(you can pm me here or on plurk if you'd like to beforehand, but also if you'd just like to drop something at my doorstep with no preamble please do!!)
Akechi will follow him home and see how far that 'walk' really is.]
Noted.
I suppose I'll see you soon. This part of the tunnel has spotty wifi recently - I'll let you go for now.
[He's going to pass out on the train, actually. He is so fucking tired. Doesn't even care that 'spotty wifi' in Tokyo is nearly an impossible occurrance.]
[ That's a lie, but it's fine. Maruki isn't in the habit of keeping Akechi trapped in their conversations any longer than the boy is comfortable with.
It's worried him ever since he learned exactly who their cognitive assassin is. Worried him even more after he found out that Akechi came to them from their society's negligent underbelly where unwanted children are so often forgotten. He may be powerful, but he is in no way equipped to be living on his own, managing school and minor detective work while caring for himself. And that's before they factor in what his work with Shido entails.
He's dropped off packed homemade meals before. A heavy comforter for the winter, because he saw Akechi didn't have one. A book of philosophy after he heard him bastardize a Descartes quote. Simple things that any child should receive from a guardian, and that he knows Akechi doesn't receive from anyone.
It's no different this time. He lingers outside Akechi's building with a bag full of warm leftovers on one shoulder, idly playing with his phone until he catches his approach from the corner of his eye and lifts his head. ]
[There he is - persistent and 'caring' as ever. Waiting out front like a friend waiting for another to show up, even though Akechi's sure he must have a key to his apartment. Doubts Shido left none in the care of others should he falter.
The bag is noted with a quick glance - he knows what's in there by the weight pulling at the bottom. Hunger clashes with nausea. Exhaustion too difficult to hide - it pulls at his eyes, his whole expression, though he feigns neutrality as best he can. Near death experiences in the Metaverse are still that. Still require someone to drag themself out by will and force. There's only so much he can hide by standing tall and meeting Maruki's eyes. He does it anyway. He's fine. He's strong. He belongs among kings.]
I don't have a preference with food. Anything you bring is fine, though I'll reiterate you don't have to do it.
[He's so tired - wonders if it's the lights making him dizzy. It'll be fine once he gets inside - something he does immediately after acknowledging Maruki. It's not like he won't follow.
Up to the apartment they go - code to the lobby, keycard for the elevator, another code to his unit and-]
You can put it on the counter.
it's not too late for us to delete this thread and also our journals forever perhaps
[ Akechi's insistence that he has no preferences gets the silent nod it always does – Maruki keeps asking anyway. Nobody is completely impartial to food, no matter how easy their palate is...
Maruki follows without a word, sets the bag on the counter as requested and begins unpacking it. Rice, soup, steamed fish– ]
Eat this one tonight, or first thing tomorrow morning.
[ Karaage, kabocha tempura, pickled radishes and ginger–
He glances over at Akechi, catches sight of his pallor. ]
Here.
[ Then, from his pocket, a bottle of pills. ]
They have stronger medicine for headaches in the United States. Isn't that odd?
It is. Though it's more surprising you had them on hand.
[It's not impossible to get imported medication. Not even difficult, frankly, connections not withstanding. Japanese medicine is top notch. To need a more extensive pain reliever, well-
Akechi eyes the bottle, opens the cap to see the pills inside. Nothing odd about them. Two pills are shaken into his palm before he hands the container back.
He eyes the assorted foods on his path to water - fresh, a variety of packages spread out. Every one is noted. All make his stomach churn, a low rumble at the pit of it a reminder he is hungry too. It smells good.
The headache is his only concern tonight. Two glasses pulled out of a cabinet are filled with water. One set on the countertop near Maruki, the other gulped down with two pills.]
Do you get headaches often, Maruki-san? In your position, I can imagine it's commonplace.
[ Maruki acknowledges the glass of water with a grateful bow of his head, sips at it while Akechi prattles on in that good-natured but undeniably curious way of his.
Maruki is a man who asks questions and seeks answers for a living. A researcher and a detective really aren't all that different. He knows by now that Akechi never says something for nothing.
Still, he nods, even offers up an honest answer. ]
I've suffered from bad headaches ever since I was in grad school. I suppose it's not an uncommon stress response, but it is annoying...
[ Gently, he nudges the container he told Akechi to eat first a little closer to him. ]
It makes sense that coming back from a rough time in the cognitive world would have a similar effect. I'm glad you're not suffering from anything worse, though.
[ He doesn't look like he is, at any rate. Maruki can't imagine what it's like to be bruised, beaten, exhausted and wounded, only to come out pristine and unscathed in the true reality. The dissonance must be jarring. ]
[He relents, but remains standing. Opens up the container to pick at small pieces of the meal to keep his stomach from revolting. The more he eats, the less nauseous he feels.
It's annoying. He doesn't need this shit or to be coddled.]
I never do. That's where my strength is. Experiences in that world won't ail me for long.
[Even if his every muscle in his body might as well be made of lead.]
It's fortunate you fell into such a lucrative career after your education.
[It makes him sick to fake. Sicker still to say.]
How did you get into this circle? I'm curious. Did you seek Shido-san out or was it the other way around?
