[The question feels ridiculous. Maruki is as true to Eren as any person from Paradis would be. In his mind, he never forgot; in his mind, the memories he's experiencing right now are as timeless and impossible as any. Everything feels like it happened yesterday, tomorrow, a thousand times each.
[All the more troublesome that Maruki didn't answer his question. Eren takes a step closer, yellow sunlight leeching shadows from his face, leaving them only beneath his eyes.]
I do. I told you that I would.
[His friend is shaken. Eren's forgotten how to be one. There's some dull ache in the back of his heart, but he doesn't know what to do with it. If it's really been four years (didn't that witch say ten?) since they last met in this reality, then Maruki must have thought he was well and truly gone.
[Surprise. Hell won't end for Eren. For someone like him, it shouldn't. He's accepted that.]
Maruki. [There's nothing to his voice, really. It's vacancy is more sincere than it used to be. He doesn't sound like he's trying to hold anything back; there's nothing there.]
no subject
[All the more troublesome that Maruki didn't answer his question. Eren takes a step closer, yellow sunlight leeching shadows from his face, leaving them only beneath his eyes.]
I do. I told you that I would.
[His friend is shaken. Eren's forgotten how to be one. There's some dull ache in the back of his heart, but he doesn't know what to do with it. If it's really been four years (didn't that witch say ten?) since they last met in this reality, then Maruki must have thought he was well and truly gone.
[Surprise. Hell won't end for Eren. For someone like him, it shouldn't. He's accepted that.]
Maruki. [There's nothing to his voice, really. It's vacancy is more sincere than it used to be. He doesn't sound like he's trying to hold anything back; there's nothing there.]
Answer me. How long has it been?