LABYRINTHUM INBOX

[placation]

THE DOCTOR IS IN text / audio / video / action art credit code credit

Comments

[laserhawk]

It can happen.

But you can't make it happen. Akechi is the only one who can. He has to make that decision. He has to see a life beyond.

So you don't need to stop believing. For every reality you've seen, there are countless more you haven't.

[placation]

[ On the walls of the crystal alcove, he and Akechi walked together, much older than either have ever seen themselves.

In at least one reality, he lives beyond whatever is waiting for him back home.

Maruki has to cling to that. And he has to cling to Dolph's words. ]

Thank you. That really does help to hear. I can't tell you enough.

[laserhawk]

It's the truth.

[ for all their similarities, akechi is not him. and he is not akechi. and thus . . . akechi has a far better chance. because in some reality — any reality — there is someone who will try. a maruki. an akira. someone will be there.

so. it'll be fine. his fingers hover over his words. and he leaves it at that. ]

[placation]

I can still thank you for the truth, you dork.

[laserhawk]

Bold words from you.

[placation]

And I'll say them again!

[laserhawk]

You don't need to.

I hear them, loud and clear.

[placation]

I want to anyway!

All that aside... are you doing okay with the illness going around? Can I do anything for you?

[laserhawk]

I'm good. I don't really have secrets. So there isn't much this place can do to me.

[placation]

You might actually be the only one. Have you thought about giving lessons to others?

[laserhawk]

Lessons about what?

[placation]

In being honest. Not burying so much, so deep down.

[laserhawk]

I can't teach something like that because it's something I had to be.

Like most things.

And it has nothing to do with honesty. This place isn't targeting that. It's targeting vulnerability.

[placation]

Unfortunately, I think I'm more aware of that than anyone else.

Anything to exert power over us.

[laserhawk]

Pretty much. No different from reality tv, really.

Are you okay?

[placation]

[ It would be easy to say yes – and it wouldn't be entirely wrong, either. Maruki has a steady release valve in Eren, someone who knows the depth of his soul inside and out. No matter how much he has to keep inside elsewhere, he can let it out and let the symptoms subside.

But there are other people Maruki wants to share his heart with, too. And he always feels tender toward Dolph. He always wants to be around him. ]

I have a mild case at the moment.

Mostly, I'm tired.

Are you at the farm? I wouldn't mind company while I try to rest, if you're not busy...

[laserhawk]

You have dibs, dummy.

I'll be right over.

[placation]

[ He has dibs... It's a sweet sentiment that would warm Maruki through if he wasn't already feeling rather warm from this illness.

He texts Dolph one more time to tell him which room he's in, because it occurs to him– Dolph has never seen his room at the farmhouse. He probably doesn't even know it exists. Maruki isn't there often at all anymore, too spoiled for choice elsewhere. It's only because he felt too dizzy to bike back to the machiya after finishing up cooking for Thermo that he's here now, sprawled out on his bed, waiting patiently for his friend to come through the door.

The room still bears the decor that was once meant for Armin, back in the cottage Eren and Jean used to inhabit. There are a few of Maruki's own touches scattered about – potted plants here and there, a few stray library books he stole, the terrarium for the frogs Kanoa gifted to him and Eren for Christmas, some of the (many, many) photos Eren has gifted him hung up on the walls.

When Dolph does enter, Maruki turns his head to look at him with tired, smiling eyes. He doesn't move to get up, only holds his arms out to beckon him to the bed. ]

You're the dummy, dummy.

[laserhawk]

Says the man in bed.

[ his quip is dry as always. maruki isn't dying but he looks awful and dolph's somber expression reflects it. sickness is not uncommon in eden. the more money you have, the better services you get. otherwise it's the drugs and whatever floats around in the underworld of the megacities. he's never been sick personally. the genes along with whatever experiments keeps him healthy. helps him heal fast. maybe a few months ago, this illness would have hit him harder but there are no real secrets in his heart.

he sighs, putting it aside before climbing onto the bed to grasp maruki's arms, with flesh and metal. ]

How are you feeling? I don't really know shit about . . . taking care of people. I'm better but. Not great.

[placation]

I don't need you to take care of me. I meant it when I said all I wanted was company.

[ And really, this will take care of him better than Dolph knows. Maruki tugs on one of his arms – metal, he doesn't avoid it at all. ]

Do you mind taking a nap with me? If I sleep alone, I have a feeling I'll be down for the count for the rest of the day.

[laserhawk]

[ dolph hesitates momentarily. ]

I don't mind, but you might find it uncomfortable. With all the metal.

[placation]

[ An understandable thing to be self-conscious about, but Maruki won't be deterred. ]

I promise that I won't. Please?

[laserhawk]

[ well. no reason not to. if maruki was fine with it, then dolph was too. he nods slowly, pulling back the covers to settle in. he's still a touch self-conscious, being larger. and he ensures that his metal arm is on his side. ]

Do you do this often?

[placation]

[ There's an audible sigh of relief when Dolph joins him beneath the blankets. Maruki curls onto his side to face his friend, tries to quell some of the aching in his lungs with an honest answer to that question. ]

I don't think I've told you that Rumi and I started dating in high school. We moved in together during our first year of college, so– we had a long time together.

[ Not enough. Never, ever enough. ]

After everything happened, I never got used to sleeping alone. I hated it. I still do. So... yes, whenever I can, I do this.

[ His smile is subdued, but hopeful. ]

You're pretty affectionate, so... I thought maybe you wouldn't mind?

[laserhawk]

[ dolph sucks in a quiet breath. his voice is muted as he wraps his arms around maruki. he burns warm due to the machinery in his arm. maruki already knows but. ]

Me too.

[ alex. as always, his thoughts drift towards him. his hands. that smile. the way his long hair would fan out. the bristles of his beard against dolph's skin. so many precious memories. ]

The sex was good, but. Sometimes we'd just stay in bed for hours. He was . . . the first person to ever hold me. He never left bruises. I didn't even know it was possible to be held like that. I craved it. Sometimes he'd lie there and I could hold his face in my hands, touch it all . . .

I didn't think my hands could do that. My hands — that have only ever hurt people.

[ dolph sighs against maruki's hair, tousling it. ]

I just wanted to be that. That person. Who could touch and hold.

[ and then, his voice cracks. ]

And he took it away from me.