[He doesn’t respond; just rides over (has Maruki met his horse yet?). He posts Elke outside and knocks on the door, package in hand. He’s not all that great at hiding his emotions when they’re high, but he’s found that shifting into that cold, empty state “helps”. Great habit to learn. But it isn’t hard to feel that way these days. He keeps himself neutral and subdued as he waits.]
[ Oh my god, Eren, that is Not a counselor-approved coping strat. Or a friend-approved one! Feel your feelings!!
For his part, Maruki isn't nervous about seeing Eren. He still doesn't fully understand what transpired the other day, and he's felt out of sorts about it, but it's coupled with feeling out of sorts about several things. All he wants is to be sure Eren can still trust him, or at least still continue to try to. Everything else is set dressing.
The only nerve wracking part is being seen decidedly Not Fine when he said he was Fine. Oops!
So he opens the faded green door to Eyn Sof, his right arm in a sling and the few visible bits of skin – his neck, face, forearms with his rolled up sleeves – are covered in scrapes, cuts and bruises all in various stages of healing. Eren won't be able to tell what's going on underneath that dorky professor outfit, but his posture is stiff and his gait slow.
Still, he brightens right up to see Eren. Zero ill will, always, ever. ]
Good to see you! Come in, it's mostly done–
[ And by that he means the furniture is arranged, at the very least, but everything else is a bit of organized chaos.
Doesn't matter, because he stops and peers around Eren. ]
[Well, it may not be worth much, but Eren isn't going to harp on Maruki about his injuries. He's a grown man who's clearly perfectly capable of surviving despite them, and it's really his fault if he hasn't hauled his ass over to a healer by now and gotten himself fixed up. Eren's seen a lot tougher hurt a lot worse and it didn't ruffle his feathers then either. Still, he raises an eyebrow.]
Geez. You really got banged up.
[Horse, however.]
I got her from the crystal so I could do more deliveries. I have a cart too. Do you want to meet her? [The horse, not the cart. The cart's at home.]
[ Trust and believe, he cannot begin to explain why he hasn't gone to a healer. It barely made sense when he tried to explain it to Akechi and he's loath to try again.
The non-reaction is fine, he doesn't need pity and he isn't about to talk about anything that happened in there, so it's good, really. And more importantly: Horse!! ]
Could I? I think I told you before that I've never gotten up close to horses in real life.
[ City slicker to his bones. Ah, he wishes he had an apple to give her or something... ]
Yeah, you can. [At this, Eren stoops down to place the food just inside the door to Maruki's office.]
Listen first, though. Don't go behind her - or any horse, ever. They'll kick the shit out of you, and you'll die. [Hey. It's the truth.
[Eren leads him over to Elke, but puts a hand up before Maruki gets too close. He mutters something and the horse looks up, ears swiveling. Eren puts a hand on her nose.] Good girl...
Come from the front so she can see you, and make a sound to let her know first. She should be alright, and then you can get close. The closer the better, actually. [Eren, for example, is pretty much pressed up right against her head.]
[ Maruki loves animals. For the most part, the feeling doesn't seem to be mutual – Frog aside, perfect queen that she is.
So he approaches extra cautiously, clicks his tongue to get her attention. It seems... fine? He's a little tetchy about moving in as close as Eren, though. She really is big.
Just gonna settle for... also patting her nose. Yes. Nailed it.
[Maruki does fine. Elke isn't skittish like a normal horse, but they're good rules to teach anyway. She butts her nose lightly against Maruki's hand for more pats.]
That's a good thing.
And yeah, horses can totally kill you. They're strong as hell, and their instincts tell them to kick when they feel something behind them. Never walk behind a horse.
[Eren smooths a hand over her crest. He never bonded with the horses back home much, but he's very fond of Elke.]
[ Hey, he's getting a good grade in horse! Something that is normal to want and possible to achieve!!
Maruki moves in closer for more pats, dutiful as ever. ]
Hello, Elke. What a beautiful animal.
[ Truly, for as terrifyingly huge as she is, it's also awe-inspiring. He can't imagine riding around on one. Also, doesn't want to try! There are many concessions he will never make to this medieval lifestyle and that's one of them.
