His cheeks burn pink. Will it help her to see that he still has the capacity for some shame about this? It's disquieting to him how her reactions call to question just how complacent he's become in his own subjugation. Oh, how far he's fallen. He'll be contemplating that internal crisis all the way to the office and back.
When he returns it's with a clipboard, paper, a pen, and the measuring tape. He will start to unroll the last and then step in closer to her.
"Um. Would you let me do you, or do you want to do it yourself?" Phrasing Max...
Christine isn't a cruel person by nature, and she can see how some of what she's said already has affected him. It's honestly not because she feels some need to take her situation out on him — since he's here in it with her — but she feels she's reacting normally to what she's hearing and it's just not the same for him anymore. He's grown used to this life and everything that goes along with it, so her questioning his stupid name or the way he says "Master" is making him re-examine that, isn't it?
When he returns she gives him a look, unsure if he said it on purpose or just doesn't realize what he's said.
"I'll do it, thanks." A hand extends for the tape. "I'm gonna do it in the bedroom." Because she won't get an accurate measurement if she does it over her clothes.
He's having to take a hard look, right this moment, at what he's been party to. It's so easy to lose the sense of what's normal when his world has been shifted for so long. And now here she comes to try and set it back on its right angle and he isn't confident he knows which way is up anymore. This is probably not what Erik had in mind when he put the two down here together. He wasn't counting on her will being stronger than Max's, but he should have.
"Uh. No problem. Take your time. Just, um. Promise me you won't look in any of the bedside drawers. It's private."
The comment was made innocently enough, this time. But she might start to have some doubts if she gets curious and peeks into those drawers. What can he say? He's a man with needs and he lives mostly alone in the basement...
Christine doesn't answer as she enters the bedroom, but she turns at the door to give him her best annoyed look.
"Believe me, I don't want to go snooping." She can only imagine. Well, scratch that. She doesn't want to imagine. So instead she closes the door and removes her shirt and pants to get an accurate measurement. When she returns clothed once more — and having avoided the bedside drawers completely — she hands him the rolled up tape.
"36-30-37," she tells him. "Inseam is 30." Don't be judging her waistline, Max. She can't help she's built like a column.
He, in turn, looks genuinely apologetic. Note to self, take a little time to clean the space up and make some room for her. He's going to have to adjust to sharing. Not as much as she is, obviously, but he'll have to get used to a few things. Maybe he should invest in one of those standing screens people used to dress behind. And some more sleeping shorts while he's at it. No more sleeping nude.
He's drafted himself up a tidy little list of new purchases by the time she returns with her measurements. Those, he quickly jots down on the tail end of the paper.
"Great! Thank you. It'll help a lot, I promise."
There's no judgment here, truly. He thinks nothing of it. Though, if she asked him he'd tell her he finds her genuinely attractive. Situation being what it is, he's keeping any and all thoughts like that to himself unless solicited. Locked in with a strange guy who wants your measurements when there's only one bedroom is awkward enough already.
"Well. I think that's most of the... getting settled stuff figured out?" If it isn't, they have time to handle the rest.
"Do you mind telling me a little more about your, uh, unique gift? I know you can hurt vampires and that's why I have to handle everything, but I don't know the specifics."
Now that that's all settled, Christine isn't quite sure what to do with herself. She's had the tour of the only place she's allowed to be right now, discovered a shared love of baking, and has done what she can to ensure she has more to wear than what she currently has on. So when he asks about what she can do, it's at least something to talk about, even if the subject is far from her favorite.
"It's just sunlight," she says with an awkward shrug. "There's light and heat and I can sort of control it. Or at least I think I can. It doesn't just happen. I have to decide to use it." That's a lot of vagueness on her part, she knows. "The first time it happened, I didn't mean for it to, but it did and all those vampires got roasted so... yeah. It works."
Just sunlight? But it must be more than that. She can take out vampire's eyes with it, so it must be intense or... something? It's tempting to ask her to show it off. But he's a little afraid of it too.
And there's something else he wants to ask first. He thinks he already knows the answer, but he still needs to ask it.
"If my master were to come down here right now, would you use it on him?"
Christine settles back on one leg, crossing her arms and giving it some thought.
