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[Both brows now arching down.]
What are you talking about?
What are you talking about?
[Eren may be a walking corpse of a person these days, but he can and does still very much blush. And his face finally goes hot at Maruki's teasing. He sneers and looks away, off into the other room so Maruki can snicker into his okonomiyaki.]
That's not how it is...
That's not how it is...
[Well, he knows that it's lighthearted. That isn't the problem.]
Has he said something to you?
Has he said something to you?
[Eren accepts that answer, nodding toward his okonomiyaki. He takes a bite. He ought to tell Maruki that it's good, but they're busy talking about Boys he has other things on his mind now.]
Hythlodaeus is...hard to wrap my head around. I couldn't say that it feels the same as it did before, like with you and Kanoa. It's just different.
Hythlodaeus is...hard to wrap my head around. I couldn't say that it feels the same as it did before, like with you and Kanoa. It's just different.
That makes sense. You two didn't have as much time to establish things before you left, either, so they're more malleable by default.
[ The teasing has entirely dropped away now. Maruki leans an elbow on the counter, sips his tea thoughtfully. ]
Do you think you can try to describe how it's different? It's okay if you can't. [ Don't hurt your head... ]
[ The teasing has entirely dropped away now. Maruki leans an elbow on the counter, sips his tea thoughtfully. ]
Do you think you can try to describe how it's different? It's okay if you can't. [ Don't hurt your head... ]
[Thinking about Hythlodaeus does hurt his head. He distracts himself with a sip of tea too, ever mirroring. His fingers tap against the mug - ever moving his hands too.]
He's a baffling sort of person. Everything about him...[Eren's voice trails off, and he closes his mouth tightly, apparently frustrated. He shrugs his shoulders.] No. I really can't explain it at all.
Every time we talk, I feel like I'm dreaming...
[Flowers blooming out of thin air, music floating all around them; memories slowly bleeding, two realities caught in a dance...]
It's confusing...
He's a baffling sort of person. Everything about him...[Eren's voice trails off, and he closes his mouth tightly, apparently frustrated. He shrugs his shoulders.] No. I really can't explain it at all.
Every time we talk, I feel like I'm dreaming...
[Flowers blooming out of thin air, music floating all around them; memories slowly bleeding, two realities caught in a dance...]
It's confusing...
That's alright. I can only imagine, knowing both what I know about that other reality and how Ancients simply... are.
[ He met Venat in dreams, waking with the slow, heavy sensation that he'd met someone meant to be put in his path. Everything since has felt dreamlike in its own way, though surely different from whatever Eren is describing.
Half of his own okonomiyaki gone; he'll save the other half as leftovers for Akechi. Focuses on his tea, the sleepiness that settles into his bones with a good meal. ]
He cares about you a great deal. That's all I can say for certain. We had a good talk while you were gone.
[ He met Venat in dreams, waking with the slow, heavy sensation that he'd met someone meant to be put in his path. Everything since has felt dreamlike in its own way, though surely different from whatever Eren is describing.
Half of his own okonomiyaki gone; he'll save the other half as leftovers for Akechi. Focuses on his tea, the sleepiness that settles into his bones with a good meal. ]
He cares about you a great deal. That's all I can say for certain. We had a good talk while you were gone.
[Eren looks to his friend.]
Did he take care of you?
Did he take care of you?
[ Maruki has to consider how to answer that question. He looks to Eren, then out across the kitchen, eyes unfocused as he tries to sort through his thoughts. Both elbows up on the counter now, mug held in two hands and resting just below his chin.
Finally, it's only honesty that breaks through. Ever honesty for the person who deserves it most. ]
I don't really let others get the opportunity to take care of me. You know that.
[ It's up to those few who know how and when to force the issue. ]
However, that being said... I think I was able to talk to him more openly than I could anyone else who was hurting. I told him about our promise, and knowing one another in other realities. We spoke about the collective unconscious and the aetherial sea, which is always comforting to me. I asked him to describe your soul to me, and he did – that was a comfort, too.
[ He glances down into the mug, blows on it briefly before taking a sip. ]
So in a roundabout way, he did, though he probably doesn't realize it.
Finally, it's only honesty that breaks through. Ever honesty for the person who deserves it most. ]
I don't really let others get the opportunity to take care of me. You know that.
[ It's up to those few who know how and when to force the issue. ]
However, that being said... I think I was able to talk to him more openly than I could anyone else who was hurting. I told him about our promise, and knowing one another in other realities. We spoke about the collective unconscious and the aetherial sea, which is always comforting to me. I asked him to describe your soul to me, and he did – that was a comfort, too.
[ He glances down into the mug, blows on it briefly before taking a sip. ]
So in a roundabout way, he did, though he probably doesn't realize it.
In time it will sort itself out. There's little else to do in this small town outside of think and try to parse the truth.
[And Eren sure is at the Machiya frequently. Maruki's clearly got some part of this handled by the annoying amount of time Eren spends there.
He continues on.]
Of course, I'm available to help as well should you need it.
[And Eren sure is at the Machiya frequently. Maruki's clearly got some part of this handled by the annoying amount of time Eren spends there.
