No, it's perfect. The motion is a stuttering thing, as unfamiliar for Odasaku to act on as it is for Maruki to receive. It's clumsy, and stiff, and it's perfect.
Maruki relaxes into that awkward grasp at once, body leaning heavily against Odasaku's even as it holds him up. His own arms circle back around his friend, gently showing him the way to hold and be held all at once. ]
It's alright. Just let go.
[ A beat, and he smiles, moves a hand to tuck Odasaku's head into the curve of his neck. ]
Metaphorically, I mean. Don't you dare literally let me go.
[Oda thinks he'll fall apart. He wishes he would fall apart. With Dolph, he didn't fall apart. At night, he falls apart.
[His head rests on Maruki's shoulder and he laughs, but it's a terrible, watery, choking thing. He squeezes his friend tight, then relaxes his arms, relaxes his shoulders, relaxes his spine and breathes.]
[ Oda relaxes against him– or maybe it's the fight finally going out of him, all the tense strings that have held him upright finally snapped. It's difficult to say.
Maruki understands that feeling well.
He stays stalwart, holding his friend upright, leaning his head sideways to rest his cheek against Odasaku's hair. ]
I won't leave like that again. That, I can assure you.
[ Can he, now knowing that he's just as susceptible to being ripped from this reality as anyone else?
But there's nothing in the true reality left that requires his attention. He spent all of his time here with the sword of Damocles hanging over his head, one foot poised at the precipice of an inevitable future, the other stuck midair.
Now... what awaits him? Nothing at all, besides the rest of his life. Maruki won't return to that until he's good and ready. ]
I can.
[ Belief doesn't always follow logic and reason. It's something that lives deep in the soul, and Maruki knows his own better than ever. ]
[ Maruki understands. Innately, without Odasaku having to say it, he understands.
After all, it's what he'd been trying to do even before he disappeared. To spend more time with the people he loves, because all this time is precious.
Odasaku straightens up, and Maruki swings an arm around his shoulders, steers them both down off the steps of the home, toward the beach. ]
Of course. I'd come see you every day, if you let me. You'll get sick of me first, I guarantee it.
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No, it's perfect. The motion is a stuttering thing, as unfamiliar for Odasaku to act on as it is for Maruki to receive. It's clumsy, and stiff, and it's perfect.
Maruki relaxes into that awkward grasp at once, body leaning heavily against Odasaku's even as it holds him up. His own arms circle back around his friend, gently showing him the way to hold and be held all at once. ]
It's alright. Just let go.
[ A beat, and he smiles, moves a hand to tuck Odasaku's head into the curve of his neck. ]
Metaphorically, I mean. Don't you dare literally let me go.
no subject
Don't you dare let me go.
[Oda thinks he'll fall apart. He wishes he would fall apart. With Dolph, he didn't fall apart. At night, he falls apart.
[His head rests on Maruki's shoulder and he laughs, but it's a terrible, watery, choking thing. He squeezes his friend tight, then relaxes his arms, relaxes his shoulders, relaxes his spine and breathes.]
Maruki...
I really did miss you...
no subject
Maruki understands that feeling well.
He stays stalwart, holding his friend upright, leaning his head sideways to rest his cheek against Odasaku's hair. ]
I won't leave like that again. That, I can assure you.
no subject
Can you make that promise?
no subject
But there's nothing in the true reality left that requires his attention. He spent all of his time here with the sword of Damocles hanging over his head, one foot poised at the precipice of an inevitable future, the other stuck midair.
Now... what awaits him? Nothing at all, besides the rest of his life. Maruki won't return to that until he's good and ready. ]
I can.
[ Belief doesn't always follow logic and reason. It's something that lives deep in the soul, and Maruki knows his own better than ever. ]
Please believe in me.
no subject
I do.
[He does, but...]
Let's hang out more anyway. Alright?
no subject
After all, it's what he'd been trying to do even before he disappeared. To spend more time with the people he loves, because all this time is precious.
Odasaku straightens up, and Maruki swings an arm around his shoulders, steers them both down off the steps of the home, toward the beach. ]
Of course. I'd come see you every day, if you let me. You'll get sick of me first, I guarantee it.
no subject
No. I won't.