[Oh my GOD what the hell happened between point a and point b to make Maruki Eren's personal soccer ball. He came in here with a Different Question, but now he has about 20 brand new ones.]
That's a creative solution to your problem, though for your body's sake I would suggest finding a different kind of alarm.
[A flash of pooled blood, a child in the middle proclaiming rot and love in equal measure. A world destroyer.
Akechi's a bit disappointed for a reason he can't fully peg, but who gives a shit what Eren does. He can whisper his woes to a 'kind hearted' doctor all he wants. Absolutely pathetic.]
I'm happy to hear it. Under your care, I'm sure Eren will become a healthier, happier individual.
As for how I know him, we're allies. We have been since the day I was brought here.
[There's a small delay, a pause in his words. Even if it's all a bizarre front, they should each play their part. They're-]
[Wow, Eren's a piece of shit, actually. Maybe he gave Maruki too much credit - it's not like the kid's good at subterfuge or lying. Too blunt, too honest - a worn, withered heart on a bloody sleeve.
Thinks of Aubrey and how her hand gripped his tight and-]
Yes, I'm sure you will. Though friends may be a generous overestimation of my relationship with others here. It's important not to get too attached, no matter how kind the people are.
While this is a valuable experience, it's temporary. The people we meet included. I understand how harsh that sounds and I dislike bluntly stating such things. However, it's the truth.
Trust me, I agree. Like I said before, while I'm here I want to help people as much as I can. Counseling is the only way that I can help - as sad as I'm sure that sounds, hah!
But beyond that, it's already proving valuable. This is my own way of investigating.
Yes, I was told that too. And offered a personal demonstration when I didn't believe it. People here are certainly interesting.
I'm actually more interested in the deaths that do stick. People appearing after deaths back in their realities, impermanent deaths here... To me, that's simply cognitive manipulation. But then, how to explain the consequences of a permanent death?
Less funny is the cognitive manipulation comment - harmless on its own, but a reminder of Maruki's connection to Shujin. Of his appearance here. Of many little coincidences of fate that Akechi doesn't believe in.]
Do you mean permanent deaths occurring here?
The only time I've heard of such a thing is with the natives of this place, though...
[The viscera in the dungeon felt like a permanent end, but they were whisked away after the sleeping gas was let loose. Were they really dead?
The looping world and townspeople - an answer feels close. At the tip of his fingers, right outside his peripheral vision.]
Yes. I was told that sometimes death is permanent and sometimes it isn't. I believe she was speaking specifically about dreamers.
Anyhow, it's still too early for me to develop any solid theories. But it isn't dissimilar to what I've studied in the past, so I'm hopeful we can discover something important together.
[That is new information to him. Vital. It changes the game, makes a warped palace theory seem more plausible. Kill the cognition, death is permanent - but what's the distinction or what kills a cognition in full?
He needs Loki back.]
You truly did get some remarkable information. Thank you for sharing it with me - that's useful.
[Another tick, another mark - a large one, bolded, underlined and pressed into pinboards with little red lines crossing it.
A brain scavenged like a bird ripping apart carrion. Memories pulled up and twisted to the forefront - Wakaba Isshiki's last words, anything to note. The research in her cognitive world - the way she begged the way she had a daughter the thought of an orphaned daughter a daughter who will be-
He thinks about the walls - unknown words written and unrecognizable. The research on her person - collected from scattered puddles of blood, ripped car parts, through a daughter's distortion forming, through the loss of a mother, the 'suicide' of a mother, a mother's feet dangling over a tipped chair and-
He thinks about the papers in his hands, before he gave them to Shido. Not the full collection that his cleaners picked apart from her home. Enough for him to glean his own conclusions - Maruki wasn't named there, was he? Wakaba - he only remembers her name plastered in small, weathered font.
Maruki is not a coincidence - not here, not in Shujin.
The wall starts to shift - images forming from the pearlescent lines scratching across his vision and the divots in stone and wall.
Time passed - quite a bit. His phone glitched - it does that. He decided it does that a long time ago.]
Apologies, my phone sometimes acts up.
It may surprise you, but I am familiar with it on a basic level. Though I can't claim any kind of in-depth knowledge on the topic.
I'm sure you've heard that my work dealt with mental shutdowns and psychotic breaks. Cognitive Psience naturally appeared in my own investigation and I found myself fascinated with it.
Edited (why did they SPELL it like psience i s2g) 2024-05-11 21:35 (UTC)
[ The gap in communication doesn't bother Maruki or even register as odd. He's used to Akira, pulled in so many different directions and apologizing for leaving him hanging. No worries and no expectations for immediacy.
Good thing this conversation didn't happen in person, huh! ]
Oh, that's right! You would be familiar with it then. It's an engrossing topic, isn't it? If you ever want to learn more, I'm happy to share my knowledge. It really was my passion before counseling.
Ah, but I also don't want to bore you! Nobody likes to listen to a middle aged guy ramble on.
[It's bait. It's a trap. It's both and he can't tell who's dangling the hook.]
I would love nothing more than to hear what you have to say. It won't bore me in the slightest.
Please, let's find a time to meet up soon to discuss this. I'll be taking notes and would like for the time to be uninterrupted. I'll work around your schedule, of course.
fucking crying please let's have this be their first Roommate Coffee Date
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
un: akechi
It's been some time. I wanted to check and make sure you're doing well. If you need any help, of course, I'm available.
yyyyeeessSSSSSS un: doc0203
Thank you for checking! I'm doing just fine, all good here. Sorry about... well, you know...
