Labyrinthum IC Inbox

[maidenofrelief]

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text; un: doc0203 - christens yr inbox !!

[placation]

Hi, Mifune-san. Kurusu-kun let me know that you're going to be joining us in the machiya. He's working on converting the guest room for you. Welcome!

There are... a lot of people who live here, and some oddities. I was wondering if you wanted me to give you a quick rundown?

YAY HELLO WELCOME

[maidenofrelief]

Hello Maruki-san! Thank you for allowing me into your home. You all are extremely gracious and generous.

Oh! Yes, please, if there is anything I need to know to make sure I am being a proper housemate, don't hesitate to tell me.

[placation]

I have no doubt you'll be easy to live with! It's everyone else I'm worried about...

Well, you know Kurusu-kun, Akechi-kun and I. Adachi-kun is a new arrival who was here a couple months ago during all that chaos, just like yourself. We're still getting to know one another, but he seems trustworthy.

When you see a woman around who looks like a goddess, that's Venat, and I'm not describing her that way because she's my partner. She really was a goddess once, or something close to it... I'm sure you'll learn her story in time. She's wonderfully kind, and deathly strong. I hope you two will get along well - although truth be told, I think it's impossible to not get along with her, and you seem similar in that way!

Eren Jaeger has a room here, although he also owns a farm nearby. He splits time between the two. He's my closest friend in any reality, but I'll be the first to admit that he can be... difficult to get close to. Please don't take it personally if he seems standoffish or aloof. He really is the most incredible person, when you get to know him.

Before I move on, those are the residents! Do you have any questions?

[ It's excessive, he knows, but he's also painfully aware of what a motley crew this is and wants her to be prepared... ]

action @ the machiya (just lmk if this works)

[abandonhumanity]

[Maruki and Akechi's original intention for the machiya was that it would remain empty, aside from them. Eren, of course, was always the exemption to that rule. He enjoyed that time. Needed it, even.

[But it's over now. Complete strangers sleep in rooms just down the hall from him, and it's nothing like growing up in a barracks. They share no common ground. He doesn't wish to know them. He won't go out of his way to speak to them. And he's never agreed to play nice.

[He will for Maruki. Because his best friend doesn't need any further stress laid on top of him, and especially not from the only person he can fully trust - at least, by Eren's assessment.

[He's warned of Chihaya, shown her picture; so, he recognizes her when she wanders into the kitchen. He's making tea, as he often does. At her arrival, only his eyes glance her direction, dull, grey-green, hollow. They narrow. He turns back to the kettle and puts it on.]

Mifune.

[His voice is far from friendly; dry, cold, dark. He looks the part too, a massive shadow at six feet tall.]

We'll see each other often. I don't anticipate that will be a problem. [That sounds a bit like a threat.

[He still isn't facing her.]

This works GREAT

[maidenofrelief]

[It's truly been an adjustment living in the machiya. She's lived alone for most of her life, by choice and then by necessity, but she is determined to be a good roommate. After all, Maruki and Akira have been more than gracious to give her space and she doesn't think she could ever thank them enough for giving her a place with people she knows in a world she doesn't.

It's with that in mind that she has been adding to her roommate notes meticulously, making sure she pays attention to schedules and who does what and where. There's one person she hasn't seen anything of and has little to nothing other than what Maruki already told her about. It's not a terrible surprise. From what she's heard, Eren is prickly and not one easily found.

...prickly is nicer than the vibes she is getting now.

She'd wandered in to make something or other- she's completely forgotten what it was now as she stares at the imposing figure standing at the kettle. Tall, dark, and handsome with a presence that fills the room and her first instinct is to turn around and walk right out. Give the man his space before he sees her. Of course he's as observant as everyone else in this place, so before she can do anything of the like he speaks.

He really is the most incredible person, when you get to know him. That's what Maruki had said and he wouldn't have said that if he didn't mean it. She trusts Maruki. And Maruki trusts him. So she'll do her best.]

Hello, Jaeger-san. It's good to meet you.

[As neutral and gentle as she can. She just stops herself from doing a formal bow.]

I don't anticipate that it will be either. I'll do my best to be a good housemate.

[He's not some monster. He's a person like her and she can work with that.

She steps into the kitchen gingerly, watching to see if he will tense or otherwise move in a way that would tell her to give him more space. She starts collecting some ingredients and after a few minutes of awkward silence, she speaks again.]

Um... I was going to cook up something. I don't know if you have already eaten but I would be happy to make some for you as well if you would like?

[Time to test if her one note on him is true.]

stop she's so cute

[abandonhumanity]

[Eren tends to be of the opinion that one should carefully reserve their judgment as to his own humanity until they have enough to form their own opinion - he could very well be a monster, but if people take him in good faith, he supposes that's their problem.

