[ There's no denying how impressed Maruki looks, even in the darkening evening. ]
You're much smarter than you give yourself credit for, you know. Something like that is practically a lost science in my reality.
[ Legal note: This is not true whatsoever, but the player is extremely knowledgeable of and passionate about maritime studies, and Maruki Takuto from Persona 5 Royal is not at all. ]
That makes sense. Those phones you have can send your location to anyone in the world, right? So, why would anyone use the stars to find where they're going?
[He turns his head back up, and it's a sky he still just barely recognizes.]
I wasn't very good at it. Armin had to help Jean and I study them.
As a cadet, we took classes on all sorts of things like that. I probably haven't even bothered mentioning the academic part of our training, have I?
me rending the flesh from my face IT STILL HAS SIGNIFICANT USE IN MODERN DAY NAUTICAL PRACTICES!!!!!
It was really just like school. We took classes and had exams. We were even given grades. That's true for the physical skills, too, though...
[If Maruki moves closer, then Eren moves closer. That's just the way it works. It's the way it always has.]
We were taught how to navigate, survival skills. We learned about the titans' biology and behaviors. We took classes on military history and strategy. Things like that...
I didn't get great grades in academics. I still graduated in the top ten, though...
[It's rare for Eren to recall something so clearly, and with so many details, though his memory has marginally improved since his return. The military is important to him though. The Cadet Corps was important. The Scout Regiment was foundational.]
[ Doesn't matter that Eren just said he didn't get good grades. He must have been alright, to achieve that rank. It couldn't have been that greatly weighted toward the physical skills.
They're right next to each other now, shoulder to shoulder, and Maruki leans into him without hesitation. Hot springs heat plus body heat is probably a bad idea, but he wants to be close. ]
Did you enjoy it, or was it a pain to have to do that sort of schoolwork when you just wanted to get out there?
[Eren nudges Maruki a bit beneath the water as he leans in.]
Because of my physical skills...
[He's really never thought of himself as very smart.]
I think I complained about the schoolwork right at the very beginning. Our superiors beat it out of us quick. The things we learned were a matter of life and death. More so than that...
I still believed I was going to save the world back then.
oh no if only there were a man with big strong arms here to catch him
[ Ah, this is starting to tread down paths dangerous for the relaxation they're supposed to be finding over these few days. Maruki turns to face Eren fully, draws both hands out of the water, steam rising off them as he presses them to Eren's cheeks. ]
Hey.
[ He squishes inward, just a bit. ]
Back in your true reality, did you have a North Star?
[It doesn't make much sense that Maruki's skies would be the same in Tokyo as Eren's skies were on Paradis, but there are plenty of other similarities too. They even call their planets the same name. Eren has wondered if maybe his Earth is just the Earth that existed before Tokyo did, but he supposes that can't be true.
[It just all feels so...connected. He is so strongly tethered to Akechi and Maruki, and has been for so long, it feels impossible that he'd have no tether to the place they came from. Of course he wants to hear more.]
[ Maruki settles against Eren's side, under his arm, and spins him an old tale. ]
During the summer, there are two bright stars in our sky, Vega and Altair. As the story goes, they represent two lovers, the princess Orihime and the cow herder Hikoboshi. Orihime was a masterful seamstress who spent all her time weaving by the heavenly river. Her work was so important to her that she was upset about never being able to find love, so her father, the god of the heavens, brought her to meet Hikoboshi, who lived on the other side of that river.
They fell in love instantly, and their love was so intense that they both forgot their work. Orihime stopped weaving, and Hikoboshi let his cows wander all across the heavens. This angered her father, who tried to forbid them from seeing one another, but Orihime begged and begged until they finally came to a compromise.
[ He looks up. There is no Milky Way. He's never seen these stars before in his life. And yet– ]
There could be just one day when Orihime and Hikoboshi could cross that river to meet. We have a huge festival to celebrate it during the summer, and we all hope for good weather so that all the stars are out and Orihime and Hikoboshi can find one another once more.
Writing down wishes is the main tradition during that festival. When we floated the lanterns here, it was all I could think about. I suppose some things are universal.
[As a child, Eren found fairytales boring, useless because they could never become real. He doesn't feel that way, listening to Maruki's story. They've melded together, one solitary structure, poking up out of the water in the empty spring. Eren is carried away on words about stars and lovers. His heart aches as if he really were that cattle farmer. The realization that he and Mikasa will never look at the same stars again drills a pit through his chest. His arm tightens ever-so-slightly around Maruki.]
If you were offered that compromise...would you take it?
[ Maruki considers it, reverent and thoughtful in his quiet. It would hurt, of course. To be separated for all but one day a year, and to rely on a clear sky to make that one day count.
But, in the end– ]
I think I would. The alternative would be too sad to bear.
[Eren feels a thrill in his chest, as if he were suddenly standing on a precipice, about to jump off and fly. He nods, breathless, though it doesn't show. Every time he thinks about their empty world, all he can think is that he wants to die faster--
[Get there faster...