"I'm not sure. If I did, then I'd be leaving without knowing what's between me and the front door." Though — she supposes — if what's in between her are all vampires, she could just do the same to them. In theory, it would make sense to cut and run. But what if there are doors locked with keys that she needs first?
"Depends if he's coming to kill me. I'd defend myself."
Max crosses his arms over his chest, mirroring her. The vexing thing is that he knows what lies between her and and the exit. He could tell her, if he chose. But he won't. Can't. Because if she vaporizes his master then he's left defenseless.
Unless.
No. He shouldn't even be considering something this traitorous. But, it does stand to reason that if she can kill vampires, then she could keep him safe. It would mean trading one bodyguard for another. How would she feel about it? Surely she wouldn't want the burden of dragging Max around like dead weight attached to her for the rest of all time. No. No way. It's unthinkable.
"I can understand that. But, if he was going to kill you he would have while you were unconscious, don't you think? He wouldn't go through the trouble of settling you in here with me if that was his intention."
"You never know. He could be waiting for more info first." She sighs and looks away. Kept like a rat in a cage who might just be waiting to be experimented on, or worse. It's impossible to say.
"I can safely say I have no idea what goes on in the heads of vampires. I always tend to assume the worst."
"He could be..." He lifts a hand to the back of his neck, scratching at the raised skin there.
"I know it doesn't mean a lot coming from me, but Erik isn't evil. He doesn't hate humans and he doesn't take any pleasure in killing. He's not unnecessarily cruel."
His hands drop to his lap as he takes a seat beside her.
"He didn't have to keep me. He didn't have to spare me. I killed his sister. He could have killed me for that. Or, he could have let the others kill me for it. God knows a lot of them wanted to. He went out of his way to save me. He still goes out of his way to protect me and keep me happy. I'm sure it's very inconvenient for him sometimes.
"I'm not saying that instantly makes him a good person. I'm not that naïve. I just think... there are worse vampires in the world we could have been captured by. Maybe his intentions aren't noble, but they don't have to be bad either. Vampires are complicated."
"Complicated, but not like us." Christine looks him over seriously before turning her chair towards him, staring at him head on.
"Did he ask you if you wanted to be saved by being stuck in a basement the rest of your life? If he's so rich and powerful he probably could've taken you anywhere in the world and set you up in a new life where no one would know who you were or what you did." At least that's what would make sense to Christine. She can't help but think there's more to why Max is here living "safe and protected" but not free.
"Believe me, all I've ever wanted in life was to feel secure. In my job, where I live — all of it. I don't feel safe here."
Did he ask? No. Because vampires don't have to ask. They view themselves as above. They are not and never will be equals. And, though it's never been stated out loud, there's always been that subtle implication that Max owes something back. Erik isn't doing this for charity alone.
"Maybe he could have. And, maybe I'd have survived for a while. But the vampires that want to kill me have resources too. And motivation. So, maybe it wouldn't have worked, either. And I'd still be living my life away from my friends and family while always looking over my shoulder wondering if today would be the day."
For Max, this place is security. He's not built for a life of constantly dreading each shadow that falls behind him. But she's not him. She's not the same. And, he doesn't know what to do about it.
"I'm sorry." It's all he can think to say. "I truly don't think my master intends to hurt you but... You have every right to feel the way you do."
He stands away from her, no looking her in the eyes anymore. He's suddenly so tired. The excitement of her being here is now eclipsed by how drained he feels.
"I need to go upstairs for a little while. Will you please excuse me?"
"Sure." His explanation isn't really something she can easily refute, so she'll chew on what he's said for awhile. And it's not a bad thing that he's leaving her alone either. She can already tell that despite their similarities, they might butt heads on a few things.
Max makes his retreat up the stairs and through the locked door. His mind is swirling with all the possibilities ahead, both good and bad.
Erik wants him to report how the first awakening went, so Max goes to find him. Max doesn't hold back any details. He will recount everything as best he can remember it.
And so it will go for a few days. Max will do his best to make Christine comfortable and engage in conversations. Sometimes they'll make him a little less comfortable, but he soldiers through. And then Erik hears a report at the end of the night. In this next report, however, Max has a request as well. Christine can't stay locked in the basement forever. Erik grudgingly agrees.
