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labyrinthum inbox.
I'll be over right away!
[ As if he wouldn't drop everything immediately for this? You fool. You absolute buffoon.
Thankfully it's still a reasonable amount of time before there's a chipper 'shave and a haircut' knock at Eyn Sof's door, followed by a familiar voice just as chipper. ]
Maruki-kuuun, It's Takahashiii~!
[ As if he wouldn't drop everything immediately for this? You fool. You absolute buffoon.
Thankfully it's still a reasonable amount of time before there's a chipper 'shave and a haircut' knock at Eyn Sof's door, followed by a familiar voice just as chipper. ]
Maruki-kuuun, It's Takahashiii~!
[ He really does have an irrepressible spirit, doesn't he? Maruki's already bemused just opening the door, eyebrows raised and a curious smile quirking his lips as he holds it open for Akira to make himself comfortable inside.
Eyn Sof is bright, airy, beautifully furnished and with So Many Stolen Books. There are still some bloodstains on the rug that he hasn't been able to get out after the flower incidents, but he figures something like that won't bother someone like Takahashi Akira.
He speaks as he leads him in, plopping himself down on one of the plush couches. ]
Thank you for coming. I have to admit, I'm pretty flummoxed by all of this! I was hopeful it might be temporary, but...
[ Azzy Still Tiny. ]
Well, I suppose you'll see for yourself. Have a seat.
Eyn Sof is bright, airy, beautifully furnished and with So Many Stolen Books. There are still some bloodstains on the rug that he hasn't been able to get out after the flower incidents, but he figures something like that won't bother someone like Takahashi Akira.
He speaks as he leads him in, plopping himself down on one of the plush couches. ]
Thank you for coming. I have to admit, I'm pretty flummoxed by all of this! I was hopeful it might be temporary, but...
[ Azzy Still Tiny. ]
Well, I suppose you'll see for yourself. Have a seat.
[ Pardon as he takes a good eyeful of the place once he's allowed in, especially All Those Stolen Books. And the bloodstains? He's not bothered, but he's certainly curious, and unfortunately for him there's a specific reason he was invited over so those other questions will have to wait for the time being. ]
This is the first I've heard of any abilities acting strangely. Do you suppose it's something that will behave like the flower disease?
[ Oh, the chairs are nice as well. Very squarshy! Wonder where he could get some like these... ]
This is the first I've heard of any abilities acting strangely. Do you suppose it's something that will behave like the flower disease?
[ Oh, the chairs are nice as well. Very squarshy! Wonder where he could get some like these... ]
It's rarely safe to make assumptions here, but that's my hope. Something that's a nuisance for a while but eventually passes, even if it causes trouble along the way.
[ The problem, of course, is that the flower disease was never going to kill him. He had a failsafe in Eren, a release valve to expel even the worst of his secrets without fear.
Should danger come to him now, his failsafe in Azathoth isn't functioning as intended, and he's practically defenseless.
It's bad. Very bad. He's doing his best not to show anyone how genuinely panicked he feels every time his persona is summoned.
And so, with that– a vague gesture with his left hand, and the aurora that would normally fill the room is barely more than a streak of sparkling jewel tones like a single ribbon through the air. Azathoth appears, floating above the table between their two couches, small enough that he could hold it in his palm. Spindly tentacles rise up around it, more like cattail reeds in a riverbed than anythin gelse.
Maruki sighs, pinches the bridge of his nose beneath his glasses. ]
As you can see, it's been downsized. Severely.
[ The problem, of course, is that the flower disease was never going to kill him. He had a failsafe in Eren, a release valve to expel even the worst of his secrets without fear.
Should danger come to him now, his failsafe in Azathoth isn't functioning as intended, and he's practically defenseless.
It's bad. Very bad. He's doing his best not to show anyone how genuinely panicked he feels every time his persona is summoned.
And so, with that– a vague gesture with his left hand, and the aurora that would normally fill the room is barely more than a streak of sparkling jewel tones like a single ribbon through the air. Azathoth appears, floating above the table between their two couches, small enough that he could hold it in his palm. Spindly tentacles rise up around it, more like cattail reeds in a riverbed than anythin gelse.
Maruki sighs, pinches the bridge of his nose beneath his glasses. ]
As you can see, it's been downsized. Severely.
[ IT'S.
SO.
LITTOL???
Akira's eyes are immediately widening at the entity he'd previously filed away in his mind as enormous, now squished down to food stall proportions. It somehow looks more poisonous this way, like a deep sea creature that makes up for its size by packing a deadly punch with whatever deadly concoction it has flowing through those tentacles and claws.
