The whole time Akechi is speaking. He just– stares. Whatever is happening on his own face, he's not aware of it. It probably shifts between some mixture of disbelief, delight, and a tiny bit of the mania that comes from infodumping about one's special interest and receiving the same energy in return.
With the talk of doors unlocked and worlds revealed, he presses his hands together as if in prayer, fingertips resting against his lips. When Akechi wraps his thoughts up, he inhales deeply through his nose and holds both hands out, palms up. ]
Exactly. That's exactly it. That's what I've been trying to prove! You have no idea... It's difficult enough trying to convince anyone in academia that changing just one person's cognition is possible and even useful. Bring the collective unconscious into it and you might as well be asking for the moon– ah, sorry to bring her up!
[ The inadvertent little teasing joke is good, it stops him from derailing this to rant about the woes of trying to make a career as a researcher, all the bureaucracy of academic institutions and red tape and funding. God, you know what asshole cut off his funding?
No, it's definitely good that he doesn't go off on that tangent.
:) ]
But you're onto something. This might sound crazy, but I really do believe it's possible to access the cognitive world – I mean that literally. Tangibly.
[ The memory of Takamaki doubled over in exhaustion between the buildings, Akira and Sakamoto hovering nearby to offer their support.
It's possible. He knows it is. ]
So, as you said, it stands to reason the collective unconscious functions in the same way. Honestly, on my worst nights I wonder if we aren't already almost there, in some capacity. It would make sense, wouldn't it? If we truly live in dreams, whatever cognitive plane we exist on in this state can't be too far off from it. Maybe accessing it would be easier than we think.
[ Which definitely is starting to sound crazy, probably even to someone as seemingly open-minded about these esoteric concepts as Akechi is. If that ends up being a step too far, he can brush it off as Just A Theory; A Psience Theory.
Maruki leans an elbow on the counter again and grabs his pen, clicking it a few times as he turns to another blank page in his journal. ]
Ah, my apologies for the stupid question, but– dolls?
[ Big, sincere, earnestly curious eyes. Pen poised. Ready to write. What the fuck are you talking about, Akechi. ]
Edited (wtf html OKAY LAST EDIT JESUS) 2024-05-24 01:45 (UTC)
[It's laughable. If Akechi were alone in his condo, he wouldn't able to refrain from the irony in this man's words. The fight to prove the existence of an all too real plane of reality, that hits the news almost every single day between himself and the Phantom Thieves.
Or did, rather. For the both parties. A life meant to end, whether through a line of corpses or the natural loss of will that comes from losing their lynchpin.
He's about to add onto that, but he mentions the moon and Akechi can't help the way his face contorts into an expression of pure annoyance. A held back sigh, a contained eyeroll that only makes it to the side of his vision and-
We're back. It doesn't damper the discussion. Only tempers his expectations and gives an opportunity to think about how much to discuss. In Tokyo, he could either speak freely or not at all. The team-up with the Phantom Thieves was the first time he had to hold a delicate balance and even then, feigned ignorance worked.
He reaches for the slips of lined paper, erratic circles that remind him of Mementos. Taps the edges with his finger and-]
Maybe they don't overlap.
[Cautious - inquisitive. Like he's thinking out loud, in the moment.]
The collective unconscious - I mean. If you think about them being stacked, connected and layered-
[His own pencil etches into a newly blank page in his own journal, a seemingly nonsensical of blocks, paths, and lines. Only a few areas, connected and disconnected in bizarre ways.]
The reason I say this is because while the unconscious may be an unsolidified area, it's also just as likely that it takes a form similar to an experience most share. It feels like it could be right in front of our eyes. Maybe under our feet or perhaps in a mysterious, closed off labyrinth. A tree within a forest, so to speak.
[Back to the doll comment? He has some nasty words to say - all held back with a thoughtful hum.]
As for my doll comment, my apologies - I consider the Moon and Vaeros nothing more than figureheads at this point. Dolls. Puppets - whatever you wish to describe them as. That's a humble opinion. They are proposed to us as all knowing, all powerful entities. I doubt they're anything of the sort. If we can find a way to-
[Rip them apart. Break them. Tear them in half in front of the real pieces of shit hiding in the shadows-]
Use them to our advantage, that may be enough of a jolt to the status quo and the foundation of this world, plane, or reality to show us an answer to all these queries.
