He's not fooled by the innocent act! He knows her too well for that. But, good heavens, this is a bit extreme even for her.
"Did someone give you catnip this morning?" he says, sounding exasperated. "Okay. Hold on just a second."
Not that he doesn't appreciate the desire to get frisky, but this is all way too public. So, he taps Mark on the shoulder and tells him to take over so Max can hang up his apron and grab Mort by the hand in an attempt to lead her to the back office, away from curious patron eyes.
Mo'rtajha, in the brief mean while, puts on the most over the top pout anyone could ever imagine, bottom lip jutting out enough she could trip over it. She's trying to be a good citizen here and do her civil duty!
So there's no protest as Max takes her by the hand and leads her into the back. As soon as they are away from prying eyes She's all over him, brushing up against Max, pawing lightly at his clothes.
"Better now~?" She asks while her hands wander lower.
That pout could put the masters to shame. It's an excellent performance, but that's not enough to quite sway him this time.
"Uh... yes and no?"
He reaches for her hands to stop her from pawing at him any lower. Something about this just doesn't add up. Even as nice as this all feels, he'd rather get to the bottom of it before going any further.
"Seriously, Mort, did you fall into one of the plants out in the woods or something? This is pretty forward even for you."
Well. Okay. It's a relief to know this isn't induced by some kind of outside influence. But it still feels like it's coming out of left field...
"I mean? Usually, no. Lord knows I understand that kind of hunger. But, I'm in the middle of a lunch shift here, Mort. This isn't exactly the best timing."
He makes an exasperated sound in the back of his throat. Usually, he'd find a comment like that funny but this niggles at some dark corner of his mind in an uncomfortable way. He used to be on the menu, definitely, without much choice in the matter.
"Only when I'm in the mood to be." His arms cross over his chest. "Right now? Not so much. I'm a little more concerned about what brought this on. Can we just slow down and talk for a minute?"
Continuing to pout, Mort crosses her arms. "I am perfectly able to take a no, Max. So there's nothing to discuss. I apologize for disturbing your work day."
In her mind there's nothing to discuss. He doesn't want any and that's that! So Mo'rtajha turns to go, surely someone else wouldn't mind a random fling?
"Wait." He reaches for her arm, to gently try and stop her leaving so abruptly. "I didn't mean to insult you or imply you can't take a no. You just really surprised me by coming-on so suddenly."
At Max's touch, Mo'rtajha immediately halts in her tracks, peering up at him. For a few moments she truly considers his words. It probably does feel out of the blue to him, but for her the past few months have really taken their quiet toll.
"I'm bored! Everyone is working and I want to play! That is why we're here, is it not?" Dance for their patrons' amusement? And since she doesn't have any attachments se can certainly do more dancing...
His hand grips her gently, as he eases them both back into the room so he can seat himself on the top of his desk and pat his lap as an invitation to join him. If his time here with Lucas and Rowan has taught him anything, it's how to read between the lines. He thinks he might see what's really going on now a little better.
"We are technically here because the fae want us to play. But that doesn't mean we can't pursue other things too. Owning a cafe like this has been a life-long dream of mine. It's work, but it's also passion for me."
His voice is soft and soothing, as he asks, "Mort, do you have anything like that? Any life-long ambition or dream you've always wanted to fulfill?"
Mort follows Max, to a point. She watches as he sits but doesn't trust herself to occupy his lap just yet. If he wants to talk he certainly doesn't need her wriggling against him.
...Then again maybe she can distract him better that way. The thought lingers even if she doesn't act upon it just yet.
"That's all well and good for you, and I'm full glad for it." Her hands find her own hips, "I've no skill for baking! Or cutting hair! Or...or researching, or anything as such. I'm only successful at Lord Akeldama's shop because of one thing..."
Her hands slide around to the front of her thighs, forcing her breasts together while she juts her hips out to one side. If it wasn't for sex appeal what good is she?
That one thing she's talking about is no mystery, especially with her showing it off like that. And it's a lovely sight, to be sure, but Max likes her for more than just her tits and ass and he means to tell her so.
"Hey now, customer service is a skill that not all of us possess, you know? Your charm and humor mean just as much as your body for closing the sale I'm sure. Not that I have a problem with anyone, you included, choosing to use your body for profit. But I guess that's the thing, I think you should be allowed to decide if that's what you want."
He looks her steadily in the eyes. "Is that still what you want?"
