personavelvetroomdr | [network][locked from warped_ken_amada and any character under 10] anti-evil baby task force

Entry tags:

[network][locked from warped_ken_amada and any character under 10] anti-evil baby task force

[ The following initial paragraph is added on December 19th, following Zenkichi's arrival. ]
NOTICE TO ALL NEWCOMERS: SHUT THE FUCK UP ABOUT AMADA, THE PLANNING, AND THE SITUATION EXCEPT IN THIS POST. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, ASK THEM HERE AND SOMEONE WILL ANSWER THEM. FOR FUCK'S SAKE *DON'T ASK PUBLICLY WHAT WE'RE ALL TALKING ABOUT IN LOCKED POSTS* hey everyone (except amada and kiddos) in case any of you aren't aware of the situation, one of the ken amadas killed falcon a couple days ago, then made a network post threatening the rest of us. so obv we need to neutralize him i made my own post to collect ideas abt how to do that. this is part 2, and i'm gonna update this one with new info so pls save it and come back to it THINGS WE KNOW the most important new info is that if amada is killed, igor won't bring him back. he'll be dead forever. so killing him is back on the table in theory, though how to do that/whether we can do that is a question mark i sent frog to ask igor & co some questions. they were p forthcoming by their standards. if anyone didn't know, they've said they didn't bring amada in. frog learned some interesting new stuff, too, such as the death thing. also: igor has less control over amada than he does over the rest of us, which we kinda already knew. when frog asked who brought amada to the velvet room if not igor, he said "he brought himself (|||❛︵❛.)" and then he didn't answer any followup questions such as, so how many other people can sense this place from the outside, and can they get in too igor also confirmed that he would be willing to temporarily lift the restrictions on sagiri's powers to deal with amada amada caused non-fatal harm to someone who went after him, so murder is not his *only* weapon. he can also do broken bones (* ^ ω ^) he also made it so that bone couldn't be healed, so it's a more serious issue than a lot of us are used to. that said, he's still threatened to kill any and all of us, and after falcon we should be taking that seriously another amada wrote up this info for combat. READ THIS if you think you're likely to see combat with the psycho amada, and maybe even if you don't think so. DO NOT VOLUNTEER TO FIGHT until you've read it IDEAS lotus has said that he may be able to exert control over amada by receiving his name. he can't guarantee that it'll work tho lotus also has another possible trick up his sleeve, more dangerous to everyone including him. frog and i know abt it tho so we can be thinking abt it, and if all else fails, we can all discuss it then like i said above, sagiri is willing to use his god-level powers, though he hasn't explained what he would be doing w them if igor agrees to unleash kira as well, kira might be able to possess amada and lower his defenses, and help get the rest of us out of danger aragaki has brought up using amada's mother as a weak spot we may be able to create rumors in sumaru that work to our advantage if we fight him there shrike may be able to use psychic abilities to affect amadas state of mind. this is unpredictable and risky, probably best used if things are already looking grim PREV IDEAS THAT NOW LOOK LESS GOOD phoenix and renée have brought up swords that block regeneration. but they would have to strike a killing blow with the sword. to start with, other amada thought that might be impossible, and we also know now that a killing blow will be fatal no matter what weapon maruki's actualization probably wouldn't work, and if it did it wouldn't stick, according to phoenix who has been actualized FIGHTING we're fucked if we don't at least get ready for a fight. it's gonna be rough (READ OTHER AMADA'S WRITEUP) but we've heard some thoughts other amada is willing to train with us, starting in a few days crow believes that bonds will be important in making wild cards stronger for upcoming battles rose is going to look into items that pierce elemental resistance, including growing new plants w noir. the plants might or might not be ready in time given the new info, i've cut some people from the fight list. i can vouch for the strength of most people who were in my palace. anyone else, i don't know as well. really think abt whether you're up to standard before volunteering. the current list of people who're up for a fight is as follows -me -frog -glitch -phoenix -spades -crow -joker -magpie -falcon -vampire ren -briar -renée -hasegawa -suou -raven -wild -karasu -amada as well as the other amada, who is on another level than the rest of us to stay on the list, train with not-psycho amada and work on defensively-oriented strats. once amada is ready to train, we'll set up a schedule WHAT WE NEED RN (besides training + collecting items) input on the ideas. we have a lot of "maybe it'll work"s and no "this will definitely work"s, so we need to decide on which maybes to try first and which to hold off on as a plan B, plan C, etc to add/correct/remove ideas or volunteer/unvolunteer, reply to this post. if u wanna talk to me in person, i'll be taking care of leblanc for the next several days while frog goes on a research binge. after that, go to leblanc anyway and if i'm not already there, frog will summon me the situation is shitty, but i don't think anyone here wants to sit around and let someone threaten our lives. if nothing else, amada seems like the kind of guy who would fuck up a little kid if they got in his way, and we have little akira and little goro wandering around. we've come together for less, some of us have killed gods, so we can come together and get rid of this threat now

