placation | Feb. 3rd, 2024

Feb. 3rd, 2024

AGE: 35

GENDER: male

SPECIES: human

PLAYER CONTACT: caitlin /

mackleberry

ACTIVE: labyrinthum, memes / psls

TAKUTO MARUKI

PERSONA 5 ROYAL

ABOUT

CANON POINT: labyrinthum: christmas eve
memes / psls: i default to pre-third semester, but i'm happy to play third sem or postcanon too, just let me know what you want!
VISUAL: dork
HEIGHT: 180 cm / 5'11
BUILD: exceedingly average in every way
HAIR: brown, a little unkempt
EYES: dark brown
FEATURES: thick glasses, big wet empathetic eyes, a little overworked stubble, carries himself endearingly awkwardly, bad back, usually has snacks to give away, overall relaxing and pleasant demeanor
VOICE: voice & oh boy spoilery voice
CANON RELATIONSHIPS: max rank councillor confidant with akiren, unhealthy fixation on yoshizawa and her happiness, trustworthy counselor-counselee friendship with all other phantom thieves, accidental savior whether he likes it or not with akechi, no bitches
OCCUPATION: your friendly neighborhood high school counselor :)
HISTORY: just a bit

PERMISSIONS

BACKTAGGING: for psls, yes absolutely, in perpetuity! for game stuff, if a thread has gone on for more than a month i will move to wrap or drop & handwave just to be able to keep up with new & current events.
THREADHOPPING: for text threads, yes absolutely, i love it! for action threads, let's talk ooc first so we can establish a tag order (if all parties are down of course!)
FOURTHWALLING: depends on the setting and the character doing it, let's talk about it!
HUGGING: he will be shocked but for the love of god PLEASE. this man needs a hug so goddamn bad. any and all platonic physical affection honestly, he DESPERATELY NEEDS IT. hold his hand i'm so sick
KISSING: same as above but with extra flustered ridiculousness! also depending on the context it might trigger some Memories In Brackets because of his many issues but content warnings will be aplenty.
FLIRTING: go for it, but do not expect instant reciprocation! he can be a little clueless..... a lot clueless
MINDREADING: yes yes yessss please get in there, whether he's aware of it or not. always happy to give you extra details that your character would be able to glean from being in his mind palace (literally)
MANIPULATION: who manipulates the manipulator?? just kidding please manipulate him
FIGHTING: yyy! without his persona he's extremely wimpy and will get hurt. with his persona he's an absolute beast. so either way, let's talk about it!
INJURY: yyy! let's also talk about it
KILLING: i'm not opposed to it in general but it would depend on the specific circumstances! if it comes up we will have already talked extensively lol
SHIPPING: yes with a caveat - i am totally down for shipping maruki but in a game setting, it will be a slower burn by design! due to Spoilery Plot Reasons he does not respond well to being immediately pursued and is slow to trust and open up. however, if you're down to clown with that, then so am i!! memes/psls are another beast entirely, of course. i will ship him with anyone quite honestly - m/f, m/m, m/whatever the fuck azathoth is haha who said that not me. other p5(r/s/t) characters, cross-persona ships, cross-canon cr... any and all of it, yes please. :3c (persona ships i'd really like to play are iwai/maruki, adachi/maruki, zenkichi/maruki, and ichinose/maruki!!)
NSFW: yes, with the same caveats as above! generally this is reserved for people who already play close cr of any kind; you'll rarely see me putting him on a smut meme with randos, lol. if it comes up we will talk! see also: kink list
AUS: oh my god please. all i am ever doing is thinking about persona aus. put him in p3 or p4 setting (or p1 or p2 honestly but i would need more handholding there). have him and akechi team up to be a horrible antagonist duo. make him a phantom thief. anything. everything. please,,,

feel free to message me on plurk for more information & plotting, or just go hit up my open post!

