[ It's an implausible mixture of emotions that rises up in Maruki throughout Akechi's tirade.
Irritation comes first. Of course it does. When has he ever been the one to shut down a topic before Akechi did? When Eren was gone, that's the only time he can remember. There's not a chance in hell he would walk away from this. They're both staying here until they come to a resolution of some sort, or they're swept out to sea.
Then appreciation – Akechi is handling this as a detective ought to. Intelligent and resourceful as ever. Nothing slips past him, not for a moment. Analytical, methodical. Emotion pushed aside in favor of facts. It's a grounding influence Maruki desperately does need. He's not wrong, they should combine their information to try to make sense of this.
Next, flat out disgust. Akira is real. Of course he's real. To think otherwise is an insult.
And finally–
Relief. Profound, full-body relief. So much has been in flux since Akira arrived, right down to the fabric of reality itself, but Akechi is Akechi is Akechi is Akechi. The same person he's known for half a year and across all realities. The same.
If he ever left and returned with no recognition in his eyes, Maruki doesn't know what he would do. Soldier on, just as he is with Akira, he supposes, but– he doesn't want to imagine it. This bond is too important to him, foundational bedrock. Thank god he hasn't changed.
Maruki sighs, straightens his spine, rests his forearms on his knees and gives it a moment's consideration before he starts. ]
When I arrived here, it was Christmas Eve of his second year. From his perspective, it's the end of summer break of his third year. He left Tokyo, as intended, but returned for the summer– although I'm not sure for what purpose.
[ Hopefully just to spend time with his friends, if reality is kind, but it rarely is. Maruki can only begin to guess that something else from the cognitive world went wrong. Perhaps there were more changes of hearts to be done after all. ]
However, according to him, I never took a job at Shujin. We never knew one another at all.
[ A beat, and his jaw grinds. Is there more he needs to relay? There must be, maybe, possibly, but his thoughts have stuttered to a stop on their tracks.
He doesn't want to get emotional around Akechi. He's been able to do that around the people who will treat him kindly. Eren, Venat. Dolph, Hythlodaeus. He should have it out of his system.
Doesn't.
Maruki clears his throat, tries to urge the tight knot into dissolving away. ]
ahahhahaha. ahhh we have fun here don't we
Irritation comes first. Of course it does. When has he ever been the one to shut down a topic before Akechi did? When Eren was gone, that's the only time he can remember. There's not a chance in hell he would walk away from this. They're both staying here until they come to a resolution of some sort, or they're swept out to sea.
Then appreciation – Akechi is handling this as a detective ought to. Intelligent and resourceful as ever. Nothing slips past him, not for a moment. Analytical, methodical. Emotion pushed aside in favor of facts. It's a grounding influence Maruki desperately does need. He's not wrong, they should combine their information to try to make sense of this.
Next, flat out disgust. Akira is real. Of course he's real. To think otherwise is an insult.
And finally–
Relief. Profound, full-body relief. So much has been in flux since Akira arrived, right down to the fabric of reality itself, but Akechi is Akechi is Akechi is Akechi. The same person he's known for half a year and across all realities. The same.
If he ever left and returned with no recognition in his eyes, Maruki doesn't know what he would do. Soldier on, just as he is with Akira, he supposes, but– he doesn't want to imagine it. This bond is too important to him, foundational bedrock. Thank god he hasn't changed.
Maruki sighs, straightens his spine, rests his forearms on his knees and gives it a moment's consideration before he starts. ]
When I arrived here, it was Christmas Eve of his second year. From his perspective, it's the end of summer break of his third year. He left Tokyo, as intended, but returned for the summer– although I'm not sure for what purpose.
[ Hopefully just to spend time with his friends, if reality is kind, but it rarely is. Maruki can only begin to guess that something else from the cognitive world went wrong. Perhaps there were more changes of hearts to be done after all. ]
However, according to him, I never took a job at Shujin. We never knew one another at all.
[ A beat, and his jaw grinds. Is there more he needs to relay? There must be, maybe, possibly, but his thoughts have stuttered to a stop on their tracks.
He doesn't want to get emotional around Akechi. He's been able to do that around the people who will treat him kindly. Eren, Venat. Dolph, Hythlodaeus. He should have it out of his system.
Doesn't.
Maruki clears his throat, tries to urge the tight knot into dissolving away. ]
Does that line up with what you know?