[ Maruki watches what he sketches with hawk-eyed, careful intent.
At first, he wants to push back against it. He's so used to the way he's always considered the collective unconscious – the way all cognitive psientists consider it, some great primordial soup pot of all human pathos. But is there any factual confirmation of that? Are the theories really even built on anything truly, unshakably solid? No, it's just the accepted way of things. And he's a researcher. He never takes anything at face value.
It feels so stupid, in hindsight.
And the diagram Akechi draws looks promising.
He's still staring at it even as Akechi prattles on, his own mind whirling with the possibility of layers on layers, winding corridors and twisted connections.
He needs Azathoth back. He needs him back so, so badly.
It's the explanation about the dolls that finally gets Maruki to lift his eyes. ]
That tracks. My thought from the very beginning was that any reality, especially one that contracts so many potentially volatile people into its existence, would not be so transparent and forthcoming about the true ruler in charge.
[ The very first dreamers who entered his cognitive Shujin office said it like such a simple fact. Vaeros, the ruler of this place. Why believe that on its face? After all– ]
It's the same in our comparatively mundane reality, isn't it?
[ He traces his fingers idly along the marble top of the bar, in meaningless patterns that reflect the jagged version of the collective unconscious that Akechi drew. ]
Tokyo alone is powered by people pulling strings in the shadows. To say nothing of the rest of the country, or the rest of the world. Nothing is ever as simple as it seems. So, to your point, I agree. A place like this needs figureheads to maintain an illusion.
[ He leans his cheek into his other hand, elbow resting on the counter, and lets his gaze wander away from Akechi. ]
I don't know. Maybe it's as simple as altering just one cognition to get the dominoes to start to fall. Nothing is without consequence, after all.
A familiar paranoia rises to the surface with that comment. Maruki, cognitive psience researcher. Wakaba Isshiki, cognitive psience researcher. One alive, one dead, and both have knowledge of a shady underbelly they shouldn't. It could be written off as a mindless comment about the state of society. From anyone else, Akechi would have. If Eren, Aubrey, Vash or any number of others made a passing statement about the illusory state of cities, even Tokyo specifically -
He wouldn't be staring at them with a wild eyed intensity he can't control. It takes one blink. Then two. Three before he breathes again and four to remind himself not to get comfortable.
Maruki is amenable, docile and gentle. Maruki is a threat. This is a threat. Shido is a threat. A soon to be gone threat. A series of slits against against throat and bulging, black spewing eyes from his fingers pressing too deep into-
He wonders if Maruki is on a list in Shido's office somewhere. If the second Akechi gets back, it won't be the thieves, but someone too close to the truth, with a map handed to him on a silver platter.
A desire to be acknowledged and praised acting as a death warrant to another.
He laughs. There's no joy in it. There's nothing in it, as he tears out the half assed Mementos sketch. Rolls it between his fingers to use as a stress ball.]
Everything has a consequence - every action, every word, every map.
[He forces another laugh out complete with a token smile - one that reaches his eyes in a practiced, precise way.]
This was enlightening, Maruki-san. Perhaps we should call it a night and think about the discussion we had. Your knowledge is an asset and has opened my eyes to a different perspective that I need time to assess.
[ He's so in his own head about all of this, it doesn't register when Akechi's breath catches and holds. Maruki doesn't look at him until the laugh jolts him out of his own thoughtful reverie, and when he does, he winces apologetically. ]
Of course. I'm sorry, I know I tend to go off into left field when I get started on these topics.
[ He straightens up, closes his own journal and loops the leather cord around it again. Takes both of their empty plates to the sink, turns on the water to let it get hot as he packages up the leftovers to go in the fridge. Going through the motions as he speaks. ]
I feel the same. I never expected to be able to discuss cognitive psience at all here, let alone at the level you understand it on. Your perspective is invaluable, and you've given me a lot to think about.
