Max can't believe his eyes when he opens the box. It's absolutely beautiful in his eyes. He's so excited he has to use it right away! One batch of sweet potato cookies coming up!
An hour later, Max is still grinning like a fool, so pleased with how easy that mixer made everything, especially when it clamps to the table like that. He's racking his brain thinking of improvements that might be made, but, honestly? It already works so perfectly like this. Maybe the only real complaint is that it's harder to clean after.
So, anyway, of course, he's going to call Bart up to gush about this! He grabs the stone and barely waits for a hello before launching right into it.
"Bart! Oh my gosh! Thank you so much for the mixer! It works like a dream. I made some sweet potato cookies and it was a breeze to mix them in your invention. You're amazing! You thought of it all, even the clamp to stabilize it. I'm so impressed!"
When Bart gets that ecstatic call, he's in the middle of finishing up the favor that he'd offered to do for Lev at the clinic, finish the new copies of the library cards to replace the ones that had faded. He had barely gotten out a greeting before Max is talking so quickly and he can just imagine the smile on the man's face. He smiles in return, holding the seaglass stone in his hands and hugging a relieved little sigh.
"Oh good, I'm glad that it's working as intended. I hope you didn't have any trouble switching the utensils out. I wanted to make the locking mechanism sturdy so that it wouldn't struggle and loosen in thicker mixtures. Likewise for the table clamp, it's so heavy and I would feel terrible if it rattled off the table and landed on your foot. Does the lever action to lift the top half work smoothly? I wanted to make sure that the top half could be lifted off for cleaning but that could end up making it a bit unstable if it's treated roughly." He may have been overthinking the safety of the machine versus the practicality when he was designing it.
"Oh, no, that worked perfectly. The unlocking mechanism is really clever because, yeah, the last thing we want is one of the beaters to go flying in the middle of mixing.
"The lift works, but I will say it's pretty top-heavy so people who aren't as strong might struggle with it more. Maybe we can add some kind of catch that keeps it propped up once you get it there? The clamp on the table is solid, though. That thing isn't going anywhere."
"I think if I can make a compound lever I can alleviate some of the weight," Bart suggests, and there's a sound of papers shuffling, followed by the scratching of a pencil. "A catch so that it won't just fail and fall back down, too. Either something you can hook around part of the bar or something that clicks into place when the top is pulled back far enough like a kickstand." He's just talking to himself at this point, murmuring through his process, grateful to have something to think about that's more in his wheelhouse than...well, everything else.
"Do you have a preferred time that I should stop by?"
Not for the first time is Max struck by how cute Bart is when he's in work mode like this. Max has to stop himself from laughing at the sudden sound of notes being taken. He knows the feeling of needing to write this down now now now.
"Wanna come over now? I'm free for the rest of the afternoon."
"I wouldn't want to take up more of your time than necessary, but if you're sure, I can be by in just a bit to make some alterations." There's a moment of hesitation before he adds, "thank you for calling to let me know that it's working. I'm honestly very excited to get the change to work on this." The smile is audible in his voice.
Just as promised, he would show up at Max's door with his bag slung across his body, dressed in his simple utilitarian clothes that already had some machine oil stains, smiling brightly up at Max when he sees him. "I trust that you've had the time to clean it. I'd rather not interrupt you in the middle of anything."
"As if hanging out with you is taking up my time?" Max counters. Bart is a delight to spend time with so this is a win/win in Max's eyes. "Come on over dude, I'm excited too."
***
Bart will soon see the answer to his question when he follows Max into the kitchen. "Yep. I got to work on that as soon as I got off the stone with you. See?" Max motions to the mixer sitting in the dish drain next to the sink.
"Go ahead and unpack on the kitchen table and I'll bring it over."
There had been a moment of bewilderment at someone classifying him working around them as hanging out, but people liked quality time, even if one party was more distracted, so he wouldn't look sideways at it. After all, he's happy to be here, happy to help, and he enjoys Max's gentle, ever-positive attitude.
As soon as Max has shown him where to set up and assured him that the mechanism was clean, Bart moved to carefully lay out his tools, including a battery pack pioneered by Tarantulas before they'd had their...falling out. The small, occasionally delicate handheld tools are arranged carefully atop a linen cloth, and then he moves to assist in moving the parts to his temporary work space.