[They'll be the end of everything.]
That's right. When you're ready, we'll go. We can look at the sky there too.
[ No telling whether Eren's talking about their empty world, or simply their camping spot here. Perhaps both. Maruki's heart aches for it, but it's not painful. Not at all.
They stay in the hot springs for a while longer – as long as Maruki can stand it, though he's light-headed and dizzy when they do get out and has to wait before they set off. He tells Eren about bath houses back home while they walk, and the onsen too, and how you wouldn't think that a glass of milk is perfect after such an experience, but it really is...
They could talk forever, about everything, about nothing. Maruki doesn't think he's led a particularly rich life, but he somehow knows he'll never run out of things to tell Eren.
In the crystal clearing where Eren set everything up earlier in the day, Maruki flops down immediately onto his overstuffed bedroll, heaving a huge sigh. He should probably help to make a fire, or... whatever else one does while camping, but– ]
I'm too relaxed after all of that. I don't think I'm going to move the rest of the night.
[Eren glances over his shoulder from where he's preparing firewood.]
Hm? You're not going to help me?
[With anyone else, he'd certainly sound annoyed, but with Maruki, the words are so fond - it's impossible to deny even in his subdued voice. He arranges the wood into a pattern he learned back when he was a cadet, good for long, small fires. He uses flint to get it started, just like someone from Maruki's time would probably see in the movies.]
You're being lazy.
[Also fond - terribly, terribly fond, and terribly, terribly warm.]
[ And from anyone else, those words – annoyed or fond or anything in between – would have Maruki springing up to his feet, apologizing, offering to help in whatever way he can, even if it's something he's as useless at as basic survival skills.
Here, though, he only rolls onto his stomach, props his chin up on his folded arms and watches with a smile. ]
Am I? I seem to recall you being very insistent that I take a break once the disease cleared up. Are you going back on that now?
[It's become more common for a brief flash of emotion to cross over Eren's face when he's with Maruki - not just once or twice, but as they talk. Wanting to cry so badly that your lips pull down for half a second is the most Eren had for a long time. Now, he might be confused, or amused, or annoyed, or thoughtful - and it's only the smallest half-of-a-handful of people who get to see it, even fewer who actually notice.
[To that end, a curious look appears. He comes to lie by Maruki, immediately stretching out on his side. He props his head up on his hand.]
[ Maruki's ribs squeeze with a powerful affection as Eren settles down and looks at him like that. ]
The hot water diverts your blood flow away from your digestive system, so it's easy to get nauseated or dizzy if you eat too quickly or too heavy of a meal afterwards. It's best to have something light and hydrating.
[ He reaches up, pokes a finger against Eren's cheek to draw one corner of his lips up. ]
Lately, sometimes you really do look like your younger self.
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You're much smarter than you give yourself credit for, you know. Something like that is practically a lost science in my reality.
[ Legal note: This is not true whatsoever, but the player is extremely knowledgeable of and passionate about maritime studies, and Maruki Takuto from Persona 5 Royal is not at all. ]
FSJSDLFD NOT THE DISCLAIMER
[He turns his head back up, and it's a sky he still just barely recognizes.]
I wasn't very good at it. Armin had to help Jean and I study them.
As a cadet, we took classes on all sorts of things like that. I probably haven't even bothered mentioning the academic part of our training, have I?
me rending the flesh from my face IT STILL HAS SIGNIFICANT USE IN MODERN DAY NAUTICAL PRACTICES!!!!!
No, you haven't. Tell me about it. It sounds fascinating.
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[If Maruki moves closer, then Eren moves closer. That's just the way it works. It's the way it always has.]
We were taught how to navigate, survival skills. We learned about the titans' biology and behaviors. We took classes on military history and strategy. Things like that...
I didn't get great grades in academics. I still graduated in the top ten, though...
[It's rare for Eren to recall something so clearly, and with so many details, though his memory has marginally improved since his return. The military is important to him though. The Cadet Corps was important. The Scout Regiment was foundational.]
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[ Doesn't matter that Eren just said he didn't get good grades. He must have been alright, to achieve that rank. It couldn't have been that greatly weighted toward the physical skills.
They're right next to each other now, shoulder to shoulder, and Maruki leans into him without hesitation. Hot springs heat plus body heat is probably a bad idea, but he wants to be close. ]
Did you enjoy it, or was it a pain to have to do that sort of schoolwork when you just wanted to get out there?
muki passing out in the hot spring
Because of my physical skills...
[He's really never thought of himself as very smart.]
I think I complained about the schoolwork right at the very beginning. Our superiors beat it out of us quick. The things we learned were a matter of life and death. More so than that...
I still believed I was going to save the world back then.
oh no if only there were a man with big strong arms here to catch him
Hey.
[ He squishes inward, just a bit. ]
Back in your true reality, did you have a North Star?
