For a moment Maruki felt a pit in his stomach. Was he...too forward? Maybe he shouldn't have assumed more than he could have handled but-
Ah.
Guess there will be a new experience for either of us in store then :) And hey, if the conversation dries up, at least the fish will be good company. They don’t seem to have many complaints about their lives. Maybe we could learn a thing or two.
Now I am just left with the horrifying image of a fish having legs in my head but you know what? They probably make better use of them then the drunkards who end up walking around with one shoe haha
They just steal the shoes because they can't bear the cost of losing their voice :' I suppose their greed would be justified.
[She was a little silly, Takuto couldn't help but feel his lips pull up a little. I miss that.]
No need to worry on that front. I indulged myself and got one of the latest models just recently. So, worst case scenario, I’ll just take the pictures for you.
Besides, I am the taller one here. Might as well put the vantage point to good use—unless you plan on bringing a step stool?
Maruki's fingers hovered over the keyboard, his lips quirking into something dangerously close to an actual smile.
He almost typed something else—something gentler, something teasing to match her playful energy. But the warmth tugging at his chest left him vulnerable, cracked open just a sliver too wide.
His thumb froze over the screen.
For a second—just a fraction of a second—his mind wandered.
Rumi.
He could still feel the weight of her against him, the way she'd fit so perfectly when she'd curl up close without a second thought. She used to joke about how it was easier to elbow him because of their height difference and he always tended to tease her about it. Even laughing about how her size had nothing to do with her strength that he could never match upto.
He’d meant that.
His smile faded, the moment slipping between his fingers like sand.
You shouldn’t be letting this happen.
The walls he'd carefully built around himself creaked faintly—just faintly—as something warm and human began to seep through.
It was taking a few minutes for him to respond. Distracted, maybe? But the glint of the knife as she adjusted it and the phone in her hand caught her eye again. She glanced at the time on her screen.
Midnight was closer. Not by much, but it was coming closer.
Howling with you? Now that’s an interesting proposal.
I’m not entirely convinced getting escorted out of the aquarium for unsettling the aquatic life would be a great way to end the evening, though.
That said—there is some psychological merit to it. Vocal expression as an emotional release is actually quite common. Yelling into the void, primal screaming therapy... Even crying functions similarly.
So, theoretically, howling could be beneficial.
But I do wonder—would it be more effective in solitude, or do you think it’s the shared experience that makes it therapeutic?
Okay, THAT has her laughing out loud. This guy - was he a councilor or something? A therapist? Or has he just been in the weeds with research so long he can't help himself?
The way he kind of info dumps about anything he knows is cute.
THE SHARED EXPERIENCE FOR SURE!!!!
Like yes sometimes you have to cry and scream and confront the thing you're running from and that is important for healing
But it IS better with other people. Because then you aren't alone, then you both are singing out your hearts and harmonizing even with different voices.
People—broken people—cling to pain as much as they seek to escape it. Trauma binds them together, but it doesn’t always heal them. If anything, it deepens the wounds, makes them sharper, more inescapable.
There’s a reason why shared suffering often feels like understanding. People are drawn to those who echo their pain, but that doesn’t mean they’ve found true harmony. More often than not, they’re just feeding into the cycle—mistaking the resonance of their wounds for something restorative.
...Poor Shibusawa... left behind like she was, in this strange world.
"Do you wish you could forget too? It's lonely..." and who knows how much longer she would've been able to survive that loneliness, herself. Not much longer.
It could be dangerous and toxic if you have the crabs-in-a-bucket mentality, right? But you could say the same about relentless positivity... that it invalidates the feelings of the people you love.
People are complicated, people make mistakes even without realizing they're being hurtful.
But people are capable of incredible compassion and kindness... and I think it's something very special when someone sees you at your most vulnerable and raw and still cares for you.
Kindness, compassion—those things are beautiful in theory, but reality doesn’t always reward them. People are complicated, yes. But people are also cruel. Hateful.
I used to think like you. That kindness and understanding could create something better. But...those kind people have always met sad ends somehow. Due to other people's ill wishes.
And now? Look at them. Flourishing. Smiling. Living better than they ever did before. Than us. There’s no senseless cruelty here. No one is left behind. Hate doesn’t fester. Crime is barely more than a whisper, and it never goes unpunished.