"It smells lovely, by the way," he says of the smell of Max's freshly baked sweet potato fare.
"You want one? I made them the way you like as a thank you gift. Here, I'll go grab a plate of them." Bart can't go to Max's house these days and not come away fed. Max has the tenacity of kindly grandmother whose favorite catchphrase is, "Eat something, you're skin and bones, sonny boy."
He will return with a plate of four confections arranged like petals on a flower. He also had one in his mouth, too. A good baker always tastes his work.
"The texture of these came out so much better already. You have to try it."
Bart's smile fades into a surprised sort of slackness, dark eyes following Max as he moves off to collect the cookies that had to still be warm from the oven. Of course, he's gotten used to Max plying him with whatever he had going at the moment that was within what Bart could readily eat, and while he wasn't the slightest bit surprised that he was once again being fed, what does take him offguard is the thoughtfulness behind the gesture itself. That they had been made for him. It's easier for him to look at it as a transaction, because he'd made this thing for Max and had volunteered to help in testing out new recipes, but...Max isn't the type to look at these things like that. Max did it because he cares, and he likes taking care of people.
Bart isn't used to that.
Still, he takes one when the plate is put down, breaking it apart to examine the texture, nodding approvingly. "It looks much better than the last attempt. Less stodgy." A bite confirms the assessment, and Bart smiles around the bit in his mouth. "Adding the pumpkin spices really helps, too. I think these will be very popular if you make them for the cold weather."
"Yeah, exactly," Max answers excitedly. He loves a good compliment but what he loves even more is a good critique. "The mixer helped me get it combined evenly without overmixing. Spreads the spices out better, too, so you don't accidentally get a big spicy cinnamon pocket in one of them." No one needs to accidentally enter the cinnamon challenge.
It's hard not to keep his mind from racing ahead to the cold weather, when warm baked goods will be in highest demand. Tools like these are going to come to his rescue. No, no, he reminds himself, focus on the moment.
"I couldn't wait to see what you'd think. I'm so glad you like them. You're right, they're gonna be a hit. We'll have think of a good name."
Max grabs one off the plate to munch on for himself. Before he's even done chewing, a new questions pops up in his mind. "By the way, I've been meaning to ask you how you've been? Making more friends?"
"Goodness, that certainly sounds like it would be a rude interruption to a dessert!" He can't imagine a mouthful of cinnamon would be particularly good in any circumstances.
Bart takes another, larger bite before laying his cookie aside on a handkerchief, and moving to collect the drying parts to start altering the machine to make it a bit safer for others to use. Keeping the head of the machine tipped back, he starts to mark where he'd be soldering on the plate that would catch the stand, referring back to his notes to be sure of placement.
Max's inquiry gets a small, unsure smile on reply. "I... haven't been getting out much, but I think maybe I have. There's a man that's come to me for burn treatments, and we've begun talking outside of his visits to the clinic. I like his company. He's been something of a comfort to me while others are busy with their own goings on. Talking with him is easy, especially since he doesn't dance around his point when he wants to make one."
He's quietly pushing down the urge to comment on how handsome Touya is, from the chilly blue of his eyes to the fairness of his features in spite of the scar tissue.
As Bart begins to explain about the new friend he's made, Max's lips press together to conceal the smile that's trying so hard to take over his whole face. Aw, listen to him? It almost sounds like he has a crush. Actually, hmmmm. He wonders...
"It sounds like you have! It's wonderful when you find people you feel so natural around. But you know what you should do next? Invite him out for a lunch date, or something like that. See each other outside the office."
"He's very encouraging, too. I've been thinking about showing him other projects that I'm working on in case he needs a job still and doesn't necessarily want to work with you and Miss Magne." He chatters happily as he unscrews a part of the mixer to lift the head off in his hands and carefully lay it aside. Tucking the tool between two fingers and pulling a charcoal pencil out of the satchel at his side, he makes more visible marks as he continues, "I had debated on potentially showing him around the outskirts, perhaps down into the ruins to see Paradesium. He's quite heat-sensitive though so he would need lighter clothes and a lot of water. I did have an idea, but I've no idea how to go about setting it up myself and any magic users here seem quite busy. Would you happen to know someone that could enchant a bit of clothing or jewelry?"
"Oh, that sounds like a really fun idea. Paradesium is such a romantic setting and the fruit that grows there is delicious." Because, of course, that's what he thinks of first.
"Hmm. I think River might be able to, and I know Mairi made some rings with enchantments too. Erik has one that sings a bird call. I bet you're looking for something that keeps him cool, right? I can't do clothes but I could make some shaved ice for you to take along. Or some ice cream. If I make it, it won't melt."
"Oh yes, there are so many interesting plant species there that I've tested and sampled the fruits from. Only one of them that I tried to eat had a negative effect, and even then it was mostly relegated to swelling in the mouth and tongue. I imagine it would have been worse...if..." Oops, there's his brain catching up with the 'romantic' comment. He's a bit pink across the face and around the ears, even as he clears his throat and continues on, "anyway, if someone hands you a fruit with a thick green rind and says they're pretty certain that it's a sort of jackfruit, don't eat it. It'll taste okay, right up until it makes you unable to taste anything at all for about six hours."
Bart pauses to fiddle a moment, hooking a pair of insulated wires to one of the batteries that he and Tarantulas had previously been collaborating on, thumbing the button of a device meant to be a rudimentary soldering iron when the ends are secured. "Yes. Actually, even without the goal of going into Paradesium, I want to offer it as an option for him. His powers are incompatible with his body; it's why he's got such egregious scarring. I'm going to be attempting to treat him with extensive skin grafting over a long span of time, and that all by itself is going to be a difficult road all on its own, but adding to that that it could all be for naught if he overheats and hurts himself again...I could never in good conscience suggest another round of grafting. Especially when we don't actually have the appropriate donors lined up just yet and I am already unwilling to repeatedly strip layers of skin from the few uninjured places that he still has."
He sees that blush and he starts grinning so hard. Ah ha! He was right! They do have a crush. How cute! "Oh my, I'll remember that warning. Wonder if I could use that as an ingredient in something to make the effects milder." Not being able to taste could have some practical applications, he's sure. It might let him experience how the world is for people like Erik...
Speaking of. "Wow, that condition sounds so painful. I'll do anything I can to help. I might know someone else who could do more. Do you know Erik Osborne? He's a vampire I used to live with. His blood can heal wounds, even old ones like scars. All you have to do is apply it to the wound topically, so it shouldn't even hurt. I don't know for sure it would work but it might be worth asking. If I ask, I think he'd agree." He's agreed to worse for Max, after all.
Bart doesn't know how to respond to someone giving him that look, and only reddens further, focusing more intently on his work without looking back around at Max. Unknowingly it just makes it all the more obvious. Of course, the idea of somehow incorporating the fruit into a dish is intriguing. Gastronomy is something that he has some experience with after all, and he straightens up again with a small nod. "Perhaps we can work together on that. I've taken myriad notes on how certain compounds interact with the body, we could potentially come up with a whole variety of dishes that manipulate the senses to provide new experiences for your clientele."
Bart fingers a ridge on his soldering iron as he considers that, brow knitting as he picks through what he's being told to get the parts that he really needs. The rest he could ask for elaboration on later.
"I would have to ask each of them for the consent, but that would be no problem at least for Lord Osborne, I would just have to compensate him for his assistance. The real problem is getting Touya to agree to such a thing. I'll...oh, I could use a trip into Paradesium to talk with him privately about the idea," he proposes.
Yep. He knew it. It's one-hundred-percent confirmed as far as Max is concerned. Now, all he has to do is think of ways to get them on more dates. He's sure he can help with that.
"Yes, I'd love to. Between the two of us, I think we can make something no one has ever seen before. If we make an entirely new dish, we might even get to name it." Max has always wanted to be able to name something new he invented. He doesn't mind sharing the credit with Bart, either. They can come up with it together.
"I lived with Erik for a long time. He's a fair dealer when it comes to business, so that shouldn't be an obstacle. And, yeah, that's a good idea. Erik has good hearing but even he wouldn't overhear it from there. No matter what, I won't mention a thing about it. I'll leave that up to you three."
"Oh, perhaps! If we can find the right kinds of gelatin I might even be able to show you a few interesting tricks," he adds, knowing that he could help expand Max's repertoire into the funky science experiment realm, just using techniques that he had previously learned for preservation, texture alteration, and other physical effects.
The reassurances from Max do a lot to put his mind at ease. "Thank you, Mr Maximum. I know that if this works out it'll make life much easier for Touya, it's just a matter of getting there first."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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?"
