LABYRINTHUM INBOX II

[placation]

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[belheir]

[wait.]

... A taxi driver?

[placation]

[ Maruki doesn't deflate, exactly...

But he does pause, proud smile turning into mild curiosity. ]

Yes... surely you've seen them around Tokyo. I have my uniform, if you don't believe me.

[belheir]

I know what a taxi driver is.

[Damn, dude... What a downgrade...]

I guess it's cool that you can drive.

[He just thought you had some sort of earth shatteringly cool career lined up...]

[placation]

[ Now he deflates. ]

It's not exactly an exciting career, I know, but it does pay better than counseling...

[ Unfortunately, that's true. ]

And I'm sure it'll only be temporary...

[belheir]

[Very, very seriously. Very earnestly, Kazuya places his hands on Maruki's shoulders, and looks him directly in the eyes.]

I'm going to come to your Tokyo and you're going to be my new evil advisor.

[placation]

[ The noise that escapes Maruki's lips is half startled, half wounded. ]

I'd be terrible at that and you know it!

[ ... ]

And I doubt it pays well...

[belheir]

Hey! Are you saying I wouldn't pay you well? That's mean... I'm the Overlord, you know! And I've got a bunch of macca I can exchange for yen back home! I'll be so rich! I'd pay you a great salary! And you'd have benefits! And time off!

[ This is to say nothing of Maruki being a bad fit for the job. Smh. ]

[placation]

[ Alright. Fine. He'll play ball. ]

And what exactly does being your evil advisor entail, Kazuya?

[belheir]

...

[ hold on. The cogs are turning. ]

Someone is gonna have to negotiate with the government to recognize my supreme authority in a peaceful way. And someone as plain looking as you is perfect for the job.

[??? This has suddenly become a mildly hostile take over... ]

[placation]

[ Mildly? ]

Negotiate with the government? I'm the last person who should be doing that... And I'm not trying to install you as the new ruler of our reality!

[belheir]

[Well it doesn't have to be entirely hostile if Maruki does his job!!!

Kazuya puts both hands on Maruki's shoulders, very gravely, and very seriously, he looks him in the eye.]

I'll be real good at it, I promise.

FDSLKJ WE CAN WRAP... DOOPID

[placation]

[ That earns Kazuya another shove, then a ruffle to his hair, as rough as it is impossibly fond. ]

No. None of that. Just visit our reality to hang out with me. That's all I ask.