The scowl actually catches Maruki off guard and he has to wonder, how much of that detective's plastic mask had been viscerally torn in the months that he's stayed here or had he always been like this?
He resists the urge to wander down that pipeline.
“Ahaha, I suppose that’s fair. I wouldn’t want to slow anyone down, after all. If it ever comes to it, please don’t hesitate to prioritize yourselves over me.” His smile wavers, not quite reaching his eyes. “I already appreciate you pointing me in the right direction.”
He exhales through his nose, shoulders slumping just a little as he digs into his pockets again.
"But, you know..." He hums, pulling out the usual loose change and receipts before feeling the distinct shape of metal pressing into his fingertips. "Even if I’m not cut out for combat, I do have other strengths."
A pause, before he offers Akechi an easy, lopsided grin. “You might be surprised how useful a little emotional support can be in a place like this. Psychological stress, trauma, uncertainty about the future—it’s not good for the mind, you know?”
He wiggles his fingers slightly before pulling out a familiar bundle of keys—except... there was something new attached.
Maruki blinks.
“Oh, hello.”
A sleek, unfamiliar key fob now dangles from the set, looking just a little too pristine compared to his usual collection of well-worn keys. His brows knit together as he experimentally presses the unlock button.
Nothing.
Or—
BEEP BEEP.
A loud chirp echoes through the air, and Maruki instinctively turns toward the sound—only for his entire body to stiffen at what he sees.
“...Huh.”
Parked neatly among the scattered vehicles was a taxi car—or at least, something eerily reminiscent of one. A boxy black frame, pristine white roof light spelling T A X I, the kind of design that had become so iconic in the city.
no subject
He resists the urge to wander down that pipeline.
“Ahaha, I suppose that’s fair. I wouldn’t want to slow anyone down, after all. If it ever comes to it, please don’t hesitate to prioritize yourselves over me.” His smile wavers, not quite reaching his eyes. “I already appreciate you pointing me in the right direction.”
He exhales through his nose, shoulders slumping just a little as he digs into his pockets again.
"But, you know..." He hums, pulling out the usual loose change and receipts before feeling the distinct shape of metal pressing into his fingertips. "Even if I’m not cut out for combat, I do have other strengths."
A pause, before he offers Akechi an easy, lopsided grin. “You might be surprised how useful a little emotional support can be in a place like this. Psychological stress, trauma, uncertainty about the future—it’s not good for the mind, you know?”
He wiggles his fingers slightly before pulling out a familiar bundle of keys—except... there was something new attached.
Maruki blinks.
“Oh, hello.”
A sleek, unfamiliar key fob now dangles from the set, looking just a little too pristine compared to his usual collection of well-worn keys. His brows knit together as he experimentally presses the unlock button.
Nothing.
Or—
BEEP BEEP.
A loud chirp echoes through the air, and Maruki instinctively turns toward the sound—only for his entire body to stiffen at what he sees.
“...Huh.”
Parked neatly among the scattered vehicles was a taxi car—or at least, something eerily reminiscent of one. A boxy black frame, pristine white roof light spelling T A X I, the kind of design that had become so iconic in the city.