Luckily for them the common area wasn't the most popular of places, with the weather getting lovelier by the day and the fireplace being less and less in demand. Astarion was lounging on a couch leafing through a binder, and glanced up when Max approached.
The weather outside may be lovely, but Max would hardly know. He'd been clinging to Lucas' side too hard all this time. It's lucky Astarion could pry him away.
"He's a little less, uh, spunky at the moment. His trip home was hard. Getting a little better every day, though. As long as he remembers to rest."
Max takes a seat next to the man and eyes the binder curiously. "What's that?"
"Something I believe may help with that, if you're all amenable." Astarion patted the cushion next to him, then transfered the binder to Max's lap. "When Lioriley and I were getting away for her birthday, I remarked that it would be nice to have proper places to go rather than just renting a room at the tavern. I suppose my patron heard me and decided I should contribute to our little society, and gifted me a new business."
He reached over and began turning the pages of the binder, each section full of photographs and neatly printed descriptions of various locations. "We open soon, but I could use a few more pairs of eyes. Pick a destination and a weekend. Take your loves and relax for a few days. All I ask is that you offer at least some constructive criticism of whatever location you choose. Otherwise, consider it a gift between...friends." What a weird fucking word he just said. What even was this having friends shit. Weird, that's what it was. But here he fucking was.
"Oh?" He flipped through the pictures with a slowly brightening smile. "Wow. Congratulations. This is wonderful."
Then, the binder almost slipped from his lap as he looked up in startled pleasure at Astarion. Friend? Friend? His smile stretched wide now, crinkling the corners of his eyes. And, there might even be a little moisture forming there.
"I don't know what to... " he stammered, then he reached for Astarion's hand to squeeze it warmly, "Thank you. Thank you so much."
He turned back to the book and his eyes caught on the spa location. He and his loves had talked about having a spa day a while ago. This could be perfect.
"What a wonderful gift, my friend. I would love to try the spa retreat. I promise I'll even have us all take notes for you."
Spaghetti spaghetti instant regretti. But Astarion merely sighed softly and rolled his eyes.
"Wonderful. And an excellent choice." He reached over and pulled a single thick sheet of paper from the back pocket of the folder. It was a contract, of sorts, to be filled out with the dates of the stay, listing the amenities and options offered, and so forth. "Fill this out and return it to me. If you want to take the binder and discuss it with your lovers, you may, unless you'd rather it be a surprise."
He paused for a moment, and leaned back with his fingertips steepled together. "May I ask you something?"
"Oh, I like this. Very official." He takes the contract and checks it over. "I think I would like to show them the binder. For Rowan, especially, these things are better not done as a surprise. I'll walk it back down the hall to you when I'm done."
Max tucks the paper back inside the binder and shuts it. Then he looks back to Astarion with a curious expression.
Astarion desperately wished for a glass of wine. More for something to do with his hands than for the alcohol that wouldn't really have an effect on him anyway.
Now Max wished he had a glass too. Of wine or something stronger. He looked down into his lap, shoulder hunching.
"I really didn't. The first day he was gone, Rowan and I panicked and searched all over until we realized he'd gone into the lake. And then we didn't leave our room at all the next day. We just... didn't want anyone to see how we were falling apart."
They spent the entire time holding each other and crying. Max didn't even open the cafe that whole time.
"It was only two days. I don't know what I would have done if went longer."
Ah. He supposed it would be easier, having someone that one was equally close to, to...keep one sane. Alas, that wasn't a possibility for him. Ever.
"I think I might have burned the fucking city the ground, in your shoes," he admitted, almost casually. Almost. There was the faintest hint of a wavering in his tone that hinted he was less than cavalier about the notion. "Or done something even more drastic that involved a great deal of fey meeting an unfortunate end." Anything to make their captors pay attention. To make them understand that they very much needed to give his lover back to him. Immediately.
"I wanted to." Max isn't ashamed to admit it. "I wanted to march up to Mab and threaten her with every possible thing I could think of until she brought him back. I think if I didn't know Lucas was just in the lake, I really might have."
Not even Rowan could have stopped him if Lucas had gone for good.
"I... we... actually have been considering asking the fae for a deal to keep us here indefinitely. So it can't ever happen." The urgency to do so is much stronger now.
"Did you really?" Well. Shockingly, that made him feel a bit better. Perhaps Astarion wasn't the utter bastard he thought he was, if one as soft as Max could even contemplate drawing blood for his lover.
