[IC Inbox]

[maximumcake]

"You've reached Max Maximum. Leave a detailed message and I'll call you back as soon as I can. Thanks."

Comments

[hate_gettin_older]

It's some hours after this, close to midnight, that Edgar knocks at Max's door.

He's bone-weary, and feeling dully miserable, and doesn't know whether he wants to talk or fuck or curl up and sleep, just knows he doesn't want to be alone.

[maximumcake]

It's just Max tonight (Lucas and Rowan are off having a good time elsewhere most likely). He's having his traditional night cap of whiskey over ice when he hears the knock at his door. Hm. Who could it be at this hour?

He smiles at first when he opens it and sees Edgar. But the smile quickly vanishes once he registers the look on his friend's face.

"Hey, come in. What's going on?"

[hate_gettin_older]

"Just ... having a bad night is all," he mumbles, stepping into the room.

Despite the warm summer night outside, he feels chilled. Max may notice the faint dampness of condensation on his clothes, although he hasn't.

[maximumcake]

Max can't help but notice the dampness as he puts a hand to Edgar's shoulder to guide him around to the sofa. They have a proper entertaining room now since the bed got moved to a separate room.

"Looks like a really bad night. You must be freezing cold, you're all covered in dew. Here, can I get you a robe? How about a hot cup of something to drink, too?" Maybe tea this time instead of coffee, Max thinks to himself. Something soothing.

text;

[zephrah]

Hey Max, it's Keyleth. Can I come to your room if you have time? I'm not doing so great. I'm not trying to manipulate into saying yes I just want to warn you? Also I have a produce basket made up for you. You can still have it even if you're busy.

Okay thanks, and sorry. And thanks.

-Keyleth

Re: text;

[maximumcake]

Of course! My doors are always open for a friend in need. I'll put on a kettle for some tea and see you soon?

text > action;

[zephrah]

Thank you, Max, thank you a lot.

[ Max gets a knock very quickly after that message is sent. Keyleth is waiting with a large basket of produce, very much looking like she needs a hug and a shoulder to cry on. ]

action forever

[maximumcake]

Luckily, Max has almost a sixth sense when it comes to detecting when someone needs a hug. No sooner is the door opened than he takes the basket from her with one arm and pulls her into his chest with the other.

"Come here. Come in. I've got you."

voice,

[epicure]

Max. You have received many gifts from the fae, yes? Have any of them been...mm. Well. Unexpected? Things you most assuredly did not ask for?

Re: voice,

[maximumcake]

Uh... not exactly. I've gotten a couple of requests that were fulfilled in not quite the way I asked, but no. Nothing unsolicited.

Why? Did something happen?

Re: voice,

[epicure]

Hmm? ( From the sound of things, Zevran must have spaced out for a second or two. )

Nothing to worry yourself over. I was given a gift I had not anticipated, that is all. ( he clears his throat. ) Sorry to have bothered you, my friend.

Re: voice,

[maximumcake]

You're not bothering me. But, if you don't mind me saying, it sounds like you're the one who's a little bothered.

What did they give you?

voice

[ragesagainsttheodds]

Hey Max, you hang out with Edgar a bit, right?

Y'wouldn't happen to know when his birthday is, would you?

Re: voice

[maximumcake]

Sure; we're pretty close.

Ah, well, yes and no. He doesn't know the actual day of his birth. That's a bit of a... complicated issue for him.

However, I encouraged him to pick a day for himself. He settled on celebrating it on the first of the year.

[ragesagainsttheodds]

Complicated like 'don't ask him about it or he'll cry' complicated or 'fucking hell it's way too much to explain without being drunk' complicated? 'Cos I'd like to know so I don't end up pissing him off.

Oh fuck, right in the middle of Yule. Right.

[Action - backdated a week] at the cafe!

[prise_de_fer]

Mo'rtajha is on the prowl, but it's very easy to spot her prey. Max is behind the counter of his delightful little cafe, as usual. Busy helping customers and whipping up fine confectioneries. All very good pleasures in of themselves, but what she's seeing isn't in the display today...

