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[dollmaxing]

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Hiiii! You've reached Ichinose Kuon, head of AI research and development. Leave a message and I'll get back to you!

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[dollmaxing]

"Drinking in the middle of the day. Good grief," Ichinose rolled her eyes, turning to the shadow that was dutifully setting up the wet floor sign. "Say, do we have replacement coffee machines? Sorry this reckless bull of a man caused such a mess for you."

The shadow nodded, casual with Ichinose, and shuffled off - presumably to some other spot where it made 'sense' to retrieve a new coffee machine. In the meantime, Ichinose opened the fridge, plucking one of the fruit parfait cups out of the shelves on the door and popping off the plastic top.

"Scoot," she ordered, pushing against Zenkichi's arm to get him out of the way of the spoon drawer.

1/3

[unit_8910_wolf]

"Better drunk then listening to your bullshit," he counters as he pours the whiskey into the cup. Maybe he likes the change of scenery with an actual cup rather than his usual vintage decanter.

Staking his claim on the spot, he ignored Ichinose as she went about apologizing to a shadow. The whiskey as always, tasted horrible but with no coffee in sight and dealing with this woman for any longer than necessary was a punishment. This Maruki has to be some sort of masochist or something.

While lost in thought and savoring the adult beverage like any responsible man should, Ichinose suddenly comes close.

2/3

[unit_8910_wolf]

"...!"

The Unhuman grabs the coming wrist and hauls it up- away- picking up Kuon in the process.

[unit_8910_wolf]

Zenkichi draws in a snarl, alert as he is and wait it out for her to do something when-

A faint whoosh cuts through the silence. A siren.

"Don't. You. Ever-"

With a slosh and then clambering of footsteps, shadows manifest around them. Looking similar to the rest of the recipients, they wear white clothes and masks holding spirals within, holding their clipboards in hand as if ready to round up the disobedient intruder to a corner.

The Wolf, one hand holding a mug with whiskey and the other with Kuon's wrist and her meeting him eye-to-eye by holding her up like this, stalls. Eyes widened. Anger imminent.

[dollmaxing]

Though there'd been a shocked inhale, a gasp, and a grimace from the unexpected ache of being held up entirely by her arm - Ichinose's mask fell as she held her breath.

The tightness in her brow relaxed, a little, from seeing the shadows surrounding Zenkichi after that abrupt, violent movement. Despite her own heart pounding and her shoulder muscles stretching more than she had ever stretched them, she tried to pull her wrist free, using her other hand after having long dropped the parfait to push at his hand to feebly resist his grip.

But, she was just a person. And he was a cybernetic soldier.

"Put me down," she said flatly, legs kicking a bit as she tried to get some kind of traction to free her wrist, "put me down right now."

[unit_8910_wolf]

He called it. He knew it- this is how she always looks. With that cold look in her eyes that trigger his urge to pull the trigger and get away.

But he can't run. Any sudden movements and he might be in range of attack. This many shadows at once would be...difficult, especially with Ichinose and her void-like stare, the type similar to the mad goddess in his world.
Eventhough as of now, all he's seeing is her again. Surrounded by her shadows.

CLASH!!

He stretches out his hand to keep that firm distance between them, lips quivering as his cup shatters next to the collapsed parfait.

"I would've if they didn't show up," he counters. "Tell them to step back."

[dollmaxing]

"That hurts-- I'm not controlling them, you're the one being a violent freak right now...!" she hissed, the commotion summoning even more staff dressed as orderlies to surround the two.

The shadows seemed only hesitant because they weren't meant to harm Kuon, herself. One moved forward and attempted to gently grab the woman, while one from behind moved and grabbed at Zenkichi's collar far more roughly than Ichinose had been handled.

[unit_8910_wolf]

Not controlling them.

She's not controlling them.

He heaves a deep breath, eyes bloodshot behind his mask as he's unsure himself. What if he gets attacked the moment he lets go. Is she lying? Why would she be lying, he attacked first-

She pushed him.

Pushed his arm to get to the fucking drawer.

Akane. Akane won't be happy. Let go. Let go, now.

"You're right, I can't be losing my shit like- DON'T TOUCH ME-!" He cuts himself off which might have been comedic in some other universe but in this he only releases Kuon and grabs the shadow by the neck to bash it against the wall. It shrieks as he swings his arm and practically tosses the shadow to the floor.

