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[maximumcake]

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

Comments

[ucanreplytothismessage]

"I mean -- I'm trying." She sighs, a little shakily. "It's hard when you can't see them. At least now I can -- could see Yeza.

"I picked up alchemy from him, yeah, I assisted him at the apothecary sometimes. He's brilliant, honestly. We were working on some pretty cool stuff before I ended up back here." Another sigh, this one more rueful and less like she's going to cry again. "I guess the good part is he isn't missing me. He spent all that time thinking I was dead. He doesn't have to do that. He won't even know I'm gone."

[maximumcake]

Max's heart breaks for her all over again. She finally got back to Yeza and now she's been yanked away again. As much as he selfishly doesn't want to see her go, because that would mean losing such a good friend, he hates that she must now endure yet another separation on top of so many. Max doesn't know if there's much he could say to ease that brand of suffering. So, maybe a distraction would be better.

"Would it be too hard to show me a little of what you were working on?"

[ucanreplytothismessage]

"I mean, I can try, if you want? Sometime? It's explosives and stuff like that."

She tips her head back against his shoulder to look up at him.

"D'you really want to get into alchemy stuff with me?"

[maximumcake]

"I wouldn't mind learning some if you wanted to teach me." His smile shining down on her is perfectly sincere.

"You know, as long as I don't accidentally blow myself up. Rowan and Lucas would be mad if I did that."

[ucanreplytothismessage]

Nott laughs in spite of herself, surprised.

"I promise not to blow you. Up."

[maximumcake]

"Ha! Well, the first one is negotiable." Once they both figure out where their feelings land on that, of course.

"Do you know how to make fireworks?"

[ucanreplytothismessage]

"I haven't before, but it can't be that hard, right?"

[maximumcake]

"Those sound like some famous last words. We should probably stick to what we know to start."

[ucanreplytothismessage]

"Normal bombs it is."

She inhales deeply, sighs it out, and curls up against his side a little tighter.

"We'll figure it out. We can do that."

End?

[maximumcake]

"Yeah." He bows his head against her, pressed in close. "We can and we will."

They'll figure this out. All they need is a little time.