So, that next morning when Max wakes, he doesn't go about the usual routine. Instead, he sits at the bar and waits for Christine to wake. When she does, he tells her, "Good news. We're doing something different for breakfast today."
It's been a weird few days for her. Part of it feels like she's on a vacation from work, chilling at a bed and breakfast while she wastes hours on reading, playing cards, and all sorts of things people do when they're trapped inside on vacation. She imagines it's like going to the beach or camping but it rains the whole time. Though now something's starting to shift and she's getting that locked in feeling like she'll start bouncing of the walls soon.
When she leaves the bathroom fully dressed and teeth brushed, she spots him at a different spot and wanders over. He's not a bad guy, but Christine hasn't felt like talking much. It's like he tried to settle her in too fast and she needed a breather from him. But she's still been receptive to talking and when he speaks, she finds herself curious.
"Oh," she replies, eyebrows lifting as a smile comes to her face at the revelation. Christine has really wanted to see the "big" kitchen and now she has the opportunity. There's a small, nagging thought in the back of her mind, wondering why Erik made this decision and if it's the first in a series of small freedoms she'll gain or if this is it. She simply can't help thinking of all possibilities because she always plans and prepares for things.
"Cinnamon rolls; definitely." What better to have with her morning coffee, right?
It's good to see that smile on her face. After the days of what has felt like a mounting tension in her, he really hopes this might relieve it at least a little. And, if it does, then Max will be able to make his case to Erik for loosening of even more restrictions over time.
"Excellent choice!" He's bouncing on the balls of his heals, about ready to race up the stairs to unlock it for her.
"This will give us a chance to use the stand mixer. Ever used one before?" That's one of the perks of the upstairs kitchen. What would he do without that thing?
"Come on, let's go on up." He can't wait anymore, he's already heading for the stairs so he can input the access code.
The stairs lead out to a general entertainment room with couches, tables, and a TV. Max will lead her from there to an opulent dining room with a long table and chair set, with 4 seats on either side and one at each head. There's a chandelier hanging low over the center of it. From there, they will go to the kitchen.
Now, this is the real star of the show as far as Max is concerned. It's double the size of a typical kitchen. With an extra wide stove set-up that looks like it belongs in a restaurant, and a double wide refrigerator to match. The countertops are grey speckled marble, and the copious amounts of cabinets are all gleaming white wood. The center island in the middle of the kitchen works as more counter-top space, but also has two stools lined up under the lip to act as a dine in area.
"What do you think?" He'll ask once she's had a moment to take it all in. "Nice, right?"
Christine follows him up the stairs, excited to see what's beyond them.
"Yeah, my Meemaw had one," she replies, memories of baking with her grandmother coming to her straight away. But soon enough her attention is entirely captured by the decor of the rooms before her. It shouldn't come as a surprise, seeing how decked out the basement is, but she finds herself lingering in each room to look at the furniture, walls, decorations before finally heading into the kitchen.
"Wow," she breathes out as they enter. "It's like a celebrity's kitchen," she says with a laugh. Though when celebrities show off their kitchens it's clear they never really cook in it. Or they hire a cook to do it all.
"Yeah, I know. It's pretty incredible, isn't it?" There's a tone of pride in his voice. This house may belong to his Master, but the kitchen is his domain. Max helped re-design it a year after he moved in.
"Usually, I'd be up here all day every day. Not just the kitchen, but all over. A house this size needs a lot of upkeep. I'm way behind on my chores by now, but Erik thought it was better for me to make sure you weren't alone."
Or... maybe he'd better just focus on the cooking aspect for now. "I hardly ever get take-out. I like to make everything myself, so this kitchen is like my real home. I helped make it and I'm in charge of keeping it up."
Christine wonders why she asks questions that have the potential to upset her with the answers. So he'd usually be up here if it wasn't for him having to babysit the ray of sunshine in the basement. Right. She tries to ignore the feelings of both anger and guilt that crop up.
"Well, let's get on those cinnamon rolls. Let's see if I can preheat the oven, or if it's like a NASA control module."
The fancier the oven, the more likely it has weird controls. This is just something she assumes about all of them.
He wouldn't have said it if he thought she'd feel bad. It's true, her arrival was a disruption in his routine. But he considers it a good one. It's just chores. Dusting, vacuuming, all of that can wait. He'd much rather spend the time with her, even on her less than sunny days.