Mo'rtahja is...missing the point. Whether on purpose or not, she's not even aware. But it does seem to flip a switch. Suddenly she stamps her foot, hands stiff at her sides with her cheeks puffing out again. Even her tail is bristled out in frustration.
"That's all I'm good at! That is all I know, so why shouldn't I continue? Anyroad, we're all here for a show, so why not make the most of that!?"
He stands, overcome by the urge to try and pull her into a hug and soothe her, but he stops short of doing that, instead, offering his hands to her palms up if she wants to take them.
"There isn't a person here who would argue you are not very good at it. I see no reason not to be proud of that. But you're selling yourself too short saying that's all you're good at. Because not only can you dance, and perform dazzling acrobatic stunts, and magic, but I've seen you kick my ass at fencing too. Not to mention your quick wit and dependability. There's so much of you that I value. I guess... I just really want you to be able to see yourself the way I do. I see a capable, clever, sexy young woman in front of me who could do anything she wanted so long as she put her mind to it." You can be more, Mort.
Mo'rtajha straightens, just barely able to contain a frown. Her ears give her away, pinned back against her hair.
"It is! All I'm good at, all I know!" Her voice threatens to crack but still Mort presses on.
"And besides, isn't it the selfsame reason we were brought here? To lie with one another for the fae's amusement? Just so! And I shall be the one to do it best!"
His heart breaks seeing her look so upset. And he's torn: does he say more, try to make her see what he's getting at or... does he let it go and hope she will come around to the understanding on her own?
"Mort... I... I hope you know that just because something is all you've ever known doesn't mean it's all you'll ever have to know. The fae want us to entertain them. It's true. But I think even they must know there's more to life than just sex. And there's more to us than just being playthings. Can't you see that?"
Mo'rtajha draws herself up, taking a long, deep breath through her nose. She can also read between the lines. For all their similarities Mort knows they are also so very different.
"I was never free before." Somehow her voice is steady with conviction even as she feels like collapsing to the ground and wailing until her lungs are raw.
"It is all I know. Even after my escape what I knew kept me fed and clothed when all else failed." Another breath, thready, as her eyes burn with tears.
"We cannot leave this city. We are here at the whim of our patrons. 'Tis little price to pay than to rely on mine own skills to keep my new masters happy." At last, those tears slips free, running down her cheeks, "I am what I am, and what I always will be, Max."
"I know we don't have the same backgrounds, but I would never ever judge you for doing what you needed to do to survive. I'm not saying you have to stop now if you don't want to." But there's that caveat again, what she wants.
"You are what you are. We are all forged by our pasts. But, Mort, I will never accept that you have to be one thing forever. You can be more. I know you can."
Tentatively, he reaches out to stroke his thumb over her cheek, to wipe away the tears.
"Change is hard. But it's not impossible. When I first got here, I panicked because I didn't know how to live without a Master anymore. But my friends helped me see that I didn't need one. I could be my own man. Now I am. So, I promise you, right now, that if you want my support to find your own way, you will always have it."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2022-01-05 06:37 pm (UTC)"Did someone give you catnip this morning?" he says, sounding exasperated. "Okay. Hold on just a second."
Not that he doesn't appreciate the desire to get frisky, but this is all way too public. So, he taps Mark on the shoulder and tells him to take over so Max can hang up his apron and grab Mort by the hand in an attempt to lead her to the back office, away from curious patron eyes.
(no subject)
Date: 2022-01-13 07:18 pm (UTC)So there's no protest as Max takes her by the hand and leads her into the back. As soon as they are away from prying eyes She's all over him, brushing up against Max, pawing lightly at his clothes.
"Better now~?" She asks while her hands wander lower.
(no subject)
Date: 2022-01-13 07:26 pm (UTC)"Uh... yes and no?"
He reaches for her hands to stop her from pawing at him any lower. Something about this just doesn't add up. Even as nice as this all feels, he'd rather get to the bottom of it before going any further.
"Seriously, Mort, did you fall into one of the plants out in the woods or something? This is pretty forward even for you."
(no subject)
Date: 2022-01-13 07:29 pm (UTC)"Oh! No...no. I'm just bored and hungry," She makes sure to purr her r's extra hard, licking her lips. "Is that so bad?"
(no subject)
Date: 2022-01-13 07:39 pm (UTC)"I mean? Usually, no. Lord knows I understand that kind of hunger. But, I'm in the middle of a lunch shift here, Mort. This isn't exactly the best timing."
(no subject)
Date: 2022-01-13 07:43 pm (UTC)"Are you not on the menu, then?" Because that was her understanding and she's sticking to it!
