Max Maximum (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
maximumcake) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
ph_logs2024-12-09 01:32 pm
maximumcake) wrote in ph_logs2024-12-09 01:32 pm
Max's Birthday Month! OTA
Who: Max Maximum & Open
What: It's Max's birthday month
When: Through December, His birthday is the 20th
Where: The bakery, Max and Valdis's Home
Warnings: NSFW content must be marked appropriately
Nose to the grindstone
Early in the month, Max realizes that his store of powdered beet sugar is finally starting to run dangerously low. It's all the macarons and sugar cookies with royal icing he's been making, he's sure. They've been flying out the door of the bakery just as fast as he can pipe them. Not that he blames anyone, but even raising the prices couldn't slow sales down. He's finally forced to admit that he needs help. Like, a lot of it.
That's when a new post goes up on the bulletin board:
WANTED:
Strong arms for grinding. Must be willing to do repetitive motions for extended periods of time. One free pastry of choice for every pound created. Inquire with Max Maximum at the Bakers' Bakery!
What he means is that he's asking people to come help grind powdered sugar in a mortar and pestle for a few hours, but one could be forgiven for not quite getting the same message.
Those who haven't checked the notices might still be invited to help out if they happen to pass by the bakery during daylight hours. Max will be out in the street with the automatic mixer and grinder tool Bart invented for him, grinding away for hours and hours making as much powdered sugar as he can stand.
As people pass by, he gives them the big brown eyes, "Would you like to help?" If they say yes, he will set them up in front of that same grinder and show them how to crank the arm. Then, Max will take up a spare mortar and pestle and start manually grinding more. No time to lose.
"I appreciate the help," he'll say, pounding away with his sleeves rolled up, forearms glistening in the winter sun, "I can't believe I let it get away from me like this..."
Happy Birthday!
On December 20th, it will become clear why Max was so desperate to get more powdered sugar. The centerpiece of his entire party is this macaron tower But, let's back up a little.
Over the month, Max will be going around delivering cards to all of his friends and acquaintances. They're invitations to a 'small' birthday party he's throwing himself out at the home he shares with Valdis. It will be an open house affair taking place all day on December 20th. He plans to have food and drinks but nothing 'too fancy,' he simply wants everyone to come by for as long as they feel like to hang out and spend time with him. No gifts necessary, he just wants time with his friends.
In addition to the cards and personal invites, he also hangs a post on the bulletin board inviting anyone in town to come and visit. Truly, all are welcome. That includes pets!
***
[For Valdis]
The day of December 20th arrives at last! Max has been giddy with excitement waiting for it all month. He asked for the day off of work for this (and so has Valdis) but he still wakes up early so he can put the finishing touches on all of his cooking and baking plans. Some decorating, too. He told Valdis to sleep in as long as she could because she was out late, so he's alone in the kitchen for now...except for the various cat and Pokémon companions that are all sniffing the air and salivating over what they smell. But that's what they do every morning.
He hears a creak from upstairs and smiles. Valdis must be awake. He'd better hurry and put these heart-shaped pancakes on the table before she comes down. It's a surprise. He's already smiling to himself, picturing her face when she sees them.
[For Ylva]
Max kept his own plate of pancakes light this morning because he has early brunch plans with Ylva. She may not have as much of a sweet tooth, but she knows good meat. (Not that kind, shh.) Max asked her over to help him build up the pit for the fire. She's better at this than he is.
"Morning!" he says as he rushes to give her a big bear hug and a headbutt for good measure. "I really appreciate you offering to run the meat station for me today. I've been hankering for more of your perfectly cooked steaks, you know?"
[OTA]
With Valdis and Ylva's help, Max manages to get everything just perfectly where he wants it. There's a buffet of different cake and pastry options on the kitchen table, with the tower of macarons as the centerpiece. No matter how many people come and how much cake they eat, the table never seems to run out. It's almost miraculous. There's also, of course, tea, coffee, and wine to go along with it as beverages.
Max will spend much of the day loitering around the sweets table, so it will be very easy to catch up with him. The first thing he wants to know, of course, is, "How do you like the macarons?" He's very proud of them, even if he will have blisters for weeks.
When he's not in the kitchen or near the cake table, he's outside hanging alongside Ylva in the meat-cooking area. Cake is nice, but it's hard to just have sweets alone. He wants to make sure there are some savory options as well. Ylva has become a pro at this, so he's taking the opportunity to actually sit and relax a little on his own birthday. Imagine that?
"Try the deer," he says to anyone that comes up to the fire, "It's delicious."