[She seems nice. He's never trusted "nice" very much.

[Yet, he pulls out two mugs.]

I won't get in your way. [Unless he has to.]

Make enough for yourself.

[Now.]

Do you drink tea?

[See that, Maruki? He is being so friendly right now. Everyone who offers others hot drinks also sounds like there's a significant risk they might slip poison into one of the cups.]

invitation - no need to respond!

[placation]

[ At some point during the week, Chihaya receives an invitation:

I'll be hosting a dinner party on March 22 and would love to see you there!

Feel free to come to the Horizons farmhouse any time after 5 PM.

Please do not bring anything! No food, no drinks, nothing but your presence. I appreciate the thought, but for me, the joy of this is being able to cook for a group of people, and I would like to handle it myself.

Hope to see you there!

Dr. Maruki

One gets the impression that if you go against his wishes to bring something anyway, it might stress him out...

When the mingle log goes up on the 22nd, please feel free to come tag around! ]

[a_cute_batata]

Hey Chihaya!

You remember when we talked about the coven Eda was putting together? We're having a meeting soon, so if you want to show up, that would be great!

Hope to see you there!

disaster red versus yellow event

[enteloki]

[The conversation with Chihaya started off pleasant enough. It's the same polite discussion they always have in the machiya. Only the backdrop is different - their respective teams are doing whatever in the area and they're both reconvening during a break in the competition.

But there's a problem - Akechi feels it brewing in the middle of their weather talk. The activity churning in his chest, in the back of his heart. As if a battle is nearby. As if he's getting ready to summon Robin Hood or Loki in the midst of a blood soaked field. He can't even discern which is active - they both are.

It's not great.]

If I may ask - I've heard some people have felt odd lately. How are you faring?

[maidenofrelief]

[Pleasant. That's how this conversation started. Chihaya likes seeing Akechi around the machiya, enjoys chatting with him when they hang out. He's just neat and after all the running around with her team, it had been a welcome reprieve to sit down.

And yet.

It feels akin to when the flower disease was running rampant. Any twitch, any slight grating noise, and Chihaya can feel her temper rising. But what sets it apart is how any slight disappointment- an off-handed comment about how the weather is just a little too warm, how sad- makes her want to burst into tears. And those aren't the only emotions attempting to rip out of her.

She has done pretty well overall in concealing it, but the direct question gives her a harder time.]

I'm fine. What about you?

[Rushed, quick, as she tries to get herself under control.]

hehe lemme know if you want me to change anything :3c

[placation]

[ The machiya is an oasis in chaos, as ever, though it's always preferable when the chaos amounts to little more than a particularly intense sports festival. Still, even that can be exhausting to be around after a while...

It's just the two of them this afternoon, all the windows open to let the spring breeze in as Maruki brings two cups of (not Leblanc quality, sorry, he's not Akira) coffee to the table in the conversation pit to settle across from Chihaya.

He glances down at the deck of tarot cards, curious smile in place. ]

I've never done anything like this before. Are you sure it isn't too much trouble...?

[ HE WANTS A READING SO BAD. ]

It's perfect!!

[maidenofrelief]

[Chihaya has been more concentrated on her readings as of late, working to keep her skills sharp and pretty reliably she is found in the machiya doing test readings and taking notes. It's a notable change from before April to now. Before she had been more relaxed and bright. If she's been a little less talkative, more quiet and not quite as cheerful now well... don't worry about it. She has a job to do, after all.

Maruki's curiosity is one Chihaya is happy to indulge in more ways than one. It's one of the few real smiles she has to give as of late as she accepts the cup of coffee.]

Not at all! This was my job back home- if a simple reading was too much for me to handle, I wouldn't be in this business.

[Though it is a bit of trouble when the cards you are working with feel like they are pushing back against you every step of the way. Sometimes she feels like even if she didn't have her divination and was doing tarot readings purely naturally, this deck would still give her problems. Still, there is nothing to do about that but wait until she gets her deck from home from the crystal. She can't afford to slack off anymore.]

Though... the reading doesn't have to be simple if you don't want it to. I have been doing three card spreads while here, but I'd be happy to do a more complex one if you're interested!

[Yes dealing with these cards feels like trudging through mud, but for Maruki she will always go that extra mile.]

text | un: garden05

[girlybruiser]

[ attachment: photo.jpg. It's a photo of the moon! Taken from a strange angle inside a room somewhere, but still not too shabby. ]

We never get to see the moon like this in Tokyo, do we?

text | un: asabovesobelow

[maidenofrelief]

No, we really don't. It reminds me of where I grew up in how bright it is. The stars might be different but the moon still looks the same.