(no subject)
Date: 2022-01-13 07:57 pm (UTC)"Only when I'm in the mood to be." His arms cross over his chest. "Right now? Not so much. I'm a little more concerned about what brought this on. Can we just slow down and talk for a minute?"
(no subject)
Date: 2022-01-13 08:08 pm (UTC)In her mind there's nothing to discuss. He doesn't want any and that's that! So Mo'rtajha turns to go, surely someone else wouldn't mind a random fling?
(no subject)
Date: 2022-01-13 08:12 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2022-01-13 08:23 pm (UTC)"I'm bored! Everyone is working and I want to play! That is why we're here, is it not?" Dance for their patrons' amusement? And since she doesn't have any attachments se can certainly do more dancing...
(no subject)
Date: 2022-01-13 08:45 pm (UTC)"We are technically here because the fae want us to play. But that doesn't mean we can't pursue other things too. Owning a cafe like this has been a life-long dream of mine. It's work, but it's also passion for me."
His voice is soft and soothing, as he asks, "Mort, do you have anything like that? Any life-long ambition or dream you've always wanted to fulfill?"
(no subject)
Date: 2022-01-13 09:06 pm (UTC)...Then again maybe she can distract him better that way. The thought lingers even if she doesn't act upon it just yet.
"That's all well and good for you, and I'm full glad for it." Her hands find her own hips, "I've no skill for baking! Or cutting hair! Or...or researching, or anything as such. I'm only successful at Lord Akeldama's shop because of one thing..."
Her hands slide around to the front of her thighs, forcing her breasts together while she juts her hips out to one side. If it wasn't for sex appeal what good is she?
(no subject)
Date: 2022-01-13 09:32 pm (UTC)"Hey now, customer service is a skill that not all of us possess, you know? Your charm and humor mean just as much as your body for closing the sale I'm sure. Not that I have a problem with anyone, you included, choosing to use your body for profit. But I guess that's the thing, I think you should be allowed to decide if that's what you want."
He looks her steadily in the eyes. "Is that still what you want?"
(no subject)
Date: 2022-01-13 09:39 pm (UTC)"That's all I'm good at! That is all I know, so why shouldn't I continue? Anyroad, we're all here for a show, so why not make the most of that!?"
(no subject)
Date: 2022-01-13 09:49 pm (UTC)"There isn't a person here who would argue you are not very good at it. I see no reason not to be proud of that. But you're selling yourself too short saying that's all you're good at. Because not only can you dance, and perform dazzling acrobatic stunts, and magic, but I've seen you kick my ass at fencing too. Not to mention your quick wit and dependability. There's so much of you that I value. I guess... I just really want you to be able to see yourself the way I do. I see a capable, clever, sexy young woman in front of me who could do anything she wanted so long as she put her mind to it." You can be more, Mort.
(no subject)
Date: 2022-01-13 10:48 pm (UTC)"It is! All I'm good at, all I know!" Her voice threatens to crack but still Mort presses on.
"And besides, isn't it the selfsame reason we were brought here? To lie with one another for the fae's amusement? Just so! And I shall be the one to do it best!"
(no subject)
Date: 2022-01-14 04:37 pm (UTC)"Mort... I... I hope you know that just because something is all you've ever known doesn't mean it's all you'll ever have to know. The fae want us to entertain them. It's true. But I think even they must know there's more to life than just sex. And there's more to us than just being playthings. Can't you see that?"
(no subject)
Date: 2022-01-14 05:46 pm (UTC)"I was never free before." Somehow her voice is steady with conviction even as she feels like collapsing to the ground and wailing until her lungs are raw.
"It is all I know. Even after my escape what I knew kept me fed and clothed when all else failed." Another breath, thready, as her eyes burn with tears.
"We cannot leave this city. We are here at the whim of our patrons. 'Tis little price to pay than to rely on mine own skills to keep my new masters happy." At last, those tears slips free, running down her cheeks, "I am what I am, and what I always will be, Max."
(no subject)
Date: 2022-01-14 06:08 pm (UTC)"You are what you are. We are all forged by our pasts. But, Mort, I will never accept that you have to be one thing forever. You can be more. I know you can."
Tentatively, he reaches out to stroke his thumb over her cheek, to wipe away the tears.
"Change is hard. But it's not impossible. When I first got here, I panicked because I didn't know how to live without a Master anymore. But my friends helped me see that I didn't need one. I could be my own man. Now I am. So, I promise you, right now, that if you want my support to find your own way, you will always have it."