He continues on.]
Of course, I'm available to help as well should you need it.
I trusted that already. [Maybe that will annoy him.]
We've always been allies, even before we were anything else. [Maybe that will too.]
We've always been allies, even before we were anything else. [Maybe that will too.]
They haven't changed from where I'm standing, but perhaps you'd like to go over them again.
[The truth is, with that, Eren's goal has changed - or, at least, what he used to say his goal was has changed. Since he first arrived in Somnius, he's told nearly everyone that would listen about his quest to take control from Vaeros and put it in the hands of the Dreamers.
[He doesn't want that. He wants the power in his hands - Akechi's, Maruki's, or whichever trusted confidant gets the job done.
[Akechi will get his confirmation. Eren nods, even.]
Then, we're on the same page. That's good to hear.
[He doesn't want that. He wants the power in his hands - Akechi's, Maruki's, or whichever trusted confidant gets the job done.
[Akechi will get his confirmation. Eren nods, even.]
Then, we're on the same page. That's good to hear.
[Eren's quiet for a moment. He'll resent the time Maruki spent without him forever, he thinks, though he's beginning to realize that it was necessary. Idly, he wonders if he and Maruki's souls might look alike. Sometimes he really does feel like they're the same person. The thought leaves him quickly enough. Eren has already seen Maruki's soul. Azathoth is a familiar friend to him now.
[All that being said, when Eren considers it...]
I think he does realize.
When he cares about someone, he'll stay right beside them, even when things can't be helped. But it did help, didn't it? He probably intended for it to.
[All that being said, when Eren considers it...]
I think he does realize.
When he cares about someone, he'll stay right beside them, even when things can't be helped. But it did help, didn't it? He probably intended for it to.
[No one can cut straight through to Eren's heart - whatever small, still part is left of it - like Kanoa can. That's always been true. Eren aches with fondness. He has to force himself to pull away, hands on Kanoa's shoulders. He stands up and moves to sit on the boy's bed, a hand still in place, pulling him closer.]
You still want to be human, huh?
You still want to be human, huh?
Of course. It's only been a short time for me - I made an assumption from your appearance it's been far longer for you.
[YEARS, FRANKLY. EREN, you're fucking big.]
It wouldn't have been unreasonable if your goals had changed in that time. Perhaps that new result would've ended with an ocean. [It's not like there's anyone around to hear this time of night.] How long did you return to your reality for? I'm curious.
[YEARS, FRANKLY. EREN, you're fucking big.]
It wouldn't have been unreasonable if your goals had changed in that time. Perhaps that new result would've ended with an ocean. [It's not like there's anyone around to hear this time of night.] How long did you return to your reality for? I'm curious.
["That's what I want," Jean says. Eren isn't sure that he believes him. It could be more like shackles.
[That isn't what he wants. Jean is choosing him freely - that's what he should believe. He'll have to, for now. His promise remains the same either way.
[Eren briefly raises that kissed hand to trail his fingers along Jean's jaw, green eyes watching him. He feels pained. He doesn't know if it shows. Likely not. He suffers to make anything clear, these days.]
Let's be together a while. Look out the window.
After that, there are others I need to see. [His eyes flicker away, out the window mentioned.] That will give you some time.
[That isn't what he wants. Jean is choosing him freely - that's what he should believe. He'll have to, for now. His promise remains the same either way.
[Eren briefly raises that kissed hand to trail his fingers along Jean's jaw, green eyes watching him. He feels pained. He doesn't know if it shows. Likely not. He suffers to make anything clear, these days.]
Let's be together a while. Look out the window.
After that, there are others I need to see. [His eyes flicker away, out the window mentioned.] That will give you some time.
[Akechi's words are as flippant as ever, but they don't seem to affect Eren.]
Four years. All the way to the end.
[A glance as they walk.] I guess I must look pretty different to you now.
Four years. All the way to the end.
[A glance as they walk.] I guess I must look pretty different to you now.
Is that so? Well, you achieved what you desired. I can't say I'm not envious.
[That's it - a short life ending as it should. A world followed it.]
As for your appearance, I wouldn't say it's entirely different. I knew you were Eren the second I set eyes on you, despite the change.
[Akechi looks, in that moment. Bulkier. Taller. Hair changed. Features blank, and not. Less emotive, provoking and reactive - traits Akechi doesn't particularly miss.]
You've always had a presence about you. That hasn't changed in four years. I doubt it would have even if you lived a long life.
[That's it - a short life ending as it should. A world followed it.]
As for your appearance, I wouldn't say it's entirely different. I knew you were Eren the second I set eyes on you, despite the change.
[Akechi looks, in that moment. Bulkier. Taller. Hair changed. Features blank, and not. Less emotive, provoking and reactive - traits Akechi doesn't particularly miss.]
You've always had a presence about you. That hasn't changed in four years. I doubt it would have even if you lived a long life.
[Akechi looks at him. Eren wants him to. Wants to hear him talk too. He lets his head tilt just a fraction of an inch to the side.]
A presence?
A presence?
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