thephix | (exsilium) ic contact

I know of her, we haven't met.

[And she really only pays attention to the girl because Donny seems fond of her.]

What type of party?

( It's more than Ella is sort of inescapable. And scary. But nice? But scary. )

Um. I d-don't-- ( Huh. A pause, mulling that over. ) Just um, c-casual, I g-guess. I'm t-taking uh, taking c-cookies. Food and d-dancing.

( A beat. ) N-not like a gala or something.

I don't think they're much for galas, here.

[It's said lightly, a gentle sort of teasing joke, rather than unkind, just trying to get him to relax a little.]

Would you like me to come with you?

[She assumes that's where he was going with this, but it's best to ask.]

( Okay, fine. She gets a very quiet laugh out of him, smiling ruefully as he scratches the back of his neck. ) The t-tuxes would, um.

( Be interesting, his expression says, with "interesting" definitely being a euphemism. Apparently he has an appreciation for finer clothes, these days. Good work, Max.

Donny hesitates for a second, looking back at her, bobbing his head. ) Um-- if you w-want? I w-won't b-be um, be mad if--

( And another of his many awkward, stiff gestures; if it just wouldn't be your thing, and he hopes that she knows he wouldn't be mad. )

They'd be something.

[Finishing that sentences, even if she knew where he was going, her something as much of a euphamism as his interesting was.

And she knows he wouldn't be mad, but he'd be disappointed, he'd take it like she didn't want to spend time with him, didn't want to be seen with him, and god knows he could probably use the support at a party. She remembers the first time she turned up to one of his college parties, how awkward he'd been.]

I'll come, it might be fun.

[Probably not, but she's done a lot worse.]

Uh huh.

( Does she actually want to spend time or be seen with him, though? He's considering her, head canted as he wanders a little closer, shoulder resting against the wall. )

Sure?

( More quiet, careful, keeping himself that bit more controlled - as if he weren't a book thrown open, anyway. It's calmer, less skittish. He really doesn't want her stuck there out of some sense of obligation. )

I'm sure.

[Which is true enough, at least in that she's sure of her decision to deal with whatever a party might throw at her.]

Will it be a mix of people, or just young adults?

[She wants to say teenagers but Donny isn't one, and she's not actually sure how old Ella is.

But Max gets along better with older people, despite her own age.]

A m-mix. Um, m-maybe more young p-people because-- ( Because of Ella's age, and Ella being the host, but his shrug is optimistic. ) Some older p-- p-people replied, so.

( With a quiet huff of air, and offers a bit of a smile. ) We c-can uh, c-complain about 'all the young p-people these d-days.'

( So this hasn't gone up in flames, that's kind of cool. )

[The most delicately raised eyebrow, giving him such a look.]

You do know you're a 'young person these days', right?

[Nevermind that he's only like two years younger than her, that's not the point.]

B-but um, I have an old soul.

( Very grave, Max.

And trying not to smile, yes. )

[In response, she just walks over and flicks his ear, then disappears back into the bathroom to finish doing her make up for the evening.]

( Hey! That gets a little sound of protest, which is more him being silly than anything to do with it hurting, what with the careful silence he keeps for Atlas, and all. Donny sticks his head into the bathroom, and adds - imperiously, )

N-no one's c-called me um, d-delinquent in ages.

( Because he totally got called that by a scandalized old lady who caught sight of his tattoos, one time. )

[She's paying attention to him, even if her gaze is focused on the mirror as she curls her eyelashes.

She could cheat with her shifting, but the ritual of these types of things is calming.]

You should wear t-shirts more often.

[Definitely not motivated by self interest, there.]

I w-wear them.

( Don't be obnoxious, sir. He wears long sleeve shirts under them, of course. )

Are you g-going out?

( Slouching against the door frame, watching her. She looks really nice. He should tell her that, but also, he definitely shouldn't tell her that. )

[The most long suffering sigh.]

You should wear just t-shirts.

[Honestly, why does she put up with him?]

Just work.

[Well. Not quite, because it's a pre-arranged meeting, something more like a date, but she doesn't want to say that to Donny. She's felt a little awkward about bringing anything like this up, since the mission to the beach.]

( How scandalous. )

W-what about my jeans?

( Good heavens, Max. Good heavens.

And-- oh. Right, of course. He should've-- he should've figured. Just a silent oh, more swallowed than spoken, nodding a little and he should go away, right? ) You um, l-look really p-pretty.

( "Beautiful" would be the more accurate word, but he doesn't want to make it weird, just wanted to... be supportive. Or something. )

Stop being facetious.

[But there's a smile in her voice, even if it wavers a little with everything else. She ignores it, focuses on making sure her lipstick is perfect.]

Thank you.

[And she actually turns to look at him for a moment, her smile warm and genuine-looking, despite the fact she's not really sure how she feels about any of this. It's important to make sure he doesn't get too upset or tangled up about this.]

Do you have plans for tonight?

( His smile turns a little apologetic, laughing very quietly, even if it's stilted with the knowledge of all the rest.

Nodding, Donny straightens up. )

Atlas.

( Patrolling, protecting. All the normal things a young delinquent gets up to. )

[Atlas, of course. Even if it's not as necessary here, she's still glad he does it.]

I should be done by midnight, if you're in my part of town by then, we could walk home together?

[It's... something. An offering, an apology for what she has to do, here.]

Yeah.

( Protecting Max still comes first. It always will. ) D-definitely, I'll-- um. I'll b-be there.

( He'll wait. If she is too late past midnight, he'll start tearing places apart looking for her. It's just how they look after each other. Max doesn't owe him anything, though, no apologies. He'd hate it, if he knew she felt that way. )

Good. [And a smile, as if she'll be glad to see him, glad to have him there, even though she doesn't really need his protection.

She finishes up the touches on her make up, then heads back into the apartment to put on her shoes and grab her purse. She's dressed a little nicer than she normally would be, but she hopes Donny won't think too much of it.]

I'll see you tonight?

( A flicker of a smile, though it falls away fast. Is Max just trying to be nice to him, again?

And of course he's noticed. Between living together for close to three months, maybe more, and just her being Max, he's familiar with habits, the kind of levels she dresses to, even without having known her so long at home. His expression is just a little more controlled than it used to be. Atlas has to be stoic, has to be in control, and he's becoming Atlas soon.

She doesn't need to see Adonis being stupid. )

Sounds uh, l-like a p-plan.

( Or something. ) B-be careful.

Edited (I ADDED THE WORDS TO THE WRONG PLACE) 2013-08-27 12:20 (UTC)

You too.

[Although the point of Atlas is that he shouldn't be careful, if he's helping people, but she's sure he'll understand what she means.

And carefully, she walks over to him, rests a hand on his arm and kisses his cheek, leaving an imprint of her dark pink lipstick. When she pulls back, her smile is just a little cheeky, as if she can pretend there isn't any tention between them, that she doesn't know how uncomfortable her work makes him.]

Have fun.

[After a quick goodbye to Maurice, she's gone.]

( It'd be funny, if he could get past that uncomfortable, gripping tension in his chest, the thing that keeps him awake, still, and drags guiltily at his gut, a balloon expanding, tightening, never actually giving him any relief. )

Yup.

( Have fun.

For long moments after she's left, he just lingers at the door, before he's grabbing up his bag and going to one of the safehouses. Atlas can't go in and out of this building.

Have fun. )

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