[ He looks down at the arm too. It isn't actually horribly injured, beyond the superficial half-healed bumps and bruises everywhere. But the wound that's been bandaged starts at his shoulder before snaking halfway down his back, and he's supposed to keep it immobilized, so– sling. He hates it. His right hand flexes irritably, tired of being useless. ]
I know. I made the decision not to pursue a magical cure. If push comes to shove– that is, when this place gets dangerous again, if I'm still too unhealed to be of any use I'll ask Venat-san to help.
[ It would be impossible to explain his logic behind this to anyone but Akechi. It hardly even made sense when Maruki told him.
He shrugs his good shoulder and grins at her. ]
You really came to see me? That was very kind of you.
So long as you know your options. ( Some people - most people back home - weren't inclined to trust magical healing. Maybe Maruki was like that, and she wasn't going to hound him about it either if that was the case.
The worry in her eyes remained, but she willed a smile to her lips.)
Yeah, of course. I figured you weren't working since it's kind of late - missed the mark a little and ended up in Akechi's room, but. ( A shrug. Because popping in someone's window was normal?? ) I brought you flowers. ( reaching over to grab the bouquet and offer it to him. )
[ And suddenly, the strike to the wall makes sense.
Oh, Maruki is never, ever going to live this down.
However, his full body panic over her entering his room, via Akechi, dressed the way that she is, with flowers for him–
Is waylaid by the realization that she? Has flowers? For him? ]
Oh! Oh, you did say you were going to do that, didn't you...
[ They're lovely, fragrant. Scent memory is a strong thing and his vision shakes for a moment before he looks from the flowers to Night Sky, grin faded into something more quietly grateful. ]
Thank you. I don't know what else to say to something like that...
You don't have to say anything else. You're welcome. ( She smiled back at him, warm and still a touch concerned. ) You don't have to water them or anything, and they won't die. I always make sure of that when I grow them myself. ( a boon of magical abilities.
She cleared her throat and gently traced her finger over the bedsheets. )
[ Oh. They won't die. Permanent jasmine for his room. Incredible. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes, Maruki.
Well, maybe it'll be good exposure therapy. He'll have to find a vase for them, but for now he just lays the bouquet in his lap and gives a nervous, self-deprecating laugh. ]
Oh, just research. Old habits die hard. I'm trying to apply the concepts and principles of the field that I studied back home to what happens here, with middling success. It's slow going, but– I enjoy it.
[ He will start gathering up the papers though, because they really did take over his bed.
Wait.
He should not still be in his bed. ]
Ah, I'm sorry, there's not really anywhere else in here to sit... Did you want to go somewhere?
She was seconds away from suggesting she leave, give him space so he could rest and recover and look over his notes- but then he asked that question, and Night Sky actually laughed; the sound airy and accented with genuine surprise.)
Like... out? ( She didn't think she'd get this far, honestly. For once her cheeks flared with color. ) Uh. Yeah! Yeah - sure. I know a few places around if you're... you sure you're good to go out?
Oh! Oh, no, I just meant... I mean, we could! I could get myself together, if you wanted. I mostly just meant, if you wanted to, ah... hang out...
[ Vague gestures around the room with his left hand. It's not as sparse (read: fucking empty) as Akechi's room, but still. A bed, a small chest of drawers, a table acting as a desk that's mostly just acting as a station for Lioriley's papers and everything he needs to haul to his new office when he has the strength. ]
There's not anywhere to do that in here except... well, here.
( Well now she was embarrassed, because what the hell did that mean? Just... hang out in a different room of the castle? Probably for the best, given his condition, but that seemed potentially awkward too. Night Sky briefly debated the merits of leaving just to save them both from the embarrassment-
-but then a familiar opening presented itself. Night Sky laughed. )
I wouldn't mind staying in bed with you. ( And it's such a fucking joke because yeah, okay, she wouldn't mind, but that's very clearly not what she came for. ) Whatever you want to do, seriously. I don't mind.
