dollmaxing | Inbox & In-person meetups

Maruki’s eyes widened at the mention of the bizarre tail of the curdled milk, wincing at the obvious transfer of germs and the delightful breeding grounds for something catastrophic lining the walls of your stomach and your intestine.

Turns out he wasn't wrong, given how the story devolved.

"...okay, wow. Now that is a confession I can assure you I will take to my grave," he joked as he quickly tucked in his pen in his chest pocket. Good thing she stopped, even if Maruki is thinking of ways to observe her eating habits by delivering her food once work is in full swing. It would be interesting to witness.

"And here I thought mixing energy drinks and coffee was the closest rendition of me doing cocaine in the back of the library with two days of all-nighters and my sheer will backing me up. Hehe...that and aready made noodles...those were some times. Good times."

"Riiiight? There's something about college work that makes people turn to horrible, gut-churning ideas just to survive. It's a wonder any of us make it out! Hahaha!"

Energy drinks and coffee... absolutely something a college student would indulge in. It was nice to share a story like that and get met with an equally hare-brained scheme in kind - not many people knew the real college experience or were some degree of proud or ashamed or something to admit to having dumb kid ideas.

"After that, I changed my routine to going to the convenience store after class, grabbing a late night snack, then storing it until later. Thankfully, the store saved me from any more expired food incidents," she laughed.

"You could even say it's a classic case of survival of the fittest...albeit instead of blood, you shed tears and swea. Or the blood is an optional alternative." There's a fond smile on his face, recounting his memories when he was just as much of a bumbling young man as any other person stumbling into adulthood. "Safe to say I didn't learn my lesson- given I went for a master's then a doctorate..."

Rumi was more of a storm than him. She jumped to get a job after her Bachelor's, while he mostly lived off his pay as a researcher. They balanced each other, and she was the one who made it easy for him to realise that by prioritising her needs, he would stay healthy as well.

"A late-night snack is something I call for as a reward. If I don't treat myself- what's the point? That said, you know I always thought convenience stores closed around midnight, like back home. Didn’t think I’d be buying warm nikuman at 2:45 in the morning surrounded by people still in clubwear." He looks so boyish while saying this, a dorky smile on his face. "Either that or I raided my friend's fridge with everything I got, considering I always ran out of money somehow... at least now I've got better with my spending habits. I hope."

No. No, he didn't.

"Also, the cap is 2 cups of coffee if you are ever curious about what hearing colours feels like- I wouldn't recommend it, and the crash after that is biblical."

"Oh, my kidneys are already complaining just hearing that! I definitely can't pull off the same tomfoolery as I did in college. Now for long stints I tend to just keep some almonds at my desk to snack on or take a break to get some fruit."

If she remembers to feel hungry, that is... her brain tends to do a good job of shutting off that little signal whenever she's intently focused on work.

"I guess this'll probably be the most regular and healthy my meals have been in a while, thinking about it."

Having dry fruits at your desk was a healthy choice. Maruki nods in approval at that, being one to carry around his handy snacks in times when he was in a pinch and managing deadlines alongside it.

With Azathoth coming to finally cooperate with him, it was safe to say that his health had significantly improved. He didn't know why...aside from the occasional screechings, the nightmares where everything was shrouded in the void, he was beginning to recover. A part of him wonders if it was Morning's presence as well, just allowing him to focus on someone else and make them feel better rather than try to steer the wild pot that was him.

And with Ichinose...yes. Slowly but surely. He will make it work.

"It's an appealing practice once you get the right nutrients you need to work efficiently through the day," he smiles. "Or night- however you prefer your work to go."

"Hm...I suppose I will get to work as well. There's a lot to catch up on. Sorry for holding you off time and again- especially with the Hasegawas pressuring you. Do you need anything else?"

"Hmm... no, I think I'm doing well. I'm in a much better mood after chatting so long with you," she admitted straightforwardly.

Yes, she had the pressure from the Hasegawas, but... she'd be okay. She had a safe haven here where she could focus on the assignment at hand.

Even if that assignment was... taking out an EMMA. Not her EMMA, she has to remind herself...

"Hmm... yeah. I think I'm set for the day."

Maruki beamed at the admittance, so much so that he straight up rivalled the clinical lighting of this place in his white coat and the glint in his eyes. "No, the pleasure's all mine. Our conversations are quite insightful."

With that said, he firmly places his hands in his pockets as the air around him shifts. Hair slicked back as his shoulders settle into a visage firmly reiterating his ownership of this place. Tentacles unfurl as they go for the door handle and open it up for him, stretching even beyond. "I am probably going to run into your room again at some point during the reconstruction, and if not, just shoot me a message otherwise." He needed to make new pathways that would traverse directly from the IT sector of his palace to her room...try to scale this place with more futuristic pieces...

"See you." He lightly bows out of habit as the tentacles lift him as soon as he steps out of the room, new ideas spiralling in his mind.

A stray tentacle would cutely hang off in the open area, hovering still before a bright blue eye would stare Ichinose down from the centre of its mangled hands. Accessing her for a moment or two before contracting away to its source.

Eve...

A small apple juice box would find itself sitting idly at Ichinose's workspace when she makes it back, safely put away from the keyboard and the large monitor. There's a small sticky note attached to its back.

Hydration check ;) I will get you some almonds for the future as well- for now good luck !

Inbox & In-person meetups

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