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I’ve only now managed to sift through the recent posts regarding the situation, and I have some thoughts to contribute. I understand my presence here isn’t particularly welcome at the moment but judging by the information shared so far, it’s clear that Amada-kun has reached a point where no lines remain uncrossed. -Several of you are correct—belief is the foundation of Actualization. Without it, the changes I impose can and will reverse. As much as I would like to help the boy trapped beneath that violent exterior, I cannot risk attempting this alone. Defending myself from him is another matter entirely, but I don’t recommend relying solely on this as a strategy. -Katsuya-san’s idea to exploit Sumaru is worth further investigation. Through my work in the Lab and experiments with Azathoth, I could be able to manipulate collective cognition on a considerable scale and I would have tried it in other circumstances but its best to communicate it first. I have some theories about how this might apply here, but the finer details require discussion in person. -Aragaki san's idea is also a wonderful approach. I brought this up earlier—though no one seemed particularly inclined to comment—that Amada-kun likely has a human tether we can exploit. His mother appears to be a critical connection. Judging by my experience with other Marukis and their cognitions, I could use that tether to influence his mental state. The more I understand about their relationship, the better I can construct something to reach him. I have...only made vague concepts so far which don't seem to last long but the more I know about a patient, the more I can read the patterns behind their thinking and how they might mirror the person closest to them. Amada-kun's mother might actually help save him from himself. I also refuse to trust the details of this process to an open network. Going back to our personas and items- I have infinite storage tucked away in my coat and the depths of my mind (I can also manifest infinite snacks? It feels like a running joke at this point haha) This accelerates when I am in my Lab- I don't know if that's as helpful however. Through my time in mementos I believe I get the concept of the elemental attacks you might be referring to. I try not to use magic until strictly necessary but judging from the nature of Tyrant Chaos, Piercing Strike(?) and Megidolaon- they seem to be the moves you guys need. I have some buffs and debuffs as well which amplify those attacks- and a small healing spell through a tentacle but it might not be as strong. Fighting isn't my strong suit here either but I have learnt to polish some of my combat skills. I am truly sorry to hear whoever must have been on the recieving end of this Amada-kun's lethal and non-lethal attacks. The case of broken bones and amputation is something I have dealt with as well- I could ask Azathoth to regenerate their limbs as well. There are some drawbacks like constant hunger and your energy draining away until you are hit with an actual healing spell (Credit to Midnight for helping me refine this process.) That’s all I have for now. If you still need my help—and frankly, if you don't I will stick to my original plan of defending myself—then I suggest we set aside our grievances and meet face-to-face. Can't exactly deny the need for a decent cup of coffee nowadays.

Edited 2024-12-07 13:50 (UTC)

[ Ren has had his own conversation with Phoenix. He's ready to tell Maruki he'll be a liability, until the mention of Amada's mother catches his eye. And he would love to dismiss that, too, frankly, since it's Maruki. But.

