Unlike Akechi "we're acquaintances" Goro, Maruki sees no reason to lie about their bond. No need to go into the full depth of it, either, but he can give an answer that's nothing less than the truth. ]
I would say so, yes. We didn't know one another back in our true reality, but we've become close here. He's important to me.
[ A little sidelong glance as he sips that bitter bean juice. ]
Well... I was hoping to get him an apology gift. [He rubs the back of his head with his free hand, looking a little unsure.] I was hoping if you knew him well, then maybe you could tell me the kinds of things he'd like?
[He really does feel bad about what he did, now that there's time and distance away from the encounter. ]
I mean, I could have just messaged him with an "I'm sorry", but that feels a little... Lacking? After what I did to him.
[He really has no clue if Maruki knows about it, so he kind of skirts it a little as he speaks. He'll admit it if asked, but he doesn't know the extent of Akechi and Maruki's friendship, so who knows if Akechi had even told him to begin with?]
[ Surprise! Maruki knows All. He laughs a little, scratches at the stubble along his jaw. ]
I picked him up and hauled him home after that. He was docile for a long time. It was a little scary, actually... [ Calmkechi........ shudder. ] What exactly did you do to him?
[ He'll answer the question about the apology gift in a minute. That's sweet of Kazuya, but Maruki's been curious about what ailment Akechi was suffering ever since he sat mute at the kotatsu for hours. ]
[ Back to his awful, shitty attitude. God bless. ]
Can I ask what sort of curses they were? I'm genuinely just curious for my own knowledge, I'm not upset with what you did at all. Frankly, it's good for him to get trounced every now and then.
[What a relief! And Kazuya even looks it when Maruki says that Akechi is back to normal. He was kind of worried, even if they'd met up at the carnival. ]
Ah... One was to take his voice and ability to cast magic away, and the other was to seal any other skills he had. The last one was to stop any sort of natural healing he had, and prevent any sort of magical healing. Which in hindsight is pretty petty... I'm glad he's fine, though.
[Siiiip.]
I really should have kept my cool better than that.
[ To be fair, Akechi texted him that it wouldn't be possible even before Maruki tried, but he doesn't exactly believe that he exists within the rules, so he tried anyway. Unfortunate that this time he was wrong. ]
Did he get under your skin? I can't imagine you losing it.
[ BIG SIP. YOU'RE SO LEVEL-HEADED, KAZUYA. WHAT GIVES. ]
It wasn't him, exactly... There's a demon back home I know named Loki. I thought I could sense him, and I wanted to give him some payback for what he did to not only me, but a friend of mine I knew.
[But it wasn't Loki, at least, not Loki as he knew.]
Beldr also wasn't really happy to see him either, and I think it kind of overcame me a little, so I wasn't really acting all that rationally at that point, especially since it seemed like Loki was hiding behind Akechi and trying to use him as a shield.
[Also not the case.]
By the time I figured it out, it was kind of too late.
[ That only makes sense. He does remember Kazuya's sour face when Loki came up during their first meeting; different Loki then, too, but still. And Akechi did tell him that it truly was Loki he was after, but getting this side of the story does flesh it out.
He sips at his coffee, glances sidelong at his friend. ]
I have to ask. Do you really think he'll accept an apology gift? [ A brief wave of his hand to clarify. ] Not because I think what you did is so unforgivable. But just because– well, because of the way he is.
Even if he doesn't, I should still make the attempt, shouldn't I?
[To at least, even if he doesn't accept it, give a genuine attempt at an apology.]
I get what you're saying though, he was pretty upset. There's a chance he might not actually accept my apology or my gift, and he'd be well within his right to do so, more so since I didn't just hurt him, I cursed him pretty badly too.
[At least he'd been stabbed before he could get the megidolaondyne off... That would have made things significantly more complicated. ]
[ Maruki's brows crease as he looks off again, surveying the shops they pass. There's very little in this rural shithole Akechi would appreciate, he knows that for a fact. ]
This may not surprise you, but there isn't much that he genuinely enjoys. Gifts are... difficult.
I figure they're even harder to get in a place like this.
[It's not as if he could buy Akechi a new CD, or some sort of modern amenity in a place like this. Even something like a run of mill conbini snack is impossible here. It's probably healthier like that, but...]
I'd try to make him something, but I can already see how that might turn against me after what I did. There's no reason to trust something someone's made you after attacking you.
[ Maruki huffs a little sigh – exasperation aimed entirely at his housemate, not at Kazuya. ]
Between you and I, he doesn't even have food preferences. There's nothing he's interested in. I've spent half a year trying to figure that out, but it really does seem to be the truth.
Something with him? You think he'd be alright with that?
[Considering... What he did, and all! But Maruki knows Akechi better than him, and that's the important thing. It means that he can definitely better judge what would make for an apology gift.
