Oh, I would never do such a thing. My intent is for the comfort of all parties who want to use it. Sometimes the heater itself has issues at lower settings - it's unfortunate.
[Get fucked. No one's allowed near it.]
If you can't handle it, you're welcome to leave at any point. I wouldn't stop you, though I would miss your company, of course.
[ What you two doin under the kotatsu? Leaving no room for Maruki, that's what. It's fine. He can sit criss cross applesauce with only his knees underneath. Oh, a cruel and unjust reality. Oh, an unloved, unwanted Maruki.
jk he's munching on senbei, watching Akechi become increasingly miserable, totally content. ]
Maybe I should wish for an even larger one. I didn't anticipate that we'd have so many guests over to use the kotatsu, but we could always have more! BB-san, and Aubrey, and Venat...
Akechi doesn't flinch, move or otherwise show any discomfort at the fucking weight on his legs. No, he's fine. Doesn't give a shit at all. He's completely calm and at peace, as he grips the teacup tight in his palms.
So chill. Maybe he adjusts his legs, moving them upwards in a feigned display of stretching SO FAR. BIG BIG STRETCH. All to try to press Eren's knees up to the heater. Hopefully he doesn't get burned!!! That would be a shame!!!!]
Unnecessary - though you're welcome to get a second one for all the people you plan to invite over, Maruki-san. I never knew you to be this social. It's quite a surprise.
[Boy, Eren is stronger than you by miles. He weighs those legs down on Akechi's, pressing the boy's knees back against the floor. His grip becomes a little tighter on his mug too, but he doesn't let anything show aside from a quick sideways glance.
[Then, to Maruki, flat:] I like it better without so many people here.
[Isn't that so important? How Eren likes things to be in someone else's house?
[This is such a chill, nice, fun conversation they're having. Literally so nice.
Akechi isn't trying to lift his legs with all the force in his lanky shrimp body - not at all. Definitely isn't getting riled because nothing is happening and he's effectively trapped. Can't move away, up, or out. Can't kick him. Can't do shit.]
Oh, I share just fine. She would have a spot here - I'm always amenable to the needs of others, even if it's unexpected. Eren, on the other hand, seems incapable of not taking up someone's personal space. Would you like some counseling about that? I'm sure Maruki-san would make a special exception for you.
[ Not true at all, actually. The work he and Eren are doing on his memories has functionally taken over the role counseling used to play in their relationship. Different flavors of the same thing.
More tea for him, too! ]
I know you're going to miss your weekly session, Akechi-kun, but you have to let it go.
[ That is categorically untrue, but Maruki isn't about to get into a serious conversation when they're all just joshing around.
Also? Now that the struggle is abandoned, he's sticking his leggies under the kotatsu to get warm too. Hi! He's here too now! ]
Not a single one of my former patients has been too broken up over it, so clearly I wasn't really onto anything. [ SEE? LIGHTHEARTED. LIL. JOKES. HAHA. Time for more tea. ] And now I'm freed up for more time for things like this! We all win, don't we?
[He's going to fucking LOSE IT. Wow, tea is sure in his hands.]
Ah, so we do.
[Is all he says with a smile plastered on his face. Unbothered. Moisturized. In his lane.]
As long as both former war leaders are comfortable with the situation, I won't bring it up again. [He will.] It's fortunate we're back in a timeline where such peace is possible. My, it would difficult for us to sit around the kotatsu and chat back in that false reality. It makes me grateful for this opportunity.
Why would I be? Ordering around some inexperienced people with my own minimal background isn't an effective use of time. Most people operated how they should have. I wonder what value a recently awakened ex-counselor had to them - it's fascinating.
[Eren's quiet - doing what? Akechi doesn't care. Sort through those swiss cheese thoughts on your own time.
It's so annoying. Not even the duck gets a reaction anymore.]
But I suppose you were a figurehead anyway, almost like a politician. No harm was done.
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[Can we talk about this tea?]
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[ Happily trailing along behind Eren, tea in one hand, lil snackie bowl of senbei in the other.
Now there are three people at the kotatsu! Yay!!! ♥ ]
If it's too warm, just say so. I think Akechi-kun turns it up so high purposefully so no one else will use it.
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OH OKAY.
Heat? Cranked up to the max. His legs? In the center, stretched out and splayed outwards to give everyone else little room to extend their own legs.
He's just so tall! He can't help it! Such a shame. ]
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[Get fucked. No one's allowed near it.]
If you can't handle it, you're welcome to leave at any point. I wouldn't stop you, though I would miss your company, of course.
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[Eren merely lays his legs over Akechi's. He's just so tall!]
It's comfortable enough.