Ugh. ]

my coffee sucks come to leblanc

Right. I appreciate the invitation- though there really is no need to force yourself to make one. ...Will there be others with you?

[Better be prepared if there are.]

why do you ask

Since I am in no mood to be attacked?

do you realize that your question makes it sound like you want to attack me w/e yes im by myself

I think you underestimate how many people are hostile toward me, haha. But okay, thank you for answering. I will meet you at Leblanc at 3 pm?

Edited 2024-12-17 23:44 (UTC)

3pm tmrw sure

And, indeed, the following afternoon, Ren is waiting in Leblanc. His expression is blank.

The next afternoon, Maruki makes some preparations on how to approach this meeting.

He has changed out of his usual pristine white clothes (which really just happened with a snap of his finger), now dressed in his usual brown jacket and dark jeans as he finds himself looking at the mess of his Lab that is still being repaired by Azathoth who lazily goes about molding each brick and making tables stand on its feet at its own pace. He watches as the printer buzzes before it flourishes two sheets of paper with a set of few conditions written on it. He does a quick read through of it before getting a stapler and binds the papers together.

He flicks the papers up as they disappear- now held deep within his infinite inventory.

Next, he moves to his workstation. A sleek black case rests there, its surface polished. Maruki hesitates, his fingers brushing against the latches before clicking them open. The case pops, revealing a handgun nestled in a cushion of velvet. It’s small, nondescript, designed for concealment—but its presence carries the weight nonetheless.
For a moment Rumi's image flashes in his eyes. He didn't think he would be here again, once again dancing along the lines of his self-destruction.

But it was the only way to ensure Azathoth was not out of line. Even if it was temporary.

He sighs heavily, slipping the gun into the waistband of his jeans and pulling his sweater and jacket over it. He won’t let another Trauma Maze incident occur. Not again.

Azathoth remains quiet, its tentacles slowing down as Maruki closes the case and turns away from it- making the being retract away from its renovations to follow the doctor and his shadow.

The walk to Leblanc brings back a certain nostalgia. One that even holds a dark weight over his chest, as if he's been here more than once and its the thought of unease that makes his gaze almost tired.

He drops before Leblanc, Azathoth's tentacle retracting from the telephone poll as his legs safely land on the ground and he finds himself staring at Leblanc's big chalk board. A flicker of a smile flashes on his lips as he looks at the time. 03:01 pm on his watch.

The door opens, announcing his presence with a cheery jingle.

He steps inside.

The door’s bell chimes cheerily, a sound that feels at odds with the tension in his shoulders. The smell of coffee and curry washes over him, but it doesn’t soothe the tightness in his chest. As he crosses the threshold, a familiar weight presses down on him, an inexplicable awareness pulling his gaze upward toward the attic. Something—or someone—is there.

He stays quiet, not wanting to disturb the delicate balance of the space.

“Hey there, Amamiya-kun.” His voice is gentle, his raised hand a gesture of peace. It’s an odd thing to say, knowing this isn’t the Akira he once knew. But the words fall from his lips naturally, as if he’s addressing a memory.

The café feels empty, yet it doesn’t. His eyes scan the room for any lurking presences, a flicker of unease tickling the back of his mind. He knows what he’s walking into. Hostility, distrust—he can’t pretend otherwise.

How could he expect anything else? After what he’d done, the damage he’d caused...

Irreparable. Perhaps unforgivable.

He said Ren didn't have to bother making coffee, and so Ren didn't. The counter is empty, except for the books and jars that are usually on it. Ren stands behind it, eyeing Maruki with suspicion—but the café is otherwise empty, as he promised.

"Hi. Take a seat."

He's not going to pretend to be friendly, because what's the point? After their exchanges on the network, Maruki wouldn't believe it. But he can do businesslike easy enough.

The emptiness of the café is neither unexpected nor surprising, but it carries something Maruki hadn't anticipated. The usual urge to order coffee—a comforting ritual—fades quickly. The thought crosses his mind, half-serious, that Ren might have poisoned it. Or maybe just salted it out of spite.