ABILITIES

SPOILER WARNINGS: for the love of god if you are trying to remain spoiler-free for p5r, get out of this section before it's too late
COGPSI / COUNSELOR SKILLS: outside of his persona-given abilities below, maruki is extremely knowledgeable about psychology and cognitive psience (persona psychobabble for the study of our perceptions and how they affect the world around us.) the cogpsi background means he knows a lot about the mutable nature of reality, perception, thoughts/beliefs/wishes impacting reality, the cognitive world, the collective unconscious, etc. he is incredibly attuned to people's body language, tone and moods and is generally good at reading people and helping to set them at ease and get them to open up. obviously if your character wouldn't open up, i'm not godmodding it! but if he seems preternaturally empathetic.... it's because he is lol
INITIAL PERSONA: azathoth
ULTIMATE PERSONA: adam kadmon
TENTACLES????: yeah..... azathoth is an eldritch god and all........... but even adam kadmon has them on the inside :)
UH SO ABOUT THOSE TENTACLES: whatever you're thinking, yes. let's not talk about it
OFFENSIVE CAPABILITIES: mostly focused on heavy/colossal physical and almighty damage to one/multiple foes. some nuke/bless attacks as well. can inflict forget, fear or dizzy with some attacks. can buff both magic and physical attacks. adam kadmon also has insanely op damage dealing skills if maruki fully fuses with him, but let's hope to god that never happens
DEFENSIVE CAPABILITIES: three tentacles that can be killed off to debuff him but will regenerate. tentacle of protection increases his defense, tentacle of healing restores his hp, tentacle of assistance can either buff an ally's attack or decrease a foe's attack or defense.
ACTUALIZATION: here's the real fun part!! look i gave you time to escape spoilers. azathoth's power allows maruki to alter a person's cognition by removing the source of their pain/trauma and granting them their "ideal life." if you're thinking this sounds a lot like brainwashing and loss of free will, congratulations! it is. whatever would make a character live a happy, painless life, maruki can make it happen. assuming a new identity? done. erasing traumatic events from history? easy. bringing back cognitive versions of deceased loved ones? you got it. this power is incredibly op and the possibilities are truly limitless; i will never do anything with his actualization power without extensive player discussion and consent, and it likely won't work at all in a game setting. that said, if you want to play with actualization, PLEASE hit me up, i love to create ideal world bad ends :)))))))))
... IS HE A GOD?: unclear if his full fusion with azathoth in an actualized reality grants him immortality or not, but aside from that, yeah he does essentially turn himself into a messiah. it's for a good cause :)
IS HE REALLY A VILLAIN. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON: the greatest thread in the history of persona 5 royal, locked by a moderator after 12239 pages of heated debate

WARNINGS / DNW

P5R WARNINGS: the canon story of persona 5 royal runs the gamut of potentially triggering topics - manipulation, neglect, physical assault, sexual assault, brainwashing, murder, suicide, on and on. the extent to which maruki is aware of each of these happenings in canon varies, but all have the potential to come up as topics.
CHARACTER SPECIFIC WARNINGS: maruki is a kind, empathetic, altruistic man who is also an antagonist for a reason. he is inherently skeptical and does not trust or bond easily despite all appearances. he definitely does not respond well to being fucked with in any way, despite his peaceful nature all other times. he lies, manipulates, gathers and uses information strategically. the extent to which he does this varies depending on his canon point (and development if it's in a game setting) but the gears of manipulation are more or less always turning beneath the surface. if you do not want to interact with a character who presents as entirely normal and friendly but has the capacity to be the antagonist that he is, please use my opt out post.
PLAYER DO NOT WANTS: i will not play out any extended threads/aus wherein maruki needs to help someone through legitimate severe mental illness or its symptoms (ptsd, dissociation, etc.) or self-harm/suicidality - while the topics themselves do not bother me, he is not actually a trained therapist in any way, shape or form so i find this really stressful to thread! aside from that, i'm okay with anything that comes up as a topic! i don't need content warnings, so it's totally up to whatever you prefer to warn for.
CHARACTER DO NOT WANTS: as a counselor, maruki is open to any topic no matter how distressing. please feel free to trauma dump on him!! he does have a tremendous amount of empathy and a pathological avoidance of emotional pain, so he won't hide how upsetting he finds something your character went through - but he will still always want to hear about it and help how he can. he will be a little sensitive to topics of murder and ptsd due to his own history, but he won't shy away from the conversation.