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jk he's munching on senbei, watching Akechi become increasingly miserable, totally content. ]
Maybe I should wish for an even larger one. I didn't anticipate that we'd have so many guests over to use the kotatsu, but we could always have more! BB-san, and Aubrey, and Venat...
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Akechi doesn't flinch, move or otherwise show any discomfort at the fucking weight on his legs. No, he's fine. Doesn't give a shit at all. He's completely calm and at peace, as he grips the teacup tight in his palms.
So chill. Maybe he adjusts his legs, moving them upwards in a feigned display of stretching SO FAR. BIG BIG STRETCH. All to try to press Eren's knees up to the heater. Hopefully he doesn't get burned!!! That would be a shame!!!!]
Unnecessary - though you're welcome to get a second one for all the people you plan to invite over, Maruki-san. I never knew you to be this social. It's quite a surprise.
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[Then, to Maruki, flat:] I like it better without so many people here.
[Isn't that so important? How Eren likes things to be in someone else's house?
[Anyway.]
Aubrey would be fine.
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Besides, Maruki is just bullshitting. He has no interest in any more people knowing about the machiya than those who already do. ]
We'll invite Aubrey next time. The four of us would fit nicely around this kotatsu. I'm sure you two would learn to share for her, if not for me.
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Akechi isn't trying to lift his legs with all the force in his lanky shrimp body - not at all. Definitely isn't getting riled because nothing is happening and he's effectively trapped. Can't move away, up, or out. Can't kick him. Can't do shit.]
Oh, I share just fine. She would have a spot here - I'm always amenable to the needs of others, even if it's unexpected. Eren, on the other hand, seems incapable of not taking up someone's personal space. Would you like some counseling about that? I'm sure Maruki-san would make a special exception for you.
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[ Not true at all, actually. The work he and Eren are doing on his memories has functionally taken over the role counseling used to play in their relationship. Different flavors of the same thing.
More tea for him, too! ]
I know you're going to miss your weekly session, Akechi-kun, but you have to let it go.
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Don't imply I was coming to you for anything more than an update on an emergency. It was the easiest way to confer about our situation.
[The leg struggle? Temporarily abandoned. That's fine. He'll wait for Eren to let up and slam that shit up against the heater so quick.]
Congratulations on being officially discharged from counseling, I suppose. Your mental health seems better than ever, Eren.
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[Akechi's dig is actually funny. Of course, apropos of that, he doesn't laugh anymore - offers a dry:]
He realized it was a lost cause.
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Also? Now that the struggle is abandoned, he's sticking his leggies under the kotatsu to get warm too. Hi! He's here too now! ]
Not a single one of my former patients has been too broken up over it, so clearly I wasn't really onto anything. [ SEE? LIGHTHEARTED. LIL. JOKES. HAHA. Time for more tea. ] And now I'm freed up for more time for things like this! We all win, don't we?
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Ah, so we do.
[Is all he says with a smile plastered on his face. Unbothered. Moisturized. In his lane.]
As long as both former war leaders are comfortable with the situation, I won't bring it up again. [He will.] It's fortunate we're back in a timeline where such peace is possible. My, it would difficult for us to sit around the kotatsu and chat back in that false reality. It makes me grateful for this opportunity.
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Your former patients. I want to see that list. No reason.
[And a glance at Akechi.]
You're sitting at the kotatsu too.
[Sip.]
So to speak.
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Oh, Maruki-san won't provide that. He's an advocate of privacy, though if I recall-
Webby may be able to get that for you.
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For Akechi, though– ]
Don't tell me you're still annoyed at not being made a leader yourself.
[ Sike. He's not acknowledging The Duck. Fuck you. ♥ ]
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[Eren's quiet - doing what? Akechi doesn't care. Sort through those swiss cheese thoughts on your own time.
It's so annoying. Not even the duck gets a reaction anymore.]
But I suppose you were a figurehead anyway, almost like a politician. No harm was done.
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Akechi gets one (1) sour look from Maruki for that comment before he turns his attention to eren, nudges the bowl of senbei toward him. ]
That's code for "yes, I'm horribly annoyed, actually." But I assume you're as fluent in Akechi as I am by this point.
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I think he'd rather that not be true. [Senbei time.]
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I'm an open and honest person. There's nothing you need to be 'fluent' in. Please refrain from making bizarre comments like that.
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[ Sweet, innocent lil senbei munch. ]
Do you want to explain your new tattoo, then?
[ OH, YOU THOUGHT HE DIDN'T NOTICE? There's a II inked on Akechi's finger, and Maruki's seen that shit in the early mornings when he's gloveless. ]
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we can wrap soon <333
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we can still wrap soon but have this
1/3
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he does not feel this way about a single one of his partners jsyk