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[sending stone]
Date: 2024-06-16 02:28 am (UTC)An hour later, Max is still grinning like a fool, so pleased with how easy that mixer made everything, especially when it clamps to the table like that. He's racking his brain thinking of improvements that might be made, but, honestly? It already works so perfectly like this. Maybe the only real complaint is that it's harder to clean after.
So, anyway, of course, he's going to call Bart up to gush about this! He grabs the stone and barely waits for a hello before launching right into it.
"Bart! Oh my gosh! Thank you so much for the mixer! It works like a dream. I made some sweet potato cookies and it was a breeze to mix them in your invention. You're amazing! You thought of it all, even the clamp to stabilize it. I'm so impressed!"
(no subject)
Date: 2024-06-30 01:41 am (UTC)"Oh good, I'm glad that it's working as intended. I hope you didn't have any trouble switching the utensils out. I wanted to make the locking mechanism sturdy so that it wouldn't struggle and loosen in thicker mixtures. Likewise for the table clamp, it's so heavy and I would feel terrible if it rattled off the table and landed on your foot. Does the lever action to lift the top half work smoothly? I wanted to make sure that the top half could be lifted off for cleaning but that could end up making it a bit unstable if it's treated roughly." He may have been overthinking the safety of the machine versus the practicality when he was designing it.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-07-04 04:42 pm (UTC)"The lift works, but I will say it's pretty top-heavy so people who aren't as strong might struggle with it more. Maybe we can add some kind of catch that keeps it propped up once you get it there? The clamp on the table is solid, though. That thing isn't going anywhere."
(no subject)
Date: 2024-07-11 11:21 pm (UTC)"Do you have a preferred time that I should stop by?"
(no subject)
Date: 2024-07-13 07:07 pm (UTC)"Wanna come over now? I'm free for the rest of the afternoon."
(no subject)
Date: 2024-07-13 08:36 pm (UTC)Just as promised, he would show up at Max's door with his bag slung across his body, dressed in his simple utilitarian clothes that already had some machine oil stains, smiling brightly up at Max when he sees him. "I trust that you've had the time to clean it. I'd rather not interrupt you in the middle of anything."
(no subject)
Date: 2024-07-15 01:35 am (UTC)***
Bart will soon see the answer to his question when he follows Max into the kitchen. "Yep. I got to work on that as soon as I got off the stone with you. See?" Max motions to the mixer sitting in the dish drain next to the sink.
"Go ahead and unpack on the kitchen table and I'll bring it over."
(no subject)
Date: 2024-07-15 10:31 am (UTC)As soon as Max has shown him where to set up and assured him that the mechanism was clean, Bart moved to carefully lay out his tools, including a battery pack pioneered by Tarantulas before they'd had their...falling out. The small, occasionally delicate handheld tools are arranged carefully atop a linen cloth, and then he moves to assist in moving the parts to his temporary work space.
"It smells lovely, by the way," he says of the smell of Max's freshly baked sweet potato fare.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-07-15 07:33 pm (UTC)He will return with a plate of four confections arranged like petals on a flower. He also had one in his mouth, too. A good baker always tastes his work.
"The texture of these came out so much better already. You have to try it."
(no subject)
Date: 2024-07-15 09:40 pm (UTC)Bart isn't used to that.
Still, he takes one when the plate is put down, breaking it apart to examine the texture, nodding approvingly. "It looks much better than the last attempt. Less stodgy." A bite confirms the assessment, and Bart smiles around the bit in his mouth. "Adding the pumpkin spices really helps, too. I think these will be very popular if you make them for the cold weather."
(no subject)
Date: 2024-07-22 09:20 pm (UTC)It's hard not to keep his mind from racing ahead to the cold weather, when warm baked goods will be in highest demand. Tools like these are going to come to his rescue. No, no, he reminds himself, focus on the moment.
"I couldn't wait to see what you'd think. I'm so glad you like them. You're right, they're gonna be a hit. We'll have think of a good name."
Max grabs one off the plate to munch on for himself. Before he's even done chewing, a new questions pops up in his mind. "By the way, I've been meaning to ask you how you've been? Making more friends?"