"You got it. I'll grab all the ingredients we need and get the counter set up."
Her comment about the oven catches him off-guard with a bark of laughter. "Heh! They really do make them overly complicated, don't they? Maybe they think people won't feel like they got their money's worth otherwise."
She's not wrong about the weird controls. There's a dozen different buttons on this thing. Luckily, the bake settings are mostly intuitive. It probably helps that those buttons are noticeably well-worn from repeated use. Max wasn't kidding about how often he's up here.
"Okay." He's the one who's familiar with the layout and where everything is kept so she stays out of the way. Christine thinks of her own kitchen in her apartment and how it was nothing compared to this place. That doesn't mean she doesn't have great memories of making meals or desserts in the tiny space. Being a nurse meant often being too exhausted to cook after her shift, or being on call and therefore unable to start cooking in case she had to rush out. So the days she had off were precious to her; filled with food prep, Netflix, and online shopping if she was feeling like blowing some money.
But all that's gone now, isn't it? Or maybe not gone for good. She watches Max grab the ingredients. Maybe just different.
"Do you like to make meals in advance and freeze them?"
If she wants to blow Erik's money shopping online, Max can make that happen for her. And, if he convinces the vampire it's safe enough, they might be able to watch Netflix in the personal theater located on the far side of the manor. Definitely different. Far more extravagant. But He has a popcorn-making machine.
"Hm?" he sounds genuinely surprised with the question. "Not really. I tend to make most things fresh unless it calls for a marinade or the dough needs to rest overnight. I do use a slow cooker sometimes. That's especially good for roasts or meats. Why do you ask?"
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-28 09:41 pm (UTC)His cheeks burn pink. Will it help her to see that he still has the capacity for some shame about this? It's disquieting to him how her reactions call to question just how complacent he's become in his own subjugation. Oh, how far he's fallen. He'll be contemplating that internal crisis all the way to the office and back.
When he returns it's with a clipboard, paper, a pen, and the measuring tape. He will start to unroll the last and then step in closer to her.
"Um. Would you let me do you, or do you want to do it yourself?" Phrasing Max...
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-01 08:42 pm (UTC)When he returns she gives him a look, unsure if he said it on purpose or just doesn't realize what he's said.
"I'll do it, thanks." A hand extends for the tape. "I'm gonna do it in the bedroom." Because she won't get an accurate measurement if she does it over her clothes.
sorry for the delay, time got away from me
Date: 2021-03-05 07:04 pm (UTC)"Uh. No problem. Take your time. Just, um. Promise me you won't look in any of the bedside drawers. It's private."
The comment was made innocently enough, this time. But she might start to have some doubts if she gets curious and peeks into those drawers. What can he say? He's a man with needs and he lives mostly alone in the basement...
no worries! i've been slow too
Date: 2021-03-12 07:53 pm (UTC)"Believe me, I don't want to go snooping." She can only imagine. Well, scratch that. She doesn't want to imagine. So instead she closes the door and removes her shirt and pants to get an accurate measurement. When she returns clothed once more — and having avoided the bedside drawers completely — she hands him the rolled up tape.
"36-30-37," she tells him. "Inseam is 30." Don't be judging her waistline, Max. She can't help she's built like a column.
i don't mind, busy month for me
Date: 2021-03-18 12:16 am (UTC)He's drafted himself up a tidy little list of new purchases by the time she returns with her measurements. Those, he quickly jots down on the tail end of the paper.
"Great! Thank you. It'll help a lot, I promise."
There's no judgment here, truly. He thinks nothing of it. Though, if she asked him he'd tell her he finds her genuinely attractive. Situation being what it is, he's keeping any and all thoughts like that to himself unless solicited. Locked in with a strange guy who wants your measurements when there's only one bedroom is awkward enough already.
"Well. I think that's most of the... getting settled stuff figured out?" If it isn't, they have time to handle the rest.
"Do you mind telling me a little more about your, uh, unique gift? I know you can hurt vampires and that's why I have to handle everything, but I don't know the specifics."