Isn’t that proof enough?
[a beat]
Ah—maybe that was a little too grim. Apologies, I get carried away. An old occupational hazard, I guess?
Anyway, we can shelve the philosophical debate for later. For now, I should probably ask—any movies in mind? If you have one I can see what times are available and align with the aquarium as well.
Glance at the clock... under fifteen minutes, now.
Hamuko swiped away from messages and check what movies are out. She doesn't bother thinking too hard about it, skimming plots. They all seem pretty typical ones...
How about Yellow Line? That racing action-thriller! I bet that one will be a lot of crazy fun.
"Stop saying that," he says out loud. Annoyed. Irritated. Bristling with tension underneath as he held himself back from snapping out a reply. When he looks up from his phone, the monitor screen before him flickers to a small review page of Yellow line and it makes him pause for a moment- considering his chances. Then he scrolls to look at the ticket timings for that particular day.
Looks like we will finish up nicely for the aquarium right after too. Though if you could leverage period from 3 pm to 4 pm by any chance I wouldn't have to book us one of the morning tickets. Unless you are a morning bird.
For whatever reason I could easily imagine you liking action-related movies. I love the mindless fun too!
Till our treatment we will simply have to wait it out :D
10? That's a really healthy time to go to sleep- I admire that.
He doesn't remember the last time he's slept anywhere before midnight. He never exactly found any solace in bed beyond sleeping a few couple of hours and these past six months have went by in a fashion of standing between a crashing train and the walking of a sloth that his sleep schedule really is all over the place.
Behind the screen he does wonder why did she stay up tonight? Was it because of meeting him? Or was it something related to the nightmares that she had grown all too awarr from.
Sure! I will let you know by tomorrow morning or this night itself- depending on how much sleep I get. Get some good rest and take care of yourself! Talk to you soon.
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no subject
Ah.
Guess there will be a new experience for either of us in store then :)
And hey, if the conversation dries up, at least the fish will be good company.
They don’t seem to have many complaints about their lives. Maybe we could learn a thing or two.
no subject
You don't know that!!
Think of all the crazy fish gossip we're missing out on!!!!
1/2
About what?
That there's plenty of fish in the sea?
2/2
no subject
You really had to fish for that one huh?
no subject
I am not falling for that bait. Oldest trick in the book.
[and hits send without even realizing what he just typed]
no subject
no subject
...does he have to make it a problem?]
...I should probably not be trusted with fishing I will be so honest with you
Used to do it when I was young and somehow I never got a fish.
A shoe though?
I tended to get those a lot.
no subject
Do you think the fish steal them because they're jealous they don't have feet?
Like the little mermaid!!
no subject
They probably make better use of them then the drunkards who end up walking around with one shoe haha
They just steal the shoes because they can't bear the cost of losing their voice :' I suppose their greed would be justified.
no subject
Let the fish have em!!
I'm all excited about the aquarium, I'll have to actually get a nice camera
My smartphone is deceptively cheap so the camera sucks
no subject
I miss that.]No need to worry on that front. I indulged myself and got one of the latest models just recently.
So, worst case scenario, I’ll just take the pictures for you.
Besides, I am the taller one here.
Might as well put the vantage point to good use—unless you plan on bringing a step stool?
no subject
Smaller and easier to hug close.
But don't underestimate me bc of my height!! I'm ferocious. Like a wolf!!
1/2
He almost typed something else—something gentler, something teasing to match her playful energy. But the warmth tugging at his chest left him vulnerable, cracked open just a sliver too wide.
His thumb froze over the screen.
For a second—just a fraction of a second—his mind wandered.
Rumi.
He could still feel the weight of her against him, the way she'd fit so perfectly when she'd curl up close without a second thought. She used to joke about how it was easier to elbow him because of their height difference and he always tended to tease her about it. Even laughing about how her size had nothing to do with her strength that he could never match upto.
He’d meant that.
His smile faded, the moment slipping between his fingers like sand.
You shouldn’t be letting this happen.
The walls he'd carefully built around himself creaked faintly—just faintly—as something warm and human began to seep through.
His thumb flicked back over the keyboard.
A few mins after
If you suddenly start howling in the middle of the jellyfish exhibit, I suppose I'll just have to take it as my cue to run.
no subject
Midnight was closer. Not by much, but it was coming closer.
