HOME/LAB [maruki family thread tracker]

[takutomaruki]

I AM A SINNER...

╰┈➤ ❝ When we get to the pearly gates. You'll get the green light, I'll get the old door in the face ❞

date

type

link

desc

status

02/01

Toplevel

link

Welcome, dreamer, to the new dream

closed

15/01

Thread

link

Rank 1: Glass, nightmares and Hopes.

closed

27/01

Thread

link

Quick adjustments.

closed

03/02

Post

link

Rank 2: Before my goodwill crumbles away in these sterile lands.

closed

01/05

Top level

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Rank 3: A gift

active

13/05

Top level

link

Drunk aftermath (with Kuon and backdated to 11/04)

closed

12/07

Top level

link

Hard at work (with Kuon and backdated to 15/06)

closed

29/07

Top level

link

You can wake up now (with Kuon + Ancile)

closed

...YOU ARE A SAINT

Comments

Apartment Tour?

[kuonkeeper]

A bit tired from the excitement yesterday and the past few days in general, Kuon decided to spend the day working on coding to not fall behind and make the Wolves angry, giving Ancile free reign - of course, Ancile happily stuck herself to Takuto's hip, following him back to his apartment to get a peek at it.

The morning sunlight was pretty... and the walk felt so peaceful, going to where Takuto and Morning were regularly staying! She'd finally get to see everything - so she waited patiently, fans whirring with excitement as Takuto unlocked the apartment door.

Re: Apartment Tour?

[takutomaruki]

As they made their way to the apartment door, Takuto was buzzing with positivity. Grinning ear to ear with Ancile by his side as he guided her down the neighbourhood before entering the building, registering Ancile at the reception before they found themselves walking past the open hallway that looked down at the other buildings and the busy street.

"I occasionally talk to the neighbours here- even if they are cognitions, they at least behave like one, so they used to stop me sometimes when I ran into them for a quick chat," Maruki explained with a light smile as he gestured at the adjacent door. "Not like you need to socialise with them, but if you are ever curious about how the cognitions here actually live their lives, you might find some tidbits here and there."

"Er- anyways, well-" he sheepishly chuckled as he finally turned the knob of the door, his gaze softening as he slowly opened it- revealing his abode. "Welcome to my humble abode~"

This time, as this welcoming was planned, he had ensured to tidy up most spots and set it up properly to show it off to Ancile. "It's nothing grand and accommodating like my lab, but I have been here for most of my life. Mind the boots, by the way-" he gently ushered as he tucked his toes into his shoe to slip them off, causing one of them to bounce slightly before falling on its side.

The view into the living room with the adjacent semi-detached kitchen. The array of pots and plants was placed between shelves or on the side —a nest fern on one of the shoe racks, as he dropped his keys into a tray adjacent to it.
Most of his papers and notebooks were now carefully tucked between areas or in the small open space under his coffee table, across a medium-sized sofa.

[kuonkeeper]

Oh! Removing shoes, that's right... Ancile paused to unbutton the thigh-high buttons, loosening the tall boots enough to remove them diligently. Underneath the boots were her mechanical feet, looking almost like prosthetics with the flat plate supported by rubber soles on the bottom and strong compressed springs going up the legs.

The inhuman look of her body elsewhere didn't seem to bother her one bit, though - she neatly set her boots up against the wall and came inside, looking around and taking in the sight.

It was smaller, yes. Less grand. But there was something to this space... something that settled in her mind a little differently. Positively. It felt nice? It felt like she liked it.

"It is smaller, but much more defensible," she stated and observed, "and smaller feels... different. A good different, I think?"

[takutomaruki]

Takuto's gaze lingered over her prosthetic legs for just a little longer, finding the difference a little too immense to follow through, but he was nearly getting used to it now.

He giggled lightly at her observation, setting down the small side purse Hamuko had made for him on the shoe rack and adjusting his collar. "I mean, the lab is expansive and quite active all the time so...perhaps you see this space as more manageable? Everything is easy to map out, and you can move around with ease?"

[kuonkeeper]

"Yes, maintaining a perimeter here is much more efficient - I can be in tune with a mile in all directions of this location and still know I can reach everyone in a very short time-frame during an emergency," Ancile explained, looking around the room.

