Ren meets Maruki's gaze flatly, unimpressed and unintimidated. He won't forget, though, that when he pressed the wrong button, Maruki dropped the facade and tried to scare him. Even if it didn't work, it's revealing. And so is the flinch, after Maruki mentions his Persona, talking about it in a way Ren's never heard from anyone before. What is it Phoenix said? Bad news, I think he's been actualized. I don't know if he did it to himself, or if something else did it to him. The moment isn't nearly enough to start drawing conclusions, but it definitely raises some questions.

Also, how the fuck is Maruki going to give perspective to other Marukis across the multiverse? That's... ominous. Reminiscent of evil Amada, in a way.

"Yeah, it's pretty fucked up what the version of you back home did to my Goro," he says. As far as he knows, what he's referring to is something that most Marukis do; it's pointless to keep it close to his chest when everyone already knows. "Acting like his mentor to squeeze him for info about the Metaverse. If you could give him a little kick in the ass, I'd appreciate it."