He looks over at Eren and grins. ]
What if you got a horse form and ran around with her?
[Does Maruki sound a little worked up? Eren shrugs, almost defensive. He focuses on Elke, ducking around to her other side to mess with her mane. Things feel weird...]
I can't say I blame you. Just wondering. [He wants to ask if that's why Maruki hasn't gotten himself healed yet, but maybe it's none of his business. He really doesn't know where they stand at this point.]
[ Things don't feel weird to Maruki! Or, almost more likely, he feels weird in general, so nothing about this pings specifically. He keeps thinking to Akechi and Robin Hood, and the emptiness he feels in his own mind. He always felt it, but now that it has a name and a purpose, the loss is uniquely disquieting.
That said, there's nothing out of the ordinary to the way he smiles gratefully at Eren. He really does believe things are fine. ]
I am, and more than that, the curiosity is killing me.
[ A final pet to Elke's forehead before he backs away carefully and leads Eren inside again.
Eyn Sof is relaxing to him already. The comfort of having a dedicated space to do his work cannot be overstated. He gestures to the squashy sofa, the rickety low table in front of it. They'll have to sit on the floor to use it, but it's better than nothing. ]
[Yeah, well, sixteen-year-olds are more insecure than their thirty-something-year-old-therapist-slash-friends - get used to it.
[The floor it is, then. Eren immediately starts spreading stuff out on the table. His mood is still subdued - so easy to slip into, these days - but he seems...marginally enthusiastic?
[The feast is displayed - rock hard, shitty bread, watery but warm stew with crumbly potatoes, unripe vegetables, and a few chunks of the toughest meat anyone has every tasted - and that was a luxury, back then. As well as that, there's a package of Scouts' rations shut up, Caitlin, you were right, more tough meat (dried), and a bottle of ale that tastes not unlike piss.
[And then something else, wrapped lovingly in a brown paper package. Eren puts his hand on it, sliding it close to him.]
This one last.
Oh. [He points to the ale.] That's alcohol. You should at least try a sip, though.
[ Skill issue, Akiren never felt insecure with him!
Maruki's face freezes in an expression of frazzled surprise as Eren unpacks all of the food. He shouldn't be tactless. And Eren did say this would make him grateful for the food in Somnius – not that he's ever been anything less, he just misses Japan, that's all.
It starts to sink in, slowly. ]
Ah.
[ ... ]
Did you and Jean-kun approximate what the food was like back in your reality?
[ y. yaaaaaaay
He eyes the alcohol warily. Not a drinker, and not sure what to make of the mysterious package. Hm.
He will, very delicately, take the bottle of ale and sniff it.
[One corner of Eren's mouth barely lifts in a smile.]
Yeah. It's gross. I gotta tell you, though - when they broke this stuff out, people all but lost their minds. [He doesn't take a swig, though. He's got work after this. He takes the bottle and sets it on the ground - out of sight, out of mind.]
Just take a bite of each. And no, Jean and I didn't make this.
It's real food from home.
[He pats the brown package again.] This will make it all worth it. Promise.
[ Wait, that makes it a novel thing. And meaningful, to boot. Maruki looks up from inspecting the stew to catch Eren's eye, plainly delighted suddenly. ]
Is it really? How did you come about that? It must be a comfort to see again...
[ Because even if it doesn't taste good compared to what they have here, it's still home.
Maruki isn't prissy, really. He knows he probably comes across that way to fellow dreamers used to realities farther in the past than his own, but it isn't that. He doesn't daydream about double point day at Triple 7 or functional public transportation or splurging on tempura udon because he's stuck up. He just misses home, deep into his bones.
So he picks up a fork, unsteady in his left hand, and jabs at the tough meat and dry potatoes. No hesitation, and not much of a face pulled when he tries it. If he puts himself in the shoes of a story from Eren's reality, it stands to reason that a feast like this would be completely enjoyable. ]
[It's funny. Eren fully expected Maruki to hate the food - almost thought it would be kind of funny - but he's pleased when Maruki doesn't react with disgust. A feast like this would have only been in the context of a celebration, and those were few and far between.