Ah, there's his reply.
Howl with me!! It's therapeutic.
no subject
I’m not entirely convinced getting escorted out of the aquarium for unsettling the aquatic life would be a great way to end the evening, though.
That said—there is some psychological merit to it. Vocal expression as an emotional release is actually quite common. Yelling into the void, primal screaming therapy... Even crying functions similarly.
So, theoretically, howling could be beneficial.
But I do wonder—would it be more effective in solitude, or do you think it’s the shared experience that makes it therapeutic?
no subject
The way he kind of info dumps about anything he knows is cute.
THE SHARED EXPERIENCE FOR SURE!!!!
Like yes sometimes you have to cry and scream and confront the thing you're running from and that is important for healing
But it IS better with other people. Because then you aren't alone, then you both are singing out your hearts and harmonizing even with different voices.
no subject
People—broken people—cling to pain as much as they seek to escape it. Trauma binds them together, but it doesn’t always heal them. If anything, it deepens the wounds, makes them sharper, more inescapable.
There’s a reason why shared suffering often feels like understanding. People are drawn to those who echo their pain, but that doesn’t mean they’ve found true harmony. More often than not, they’re just feeding into the cycle—mistaking the resonance of their wounds for something restorative.
no subject
"Do you wish you could forget too? It's lonely..." and who knows how much longer she would've been able to survive that loneliness, herself. Not much longer.
It could be dangerous and toxic if you have the crabs-in-a-bucket mentality, right? But you could say the same about relentless positivity... that it invalidates the feelings of the people you love.
People are complicated, people make mistakes even without realizing they're being hurtful.
But people are capable of incredible compassion and kindness... and I think it's something very special when someone sees you at your most vulnerable and raw and still cares for you.
no subject
Kindness, compassion—those things are beautiful in theory, but reality doesn’t always reward them. People are complicated, yes. But people are also cruel. Hateful.
I used to think like you. That kindness and understanding could create something better. But...those kind people have always met sad ends somehow. Due to other people's ill wishes.
And now? Look at them. Flourishing. Smiling. Living better than they ever did before. Than us. There’s no senseless cruelty here. No one is left behind. Hate doesn’t fester. Crime is barely more than a whisper, and it never goes unpunished.
Isn’t that proof enough?
[a beat]
Ah—maybe that was a little too grim. Apologies, I get carried away. An old occupational hazard, I guess?
Anyway, we can shelve the philosophical debate for later. For now, I should probably ask—any movies in mind? If you have one I can see what times are available and align with the aquarium as well.
no subject
Glance at the clock... under fifteen minutes, now.
Hamuko swiped away from messages and check what movies are out. She doesn't bother thinking too hard about it, skimming plots. They all seem pretty typical ones...
How about Yellow Line? That racing action-thriller! I bet that one will be a lot of crazy fun.
no subject
"Stop saying that," he says out loud. Annoyed. Irritated. Bristling with tension underneath as he held himself back from snapping out a reply.
When he looks up from his phone, the monitor screen before him flickers to a small review page of Yellow line and it makes him pause for a moment- considering his chances. Then he scrolls to look at the ticket timings for that particular day.
Looks like we will finish up nicely for the aquarium right after too. Though if you could leverage period from 3 pm to 4 pm by any chance I wouldn't have to book us one of the morning tickets. Unless you are a morning bird.
For whatever reason I could easily imagine you liking action-related movies. I love the mindless fun too!
Till our treatment we will simply have to wait it out :D
no subject
Just a few more minutes to midnight...
I'll probably hit the hay soon. LMK when the movie is and where and I'll meet you there on the day!
no subject
He doesn't remember the last time he's slept anywhere before midnight. He never exactly found any solace in bed beyond sleeping a few couple of hours and these past six months have went by in a fashion of standing between a crashing train and the walking of a sloth that his sleep schedule really is all over the place.
Behind the screen he does wonder why did she stay up tonight? Was it because of meeting him? Or was it something related to the nightmares that she had grown all too awarr from.
Sure! I will let you know by tomorrow morning or this night itself- depending on how much sleep I get.
Get some good rest and take care of yourself! Talk to you soon.
(no subject)