LABYRINTHUM MISC.

CANON POINT: december 24, immediately after his persona manifested physically on the day of reckoning and he awoke to his powers
INBOX: here, please use any time, you don't have to ask first!!
HOUSING: a machiya far away from town, shared with akechi, akira, venat, adachi and (part-time) eren, as well as a cat named korokke. also is a part-time resident at eren's farm.
OCCUPATION: former counselor and sole proprietor of eyn sof, officially closed for business as of october 1. currently cooking for thermo, but like, in a chill fashion because he doesn't want to say he's employed.
CRYSTAL: golden hematoid quartz, on a small pendant that he has pinned close to the neckline of whatever top he's wearing.
POTION: cerulean, he did not drink it. after learning what the potions do, he gave it to akechi to get out some of his frustration post-moon interrogation and akechi threw it at a building. smash!! byebye :)
PHONE: a smartphone that he uses for all direct communication (and tracking akechi) but still the not-nokia brick for all network communications and sleepr, as per vaeros' wishes. bastard.
POWERS REGAINED: AZATHOTH. with full use of actualization, all three support tentacles and most of his moveset (sans nuke attacks and megidolaon)
ATTIRE: showed up in the rightmost outfit here and that is his general style.
CLOSEST CONFIDANTS: akechi, eren, venat, dolph, akira ♥ full confidant chart is here!
LMAO: i agree

feel free to let me know how i'm doing or opt out of maruki interaction here!

anonymous commenting is on and all comments are screened by default :)

if you can dream it, you can thread it

(you can pm me here or on plurk if you'd like to beforehand, but also if you'd just like to drop something at my doorstep with no preamble please do!!)

Eyn Sof counseling services

patient roster

Eren Jaeger ✗

Dolph Laserhawk ✗

Saelfen Ustrain ✓

Freminet ✓

Luz Noceda ✓

Webbigail Vanderquack ✓

Sal Fisher ✓

Eilonwy of Llyr ✓

summary Nestled in the business district of Somnius is a cramped but cozy one-room office. A sign over the door advertises:

Eyn Sof

Counseling services provided by Dr. Takuto Maruki, PsiD

Within the office, patients will find a squashy green couch to sit or recline on while the kindly counselor takes up a plush brown chair. There are a few flowering plants scattered around, and a small table and rickety wooden chair meant to serve as a desk.

patient agreement I. Confidentiality – Upon execution of this agreement, all communications between patients and Dr. Maruki in his capacity as a counselor will be held in utmost confidentiality. Personal information shared with Dr. Maruki and any patient treatment details will never be shared with anyone unless specifically requested by the patient and consented to by the third party.

II. Liability – In the event of Visium-caused physical injury or altered mental state during a counseling session, Eyn Sof and Dr. Maruki will be held harmless of all legal and financial repercussions.

III. Business Hours and Location – Counseling business is to be conducted between 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, at the office of Eyn Sof. No counseling business is to be conducted on Saturdays or Sundays and house calls will not be permitted, with the exception of emergencies.

IV. Contact Outside of Business Hours – Patients are welcome to contact Dr. Maruki outside of business hours via Oracle for quick counseling-related matters. Patients are responsible for ensuring their communications are private, and acknowledge that Oracle may be able to make these communications public at any point.

V. Emergencies – In the event of an emergency, patients are asked to contact Dr. Maruki directly as soon as possible.

__________________ Dr. Takuto Maruki, PsiD
Patient Signature Counselor Signature

Eren Jaeger is exempt from above contract per mutual agreement between patient and counselor. This exception will not be made for any other patients.

code by 👾

Akechi Goro

ARCANA World

10Rank
MAX ★★★★★★★★★★

"I don't regret meeting you in any reality."