[His hand rests on that brown package as he watches Maruki eats. He might just be pretending to be okay with this food, but what's wrapped up...]
It's weird. I never thought I missed gross food from home, but it tasted good when I ate it again.
It was a gift from the labyrinth, I guess. [Ah...] You were right about me going. I didn't tell anyone.
[ Maruki isn't a good actor. There are things he can lie convincingly about – many things – but simple acts like feigning enjoyment of a meal aren't his strong suit. It isn't the best thing he's ever eaten, not by a mile, but it's edible. And it's important to Eren. That makes it tolerable, and so his polite contentment is genuine.
Plus, he's fascinated by it. A cognitive manipulation you can eat. What are the odds.
He pokes at the rations and looks at Eren with a wry smile. ]
So you did go. Don't worry, I'll keep your secret.
[ An attempt to chew a bit of the dried meat. It takes, roughly, forever and a day. ]
What is it with that place and food? The cheese room, the cereal room, and now a room of food from your reality... Ah, but that one is obviously the best. I'm really glad you got to experience that, Eren-kun.
[ He is PUTTING IN A COMPLAINT. ]
Meanwhile, I fought monsters taller than skyscrapers. Win some, lose some.
[ Oh, shit. His automatic reaction to reach for Eren's shoulder to give him a quick, calming touch results in an aborted movement from his useless right arm, and so he twists to do it with his left instead. ]
Sorry! Sorry, nothing like that. They were, ah... You haven't seen Goshzilla, have you...
[ Then his hand flies up to try to approximate the rough shape of a kaiju. It looks like nothing, probably. ]
Like very large lizards. It's kind of a movie trope where I'm from. Less fun to experience than to watch.
[ A beat, and he drops his hand and peers at Eren, speaks gently. ]
[Eren grips his chest and lets out an incredulous laugh.]
Maria, Rose, and Sina, I thought everyone here was about to die. [He's not personally afraid of titans, but he knows very well that this world is not even close to prepared for them.]
[ Oh, it's so good to see Eren laugh again, even if it's because of his blunder. Maruki laughs too and tries to tear off a piece of the bread, his last unconquered bit of the meal. Honestly, he would go back for a little more of the stew – maybe he'll dip the accursed bread in it. ]
You can definitely kick me. I daresay I've earned it.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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I'm always happy to share a meal with you, Eren-kun.
I'm at my new office just setting things up, if you want to come by here?
No counseling, despite the location. Just want to make that clear...
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That’s not why I’m doing this.
I can come help. Just tell me when.
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Any time today, I'm not going anywhere.
I'm looking forward to seeing you.
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[He doesn’t respond; just rides over (has Maruki met his horse yet?). He posts Elke outside and knocks on the door, package in hand. He’s not all that great at hiding his emotions when they’re high, but he’s found that shifting into that cold, empty state “helps”. Great habit to learn. But it isn’t hard to feel that way these days. He keeps himself neutral and subdued as he waits.]
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For his part, Maruki isn't nervous about seeing Eren. He still doesn't fully understand what transpired the other day, and he's felt out of sorts about it, but it's coupled with feeling out of sorts about several things. All he wants is to be sure Eren can still trust him, or at least still continue to try to. Everything else is set dressing.
The only nerve wracking part is being seen decidedly Not Fine when he said he was Fine. Oops!
So he opens the faded green door to Eyn Sof, his right arm in a sling and the few visible bits of skin – his neck, face, forearms with his rolled up sleeves – are covered in scrapes, cuts and bruises all in various stages of healing. Eren won't be able to tell what's going on underneath that dorky professor outfit, but his posture is stiff and his gait slow.
Still, he brightens right up to see Eren. Zero ill will, always, ever. ]
Good to see you! Come in, it's mostly done–
[ And by that he means the furniture is arranged, at the very least, but everything else is a bit of organized chaos.
Doesn't matter, because he stops and peers around Eren. ]
When did you get a horse!
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Geez. You really got banged up.
[Horse, however.]
I got her from the crystal so I could do more deliveries. I have a cart too. Do you want to meet her? [The horse, not the cart. The cart's at home.]
