( oooh. that's... fair, honestly. Maruki can't say he wouldn't feel the same about certain people. )
I see. That's a terrible thing that happened to you. I can see that it would be cathartic to deal with your rage like that.
You could also try talking to the animated doll. Pretend it's the person who betrayed you and explain what they did. Letting things out is a good way to make steps towards moving on.
[ This might as well be one of the worst ideas Akira's had during his stay here. And since it's terrible, he decides to put this idea into practice one evening. ]
Yusuke and Futaba are back in their worlds, I can't reach them.
[ There's nothing he can do about the pang of regret he gets literally a few seconds after pressing send. ]
that's... quite the heartbreaking news, given the circumstances. to arrive and leave so suddenly. strange. he wouldn't have imagined people could leave at all. )
I'm sorry to hear that. Do you want to talk about it? I just finished setting up a space for my counselling sessions. We could meet there.
[ Why is he even surprised? Maruki never tried to hide the fact that he wants to continue helping people. It's not a bad thing in the first place, it's just impossible for him to accept the method he uses.
This is stupid. But it's also a great opportunity to check out the place. ]
( the methods Maruki could use back home aren't available to him, thankfully for everyone. cognitive magic offers some possibility, but so far, he's noticing that it is much more limited than even what he managed to do to Rumi.
... he misses Azathoth. he didn't really know the persona, not like the Phantom Thieves presumably knew theirs, but all the same. it had existed deep in some unconscious part of him, and he can still feel the absence. )
[ A few hours after his post on the network ...: ]
Good afternoon, Dr. Maruki. My name is Mitsuru Kirijo, and I wanted to express my interest in the counseling sessions that you mentioned in your network post.
My schedule is largely open at present. Barring any quesets that I end up undertaking, any time that is convenient for you will likely work for me as well.
That sounds perfect. My schedule may not be cluttered at the moment, but considering how eventful things seem to be here, I appreciate your flexibility, Dr. Maruki.
[ Meditative healing ritual described by one of the wizards sounds like something right up Akira's alley. There's no guarantee that he can get rid of all of his bottled-up feelings this way, but he wouldn't mind relaxing at least for a bit. Trying to get rid of the mysterious curse that made a pair of pointy cat ears pop up on top of his head and a long, brown tail grow on his lower back just added to the stress.
Thankfully, gathering the herbs isn't too much of a challenge, especially after the wizard shares with him a very detailed list of which plants are typically used in this kind of ritual. Finding a person to do it with, however...he's not sure if he can fully relax with anyone else around.
While mulling over his options, he notices Maruki and almost wants to laugh at the timing. Against better judgment, Akira raises his arm and waves at the therapist. ]
( Maruki isn't really sure why the ritual saw fit to give him the features of an octopus, unless it was trying to draw inspiration from his familiar. regardless, he may as well make the best of the new features he's been given, and when it comes to grabbing things, they're certainly good for that. his hands are free to hold onto the apple juice he bought while his new appendages grab herbs as instructed.
it's academic curiosity, more than anything, that drives him to this healing circle. a need to understand how such a spell could work, whether it could help him with his own goals and plans here.
there are just so many people who need help, and cognitive magic is far too limited in what it can do.
his thoughts meander to the patients he has, scanning the heads milling about and wondering if any of them are here, when— )
Kurusu-kun!
( he smiles, and almost automatically, a tentacle rises to wave in greeting.
[ It makes Akira stop halfway and gawk at Maruki for a little while. The irony of the curse changing his arm into a tentacle doesn't escape him.
While he has an idea of what Maruki might be planning and why would he be interested in a ritual like this, Akira figures out that maybe trying it together wouldn't be so bad. Even if he should be wary of Maruki the way he is now, he's too tired for that.
Besides, he's not a bad person, just...everything's complicated. ]
New accessory? [ Akira's tail swishes from one side to the other making it obvious that animal mages aren't safe from the curse. ] Do you want to do this together?