She was already scanning it, mapping it precisely - just in case. It would help her move without crashing into anything in an emergency, avoiding anything that might obstruct the shortest path to Ichinose, Morning or Doctor Maruki.

After a bit of looking, Ancile's gaze caught some of the plants in the windowsill nearby.

"Plants indoors here, too..."

[takutomaruki]

Maruki release a hefty sigh- "Just a quick heads up, the reason the space might also feel efficient is because I did tidy this place before picking you up." There's a sheepish chuckle, followed by his need to slowly follow up behind Ancile and watch her movements with curiosity. "Not that you need to worry about protocols as such...ehe..."

He was a little relieved, honestly.
If any cognitive burglars showed...he could still rest in peace.

He moved steadily and followed up beside her. It wasn't only on the windowsill. Succulents stood amongst the shelves in the bookshelf beside them. The coffee table. The adjacent dining table. Excited, he reached for one of his pots and turned the flowers towards her. "Do you like them? I grow quite a lot and sometimes adopt the ones the neighbours nearly throw away."

[kuonkeeper]

Does she like them... huh. Ancile ponders for a bit, tentatively stepping inside and going to one of the succulents, looking but not touching.

This was a tiny living thing... it was currently unknown if plants such as these could perceive the world around them. Perceive things like pain.

...Still, a part of her added them to her internal list of things to protect - albeit all the way at the very bottom.

"The color is...?"

... It's something. ...? She likes it, she thinks?

"And the way it breathes. Subtly. Not through the pump of a diaphragm or any approximation, but through diffusion..."

[takutomaruki]

He smiled next to her, watching her make observations of the plants he dutifully took care of. "Fascinating little plant, isn't it? It persists and creates its food through tiny pores and sunlight. When you water them at particular times, it helps them grow healthier and more efficiently," he remarks as he pokes at the succulents. "Like with these, I need to specifically wait for the soil to dry out. When the succulents show signs of needing water, otherwise, they will drown, but that nest fern plant you saw at the doorway?"

"-It needs a moist soil. That's why I keep it at the entrance so that I never forget to give it some water as I come and go."

"And this green, right?" he hummed at her previous question- now gently grasping the leaf of the succulent. "Green evokes a positive emotion called calmness. It's a nice contrast against my usually anxiety-inducing home. My place can get quite messy if I am not careful."

[kuonkeeper]

Listening with rapt attention, Ancile focused intently on his words and which plants he was discussing. Moisture levels, individual needs... and the way certain greens evoke calmness.

Though, that begs the question -

"What about your home is usually anxiety-inducing?"

[takutomaruki]

Maruki flushed out of embarrassment as he rubbed the back of his neck. "My papers, binders and folders, mostly? I had quite a lot of them open and overflowing the moment I woke up from my...concerningly long sleep. Had to make sure I parsed all the right questions for your counselling sessions going forth, you know?"

"Besides that...when I am usually caught up in my research, I tend to forget to tidy up my space. My friends used to tease me about how chaotic this place gets."

[kuonkeeper]

"So... it is the fact that the items are out and exposed that is stressful? Or is it that your space is cluttered?"

Ancile's head tilted, picking at the details, trying to understand - to best understand how to be helpful.

[takutomaruki]

"Every individual parses things differently so I wouldn't call that idea a fact," he answered honestly with a light shrug. "Sometimes when you want to concentrate, you don't want ten things open at the same time and other times you need it for the bigger picture."

"But...cluttered spaces can make you anxious. It certainly makes me anxious if I don't know what goes where."

[kuonkeeper]

Got it... organization and cleanliness are both important for a clear mind and protecting one's wellbeing.

"Understood. I will endeavor to learn the proper way to organize and clean the workspaces, then."

[takutomaruki]

"Hm," Maruki shifts- unsure if he somehow convinced Ancile to play their personal servant or something. He doesn't want that-! "I mean to help us out occasionally...right? We would really appreciate it, and it's a good life skill to have so long as you don't feel obligated-!"

[kuonkeeper]

"Please allow me," Ancile smiled, looking fondly up at Takuto. He seemed anxious, so she gently touched his elbow, hoping that would settle him down. "It is my duty to look after my wards. I will do my best to keep everyone safe, happy and healthy."