Either way, no coffee today.

He steps further into the room, the warm smell of curry brushing past him like a distant memory, but the atmosphere feels colder than the winter air outside. He surveys Ren’s expression, the young man’s posture, the glint of suspicion in his eyes. No pretenses here. Ren isn’t masking his feelings, nor is he trying to play nice.

Believable. He respects it.

He exhales quietly and moves to take a seat as instructed, his demeanor shifting from cautious to composed in a heartbeat. There’s a faint, lingering smile on his face—not quite warm, but not hostile either. Calculated. Neutral. The kind of look one adopts when walking a razor-thin line that was drawn out of caution.

"So," Maruki begins, his tone calm but edged in a way as if he were proposing his thesis to the professors. His voice has a practiced rhythm to it like someone who once stood on a podium convincing others of the impossible—and did succeed. Alas, at the cost of everything else. “This is quite the situation, isn’t it? I can’t say I expected my... expertise to be sought out in matters such as this.”

He tilts his head slightly, studying Ren as if sizing him up—not as an opponent, but as a potential collaborator. “Which begs the question: I don't see you asking Phoenix to approach me...did he do it out of his own volition?"

"Yeah, it was his idea. He says you're up for it." Ren slips his hands into his pockets, not because he actually expects to draw his switchblade on Maruki but just because it's comforting to have a hand on it. "You're not a good fit for the combat team, but the stuff about Amada's mom sounded promising."

Maruki's eyes flick briefly to Ren’s hands as they slip into his pockets. The gesture is casual—ordinary even—but Maruki knows better than to dismiss anything in a room charged with compliance. Politeness. That was dangerous. He could just be putting his hands in his pockets to ease off his own nervousness or he could be triggering some hidden landmine under Maruki's chair.

Sometimes...his mind worked in mysterious but colourful ways.

The warmth of the therapist vanishes in an instant, replaced by something colder, clinical.

A faint scoff escapes him, though it’s more sardonic than bitter. "Not a good fit for the combat team, you say? That’s surprising—especially considering the... colorful training regimen your associates seem to have adopted." He leans back slightly, the corner of his mouth twitching into something resembling a smirk. "I wasn’t aware I’d been volunteering as the resident target dummy by the way. Truly, a humbling experience."

He shakes his head lightly, the faint amusement draining from his expression. "But you're right. I’m not particularly interested in the violence. That's not my intention here." His tone shifts, steady and deliberate, as if choosing each word with care. "Amada-kun’s mother, however, is a different matter entirely."

Maruki leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped loosely. The intensity in his gaze sharpens, his voice lowering slightly. "There are obvious complications with that approach. First and foremost, we’re dealing with a cognitive tether—an emotional anchor tied to a person or memory with deep psychological significance. These tethers can be fragile, unpredictable... or outright dangerous if mishandled. The boy’s attachment to his mother might manifest as guilt, reverence, fear—possibly all at once."

"Once that approach is used, there's a possibility that the boy will never reconcile with any of you. Even if there was a slightest hope for it before."

"We are not looking at those circumstances, are we?"

Edited 2024-12-31 23:50 (UTC)

"No." Ren hasn't even considered reconciling with Amada until now. Even the idea seems bizarre. "We're not saving Amada, we're saving everyone else from Amada. That's why we need some people doing other things besides just fighting, because he's too strong for a combat team to take on alone. Lotus with his name, Kira with the possession shit. You with his mom, I hope."

He gazes into the distance, thinking. "You're right, though. It would be a gamble. If you're up for this plan, I'd probably want you to act later in the fight. Or if it looks like we're all going to die anyway. At that point, it couldn't get any worse, so we might as well." He hesitates. "You know you'd be in a lot of danger? Like, more than the rest of us, if you do something to upset him like that. If you wanna think about it or say no, I get it."

He still doesn't like Maruki, or trust him, but he's not at a point where he feels the need to trick people into being cannon fodder against Amada. Not that he wouldn't do that, if he got desperate. But it's a little too much like Shido tactics for him to be happy with it.