( it should have been easy. there's no reason Kurusu shouldn't want the same thing as Maruki. a world without pain, without the need for rituals like this in the first place... it would be ideal. no one would have any cause to commit crimes if their lives were without trouble. he could give them all paradise.
why was that something unwanted?
sigh. he'll have to trust that he can show Kurusu, and all the Phantom Thieves, how perfect the end goal is. they'll understand eventually. they have to.
but he can't do that until he has a solution that will work here in Avalon. so, it's with an easy smile and laugh that he acknowledges Kurusu's comment, glancing at the new mess of appendages jutting out of his body. they arrived easily, appearing out of thin air during the night, and have been stuck to him ever since. )
Looks like we're in the same boat. ( at least these things are showing some amount of use. he's not sure if the tail is quite as handy as all these suckers.
but anyway— )
Of course. ( it works out well for him. more insight into this ritual and a chance to understand Kurusu better than he thought he did, getting him a step closer to a place where the young man might understand why he needs to do what he's doing. ) Consider it part of our deal.
[ He'd laugh at his own joke...if it was a joke in the first place. Maruki's newly acquired suckers and familiar aside, Akira had the opportunity to get to know him from the tentacle side. ]
I guess you could use this during your therapy here. How is that going, by the way?
[ The situation is very much different from counseling at Shujin—back there, Maruki didn't have to deal with people from other worlds adjusting to Avalon. Even the most hardcore chuunis didn't give him so much work, probably. ]
( well, at least it gets a chuckle from Maruki, totally unaware of the things lying only a few weeks away from the day he was yanked into Avalon. )
That's the hope. ( he's going to have to talk to the people running this afterwards, but first he needs to gauge the effectiveness of the treatment for himself.
but as for how it's going... )
It's been interesting. The people here come from incredibly diverse worlds. I've learned a lot from talking to them.
( it aches in him to know that so many people have had to experience so many variations on the same awful things that happen. he had theorised that most people here would, ultimately, have psychological reactions similar to people back home, only in different contexts, and that largely seems to be true but...
he hates to say it, but hearing about some of the worlds out there gives him a newfound appreciation for the relatively mundane problems in their own. )
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Misfire Text; un: Caster
Date: 2021-04-05 05:54 pm (UTC)i could even make one of that wretched man i told you about and then break it into little tiny pieces
no subject
Date: 2021-04-05 07:42 pm (UTC)uh. well, maybe it isn't the most unhealthy coping mechanism ever but... )
Sorry, I think you meant to text someone else.
Is everything okay?
no subject
Date: 2021-04-05 07:57 pm (UTC)[Oh...well this was awkward.]
i was
well
i may have gotten a little carried away
no subject
Date: 2021-04-06 06:50 pm (UTC)No. This is Takuto Maruki. Is someone bothering you?
( because carried away isn't usually that. specific. )
no subject
Date: 2021-04-06 07:48 pm (UTC)i'm still not used to these phones yet
[This was beneath a Magus from the age of Gods after all.]
but no not someone here
someone i knew a long time ago
he betrayed me and i wanted to make him suffer
but that isn't anything you need to concern yourself with
no subject
Date: 2021-04-12 06:22 pm (UTC)I see. That's a terrible thing that happened to you. I can see that it would be cathartic to deal with your rage like that.
You could also try talking to the animated doll. Pretend it's the person who betrayed you and explain what they did. Letting things out is a good way to make steps towards moving on.
( because he's great at that. )
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From:text;
Date: 2021-06-02 03:57 pm (UTC)Yusuke and Futaba are back in their worlds, I can't reach them.
[ There's nothing he can do about the pang of regret he gets literally a few seconds after pressing send. ]
time 2 suffer
Date: 2021-06-05 08:15 pm (UTC)that's... quite the heartbreaking news, given the circumstances. to arrive and leave so suddenly. strange. he wouldn't have imagined people could leave at all. )
I'm sorry to hear that. Do you want to talk about it? I just finished setting up a space for my counselling sessions. We could meet there.
no subject
Date: 2021-06-09 05:34 pm (UTC)[ Why is he even surprised? Maruki never tried to hide the fact that he wants to continue helping people. It's not a bad thing in the first place, it's just impossible for him to accept the method he uses.
This is stupid. But it's also a great opportunity to check out the place. ]
And where would that be?
[ Maybe this won't end in a fist fight...maybe? ]
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Date: 2021-06-12 12:49 pm (UTC)... he misses Azathoth. he didn't really know the persona, not like the Phantom Thieves presumably knew theirs, but all the same. it had existed deep in some unconscious part of him, and he can still feel the absence. )
On the outskirts of town. Here's the directions.
( avamaps link is go! )
no subject
Date: 2021-06-12 02:55 pm (UTC)[ As long as they ignore being in a different world, that is. ]
I'll be there in an hour if that's okay.