And then he hears the joke inherent in her words and bursts into relieved, delighted laughter. ]
Oh, thank god. No, we can stay here. If I can be honest with you, I feel terrible.
[ Which is a HUGE get, good job Sky! He would have forced himself up and out if she truly wanted to take him somewhere – god knows he needs to see more of Somnius than he has – but it wouldn't have been misery. ]
Here, let me put this nonsense away. Make yourself comfortable! We can just chat for a bit, if you'd like.
[ As friends, not in counseling. Right. That's good for him.
In... his bed....... right. That's ??????????? for him.
Whatever. Busying himself with piling all the papers and notebooks and putting them over on the absolute organized chaos mess of a desk. ]
( They can raincheck. God knows the poor guy couldn't get rid of her now if he tried, and she would absolutely be back to drag him around town once he was better.
Since she had two working arms and didn't feel like shit, Night Sky moved to assist him and speed the cleaning process up. She was flopping back down onto the empty bed afterwards. )
Soooooo. Getting your ass kicked by monsters aside, had any other adventures?
[ NONE THE WISER TO WHAT THE DOG DOIN, Maruki gratefully accepts the help before rejoining her. He can't flop – there is exactly one (1) position he can lay comfortably in – but he does gingerly settle to sit back down next to her, legs crossed, back straight. Like when they meditated, almost. ]
That was by far the most exciting thing to happen to me! And hey, you don't know, perhaps I kicked ass in return...
[ He never swears. It sounds strange coming from him. ]
Ah, I went camping up on a cliff to escape Akechi-kun's statue destruction one night. That was lovely. I'm assuming that you saw his demolition room?
You know, if Maruki knew what Akechi and the dogs were doing, maybe he wouldn't feel so bad about blowing his cover. Unfortunately, as it stands, he's still deep in the throes of That's My Fellow Liar, Ally and Confidant Pookie (Platonic) mode, so he winces apologetically. ]
Ah, it's meant to be his secret, don't tell him that I told you...
[ ........... but like. It IS pretty funny. ]
It's indestructible, as far as we know, so he seeks to destroy it. It's good exercise for him.
I mean, he did have a hammer. I just assumed he was... uh. Sculpting? ( She didn't really think too hard about the initial scene she walked in on, seeing as she hadn't come to bother Akechi and had been ushered out of his room fairly quickly. )
Weird, but be it far from me to judge people for their choice of exercise.
Anyway, next time you need to get away, you should come see me.
[ Sculpting makes him laugh a little – actually, it might not be a bad idea to take an artist's chisel to it, something about the metaphor of artistic creation and destruction? He'll float the idea to Akechi.
But that offer– ]
Ah, do you mean it? I wouldn't want to intrude on your castle!
[ Yeah, it's not like anyone else in this bed intruded on a castle tonight, genius. ]
You wouldn't be intruding. Besides, you don't even have to go to the castle itself to find me - I'm usually outside in the garden. ( she tilted her head back to glance out the window. ) You can even see the top of my willow tree from here, I think. So it shouldn't be hard to find!
[Jfc Maruki - how long is this little """"""meeting"""""" going to take? Listen he's no expert but-
Anyway. He's on a hunt for someone's laundry. Seems like the dogs could help fold it right now. Put them to work.
Bummer Akechi couldn't predict dogs couldn't do basic laundry tasks. Listen, he's not a pet owner. It's a learning process. Hank has a sock stuck on his nose and oh, Maruki's once clean shirt is suddenly around Bear Heart. How did this happen? Oh nooooooo.]
( Night Sky blinks dumbly at him, the apples of her cheeks tinged with pink. She might be a terrible, nasty flirt with zero filter, but if there was one surefire way to fluster her, he just did it. )
You think I'm beautiful? ( Forget the rest of it. That there is more than one person he's describing (and good for him, hitting it off with multiple old as hell women!) and all that. Night Sky zeroed in on that. Yeah, people call her beautiful all the time - but that wasn't always the case. Once upon a time she was an emaciated, sick elf on death's door and people looked at her like she was a monster. )
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He gives it to Bear Heart to lay on. Rubs on his back a little too. Really get the dog smell and hair deep into it.]