Stepping around the line Mo'rtajha waits at the side of the counter where the servers go to and fro, pretending to contemplate the menu. She's dressed as usual, with a short, frame hugging wrap dress and dainty shoes to go along with it. The only difference is that's all she has on. Nothing to keep her nethers from view should Mort decide to bend over.

Which is the plan, of course.

"Oh Max~" She finally calls out. She turns easily, bumping the little swinging divider in with her ass, allowing him to get a view. "I was wondering if you had anything a bit more...filling?"

Re: [Action - backdated a week] at the cafe!

[maximumcake]

Max had noticed her come in and given her his customary smile and wave, but he was in the middle of the lunch rush so he couldn't break away from work immediately to come greet her the way he'd like to.

He suspected nothing out of the ordinary even as she lingered to the side. He figured she was just having trouble making up her mind. That was, until he caught an eyeful as the door swung aside. Sudden heat rushed into his face.

"M-mort!" he sputters, nearly closing the cash drawer on his own fingers in his surprise. He quickly waves Mark over to take his place at the register and rushes up to Mort. But, he doesn't look overly pleased--more like concerned.

"What are you doing? Someone will see you."

[prise_de_fer]

Not exactly the reaction she's hoping for, but Mort is nothing if not persistent. Wriggling her booty a little, her ears perk up. If it wasn't for the current context, she'd almost look completely innocent of what she's actually doing.

"Mrrrow?" Mort is a perfect angel and is doing nothing wrong whatsoever. "I thought I would come and give you a well deserved break, of course~"

Gift delivery (12/25)

[invigorates]

Lioriley's gift this year arrives in a small wooden box. Inside is a black card that simply says Wicked in white lettering. Along with a note from Lioriley:

Max,

In light of embarrassing myself while searching the shops for things you may enjoy, I have instead decided to give you this: on this card is the equivalent of one hundred gold you can spend on anything within Wicked. I have already paid the men there accordingly, so you have no issue using it.

I hope to see you soon. Take care and merry Yule.

Love,
Lioriley.

CAKE OR DEATH

[hate_gettin_older]

Edgar doesn't like to use the tomes that often; it never feels right, talking to someone when you can't see them. So he waits for the opportunity to catch Max at the cafe after closing, finishing up the dishwashing in record time to be sure he won't miss him on the way out.

"Hey," he says, poking his head into the office while still drying his hands on a clean towel, "you got a moment?"

lol

[maximumcake]

Max is just tidying up a stack of papers that lists all the purchases of the day. Thanks to fae magic he doesn't have to worry much about turning profit (or even paying for materials) but he likes to track purchases so he can see what the popular items are, that way he'll make sure to bake enough of them. Setting the papers aside, he smiles up at Edgar.

"Sure. Grab a seat? What's up?"

[hate_gettin_older]

He comes in, perches on the edge of a chair.

"Saw your video the other day, about the thing you want to do for Mort's birthday, and -- okay, first off, I'm in if you need any help for that, but it made me think of something else. Cause you do the cake thing for everyone that asks, and I was, you know, wondering ..."

A pause.

"D'you know when Ren's birthday is?"

text; late March

[aperturesubject0001]

[ Chell has been picking up shifts at the cafe again in the last few weeks, but she's still been keeping a noticeable distance from Max -- coming in early to bake, that kind of thing.

As winter turns into spring, though, and the hurt of losing Beau fades to something more manageable, and no more consequences seem to be coming down on anyone who participated in the strike, that distance starts to feel ... silly. And lonely, more to the point.

Chell's pretty stubborn, and she's not always that smart. But she'll usually get it if you give her long enough. So, finally, on a drizzly afternoon, Max gets a message in his tome: ]

I miss you.
I'm sorry I've been so weird since everything happened.

text; late March

[maximumcake]

[It's been hard to let her have that distance. Every part of him screaming to try and merge the gap. But he has steadfastly resisted. It's what she wants.

When that text lights up his tome, however, the urge to spring right to his feet and find her floods back with all the strength of his being. His handwriting is just a bit sloppier than usual in his hasty reply.]

I understand your reasons. But I miss you too. Where are you?

[aperturesubject0001]

Up in the attic in the castle

[ She has also been avoiding the Summer Wing ever since she did her best wrecking ball impression on her room. Whoops! ]

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