abandonhumanity | ic inbox for labyrinthum

[If one more person comes into that goddamn machiya, Akechi may turn into the full time resident at this new house!!!!]

Maruki has decent enough taste. Leave the logistics to him.

Though I will suggest the home be inconspicuous and easy to navigate should trouble find its way to us.

Not that I perceive that as being an issue, of course. I bring it up as a matter of basic safety.

[ Ask forgiveness, not permission. Maruki sends a photo of a little house. It's kept up well, but obviously unoccupied. ]

It's a short walk away from the city.

I intend to wish for it.

You'd be stupid to think that trouble finding its way to us wouldn't be an issue. It happens constantly.

Anyway. It looks fine. You're both right. It's a good idea.

[Well-

It works. Better than a fucking mushroom.]

It's acceptable.

On that note, we should move some necessities to this area - nothing of vital importance, but useful in an emergency. Food, clothing, first aid - items of that variety.

Sure, of course. You can move half of the pharmacy you've created in the machiya to this place.

Thank you both for being amenable to this. I know things have been crowded and hectic lately. A quiet space away will benefit us all.

[. . .]

I have plenty to bring. I will.

Whose fault is that?

[ANYWAY he will bring over half the pharmacy. Eren can bring whatever he wants. The most pressing issue now is the one alluded to only a few texts above. 'Should be easier-' No. There is no alternative.]

We're making a list of rules, even though our last one ended up being meaningless.

This is non-negotiable. No one else is allowed in. Not a single person, animal or creature. If the portal closes, others can find their own housing.

Is that understood by you both?

If the portal closes, we'll have bigger issues than that.

But yes, I agree.

Despite what you might think, it was never my intention to house many people.

I don't want anyone else but you two there either. I won't bring anyone.

Very well. It seems we're in agreement, for the time being.

Let us know when the house is officially yours.

I will.

Listen to me, though.

No one else will know about this. That's my promise to both of you. You deserve that much.

Yeah. I promise too.

[Well, he doesn't need to promise. <3 ]

Understood.

[ Eren might be unmoored, but Jean doesn't try to bring him back yet. He stays with him, keeping a hand curled in his, waiting patiently.

When Eren glances back, he smiles. ]

We did. Though I wasn't thinking of that when I suggested this.

[ Hot springs make him think of Mikasa, but he doesn't mention her. He doesn't want this to be a sad memory. ]

[It's best not to mention Mikasa, really. Perhaps it would be kind of Eren to allow Jean to reminisce, but one of them will go home to her, and one will not. He doesn't like to be reminded. What's more - and as much as he loves Jean - he doesn't truly believe that anyone can understand Mikasa and he's bond aside from he and Mikasa. Deep down, he considers them to be the end all be all, not anyone else.

[A question comes:]

What were you thinking?

[ At Eren's question, he tilts his head back a little, thinking. ]

I was thinking it'd be nice to get away from Visium for a little bit. I know this place isn't new to the locals, but it's new to us - and we really haven't had a chance to just look around much.

[ He shrugs one shoulder. ]

If I could have swung it, I would have suggested riding down near the forest on the horses.

[ He knows Eren isn't happy here. He knows one day he will leave, but he wants to appreciate the time he has here. ]

[Like hell Eren's going to ask for permission. He sees the locals here no more favorably than he sees them back in Visium. Luckily, Hythlodaeus doesn't seem all that concerned with asking either. He conjures up the wheelbarrow, and Eren hoists the fish into it. It's heavy, but he doesn't seem to have all that much trouble with it. Once it's loaded up, he takes the wheelbarrow's handles and lifts it up onto its wheels, nodding toward the direction of the portal in Stellari.]

Let's just go.

I don't see why we couldn't.

[There's a beat, and then.]

You really should get your own horse, though.

[ Was Eren having a nice nap in the windmill?

Too bad.

Out of the sheer blue nothing and from a dead sleep, Maruki's eyes fly open wide, a gasp lurching out of him as he scrambles to sit bolt upright, dislodging Eren from the place on his chest that he so often claims. His voice is sleep-rough but tight and frantic. ]

Eren. Wake up. Eren.

What, getting tired of me stealing yours?

[ It's a tease with no heat, and he squeezes Eren's hand gently. ]

I have the shards for it. I just haven't been wishing for much.

[ They may be at odds at their captors, but Jean distrusts the system as much as Eren does. ]

I'll do it when we go home, though.

[It doesn't take much more than Maruki flinging himself awake in a panic for Eren to jolt up too, bleary eyes opening wide as he grips the man's shoulder.]

What? What? What is it? What's wrong?

I met– I mean, not just now, but a couple months ago, I met Uri! The– you know, Uri. The one you've told me about.

[ The guy in your HEAD. ]

I just remembered...

[Pardon him a moment while that information loads. For a few seconds he just kind of stares at Maruki like they're both stupid.

[His hands drop away from Maruki's shoulders.]

What?

[ In contrast, Maruki reaches out to grab him, hands wrapping loosely around his arms. ]

I'm sorry I didn't tell you, there was a lot happening, and– no, but he really was here. Uri. He said he was from Paradis. Right? That's him.

Uri Reiss.

Maruki.

[Does he know? Did Eren ever tell him? He can't remember.]

He was the rightful King of Paradis. He has royal blood. Do you know what that means?

[They could have had it. He could have had it. They could have changed things.]

If I'd seen him - if I'd touched him, then I could have--

[Couldn't have done anything, most likely. Could have invaded the minds of his loved ones, violated them all over again.

[He could have tasted the power of the Paths again. Maybe he'd have been able to see Levi, Erwin, Jean, Historia, Reiner's futures. Maybe he could have changed them. Maybe--

[And he shouldn't want that. He shouldn't even consider that, but if it brought them closer to what they need to do, then--

[He squeezes his eyes shut tight, falling back with his hands against the ground, his arms propping him up.]

Shit.

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hehe we can wrap right here if u wanna just lmk o v o 7

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YOU KNOW!! WHAT THE FUCK!!! IT IS!!!!

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this is already hilarious - we could have just retconned but this is better

if i'm gonna be stupud and forget then maruki is gonna be stupud and forget

listen he had a lot going on

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