LABYRINTHUM INBOX

[placation]

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

Comments

[placation]

[ Very funny that he gifted Akechi that phone shortly before getting screamed at and choked. No need to location track that.

His own sleep hadn't come until dawn started to peek through the nighttime cloud cover. Too many hours spent going over the events of the night, writing down everything relevant that Akechi said and the questions that had crowded his mind. And then a few fitful, restless hours of unconsciousness. The only boon was that he didn't dream. He hasn't since Azathoth returned to him. He doesn't know why.

The silence isn't uncomfortable. It just is.

The buzzing of his phone–

Maruki glances down at it, expecting anyone else. Eren. Kuro. Venat. Maybe one of the new people who expressed interest in Eyn Sof after Sleepr.

He huffs a little laugh. Ridiculous. He's so fond.

Fine. ]

Cup. Why are we naming things in the house?

[enteloki]

[A response. Surprising, and not.

He doesn't look away from his phone - takes a bite from a plate of food that has more eaten from it than any other meal Akechi's taken at this table.

The question's ignored.]

Coffee.

[placation]

[ ........ Are they playing word association again? That feels unwise. ]

Iced?

[enteloki]

[IT CAN'T BE WORSE THAN LAST TIME.]

Freezer

[placation]

[ YOU SURE ABOUT THAT, BESTIE?

Maruki slumps and relaxes down against the bar, chin pillowed on one hand and phone in the other. ]

Kakigori.

[enteloki]

[That-

Makes him tap a hand against the table. Kakigori would be good in this shitty summer heat.]

Parfait.

[placation]

[ Right?? He might try to make some, actually. God only knows how. ]

Strawberry.

[enteloki]

[Akechi's plate is empty. He glances up to see if there's any leftovers in the pan - a little bit. The remainder he'll scoop onto his plate after sending-]

Daifuku.

[placation]

[ Red bean is two words! Foiled!!

Maruki watches him for a moment, curious but unsurprised. It's good to see Akechi finally eating more than a bird. ]

Cheesecake.

[enteloki]

[The pan scraped clean to his plate, he checks the word as he saunters back to his spot. Left hand swipe typing, right hand grasping the plate.]

Pancake.

[placation]

[ What if Maruki just. Casually gets up to make a couple extra pieces of toast. ]

Diner.

[enteloki]

[WHAT IF HE DID. Extra toast?? What is this?? A feast for an army???]

Cafe.

[placation]

[ BOMB ABSOLUTELY DODGED. NOPE. NOT GOING WITH HIS ACTUAL FIRST ASSOCIATION, THANKS.

OR SECOND, FOR THAT MATTER. CURRY? FUCK!!!

........ or third. maids...

Holy shit. Good thing he's busy buttering and jamming toast. ]

Specialty.

[enteloki]

[HE IS JUST A LITTLE GUY DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT COFFEE AND CURRY TODAY HUH WEIRD.]

Skill.

[placation]

Bless.

[enteloki]

Curse.

[placation]

[ Toast plated and placed between them as he comes back to sit at the bar, texting one-handed as he does. ]

Swear.

[enteloki]

[He takes the toast shaped peace offering between them - a little indulgence.]

Oath.

[placation]

[ A toast for Maruki too.

Hm. ]

Loyalty.

[enteloki]

[It's a game.

Black. White. Letters on an illuminated screen.

It's a game.]

Ally.

[placation]

[ He can bite his tongue hard enough to suppress the smile. He can. ]

Support.

[ Phone briefly set down, because the other hand is still occupied with toast, and he reaches over without looking to ruffle Akechi's hair. Briefly, playfully. Phone in hand again, quick and casual as anything. ]

[enteloki]

[There's a weight against his head - his own chin tilts up to see what the fuck is happening when -

A ruffle.

For whatever reason Maruki chose to do it then, Akechi can't say. It's stupid. Sentimental. Meaningless. A sane person wouldn't touch someone who wrapped fingers around their throat less than ten hours ago.

Akechi allows it. Does nothing to shake it off, despite the clear displeasure in his face when he takes an all too brutal bite of toast.

He needs to play nice - keep the allyship. Keep him quiet in reality. Last night was brutal and Maruki is stupid and-

Still here.

Always here.]

Protect.

[placation]

Mutual.

[ Instantaneous. And then back to toast. Maybe more coffee too? He didn't have the meltdown last night but he feels emotionally hungover all the same. ]

[enteloki]

[The next word is obviously-

Not the first one that comes to mind. He backspaces something indecipherable and-]

Idiot.

[placation]

[ It's unfortunate that "deal with it 🕶" is three words and an emoji. ]

Shrug.

[ And with that, he's up again to refill both of their coffees. ]