That doesn't mean Akira isn't looking at it with utter delight, though, rising from his chair to squat down as close to the table as he can get, grin practically splitting his face in two. ]
Oh my...! Of all things to go awry I hadn't even thought of something like this!
SO.
LITTOL???
Akira's eyes are immediately widening at the entity he'd previously filed away in his mind as enormous, now squished down to food stall proportions. It somehow looks more poisonous this way, like a deep sea creature that makes up for its size by packing a deadly punch with whatever deadly concoction it has flowing through those tentacles and claws.
That doesn't mean Akira isn't looking at it with utter delight, though, rising from his chair to squat down as close to the table as he can get, grin practically splitting his face in two. ]
Oh my...! Of all things to go awry I hadn't even thought of something like this!
That makes two of us. I almost wish it was at its normal size and strength, but firing off attacks at random...
[ He says that knowing full well how dangerous wishes are in this reality; it's a fate he's fine with tempting. ]
I suppose it's a blessing in disguise that you don't have your abilities at the moment. Who knows what might happen to your eyes?
[ He says that knowing full well how dangerous wishes are in this reality; it's a fate he's fine with tempting. ]
I suppose it's a blessing in disguise that you don't have your abilities at the moment. Who knows what might happen to your eyes?
Who knows! The possibilities are so endless, I admit I feel a little left out. Do you think this condition might come around again?
[ He cups his hands, resting their knuckles on top of the table as if beckoning the little critter to come over and have a sit. Pspspspsps... ]
[ He cups his hands, resting their knuckles on top of the table as if beckoning the little critter to come over and have a sit. Pspspspsps... ]
[ Okay, be so serious, it's not like it's a kitten or anything...
That said, Azathoth does float over and hover right above Akira's open palms. Maruki sighs, pushes his glasses up into his hair to press his own hands over his eyes for a moment. ]
I want to say that I hope not, but by now I know better. Once you have your abilities back, it's almost guaranteed that sooner or later they'll be tampered with... or turned against you.
That said, Azathoth does float over and hover right above Akira's open palms. Maruki sighs, pushes his glasses up into his hair to press his own hands over his eyes for a moment. ]
I want to say that I hope not, but by now I know better. Once you have your abilities back, it's almost guaranteed that sooner or later they'll be tampered with... or turned against you.
[ Counterpoint: it's a piece of Maruki, why wouldn't it be like a kitten?
But Akira's delighted when Azathoth comes over, gently lifting it closer to eye level as he speaks. ]
So, I should plan to not be capable of my fullest at any given time. Concerning, and admittedly aggravating, but...doable, all the same.
[ --Oh? That spot in the back of his brain hard wired to cause trouble whenever he possibly can lights up, can't help but notice the short window of time he's been given where Maruki's eyes aren't on him. There's a lot, a lot, he can get away with in only a few moments, and if he's not caught it may as well not have happened, right? Experience has taught him as much.
And so, with as much care and speed as he can manage, his tongue takes a quick swipe of the tiny Azathoth's brain case. ]
But Akira's delighted when Azathoth comes over, gently lifting it closer to eye level as he speaks. ]
So, I should plan to not be capable of my fullest at any given time. Concerning, and admittedly aggravating, but...doable, all the same.
[ --Oh? That spot in the back of his brain hard wired to cause trouble whenever he possibly can lights up, can't help but notice the short window of time he's been given where Maruki's eyes aren't on him. There's a lot, a lot, he can get away with in only a few moments, and if he's not caught it may as well not have happened, right? Experience has taught him as much.
And so, with as much care and speed as he can manage, his tongue takes a quick swipe of the tiny Azathoth's brain case. ]
[ For a few seconds, Maruki rubs cool fingers against his eyes, nodding along to what Akira's saying and letting the soothing sensation wash over him. It's fine that his persona is small and useless, about as powerful as a bug zapper. It's fine. Calm blue oceans. Everything will work out, as it always does, until the next time that it doesn't. It's fine. ]
More or less, yes. The only consolation, I suppose, is that we're all in the same boat. Although–
[ His hands drop.
His glasses are still stuck up in his hair, and they aren't that far apart, but his eyesight is so poor that he can't be one hundred percent sure what blurry motion he just saw. ]
Did you just...?
[ ... No, surely not!
Maruki forces a laugh, adjusts his glasses back down onto the bridge of his nose and raises his eyebrows at Akira holding his persona quite close to his face. ]
You might want to be careful, Takahashi-sensei.