In addition to the cake and meat selection, there's one more food table of note: Pokémon specific treats! Max is considering this a soft launch for the new item he plans to introduce in the bakery. Poke-puffs, based on the recipes he got from the Poke Center, so he can guarantee they are completely safe for Pokémon consumption.
"Try one of the poke-puffs!" he encourages to anyone that seems hesitant. "Well, not you. I mean feed one to your pet. They'll love it, I promise."
[ooc: Totally fine to do mingles on this post; it's a party! Assume there's standard party setup with tables chairs and blankets to sit on spread around where appropriate. Max didn't make a present table because he didn't ask for any but someone can make their own if they feel like it.]
[NSFW]
As it is his birthday, he's feeling pretty randy. He won't hold back flirting, and if anyone starts to really mean it back, he might just be up for showing them his birthday suit. But he has to feel he can trust them enough, and he'd really rather find somewhere that's not the house--to spare not only Valdis but any visitors who may show up with awkward timing. Either way, he just wants to have a good time today with his friends and family.
[ooc: Putting it out there that I'm open to doing some light NSFW smut on-screen but I'm also just as good with FTB and aftermath threads. Trying to dip my toe in slowly. My game inbox for Max is HERE if anyone wants to take it there instead.]
What: It's Max's birthday month
When: Through December, His birthday is the 20th
Where: The bakery, Max and Valdis's Home
Warnings: NSFW content must be marked appropriately
Nose to the grindstone
Early in the month, Max realizes that his store of powdered beet sugar is finally starting to run dangerously low. It's all the macarons and sugar cookies with royal icing he's been making, he's sure. They've been flying out the door of the bakery just as fast as he can pipe them. Not that he blames anyone, but even raising the prices couldn't slow sales down. He's finally forced to admit that he needs help. Like, a lot of it.
That's when a new post goes up on the bulletin board:
WANTED:
Strong arms for grinding. Must be willing to do repetitive motions for extended periods of time. One free pastry of choice for every pound created. Inquire with Max Maximum at the Bakers' Bakery!
What he means is that he's asking people to come help grind powdered sugar in a mortar and pestle for a few hours, but one could be forgiven for not quite getting the same message.
Those who haven't checked the notices might still be invited to help out if they happen to pass by the bakery during daylight hours. Max will be out in the street with the automatic mixer and grinder tool Bart invented for him, grinding away for hours and hours making as much powdered sugar as he can stand.
As people pass by, he gives them the big brown eyes, "Would you like to help?" If they say yes, he will set them up in front of that same grinder and show them how to crank the arm. Then, Max will take up a spare mortar and pestle and start manually grinding more. No time to lose.
"I appreciate the help," he'll say, pounding away with his sleeves rolled up, forearms glistening in the winter sun, "I can't believe I let it get away from me like this..."
Happy Birthday!
On December 20th, it will become clear why Max was so desperate to get more powdered sugar. The centerpiece of his entire party is this macaron tower But, let's back up a little.
Over the month, Max will be going around delivering cards to all of his friends and acquaintances. They're invitations to a 'small' birthday party he's throwing himself out at the home he shares with Valdis. It will be an open house affair taking place all day on December 20th. He plans to have food and drinks but nothing 'too fancy,' he simply wants everyone to come by for as long as they feel like to hang out and spend time with him. No gifts necessary, he just wants time with his friends.
In addition to the cards and personal invites, he also hangs a post on the bulletin board inviting anyone in town to come and visit. Truly, all are welcome. That includes pets!
***
[For Valdis]
The day of December 20th arrives at last! Max has been giddy with excitement waiting for it all month. He asked for the day off of work for this (and so has Valdis) but he still wakes up early so he can put the finishing touches on all of his cooking and baking plans. Some decorating, too. He told Valdis to sleep in as long as she could because she was out late, so he's alone in the kitchen for now...except for the various cat and Pokémon companions that are all sniffing the air and salivating over what they smell. But that's what they do every morning.
He hears a creak from upstairs and smiles. Valdis must be awake. He'd better hurry and put these heart-shaped pancakes on the table before she comes down. It's a surprise. He's already smiling to himself, picturing her face when she sees them.
[For Ylva]
Max kept his own plate of pancakes light this morning because he has early brunch plans with Ylva. She may not have as much of a sweet tooth, but she knows good meat. (Not that kind, shh.) Max asked her over to help him build up the pit for the fire. She's better at this than he is.
"Morning!" he says as he rushes to give her a big bear hug and a headbutt for good measure. "I really appreciate you offering to run the meat station for me today. I've been hankering for more of your perfectly cooked steaks, you know?"
