maximumcake | [IC Inbox]

[Max is so much fun to flirt with, that Rowan considered leading him on for a little while longer, just in case this is a one time deal. But they’re also pretty eager to get down to business, and in the end that wins out. So after another bout of eager flirtation, they’ll send another text:]

How would you feel about coming over here for some thorough investigating tonight? You still have a mystery to solve ;)

[Corbin calls him from the back room at Wicked]

Hey Max, you know what a biscuit is, right? A real one, not those cookie things.

[One day after Ren puts out a call for a female volunteer she sends Max a message. It's a little gruff but it gets to the point.]

It's off.

The competition.

I'm not doing it.

Max, you complete wanker, how dare you? [Rowan looks pretty close to tears, but it's tears of happiness, their voice echoing strangely in the small addition to their room that can be seen behind them. Wanker comes out as a complete endearment, said with more affection than anytime they've called him 'love', more affection than they feel they can hold.

How else are they meant to respond to two people that they were already smothering crushes for getting them something that fixes the bane of their life in this place? Max and Lucas might not realise it, but they've gifted Rowan back body autonomy, given them an escape from the problem of the baths that was slowly growing into an irritant that would have lead to their dysphoria returning. There's not enough money, favour or love in the world that can repay such a gift, but it's not going to stop them from trying.] You git, you'd better get over here so I can thank you properly!

[A set of 60 business cards is delivered to Max. Or rather, the box contains cards that have the size of business cards. If he takes them out, they actually read:

Things I love to receive:
- spanking
- play with my hair
- biting
- teeth on neck
- toys
- restraints (ropes)
- restraints (cuffs)
- held down by strong person
- led around by tie

Please turn over and read back

and on the back:

Hard No's (not to be done under any circumstances):
receiving
- degradation (teasing ok)
- gags
- your feet on me
- collar

giving
- degradation

Please turn over and read front

A note is delivered alongside with the box of cards that reads:

Hello Max,

hand these cards to anyone that you have any form of sexual encounter with before you start, even if you've had sexual relations with them before now. Make sure they at the very least read the back of the cards.

I included the collar on the Hard Nos, but you can obviously tell Rowan and Lucas that they are exceptions to that one. When you report to me in two months with the diary, we can talk about removing that point if you've experimented with it by then and know where you stand.

[And, to soften the blow a bit with a fun prospect, he adds:]

Unrelated: If you want to, ask Rowan if they would be interested in playing with the two of us some time; me directing and you two acting it out. We can talk about the details of the scene if they say yes.

-Jackie.

Edited Date: 2020-09-10 10:16 pm (UTC)

This time he hadn't buried himself in work, or at least Lucas hadn't basically moved into the library and kept his distance. He'd dropped by a few times to just hang out, shoot the shit about inane stuff, watch Max bake at his job when their schedules were different. Just friendly, low key time together.

With the shadows of the fuck tent lurking in the back of his mind.

Even after talking to Rowan, their book, he's left with so many questions. Mostly about himself. It was a glimpse into the wider world of sexual encounters that he never knew he wanted or needed. And he's not sure which was a scarier truth out of the two.

I trust you.

His words to Max, Max's words to him. If anyone could understand it was him. He'd come over wearing just his shorts and dog tags, not bothering with more after a long bath. With those thoughts hanging over his head, Lucas knocks the back of his hand against Max's door. "Hey, are you busy?"

Can I.....I think...

I need help, Max.

[Ren sounds deflated.]

I think I've fucked somethin' up and I don't know how t'fix it.

Continued from Here

"Huh. I'm surprised a place like this can actually be mapped at all, but these are pretty good."

He tilts his head curiously at the code. It looks like absolute gibberish to him. "So this is...computer language?" Keep in mind most people still use flip-phones in his day and having a blackberry was considered the height of technology.

His smile goes positively devilish when he takes a seat in the chair. Just the thought alone is enough to start waking up the little man in his pants.

"I know for a fact you can. I'm not sure how much actual planning I'll get done if you do. Although..." A thought comes to mind. And it's... it's silly. Probably. But it's already bringing red dots of heat to his cheeks. He wants to voice it but he's unsure.

"I... um. Never mind."

[ From this tomes thread. ]

A half hour or so after that last message, there's a muffled knock, low down on Max's door. Chell's hands are full with two cups of coffee, and a bag of pastries from Slayer's Cake, so she's kicking the door to announce her presence.

Continued from HERE

"That makes it even better. No wonder it suits you so well."