White labcoats. White zones. The lab. The doll's white hair.

"Don't touch me. Ever again." He heaves slowly, breath heavy as he clambered up and fell back against the wall.

[dollmaxing]

Chaos-- it all erupted into chaos, and Kuon is just glad that he'd let go to attack another shadow. The one that had grabbed a hold of her scooted back, setting her on the ground and gingerly offering a hand to make sure she was okay. Which... she was. Shaky, still trembling, still backing the hell away from Zenkichi - but okay.

The rest of the shadows... they formed a barrier between the two, orderlies especially blocking off Kuon but... no further lunging. They stood still, anticipatory, ready to react.

Kuon looked up at the ceiling and scanned for a camera, spotting a lens that looked so much like one of Azathoth's eyes, and gave it a slow shake of her head - wordlessly, she's fine. She'll be fine.

"Maybe," Ichinose started, voice a bit dry in her throat as she peered suspiciously through the gap between the orderlies at the traumatized, violent soldier, "next time, you don't glue yourself to my hip if you can't contain your violence."

She turned, walking away at a brisk pace to hide how shaken she was, ignoring the shadows that were gently and kindly patting her back or touching her shoulder to check on her. Ignoring that a few followed along, making sure their 'coworker' was safe going through the halls.

tw: syringes, drug...injection?

[unit_8910_wolf]

His medication must have burned off with the use of rage earlier in the palace. There was no other explanation. Nothing else that could explain why did he feel such visceral anger at the blank gaze and the shadows that surrounded her. So much fucking white. He hates it. He hates it so much, every inch within him wanting to claw at his brain and turn off that senseless screeching threatening to make him erupt.

The shadow melts into the ground, not really even giving him the chance to shoot that damn scientist down.

"Just fucking leave already," he grunts in anger as he pushes himself off the wall and walks the other way. "I have no interest in seeing that doll-like face of yours."

Once he's sure no one's watching, aside from Doc, probably- there's Akane's text, asking him how long it is going to take him and Kuon to make it to the lab again. Or how long their break is supposed to be...if it even felt like one. He was on so much edge and then that woman just had to get close-

Safe room. There's this distortion which feels lighter here. He shuffles inside and waits, thankful for none of the cameras in this section of the palace as he falls back onto the plush sofa and removes his jacket. The decanter is there- hovering in the inner pocket as he picks it up and leans back, chugging the whiskey as he shakes his head.

What the hell is happening to him? His life never had this much...noise before. There was silence and the utterance of orders. What is he doing here, drinking about the fact that he was violent against Kuon Ichinose of all people?

Akane's calling.

He hangs up the call.

He grabs the medicine strapped to his waist- procuring the syringe as he refills it carefully. Fingers shaking, he rolls up his sleeves and finds the port attached to the area just above his elbow. Slipping the needle in, he injects it directly into his system. The one on his neck always hurt like a bitch even when he injected himself during emergencies.

The high leaves, error messages coming and collapsing before his eyes as he relaxes on the sofa. Honestly? He wouldn't even mind sleeping here.

Just...needs to collect his thoughts a little...about everything.

---

Meanwhile somewhere in whatever part of the palace, Ichinose lingered, her phone rang.

[dollmaxing]

Ichinose had gone up the elevator and through a few halls, distancing herself from the cafeteria. Sure, Zenkichi could probably track her down, but the distance gave her time if she needed to react.

A little staff room was a helpful enough reprieve, especially with the shadows still lumbering around after her. She didn't bother talking to them or smiling for them, and settled on a little plastic chair at a table, trying to will her hands to stop shaking from adrenaline. One of the shadows placed a cup of water out for her, and she gave it a little nod.

Ringing. Phone ringing. Both of them, actually - maybe it was Takuto. That'd be nice, hearing his voice-- but once she fished out the phone with the working mic, her chest clenched.

Akane.

She answered, turning it on speaker.

"What?"

[counterfeitphantom]

Akane had their signal. Thankfully- even if the map itself was a bit uncertain. However while she could easily locate Kuon, Zenkichi's signal was slightly faint. Navigating between different realms was difficult as is.

"Can you confirm Wolf's location?"

