "Not hungry." As much as he hated to use the university as a calling card, many are familiar with its name and what their involvement meant. "Trailblazer and Playful Cloud from UAU. Let go of the hostages or we will be forced to take the measures necessary to apprehend you."

Claudio Bernardo