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I know. I made the decision not to pursue a magical cure. If push comes to shove– that is, when this place gets dangerous again, if I'm still too unhealed to be of any use I'll ask Venat-san to help.
[ It would be impossible to explain his logic behind this to anyone but Akechi. It hardly even made sense when Maruki told him.
He shrugs his good shoulder and grins at her. ]
You really came to see me? That was very kind of you.
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The worry in her eyes remained, but she willed a smile to her lips.)
Yeah, of course. I figured you weren't working since it's kind of late - missed the mark a little and ended up in Akechi's room, but. ( A shrug. Because popping in someone's window was normal?? ) I brought you flowers. ( reaching over to grab the bouquet and offer it to him. )
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Oh, Maruki is never, ever going to live this down.
However, his full body panic over her entering his room, via Akechi, dressed the way that she is, with flowers for him–
Is waylaid by the realization that she? Has flowers? For him? ]
Oh! Oh, you did say you were going to do that, didn't you...
[ They're lovely, fragrant. Scent memory is a strong thing and his vision shakes for a moment before he looks from the flowers to Night Sky, grin faded into something more quietly grateful. ]
Thank you. I don't know what else to say to something like that...
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She cleared her throat and gently traced her finger over the bedsheets. )
What were you working on?
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Well, maybe it'll be good exposure therapy. He'll have to find a vase for them, but for now he just lays the bouquet in his lap and gives a nervous, self-deprecating laugh. ]
Oh, just research. Old habits die hard. I'm trying to apply the concepts and principles of the field that I studied back home to what happens here, with middling success. It's slow going, but– I enjoy it.
[ He will start gathering up the papers though, because they really did take over his bed.
Wait.
He should not still be in his bed. ]
Ah, I'm sorry, there's not really anywhere else in here to sit... Did you want to go somewhere?
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Eating little meats - Akechi's throwing them in the air and having them catch it in their mouths.
They're so smart - hitting every single mark. He rewards them with a small sip of water from Maruki's favorite cup.]
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She was seconds away from suggesting she leave, give him space so he could rest and recover and look over his notes- but then he asked that question, and Night Sky actually laughed; the sound airy and accented with genuine surprise.)
Like... out? ( She didn't think she'd get this far, honestly. For once her cheeks flared with color. ) Uh. Yeah! Yeah - sure. I know a few places around if you're... you sure you're good to go out?
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Wait. He made HER blush? What??? ]
Oh! Oh, no, I just meant... I mean, we could! I could get myself together, if you wanted. I mostly just meant, if you wanted to, ah... hang out...
[ Vague gestures around the room with his left hand. It's not as sparse (read: fucking empty) as Akechi's room, but still. A bed, a small chest of drawers, a table acting as a desk that's mostly just acting as a station for Lioriley's papers and everything he needs to haul to his new office when he has the strength. ]
There's not anywhere to do that in here except... well, here.
[ Awkward pat to the bed.
Oh god, what is he doing. ]
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-but then a familiar opening presented itself. Night Sky laughed. )
I wouldn't mind staying in bed with you. ( And it's such a fucking joke because yeah, okay, she wouldn't mind, but that's very clearly not what she came for. ) Whatever you want to do, seriously. I don't mind.
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And then he hears the joke inherent in her words and bursts into relieved, delighted laughter. ]
Oh, thank god. No, we can stay here. If I can be honest with you, I feel terrible.
[ Which is a HUGE get, good job Sky! He would have forced himself up and out if she truly wanted to take him somewhere – god knows he needs to see more of Somnius than he has – but it wouldn't have been misery. ]
Here, let me put this nonsense away. Make yourself comfortable! We can just chat for a bit, if you'd like.
