(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!!)
As he plucks the boiling hot takoyaki from toothpick and finger to taste - one little bite. The bonito flakes melt in his mouth and he chews on the small piece of octopus he managed to gnaw off.
It's with that surge of energy that he recalls how weird this nobody is. The others pool over computer screens and reports, decipher data and numbers, and leave him to deal with the aftereffects. It's preferable, frankly. They check if he's alive, give him medication sometimes and then-
They're gone.
But this one lingers. Akechi always sees a shadow that he now realizes is this man. The shadow places a hand on his shoulder, his back and helps him up, if needed. Guides him to a bed, a chair, if needed. Rubs his back while he empties his stomach into a toilet, if needed.
He's weird. ]
No, it's always short lived. [ It aches less with every bite he's managing and the fresh air filling his lungs. ] It's been over for some time. [ He fills his mouth with mayo, another small piece of gnawed off octopus - it's hot as hell. Keeps him awake. He needs to think how to word this next question. Make it polite. Inoffensive. Feign that he's concerned about his place in this trial and- ] It's odd of you to worry so much for no reason. You can go on and tell me what really troubles you. I'm a good listener, or so I've been told.
Funny. Really funny, actually. Akechi has no way of knowing just how funny it is, not with how little he knows about Maruki, but–
It wasn't too long ago that he and Shibusawa met for dinner and drinks. His friend's concern for how he had to talk around the specifics of his job melded with memories from their college days, schemes and scams Maruki would have fallen into face first if not for the level heads of those closest to him. A gentle suggestion to give research a rest for a while, maybe try something that still utilizes his skill set without getting him caught up in big money and bigger shadows. Counseling, maybe. He's always liked to listen to people's troubles, hasn't he?
A smile flickers across Maruki's face, because it's funny. ]
Are you? [ He doesn't think Akechi is. He listens to their directions, because he's good at the role they've forced him into, but beyond that? Maruki doesn't look at him and see a kind, empathetic listening ear. ] I'm not so sure you want to listen to the troubles of a middle-aged man. It would bore us both.
[ He stops to bite another takoyaki in half, puffing his breath around it to cool it off before popping the whole thing into his mouth. Chew, swallow, breathe, think. How to approach this... ]
How do you think people find their limits, Akechi-kun?
[ That's a surprising question. One he takes time to mull over.
Matters like this - existence, values, happiness, the pursuit of goals and knowledge. He enjoys it. Gradual searches on different topics and forums have led him to books that go over his head and make him flip through the different teachings of those long dead. This question follows that line of thought and he treats it like another forum query.
He thinks and chews, and chews, and chews until half of his container is empty and the cardboard doesn't burn his palms. ]
By pushing themselves, of course. Mind, body - all of it forced to the brink. I assume most have a goal in mind, whether it's going past that limit for their ego alone or something else entirely.
[ Everyone is different and they mean nothing. ]
What do you think? I imagine your perspective is a unique one, given your position.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
? he's watching da news
As he plucks the boiling hot takoyaki from toothpick and finger to taste - one little bite. The bonito flakes melt in his mouth and he chews on the small piece of octopus he managed to gnaw off.
It's with that surge of energy that he recalls how weird this nobody is. The others pool over computer screens and reports, decipher data and numbers, and leave him to deal with the aftereffects. It's preferable, frankly. They check if he's alive, give him medication sometimes and then-
They're gone.
But this one lingers. Akechi always sees a shadow that he now realizes is this man. The shadow places a hand on his shoulder, his back and helps him up, if needed. Guides him to a bed, a chair, if needed. Rubs his back while he empties his stomach into a toilet, if needed.
He's weird. ]
No, it's always short lived. [ It aches less with every bite he's managing and the fresh air filling his lungs. ] It's been over for some time. [ He fills his mouth with mayo, another small piece of gnawed off octopus - it's hot as hell. Keeps him awake. He needs to think how to word this next question. Make it polite. Inoffensive. Feign that he's concerned about his place in this trial and- ] It's odd of you to worry so much for no reason. You can go on and tell me what really troubles you. I'm a good listener, or so I've been told.
no subject
Funny. Really funny, actually. Akechi has no way of knowing just how funny it is, not with how little he knows about Maruki, but–
It wasn't too long ago that he and Shibusawa met for dinner and drinks. His friend's concern for how he had to talk around the specifics of his job melded with memories from their college days, schemes and scams Maruki would have fallen into face first if not for the level heads of those closest to him. A gentle suggestion to give research a rest for a while, maybe try something that still utilizes his skill set without getting him caught up in big money and bigger shadows. Counseling, maybe. He's always liked to listen to people's troubles, hasn't he?
A smile flickers across Maruki's face, because it's funny. ]
Are you? [ He doesn't think Akechi is. He listens to their directions, because he's good at the role they've forced him into, but beyond that? Maruki doesn't look at him and see a kind, empathetic listening ear. ] I'm not so sure you want to listen to the troubles of a middle-aged man. It would bore us both.
[ He stops to bite another takoyaki in half, puffing his breath around it to cool it off before popping the whole thing into his mouth. Chew, swallow, breathe, think. How to approach this... ]
How do you think people find their limits, Akechi-kun?
no subject
Matters like this - existence, values, happiness, the pursuit of goals and knowledge. He enjoys it. Gradual searches on different topics and forums have led him to books that go over his head and make him flip through the different teachings of those long dead. This question follows that line of thought and he treats it like another forum query.
He thinks and chews, and chews, and chews until half of his container is empty and the cardboard doesn't burn his palms. ]
By pushing themselves, of course. Mind, body - all of it forced to the brink. I assume most have a goal in mind, whether it's going past that limit for their ego alone or something else entirely.
[ Everyone is different and they mean nothing. ]
What do you think? I imagine your perspective is a unique one, given your position.