[ He expects Akechi's knife turned toward himself to become an attack. Would never force it himself, merely laid the trap to see what Akechi would do.
He'll never forget that first night exploring the forest together, Akechi trying in vain to fight against the Green Knight's thrall and driving his blade into his own shoulder. Whether it had been because of the entity attempting to control his mind or a purposeful ward against it, Maruki still isn't sure. Is it right to experiment with Akechi while they're mid-battle? Probably not, no, but there's very little of Maruki that cares about being right at the moment.
The blade sinks in with all the force of the attack behind it, the vile words spill forth, then it drives deeper, and Maruki's not training with him at the moment, no, but Akechi is still his ally. He's half a second away from directing the weakened Tentacle of Healing to do what it can before it's lost to the next attack directed at it when–
Loki.
The tentacles rip, tear, fall away from Akechi with the force of this new manifestation. Some wither and dissipate into the ground only to be replaced by twice as many new ones.
They don't lunge for Akechi, though. They move away from him as Maruki does, two or three steps back with an arm curled protectively in front of him, the same arm that took the brunt of the teakettle shrapnel earlier. Azathoth remains stalwart behind him, and they both watch as this new persona takes abrupt, violent shape.
It isn't fear that Maruki feels. It isn't anger, either, despite the rage that's driven him every step of the way so far.
There's a sick twist of pride through the center of his sternum, that bright, warm spot that exists only for Akechi and recognizes that he's finally beginning to see more of the whole of him.
And there's intrigue for all the unknown that Akechi represents, all the things Maruki can still learn from him.
And there's catharsis, after months spent suffering Akechi's false personality in order to better learn and perfectly uphold it.
And there's the soul-deep thrill of a better-matched fight.
Maruki folds his arms over his chest and grins. ]
Good. Show me who you really are.
[ Now it's time to hit with him the good old 2.5x Raining Seeds. ]
cw referenced self-harm
He'll never forget that first night exploring the forest together, Akechi trying in vain to fight against the Green Knight's thrall and driving his blade into his own shoulder. Whether it had been because of the entity attempting to control his mind or a purposeful ward against it, Maruki still isn't sure. Is it right to experiment with Akechi while they're mid-battle? Probably not, no, but there's very little of Maruki that cares about being right at the moment.
The blade sinks in with all the force of the attack behind it, the vile words spill forth, then it drives deeper, and Maruki's not training with him at the moment, no, but Akechi is still his ally. He's half a second away from directing the weakened Tentacle of Healing to do what it can before it's lost to the next attack directed at it when–
Loki.
The tentacles rip, tear, fall away from Akechi with the force of this new manifestation. Some wither and dissipate into the ground only to be replaced by twice as many new ones.
They don't lunge for Akechi, though. They move away from him as Maruki does, two or three steps back with an arm curled protectively in front of him, the same arm that took the brunt of the teakettle shrapnel earlier. Azathoth remains stalwart behind him, and they both watch as this new persona takes abrupt, violent shape.
It isn't fear that Maruki feels. It isn't anger, either, despite the rage that's driven him every step of the way so far.
There's a sick twist of pride through the center of his sternum, that bright, warm spot that exists only for Akechi and recognizes that he's finally beginning to see more of the whole of him.
And there's intrigue for all the unknown that Akechi represents, all the things Maruki can still learn from him.
And there's catharsis, after months spent suffering Akechi's false personality in order to better learn and perfectly uphold it.
And there's the soul-deep thrill of a better-matched fight.
Maruki folds his arms over his chest and grins. ]
Good. Show me who you really are.
[ Now it's time to hit with him the good old 2.5x Raining Seeds. ]