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Yeah. You must too, then, right?
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We do. I wouldn't be surprised if we shared a lot of constellations. Maybe even all of them. I mostly just know the associated folklore, though.
[ There's no North Star in this sky. No Altair, no Vega.
He turns his attention back to Eren, smiles at him through the steam. ]
Do you want to hear one of those tales?
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[It just all feels so...connected. He is so strongly tethered to Akechi and Maruki, and has been for so long, it feels impossible that he'd have no tether to the place they came from. Of course he wants to hear more.]
Yes. Tell me.
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During the summer, there are two bright stars in our sky, Vega and Altair. As the story goes, they represent two lovers, the princess Orihime and the cow herder Hikoboshi. Orihime was a masterful seamstress who spent all her time weaving by the heavenly river. Her work was so important to her that she was upset about never being able to find love, so her father, the god of the heavens, brought her to meet Hikoboshi, who lived on the other side of that river.
They fell in love instantly, and their love was so intense that they both forgot their work. Orihime stopped weaving, and Hikoboshi let his cows wander all across the heavens. This angered her father, who tried to forbid them from seeing one another, but Orihime begged and begged until they finally came to a compromise.
[ He looks up. There is no Milky Way. He's never seen these stars before in his life. And yet– ]
There could be just one day when Orihime and Hikoboshi could cross that river to meet. We have a huge festival to celebrate it during the summer, and we all hope for good weather so that all the stars are out and Orihime and Hikoboshi can find one another once more.
Writing down wishes is the main tradition during that festival. When we floated the lanterns here, it was all I could think about. I suppose some things are universal.
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If you were offered that compromise...would you take it?
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But, in the end– ]
I think I would. The alternative would be too sad to bear.
[ He tips his head against Eren's shoulder. ]
What about you?
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I would. For Mikasa.
[Green eyes ease over to Maruki.]
For you.
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Let's hope it never comes to that.
[ Maybe, in some reality, it's already happening. ]
Do you still want to camp after this?
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There could be a pair of you and I right now, meeting just like that. It almost feels true...
[But...anyway...]
Of course I do. We brought everything we need. You're not changing your mind, are you?
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[ ... he does kind of want his huge comfortable bed now that all his muscles are liquefied in the hot springs BUT– ]
Besides, it's good practice, right?
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[Get there faster...
[They'll be the end of everything.]
That's right. When you're ready, we'll go. We can look at the sky there too.
stop using that icon.........
They stay in the hot springs for a while longer – as long as Maruki can stand it, though he's light-headed and dizzy when they do get out and has to wait before they set off. He tells Eren about bath houses back home while they walk, and the onsen too, and how you wouldn't think that a glass of milk is perfect after such an experience, but it really is...
They could talk forever, about everything, about nothing. Maruki doesn't think he's led a particularly rich life, but he somehow knows he'll never run out of things to tell Eren.
In the crystal clearing where Eren set everything up earlier in the day, Maruki flops down immediately onto his overstuffed bedroll, heaving a huge sigh. He should probably help to make a fire, or... whatever else one does while camping, but– ]
I'm too relaxed after all of that. I don't think I'm going to move the rest of the night.
HOW ABOUT THIS ONE
Hm? You're not going to help me?
[With anyone else, he'd certainly sound annoyed, but with Maruki, the words are so fond - it's impossible to deny even in his subdued voice. He arranges the wood into a pattern he learned back when he was a cadet, good for long, small fires. He uses flint to get it started, just like someone from Maruki's time would probably see in the movies.]
You're being lazy.
[Also fond - terribly, terribly fond, and terribly, terribly warm.]
die die die die die
Here, though, he only rolls onto his stomach, props his chin up on his folded arms and watches with a smile. ]
Am I? I seem to recall you being very insistent that I take a break once the disease cleared up. Are you going back on that now?
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[That warmth in his voice endures, and his back is turned on Maruki now, and he thinks he might be smiling into the fire as it flickers to life.]
I don't want you to do a single thing.
[And he doesn't want to do much either. They ate before coming to the hot springs. Now, he really just wants to get close, but...
[Eren glances over his shoulder.]
Are you hungry?
[That's what matters, anyway. He's always made sure Maruki had something to eat.]
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[ Lessons with Dr. Maruki, Onsen Expert!
But he understands why Eren is asking, so– ]
I'm well cared for, Eren. I promise. Come here.
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[To that end, a curious look appears. He comes to lie by Maruki, immediately stretching out on his side. He props his head up on his hand.]
Why's it bad to eat after using a hot spring?
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The hot water diverts your blood flow away from your digestive system, so it's easy to get nauseated or dizzy if you eat too quickly or too heavy of a meal afterwards. It's best to have something light and hydrating.
[ He reaches up, pokes a finger against Eren's cheek to draw one corner of his lips up. ]
Lately, sometimes you really do look like your younger self.
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1/2
2/2 yeah this is happening...
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