( invitation - no response needed )

[girlybruiser]

RSVP

You are invited to Sip & Blossom's soft launch party!

Okumura Haru is celebrating the launch of her brand new cafe, located in Stellari. There will be coffee, tea, fresh food, as well as a performance, so please come join her and others for this special evening event!

The launch party will be held July 25th at 6:00PM.

Please feel free to bring a plus one!

Thank you, and Haru greatly appreciates your support.

( wellsprings bathhouse / sometime during missingruki hours )

[girlybruiser]

[ September was mostly a blur. Two weeks gone from Haru, like a rugged pulled out from under her, so she dives headfirst into her work at the cafe, among other things.

She works and works and works and then it's October.

October.

A whole year has crept up on her. At first, she tried to brush past it, but every now and then when she sat alone in her apartment or was in the cafe and stared at the photo hanging at the counter, memories flooded her and her body tensed at the date edging closer and closer.

October is now here.

And Maruki is not, for some reason.

He hasn't come in for his usual order. He's earned another free bouquet of flowers given how often he makes a purchase at Sip & Blossom.

It's through Chihaya she learns what she's been suspecting as the cooler October days begin to blend together; Maruki is gone. Nobody can find him and his ID has disappeared on the Oracle.

October feels heavier. She might drown in it if she doesn't distract herself, so she does what she's used to; she chooses to focus on her friends, who aren't handling Maruki's disappearance well. If there's something they can all commiserate on, it's the loss of a friend.

Yet another loss on top of the one she's been carrying in her heart the last few days.

So she invites Chihaya out as a way to ease their fretful minds, both of them entering into the bathhouse and Haru noting it's surprisingly sparsely populated today. ]

That's surprising. I would have thought it would be busier at this time.

[maidenofrelief]

[It's always a joy seeing Haru, even when she herself isn't feeling joy. They're both the same in that respect, though Haru seems troubled in more ways than one. She was gone for awhile and she had worried, but then she came back. Things should have gotten better and stayed better then. No one else should have slipped through Chihaya's fingers, even someone she had already predicted would.

Chihaya doesn't let herself think about what Haru could be going through too hard- her powers, while sporadic, could still kick in and essentially tell her what is going on. Or something close to it. She doesn't want to do that to Haru, not without her permission. The guilt of having carried secret knowledge for Maruki for so long was bad enough.

Maruki. The whole reason Chihaya has been stressed to hell and back. It's tough trying to balance the residents of the machiya and how they have responded, so Haru's invitation out was a much-needed breath of fresh air. She knows the girl must be grieving his loss too. She wonders if she would believe her if she told her that Maruki was going to come back. That she saw it. That she predicted his leaving and predicted his return.]

It is a little odd, but I can't say I am ungrateful.

[She looks around for the provided robes and picks the two fluffiest, softest ones she can find.]

I think we both need some peace right now, yeah?

action; october, a few days into maruki crashout

[arsenist]

[The days pass, and Maruki doesn't come home.

He's beyond that first day where the panic gripped him, searching the streets and even the farm. He's become more numb to the despair of a broken promise, though he doesn't do much more than stay still as the days go on, feet moving forward only for Korokke's cries.

But Akira is, as always, an observer. His eyes are built to catch all of the little details around him, no matter how dull the rest of him has become. Even through that haze of loss - it's impossible for him to not notice when someone he cares about has a heavy heart.

Chihaya. He could see it during dinner sometimes. He doesn't know how deep it ran, but he could still see it in her eyes. She was as fond of him as most of them were; maybe all of them were.

If it's hitting her too... he can't just leave her to face it alone.

She stands at the counter with the dishes. Did she cook? Did Akira? It doesn't matter, but - he can do one thing for her, even if he can't fix anything else.]

Let me dry for you. [A voice that's been dull finally has a touch of life to it. Concern.] You don't have to do it alone.

[maidenofrelief]

[The first day had been terrible for all of them. In Akira's case he had disappeared for hours after turning the entire house upside down looking for Maruki and had slunk back home long after the sun had set. Chihaya had left the porch light on, just in case he did.

He'd lost his shine after that. They'd lost Maruki and in the aftermath lost Akira too. It broke her heart to see him so dull and lifeless so any small thing she could do to make his life easier, she had been doing. Whatever was needed to get him through however long Maruki was gone, she'd do.

Her mind had been drifting, lost in thoughts on what still needed doing and whether or not Maruki was ok, so when Akira speaks she takes a moment to respond.]

Oh!

[She turns to him and studies his face. It is still rather empty but there is the hint of something in his voice and eyes and so a gentle smile crosses her face.]