[dollmaxing]

"I left him in the cafeteria. He didn't follow me," she answered flatly, plainly.

[counterfeitphantom]

"Wha-" she blinks in confusion. "Then why the hell can't I read his presence? He has to be somewhere in the palace though...wherever that is."

There was a pause. Clacking of keys following right in the silence.

"His systems detect recently injected cognitive stabilizers...that's not good," Akane mutters- masking the anxiety in her words. "Okay. Ichinose. What did you do?"

[dollmaxing]

"Gave him a light shove against his arm and told him to scoot so I could get a spoon," she answered, crossing her arms and leaning against the table. "He panicked and grabbed me by the arm, lifted me off the ground. Takuto's shadows intervened to pull me out of his grip since he wasn't responding to me telling him to put me down."

[counterfeitphantom]

Her insides become cold at what she hears, pausing as she rings up Zenkichi on their private port again,

"...did he not take his stimulants earlier?" Is the first thing Akane mutters into the call.

She clears his throat, light glitching slipping into her usual voice as she sighs. "Are all your limbs intact? Do you need healing?"

[dollmaxing]

"You don't care."

The words had left her mouth before she could stop herself. There was a cold, hollow feeling in her chest - I didn't need a reminder that it could have gone so much worse. The strain in her shoulder socket and the bruising around her wrist were sufficient.

"...If I were that injured, I wouldn't be able to talk this calmly."

1/2

[counterfeitphantom]

You don't care.

Okay, what the hell was that for? "Did you just seriously say that?!" She says all too quickly, raising her voice before blinking in shock behind the receiver. She doesn't care. Akane tries to rein herself in by taking deep breaths because unlike all these other adults, she needs Kuon's collaboration.

"So you are injured. Thank you for the extra mental puzzle," she says, rolling her eyes. "Listen- the only reason I don't care is because guess what? I am not even supposed to care in my nature. So quit the accusatory tone and just come downstairs if you want me to use my diarama on you. I don't have much heals on me-"

[takutomaruki]

The cognition next to her twitched all too suddenly. The creature stilled — or rather, paused mid-glitch. Limbs hanging in ragdoll collapse jerked upright, marionette strings snapping back into tensionless control. Then, slowly, unnaturally, it tilted.

Its head moved in a stuttered arc, not turning — but shifting, like a corrupted file trying to remember how humans gesture curiosity. The click-clack of its many fingers quieted, curling inwards like petals drawn in by light.

And then — its entire upper frame lowered toward her, not in a bow, but in reverence. Joints unwound with soft, wet pops as tentacles emerged where arms once were, slipping from flesh like silk dragged through teeth. They shimmered with a low hum, twitching in slow, hypnotic ripples.

A tendril traced the air before her chest, trembling with restraint. It didn't touch — not yet. Instead, it circled her like an orbit, a spiral of pulsating green light. Another curled near her bruised wrist, tip flickering like a glitching cursor trying to highlight pain.

A show of concern. Or something that thinks it understands the concept.

One appendage — the thinnest — rose with a balletic, serpentine grace. It hovered inches from her face, trembling, pulsing like a vein. With sudden, insectoid stillness, it froze in place and bloomed — the neon-green split open like a sea anemone, revealing rows of soft, bioluminescent spines vibrating in a calming hum.

An offering.

Meanwhile, Akane's voice boomed from her phone. "If it's Wolf's fault, he will apologize. Not me. I am not here to clean the mess of literal adults!"

[dollmaxing]

"Ah--"

Kuon had startled at the jerky, abrupt movements from the shadow at first. But after a couple of seconds of surprise, she calmed, recognizing the strangeness of Azathoth - right. This was his Palace... he would always be able to reach out.

"No need. I'll be just fine, Akane," she said, voice leveled back out after the startled gasp that must've come across before. Slowly, Kuon lifted her bruised wrist, caressing the the tendril in front of her face and tracing to where the spines were blooming out with her fingertips. Appreciatively - at least, this was probably how one touched to show appreciation to something eldritch like this. "Your father didn't apologize for the first encounter, I doubt he'll apologize for this one."

[takutomaruki]

“Woah woah woah — what was that just now?!” Akane’s tone cracked with disbelief. “I could probably, literally give you reasons why he’s not going to apologize for your first meeting, but you are being dodgy as hell, Ichinose. Seriously, you—”

She stopped mid-rant.