"If and when you do go to your patron, be very, very careful." His tone didn't imply condemnation, only a gentle warning. The wisdom of a high elf--the race of elven kind most closely connected to their Feywild roots. "Choose your words with the utmost care. Rehearse them in your mind and examine them from every angle. Leave the fey as little room as possible to interpret your request as they see fit. They are bound by their word, but they're tricksters, chaotic and amoral. Queen Mab, most especially. Consider, even, approaching a different Archfey, one that looks more favorably upon mortals. The Green Man of spring or the Lady Titania."
"Of course. There's nothing I wouldn't do for Lucas or Rowan." Max was a usually gentle enough soul, but there were a few things that could rile him up enough to draw blood. Taking away the loves of his life was one of those things. To Max, Astarion's reaction sounded perfectly reasonable.
Max paid close attention as Astarion spoke of the fae. It did sound very much like he knew what he was talking about. And what he said matched perfectly with everything Max had experienced so far here.
"Thank you. I will do exactly what you say and look at it from every angle. Maybe even talk it out with others before I go through with it."
It was not so bad of an idea to ask someone else, either. Someone who seemed a little more inclined to play nicely. Rowan's patron was the Green Man, so maybe. But also, Peony spoke highly of Titania.
"I really appreciate the word of advice. This is too important for me to fuck up if I can help it."
"Good man." Astarion reached over and patted Max's shoulder, almost affectionately, though his gaze was still off in the distance, brooding and thoughtful. "I...mm." Asking for anything of anyone was still difficult for him, but he needed the peace of mind. He needed the assurance. Too much had happened as of late that had shown an unpleasant light on the reality of their situation.
"I've two favors to ask of you. Neither of them are particularly small, if I'm honest. The first...if Lioriley ever vanishes, temporarily, as Lucas did. Remind me not to become something she wouldn't want me to be. You know what I am. You know morality isn't our strongest attribute. But she wouldn't want me to cause harm in her name. I can't promise I'll listen, but. Promise me you'll try. For the second...I want to show you something. Don't worry, it's only an illusion."
He lifted his hand, fingers moving in a practiced gesture, and a figure appeared in front of them. A man--or a masculine presenting hominid, since Astarion would hardly call this creature a man. Long hair, a deep blue-black in color, pointed ears, facial hair carefully waxed into place. Pallid skin, eyes the same vivid red as Astarion's, but colder. Clothing and jewelry that looked expensive, if old and outdated in style. "This is Cazador," he explained quietly, the muscles of his jaw clenching and unclenching, as even looking upon his former master and tormenter for these handful of moments was nearly too much. "If you ever see him here...take Lioriley and hide her, by any means necessary. Even if you must drag her kicking and screaming." And he very well might have to. "He would do such evil, unspeakable things to her, Max, because I care for her. He can't know of her until I...until I find some way to neutralize him."
Max focused his full attention on Astarion, nodding seriously as he began to speak. Two favors. Of course, Max couldn't see himself saying no...
He took a sharp breath in reaction to that first request. Asatrion really was putting a lot of trust in him by asking this. "I promise you, I will." He would, no matter what it took. He'd find the vampire spawn and remind him. Try to make him see her light in the dark of despair.
Now, he fell silent again, watching the illusion take shape. This... this is the face of Astarion's master, his torturer. Max scowled at it, while he commited the details to memory. Once he was sure he would remember the face, he blinked slowly and looked to Astarion instead.
"She won't be happy with either of us." Lioriley would, Max was certain, be furious to know they had even hatched this plan in advance. But Max understood. Cazador would use her, he would torture her as a means to torment Astarion. And god only knew what he evil he could accomplish with that kind of leverage. That couldn't happen. Max would risk Lioriley's wrath to keep this evil man from laying hands on her.
"I'll do it. Whatever it takes. I swear to you. I'll keep her safe and hidden."
"She'll be furious," Astarion agreed with a heavy sigh. "You may need to recruit help, if it comes to it--Lucas, perhaps. She'll listen to the two of you. And I...apologize for asking you to do this. No doubt she'd be angry if she so much as knew that I'd asked. That I'd put you in such a position. But I can't..."
He swallowed, drew in and released a breath he didn't need and tipped his gaze up at the ceiling. "If I slept, Max, my every moment spent dreaming would be full of nothing but the nightmare of such a circumstance. Of...him, hurting her, because she cares for me. It can't happen."