Confidant, co-conspirator, ally, friend, housemate, potential killer, the closest thing he'll ever have to family. A chance encounter in a marketplace when Maruki first arrived has led to an irrevocable blood oath through months of constant contact, cohabitation, and experiencing a slew of altered memories in which they were always, in some capacity or another, in one another's lives. They've sworn to return to their true reality together, and to remember everything that happened to them in this one, and they will see it through under their own power. When he dies, it had better be by Akechi's hand – anything less would be an insult. There is no one in Visium more important to Maruki, and no one in either reality who knows him better.

Dolph Laserhawk

ARCANA Emperor

10Rank
MAX ★★★★★★★★★★

"I don't care if it's fair. Or worth it. Or deserved. Miss me with all of that. I'll do it because I can and because it's you."

They've walked a long, meandering road together since the day Dolph first entered his counseling office, but somehow they've ended up as the best of friends. There is no one else who so readily calls him out on his bullshit, and very few others who make him feel so safe and loved. They are allowed to simply be themselves with one another and trust that they'll be accepted and supported, even when it's ugly, even when they're falling apart. All Dolph wants is to save people, and one day Maruki will make him realize that he already has.

Eren Jaeger

ARCANA Chariot

10Rank
MAX ★★★★★★★★★★

"I promise to remember you when I've forgotten everything else."

His greatest weapon and greatest sanctuary. A relationship that defies explanation, yet can still be summed up in the simplest word: home. From counselor and patient, to best friends, to soulbonded Others, Eren has always been a fixed point in Maruki's life in Visium. The devotion and trust between them is unconditional, unbreakable. As Eren has told him, again and again, what they have is beyond love. It won't hurt to leave him one day; they'll see each other in another reality. In every reality. In that perfect, empty world.

Izutsumi

ARCANA Magician

10Rank
MAX ★★★★★★★★★★

"youre not just some guy who takes care of akechi. or looks after people. or sushi. or even a people doctor. or even just mine. you are a whole world."

What started as providing Izutsumi with a steady supply of sushi has morphed into a strange but unshakeable bond. Her desire to learn how to be a person speaks deeply to Maruki, as does her resolve to simply be herself no matter what that looks like. Izutsumi is Izutsumi. Nothing and no one can or will take that from her ever again. When she leaves this reality, she will break every chain still left on her heart. They were meant to meet and to change one another. He's her Maruki, and she is his Izutsumi, even when they're separated once more.

Venat

ARCANA Star

10Rank
MAX ★★★★★★★★★★

"In that respect, you and I and we will never be forgotten, until the very last moment, where time itself no longer has meaning."

Quite literally the woman of his dreams – it was there that they first met, two people defined by their boundless love for all of creation and their roles guiding others. Being able to lean on each other in a way they could not with anyone else led inevitably to their hearts turning toward one another. Partner is really the only word that's suitable – not only in romance, but in the path they walk together. Venat is the brightest light he'll ever know in his life, and even if their time together here is temporary, the echoes of it will persist through all of reality.

Kurogiri

ARCANA Moon

9Rank
★★★★★★★★★★

"But I already knew you were exceptional. So when I find out something exceptional about you, it doesn't surprise me."

The first person to want to be his friend before anything else. Turning down an offer to counsel hurt at first, but Kuro quickly became irreplaceable to him as a steadfastly loyal friend. His endless, earnest drive to care for others goes beyond even Maruki's; Kuro is easily the most selfless person he knows. By that same token, his sense of self is malleable even on his best days, and Maruki is determined to help him uncover the truth of who he is.

Maki Zenin

ARCANA Strength

8Rank
★★★★★★★★★★

"Talking about it doesn't change a thing. But... you make the waiting alright."

A rocky, contentious start to a relationship steeped in threats of violence and unkind needling (on both ends!) somehow turned a corner when Maruki got coerced into teaching her how to cook. Reliable, resilient and blunt as a stone, everything that used to rankle him about Maki now only delights him. If he needed help, he would turn to her at once, and he knows she'd do the same with him. She's more like a daughter than anything else, and he just wants her to be able to find some measure of peace after fulfilling her goal.

