[ Of all the analysis he did of their strange conversation days ago, of all of the paths he expected this one to go down, this was never a possibility in his mind.
Somehow, it has the effect of instantly stopping the steadily increasing swell of nausea from probing into parts of his own mind that remain locked. A forced override. His expression is blank with shock before he can manage to school it into anything else, and it remains that way for a long moment. ]
That's...
[ The chasm that swallowed him just moments ago grows long, ropey arms with spindly, sharp-edged hands.
It's always with you. There, when you need it most, even if you can't summon it.
Then why can't he fix this? ]
I'm sorry, I–
[ That manages to knock him back into himself, and he shakes his head, adjusts his glasses, grounds himself by force while everything rings in his ears so loudly that he can hardly hear himself. He just has to trust that his tone is as genuine and sympathetic and patient as he means it to be. ]
Sorry, I was still caught up in my own memories. Ah– but no, I wouldn't be upset, of course not. It's always your choice whether or not you'd like to pursue counseling.
[ He can't even feel the searing pain down his back anymore. ]
One is more important than the other, I'll agree with you there.
[ He doesn't say which. ]
But it is possible to be both.
[ Akira, glasses fogged, grin bright.
Maruki feels himself smile, soft and encouraging. ]
no subject
What?
[ Of all the analysis he did of their strange conversation days ago, of all of the paths he expected this one to go down, this was never a possibility in his mind.
Somehow, it has the effect of instantly stopping the steadily increasing swell of nausea from probing into parts of his own mind that remain locked. A forced override. His expression is blank with shock before he can manage to school it into anything else, and it remains that way for a long moment. ]
That's...
[ The chasm that swallowed him just moments ago grows long, ropey arms with spindly, sharp-edged hands.
It's always with you. There, when you need it most, even if you can't summon it.
Then why can't he fix this? ]
I'm sorry, I–
[ That manages to knock him back into himself, and he shakes his head, adjusts his glasses, grounds himself by force while everything rings in his ears so loudly that he can hardly hear himself. He just has to trust that his tone is as genuine and sympathetic and patient as he means it to be. ]
Sorry, I was still caught up in my own memories. Ah– but no, I wouldn't be upset, of course not. It's always your choice whether or not you'd like to pursue counseling.
[ He can't even feel the searing pain down his back anymore. ]
One is more important than the other, I'll agree with you there.
[ He doesn't say which. ]
But it is possible to be both.
[ Akira, glasses fogged, grin bright.
Maruki feels himself smile, soft and encouraging. ]
I leave that choice up to you.