Max reached out to pat Astarion on the arm. "At least once a week, I have nightmares about that. It's always in the back of my mind. What would happen if Erik showed up here?" Max's master may not be as cruel, thank god, but he would still upend everything if he showed up. It would still be a nightmare like none other.
"There's nothing that's more important than keeping the ones we love safe. Whatever the cost, I understand."
"It goes both ways, darling," Astarion remarked, laying his hand lightly over Max's to give it a quick squeeze. "If such a circumstances should arise--whatever you need from me, whatever you need me to do, to protect you and those you care for--I would do it without hesitation."
"Thank you." Max put a lot of weight into those two words. "It's a comfort to know you'll have my back."
As for what Max's plan is for if that does happen...? He's less sure of what to do.
"Erik doesn't torture, he manipulates. He's a master with words. I can't hide Lucas and Rowan away from him. I know they'd never go for that and sooner or later, he'll hear about it. But... I don't ever want him to get either of them alone. The things he might say I... I think somehow they could hurt worse than a knife."
Ah yes. The other sharpest tool in a vampire's arsenal. Manipulation, lies, verbal torments. Cazador had always enjoyed playing with his food as well.
"Mm, I could always take his head a few times," Astarion mused, only half joking. "That would certainly buy you some time." He patted Max's hand again before easing back. "If it helps. Our odd little...community, here in the castle, seems to be rather good about sticking together, taking care of our own. Get the word out, and they'd be shunned, and left vulnerable, unable to fulfill their obligations to our captors and regain their strength. That's at least one tactic I've considered."
Max winced at the thought. He knew it was absurd, but he still couldn't bring himself to hate Erik enough to want to see him hurt, or dead. Even the mental image of his master's head emancipated from his body was enough to make Max flinch. It wouldn't kill Erik, either. But it would hurt.
He could tell Astarion the real way to kill the vampire... but the moment the thought crossed his mind, Max's jaw locked up. He only managed a strangled, "Urk."
No. No, if Erik came, he'd have to find some better way to live with it.
"Ostracising them would make it harder but I know Erik would find his way around it." Maybe hurting some people in the process.
"It would be less painful for all of us if... If I talked to him and cut a deal. He can be reasoned with. The threat of turning him into a public enemy would be enough to convince him to play by the rules. If I sweeten the pot by agreeing to keep feeding him, it could be doable." Lucas and Rowan would have a fit about that, but that would be Max's burden to bear.
Even if it wouldn't kill him, it would much harder to fuck with someone with his head in one place and his body in another.
Astarion's lips pursed into a frown, but that was all the outward disapproval he was willing to display. "I shall have to trust your judgement on that, darling," he replied, lifting and dropping a shoulder. "Though he sounds like the type who, if given an inch, will take a mile, so to speak. You've enough people here who care about you to make his life a living hell. For once, you would have the power. Remember that. Use that."
Max sighed at those words. "Well, that's just it. Maybe my judgment when it comes to him is... flawed. I don't know. I hope I never have to test the theory."
The idea of Max having power over Erik still feels so foreign. Like putting his shoe on the wrong foot.
"Maybe what I should really ask is you remind me of that if the time ever comes."
"I'm more than happy to remind you, darling," Astarion assured him with another sympathetic shoulder pat. "But whatever decision you make is still yours. I'll try, very hard, not to sway you because of my own...experiences."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2021-04-02 09:17 pm (UTC)[Max will say a quick goodbye to his loves, extricate himself from their arms, and then head down to meet Astarion.]
prose okay?
Date: 2021-04-02 09:22 pm (UTC)"Hello, darling. How is Lucas faring?"
always okay
Date: 2021-04-02 09:30 pm (UTC)"He's a little less, uh, spunky at the moment. His trip home was hard. Getting a little better every day, though. As long as he remembers to rest."
Max takes a seat next to the man and eyes the binder curiously. "What's that?"
(no subject)
Date: 2021-04-02 09:59 pm (UTC)He reached over and began turning the pages of the binder, each section full of photographs and neatly printed descriptions of various locations. "We open soon, but I could use a few more pairs of eyes. Pick a destination and a weekend. Take your loves and relax for a few days. All I ask is that you offer at least some constructive criticism of whatever location you choose. Otherwise, consider it a gift between...friends." What a weird fucking word he just said. What even was this having friends shit. Weird, that's what it was. But here he fucking was.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-04-03 03:04 am (UTC)Then, the binder almost slipped from his lap as he looked up in startled pleasure at Astarion. Friend? Friend? His smile stretched wide now, crinkling the corners of his eyes. And, there might even be a little moisture forming there.