A beat of silence.

“...Huh,” Akane muttered, voice lower now. “Well...okay, whatever. I’ll meet you in the IT lab in ten minutes.”

The call cut off with a soft click.

The room shifted in atmosphere the moment her voice disappeared — quieter, somehow. From one corner of the chamber, a PA speaker crackled faintly to life. It was mounted on a floating, gilded tentacle near the ceiling, its eye blinking with artificial light.

"I messaged her that Zenkichi-san is in a break room, so they will leave us alone for now."

The voice that followed was unmistakably Maruki’s — calm, warm, measured — but there was something tight in it. A pause. A subtle hitch before the next words slipped through, seeing and feeling through Azathoth’s many eyes what Kuon had done.

She touched it. And it responded like a cat curling into a sunbeam.

Azathoth let out no sound, but its entire form shifted — massive limbs coiling inward, folding into themselves with a content, organic shudder. One tendril curled gently around Kuon’s wrist, cradling it like an offering, like a limb returned to a shrine. From the wound in its spine-like appendage, a smaller feeler emerged — glowing bright, the tip sharp like a glass needle glinting under fluorescence.

Maruki’s voice returned, softer now.

“Azathoth.. can heal people, you know. It regenerated my arm once. It will only leave a little smudge of green after.”
“It can sense when someone is in pain. So relax. You've earned it, Kuon.”

The spined tendril around her wrist constricted ever so slightly — not threatening, just holding. The fine-tipped feeler hovered, paused, then made its choice.

With the precision of a surgeon, it pricked the edge of her bruising.

Just a pin of pain — sharp, but fleeting. The kind of discomfort that came with resetting a bone, or pressure applied to swelling. Not cruel. Not gentle. Just exact.

A glow spread across her skin, subtle at first, then overtaking the bruising in faint ripples of light. The soreness ebbed away, replaced with a sense of numb, humming warmth — like pins and needles dissolving into calm.

Leaving behind the slightest green smudge on her skin.

Azathoth’s core pulsed in answer, almost proudly, like a beast pleased with its offering.

"How are you feeling?"

[dollmaxing]

Sharp, worse than a shot, but so quick that Kuon only had an involuntary flinch from it even after relaxing her arm completely for Azathoth's gentle grip. She felt it flood through her veins, going to each fingertip and up her arm, the feeling washing over like a small wave. It was even helping wane the adrenaline spike.

"...Much better. Thank you, Takuto. Azathoth," she sighed in appreciation. "And of course, thank you for intervening."

1/2

[takutomaruki]

Azathoth shifted in response — slowly, silkily. Its massive limbs undulated with the same rhythm as a cat arching beneath praise, vertebrae cracking outward as though it was unfolding from within itself. One tendril — the same that had healed her — coiled closer, touching and curling like a snake. A half-circle, protective and poised. Its spines retracted, glowing still. Its eye-like core between its human-like digits pulsed in a steady rhythm, brighter now, as though basking in her gratitude.

That alone was enough.

Takuto’s voice returned — warm, but quieter now, as though humbled by what he had just seen.

“…There’s no need to thank me,” he said gently. “I’m here for you, Kuon. That’s all.”

He hesitated for a moment before continuing, words chosen with more care this time.

“I’ll have coffee arranged for you and Zenkichi-san,” he added. “But—probably not a good idea for you two to be in the same room. At least... not right now. Swear I had a heart attack when I saw both of you enter that elevator.”

[takutomaruki]

“...Should I be in the IT room, too?” he asked, almost cautiously. “If things are going to be like this, I mean.”

[dollmaxing]

"I didn't think he would actually follow me into the elevator, either. Since I'm supposedly so dangerous."

But he had, and she should've realized how much he was barely containing his rage from the way the door's metal had warped under his grip. Should've sensed the danger immediately and left. But he hadn't done anything after that, he'd just... bantered, normal, even let her scold him over making a mess of the kitchen.

She thought maybe she was overreacting, being hyperbolic like the two kept insisting she was. Figured no one would react to a simple little push to the arm, no firmer than one would give a child.

But her distrust and assumptions were proven right. Why did she ever doubt herself?

"I think for today, at least. I don't think he can behave himself."