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The non-reaction is fine, he doesn't need pity and he isn't about to talk about anything that happened in there, so it's good, really. And more importantly: Horse!! ]
Could I? I think I told you before that I've never gotten up close to horses in real life.
[ City slicker to his bones. Ah, he wishes he had an apple to give her or something... ]
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Listen first, though. Don't go behind her - or any horse, ever. They'll kick the shit out of you, and you'll die. [Hey. It's the truth.
[Eren leads him over to Elke, but puts a hand up before Maruki gets too close. He mutters something and the horse looks up, ears swiveling. Eren puts a hand on her nose.] Good girl...
Come from the front so she can see you, and make a sound to let her know first. She should be alright, and then you can get close. The closer the better, actually. [Eren, for example, is pretty much pressed up right against her head.]
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[ Maruki loves animals. For the most part, the feeling doesn't seem to be mutual – Frog aside, perfect queen that she is.
So he approaches extra cautiously, clicks his tongue to get her attention. It seems... fine? He's a little tetchy about moving in as close as Eren, though. She really is big.
Just gonna settle for... also patting her nose. Yes. Nailed it.
Probably?
Oh god, don't trample him. ]
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That's a good thing.
And yeah, horses can totally kill you. They're strong as hell, and their instincts tell them to kick when they feel something behind them. Never walk behind a horse.
[Eren smooths a hand over her crest. He never bonded with the horses back home much, but he's very fond of Elke.]
You're doing fine, see? She's a good girl.
Elke's her name. ["El-kuh".]
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Maruki moves in closer for more pats, dutiful as ever. ]
Hello, Elke. What a beautiful animal.
[ Truly, for as terrifyingly huge as she is, it's also awe-inspiring. He can't imagine riding around on one. Also, doesn't want to try! There are many concessions he will never make to this medieval lifestyle and that's one of them.
He looks over at Eren and grins. ]
What if you got a horse form and ran around with her?
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I guess I could. I don't know, though. I think I might be set on animal transformations for a while. Maybe something else...
What potion did you take, anyway?
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I didn't. It was destroyed. I'm not interested in anything this place can give me that I couldn't give myself.
[ Maybe a bit of a firmer answer than Eren would have gotten if he asked before the labyrinth. Two days changed a lot. ]
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I can't say I blame you. Just wondering. [He wants to ask if that's why Maruki hasn't gotten himself healed yet, but maybe it's none of his business. He really doesn't know where they stand at this point.]
Anyway...
Are you hungry, or what?
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That said, there's nothing out of the ordinary to the way he smiles gratefully at Eren. He really does believe things are fine. ]
I am, and more than that, the curiosity is killing me.
[ A final pet to Elke's forehead before he backs away carefully and leads Eren inside again.
Eyn Sof is relaxing to him already. The comfort of having a dedicated space to do his work cannot be overstated. He gestures to the squashy sofa, the rickety low table in front of it. They'll have to sit on the floor to use it, but it's better than nothing. ]
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Yeah, well, sixteen-year-olds are more insecure than their thirty-something-year-old-therapist-slash-friends - get used to it.[The floor it is, then. Eren immediately starts spreading stuff out on the table. His mood is still subdued - so easy to slip into, these days - but he seems...marginally enthusiastic?
[The feast is displayed - rock hard, shitty bread, watery but warm stew with crumbly potatoes, unripe vegetables, and a few chunks of the toughest meat anyone has every tasted - and that was a luxury, back then. As well as that, there's a package of Scouts' rations
shut up, Caitlin, you were right, more tough meat (dried), and a bottle of ale that tastes not unlike piss.[And then something else, wrapped lovingly in a brown paper package. Eren puts his hand on it, sliding it close to him.]
This one last.
Oh. [He points to the ale.] That's alcohol. You should at least try a sip, though.
WELL AT LEAST IT ISN'T CANS SOLDERED WITH LEAD
Skill issue, Akiren never felt insecure with him!Maruki's face freezes in an expression of frazzled surprise as Eren unpacks all of the food. He shouldn't be tactless. And Eren did say this would make him grateful for the food in Somnius – not that he's ever been anything less, he just misses Japan, that's all.
