milliways_bar | (no subject)

Max is giving Arithon a curious look. "Nice decoration. Get in a fight?" Despite the light words, she does sound somewhat concerned.

"I suppose you could call it a fight."

He says with a smile.

Max tilts her head to one side. She is now in full curiousity mode. "What happened? You okay?"

"I taunted a mad dog."

He says simply,

"And was, in my turn, bit."

"Oh. Well, that probably wasn't the greatest idea." She frowns slightly, studying him intently for a moment. "The mad dog have a name?"

"Everything has a Name, Lady."

He says quietly. On the one hand, it could sound flippant. On the other hand, the way he says Name makes it more than a name. And it implies that he knows the meaning behind the inflection.

Such things are only myth in her world. Of course, