[The light shove is met with an undeserved smugness - as if this was really a battle to be won and that touch was a concession.
Maruki stares at him and-
Akechi matches it. Expression neutral and unwavering as Maruki speaks - he's sure they're both searching for the same things right now.
Finnick - not a surprise. Other people like Finnick, new information and disturbing an entire world seemed to lose part of its inhabitants. An invasive species expelled to rot elsewhere in Somnius. Maybe that's a sign this is meant to be a grave.
The thought is funny. He resists the urge to laugh.
Maruki brings up the elephant - himself. Finnick's words were a comfort in some ways, lacking in others. It wasn't the Maruki in front of him. Another one on a different path in a different reality. Maybe from the future, the past, somewhere beyond all of them entirely.
It's how Maruki's tone shifts that interests him and the reason Finnick began to pull back on the conversation becomes clear. Privacy is important to the good doctor, for many reasons. Akechi's seen it reiterated time and time again.
Akechi's own thoughts?
He's calm, for one. The new intel less shocking to someone who has traversed cognitive worlds for years and seen a plethora of palaces. Of layers of Mementos. His finger taps at the edge of Maruki's notebook to tilt in his direction, glancing at the rapidly written notes. The shorthand.]
I didn't assume it was you for a moment. If it had been, our discussions on differing realities and the cognitive world over the last few months would have been far more exciting. You would have slipped up at some point.
[He pushes the paper back to its original position - straight. Between them. Equal ground.]
As for my overall thoughts - I have two that come to mind immediately.
One - having an influx from another world is an item to note, however it's not so different from those who have many pulled from their original worlds to Somnius. Eren and Kurogiri have stated there were multiple people who arrived with them.
[Ah, his spaghetti. Chopsticks dig through the noodles one more time to find the lone, final girl mushroom deep in its depths. It gets popped in his mouth.]
It could be as simple as the will of our captor overriding the will of another. Of course, that's conjecture. My source stated there was no such ruler in their last world, though we both know that's impossible.
[Theirs too. Ren's presence a-
Comment he holds in his chest. Doesn't note. Not yet.]
Two - it truly brings into question which of 'us' is real, doesn't it? Though there's no doubt in my mind that I am the true Akechi and you are the true Maruki, it's quite a philosophical dilemma. Where did the other Maruki go? Where will he go? Perhaps he'll simply fade into obscurity, along with the endless multitudes of other Maruki Takuto's living countless lives in false realities. Maybe one of you is famous somewhere and can afford an apartment bigger than a shoebox. It's all quite fascinating.
[It's kind of funny. It's so hilarious, he could puke.]
Of course, I'm kidding. For the most part. If it's a matter of everyone else being a cognitive version of the original, they'll simply die when the ruler dies, none the wiser. The true versions will continue to live, so we have nothing to concern ourselves over in that respect. It's an idle thought.
no subject
Maruki stares at him and-
Akechi matches it. Expression neutral and unwavering as Maruki speaks - he's sure they're both searching for the same things right now.
Finnick - not a surprise. Other people like Finnick, new information and disturbing an entire world seemed to lose part of its inhabitants. An invasive species expelled to rot elsewhere in Somnius. Maybe that's a sign this is meant to be a grave.
The thought is funny. He resists the urge to laugh.
Maruki brings up the elephant - himself. Finnick's words were a comfort in some ways, lacking in others. It wasn't the Maruki in front of him. Another one on a different path in a different reality. Maybe from the future, the past, somewhere beyond all of them entirely.
It's how Maruki's tone shifts that interests him and the reason Finnick began to pull back on the conversation becomes clear. Privacy is important to the good doctor, for many reasons. Akechi's seen it reiterated time and time again.
Akechi's own thoughts?
He's calm, for one. The new intel less shocking to someone who has traversed cognitive worlds for years and seen a plethora of palaces. Of layers of Mementos. His finger taps at the edge of Maruki's notebook to tilt in his direction, glancing at the rapidly written notes. The shorthand.]
I didn't assume it was you for a moment. If it had been, our discussions on differing realities and the cognitive world over the last few months would have been far more exciting. You would have slipped up at some point.
[He pushes the paper back to its original position - straight. Between them. Equal ground.]
As for my overall thoughts - I have two that come to mind immediately.
One - having an influx from another world is an item to note, however it's not so different from those who have many pulled from their original worlds to Somnius. Eren and Kurogiri have stated there were multiple people who arrived with them.
[Ah, his spaghetti. Chopsticks dig through the noodles one more time to find the lone, final girl mushroom deep in its depths. It gets popped in his mouth.]
It could be as simple as the will of our captor overriding the will of another. Of course, that's conjecture. My source stated there was no such ruler in their last world, though we both know that's impossible.
[Theirs too. Ren's presence a-
Comment he holds in his chest. Doesn't note. Not yet.]
Two - it truly brings into question which of 'us' is real, doesn't it? Though there's no doubt in my mind that I am the true Akechi and you are the true Maruki, it's quite a philosophical dilemma. Where did the other Maruki go? Where will he go? Perhaps he'll simply fade into obscurity, along with the endless multitudes of other Maruki Takuto's living countless lives in false realities. Maybe one of you is famous somewhere and can afford an apartment bigger than a shoebox. It's all quite fascinating.
[It's kind of funny. It's so hilarious, he could puke.]
Of course, I'm kidding. For the most part. If it's a matter of everyone else being a cognitive version of the original, they'll simply die when the ruler dies, none the wiser. The true versions will continue to live, so we have nothing to concern ourselves over in that respect. It's an idle thought.