Omori

ARCANA Hanged Man

8Rank
★★★★★★★★★★

"See you later, alligator."

Perhaps the most unexpected friend of all. After sharing a dream together during Maruki's first night in Visium, he mishandled reaching out to Sunny and earned both his and Omori's ire. But after a few key conversations at critical moments, he managed to get himself in good standing with both of them – and once Omori managed to triumph over Sunny and become his own person, they have become inseparable in their own strange way. He's incredibly protective of Omori and knows that if he ever betrays his trust, Omori will stab him. Omori might stab him anyway, just because. A friend of Azathoth's, too.

Hythlodaeus

ARCANA Lovers

7Rank
★★★★★★★★★★

"We all need a little help from time to time, and I don't think you're excluded from that!"

An acquaintance from another reality brought forth to become a true friend in this one. Hythlodaeus' warm, accepting nature and good humor both immediately endeared Maruki, and at every turn of slowly getting to know one another better, he's only more grateful for Hythlodaeus' presence in Somnius. He's a figure of calming optimism, and a person capable of the most tremendous insight to boot. Both of their souls are golden, it turns out; he's positive that someone as genuinely good as Hythlodaeus is more deserving of that than he is.

Odasaku

ARCANA Hierophant

7Rank
★★★★★★★★★★

"It's really not about the curry anyway."

It's difficult to resist a guy who's calm, easy to talk to, and good with kids. Odasaku immediately endeared himself to Maruki and that's never abated. Between weekly curry lunches, gun training and drinks with the Young Rogues, Odasaku is embedded into his routine life in Somnius in a way that few are. Says he isn't a good person, but that doesn't matter so much to Maruki. He's better than a good person. He's a friend.

Vash the Stampede

ARCANA Sun

7Rank
★★★★★★★★★★

"But you can count on me too, you know. To help you when you need it but can't ask for it. I promise I'll be there for you, too."

There is no one with a bigger, more bleeding heart than Vash. He was the first person to take Maruki in and share his home with him, asking for absolutely nothing in return. He asks for absolutely nothing at all, actually, and Maruki is very wise to his martyr tendencies. He's promised to help Vash, and he'll stop and nothing to prove to him that he's just as worthy of love and care as everyone who he selflessly shows it to. If they're separated again, it will break his heart.

Dabi

ARCANA Death

6Rank
★★★★★★★★★★

"I feel very little these days. I don't see why being able to feel grief like that would be alright."

Could have easily been a relationship that was strained at best and volatile at worst, considering how he (doesn't) get along with Akechi, but instead a tenuous understanding was formed. Dabi's honesty about his past and his goals is surprisingly refreshing – even more so for how vile they are. However, Maruki wasn't lying: He believes that whatever choice Dabi makes is the right one for him. He should be allowed to make it and live with the consequences. He has trusted Maruki with his true name, and he doesn't take that trust lightly whatsoever.

Dazai Osamu

ARCANA Justice

6Rank
★★★★★★★★★★

"People see you as a kind, put together person; but you're not really a person so much as an emotional sponge."

Terrifying, intriguing, never dull. Maruki was content to keep him at arm's length due to his terrifying ability and his meddling with Akechi, but Dazai proved himself to be a trustworthy and loyal ally during a difficult time, and that's not something he'll soon forget. The more he learns about Dazai, the less he understands. It only serves to make him want to learn more. He does want to put him and Odasaku in a jar together and shake it, though.

Jean Kirstein

ARCANA Temperance

6Rank
★★★★★★★★★★

"Regardless of whether someone can be saved or not, that doesn't change how precious the time spent together is."

Although he first had to show hospitality just by virtue of Eren dragging Maruki into their home, Jean has become a true friend all on his own. He never stops moving forward, no matter how frightened he is, no matter what is asked of him. Maruki sees a not insignificant amount of his own martyrous tendencies in Jean and worries terribly for him because of it. While he doesn't personally share the desire to stay and build a life in Somnius, he wants to ensure that Jean is able to do so and to live as safely and happily as possible, even after he leaves this reality behind.