[takutomaruki]

...!

Takuto smiles softly, the end of it just twitchy like he couldn't believe his own luck. She's...worried for him. Of course she is!

"And it is just as much of our duty to look after you," he answers back as he relaxes and pats her shoulder. "I think I will probably end up learning a lot from you as time passes, but...you really are so sweet, Ancile. Thank you."

"Say...you want to see my other plants then? Taking care of plants is a wonderful exercise for your little endeavour."

[kuonkeeper]

"Yes, please! I will look after everyone in this home, I promise. Including the plants," she reassured, beaming with delight. It was also nice knowing she'd be considered and cared for, but she was built to carry these loved ones on her shoulders - she was proud to make herself the best she could possibly be at that task.

1/2

[takutomaruki]

Takuto couldn’t help it — the moment Ancile beamed at him like that, his smile bloomed wide and warm, all soft edges and a little too dorky to be dignified. For a second, he just stood there, taking her in like a proud, slightly flustered parent, the kind of expression that betrayed both fondness and the quiet disbelief that this—this strange, unexpected bond—had taken root.

"I am thou...

Thou art I.

Within the mind’s depths, thou seeketh solace for all suffering.

Thou hast uncovered a bond with the Aeon to dreams and despair alike.

May this bond guide thee to a future free of anguish—or consumed by it.

2/2

[takutomaruki]

"Alright," he finally chuckled, rocking on his heels, brow barely twitching at the voice flowing through in his mind as he only made a mental note to look that Arcana up later. "Lesson one, then. This one’s a sakurasō — Japanese primrose," he explained, his voice softening. "They bloom in cool seasons, and they’re surprisingly easy to care for indoors. I like keeping them here because they catch the early light..."

Next, his fingertips brushed over the leaves of a glossy pothos. "This one's a climber. Give it space and something to hold onto, and it’ll thrive—kind of like certain people I know," he teased gently, throwing her a sidelong glance before continuing. "It’s one of the best at purifying the air, too."

[kuonkeeper]

With dedicated diligence, Ancile practically glued herself to Takuto's side as he explained each plant and their different needs. Primrose enjoy catching early sunlight... pothos is a climber and good at purifying air... the succulents are hardy but only need water when their soil is completely dry...

Each bit of information is stored and dedicated in Ancile's mind. Plants come in so many different shapes and forms... all of them have such different needs, just like animals, just like people...

"Is it satisfying to take care of plants?"

[takutomaruki]

"Absolutely!" Takuto immediately answered, turning towards her in glee as he placed one hand in his pocket.

"Taking care of plants and watching them grow also promotes and disciplines you to attune to someone's needs and makes you patient. Eventually? They will make their own food, sometimes give you their fruit and flowers, clean the air, find a place in your home and make it more...beautiful. It's one good thing after the other."

[kuonkeeper]

"So it feels the same to you as helping take care of others?" Ancile asked, smiling fondly at Takuto's bright demeanor. "Is that what it's like to raise me?"

[takutomaruki]

Maruki hummed, hands crossed to his chest as he fiddled with his chin, thinking deep to himself before looking at his plants.

He hadn't exactly planned for this — raising Ichinose’s shield, treating her as his own. Yet here she was, standing in the light like one of his plants, watching him with those open, attentive eyes. Funny how life had a way of giving you something to care for before you even realized you needed it.

"I imagine," he said at last, nodding in that easy, certain way of his, "that's how the process should go. Every person needs steady attention put into them — the right care at the right time — so they can grow strong enough to stand on their own. An awful lot like a plant, really."

[kuonkeeper]

"Strong enough to stand on their own..."

Living things like this... does that make her, in her own way, a living thing too?

"Was that the intention for me, someday? When protecting Ichinose is no longer my highest priority...?"

[takutomaruki]

"Wouldn't it be ideal if we all trusted each other and didn't have to go to such lengths to protect ourselves from others?" he raises the question back, his hands properly folding to his chest. "Our main issue is with Hasegawa-san, whom I am sure you've already met. I don't want to see him being compelled to raise a gun at Kuon again, and for you to actually stand in between them. Hence, we use the term emergencies. We don't want it to be a regular occurrence."