[ As friends, not in counseling. Right. That's good for him.
In... his bed....... right. That's ??????????? for him.
Whatever. Busying himself with piling all the papers and notebooks and putting them over on the absolute organized chaos mess of a desk. ]
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Since she had two working arms and didn't feel like shit, Night Sky moved to assist him and speed the cleaning process up. She was flopping back down onto the empty bed afterwards. )
Soooooo. Getting your ass kicked by monsters aside, had any other adventures?
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Adventures in hanging out with dogs - he's ruffling their big smart heads and doling out ear scratches.
They're even playing a light hearted game of catch with one of Maruki's shoes.]
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That was by far the most exciting thing to happen to me! And hey, you don't know, perhaps I kicked ass in return...
[ He never swears. It sounds strange coming from him. ]
Ah, I went camping up on a cliff to escape Akechi-kun's statue destruction one night. That was lovely. I'm assuming that you saw his demolition room?
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The Starlight cliffs? That's one of my favorite spots. ( she quirked a brow. ) Wait. He was trying to break that statue? Why?
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You know, if Maruki knew what Akechi and the dogs were doing, maybe he wouldn't feel so bad about blowing his cover. Unfortunately, as it stands, he's still deep in the throes of That's My
Fellow Liar, Ally and ConfidantPookie (Platonic) mode, so he winces apologetically. ]Ah, it's meant to be his secret, don't tell him that I told you...
[ ........... but like. It IS pretty funny. ]
It's indestructible, as far as we know, so he seeks to destroy it. It's good exercise for him.
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Weird, but be it far from me to judge people for their choice of exercise.
Anyway, next time you need to get away, you should come see me.
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But that offer– ]
Ah, do you mean it? I wouldn't want to intrude on your castle!
[ Yeah, it's not like anyone else in this bed intruded on a castle tonight, genius. ]
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Anyway. He's on a hunt for someone's laundry. Seems like the dogs could help fold it right now. Put them to work.
Bummer Akechi couldn't predict dogs couldn't do basic laundry tasks. Listen, he's not a pet owner. It's a learning process. Hank has a sock stuck on his nose and oh, Maruki's once clean shirt is suddenly around Bear Heart. How did this happen? Oh nooooooo.]
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what the fuck would you know, reddit incelMaruki cranes to look out the window as well. ]
I guess you're right, we are close enough! Well, thank you for the invitation. I'll surely take you up on it.
[ Although, that camping trip is fresh in his mind. He looks back at Night Sky with a wry smile. ]
Do you sleep in the garden too?
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Usually, unless it's cold, then I'll go inside. Why - thinking of going camping again?
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Hah, no– well, maybe! But it's just funny.
[ He fiddles with his sling, lost for what to do with his hands when he can't fold them together to ground himself. ]
Apparently, every kind and beautiful woman here is more than half a century old and sleeps outside. It's an interesting pattern. What are the odds?
[ And then he hears what he said and his eyes go wide and nervous. ]
Ah, I'm sorry! That was so unprofessional of me, I just meant it as a compliment!
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You think I'm beautiful? ( Forget the rest of it. That there is more than one person he's describing (and good for him, hitting it off with multiple old as hell women!) and all that. Night Sky zeroed in on that. Yeah, people call her beautiful all the time - but that wasn't always the case. Once upon a time she was an emaciated, sick elf on death's door and people looked at her like she was a monster. )
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A-ah, well– of course I do, I mean, you've surely seen yourself!
[ A beat. ]
Oh, that sounded more tactless than I intended it to. I only meant–
[ And another beat before he buries his face in one hand, laughing weakly. ]
My apologies. What a mess. Please, accept the compliment and allow me to die quietly.
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congratulations maruki. you have now held hands with two women in somnius
im so proud of him
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1/???
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end.................help
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god bless this mess we can wrap here or in one more if u want
now we wrap