[ Sleeves rolled up, a genuine smile tossed over his shoulder back at Akechi, bright and warm. ]
Any time you want to regroup and discuss it further, you only have to say the word. I'm always available to you.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
frankly they should be paying us
The whole time Akechi is speaking. He just– stares. Whatever is happening on his own face, he's not aware of it. It probably shifts between some mixture of disbelief, delight, and a tiny bit of the mania that comes from infodumping about one's special interest and receiving the same energy in return.
With the talk of doors unlocked and worlds revealed, he presses his hands together as if in prayer, fingertips resting against his lips. When Akechi wraps his thoughts up, he inhales deeply through his nose and holds both hands out, palms up. ]
Exactly. That's exactly it. That's what I've been trying to prove! You have no idea... It's difficult enough trying to convince anyone in academia that changing just one person's cognition is possible and even useful. Bring the collective unconscious into it and you might as well be asking for the moon– ah, sorry to bring her up!
[ The inadvertent little teasing joke is good, it stops him from derailing this to rant about the woes of trying to make a career as a researcher, all the bureaucracy of academic institutions and red tape and funding. God, you know what asshole cut off his funding?
No, it's definitely good that he doesn't go off on that tangent.
:) ]
But you're onto something. This might sound crazy, but I really do believe it's possible to access the cognitive world – I mean that literally. Tangibly.
[ The memory of Takamaki doubled over in exhaustion between the buildings, Akira and Sakamoto hovering nearby to offer their support.
It's possible. He knows it is. ]
So, as you said, it stands to reason the collective unconscious functions in the same way. Honestly, on my worst nights I wonder if we aren't already almost there, in some capacity. It would make sense, wouldn't it? If we truly live in dreams, whatever cognitive plane we exist on in this state can't be too far off from it. Maybe accessing it would be easier than we think.
[ Which definitely is starting to sound crazy, probably even to someone as seemingly open-minded about these esoteric concepts as Akechi is. If that ends up being a step too far, he can brush it off as Just A Theory; A Psience Theory.
Maruki leans an elbow on the counter again and grabs his pen, clicking it a few times as he turns to another blank page in his journal. ]
Ah, my apologies for the stupid question, but– dolls?
[ Big, sincere, earnestly curious eyes. Pen poised. Ready to write. What the fuck are you talking about, Akechi. ]
yo what if i posted the whole tag
Or did, rather. For the both parties. A life meant to end, whether through a line of corpses or the natural loss of will that comes from losing their lynchpin.
He's about to add onto that, but he mentions the moon and Akechi can't help the way his face contorts into an expression of pure annoyance. A held back sigh, a contained eyeroll that only makes it to the side of his vision and-
We're back. It doesn't damper the discussion. Only tempers his expectations and gives an opportunity to think about how much to discuss. In Tokyo, he could either speak freely or not at all. The team-up with the Phantom Thieves was the first time he had to hold a delicate balance and even then, feigned ignorance worked.
He reaches for the slips of lined paper, erratic circles that remind him of Mementos. Taps the edges with his finger and-]
Maybe they don't overlap.
[Cautious - inquisitive. Like he's thinking out loud, in the moment.]
The collective unconscious - I mean. If you think about them being stacked, connected and layered-
[His own pencil etches into a newly blank page in his own journal, a seemingly nonsensical of blocks, paths, and lines. Only a few areas, connected and disconnected in bizarre ways.]
The reason I say this is because while the unconscious may be an unsolidified area, it's also just as likely that it takes a form similar to an experience most share. It feels like it could be right in front of our eyes. Maybe under our feet or perhaps in a mysterious, closed off labyrinth. A tree within a forest, so to speak.
[Back to the doll comment? He has some nasty words to say - all held back with a thoughtful hum.]