Minegishi Kazuya

ARCANA Devil

6Rank
★★★★★★★★★★

"I refuse to accept that there isn't something else crazy I can pull out of you."

If demon overlord and king of hell, then why so sweet? Kazuya came out swinging when they first met, wanting to battle Maruki even though he himself was powerless, but ever since then their bond has only grown. The sources of their power couldn't be more different, but there are enough similarities that Maruki isn't entirely convinced they won't one day meet in Tokyo – and he's already promised that when they do, he'll somehow scrape together the money to treat Kazuya to a meal or two. Plainly, and thankfully, Kazuya is a trusted friend, and there's little Maruki wouldn't do for him.

Zelda

ARCANA Faith

6Rank
★★★★★★★★★★

"There are worlds of difference between what you and I do. But I do think you've touched on something that's important to us both: listening."

The first person he met in Somnius, Zelda immediately impressed him with her cunning mind and bravery while navigating out of the enchanted garden and labyrinth together. It makes sense that she's the ruler of a kingdom of her own; she is eminently practical, has a great desire to help others, and never backs down from a challenge. Her stalwart calm is greatly appreciated in a place as volatile as Somnius, and her power to reverse time is among the most incredible he's witnessed.

Blue

ARCANA Priestess

5Rank
★★★★★★★★★★

"As Plato once said: A man should work at a single occupation, in accordance with his natural gifts."

Confusing and intriguing in equal measures. Blue lies and obfuscates even more than he does, which is saying something, but always with a playful edge that makes him want to uncover more. Her hypotheticals, thought experiments and shared poems endear him; her razor sharp observations of the depths of his secrets put him off. He'll keep coming back.

Hatori Chise

ARCANA Fortune

5Rank
★★★★★★★★★★

"If love is something you give... how do you ever feel like you can repay it? Everything that the people who love you do for you? It... feels impossible."

Possibly the most thoughtful young person he's met in Somnius. Since they met in dreams, Chise's profound insight and complete lack of ego has endeared her to Maruki. He always wants to hear her thoughts on any matter, and to learn more about her life. Especially Elias. Dear god, tell him more about Elias.

Kurusu Akira

ARCANA Fool

5Rank
★★★★★★★★★★

"If I won in a world without you in it, I'll never lose in one that has you."

A guiding light reignited. His closest confidant from the true reality who doesn't remember him at all. It hurts, it hurts worse than anything, but Maruki has learned not to run from hurt. He's taken Akira in, vowed never to doubt him, and privately sworn to himself to be more open and honest than he was the first time around. Maybe it was meant to happen this way. Maybe they'll become even closer than they were before, somehow. They have a long way to go still, but he has at least impressed up on Akira the most important thing of all: In every reality, whether they know one another or not, Maruki will never forget him.

Luz Noceda

ARCANA Judgment

5Rank
★★★★★★★★★★

"I don't want anyone telling me what I should be doing, or how I should think."

Precocious and self-assured, Luz seems like the last person who should need counseling, but she gives it a fairer shot and better effort than anyone else. Maruki greatly admires how aware she is of her strengths and flaws alike, and how bluntly honest she is with herself and others. If he ever needed to get slapped out of some self-pity, he'd want Luz to be the one to do it. Also? Azathoth's biggest fan. She's charmed him, hook line and sinker.

Adachi Tohru

ARCANA Tower

3Rank
★★★★★★★★★★

"i've seen enough good people get what they don't deserve by trusting those they shouldn't have."

An unknown quantity, and despite putting enough baseline trust in him to take him in, Maruki still treats him as such. He knows only the most basic facts about Adachi's life, and he's seen the manifestation of his soul; it creates a strange dichotomy of intrinsic understanding and foggy mystery. However he might try to play himself off as just another guy, Maruki will never buy it. He used to do the same thing, after all. He's going to figure him out.

Maruki Takuto

C✪nfiⅅan🆃s