[OTA]
With Valdis and Ylva's help, Max manages to get everything just perfectly where he wants it. There's a buffet of different cake and pastry options on the kitchen table, with the tower of macarons as the centerpiece. No matter how many people come and how much cake they eat, the table never seems to run out. It's almost miraculous. There's also, of course, tea, coffee, and wine to go along with it as beverages.
Max will spend much of the day loitering around the sweets table, so it will be very easy to catch up with him. The first thing he wants to know, of course, is, "How do you like the macarons?" He's very proud of them, even if he will have blisters for weeks.
When he's not in the kitchen or near the cake table, he's outside hanging alongside Ylva in the meat-cooking area. Cake is nice, but it's hard to just have sweets alone. He wants to make sure there are some savory options as well. Ylva has become a pro at this, so he's taking the opportunity to actually sit and relax a little on his own birthday. Imagine that?
"Try the deer," he says to anyone that comes up to the fire, "It's delicious."
In addition to the cake and meat selection, there's one more food table of note: Pokémon specific treats! Max is considering this a soft launch for the new item he plans to introduce in the bakery. Poke-puffs, based on the recipes he got from the Poke Center, so he can guarantee they are completely safe for Pokémon consumption.
"Try one of the poke-puffs!" he encourages to anyone that seems hesitant. "Well, not you. I mean feed one to your pet. They'll love it, I promise."
[ooc: Totally fine to do mingles on this post; it's a party! Assume there's standard party setup with tables chairs and blankets to sit on spread around where appropriate. Max didn't make a present table because he didn't ask for any but someone can make their own if they feel like it.]
[NSFW]
As it is his birthday, he's feeling pretty randy. He won't hold back flirting, and if anyone starts to really mean it back, he might just be up for showing them his birthday suit. But he has to feel he can trust them enough, and he'd really rather find somewhere that's not the house--to spare not only Valdis but any visitors who may show up with awkward timing. Either way, he just wants to have a good time today with his friends and family.
[ooc: Putting it out there that I'm open to doing some light NSFW smut on-screen but I'm also just as good with FTB and aftermath threads. Trying to dip my toe in slowly. My game inbox for Max is HERE if anyone wants to take it there instead.]
no subject
"Yeah, I did. What I don't know is why Yellow's afraid of you."
He crosses his arms over his broad chest as he takes his hand back, head tipping curiously--expression still very cautiously neutral but not cold.
He's also not going to offer anything else. How Arthur responds to the observation will have a lot to say in how John proceeds.
no subject
But the man is also biased, obviously so.
"I suppose because he feels he has good reason to be," he responds. Equally neutral, equally an utter nothing of a response.
no subject
Arthur’s response is…incredibly telling.
So John cracks, just a little, and the mask gives way to a touch of frustration.
“Look: nobody understands a shitstorm like I do.” He sighs. “I know Yellow’s not a normal human kid. I’ve…seen what he can look like. I don’t wanna kill anyone, I never did—but I will if I have to, so real clear: whatever you did to him, whatever happened…did you know he was just a little kid? Species notwithstanding, did you know he was a child…and hurt him anyway?”
no subject
"Then allow me to make something perfectly clear," he says, still calm, still controlled. Very deliberately keeping his voice conversational so as not to bother any casual listeners. "What Yellow is, truly is - is part of a being of a similar legacy to Nyarlathotep. He is powerful, and he has committed utter atrocities not only against myself, but against countless others, possibly even entire universes worth of people."
He sighs quietly. "The difference, however, between Yellow and Nyarlathotep is that Yellow doesn't remember any of it. He was tortured for longer than you can feasibly comprehend, stripped of all memory and semblance of self - and then he was jammed into my mind, my eyes, to trap him with me."
Those golden eyes, iris and pupil in a gilt monotone, boring steadily into John's, unbowed.
no subject
Calm—and lets him relax a little, arms dropping to shove his hands in his pockets.
“Is that what he meant when he said you ‘hurt’ him?” He asks, the quote marks an audible thing. “That he was locked inside your head? Legit question, he might not have fully understood what I was asking at the time.”
no subject
He takes a breath, and sighs heavily. Might as well just own it. He's used to being hated - better to let Yellow finally have someone on his side, for once in his life. "Yes. I hurt him." His jaw sets, expression cool. Trying to keep the self-admonishment out of his voice. "I abused him, insulted him - trapped him in expectations he couldn't possibly live up to. I threatened to send him back to the punishment he came from. Practically everything except physically beat him."
no subject
John was abused, insulted, trapped in expectations so outrageous they didn’t really exist—and he was beaten. However, Reevis Rambo would go to his grave swearing that John was to blame, and not him.
He didn’t know. Not at first, at least…and John is only just aware of how little he really knows, so he can’t get further than that.