As for my doll comment, my apologies - I consider the Moon and Vaeros nothing more than figureheads at this point. Dolls. Puppets - whatever you wish to describe them as. That's a humble opinion. They are proposed to us as all knowing, all powerful entities. I doubt they're anything of the sort. If we can find a way to-
[Rip them apart. Break them. Tear them in half in front of the real pieces of shit hiding in the shadows-]
Use them to our advantage, that may be enough of a jolt to the status quo and the foundation of this world, plane, or reality to show us an answer to all these queries.
frothing so hard i'm a cappuccino
At first, he wants to push back against it. He's so used to the way he's always considered the collective unconscious – the way all cognitive psientists consider it, some great primordial soup pot of all human pathos. But is there any factual confirmation of that? Are the theories really even built on anything truly, unshakably solid? No, it's just the accepted way of things. And he's a researcher. He never takes anything at face value.
It feels so stupid, in hindsight.
And the diagram Akechi draws looks promising.
He's still staring at it even as Akechi prattles on, his own mind whirling with the possibility of layers on layers, winding corridors and twisted connections.
He needs Azathoth back. He needs him back so, so badly.
It's the explanation about the dolls that finally gets Maruki to lift his eyes. ]
That tracks. My thought from the very beginning was that any reality, especially one that contracts so many potentially volatile people into its existence, would not be so transparent and forthcoming about the true ruler in charge.
[ The very first dreamers who entered his cognitive Shujin office said it like such a simple fact. Vaeros, the ruler of this place. Why believe that on its face? After all– ]
It's the same in our comparatively mundane reality, isn't it?
[ He traces his fingers idly along the marble top of the bar, in meaningless patterns that reflect the jagged version of the collective unconscious that Akechi drew. ]
Tokyo alone is powered by people pulling strings in the shadows. To say nothing of the rest of the country, or the rest of the world. Nothing is ever as simple as it seems. So, to your point, I agree. A place like this needs figureheads to maintain an illusion.
[ He leans his cheek into his other hand, elbow resting on the counter, and lets his gaze wander away from Akechi. ]
I don't know. Maybe it's as simple as altering just one cognition to get the dominoes to start to fall. Nothing is without consequence, after all.
`uh oh uh oh uh oh uh oh`& sighs cw: violent thoughts
A familiar paranoia rises to the surface with that comment. Maruki, cognitive psience researcher. Wakaba Isshiki, cognitive psience researcher. One alive, one dead, and both have knowledge of a shady underbelly they shouldn't. It could be written off as a mindless comment about the state of society. From anyone else, Akechi would have. If Eren, Aubrey, Vash or any number of others made a passing statement about the illusory state of cities, even Tokyo specifically -
He wouldn't be staring at them with a wild eyed intensity he can't control. It takes one blink. Then two. Three before he breathes again and four to remind himself not to get comfortable.
Maruki is amenable, docile and gentle. Maruki is a threat. This is a threat. Shido is a threat. A soon to be gone threat. A series of slits against against throat and bulging, black spewing eyes from his fingers pressing too deep into-
He wonders if Maruki is on a list in Shido's office somewhere. If the second Akechi gets back, it won't be the thieves, but someone too close to the truth, with a map handed to him on a silver platter.
A desire to be acknowledged and praised acting as a death warrant to another.
He laughs. There's no joy in it. There's nothing in it, as he tears out the half assed Mementos sketch. Rolls it between his fingers to use as a stress ball.]
Everything has a consequence - every action, every word, every map.
[He forces another laugh out complete with a token smile - one that reaches his eyes in a practiced, precise way.]
This was enlightening, Maruki-san. Perhaps we should call it a night and think about the discussion we had. Your knowledge is an asset and has opened my eyes to a different perspective that I need time to assess.
good god akechi. WRAP ??
Of course. I'm sorry, I know I tend to go off into left field when I get started on these topics.
[ He straightens up, closes his own journal and loops the leather cord around it again. Takes both of their empty plates to the sink, turns on the water to let it get hot as he packages up the leftovers to go in the fridge. Going through the motions as he speaks. ]
I feel the same. I never expected to be able to discuss cognitive psience at all here, let alone at the level you understand it on. Your perspective is invaluable, and you've given me a lot to think about.
[ Sleeves rolled up, a genuine smile tossed over his shoulder back at Akechi, bright and warm. ]
Any time you want to regroup and discuss it further, you only have to say the word. I'm always available to you.