GNAWS GNAWS
But there's no need to apologize. A counselor's duty isn't to master lucid dreaming - I can hardly blame you for what happened.
Though I have to say it was troubling to see you consumed in such a way.
no subject
[ eh it was fine actually but that's definitely not a normal response SO ]
I asked Eren-kun to kick me awake during my next dream just in case. It worked, no tentacles. Mission successful.
no subject
That's a creative solution to your problem, though for your body's sake I would suggest finding a different kind of alarm.
How did you meet Eren?
no subject
Ah, we had a dream together. I've met most people that way! He's become my first patient.
How do you know him??
no subject
Akechi's a bit disappointed for a reason he can't fully peg, but who gives a shit what Eren does. He can whisper his woes to a 'kind hearted' doctor all he wants. Absolutely pathetic.]
I'm happy to hear it. Under your care, I'm sure Eren will become a healthier, happier individual.
As for how I know him, we're allies. We have been since the day I was brought here.
[There's a small delay, a pause in his words. Even if it's all a bizarre front, they should each play their part. They're-]
We're friends, actually.
no subject
Ah, I'm sure I'll meet your other friends eventually,
business does seem to be preemptively booming... Is there anyone specific I should look out for?
That goes for non-friends too. I'm not naive.
no subject
Thinks of Aubrey and how her hand gripped his tight and-]
Yes, I'm sure you will. Though friends may be a generous overestimation of my relationship with others here. It's important not to get too attached, no matter how kind the people are.
While this is a valuable experience, it's temporary. The people we meet included. I understand how harsh that sounds and I dislike bluntly stating such things. However, it's the truth.
No names come to mind for either request.
THIS IS MY OWN REBELLION
But beyond that, it's already proving valuable. This is my own way of investigating.
no subject
Did you learn anything of note? Of course, I understand you may not be able to provide details given the confidential nature of your position.
no subject
Have you met anyone who was dead before they came here, Akechi-kun?
no subject
I've also heard rumor that dying here doesn't stick either. What do you make that?
no subject
I'm actually more interested in the deaths that do stick. People appearing after deaths back in their realities, impermanent deaths here... To me, that's simply cognitive manipulation. But then, how to explain the consequences of a permanent death?
no subject
Less funny is the cognitive manipulation comment - harmless on its own, but a reminder of Maruki's connection to Shujin. Of his appearance here. Of many little coincidences of fate that Akechi doesn't believe in.]
Do you mean permanent deaths occurring here?
The only time I've heard of such a thing is with the natives of this place, though...
[The viscera in the dungeon felt like a permanent end, but they were whisked away after the sleeping gas was let loose. Were they really dead?
The looping world and townspeople - an answer feels close. At the tip of his fingers, right outside his peripheral vision.]
I suppose I can't be certain of that at all.
no subject
Anyhow, it's still too early for me to develop any solid theories. But it isn't dissimilar to what I've studied in the past, so I'm hopeful we can discover something important together.
no subject
He needs Loki back.]
You truly did get some remarkable information. Thank you for sharing it with me - that's useful.
What did you study?
no subject
Ah, I was a cognitive psience researcher. Kind of an esoteric field, so I won't be offended if you aren't familiar.
cw: murder, suicide, oh brother oh baby
A brain scavenged like a bird ripping apart carrion. Memories pulled up and twisted to the forefront - Wakaba Isshiki's last words, anything to note. The research in her cognitive world - the way she begged the way she had a daughter the thought of an orphaned daughter a daughter who will be-
He thinks about the walls - unknown words written and unrecognizable. The research on her person - collected from scattered puddles of blood, ripped car parts, through a daughter's distortion forming, through the loss of a mother, the 'suicide' of a mother, a mother's feet dangling over a tipped chair and-
He thinks about the papers in his hands, before he gave them to Shido. Not the full collection that his cleaners picked apart from her home. Enough for him to glean his own conclusions - Maruki wasn't named there, was he? Wakaba - he only remembers her name plastered in small, weathered font.
Maruki is not a coincidence - not here, not in Shujin.
The wall starts to shift - images forming from the pearlescent lines scratching across his vision and the divots in stone and wall.
Time passed - quite a bit. His phone glitched - it does that. He decided it does that a long time ago.]
Apologies, my phone sometimes acts up.
It may surprise you, but I am familiar with it on a basic level. Though I can't claim any kind of in-depth knowledge on the topic.
I'm sure you've heard that my work dealt with mental shutdowns and psychotic breaks. Cognitive Psience naturally appeared in my own investigation and I found myself fascinated with it.
jesus christ akechi
Good thing this conversation didn't happen in person, huh! ]
Oh, that's right! You would be familiar with it then. It's an engrossing topic, isn't it? If you ever want to learn more, I'm happy to share my knowledge. It really was my passion before counseling.
Ah, but I also don't want to bore you! Nobody likes to listen to a middle aged guy ramble on.
All Is Well All Is Good
I would love nothing more than to hear what you have to say. It won't bore me in the slightest.
Please, let's find a time to meet up soon to discuss this. I'll be taking notes and would like for the time to be uninterrupted. I'll work around your schedule, of course.
fucking crying please let's have this be their first Roommate Coffee Date
Once I get this business license sorted out, I'll have nothing but time. We can chat over coffee, how about that,
YES PLEASE it's laby canon now it's happening
I look forward to hearing from you. Take care until then, Maruki-san.