More or less, yes. The only consolation, I suppose, is that we're all in the same boat. Although–
[ His hands drop.
His glasses are still stuck up in his hair, and they aren't that far apart, but his eyesight is so poor that he can't be one hundred percent sure what blurry motion he just saw. ]
Did you just...?
[ ... No, surely not!
Maruki forces a laugh, adjusts his glasses back down onto the bridge of his nose and raises his eyebrows at Akira holding his persona quite close to his face. ]
You might want to be careful, Takahashi-sensei.
[ The face Maruki's met with once his vision is clear again is one of pure innocence. ♡ ]
Mm? Why is that?
[ Also pure and innocent in tone, honest curiosity instead of a defiant 'why should I?' All he's been told about what Azathoth's capable of is its healing, after all. ]
Mm? Why is that?
[ Also pure and innocent in tone, honest curiosity instead of a defiant 'why should I?' All he's been told about what Azathoth's capable of is its healing, after all. ]
Well, as I said, things are a bit haywire in general right now, and it might–
[ Fire off a cheeky little Eternal Radiance. Luckily, in this state, it's hardly its usual impressive, destructive lightshow. Those great cosmic eyeballs that appear above it are only the size of golf balls, and the concentrated beams of holy light they aim at Akira's cheek probably feel like little more than an electric shock. ]
S-sorry!
[ Fire off a cheeky little Eternal Radiance. Luckily, in this state, it's hardly its usual impressive, destructive lightshow. Those great cosmic eyeballs that appear above it are only the size of golf balls, and the concentrated beams of holy light they aim at Akira's cheek probably feel like little more than an electric shock. ]
S-sorry!
[ Sudden floating eyeballs already catch his attention right away, and then-- ]
Oh--!
[ Like most other things, the bite sized Eternal Radiance is taken with a smile and a laugh, as if he's been given a playful nibble by a little animal. But he does take the same message he would've gotten from just that, and lowers his hands back down to a reasonable distance from his face. ]
My, is that something it can normally do, or a fun surprise for the season?
Oh--!
[ Like most other things, the bite sized Eternal Radiance is taken with a smile and a laugh, as if he's been given a playful nibble by a little animal. But he does take the same message he would've gotten from just that, and lowers his hands back down to a reasonable distance from his face. ]
My, is that something it can normally do, or a fun surprise for the season?
[ Maruki feels like a dog owner whose puppy was just unruly and sighs, embarrassed and apologetic all at once. ]
That's one of its normal attacks, if only you could imagine it sized up enough to cause sizable damage and destruction. Normally it doesn't do anything outside of my command, though...
[ Which is worrisome! All of this is worrisome!!! ]
Anyhow, I just thought you might appreciate the... ah, unique opportunity to see Azathoth up close and personal.
That's one of its normal attacks, if only you could imagine it sized up enough to cause sizable damage and destruction. Normally it doesn't do anything outside of my command, though...
[ Which is worrisome! All of this is worrisome!!! ]
Anyhow, I just thought you might appreciate the... ah, unique opportunity to see Azathoth up close and personal.
[ Considering how big Azathoth normally is, something like that with its size and force appropriately scaled as well... ]
Goodness, that's quite the firepower you have under your belt, Maruki-kun. No wonder you hold yourself the way you do.
No wonder you're so worried about this malfunction too. [ He's being serious, despite one finger coming up to wiggle near one of the clawed tentacle hands. ] I hope that particular hiccup stays while it's at a more manageable size.
[ And then...a thought strikes him, eyes back up to Maruki while his finger's still wiggling. ]
Come to think of it, I do have something of my own we could test for hiccups.
Goodness, that's quite the firepower you have under your belt, Maruki-kun. No wonder you hold yourself the way you do.
No wonder you're so worried about this malfunction too. [ He's being serious, despite one finger coming up to wiggle near one of the clawed tentacle hands. ] I hope that particular hiccup stays while it's at a more manageable size.
[ And then...a thought strikes him, eyes back up to Maruki while his finger's still wiggling. ]
Come to think of it, I do have something of my own we could test for hiccups.
Of course! If anything goes wrong, I'll be sure to keep you safe.
[ With that, he recalls Azathoth back into the recesses of his mind – at least that still works mostly normally, although the accompanying aurora lingers.
He sits up attentively, excited now; what sort of animal might Akira transform into? ]
[ With that, he recalls Azathoth back into the recesses of his mind – at least that still works mostly normally, although the accompanying aurora lingers.
He sits up attentively, excited now; what sort of animal might Akira transform into? ]
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