Maruki blinked, genuinely caught off guard by Drake’s words. For a moment, he wondered if this was some elaborate setup—perhaps a rehearsed line delivered under duress, or maybe someone had a gun trained on him from the shadows. "You’re...concerned for my well-being?" he asked, his tone teetering between genuine surprise and something else.

“This isn’t some kind of hostage situation, is it? You didn’t practice that in front of a mirror?” The faintest smirk tugged at his lips as he leaned back slightly, his disbelief tempered by a flicker of reluctant amusement.

Ren snorts with amusement. "Don't get the wrong idea. I'd say that to anyone. You're not special."

Maruki's laughter was low, genuine in its quiet amusement as he shook his head. "Well, that’s refreshing. I have to admit, I half-expected you’d throw me to the wolves without so much as a second thought. Not that I’d blame you—let’s just say I can see that my reputation precedes me. To an extent I can't possibly anticipate."

His expression softened for a moment, though the guarded glint in his eyes remained, as if he were calculating something even as he spoke. He crossed his arms, leaning back with a thoughtful hum. "Still, I respect your honesty. It’s... grounding, in a way."

Maruki paused, considering Ren’s earlier words with care. He didn’t underestimate Ken’s strength—not after the warnings and stories he'd absorbed—but thinking about the boy beyond his combat prowess left him unsettled. A kid. Ken was just a kid. Brilliant, sharp-tongued, and unnervingly dangerous, but a child nonetheless. The idea of weaponizing that, of deliberately tearing into his mind or memories to strike a blow...

It felt wrong, even to someone as resigned as Maruki. But maybe that’s why it had to be him.

"If you’re asking if I can defend myself, the answer is yes." His voice carried that same measured calm, the faintest edge of resignation softening its cadence. "My persona—what’s left of it—is more than just a symbol. It’s my foundation, my foothold in this fight. As long as I have that, I’ll manage. But if you’re looking for finesse or strategy, I’d suggest a bit of guidance. Maybe your combat team has something useful in that regard?"

He glanced down, his fingers brushing the edge of his coat pocket as if debating something. "As for Amada-kun..." His voice dipped, quieter now, tinged with a melancholy that betrayed his facade. "It’s cruel, isn’t it? To exploit what makes him vulnerable. A necessity, perhaps, but still cruel."

Maruki straightened, the faint flicker of his smirk returning, though this time it was heavier with irony. "I suppose that makes me the perfect candidate for the job. In everyone's eyes."

...the fuck did that mean, what's left of it? Everything Ren hears about this guy is more unsettling than the last.

"You said it, not me." But he's not going to tell Maruki he's wrong about his suitability. "And, like... yeah, the whole thing is fucked up. Killing a kid is fucked up. But Amada posted that whole thing about how he'll kill anyone who crosses him, and he backed it up. Then he broke Dove's arm—one of the most harmless people in this whole damn place. It would be even more twisted to let him wander around hurting everyone because we're too busy crying about how young he is, and how mean we are."

Edited 2025-01-07 05:01 (UTC)

Maruki's gaze flickered to his hand, his fingers curling slightly as though he could still feel the sharp sting of bullets tearing into flesh. That first day... He’d come here with trepidation, wary but open, trying to understand the nature of this place and the people within it. And in return? He had been pelted with gunfire, a hail of pain and fury that had nearly undone him. Rage had burned through him then—a raw, primal feeling—but resignation had quickly doused it, leaving him with only the cold weight of survival.

He exhaled softly, his mind drawing back to Drake’s words. They lingered like smoke, acrid and heavy. His voice, when it came, was quiet and deliberate. “My first day here,” he began, his tone carrying a faint clinical detachment, “I ran into someone. Ren. At first, I didn’t understand what I had done to provoke him. But when I saw the look in his eyes... it was like something had broken inside of him. I’d seen that before.”