He gave her a lopsided smile and a wink. "Now, to be fair, just about anything can go good with a red wine." Which he was tempted to go get a bottle of now, but better not.

"Nuts it is."

He grabbed the butter had had already set to warm started it in his stand mixer, slowly adding sugar in to let it cream together. While that worked, he combined the dry ingredients. All of this he measured from memory.

He moved around the kitchen with such ease, he probably could navigate it with his eyes closed. Someone should really get him out of here more often.

[from here]

Wh-what makes you say that?

[Is it the way he can't suppress a shiver when Max touches him? He still can't quite meet his eyes, glancing between his chest and the cuffs.]

What, um, what do you do with them, then?

"Max? Whenever you are free I, um - I would like to request your assistance with something."

She sounds almost like she's whispering. Suspicious.

I'm sorry.

[ Almost immediately after the incident with Quentin, Astarion swallows both fear and proud, finds his tome and pens a brief message to Max in formal, flowing script. ]

I was wrong. I need your help, if the offer stands.

10am. There's a knock on Max's door. It's Dimitri and he looks like he's been crying despite valiant attempts to hide it - his eyes are puffy and red, his usual eyepatch set atop his head because it's pointless to wear one when the tears will not stop; a massive scar where the eye should be.

Knock knock, motherfucker.

"Max...?" Her voice is low, just barely audible behind the door, her fingertips hover over the knob knowing she could probably just open it if she wished to. Max rarely locked it. "I-it is Lioriley. Will you speak with me a moment?"

After the brief discussion with Max earlier, Michael nabs a small bottle of work's finest moonshine (thank you, Corbin). He's also just got a slim flask of his own choice beverage (acetone!) tucked away in his back pocket, to sneak into his glass when Max isn't looking.

He knocks on Max's door and reaches up to tap the cupcake for good measure. He's looking forward to another romp with Max, he feels like they haven't had the chance to hang out as much. Michael's been in his own head a lot, and the stuff with Raleigh....is...complicated. (It really isn't, he's just in his feelings about it.)

[ enjoy raleigh's late night thoughts. last night, tonight, tomorrow. whenever he's free. ]

Question. I know people go home, but has anyone actually propositioned their patron and requested to be sent back? Does it work?

[whenever Max wakes up after the lock-in, there's a message from Silent-Death. She's very obviously judging]

Next time don't poison yourself so badly you can't go home.

Wrapped up, tied with a bow, and left outside of Max's door is a box with the word fragile written as a warning across the top of the paper. Inside are a few bars of pressed flower chocolate and a set of heart shaped tea cups. Naturally, there is also a note so there's no secret who it is from.

Max, Do not eat all of those chocolates by yourself, lest you make yourself sick. I hope you enjoy them however, and perhaps some day soon we can share a cup of tea in those cups I have gifted you. Blessed Yule, Lioriley.

[ There is a box left outside of Max's door. Inside was a small fabric dick-doll wearing a very fancy suit and a small blue ribbon saying 1st place pinned to it. There was also blue paint pressing of Jester's chest signed with a lipstick kiss. A note attached read: ]

Happy Yule big boy! ♥

Jester x

[There's a poorly wrapped box outside Max's door, but inside are a set of about a dozen glass jars full of edible "glitter" in a full rainbow of colors, including metallics and one that's opalescent.]

[There's a very carefully written note inside that somehow manages to have very poor penmanship]

Happy Solstice! So your cookies can be extra fabulous.

-Corbin

Max gets a box of shortbread cookies, flavored with the same spice combination as the cupcakes she was testing when they first met.

On one side of the card:

Coupon for sex, sealed with a kiss

On the back is a note:

You're one of the things that makes staying here okay.

Edited Date: 2020-12-25 05:29 am (UTC)

Nott agonizes a bit over what to give Max, truth be told. In the end, she drops off a cloth packet at his door. Inside he'll find a set of silver cuff-links shaped like two capital Ms, and a note:

Happy Yule!

This is only part of your present. We're going to have to coordinate the other half.
(It's a sex date, assuming you're still into that.)

Thank you for being patient. It means a lot.

♥ Nott

Edited Date: 2020-12-27 06:03 am (UTC)

[ A few days after this, when the flower has worn off. ]

Hey, Thank you for helping out when you ran into me the other day. I got a little freaked out. I'm sorry if I was weird. I just want you to know I meant it, about being careful with Lucas. I won't let him get in trouble if I can help it.