"What kind of gelatin do you need? I have a good working relationship with the town butcher so I might be able to get it for you." Said butcher might complain the entire time he's making it but Max pays a good price.
"If it can make his life easier and less painful, then that's all I need to know. Anything I can do to help, I will."
I've been packing Magne lunches at least 2 or 3 times a week ever since Velvet opened. And when I was thinking of how to switch it up to surprise her, I started listing things Magne liked, and, well...
... I want to make them cuter. She adores cute things. Like how they make those little faces in rice. But I'm not packing her rice every day, so I need more ideas than just that.
Oh! Whew, okay, I can definitely help. I have tons of ideas. Do you ever pack her sausages? They love to cut the ends of those in Japan to make them look like an octopus.
Oh, yes! I forgot about those entirely! And rice animals. She'd love those. Although I need to make sure to mix in more... Western things, too, since she's been thoroughly accepted here. Like sandwiches, breads, various desserts. I think boiled eggs could work well? Magne needs a lot of protein and calories with her muscles. More if she decides to bulk up.
I did see a cute bread roll in the style of a hedgehog once....
"We'll need a few different sources, to be able to adhere to the dietary restrictions of more people in the village, especially if you would intend to offer them to the public at large. Calcium alginate derived from seaweed would likely be easy enough, if a bit of a process. We could talk to the one that runs the seaweed farm," he suggests, pointing vaguely in the direction of the waterfront. "Raw agar-agar as well, something we can get from Mr Higgsbury, I already order from him fairly regularly for my own home lab. And if we need more, then I absolutely encourage you to patronize the butcher. Having different options is vital."
He nods, satisfied with the idea and smiling back up at Max before going back to work to put the last new touch in place. "I'll need to discuss with them both, but I think he'll realize it's for his own well-being."
Valdis hangs the dress she ordered last month up on the bedroom door, next to the suit Max had made to compliment it. She's thrilled with how it turned out and can't wait to enter the gala with him by her side. The magic daggers from River lay on the dresser with her jewelry, she knows exactly where they will be hidden amongst the jewels.
"Max," she says, glancing around into the bathroom where he's just getting out of the shower. "I really think you should take one of the normal daggers, just in case."
"I've never used anything but the protein kind, so that's exciting. It will be good to have vegetarian options I can work with." All this to say Max is very onboard with these different sources. He'll chip in money to help pay for them, too, of course.
"I hope so," Max answers encouragingly. "No one should have to live in pain all the time."
If you want to learn to make cute animal bread rolls, I am definitely the right man to talk to. I can teach you how to make decorative sandwiches, too. I know how to arrange things on the inside so that, when you cut it open, a cute design is revealed. Just wait, I have so many ideas.
Oh, and Don't worry, I need a pretty beefy diet to keep up my form, too. I've got it covered.
Max is still toweling off his hair as he answers. "I think you're right." He hates having to say it, but look what's happened at all the other big gatherings?
"I already have one of my daggers and harnesses ready next to my suit. I just really hope I won't have to use it."
"Not to mention the kinds that would be considered halal for our friends that observe such things," Bart adds, as he finally lowers the head of the mixer onto its new little 'kickstand', balancing it carefully then stepping back and putting his hands up. He's proud of how he's done with this little project! Now he can clean back up, wipe the residue away, turn on a vent to make sure no fumes linger, and wash his hands.
He turns back to Max, smiling brightly up at him. "I think that between all of our efforts, everything is going to be alright. We'll all take care of each other, right?"
"I highly doubt there won't be some kind of excitement. I don't trust Dahlia."
Valdis eyes the two rings sitting next to her other jewelry, the one from Elsie and the one from Neil. The scholar had claimed it would help protect her from demonic influences, but she's far less concerned about herself than she is for Max. She bites her lip.
Before, he might have tried to argue. He wants her to be safe, especially if she's going into a fight. Now, though, he realizes that she's never safer than when she doesn't have to worry about him. He promised he'd always save himself first. So, he nods and comes to take her hand in his.
Relief washes over her fair features, emotions that she allows to show for a precious few of her friends. She holds his hands, just looking at them and remembering what Jenny had told her. Valdis looks up.
"I want nothing more than to enjoy this night with you, so hopefully we will get some dancing in before anyone decides to crash the party."
The knots in his stomach untie just seeing the look of relief on her face. He's making the right choice.
"I always enjoy getting to dance with you. And, don't take this the wrong way, but sometimes it's fun to show off how killer you look in your dresses. I want everyone to appreciate you the way I do."
Max's now freed hand slips to the ring he wears always on a chain around his neck, squeezing it at the same time that she brushes his cheek, full of warmth and pride. He hopes there really is a heaven that Malachi might be watching from. He hopes it's a comfort to his predecessor to see Valdis isn't alone. If he's anything like Max, then surely he must be relieved to see her happy again.
Max says a quiet prayer of thanks, that he's been trusted to protect the flame of Valdis's heart. One day, he knows, he'll have to leave this life behind but he'll never be gone so long as Valdis carries his memory with her.
"It feels like a dream but it's real, I promise. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere for a long, long time."
She knows how deeply Max loves her, it's never been a question, and even if he must leave her some day, she will have the ring they both wore, a symbol of love that will last until the end of time.
With that...a thought crosses her mind, a selfish, dangerous thought, and a question she's not sure she should ever ask.
