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[belheir]

Not here, leave a message and I'll get back to you when I can.

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[belheir]

Annoying. Though truthfully he's not technically my cousin. We're from different timelines.

[placation]

Is that so?

That must be strange.

[belheir]

Very. I can't imagine making the choices he said I did, but apparently I did, and believed in them enough to kick his ass real good back home.

Pretty weird, honestly. I can't really picture myself wanting to hurt him in any amount of seriousness.

[placation]

It reminds me a bit of what we all went through a couple months ago. Knowing different versions of one another than the ones currently present.

Have you two been able to clear the air?

[belheir]

I think so? It's not like I hate him or anything. He just annoys me sometimes, that's all. Typical sibling type stuff.

I should mention that we were sort of raised like brothers, if he says anything weird. His parents died when I was very young, and my family ended up adopting him.

[placation]

Ah, that must complicate matters even further. But on the flipside, it must mean you have an unbreakable bond too, right?

[ Local man has never had a sibling, is romanticizing. ]

1/2

[belheir]

[Unbreakable bond....

Yeah, tell that to Abel, who's soul got turned into splinters and then gobbled up by demons.]

[belheir]

Sure. Something like that.

[placation]

Or not, I suppose.

[belheir]

Our relationship is pretty complicated. I think normal siblings have it a lot easier, don't you? Normally family doesn't try to put other family on the throne of demonic royalty, after all.

[placation]

I don't know. Even those I knew back in my reality who had "normal" families still had complex dynamics with their siblings, even without demonic royalty interference.

Do you resent him for that?

[belheir]

No. Truthfully, I don't resent him at all.

I was glad I was able to help him in the way I did, though obviously things turned out different for this Naoya instead of the one I know.

[placation]

Well, then I'm glad you two are able to come together over it here, even if it's difficult. Although I do have to wonder what effect that would have on your realities, if any...

[belheir]

I can't imagine it would have much effect on either of our realities, truthfully. The decision I made in mine isn't something that can be walked back, and since I've already killed God, there's nothing really left tying him down anymore when I get back.

Whereas for him, the only thing that he could do is wish I'd made the choice I'd made in my reality. But if I had followed Remiel and became God's Messiah, I can only guess at how hut he must be by that. I can only guess at what sort of reasoning would have made me make that sort of choice, or what might have happened differently, but truthfully even knowing about it doesn't change my own outcome.

I am the King of Bel, and God is dead, and mankind is finally free from his tyranny. All I can do is hope that by doing that, the curse on him is finally lifted. I'll only know if that's the case when I go home.

[placation]

I suppose I think of things a little too theoretically at times.

That being said, you mentioned he could wish you had made a different choice.

I wonder if a wish like that might have power here. All the others do, after all.

[belheir]

He could wish that, but I don't think he would. In fact, I'm certain of it. He's a lot of things, sure, but when it comes to me, he's always given me a choice.

Even if he doesn't like the answer I gave in his reality, he wouldn't take that away from me.

He could have lead me along his path all through out the lockdown, but the truth is he didn't, and even on the final day, he let me make my choice and didn't push.

I'm sure you saw on SLEEPR, it pointed it out for everyone to see that he's Cain, or rather, the reincarnation of him.

I think that if I had sided with God, he'd be upset, and I know he is, but if I had to guess, his wish would be the power to kill God on his own. I don't think he ever wanted to drag me into it. I was just the last resort of a desperate man.

[placation]

[ A choice given, no matter what. Even when it isn't the answer he wants, he still allows it to be Kazuya's answer.

Memories of memories, like looking through fogged glass submerged in water. Hazy and imprecise. But that strikes something in Maruki. He understands. He always wanted to give Akira the choice to agree with him. That, more than anything. ]

It's certainly a complicated situation. Still, I'm glad you two are able to reunite here. That's not always a given.

You're a very level-headed young man, Kazuya.

[belheir]

[ Kazuya has to think about it, just how level-headed he actually is. He does try, for the most part, to pick things apart and make the best decisions he can in the moment, but lately it's...

He makes more rash decisions. It doesn't bother him, like he thinks it probably should. ]

Thank you for saying that. It means a lot to me.

I don't think that's necessarily the case lately, though.

[ In fact, he wonders. Maruki and Akechi are close, right? They're from the same Tokyo, if he's not mistaken. ]

Are you free right now? There's something I want to discuss with you, but preferably not over text.

[placation]

[ Oh? That's interesting. ]

Sure. Where would you like to meet?

[belheir]

I still owe you a coffee, so why don't we start at the coffeeshop you brought me too when I first arrived and then take a walk around?

[ It's not Tokyo, but wandering around through the town might be nice. ]

[placation]

That sounds nice, although I stand by what I originally said - you don't owe me.

I'll meet you there in twenty minutes anyway.

[ It takes about that long for Maruki to get there from the machiya anyway. He can only bike so fast... Things he didn't consider when moving so far out of town.........

But he will eventually roll up to Kazuya waiting outside the cafe, hop off to lock his bicycle up against a nearby tree. ]

I have to admit, you've got me curious about what could be so important!

[belheir]

[ At least he's getting exercise? It's good for the body, good for the mind! Or something like that. Either way, Kazuya waves at him when he arrives, and politely waits for him to secure his bike. ]

Who said it had to be important? Maybe I just don't want to write a small novel on the phone.

[ He's kidding. Mostly.

He'll also politely hold the door open for Maruki, because he's a good teenager, and unlike Maruki, didn't have to pedal across the country to get to a coffee shop. A little respect is in order! Just a little. ]

Coffee first, then we can chat.

[ AND HE'S GETTING A SWEETENED ICED COFFEE WITH SWEET CREAM.... you can't make him re-experience the hell that was a black iced coffee. ]

[placation]

[ HE COULD HAVE PUT CREAM IN HIS COFFEE THEN!!! MARUKI GOT HIM A BASIC DRINK TO DOCTOR AS HE WISHED!!!!! HE WOULDN'T HAVE JUDGED!!!!!!!!

Silly demon boy. Maruki's still getting his beloved iced Americano. Rocket fuel... ]

You ought to try the coffee concoctions over at Kuchel's. The proprietors aren't overly fond of me, but they make very good drinks. [ Very sweet fancy coffees. Greedy shit, as Eren would say. Seems like Kazuya's thing. ]

[belheir]

[ He thinks it would have been rude to change what Maruki ordered for him.... But he does perk up anyway at the knowledge of sweeter, fancier coffees.

On the other hand...]

I think I'd prefer to spend my time and money in a place where my friends are liked.

[ Even if it means getting gelfling coffee. He is, in fact, a sentimental little dweeb. So yes, while he'd love decadently sweet shit, he's not going to give business to the places that don't care for his friends!

Kazuya is also going to sneakily (not very) pay for Maruki's coffee. ]

Told you I'd repay you.

[placation]

[ Oddly thoughtful, all things considered. Maruki's so surprised by it that Kazuya manages to get past him and pay for their drinks.

A light whap to the back of Kazuya's head – casually affectionate more than anything. ]

That was devious. Thank you, though.

[ Come on, demon king. They're going on a walk about this bullshit rural town. ]

We can wait until we're farther out from the townsfolk, if it's something you'd rather keep more private...