Unless it's necessary to schedule an appointment properly?
[ He's just teasing. ]
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Date: 2021-06-12 07:03 pm (UTC)Perhaps once I've announced it.
( after all, uh... being hot messes seems to be 90% of this place's criteria. )
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From:text, un: kirijo
Date: 2021-06-12 09:10 pm (UTC)Good afternoon, Dr. Maruki. My name is Mitsuru Kirijo, and I wanted to express my interest in the counseling sessions that you mentioned in your network post.
no subject
Date: 2021-06-14 09:42 pm (UTC)is that just a coincidence, or not? he's curious, but perhaps that's a question better left for later. )
Yes, of course. What time would be good for you?
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Date: 2021-06-15 12:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-06-17 09:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-06-18 02:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-06-24 08:24 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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From:text; un: fireprince
Date: 2021-07-12 04:06 am (UTC)[ Yes, he did, Zuko, good... And? ]
action; healing circle
Date: 2021-08-08 06:31 pm (UTC)Thankfully, gathering the herbs isn't too much of a challenge, especially after the wizard shares with him a very detailed list of which plants are typically used in this kind of ritual. Finding a person to do it with, however...he's not sure if he can fully relax with anyone else around.
While mulling over his options, he notices Maruki and almost wants to laugh at the timing. Against better judgment, Akira raises his arm and waves at the therapist. ]
coicle
Date: 2021-08-11 04:39 pm (UTC)it's academic curiosity, more than anything, that drives him to this healing circle. a need to understand how such a spell could work, whether it could help him with his own goals and plans here.
there are just so many people who need help, and cognitive magic is far too limited in what it can do.
his thoughts meander to the patients he has, scanning the heads milling about and wondering if any of them are here, when— )
Kurusu-kun!
( he smiles, and almost automatically, a tentacle rises to wave in greeting.
yo. )
no subject
Date: 2021-08-14 02:47 pm (UTC)While he has an idea of what Maruki might be planning and why would he be interested in a ritual like this, Akira figures out that maybe trying it together wouldn't be so bad. Even if he should be wary of Maruki the way he is now, he's too tired for that.
Besides, he's not a bad person, just...everything's complicated. ]
New accessory? [ Akira's tail swishes from one side to the other making it obvious that animal mages aren't safe from the curse. ] Do you want to do this together?
[ He holds up the herbs after asking that. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-08-17 09:24 am (UTC)why was that something unwanted?
sigh. he'll have to trust that he can show Kurusu, and all the Phantom Thieves, how perfect the end goal is. they'll understand eventually. they have to.
but he can't do that until he has a solution that will work here in Avalon. so, it's with an easy smile and laugh that he acknowledges Kurusu's comment, glancing at the new mess of appendages jutting out of his body. they arrived easily, appearing out of thin air during the night, and have been stuck to him ever since. )
Looks like we're in the same boat. ( at least these things are showing some amount of use. he's not sure if the tail is quite as handy as all these suckers.
but anyway— )
Of course. ( it works out well for him. more insight into this ritual and a chance to understand Kurusu better than he thought he did, getting him a step closer to a place where the young man might understand why he needs to do what he's doing. ) Consider it part of our deal.
no subject
Date: 2021-08-22 03:57 pm (UTC)[ He'd laugh at his own joke...if it was a joke in the first place. Maruki's newly acquired suckers and familiar aside, Akira had the opportunity to get to know him from the tentacle side. ]
I guess you could use this during your therapy here. How is that going, by the way?
[ The situation is very much different from counseling at Shujin—back there, Maruki didn't have to deal with people from other worlds adjusting to Avalon. Even the most hardcore chuunis didn't give him so much work, probably. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-08-22 06:03 pm (UTC)That's the hope. ( he's going to have to talk to the people running this afterwards, but first he needs to gauge the effectiveness of the treatment for himself.
but as for how it's going... )
It's been interesting. The people here come from incredibly diverse worlds. I've learned a lot from talking to them.
( it aches in him to know that so many people have had to experience so many variations on the same awful things that happen. he had theorised that most people here would, ultimately, have psychological reactions similar to people back home, only in different contexts, and that largely seems to be true but...
he hates to say it, but hearing about some of the worlds out there gives him a newfound appreciation for the relatively mundane problems in their own. )
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From:cw: maruki is a big metaphor for depression
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