Nothing like a club in Tokyo, in case you're picturing the same thing I originally did. It's actually a very low-key place. Dolph runs it, he's a good friend of mine.
[ Strange, that all his patients still here have turned out to be his close friends. Well, whatever. ]
Anyhow, on certain nights he plays lo-fi music that Akechi-kun enjoys. I'll send you the schedule. If you invited him out for a drink one of those nights, he'd take you up on it, and it probably wouldn't be a bad time.
[A drink, huh? Does Akechi drink? He seems a little young for that... Still the idea is pretty solid, and it's not like he has to get anything with alcohol himself. Who knew Akechi was the kind of person to like lo-fi anyway? He's more well-rounded than Kazuya gave him credit for.]
I'll definitely have to swing by to give it a look over first... Just to make sure I don't make an idiot out of myself if we do end up spending time there.
[And he can also practice his apology before hand. He ducks his head at Maruki, clearly grateful.]
Thank you. I really appreciate your input on the matter. It's been bugging me for awhile that I haven't had a chance to properly apologize correctly.
[ The knocking of shoulders makes him smile a little, and it further widens at the small warning to not overdo it, turning a little sheepish. ]
I understand. If he's not used to it, it'll only hurt my chances further.
[ It's also sad to think Akechi isn't used to the simple kindness of an apology. What sort of life must he have lived prior to here? To make him so angry besides. ]
In that case, just a simple apology with a drink shouldn't be too alarming. I understand.
I'll take your word for it, but hopefully it won't come to such a thing. Honestly, if he wants payback for what happened, I think he's well within his right to get it.
[ Which is to say that he'd let Akechi beat him up a little bit if it came too it.
He takes another swig of his coffee, feeling better about the situation now that he has a plan, and he relaxes more, shoulders slackening.
A quick glance around confirms that they're in a little less of a populated area now. He can move on to the other part of this whole thing in just a moment too.]
I wasn't too sure about that whole counselor thing, but you really are adept at helping people solve their problems.
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Anyway. Lets Kick It, Maruki!]
Well, I've got two things on my mind, mostly. One I don't mind if the townsfolk overhear so much, so lets talk about it on the way.
[He'll say, talking a sweet sip of his sweet, sweet coffee.]
The first is... You're friends with Akechi, right? Close friends?
[He doesn't want to assume their closeness! But he's trying to make a guess, judging by the fact they're from the same world, as far as he's aware.]
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Unlike Akechi "we're acquaintances" Goro, Maruki sees no reason to lie about their bond. No need to go into the full depth of it, either, but he can give an answer that's nothing less than the truth. ]
I would say so, yes. We didn't know one another back in our true reality, but we've become close here. He's important to me.
[ A little sidelong glance as he sips that bitter bean juice. ]
Why do you ask?
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[He really does feel bad about what he did, now that there's time and distance away from the encounter. ]
I mean, I could have just messaged him with an "I'm sorry", but that feels a little... Lacking? After what I did to him.
[He really has no clue if Maruki knows about it, so he kind of skirts it a little as he speaks. He'll admit it if asked, but he doesn't know the extent of Akechi and Maruki's friendship, so who knows if Akechi had even told him to begin with?]
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[ Surprise! Maruki knows All. He laughs a little, scratches at the stubble along his jaw. ]
I picked him up and hauled him home after that. He was docile for a long time. It was a little scary, actually... [ Calmkechi........ shudder. ] What exactly did you do to him?
[ He'll answer the question about the apology gift in a minute. That's sweet of Kazuya, but Maruki's been curious about what ailment Akechi was suffering ever since he sat mute at the kotatsu for hours. ]
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[That confirms how close they are, then! At least in his own mind.]
Docile, huh? That's pretty strange... I put a few curses on him, but I don't think I did anything that'd make him docile.
[Local Demon Overlord Doesn't Know All Teen Has To Go On Is Anger, After Consuming It.]
They all wore off though, right? Nothing is still lingering?
[The real question! If Akechi is still feeling an ailment, then maybe he'd cast them a little too strongly for him.]
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[ Back to his awful, shitty attitude. God bless. ]
Can I ask what sort of curses they were? I'm genuinely just curious for my own knowledge, I'm not upset with what you did at all. Frankly, it's good for him to get trounced every now and then.
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Ah... One was to take his voice and ability to cast magic away, and the other was to seal any other skills he had. The last one was to stop any sort of natural healing he had, and prevent any sort of magical healing. Which in hindsight is pretty petty... I'm glad he's fine, though.
[Siiiip.]
I really should have kept my cool better than that.
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[ To be fair, Akechi texted him that it wouldn't be possible even before Maruki tried, but he doesn't exactly believe that he exists within the rules, so he tried anyway. Unfortunate that this time he was wrong. ]
Did he get under your skin? I can't imagine you losing it.
