[ It's valuable advice, and appreciated. The thing is that Maruki cannot stop keeping a pulse on how the inhabitants of Somnius are acting and reacting. It's something he can't turn off, all of the compulsions of his analytical mind and obsessions over how realities function ramped up to 11.

Only a few days away from his usual routine of field research, network reading and information gathering via potential counseling patients has him feeling an itch just beneath his skin. He has to get back to it, to trying to suss out the truth of this fucking place.

Breathe. Smile. Shrug one shoulder. ]

Survival is paramount, I know that now.

[ Akechi must be aware that he's already shelved his own values once. He has seen Maruki in ways that no one has, and likely no one will. There is such a tenuous thread of trust connecting them now, in every word and action, no matter how seemingly insignificant. ]

That's good to hear about the usual pattern of things, though. I'll focus on my recuperation. Let me apologize in advance for how simplified my cooking is about to become for a little while.

[ Which reminds him. His expression turns bright and teasing. ]

Did you prefer what we went through, or your green milk experience?