That would be really helpful, Akira-san. Thank you.

[She picks up the dish towel she had been using previously and hands it to him along with the dish she just finished washing. Then she turns back to the pots. There aren't too many dishes since Akira has not felt as up to making big meals and she certainly is no talented cook but there is still more than one person could do in a reasonable amount of time.]

oct shuts eyes

[enteloki]

[ Akechi doesn't see red.

He sees nothing, then he doesn't.

He sees a woman. He sees shrine enacted piece by piece on a grave that should be untouched. He sees a woman who has the audacity to tread sacred ground because a ghost made people feel like they belonged and he sees a woman who has the gall to place and tuck and create life from a world destroyed and he sees a woman who thinks she must be so clever so smart so funny to treat and touch and create life where there's nothing because there's nothing there's nothing and he can't stand a delusional idiot trying to pretend there's more than nothing.

He watches. Waits. A ghost isn't here to stop him. ]

What the hell do you think you're doing?

oh this is gonna go some type of way

[maidenofrelief]

[She really was proud of herself.

After Akechi had left Maruki's room that first day, and after a few minutes to make sure he wasn't going back, she had snuck in to see what he had done and-

Well maybe if Akechi ever gets tired of being a Detective Prince he could be a cleaner at a hotel. The place is empty, almost like Maruki had never been there, with the only traces left of his existence being the very walls and floorboards themselves. She checks the closet and under the bed and there is nothing. Nothing at all.

Everyone deals with grief in their own way. If things had been different, she would have left it alone. If she had thought for a moment that there was a chance he wouldn't be coming back, she would have been grateful that Akechi took the initiative to put his things away so her heart didn't break doing it. But he's coming back. Maruki is coming back and she knows she is one of the few people who says this and truly believes it. It's up to her to make sure that things are still right for him when he walks back through those doors.

It had taken a bit of investigating over the next day or two to figure out where his stuff had gone. She had checked the trash cans and there had been nothing but the various easy prep meals people had been eating along with other regular household trash from the meals they had been making. So not here. She'd checked some of the bigger trash areas back in Somnius proper and there was nothing, so upon arrival back at the machiya, she began her search within.

It hadn't taken her long to suspect that the bags were in Akechi's room and waiting him out until he left to grab it hadn't been much trouble other than locating them. She probably should have checked the closet first but hey, she's done a lot of sleuthing already. Her plan had been to return everything to its previous state, sneak out, and then pretend nothing had happened at all. She had doubted Akechi would return to Maruki's room after taking everything and maybe he'd just ignore the back of his closet for awhile until his return. If he did notice she'd already be gone and he would be none the wiser as to who did it.

Unfortunately, that seems to be where her plan has fallen apart.]

Akechi-kun!

[She turns around, having been caught in the middle of returning some items back onto Maruki's bed and looks at the detective with wide eyes. She doesn't quite know what to do here. But there's no point denying exactly what is happening so she takes a breath and faces this head on.]

I'm putting Maruki's things back.

> 12/24 gift delivery

[placation]

[ Before any untimely disappearances, while they're all celebrating Christmas Eve together at the machiya–

Chihaya will receive a package with a small box of cards. Each one is black with different phases of the moon or constellations local to this reality embossed in fine gold ink. A note inside reads:

Merry Christmas, Mifune!

I've visited the church of the moon a bit recently, and one of the clergy there let me know they have their own form of fortune telling involving these cards. I thought it might interest you to look into something like that.

Thank you for being such a dear friend.

- Maruki ]

SECRET SANTA

[beautyofdarkness]

[Aurora would sneak a package in the early morning of Christmas day. Inside was a small white stuffed bear keychain, a dozen chocolate cupcakes with sparkly white vanilla frosting, and a lovely winter winter bouquet. Then there was a note.]

Here's to you, Miss Chihaya. To a wonderful winter holiday season filled with well wishes and love.

- Aurora

[enteloki]

[ It's her.

His last few moments in this world were ruined by her warning, a curse he now attributes to this woman alone.

It's useful, so he acknowledges it. If it turns out it was mere coincidence, then she can go back to being to worth as much as a bucket of mud.

He catches her a day or so as she's wandering up the stairway. From the kotatsu, he asks- ]

Explain your ability.

[maidenofrelief]

[She had hoped that if Akechi did return that the energy in the machiya would re-settle. Maybe even be buoyant or better than before. She should have realized that things are never simple when it comes to Akechi Goro.

He feels different. She's not sure what to make of it but despite that some things stay the same. Namely Akechi hogging the kotatsu. It's almost nostalgic.]

My ability?

[The sudden question is enough to bring her to a stop.]

You mean my fortune telling, yes? There's not much to explain.