So he steps closer, holding Arthur’s gaze.
“I won’t kill you—so long as you treat that boy with basic decency, bare minimum, while you’re here.” He assures him. “But make no mistake, once it won’t spoil my friend’s birthday? I’m gonna track you down and I’m gonna break your fucking nose…the first time. Take it like a champ? I’ll settle for a black eye going forward. Tell me what you can about what he’s been through…and I’ll put a cap on the ass kicking. Understand that, and you’ll have nothing to fear from me.”
no subject
He almost looks like he's not going to answer, the way his mouth presses tight for a moment.
"We were together for less than three days." But the words do come, low and clipped. "He existed as Yellow for less than three. Days. He refused to work with me until it nearly got us both killed, and I refused to treat him as anything more than the sum of his parts. And when a psychotic cultist kidnapped me, he turned Yellow against me and threw me into the mines beneath his fucking mansion to die. And that is all Yellow knows." His hands curl in and out of tight, anxious fists. "That he was a part of the King in Yellow, that he was a god and I got him reduced to a belligerent pet."
He breathes deeply and sighs it out sharply, more of a huff. "And if you'll excuse me, I've clearly overstayed my welcome."
CW: mild PTSD flashback
Whaddaya hunt with a knife?
Name it.
...the way his hands tighten and loosen...
You're gonna talk to me...I promise, you're gonna talk to me, soldier.
...the way he spits every word like a bullet...
There are no friendly civilians.
His hand lifts to hover in front of Arthur's chest without touching, hoping to stop him from bolting. The hand is shaking, but he's glad his voice doesn't.
"You can be disliked and still be welcome." he manages, almost gently. "It's not my party...don't leave unless the host kicks you out. Please--I'm serious. M' not gonna hurt you here, no one will."
Then, remembering what Yellow said...
"Take it from someone who has his own issues with food: the macarons are worth the price of admission." he huffs. "Even if you just take a couple home for later."
He hesitates...
"...I dunno if it exists in your world, but I served in Vietnam--and then I basically got sentenced to eight years in prison for it. And that's the good parts. We might have a little more in common than I thought, so...I'm sorry. I get touchy about kids bein' hurt, and I think you get that or you wouldn't be trying so hard to make me change my mind about killing you."
no subject
So his tension ratchets down a few notches, from blisteringly cold back to just icy, and he regards the soldier with more curiosity.
"I don't care if you kill me." It's quiet but sincere, a telling opening. "I know I failed Yellow. But if you're going to play protector for him, you should know what you're actually dealing with. He's naive, he's- curious, and overflowing with empathy. But he is also powerful, to extents he doesn't even know yet. He's not a child."
He sighs, and glances down, shifting back half a step in quiet deference to the man's warnings. "I understand the urge, though. I've done far worse than just threaten someone who's told me that they knowingly harmed a child. His own daughter."
no subject
It's not a condemnation or even an insistence, more a firm correction. John...isn't going to touch the bit about that other man, or he'll end up hitting something and fucking breaking it. Supernatural strength and all that...and he's definitely not going near the not caring if he's killed or not. John understands that himself, perhaps too well. Fleeting moments, in that sheriff's station...
"You're right: he's curious, naive, empathetic, and powerful." John continues. "Thing like that's gotta be...I saw what he is. When he got here he couldn't even hold a humanoid form. Didn't even understand he was cold when I offered him my jacket. He doesn't understand hugs, kindness, doesn't even understand the things happening to him. That's how children are, y'know? Think of a baby's grip, tearing out a fistful of hair when they won't let go. Even little babies can hurt people, they just got no clue. Power's got nothing to do with maturity. Yellow's new and shiny and has no idea how anything works for people. He wants to, though...he wants to be people."
John casts around briefly, spotting Yellow with a small, soft smile.
"And I think he could be a good one...that something you're interested in seeing, too?"
no subject
It means you have no idea how to handle things like… shame and boredom, contempt. Satisfaction. And jealousy, and… and I’ve unfairly expected you to handle them as if you were an adult. You’re not inconsistent. You’re just a child.
He certainly can't begrudge the man for giving Yellow the opportunity, the benefit of the doubt.
"I understand," he says gently. "And- despite everything, I want to see him have a proper life. The kind that- I was never going to be able to give him when I was given him. I just..." He glances back at Yellow, following the soldier's gaze so he doesn't have to look directly at Yellow and clue him in to the fact he's being talked about. "I want to make sure you understand, too." He looks back up. "If Yellow has a tantrum, to- continue the metaphor - he might break things far worse than just toys. He has access to minds, he can force control over them."