[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

[proofofconcept]

Thank you.

You've been...good? I know I've kinda been, like, turtling lately. Stuck in survival mode.

[maximumcake]

Yeah. Things have been going better over at my café since I got Mark onboard to help. I can't really complain. Life is good for me here.

It's okay. I appreciate you asking.

[proofofconcept]

Oh, good, that's good. I'm glad that's going well. [He does sound like he means it, even though he now...doesn't know what to say next.] Congrats.

[Hmm. That doesn't seem right.]

[maximumcake]

[Max is all too familiar with the social awkward, so he just smiles along.]

Thanks. It's nice, you know? I didn't really have my shit together for a long time. I think maybe I'm starting to.

[He's sure Quentin can appreciate what a good change that is.]

It's not perfect, but I feel like I have more control over my life for the first time in a long time.

You know, now I'm not saying this to put any blame on you, but just as an example: the fact that I walked away from you that day when I sensed things weren't right, that was a big deal for me. There's a time where I wouldn't have been able to do that.

[proofofconcept]

[More and more reminders in this conversation about why he doesn't lean on Max.] Yeah. That's good. I'm really glad.

[He's trying not to fall into thinking about that again.] I'll come see you at the cafe sometime soon, yeah?

[maximumcake]

Sounds good. I'll look forward to seeing you.