Maruki blinked slowly, Drake’s response hanging in the air like an absurd punchline to a joke only one of them found funny. He opened his mouth to reply, then closed it, as if struggling to decide whether to laugh or scream. Then finally he drummed his fingers against the table, his expression a blend of annoyance and begrudging amusement.

"I think you’ve managed to make me question every career choice I’ve ever made- which I am assuming will be the second-best thing anyone's ever said to you," he deadpans as he desperately tries to keep himself stable. He shook his head, his tone flattening and ending with a mix of disbelief and irritation. "Unbelievable. Of all the things I expected to deal with today, being verbally dismembered by someone with the emotional subtlety of a wrecking ball was not on the list."

Clearing his throat sharply, he straightened in his seat and folded his hands together, fixing Drake with a more measured gaze. "Alright. Since it’s become painfully clear that we’re both going to be about as stubborn as humanly possible, I’m going to suggest something radical."

Maruki raised a single finger, his tone shifting into something oddly cordial despite the tension or the bitterness under his usually cheery tone. "Let’s aim for tolerance. Not understanding. Not agreement. Just tolerance. And for that to happen, I need you to do one very simple thing." He leaned forward, his voice lowering ever so slightly.

"Hear me out. No cutting remarks. No theatrics. Just... listen. Because believe it or not, I didn’t come here to argue with you, Drake. And as entertaining as this back-and-forth has been, I’d like to at least pretend we can get something productive out of it."

He paused, tilting his head as he watched Drake carefully. "Fair?"