[ BIG SIP. YOU'RE SO LEVEL-HEADED, KAZUYA. WHAT GIVES. ]
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[But it wasn't Loki, at least, not Loki as he knew.]
Beldr also wasn't really happy to see him either, and I think it kind of overcame me a little, so I wasn't really acting all that rationally at that point, especially since it seemed like Loki was hiding behind Akechi and trying to use him as a shield.
[Also not the case.]
By the time I figured it out, it was kind of too late.
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[ That only makes sense. He does remember Kazuya's sour face when Loki came up during their first meeting; different Loki then, too, but still. And Akechi did tell him that it truly was Loki he was after, but getting this side of the story does flesh it out.
He sips at his coffee, glances sidelong at his friend. ]
I have to ask. Do you really think he'll accept an apology gift? [ A brief wave of his hand to clarify. ] Not because I think what you did is so unforgivable. But just because– well, because of the way he is.
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[To at least, even if he doesn't accept it, give a genuine attempt at an apology.]
I get what you're saying though, he was pretty upset. There's a chance he might not actually accept my apology or my gift, and he'd be well within his right to do so, more so since I didn't just hurt him, I cursed him pretty badly too.
[At least he'd been stabbed before he could get the megidolaondyne off... That would have made things significantly more complicated. ]
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[ Maruki's brows crease as he looks off again, surveying the shops they pass. There's very little in this rural shithole Akechi would appreciate, he knows that for a fact. ]
This may not surprise you, but there isn't much that he genuinely enjoys. Gifts are... difficult.
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[It's not as if he could buy Akechi a new CD, or some sort of modern amenity in a place like this. Even something like a run of mill conbini snack is impossible here. It's probably healthier like that, but...]
I'd try to make him something, but I can already see how that might turn against me after what I did. There's no reason to trust something someone's made you after attacking you.
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[ Maruki huffs a little sigh – exasperation aimed entirely at his housemate, not at Kazuya. ]
Between you and I, he doesn't even have food preferences. There's nothing he's interested in. I've spent half a year trying to figure that out, but it really does seem to be the truth.
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[That can't be right... Everyone has to have some preference, don't they? Maybe Akechi is just bad at showing his for some reason...]
That seems a little sad, if that's true. There's gotta be something he likes...
[This somehow puts more pressure on him... Instead of what could now just be a "whatever" gift, he's determined to find the "right" gift.
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How do you feel about doing something with him, rather than getting him something?
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[Considering... What he did, and all! But Maruki knows Akechi better than him, and that's the important thing. It means that he can definitely better judge what would make for an apology gift.
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[ In a way. Shrug. Just trust him, he has a PhD in Akechi. ]
Have you been to Club Quartz?
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No, this is the first time I'm even hearing about it. What's it like?
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[ Strange, that all his patients still here have turned out to be his close friends. Well, whatever. ]
Anyhow, on certain nights he plays lo-fi music that Akechi-kun enjoys. I'll send you the schedule. If you invited him out for a drink one of those nights, he'd take you up on it, and it probably wouldn't be a bad time.
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I'll definitely have to swing by to give it a look over first... Just to make sure I don't make an idiot out of myself if we do end up spending time there.
[And he can also practice his apology before hand. He ducks his head at Maruki, clearly grateful.]
Thank you. I really appreciate your input on the matter. It's been bugging me for awhile that I haven't had a chance to properly apologize correctly.
asdlkhsldkj AKECHI'S OLDER THAN KAZUYA i'm crying
Adorable, frankly. He smiles, knocks his shoulder down against Kazuya's. ]
No need to thank me. He's difficult to read. I'm happy to lend my expertise. Just... ah, how to put this...
[ Iced Americano, give him strength........ ]
Don't overdo it. He's not exactly used to that sort of kindness. It's better to keep him at a distance if you can.
listen, hes only older on a technicality... if kazuya was from 2016 he'd be 24/25
I understand. If he's not used to it, it'll only hurt my chances further.
[ It's also sad to think Akechi isn't used to the simple kindness of an apology. What sort of life must he have lived prior to here? To make him so angry besides. ]
In that case, just a simple apology with a drink shouldn't be too alarming. I understand.
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[ By force. ♥ ]
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[ Which is to say that he'd let Akechi beat him up a little bit if it came too it.
He takes another swig of his coffee, feeling better about the situation now that he has a plan, and he relaxes more, shoulders slackening.
A quick glance around confirms that they're in a little less of a populated area now. He can move on to the other part of this whole thing in just a moment too.]
I wasn't too sure about that whole counselor thing, but you really are adept at helping people solve their problems.
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hehe we can wrap here or on yr reply unless you have more !! PREPS FOR EVENT