(no subject)
Date: 2024-07-23 12:52 am (UTC)Bart takes another, larger bite before laying his cookie aside on a handkerchief, and moving to collect the drying parts to start altering the machine to make it a bit safer for others to use. Keeping the head of the machine tipped back, he starts to mark where he'd be soldering on the plate that would catch the stand, referring back to his notes to be sure of placement.
Max's inquiry gets a small, unsure smile on reply. "I... haven't been getting out much, but I think maybe I have. There's a man that's come to me for burn treatments, and we've begun talking outside of his visits to the clinic. I like his company. He's been something of a comfort to me while others are busy with their own goings on. Talking with him is easy, especially since he doesn't dance around his point when he wants to make one."
He's quietly pushing down the urge to comment on how handsome Touya is, from the chilly blue of his eyes to the fairness of his features in spite of the scar tissue.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-07-26 03:07 am (UTC)As Bart begins to explain about the new friend he's made, Max's lips press together to conceal the smile that's trying so hard to take over his whole face. Aw, listen to him? It almost sounds like he has a crush. Actually, hmmmm. He wonders...
"It sounds like you have! It's wonderful when you find people you feel so natural around. But you know what you should do next? Invite him out for a lunch date, or something like that. See each other outside the office."
(no subject)
Date: 2024-08-02 02:37 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2024-08-09 02:27 am (UTC)"Hmm. I think River might be able to, and I know Mairi made some rings with enchantments too. Erik has one that sings a bird call. I bet you're looking for something that keeps him cool, right? I can't do clothes but I could make some shaved ice for you to take along. Or some ice cream. If I make it, it won't melt."
cw: medical discussion, skin grafting
Date: 2024-08-18 05:40 pm (UTC)Bart pauses to fiddle a moment, hooking a pair of insulated wires to one of the batteries that he and Tarantulas had previously been collaborating on, thumbing the button of a device meant to be a rudimentary soldering iron when the ends are secured. "Yes. Actually, even without the goal of going into Paradesium, I want to offer it as an option for him. His powers are incompatible with his body; it's why he's got such egregious scarring. I'm going to be attempting to treat him with extensive skin grafting over a long span of time, and that all by itself is going to be a difficult road all on its own, but adding to that that it could all be for naught if he overheats and hurts himself again...I could never in good conscience suggest another round of grafting. Especially when we don't actually have the appropriate donors lined up just yet and I am already unwilling to repeatedly strip layers of skin from the few uninjured places that he still has."
cw: medical discussion, skin grafting Cont.
Date: 2024-08-22 05:02 pm (UTC)Speaking of. "Wow, that condition sounds so painful. I'll do anything I can to help. I might know someone else who could do more. Do you know Erik Osborne? He's a vampire I used to live with. His blood can heal wounds, even old ones like scars. All you have to do is apply it to the wound topically, so it shouldn't even hurt. I don't know for sure it would work but it might be worth asking. If I ask, I think he'd agree." He's agreed to worse for Max, after all.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-05 07:51 pm (UTC)Bart fingers a ridge on his soldering iron as he considers that, brow knitting as he picks through what he's being told to get the parts that he really needs. The rest he could ask for elaboration on later.
"I would have to ask each of them for the consent, but that would be no problem at least for Lord Osborne, I would just have to compensate him for his assistance. The real problem is getting Touya to agree to such a thing. I'll...oh, I could use a trip into Paradesium to talk with him privately about the idea," he proposes.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-10 08:08 pm (UTC)"Yes, I'd love to. Between the two of us, I think we can make something no one has ever seen before. If we make an entirely new dish, we might even get to name it." Max has always wanted to be able to name something new he invented. He doesn't mind sharing the credit with Bart, either. They can come up with it together.
"I lived with Erik for a long time. He's a fair dealer when it comes to business, so that shouldn't be an obstacle. And, yeah, that's a good idea. Erik has good hearing but even he wouldn't overhear it from there. No matter what, I won't mention a thing about it. I'll leave that up to you three."
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-11 01:13 am (UTC)The reassurances from Max do a lot to put his mind at ease. "Thank you, Mr Maximum. I know that if this works out it'll make life much easier for Touya, it's just a matter of getting there first."
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."
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."
(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: 2024-09-26 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?"
End~
Date: 2024-09-30 08:31 pm (UTC)He has to resist playing with the improved mixer right away. But you can be sure he's going to right back to using it the moment he's alone.
He gives Bart a thumbs up and say, "Right."