[He listens. Intent on burning every word to memory, past conversations relaying in tandem with new information spewing from his mouth. Hesitant. Trusting.
He really told Akechi everything because of a shared ability. A simple request. That's all it took. It's why he would be dead, if not for Vaeros' power spiriting them away. If someone from Shido's shadow came by - whispered something about an ability, gave him comfort in a shared experience those words -
Would have died splattered against the wall of his shitty apartment. In black, murky liquid spewing from eyes and mouth with all will torn apart, piece by pathetic piece.
It stings. He doesn't care. It doesn't make sense - goes against the norms of the other persona users, the minor knowledge gleaned from Wakaba's research, the topics he overheard from Shido's private researchers.
Headaches. Extensive time. A voice. Manifested -
Later, much later. In the real world because Maruki didn't know about the cognitive world like he did and-
They talked about powers in a shared room - Maruki lied then. So did Akechi.
They conversed about the cognitive world over a shared meal - Akechi lied then. So did Maruki.
They spoke in vague, broad strokes on a dirt coated path to the castle - they both lied. Maruki is a liar. A good one. Akechi is a liar. A better one. Impossible to discern if he's being woven into another far fetched tale, but the hesitancy, the explanations, the it sounds like madness-
A churning sensation in his chest - Maruki's path is leading him to certain death. Anything Akechi relays propels him closer to that shadow. It's too much knowledge for someone in his position.
If he cared about the man in any capacity, he would rip this story to shreds. Make him question everything. Make him repress everything. Make him think he's insane for even uttering tales about this and-
He doesn't care - not one bit. Not for a second. It's easy to blink and breathe away static in his skull. He doesn't care about Maruki, so his mouth opens and-]
I see.
[His eyes stay strained against the bumpy, torn flesh on his arm, fixating on inflamed pink and red. Shifting of paper and tools. Loud slams in the ground. Groaning buildings. Distant shattering.
He doesn't care about Maruki, so he keeps talking.]
For the record, you aren't mad. While your awakening has some odd inconsistencies, certain aspects remain true to a known standard. Hearing a voice and agreeing to a contract, then-
[Robin Hood burns - bright and gentle throughout his chest. He hates it.]
It's always with you. There, when you need it most, even if you can't summon it. Vaeros may have dampened it for now, but your strength of will ensures it's never lost. Robin Hood is proof of that.
[A beat - he moves his arm a bit. Waves it to dry the alcohol and elicit more stings to ground him.]
Thank you for telling me. As usual, you are full of surprises. To think you had that kind of power - well, I'm certainly happy we're allied.
no subject
He really told Akechi everything because of a shared ability. A simple request. That's all it took. It's why he would be dead, if not for Vaeros' power spiriting them away. If someone from Shido's shadow came by - whispered something about an ability, gave him comfort in a shared experience those words -
Would have died splattered against the wall of his shitty apartment. In black, murky liquid spewing from eyes and mouth with all will torn apart, piece by pathetic piece.
It stings. He doesn't care. It doesn't make sense - goes against the norms of the other persona users, the minor knowledge gleaned from Wakaba's research, the topics he overheard from Shido's private researchers.
Headaches. Extensive time. A voice. Manifested -
Later, much later. In the real world because Maruki didn't know about the cognitive world like he did and-
They talked about powers in a shared room - Maruki lied then. So did Akechi.
They conversed about the cognitive world over a shared meal - Akechi lied then. So did Maruki.
They spoke in vague, broad strokes on a dirt coated path to the castle - they both lied. Maruki is a liar. A good one. Akechi is a liar. A better one. Impossible to discern if he's being woven into another far fetched tale, but the hesitancy, the explanations, the it sounds like madness-
A churning sensation in his chest - Maruki's path is leading him to certain death. Anything Akechi relays propels him closer to that shadow. It's too much knowledge for someone in his position.
If he cared about the man in any capacity, he would rip this story to shreds. Make him question everything. Make him repress everything. Make him think he's insane for even uttering tales about this and-
He doesn't care - not one bit. Not for a second. It's easy to blink and breathe away static in his skull. He doesn't care about Maruki, so his mouth opens and-]
I see.
[His eyes stay strained against the bumpy, torn flesh on his arm, fixating on inflamed pink and red. Shifting of paper and tools. Loud slams in the ground. Groaning buildings. Distant shattering.
He doesn't care about Maruki, so he keeps talking.]
For the record, you aren't mad. While your awakening has some odd inconsistencies, certain aspects remain true to a known standard. Hearing a voice and agreeing to a contract, then-
[Robin Hood burns - bright and gentle throughout his chest. He hates it.]
It's always with you. There, when you need it most, even if you can't summon it. Vaeros may have dampened it for now, but your strength of will ensures it's never lost. Robin Hood is proof of that.
[A beat - he moves his arm a bit. Waves it to dry the alcohol and elicit more stings to ground him.]
Thank you for telling me. As usual, you are full of surprises. To think you had that kind of power - well, I'm certainly happy we're allied.