[He's quiet for an equally long stretch of time. The motions of making coffee, even with lesser equipment, are familiar and grounding enough that he still feels present and solid and in this moment.
He's almost certain that he's going to drop it. It's what Akira wants to do. It's probably what he should do, as well; it won't heal any faster if he reopens it all over again, after all.
Instead what comes out, completely calm is-]
February 2nd. Almost the same moment as you.
[He doesn't know if Akechi went back. He doesn't know if there was a "back" to even go to, for him. Did he at least have those last moments in the Palace before he disappeared, or was he simply met with nothingness?
He'll never know. Maybe it's better that he doesn't, but it'll never let his mind rest, either.
But Maruki's voice settles something in him. It soothes the burn ever so slightly, even if it isn't enough to truly dull the pain of it. It's the voice that draws the deepest confessions out of him that not even Akechi could ever dig up. In both cases, like calls to like, but it's different; in order to protect, Akechi pushes away, but Maruki pulls him in.
It's more than enough to keep him talking. His weak spots are the same as they've always been, and Akira's never done anything to guard them.]
I wondered if there might be some connection, but... I don't have enough info to make any guesses. I'm thinking of asking around to see what the others' experiences are like, but even then it might still be a dead end.
[Akira knows it won't bring him back. He knows he won't feel better after it, either, but at least that one he can lie to himself about.]
ouchies!!!!
He's almost certain that he's going to drop it. It's what Akira wants to do. It's probably what he should do, as well; it won't heal any faster if he reopens it all over again, after all.
Instead what comes out, completely calm is-]
February 2nd. Almost the same moment as you.
[He doesn't know if Akechi went back. He doesn't know if there was a "back" to even go to, for him. Did he at least have those last moments in the Palace before he disappeared, or was he simply met with nothingness?
He'll never know. Maybe it's better that he doesn't, but it'll never let his mind rest, either.
But Maruki's voice settles something in him. It soothes the burn ever so slightly, even if it isn't enough to truly dull the pain of it. It's the voice that draws the deepest confessions out of him that not even Akechi could ever dig up. In both cases, like calls to like, but it's different; in order to protect, Akechi pushes away, but Maruki pulls him in.
It's more than enough to keep him talking. His weak spots are the same as they've always been, and Akira's never done anything to guard them.]
I wondered if there might be some connection, but... I don't have enough info to make any guesses. I'm thinking of asking around to see what the others' experiences are like, but even then it might still be a dead end.
[Akira knows it won't bring him back. He knows he won't feel better after it, either, but at least that one he can lie to himself about.]