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-19 06:05 pm (UTC)"It's just sunlight," she says with an awkward shrug. "There's light and heat and I can sort of control it. Or at least I think I can. It doesn't just happen. I have to decide to use it." That's a lot of vagueness on her part, she knows. "The first time it happened, I didn't mean for it to, but it did and all those vampires got roasted so... yeah. It works."
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-25 05:26 pm (UTC)And there's something else he wants to ask first. He thinks he already knows the answer, but he still needs to ask it.
"If my master were to come down here right now, would you use it on him?"
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-29 08:22 pm (UTC)"I'm not sure. If I did, then I'd be leaving without knowing what's between me and the front door." Though — she supposes — if what's in between her are all vampires, she could just do the same to them. In theory, it would make sense to cut and run. But what if there are doors locked with keys that she needs first?
"Depends if he's coming to kill me. I'd defend myself."
(no subject)
Date: 2021-04-07 02:46 pm (UTC)Unless.
No. He shouldn't even be considering something this traitorous. But, it does stand to reason that if she can kill vampires, then she could keep him safe. It would mean trading one bodyguard for another. How would she feel about it? Surely she wouldn't want the burden of dragging Max around like dead weight attached to her for the rest of all time. No. No way. It's unthinkable.
"I can understand that. But, if he was going to kill you he would have while you were unconscious, don't you think? He wouldn't go through the trouble of settling you in here with me if that was his intention."
(no subject)
Date: 2021-04-09 08:18 pm (UTC)"I can safely say I have no idea what goes on in the heads of vampires. I always tend to assume the worst."
(no subject)
Date: 2021-04-14 03:20 pm (UTC)"I know it doesn't mean a lot coming from me, but Erik isn't evil. He doesn't hate humans and he doesn't take any pleasure in killing. He's not unnecessarily cruel."
His hands drop to his lap as he takes a seat beside her.
"He didn't have to keep me. He didn't have to spare me. I killed his sister. He could have killed me for that. Or, he could have let the others kill me for it. God knows a lot of them wanted to. He went out of his way to save me. He still goes out of his way to protect me and keep me happy. I'm sure it's very inconvenient for him sometimes.
"I'm not saying that instantly makes him a good person. I'm not that naïve. I just think... there are worse vampires in the world we could have been captured by. Maybe his intentions aren't noble, but they don't have to be bad either. Vampires are complicated."
(no subject)
Date: 2021-04-16 06:35 pm (UTC)"Did he ask you if you wanted to be saved by being stuck in a basement the rest of your life? If he's so rich and powerful he probably could've taken you anywhere in the world and set you up in a new life where no one would know who you were or what you did." At least that's what would make sense to Christine. She can't help but think there's more to why Max is here living "safe and protected" but not free.
"Believe me, all I've ever wanted in life was to feel secure. In my job, where I live — all of it. I don't feel safe here."
(no subject)
Date: 2021-04-23 02:21 am (UTC)"Maybe he could have. And, maybe I'd have survived for a while. But the vampires that want to kill me have resources too. And motivation. So, maybe it wouldn't have worked, either. And I'd still be living my life away from my friends and family while always looking over my shoulder wondering if today would be the day."
For Max, this place is security. He's not built for a life of constantly dreading each shadow that falls behind him. But she's not him. She's not the same. And, he doesn't know what to do about it.
"I'm sorry." It's all he can think to say. "I truly don't think my master intends to hurt you but... You have every right to feel the way you do."
He stands away from her, no looking her in the eyes anymore. He's suddenly so tired. The excitement of her being here is now eclipsed by how drained he feels.
"I need to go upstairs for a little while. Will you please excuse me?"
(no subject)
Date: 2021-04-26 12:04 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-05-01 10:35 am (UTC)Erik wants him to report how the first awakening went, so Max goes to find him. Max doesn't hold back any details. He will recount everything as best he can remember it.
And so it will go for a few days. Max will do his best to make Christine comfortable and engage in conversations. Sometimes they'll make him a little less comfortable, but he soldiers through. And then Erik hears a report at the end of the night. In this next report, however, Max has a request as well. Christine can't stay locked in the basement forever. Erik grudgingly agrees.
So, that next morning when Max wakes, he doesn't go about the usual routine. Instead, he sits at the bar and waits for Christine to wake. When she does, he tells her, "Good news. We're doing something different for breakfast today."