"I don't know what to... " he stammered, then he reached for Astarion's hand to squeeze it warmly, "Thank you. Thank you so much."
He turned back to the book and his eyes caught on the spa location. He and his loves had talked about having a spa day a while ago. This could be perfect.
"What a wonderful gift, my friend. I would love to try the spa retreat. I promise I'll even have us all take notes for you."
(no subject)
Date: 2021-04-11 05:47 pm (UTC)"Wonderful. And an excellent choice." He reached over and pulled a single thick sheet of paper from the back pocket of the folder. It was a contract, of sorts, to be filled out with the dates of the stay, listing the amenities and options offered, and so forth. "Fill this out and return it to me. If you want to take the binder and discuss it with your lovers, you may, unless you'd rather it be a surprise."
He paused for a moment, and leaned back with his fingertips steepled together. "May I ask you something?"
(no subject)
Date: 2021-04-13 01:55 am (UTC)"Oh, I like this. Very official." He takes the contract and checks it over. "I think I would like to show them the binder. For Rowan, especially, these things are better not done as a surprise. I'll walk it back down the hall to you when I'm done."
Max tucks the paper back inside the binder and shuts it. Then he looks back to Astarion with a curious expression.
"Of course. You can ask me anything."
(no subject)
Date: 2021-04-17 12:45 am (UTC)"How did you stay so calm while Lucas was gone?"
(no subject)
Date: 2021-04-17 12:56 am (UTC)"I really didn't. The first day he was gone, Rowan and I panicked and searched all over until we realized he'd gone into the lake. And then we didn't leave our room at all the next day. We just... didn't want anyone to see how we were falling apart."
They spent the entire time holding each other and crying. Max didn't even open the cafe that whole time.
"It was only two days. I don't know what I would have done if went longer."
(no subject)
Date: 2021-04-23 04:40 am (UTC)"I think I might have burned the fucking city the ground, in your shoes," he admitted, almost casually. Almost. There was the faintest hint of a wavering in his tone that hinted he was less than cavalier about the notion. "Or done something even more drastic that involved a great deal of fey meeting an unfortunate end." Anything to make their captors pay attention. To make them understand that they very much needed to give his lover back to him. Immediately.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-04-26 12:58 am (UTC)Not even Rowan could have stopped him if Lucas had gone for good.
"I... we... actually have been considering asking the fae for a deal to keep us here indefinitely. So it can't ever happen." The urgency to do so is much stronger now.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-05-09 03:15 pm (UTC)"If and when you do go to your patron, be very, very careful." His tone didn't imply condemnation, only a gentle warning. The wisdom of a high elf--the race of elven kind most closely connected to their Feywild roots. "Choose your words with the utmost care. Rehearse them in your mind and examine them from every angle. Leave the fey as little room as possible to interpret your request as they see fit. They are bound by their word, but they're tricksters, chaotic and amoral. Queen Mab, most especially. Consider, even, approaching a different Archfey, one that looks more favorably upon mortals. The Green Man of spring or the Lady Titania."
(no subject)
Date: 2021-05-13 12:02 am (UTC)Max paid close attention as Astarion spoke of the fae. It did sound very much like he knew what he was talking about. And what he said matched perfectly with everything Max had experienced so far here.
"Thank you. I will do exactly what you say and look at it from every angle. Maybe even talk it out with others before I go through with it."
It was not so bad of an idea to ask someone else, either. Someone who seemed a little more inclined to play nicely. Rowan's patron was the Green Man, so maybe. But also, Peony spoke highly of Titania.
"I really appreciate the word of advice. This is too important for me to fuck up if I can help it."
(no subject)
Date: 2021-06-05 10:51 pm (UTC)"I've two favors to ask of you. Neither of them are particularly small, if I'm honest. The first...if Lioriley ever vanishes, temporarily, as Lucas did. Remind me not to become something she wouldn't want me to be. You know what I am. You know morality isn't our strongest attribute. But she wouldn't want me to cause harm in her name. I can't promise I'll listen, but. Promise me you'll try. For the second...I want to show you something. Don't worry, it's only an illusion."
