The Off-Season [OTA]

[freedomsuitsme]

Who: Maxwell
What: Passing the days
When: Throughout December
Warnings: TBD


Like Butter Over Too Much Bread [The Brig] [Post-Excursion]

If anyone happens to be near the lower levels of the ship, they might catch a whiff of something odd. To some, it might smell like something burning. To others, it might smell like spilled gasoline, or odd chemicals. To everyone, it's a smell that catches their attention and puts them on alert.

Should they follow it, they'll find it leads to the brig, where Maxwell is hunched over a magic circle on all fours, shaking and drenched with sweat. He looks positively exhausted, and doesn't give much of a reaction when approached. His eyes are glazed over, focus deadlocked on something distant and unseeable.

Nothing Up My Sl- Whoops! [Various] [Anytime]

He's been busy at work in the library, leaving the tables by the Alchemy Engine littered with random objects. Every time he's there, he's surrounded by spreadsheets. It seems like he writes something down whenever he manages to make something, even if it's a duplicate of the objects he's already made.

Stay, Keep Us Company a While [Bobby B's] [During Excursion]

With the ship so empty, he's taken to sitting in Bobby B's with the phonograph playing, always sitting in the same chair. He doesn't smoke while he's doing this, he just sits and stares at the opposite wall. It's his way of being the edgy rogue in the shadowy corner. There's no mistaking it, he's brooding. One could say he's being quite silly about it, but perhaps there really is something weighing heavy on his mind. It's certainly not out of the question around here.

The Smell of Danger on the Air [Various] [Post-Excursion, Post Interaction With Tiamat]

There's the faintest hint of blood clinging to him, a stray few specks on his shirt tails. It's probably nothing.


[Wildcard]

Comments

[freedomsuitsme]

"First of all, let me assure you that I did nothing to modify her memories. Secondly, you might consider what she went through just before that day. From what I understand, that particular excursion had a profound effect on a lot of people. And if you must know, we were discussing emergency measures for the ship."

[ss_buttcrack]

It almost sounds plausible. Valdis, herself, had doubts it was anything more than that. But it still doesn't sit right with him. He doesn't like how smoothly this guy came up with that answer. He's been told it's all in his head before, too. And then it wasn't.

"Maybe you'd like to fill me in on what those emergency measures are?"

[freedomsuitsme]

"I'd rather not. Part of its efficacy depends on the nature of the action being as poorly understood as possible. This ship runs on emotions, after all. Best not to let anyone brace for emotional impact. But I assure you, I'm acting in everyone's best interests."

[ss_buttcrack]

Crichton bristles, and the energy around him becomes so charged it almost seems like he's about to start throwing thunderbolts. His grip on the pistol certainly has tightened considerably.

"That wasn't really a suggestion, my man. If you're supposedly doing what's in her best interest, then explain to me why it looks a whole lot like you killed her and left her in the morgue for three days."

Now, the gun actually is pointed at Max. "If you won't say it to me, then you ARE going to say it to her. Just so you know, she ate a guy's heart recently."

[freedomsuitsme]

"I don't see what gives you the authority to demand I disclose anything to anyone. If Ms. D'Angelo has questions, I'd like her to ask them to me directly."

It's a risky request, but it'll buy him time.

[ss_buttcrack]

"You know I'm holding a gun, right?" A gun he isn't willing to use.

Frell.

He shoves said gun back into the holster on his thigh.

"That's what I'm saying. She has questions and you're going to give her answers. Here, why don't I send her a message right now, tell her you're willing to talk?"

Yeah, he's doing that. With the same hand that was holding the gun, he now takes out his phone and types a brief text to Valdis.

"There. Done. Let's see what she says."

[freedomsuitsme]

Not a 'good' enough man to believe he's entirely in the right, and not a bad enough man to pull the trigger on impulse, he thinks.

"Very well. Do tell me when you hear back from her."

[ss_buttcrack]

His phone chimes and he pauses to read the message. The frown on his face says he doesn't like it, but maybe she's right. He's been the bad cop, now she can be the good cop.

"Great news," he looks up at Maxwell finally. "She's coming to talk to you, herself. If I were you, I would think twice about using any lines about how this is for the greater good when talking to her."

He puts the picture away in his vest front pocket and regards Maxwell with one last hard glare. "You better watch yourself. I'll be paying attention to what you get up to from now on."

[freedomsuitsme]

"If you must."

Time for him to start getting his story straight.