[ Could anyone truly claim to completely and utterly understand a human heart?
It's funny. It's so genuinely funny that Maruki can't stop himself from smiling at it.
Well, that's his life's work, regardless of how he ends up going about it. One day he'll be able to prove Akechi wrong.
Until then– ]
I agree, it should be researched more thoroughly. I look forward to the work I'll be able to do after the New Year.
[ He's abandoned the spaghetti and turned toward Akechi almost fully on the stool. One elbow rests on the bar, arm hanging down to clasp his hands together as his thoughts take on a shape of their own.
They really ought to be talking about everything brought up by Finnick, but. ]
More importantly, though– Akechi, let's follow the line of thinking that we are inside of a palace. That Somnius is the cognitive world of whatever ultimate ruler there is.
[ A little shrug. ]
We don't know that to be true. Circumstantial evidence of cognitive manipulations and thoughts, dreams and wishes manifested consciously, subconsciously or unconsciously both provide a good basis. But in my mind, it's still only a hypothesis.
[ A thoughtful pause. This is all theoretical, of course, but– ]
Hypotheses ought to be tested. If we're in a cognitive world, which is the only place where – as far as everything you've told me and what I've observed back in Tokyo goes – cognitions can be changed... That wouldn't be possible in a "real" world, would it?
[ It would. He knows it would. He could do this no matter what reality they were in. ]
Seeking the ruler would be our ultimate goal. But it would be a shame if we did that and nothing changed because we were wrong about this being a cognitive world. If the same principles don't hold true, then it wouldn't matter what we did to a ruler – it wouldn't guarantee escape from this reality.
[ And he really does mean we. ]
Wouldn't it be wisest to test these principles first, before it gets to that point? I don't know specifically how, of course, but as you just posited through all of your hypotheticals, it really could be anything. Affirming the change in one person's perception, whether they're "real" or a cognitive being themselves–
[ A goblin, a gelfling. Dolls, as Akechi put it once. ]
Well, that would certainly be more concrete evidence than what we currently have to work with.
[ It's all stated calmly, with intellectual curiosity and interest, but his mind is already seven steps ahead and only picking up speed. ]
no subject
It's funny. It's so genuinely funny that Maruki can't stop himself from smiling at it.
Well, that's his life's work, regardless of how he ends up going about it. One day he'll be able to prove Akechi wrong.
Until then– ]
I agree, it should be researched more thoroughly. I look forward to the work I'll be able to do after the New Year.
[ He's abandoned the spaghetti and turned toward Akechi almost fully on the stool. One elbow rests on the bar, arm hanging down to clasp his hands together as his thoughts take on a shape of their own.
They really ought to be talking about everything brought up by Finnick, but. ]
More importantly, though– Akechi, let's follow the line of thinking that we are inside of a palace. That Somnius is the cognitive world of whatever ultimate ruler there is.
[ A little shrug. ]
We don't know that to be true. Circumstantial evidence of cognitive manipulations and thoughts, dreams and wishes manifested consciously, subconsciously or unconsciously both provide a good basis. But in my mind, it's still only a hypothesis.
[ A thoughtful pause. This is all theoretical, of course, but– ]
Hypotheses ought to be tested. If we're in a cognitive world, which is the only place where – as far as everything you've told me and what I've observed back in Tokyo goes – cognitions can be changed... That wouldn't be possible in a "real" world, would it?
[ It would. He knows it would. He could do this no matter what reality they were in. ]
Seeking the ruler would be our ultimate goal. But it would be a shame if we did that and nothing changed because we were wrong about this being a cognitive world. If the same principles don't hold true, then it wouldn't matter what we did to a ruler – it wouldn't guarantee escape from this reality.
[ And he really does mean we. ]
Wouldn't it be wisest to test these principles first, before it gets to that point? I don't know specifically how, of course, but as you just posited through all of your hypotheticals, it really could be anything. Affirming the change in one person's perception, whether they're "real" or a cognitive being themselves–
[ A goblin, a gelfling. Dolls, as Akechi put it once. ]
Well, that would certainly be more concrete evidence than what we currently have to work with.
[ It's all stated calmly, with intellectual curiosity and interest, but his mind is already seven steps ahead and only picking up speed. ]