[ He leans a hip against the counter, watches Akechi eat without looking like he's watching. ]
No, I didn't go looking. The university that I worked for at the time was seeking investors for a cognitive psience research laboratory that I was meant to head, and word got to Shido-san through that. He took an interest in my research, and– well, the rest is history, isn't it?
[ There's nothing untrue about that story. It's exactly how events transpired.
The laboratory associated with the university was never built. In its place stands the laboratory solely funded by and in service of the work of Masayoshi Shido. No one would know, from the outside. Even some of his research assistants on the inside don't know who they really work for.
And if anyone knows the bloodied home out in the country that preempted all of this, they've never let on. Maruki assumes nothing about his past is a secret, but no one has ever brought up Rumi or her family.
It's better this way. There is no collateral beyond his work. ]
I suppose it was down to luck, in the end. What about you, Akechi-kun?
A background in cognitive psience. Researcher. Shido found out and chose to save him instead of leaving him as an explosion of gore in some alleyway.
Akechi's never been to his laboratory. Doesn't want to. Doesn't particularly care. He walked by once to get a scale of the powers propping up a rotten man. Will go in someday to get ahead and learn the names of those Shido will eventually dispose of.
Maruki will be among them. Of that, he's certain. The man won't be useful forever - there's a reason he's on babysitting duty now.
Akechi's tired. Takes one more bite to settle his stomach entirely before placing the lid back of it. Before figuring out what his answer should be.]
As for me, it was down to luck too. I manifested a power and was put in contact with Shido-san. He helped me understand it and allowed me to work under him. Every day-
[He wants to puke.]
I'm grateful for it. Without him, I would be rotting in some forgotten home. My allegiance will always be to him and that mercy he showed to an unwanted child.
[ Maruki hasn't been put on babysitting duty by anyone but himself, and it isn't only because of their arrangement of information, either. He's had his own suspicions about Akechi since before they formed this thin, tenuous bond.
And Akechi doesn't realize it, but he's just cemented that suspicion further. He's trained the sight of Maruki's own gun right on himself. ]
I'm glad to hear that. Someone as talented as you deserves better than to be forgotten by our society.
[ It's in need of so much reform.
Not in the way that Shido wants, though. ]
But, it's strange... None of those of us who've been working on researching the cognitive world alerted Shido-san to your power. I wonder who became aware of you and put you in contact with him?
[ No one did. Maruki's more sure of it than ever. If it wasn't him, then it wasn't anyone.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
That's good to know. However, I'll still do my best not to impose as an overnight guest, as much as I appreciate the offer.
If it's a matter of the trains not running, I can always walk. We don't live very far apart.
[ He has never once indicated where he lives before now. It does make it convenient for keeping an eye on Akechi, though. ]
no subject
Akechi will follow him home and see how far that 'walk' really is.]
Noted.
I suppose I'll see you soon. This part of the tunnel has spotty wifi recently - I'll let you go for now.
[He's going to pass out on the train, actually. He is so fucking tired. Doesn't even care that 'spotty wifi' in Tokyo is nearly an impossible occurrance.]
no subject
It's worried him ever since he learned exactly who their cognitive assassin is. Worried him even more after he found out that Akechi came to them from their society's negligent underbelly where unwanted children are so often forgotten. He may be powerful, but he is in no way equipped to be living on his own, managing school and minor detective work while caring for himself. And that's before they factor in what his work with Shido entails.
He's dropped off packed homemade meals before. A heavy comforter for the winter, because he saw Akechi didn't have one. A book of philosophy after he heard him bastardize a Descartes quote. Simple things that any child should receive from a guardian, and that he knows Akechi doesn't receive from anyone.
It's no different this time. He lingers outside Akechi's building with a bag full of warm leftovers on one shoulder, idly playing with his phone until he catches his approach from the corner of his eye and lifts his head. ]
Do you like kabocha? I should have asked first.
no subject
The bag is noted with a quick glance - he knows what's in there by the weight pulling at the bottom. Hunger clashes with nausea. Exhaustion too difficult to hide - it pulls at his eyes, his whole expression, though he feigns neutrality as best he can. Near death experiences in the Metaverse are still that. Still require someone to drag themself out by will and force. There's only so much he can hide by standing tall and meeting Maruki's eyes. He does it anyway. He's fine. He's strong. He belongs among kings.]
I don't have a preference with food. Anything you bring is fine, though I'll reiterate you don't have to do it.
[He's so tired - wonders if it's the lights making him dizzy. It'll be fine once he gets inside - something he does immediately after acknowledging Maruki. It's not like he won't follow.
Up to the apartment they go - code to the lobby, keycard for the elevator, another code to his unit and-]
You can put it on the counter.
it's not too late for us to delete this thread and also our journals forever perhaps
Maruki follows without a word, sets the bag on the counter as requested and begins unpacking it. Rice, soup, steamed fish– ]
Eat this one tonight, or first thing tomorrow morning.
[ Karaage, kabocha tempura, pickled radishes and ginger–
He glances over at Akechi, catches sight of his pallor. ]
Here.