It starts to sink in, slowly. ]
Ah.
[ ... ]
Did you and Jean-kun approximate what the food was like back in your reality?
[ y. yaaaaaaay
He eyes the alcohol warily. Not a drinker, and not sure what to make of the mysterious package. Hm.
He will, very delicately, take the bottle of ale and sniff it.
Immediate sour lemon face. ]
Oh, no. No thank you on that one.
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Akiren is goddamn insane.[One corner of Eren's mouth barely lifts in a smile.]
Yeah. It's gross. I gotta tell you, though - when they broke this stuff out, people all but lost their minds. [He doesn't take a swig, though. He's got work after this. He takes the bottle and sets it on the ground - out of sight, out of mind.]
Just take a bite of each. And no, Jean and I didn't make this.
It's real food from home.
[He pats the brown package again.] This will make it all worth it. Promise.
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[ Wait, that makes it a novel thing. And meaningful, to boot. Maruki looks up from inspecting the stew to catch Eren's eye, plainly delighted suddenly. ]
Is it really? How did you come about that? It must be a comfort to see again...
[ Because even if it doesn't taste good compared to what they have here, it's still home.
Maruki isn't prissy, really. He knows he probably comes across that way to fellow dreamers used to realities farther in the past than his own, but it isn't that. He doesn't daydream about double point day at Triple 7 or functional public transportation or splurging on tempura udon because he's stuck up. He just misses home, deep into his bones.
So he picks up a fork, unsteady in his left hand, and jabs at the tough meat and dry potatoes. No hesitation, and not much of a face pulled when he tries it. If he puts himself in the shoes of a story from Eren's reality, it stands to reason that a feast like this would be completely enjoyable. ]
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[His hand rests on that brown package as he watches Maruki eats. He might just be pretending to be okay with this food, but what's wrapped up...]
It's weird. I never thought I missed gross food from home, but it tasted good when I ate it again.
It was a gift from the labyrinth, I guess. [Ah...] You were right about me going. I didn't tell anyone.
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Plus, he's fascinated by it. A cognitive manipulation you can eat. What are the odds.
He pokes at the rations and looks at Eren with a wry smile. ]
So you did go. Don't worry, I'll keep your secret.
[ An attempt to chew a bit of the dried meat. It takes, roughly, forever and a day. ]
What is it with that place and food? The cheese room, the cereal room, and now a room of food from your reality... Ah, but that one is obviously the best. I'm really glad you got to experience that, Eren-kun.
[ He is PUTTING IN A COMPLAINT. ]
Meanwhile, I fought monsters taller than skyscrapers. Win some, lose some.
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[A dead stop. Maruki, remember who you're talking to. The color drains from Eren's face.]
What? [Voice hushed.]
What kind of monsters?
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[ Oh, shit. His automatic reaction to reach for Eren's shoulder to give him a quick, calming touch results in an aborted movement from his useless right arm, and so he twists to do it with his left instead. ]
Sorry! Sorry, nothing like that. They were, ah... You haven't seen Goshzilla, have you...
[ Then his hand flies up to try to approximate the rough shape of a kaiju. It looks like nothing, probably. ]
Like very large lizards. It's kind of a movie trope where I'm from. Less fun to experience than to watch.
[ A beat, and he drops his hand and peers at Eren, speaks gently. ]
Sorry. I didn't mean to alarm you.
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Maria, Rose, and Sina, I thought everyone here was about to die. [He's not personally afraid of titans, but he knows very well that this world is not even close to prepared for them.]
I should kick you for that.
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You can definitely kick me. I daresay I've earned it.
[ A light, gentle press. ]
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everyone in persona has dead parents fuck it we ball
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his hands started fidgeting he looked askance he's penniless he's flying by the seat of his pants
HANDSOME AND BOY DOES HE KNOW IT wait no not here
literally this icon minus the tears
OH EREN. OHHHHHH EREN OH EREN OH EREN
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sigh. cw murder cw brainwashing the takuto maruki special
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god the dramatic irony of this entire fucking tag lmao I'm suffering
NIGHTY NIGHT PEANUT TIME FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED JESUS CHRIST
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