His head tilts a little in confusion. "Forever? Do you mean if I could become immortal like you?"
The thought has crossed his mind. More than once. How could it not? Erik might live forever. Valdis will. Even Ylva will outlive him by so much. He's the one on borrowed time. He's not prepared to be a vampire to do it, but if there was another way for him to stay, not to have to leave them to mourn... he might take it.
The lack of immediate denial makes her heart flutter, maybe, just maybe, if she can find a way then he can be with her forever. And yet, part of her doesn't want that for him. How selfish would it be to give him that gift only for it to become like a curse.
Maybe she could find a way, but it seems so impossible. Mortanne may have an answer, but Mortanne's realm, like her own, is also that of Death. It's entirely possible that the goddess would not help, and she wouldn't be wrong to refuse. Immortality goes against life itself.
"But Immortality is not to be taken lightly. You will stop aging, you will be unable to create life, you will experience love and loss for the rest of eternity. Is that something you are willing to take on?"
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-15 12:43 am (UTC)[Max's tone is one of confusion. Please, Cesar, don't leave him hanging.]
start wrapping this one?
Date: 2024-09-15 12:49 am (UTC)"If it can make his life easier and less painful, then that's all I need to know. Anything I can do to help, I will."
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-15 01:02 am (UTC)... I want to make them cuter. She adores cute things. Like how they make those little faces in rice. But I'm not packing her rice every day, so I need more ideas than just that.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-17 02:41 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-17 05:03 pm (UTC)I did see a cute bread roll in the style of a hedgehog once....
b ovo b
Date: 2024-09-19 04:01 pm (UTC)He nods, satisfied with the idea and smiling back up at Max before going back to work to put the last new touch in place. "I'll need to discuss with them both, but I think he'll realize it's for his own well-being."
Before the Gala
Date: 2024-09-21 04:46 am (UTC)"Max," she says, glancing around into the bathroom where he's just getting out of the shower. "I really think you should take one of the normal daggers, just in case."
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-25 01:53 pm (UTC)"I hope so," Max answers encouragingly. "No one should have to live in pain all the time."
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-25 07:04 pm (UTC)Oh, and Don't worry, I need a pretty beefy diet to keep up my form, too. I've got it covered.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-25 08:57 pm (UTC)"I already have one of my daggers and harnesses ready next to my suit. I just really hope I won't have to use it."
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-26 03:33 am (UTC)He turns back to Max, smiling brightly up at him. "I think that between all of our efforts, everything is going to be alright. We'll all take care of each other, right?"
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-26 03:38 am (UTC)Valdis eyes the two rings sitting next to her other jewelry, the one from Elsie and the one from Neil. The scholar had claimed it would help protect her from demonic influences, but she's far less concerned about herself than she is for Max. She bites her lip.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-26 11:25 pm (UTC)"Do you not want to go after all?" he asks. He doesn't know Dahlia very well but he trusts Valdis's judgement.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-27 02:55 am (UTC)Her tone is soft, hesitant, knowing he would want her to have that added protection in the case of a fight. All the same, she hopes he will take it.
"Please?"
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-27 02:59 am (UTC)"I'll wear it. I won't take it off for anything."
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-27 03:05 am (UTC)"I want nothing more than to enjoy this night with you, so hopefully we will get some dancing in before anyone decides to crash the party."
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-27 03:46 am (UTC)"I always enjoy getting to dance with you. And, don't take this the wrong way, but sometimes it's fun to show off how killer you look in your dresses. I want everyone to appreciate you the way I do."
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-27 03:49 am (UTC)"You are the sweetest, most gentle, most wonderful man I have had the chance to love since him."
Valdis withdraws one hand from his to brush her fingers across his cheek.
"Sometimes I worry that this is a dream and I will soon wake up."
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-27 03:37 pm (UTC)Max says a quiet prayer of thanks, that he's been trusted to protect the flame of Valdis's heart. One day, he knows, he'll have to leave this life behind but he'll never be gone so long as Valdis carries his memory with her.
"It feels like a dream but it's real, I promise. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere for a long, long time."
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-27 07:47 pm (UTC)Ha, knew you'd get it. Magne's going to be so happy.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-28 03:08 am (UTC)With that...a thought crosses her mind, a selfish, dangerous thought, and a question she's not sure she should ever ask.
"If I could give you forever, would you take it?"
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-29 08:49 pm (UTC)The thought has crossed his mind. More than once. How could it not? Erik might live forever. Valdis will. Even Ylva will outlive him by so much. He's the one on borrowed time. He's not prepared to be a vampire to do it, but if there was another way for him to stay, not to have to leave them to mourn... he might take it.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-29 08:56 pm (UTC)The lack of immediate denial makes her heart flutter, maybe, just maybe, if she can find a way then he can be with her forever. And yet, part of her doesn't want that for him. How selfish would it be to give him that gift only for it to become like a curse.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-29 09:07 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-29 09:14 pm (UTC)Maybe she could find a way, but it seems so impossible. Mortanne may have an answer, but Mortanne's realm, like her own, is also that of Death. It's entirely possible that the goddess would not help, and she wouldn't be wrong to refuse. Immortality goes against life itself.
"But Immortality is not to be taken lightly. You will stop aging, you will be unable to create life, you will experience love and loss for the rest of eternity. Is that something you are willing to take on?"