[ Then, from his pocket, a bottle of pills. ]
They have stronger medicine for headaches in the United States. Isn't that odd?
oh, yes <3 also no. die.
[It's not impossible to get imported medication. Not even difficult, frankly, connections not withstanding. Japanese medicine is top notch. To need a more extensive pain reliever, well-
Akechi eyes the bottle, opens the cap to see the pills inside. Nothing odd about them. Two pills are shaken into his palm before he hands the container back.
He eyes the assorted foods on his path to water - fresh, a variety of packages spread out. Every one is noted. All make his stomach churn, a low rumble at the pit of it a reminder he is hungry too. It smells good.
The headache is his only concern tonight. Two glasses pulled out of a cabinet are filled with water. One set on the countertop near Maruki, the other gulped down with two pills.]
Do you get headaches often, Maruki-san? In your position, I can imagine it's commonplace.
YOU DIE
Maruki is a man who asks questions and seeks answers for a living. A researcher and a detective really aren't all that different. He knows by now that Akechi never says something for nothing.
Still, he nods, even offers up an honest answer. ]
I've suffered from bad headaches ever since I was in grad school. I suppose it's not an uncommon stress response, but it is annoying...
[ Gently, he nudges the container he told Akechi to eat first a little closer to him. ]
It makes sense that coming back from a rough time in the cognitive world would have a similar effect. I'm glad you're not suffering from anything worse, though.
[ He doesn't look like he is, at any rate. Maruki can't imagine what it's like to be bruised, beaten, exhausted and wounded, only to come out pristine and unscathed in the true reality. The dissonance must be jarring. ]
NO????????? MEAN??????????
It's annoying. He doesn't need this shit or to be coddled.]
I never do. That's where my strength is. Experiences in that world won't ail me for long.
[Even if his every muscle in his body might as well be made of lead.]
It's fortunate you fell into such a lucrative career after your education.
[It makes him sick to fake. Sicker still to say.]
How did you get into this circle? I'm curious. Did you seek Shido-san out or was it the other way around?
no subject
No, I didn't go looking. The university that I worked for at the time was seeking investors for a cognitive psience research laboratory that I was meant to head, and word got to Shido-san through that. He took an interest in my research, and– well, the rest is history, isn't it?
[ There's nothing untrue about that story. It's exactly how events transpired.
The laboratory associated with the university was never built. In its place stands the laboratory solely funded by and in service of the work of Masayoshi Shido. No one would know, from the outside. Even some of his research assistants on the inside don't know who they really work for.
And if anyone knows the bloodied home out in the country that preempted all of this, they've never let on. Maruki assumes nothing about his past is a secret, but no one has ever brought up Rumi or her family.
It's better this way. There is no collateral beyond his work. ]
I suppose it was down to luck, in the end. What about you, Akechi-kun?
no subject
A background in cognitive psience. Researcher. Shido found out and chose to save him instead of leaving him as an explosion of gore in some alleyway.
Akechi's never been to his laboratory. Doesn't want to. Doesn't particularly care. He walked by once to get a scale of the powers propping up a rotten man. Will go in someday to get ahead and learn the names of those Shido will eventually dispose of.
Maruki will be among them. Of that, he's certain. The man won't be useful forever - there's a reason he's on babysitting duty now.
Akechi's tired. Takes one more bite to settle his stomach entirely before placing the lid back of it. Before figuring out what his answer should be.]
As for me, it was down to luck too. I manifested a power and was put in contact with Shido-san. He helped me understand it and allowed me to work under him. Every day-
[He wants to puke.]
I'm grateful for it. Without him, I would be rotting in some forgotten home. My allegiance will always be to him and that mercy he showed to an unwanted child.
no subject
And Akechi doesn't realize it, but he's just cemented that suspicion further. He's trained the sight of Maruki's own gun right on himself. ]
I'm glad to hear that. Someone as talented as you deserves better than to be forgotten by our society.
[ It's in need of so much reform.
Not in the way that Shido wants, though. ]
But, it's strange... None of those of us who've been working on researching the cognitive world alerted Shido-san to your power. I wonder who became aware of you and put you in contact with him?
[ No one did. Maruki's more sure of it than ever. If it wasn't him, then it wasn't anyone.
So, then, where did Akechi come from? ]
no subject
[A second passes. The dark joke settles and in a voice that doesn't hold any sort of mirth-]
I'm joking. Who could say - I haven't seen him in some time. Perhaps he was sent elsewhere.
[The 'man' doesn't exist. Maruki won't believe it either. Akechi stacks the meals anyway and starts to shuffle them into the fridge for another time.]
I would describe him, but he was rather plain with no notable features.
no subject
But it certainly gets noted. ]
Of course. There are always those like that around Shido-san.
[ There aren't. He and Akechi are both lying, both know the other is lying, both tacitly going along with it anyway.
He sighs, drains the rest of the glass of water and sets it in the sink. ]
Like I said before, I won't stay long. You must be exhausted, and you'll need your rest if you're going to spend the rest of the week in Mementos.
we can wrap <3 but i have a thought for later
[ And he will be, because he must.
And Maruki will arrive - every other day, every week, all the same.]