Rumi.
Like the horror flashing in her eyes.

Maruki paused, his gaze dropping to his hand again as if trying to summon the memory of that pain, to feel its edges sharpen. “It wasn’t just fear. It was something deeper—raw, unprocessed anguish. One that retaliated in ways I couldn't comprehend. Something about me had pulled it to the surface. Maybe it was my words. Maybe my presence alone was enough. Whatever it was, it mirrored something I had...” His voice wavered for a moment, then steadied. “...seen before.”

He shifted, looking back at Drake, his eyes sharp with reluctancy. “I realized then that almost everyone here is carrying that weight. The weight of a killer, or the weight of someone forced into survival so deeply that killing becomes second nature. And for a while, I truly believed I could die here. Until the post of Falcon's unfortunate demise made me reconsider.”

A bitter chuckle escaped him, low and humorless. “No, I’m not here to cry over Amada-kun’s circumstances. I understand your perspective—and his. He’s dangerous. That’s undeniable. And this place...” He gestured vaguely to the room around them, his finger now tracing the edge of the table's rim. “This place twists people. Punishes them. Forces them to relive their sins in ways they don’t even understand.”

He straightened, crossing his arms loosely, his face unreadable. “I won’t pretend that I’m above it. I’m worse now than I was when I came here. Every hostile encounter, every dismissal, every reminder of who I am or who I was supposed to be—it wears you down.”

Maruki’s voice dropped, soft yet unyielding. “If I don’t intervene, and Amada-kun wins... well, we’re all in trouble. And if he loses—” He gave a faint, sardonic smile. “—he’ll hate me, and I’ll be even more of a target than I already am so I can't have either of us exist on the same plane. That doesn't even count whether he specifically hates my ideals. Either way, I’m standing on a tightrope, and there’s no net below.”

He fell silent for a moment, as though letting the weight of his own words settle in the room. Then, almost as an afterthought, he spoke again, quieter now. “I’ve chosen the lesser of two evils. I’ll approach it the only way I know how—from an academic perspective. Trauma. Pain. The paths they carve into a person’s future. That’s the only way I can make sense of this... madness.”

Edited 2025-01-08 01:58 (UTC)

He narrows his eyes. "I think I know which Ren you mean," he says flatly. "I'm not surprised he went for you. That piece of shit has never made a good decision in his fucking life." He scowls for a second. Thinking about Sparrow's Ren just has that effect on him. "Falcon is the first murder we've had," he continues finally. "The guy you're talking about made another dumb decision and got eaten by a Shadow a year or so ago, after everyone warned him—he's so fucking stupid—what I'm trying to say is, we don't have a lot of deaths. People especially don't go on violent rampages or whatever you pictured. Even if a lot of us carry, what was it? The weight of a killer."

He leans over the counter. "And for the record, dude. You could solve most of your problems if you stopped looking at every fucking thing from an 'academic perspective'. I'll tell you that for free. People back home wish I'd give them a deal that good."

Maruki remained still for most of Drake's tirade, his face calm, though his brows twitched slightly at the sheer venom in the words aloud. Maruki was just pissed enough to wish that he could catch him in surprise like that but- all of this was...something else. He listened without interruption, his gaze dropping occasionally to his hands, resting palms-up on the table as though studying their lines might hold some kind of answer. A flicker of something crossed his face—empathy? Resignation?—as Drake spoke about Sparrow's Ren. About Sparrow and Midnight's insistence to help them.
When the words finally wound down, Maruki let the silence linger, as though giving it space to settle.

“Well,” he said softly, almost to himself, “I wouldn’t say any choice can be entirely wrong. Misguided, possibly. Horrifying, sure. But...wrong?” He tilted his head slightly. “I had a moment with Sparrow’s shadow in the depths of mementos, you know. Even if they are from a different difference, I... saw that. Almost got myself eaten, too. I think. I am not too sure.” He offered a wry smile, though it barely reached his eyes. “Rough day.”

