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[abandonhumanity]

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[placation]

You'd do that with me?

[abandonhumanity]

[...?]

I'd do almost anything with you.

You think it's a good idea, right? I figure if there's anyone I can trust to tell me about how the golden crystal works, it's you. I've used the one here a hundred times. It would be stupid to stop using it now.

[placation]

Almost?

I'm kidding, of course. It's just exciting! Getting to do an experiment together... Ah, this is a very nerdy thing for me to get worked up over, isn't it?

[abandonhumanity]

It's cute.

[Maruki really would get along with Armin. They both want to know everything. Maybe they're driven by the same force, whatever that may be...]

We should probably ask for something identical. But if our wishes are influenced by our cognition, the result will be different no matter what if we're only using our imaginations.

Right?

Then, we should ask for two copies of something we already have.

[placation]

[ If our wishes are influenced by our cognition– oh, Maruki could keel over, he's so pleased and proud. ]

Excellent point, Eren. It'll introduce a control element too. That's just good experiment design!

Hm...

I don't suppose you want another camera? Or two?

[abandonhumanity]

I'd really have no use for something like that...

[He already has way too much stuff. Who needs three cameras? Maybe if they were all different...

[That being said, he doesn't own much else to offer up.]

You could keep one. You'd probably learn how to use it faster than I did.

[Take photos with him, bestie?]

I'll just find someone to give the other one to.

[placation]

[ He's picking up what Eren is putting down, immediately. ]

We could try taking photos together sometime.

[abandonhumanity]

You'd do that with me?

[placation]

As a wise man once said, I'd do almost anything with you.

Of course. We did it once before, actually, although I only had my phone to use then... Do you remember that?

[abandonhumanity]

Yeah. I do. Your phone camera was a thousand times clearer than my Polaroid one though.

These cameras are pretty nice. Dolph showed me how to change some of the settings. It came with an instruction guide too, but it's pretty confusing.

[Now who's being the nerd?]

I figured I'd ask for a dark room too.

[They can probably develop photos up in that new fancy city or whatever, but...Eren really wants to do it himself.]

Also, I was wrong. I'd do anything with you. I can't really think of anything that I wouldn't.

[placation]

Is that so?

[abandonhumanity]

Yeah. That is.

[placation]

Well, good. I was just copying what you said for comedic effect, but I can't think of anything I wouldn't do with you either.

I'll come over to the farm tonight so I can take a look at your camera before I make my wish. I could stay over, if you want...?

[abandonhumanity]

I'd rather go to the windmill. If you want.

1/2

[placation]

Of course. We will.

Can I ask you something?

[placation]

Actually, I'll ask you tonight.

( > action )

[abandonhumanity]

[That apparent question hangs in Eren's mind for the rest of the day. It's only an idle thing, but curious. It's rare for him to cling so tightly to one little thing like that. He's still thinking about it when they make it up to the windmill loft. There's never any hesitation in crawling under blankets. The windmill is drafty and cold.

[They've only just laid down, but Eren's arms are already around Maruki's middle, Eren curled up on his side with his chin tucked over the man's shoulder. It's odd to remember how he used to hesitate to get close.]

What were you going to ask me?

[placation]

[ It takes only seconds for Maruki to be held entirely. He relaxes back against Eren, lays an arm over the ones wrapped around his waist, runs his fingers back and forth over Eren's forearm.

It takes a few seconds longer for him to remember, and then: ]

Oh, right! I was– [ He turns his head, immediately comes face to face with Eren tucked over his shoulder. A beat, and Maruki smiles, momentarily arrested. ] Hi. I was just wondering...

[ How to put this... ]

Is everything okay? With the farm, I mean. Don't get me wrong, I like having you at the machiya– I want that, I just... was curious.

[abandonhumanity]

[For whatever reason, his first instinct is to play dumb. He shakes that off pretty quick. Having at least one person that you can't lie to is freeing in its own way...]

I don't know. [He really doesn't. Everything seems fine, but...]

I've never felt right there.

[placation]

[ A soft, sympathetic noise hums in Maruki's throat as he scratches at Eren's arm. ]

Was that the case before you returned, too?

[abandonhumanity]

[Eren nods.]

I never wanted a big place like that. I never wanted any place. I shouldn't be here at all, so I hate it.

It's worse now though.

[placation]

[ Sometimes in the windmill, it's all too easy to pretend they really do exist in an empty world. Reality slips away and it's only them, only the creaky quiet of the loft.

But that's not the case. There's a whole world out there. And Eren shouldn't be in it.

He never wanted a big place like that, yet he wants all the people he cares about nearby. As ever, his other half is a contradiction. Maruki gives those words the weight they deserve for a few silent moments before speaking again. ]

Do you feel that way at the machiya too? It's okay if you do. I'm just trying to understand.

[abandonhumanity]

[Something very young aches in Eren when Maruki asks that question. He doesn't want to look at him, so he tucks his face in closer.]

When it was only you and Akechi, I didn't. Not really.

[placation]

[ Maruki understands more than Eren can possibly know. He will always hold in his heart the time that he and Akechi spent alone in that home together, when Eren was the only guest. Opening the home up has been his decision every time, and he's never regretted it, but there was something to be said for that period of total solitude with the two people he's destined to know across all of reality.

For Eren, it's surely about acceptance. Maruki doesn't have to ask that, he can guess it. ]

Okay. That's good to know. I want you to be comfortable, though. Life is difficult enough without feeling like you don't have a place to rest.

[ Eren may want to hide away, but Maruki doesn't allow it for much longer. He rolls over to face Eren, still held tight in the circle of his arms, and brings a hand up rest over his nape. ]

[abandonhumanity]

[Eren wants to hide away, but Maruki only allows what's best for him; Eren's trust is complete. He looks into eyes that he always takes time to memorize. He'll know them time and time again.]

It's my fault.

I'm still lying to everyone.

[He hates it. He always has.]

I can't stop.