He lifted his hand, fingers moving in a practiced gesture, and a figure appeared in front of them. A man--or a masculine presenting hominid, since Astarion would hardly call this creature a man. Long hair, a deep blue-black in color, pointed ears, facial hair carefully waxed into place. Pallid skin, eyes the same vivid red as Astarion's, but colder. Clothing and jewelry that looked expensive, if old and outdated in style. "This is Cazador," he explained quietly, the muscles of his jaw clenching and unclenching, as even looking upon his former master and tormenter for these handful of moments was nearly too much. "If you ever see him here...take Lioriley and hide her, by any means necessary. Even if you must drag her kicking and screaming." And he very well might have to. "He would do such evil, unspeakable things to her, Max, because I care for her. He can't know of her until I...until I find some way to neutralize him."
(no subject)
Date: 2021-06-08 09:46 pm (UTC)He took a sharp breath in reaction to that first request. Asatrion really was putting a lot of trust in him by asking this. "I promise you, I will." He would, no matter what it took. He'd find the vampire spawn and remind him. Try to make him see her light in the dark of despair.
Now, he fell silent again, watching the illusion take shape. This... this is the face of Astarion's master, his torturer. Max scowled at it, while he commited the details to memory. Once he was sure he would remember the face, he blinked slowly and looked to Astarion instead.
"She won't be happy with either of us." Lioriley would, Max was certain, be furious to know they had even hatched this plan in advance. But Max understood. Cazador would use her, he would torture her as a means to torment Astarion. And god only knew what he evil he could accomplish with that kind of leverage. That couldn't happen. Max would risk Lioriley's wrath to keep this evil man from laying hands on her.
"I'll do it. Whatever it takes. I swear to you. I'll keep her safe and hidden."
(no subject)
Date: 2021-06-19 02:52 am (UTC)He swallowed, drew in and released a breath he didn't need and tipped his gaze up at the ceiling. "If I slept, Max, my every moment spent dreaming would be full of nothing but the nightmare of such a circumstance. Of...him, hurting her, because she cares for me. It can't happen."
(no subject)
Date: 2021-06-27 08:02 pm (UTC)"There's nothing that's more important than keeping the ones we love safe. Whatever the cost, I understand."
(no subject)
Date: 2021-07-05 02:35 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-07-11 05:50 pm (UTC)As for what Max's plan is for if that does happen...? He's less sure of what to do.
"Erik doesn't torture, he manipulates. He's a master with words. I can't hide Lucas and Rowan away from him. I know they'd never go for that and sooner or later, he'll hear about it. But... I don't ever want him to get either of them alone. The things he might say I... I think somehow they could hurt worse than a knife."
(no subject)
Date: 2021-08-13 10:16 pm (UTC)"Mm, I could always take his head a few times," Astarion mused, only half joking. "That would certainly buy you some time." He patted Max's hand again before easing back. "If it helps. Our odd little...community, here in the castle, seems to be rather good about sticking together, taking care of our own. Get the word out, and they'd be shunned, and left vulnerable, unable to fulfill their obligations to our captors and regain their strength. That's at least one tactic I've considered."
(no subject)
Date: 2021-08-18 04:16 pm (UTC)He could tell Astarion the real way to kill the vampire... but the moment the thought crossed his mind, Max's jaw locked up. He only managed a strangled, "Urk."
No. No, if Erik came, he'd have to find some better way to live with it.
"Ostracising them would make it harder but I know Erik would find his way around it." Maybe hurting some people in the process.
"It would be less painful for all of us if... If I talked to him and cut a deal. He can be reasoned with. The threat of turning him into a public enemy would be enough to convince him to play by the rules. If I sweeten the pot by agreeing to keep feeding him, it could be doable." Lucas and Rowan would have a fit about that, but that would be Max's burden to bear.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-08-28 04:49 am (UTC)Astarion's lips pursed into a frown, but that was all the outward disapproval he was willing to display. "I shall have to trust your judgement on that, darling," he replied, lifting and dropping a shoulder. "Though he sounds like the type who, if given an inch, will take a mile, so to speak. You've enough people here who care about you to make his life a living hell. For once, you would have the power. Remember that. Use that."
(no subject)
Date: 2021-09-02 12:46 am (UTC)The idea of Max having power over Erik still feels so foreign. Like putting his shoe on the wrong foot.
"Maybe what I should really ask is you remind me of that if the time ever comes."
(no subject)
Date: 2021-09-13 08:30 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-09-14 06:01 pm (UTC)He heaved one last heavy sigh and shook the tension from his shoulders.
"Whatever comes, it's good to know we've got each other's back."