For a moment, Maruki looked as though he might elaborate, but instead, he folded his hands neatly in front of him and said no more. His focus shifted, his expression softening with thoughtfulness as he mulled over Drake’s last words and his seriousness over the counter. Then, slowly, a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. It wasn’t mocking, but there was a flicker of amused self-awareness in it.

“Then what, exactly?” He leaned back in his chair, one hand rubbing at his chin in mock contemplation. “Should I start stabbing my way through every problem? Reawaken to a brand-new self in a blaze of... what? Fury? Glory?” His smirk deepened briefly, but his eyes remained serious, almost distant.

His tone dropped, quieter but not without a certain weight. “You know, after everything that happened—after Ru-" he stops and takes a deep breath. "After I got these powers—I... thought about it. Just for a moment.” He hesitated, his fingers brushing the table's edge.

What if I used my powers on the robbers? Made them regret what they did? Hear them scream for the lives they have ruined and destroyed like Rumi's?

Maruki’s voice softened even further, a faint, bittersweet chuckle escaping him. “But then I didn’t. Because that’s not who I am. I’m not a brainwashing maniac. I’m not a willful god. I’m... just a cognitive presearcher. My entire life has been about observing, articulating, and concluding. Even my powers—this Actualization—it’s... unfair, but it’s also not absolute. Cognition is never wholly right, nor wholly wrong. It’s just...” He searched for the right word, then smiled faintly. “It’s Schrodinger’s problem. It’s the way our brains fix our inverted image, making the world coherent to us, whether or not it’s accurate.”

He exhaled, sitting up straighter. “It’s the only answer I know how to trust. Even if it isn’t the answer you’d pick.”

Maruki gave a small shrug, “Still, I’ll admit... I appreciate the advice. Free, no less. I can only imagine what you’ve been through to offer that kind of wisdom.” His smirk softened into a more genuine, sheepish smile. “I’d offer you a consultation fee if I thought you’d take it. Or money was of any worth.”

Edited 2025-01-08 21:48 (UTC)

"Yeah? And how's that working out?"

Ren's attitude isn't currently hostile, which is, somehow, an improvement on how he was when he and Maruki first started talking. But it would be a mistake to think his opinion of the guy is much improved. His tone isn't angry so much as brusque, matter-of-fact. "You said yourself you're falling apart. If your mindset can't support everything you're seeing, maybe stop moping about it and try something else. This place sucked for me too until I got over myself."

He only says that because his Palace is pretty much public knowledge at this point.

Maruki’s eyes widened, just slightly, at the bluntness of Ren’s response. For a moment, he didn’t speak, his gaze studying the young man before him with a curious mixture of surprise and quiet reflection. Then, unbidden, a memory surfaced—a flash of a distant moment on the other side.

A calling card, crisp and deliberate, slid across a table. The defiant glint in Akira Kurusu’s eyes burned just as fiercely as the one now staring back at him.

Maruki exhaled softly, leaning back in his chair as his expression shifted to something quieter, almost weary.

With a deliberate motion, he removed his glasses, rubbing his eyes with both thumbs, pinching at the bridge of his nose. "You certainly have a way with words," he murmured, his voice tinged with something between exasperation and amusement.

Sliding his glasses back into place, Maruki straightened, letting a faint, thoughtful smile cross his lips. "That fire in your eyes... it’s very familiar." He paused- pinching a thumb and index together as he imagined a cloth. A similar cloth from which drew two souls. Vast experiences but-

"...I don't want to make the mistakes other Marukis have made. The one who affected Phoenix, that is me." He purses his lips together, his jaw tightened. "And if it helps, my power is far more localized. I have come to terms with the potential I hold and while, my words make it seem like I am in purgatory which could be still true but I will gain perspective. Every new angle solidifies my belief in cognition as our next breakthrough and I want to make use of that knowledge in every way I can."

6-7 hours after his talk with Phoenix

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Tw: uhhh, slightly worrying suicide plan but this is to control azathoth

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

2/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject