"I've faced worse ordeals" [OPEN]

[freedomsuitsme]

Who: Maxwell Carter
What: Exploring the ship without any clear destination in mind
When: July
Where: Various
Warnings: None so far


1. "Water will ruin a good suit, you know." [Infinite Tommy Bahama]

"What a mess. And so woefully tacky. Still, it's not the worst I've ever seen."

Maxwell wanders between the endless rows, appraising the brightly-colored shirts and copious khakis with exaggerated distaste. He's not sure what offends him more, the endless supply of ill-tailored garments, or the fact that none of this is particularly remarkable. Well, he can't rule out some of these pants being able to give someone a tail or turn their legs into cacti (really, he still isn't sure why Higgsbury decided to run around with cactus legs for a solid week that one time, and it made sharing a tent even more uncomfortable than usual), but it doesn't seem likely, and he's not about to test it. Hesitation still rules him at this point; this whole ship is probably cursed.

"Not a single decent pocket square," he grumbles. "I suppose I should be grateful that dapperness is a state of mind."

2. "I should find something to eat before night comes." [Windjammer]

As he enters the Windjammer, he's struck by the smell of crab legs and what is, to him, a bounty of food. It doesn't matter how sparse or picked over things are; this is a man that has grown accustomed to living off of seeds and half-rotted berries whenever his luck turns sour. Still, that won't discourage him from grabbing some food to hoard. Maxwell knows the way of the world all too well- if you leave your meatballs in a crockpot, an imbecilic scientist will no doubt have absconded with them by the time you've finished whatever tasked pulled you away in the first place.

He grabs a plate and starts looking for two things: foods that will keep, and some lobster for now.

3. "I was a king, you know." [Wildcard]

(redheadednimbus on Discord to discuss!)

Comments

1

[lightconductor]

"We went long enough without even this much," Watson says, idly, from the next aisle over. "If you want pocket squares I sometimes sew myself handkerchiefs out of the nicer shirts, and you're welcome to a few of them, though there's a certain degree of enforced informality on this ship. Comes with the different times, I believe."

He offers a smile, wry but genuine, as he goes through a rack of linen jackets. He himself has tried for something a little more formal, though the shirt under his waistcoat is a floral pattern; he leans on his cane, just a little. "I don't believe we've met."

[freedomsuitsme]

"Unfortunately, I seem to have left home without my sewing kit."

The effort is neither missed nor unappreciated. With Max being a tailor's son and a man of sophistication, it's a breath of fresh air to see someone else in a properly-fitted waistcoat, even a salvaged one. He's never been one to let circumstance put a damper on dapper and he can absolutely respect making one's own pocket squares.

"My name is Maxwell Carter. And with whom do I have the pleasure?"

[lightconductor]

"Watson," he says. "Dr. John Watson. I'm something of the unofficial ship's doctor, if anyone must be. It's a pleasure, Mr. Carter."

He comes around the rack of clothes to offer his hand in greeting.

[freedomsuitsme]

He chuckles.

"Dr. John Watson. Pardon if I say, that's a bit of a funny coincidence. Ah, but I don't want to be tiresome, I'm sure you hear that far too often." He accepts the handshake, flashing the doctor a winning half-smile. There's a faint but obvious cyanosis around his eyes and lips.

1

[businessorlibation]

"Dapperness may be a state of mind, but the capacity to work with these clothes, that's a true talent some have." A pause, the speaker stepping out from behind a rack of shirts. "And some do not."

Johnny Summer, clearly, has been here long enough to work Tommy Bahama into his wardrobe. He's wearing a grey suit with gold jewelry, but instead of a proper dress shirt, he has one from the store, and his pocket square seems to be made from another shirt in an orange floral that compliments the pattern. It's a lot of a look, but he pulls it off. The man is not imposing in height; he doesn't even crack five and a half feet, but there's a presence in how he stands, quite at ease in this infinite impossible space.

[freedomsuitsme]

"I'm not unfamiliar with having to make do," he admits. "It's simply the excess of gaudy patterns that offends me. I don't even mind a good floral print, those as fashionable enough, but this..." He shakes his head.

"I suppose where you come from, you do what you can with what the ominous shadow hands hand you in a nicely-wrapped box. But you would think there would be at least one decent suit here, or even just some suitable robes for a combat warlock!"

With a sigh, he adds, "Do forgive my lack of an introduction. Maxwell Carter, magician."

[businessorlibation]

“Ominous shadow-hands giving you a gift-wrapped box sound almost like the presents we’re sometimes invited to pick up from Sundries. I have gotten suits that way, but I’ve also gotten stranger things. Cursed objects, a photograph of the Captain as a child. You can’t account for what’s coming, there, in advance.”

A pause, and then a hand offered to shake. Well-manicured, too. “Johnny Summer. Passenger of over a year, but before that I owned the Margrave building in Gallery, and managed both the pub and champagne lounge therein.”

[freedomsuitsme]

He accepts the handshake.

"Yes, I have noticed that this place is not devoid of creeping shadows, though they don't seem to be my creeping shadows. I only recently boarded. Before that I was king of an otherworldly realm." It's not a complete lie, just a bit of omission. There's just something about this other man that makes him need to boast.

2

[pineapplesalmon]

César was stopping in for a quick topping off of his JRPG Inventory when he sees someone new looking around. He grins wide.

"Bit overwhelming at first, isn't it?"

[freedomsuitsme]

"I wouldn't say 'overwhelming,' exactly. It's some fresh new torment, no doubt drummed up by some silent watcher beyond the veil or a malevolent magician with far too much power at their disposal. The abundance of food is a welcome change, however."

[pineapplesalmon]

"The abundance of food is nice." César smiles wider. "Although surprisingly, you can go to the bridge of the ship here and sometimes speak to the Captain. He actually officiated my wedding."

He shrugs. "You're right about the far too much power and the watching part, though. He likes to watch. And he is a bit malevolent, but... it's a different sort? I'm still trying to figure it out, but it's hard to figure someone out when they don't know who they are anymore themselves. He's still not a good person, but he's... less evil? I guess. Experimenting with it, anyway."

[freedomsuitsme]

The expression on Maxwell's face is... well, it's something. He's somewhere between the shock of having cold water unexpectedly thrown in his face, the guilt of someone who's been praised and don't feel they deserve it, the pain of someone who's in the middle of a raw dose of remorse, and the ill-convincing mask of someone who's just trying to keep their composure in front of a complete stranger.

"I... don't believe I caught your name."

2. "I should find something to eat before night comes." [Windjammer]

[crushed_pearls]

So here's Erin at her own table, eating a (restrained) bounty of coconut shrimp, Various Sweets, some garlic bread, More Sweets, she's got Mountain Dew on this table somewhere, More Sweets, Can't Stress Enough That This Woman Eats Like A Hummingbird Training For The Olympics, and the new face has caught her attention. While it doesn't pay to acknowledge him immediately - no need to spook the poor bastard - her raven wings twitch with a curious interest, and she keeps eating.

(Hey, Peters, you noticing anything about those food stocks he's building up?)

Uhhh - oh, actually yeah head voice, good catch.

"I've got good news and bad news for ya, new guy," Erin says in an easy voice by way of greeting. She turns her chair, wiping off with a napkin so she can give the new arrival her attention. "Good news is, no food here is perishable. It'll get room temperature but it won't get cold, or rot, or decay; you can't get sick here of like, natural illnesses. Bad news is, supplies are just a bit thin right now."

[freedomsuitsme]

"Well, that simplifies things. Thank you. Though to be quite honest, while you call this spread 'thin'... I've been through much scarcer. Still, if the perishability of a food isn't a factor, I suppose I might as well opt for foods that suit my tastes."

Read: he is going to get SO much lobster, and he's going to find a good bottle of wine somewhere along the Promenade, and he's going to feast like a king. After all, he's never quite given up on being royalty.

[crushed_pearls]

"Nah, ain't the spread that's the problem, it's that the restock has vastly slowed down. Feel free to come join me if y'like. Name's Erin Peters, do call me Erin."

She can already see it. The three-way war between herself, this guy, and Ava over the ship's shellfish. Worlds will burn.

Or someone will yell at the other two, one of those.

[freedomsuitsme]

"I suppose that's more what I meant." He does sit down by her, awkwardness gracefully masked behind regal confidence.

"Very well, Ms. Erin. My name is Maxwell. Maxwell Carter, as it suits you." Hold on, he knows he's heard the name Erin somewhere...

1

[maximumcake]

"I know," says Max with a wry smile. "The winter collection was slightly better since they had formal wear for people who wanted to dress up better for the holidays, but the summer selection is almost a lost cause."

This Max is looking pretty dapper himself. He's dressed in one of his light gray suits matched with a thin lilac-colored tie and light brown shoes and a belt. His hair is starting to grow out long, so he's got it tastefully slicked back with hair gel. At 6'4" and built like a brick house, he cuts quite an impressive figure. His expression is warm and open, though. Not at all threatening.

"Hi. I don't think I've seen you around before. Guessing you're new? I'm Max Maximum. Nice to meet you."

[freedomsuitsme]

"Max... Maximum," he repeats, trying to hide his exasperation. The poor fellow probably can't help having such a preposterous name.

"Maxwell Carter. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

He pauses.

"So the selection changes seasonally, then? I suppose that isn't too different from where I come from."

[maximumcake]

Max is painfully aware of how ridiculous his name is, and very used to the kinds of reactions it gets him. Frankly, he appreciates when people at least try not to roll their eyes at it.

"Nice to meet you Mr. Carter. You can just all me Max if you want, unless that's going to feel weird for you." Maxwell. That's a nice variation. Why couldn't his master have gone with that one? (He knows why...it wouldn't have been as mortifying.)

"That's right. Part of the magic. Apparently, during October, it turned into a costume shop instead. But, if you don't mind me asking, what world do you come from? Is it earth or somewhere else?"

2

[ring_for_giles]

His approach is completely silent, and even if Max had been watching the door the whole time he won't have seen anyone enter, but Giles now stands beside him. Cat eyes seeming to reflect more light than should be possible as he carefully picks out a small piece of fruit from the buffet table.

"You needn't worry about stockpiling, of all the problems here food scarcity isn't one. It takes a little longer to refresh now, but no-one is at risk of starvation."

[freedomsuitsme]

"That being said, as it doesn't spoil, I'd like the option of taking my meals in my cabin if I find that things in here become too hectic."

He really isn't used to having so many people... real, not-shadow people... in his vicinity, and he's particularly not used to having so many random conversations struck.

Ah, but back in the day, I was the life of the party. Perhaps I can do that again, with a little practice.

[ring_for_giles]

"That I can understand," Giles says with a small huff of sympathy, he spends most of his time in a private pocket dimension for a reason. But he's also not going to stop bothering Max, because he's always far too curious about the passengers who arrive in a nice suit, especially when it seems likely that he can place the approximate timeframe they came from based on the cut

"One of the many problems with this vessel, in my humble opinion, is the cabins are the only place where one is truly afforded privacy, and if you have been assigned a roommate even that is comprised."

1. "Water will ruin a good suit, you know."

[moonlesstides]

Oh. Oh is that - it is! A new gentleman! Grace is beside herself from her place deeper into the store, where she has been gathering clothes that might fit (the ones that don't will be shredded into cloth strips, so she's not too bothered). Has anyone told him about the beast yet? He seems to be sticking to the shallow reaches, but -

We'll be real, there was never a version of this where Grace didn't come up to introduce herself. She swims through the air in Maxwell's direction, her arrival into his field of vision preceded by the sound of rushing water, and pulls up a nice distance away. Grace holds her harpoon behind her back, like she's trying to train herself in good posture, and then offers up a well-practiced and gentlemanly bow, her face alight with interest.

There is...something wrong with this girl, aside from the obvious scarring and her corpse-like appearance. She's been touched by something other, and its craftsmanship permeates her.

[freedomsuitsme]

He freezes in his tracks. He doesn't even need to see her coming, he can feel that. The human part of him tells him to run, to save himself, to flee from the hungry beyond, but the part of him that has been hollowed out and filled with the power of the forbidden and unknowable is curious and enticed. Though fear makes his body feel heavy like lead, he turns to face her with his usual grace.

"Good day, miss...?"

[moonlesstides]

Grace's voice bubbles up in Maxwell's mind without ever quite crossing his ears, as if emerging from a great depth. ~You may call me Grace, and it is my very great pleasure to meet you, Mister...?~

Still very, very interested. Like a kid meeting a firefighter.