z_jay | Luceti | Appointments

[There were some things that he couldn't put off forever. No matter how much he might want to. He couldn't quite shake some of the feelings that had come up during the week of the invasion and it was odd, truly odd, to be looking at someone you'd known for a few months at best, and feeling like you'd known them your whole life.

So it's a few days later when he flops slumps down next to Eugene on the couch in their living room, offering him a beer.]

So...

[It was a kindness to be offered a beer for no reason, and Eugene glanced up from the interview he was working on writing to curiously watch the opened, chilled beer begin to gather condensation on its outside while Max flopped nearby.]

Heh, to what do I owe the honor?

[So much had happened as of late that Eugene wasn't quite sure how to settle, or where to. So he hadn't even begun to focus on the lingering brotherly affection he felt toward the other man, even if they were merely flatmates before. Taking the beer, he moved to put his work aside and focused on Max]

Don't tell me the Malnosso have done something to you that requires your needing to tell me about.

[He paused mid drink and looked a little stricken]

...You aren't moving out, are you?

[Max opened his own beer, taking a long swig and giving a satisfied sigh.]

Do I need a reason to bug my darling brother?

[He asks it sardonically, smirking over at Eugene, because hey, might as well break the ice with that, right? And it's difficult to just go back to exactly how things had been.]

Oh no, no! I'm fine! And I'm not moving out. Really!

[He looks a little depressed at the thought, and catches Eugene's look.]

I'm not moving. I like it here. I just thought that after the stuff that happened, it might be an idea to talk, maybe?

[The mention of the brotherly bond did change things a little, and their mutual not-talking-about-it to each other since Zevran's departure had... ultimately, left him feeling a little at loose ends. Licking his lips, he scoffed softly and took a gulp of his own beer.]

Well, if you don't have a reason that's okay. Just figured that in case something bad was about to be shared, I'd like to make it a little less dire.

[The fact he wasn't moving was a good bonus. The place was far too quiet without four, if it were to go down to two, he and Jack might just go a little crazy in a place this large]

Alright, we can talk.

[He shifted, folding one leg over the other and placing his socked feet on the table. He really couldn't get over how he could do this again]

But I'll tell you now, Jack's done very well by even my standards, and that's saying something, so you'll not need to give him the older brother chat.

Hey, give me some credit. If I was gonna tell you something dire, I'd have gone straight for the vodka.

[He grins at Eugene, resisting the urge to ruffle his hair this time because they were both adults and not really related it was just hard to shake the feeling sometimes.

He raises an eyebrow at that, a smile still playing over his lips.]

Awww, and here I was really hoping I'd get to do that at least once. I've never not been the baby of the family.

Then at least your priorities are on pretty straight. This is good news, some things never change.

[It was difficult to shake the feeling, or to explain why it shouldn't be odd to not feel a particular closeness but... he felt the void, oddly enough. A space that shouldn't be there but was, the opposite of heartbreak, which in itself, was a weird feeling.]

I'm sure if you asked Jack he'd let you lecture him. He's great for giving authority figures the finger.

So what's on your mind, bro?

My priorities are my family. Which... well, may sound weird, I dunno. But both you and Jack qualify by now. I mean that.

[They were people he'd fight to protect, that he'd risk himself to protect.]

Ooooh, I'll have to take it up with him then. Sounds fun. I've always loved a bit of rebellion.

[He gives a soft laugh, shrugging.]

I dunno. Just thinking about what happened. I really hate having my mind screwed with.

[The initial instinct to smile and laugh it off was borne more out of a fear that... the moment someone made those sort of claims, the more likely their absence, inevitable as it would, would be harder to deal with. But he couldn't deny he still had some strange, lingering, familial attachemnt]

Luceti's done that a few times. The Valentine's incident was-- let's just say, difficult.

[Leaning forward, he contemplated what to say next]

D'you wanna, uh... become blood brothers or...? I mean if it makes it easier on you we can have some kind of ceremony. At this point, you've lived with us long enough that you're basically family. I'm still trying to shake the feeling of Vastra being my-- our... mom.

Yeeeah, Valentine's was a real mindscrew, although probably less for me than for you guys at least. Something good came out of it at least.

[Eventually. Even if he'd nearly screwed stuff up before it could start.

He blinks at the offer, a small smile curling his lips.]

We could do that. I'm pretty sure there's spells for that which could be interesting. And yeah, I need to go speak to her too.

I'm hoping that something like that doesn't come round again. I mean, we seem made for each other, but... well. Anyway.

[There had always been a lingering concern they were only together because of the apocalypse and not something that ran deeper than mutually shared deep emotions. Survival, sacrifice, emotional support...]

Whatever it takes to make it official would be alright with me. So how's it work? And yeah, we should see Vastra, I wonder if she's... lonely or something? She's a strong lady, don't get me wrong, but...

Yeah. Yeah, me too. It was cruel. Really cruel. But I'm sure you guys are stuck with each other now. You belong together. If there was a red thread, then you'd be firmly tied together.

[And then he does reach over to ruffle Eugene's hair teasingly.]

I think... some thread, a knife, for Jack to not get pissed off at me for cutting my hand open again...

And we can do that. I think she'd like it.

A red... thread?

[Maybe it was a saying in Max's world, but Eugene wasn't entirely familiar with it. Though he understood the meaning behind it, at least and it made his heart warm, something unexpectedly blooming in his chest. Thankfully, not from an unexpected wound--

The warm and fuzzy feeling ended abruptly with the hair ruffle and he snorted, ducked away from the hand as best he could, smiling all the while]

It wouldn't be just Jack being pissed at you for cutting your hand open again...

It's something my brother told me. Japanese folklore. A red thread connects two people who are destined to be together.

[He grins, laughing softly when Eugene ducks away from him, and it's kind of nice, easy between them. He can appreciate that.]

In my defence, the first time I was drunk and the second time, on the draft... I kind of wish I'd been drunk.

Well... I guess blood is red-- I'm kidding. Seriously.

[Max ought to know by now that if he was being teased, he was in their club of friends who were family. The only thing that changed really was the realization it was more real than they had anticipated before]

The first time...? I need details.

[in all he didn't know much about Max's world other than the bare minimum. Bare minimum being different from his. In terms of before the apocalypse that is, with some fragmented and off the wall politics. Drinking from his beer, he leaned back on the couch, arms spread comfortably on the back]

Make 'em good, too. Embellish, exaggerate, you know the drill.

[Max snorted softly, giving him a wry look.]

You think you're such a comedian, don't you?

[He gave a soft laugh at that question and took a long swig of his own beer.]

Oh well, in that case it began with me returning home after a mighty battle, bruised but triumphant...

Me and Jack were getting drunk. Jack wanted to try some healing magic, contacting Nala, and it seemed like a totally reasonable idea to slice my hand open so he could practice.

A regular radio personality, even.

[Still sitting comfortable, he appreciated the cliff-hanger. Anyone worth their storytelling had to have some of those elements interspersed for a good narrative. Both his brows rose, wordlessly compelling him to go on.]

Don't tell me, he freaked out because you cut your hand open? Seriously, you'd think you'd learn after the first four or five times we got onto you for it. You do know how hard blood is to get off of things, don't you?

And so modest about it too.

[He shakes his head at that.]

Nah, this was the first time I did it. And he did freak out. And hey! Blood boosts magic. It has many applications in magical stuff.

Consider it an all-the-time occurrence. If we see you cutting yourself, generally it has some pretty messed up meanings from where we are. Mental disorder, primarily.

[So maybe if he explained it to Max, he might be more understanding? Though, on that same token, Max had just tried to explain his reasoning to him and he wasn't keen on changing his mind]

So what's the part you've got to regret about, since you keep cutting yourself for your blood boosting?

I... yeah, I know. You and Jack kept a pretty close watch on me after that draft. I kind of put two and two together.

[It had been a sobering realisation honestly.]

I just... I was an idiot, I know that. I don't like scaring people I care about. I was just kind of a mess. That draft really screwed me up/

It's understandable, look. I'm not judging you for that, just pointing out that we have some solid reasons for freaking out when you go using... blood magic. Or something.

And technically you are still an idiot. It's a requirement to moving in with the two of us.

It's not the most ideal kind of magic to use, honestly. What with blood loss still being a problem. So yeah... sorry.

[He gives a short laugh, shaking his head.]

Oh well, I think I can handle that. What about your two guys from home?

Blood loss, not ideal. But don't worry, I don't need apologies so long as you don't keep going at it like that. Anyway-- Sam is a good guy. Really, he's kind of like our kid brother.

[He did turn a little wistful at that. It was strange, he was acquiring a family despite being forced to leave his behind. So in the end, maybe the world wasn't as bad off as people thought? Still bad, but not the end of...

Simon's complicated. He's the kind of guy that I'd like to like, but I just can't.

I wasn't planning on it. I got thoroughly told off by Adele and slightly worried that next time I won't be conscious enough to refuse a blood transfusion. [and that would be really really bad.]

You do both seem awfully fond of him.

[Max hasn't really had much interaction with him beyond courtesies when they pass in the hallway.]

Why's that? He seems pretty friendly.

[Mention of Adele made Eugene smile... but a little sad at the same time. He hadn't seen her for quite a while and she had been one hell of a physician. He knew quite a few of them, himself, and they were all particularly strong women.]

Sam's the radio operator back home, we kind of bump shoulders in the communication shack. And don't let Simon fool you, he is a wolf in sheep's clothing. That guy... he's not right. No one should train that much and be so damn chipper all the time.

Not... right? [Max gives Eugene a sceptical look. Admittedly, his definition of 'not right' was probably different to most people.]

It's the stuff... endorphins? Don't they make you happy? I mean, you get them from sex too and I'm always pretty buzzed after sex.

[Sometime after the event]

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