(no subject)
Date: 2021-05-01 11:59 pm (UTC)When she leaves the bathroom fully dressed and teeth brushed, she spots him at a different spot and wanders over. He's not a bad guy, but Christine hasn't felt like talking much. It's like he tried to settle her in too fast and she needed a breather from him. But she's still been receptive to talking and when he speaks, she finds herself curious.
"And what's that?"
(no subject)
Date: 2021-05-05 01:34 pm (UTC)"I thought maybe we'd make pancakes. Or, maybe cinnamon rolls. What do you think?"
(no subject)
Date: 2021-05-07 03:52 am (UTC)"Cinnamon rolls; definitely." What better to have with her morning coffee, right?
(no subject)
Date: 2021-05-14 07:18 pm (UTC)"Excellent choice!" He's bouncing on the balls of his heals, about ready to race up the stairs to unlock it for her.
"This will give us a chance to use the stand mixer. Ever used one before?" That's one of the perks of the upstairs kitchen. What would he do without that thing?
"Come on, let's go on up." He can't wait anymore, he's already heading for the stairs so he can input the access code.
The stairs lead out to a general entertainment room with couches, tables, and a TV. Max will lead her from there to an opulent dining room with a long table and chair set, with 4 seats on either side and one at each head. There's a chandelier hanging low over the center of it. From there, they will go to the kitchen.
Now, this is the real star of the show as far as Max is concerned. It's double the size of a typical kitchen. With an extra wide stove set-up that looks like it belongs in a restaurant, and a double wide refrigerator to match. The countertops are grey speckled marble, and the copious amounts of cabinets are all gleaming white wood. The center island in the middle of the kitchen works as more counter-top space, but also has two stools lined up under the lip to act as a dine in area.
"What do you think?" He'll ask once she's had a moment to take it all in. "Nice, right?"
(no subject)
Date: 2021-05-15 04:30 pm (UTC)"Yeah, my Meemaw had one," she replies, memories of baking with her grandmother coming to her straight away. But soon enough her attention is entirely captured by the decor of the rooms before her. It shouldn't come as a surprise, seeing how decked out the basement is, but she finds herself lingering in each room to look at the furniture, walls, decorations before finally heading into the kitchen.
"Wow," she breathes out as they enter. "It's like a celebrity's kitchen," she says with a laugh. Though when celebrities show off their kitchens it's clear they never really cook in it. Or they hire a cook to do it all.
"How often do you come up here?"
(no subject)
Date: 2021-05-17 07:04 pm (UTC)"Usually, I'd be up here all day every day. Not just the kitchen, but all over. A house this size needs a lot of upkeep. I'm way behind on my chores by now, but Erik thought it was better for me to make sure you weren't alone."
Or... maybe he'd better just focus on the cooking aspect for now. "I hardly ever get take-out. I like to make everything myself, so this kitchen is like my real home. I helped make it and I'm in charge of keeping it up."
(no subject)
Date: 2021-05-18 05:58 pm (UTC)"Well, let's get on those cinnamon rolls. Let's see if I can preheat the oven, or if it's like a NASA control module."
The fancier the oven, the more likely it has weird controls. This is just something she assumes about all of them.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-05-21 05:38 pm (UTC)"You got it. I'll grab all the ingredients we need and get the counter set up."
Her comment about the oven catches him off-guard with a bark of laughter. "Heh! They really do make them overly complicated, don't they? Maybe they think people won't feel like they got their money's worth otherwise."
She's not wrong about the weird controls. There's a dozen different buttons on this thing. Luckily, the bake settings are mostly intuitive. It probably helps that those buttons are noticeably well-worn from repeated use. Max wasn't kidding about how often he's up here.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-05-29 12:56 am (UTC)But all that's gone now, isn't it? Or maybe not gone for good. She watches Max grab the ingredients. Maybe just different.
"Do you like to make meals in advance and freeze them?"
(no subject)
Date: 2021-06-02 02:12 am (UTC)"Hm?" he sounds genuinely surprised with the question. "Not really. I tend to make most things fresh unless it calls for a marinade or the dough needs to rest overnight. I do use a slow cooker sometimes. That's especially good for roasts or meats. Why do you ask?"
(no subject)
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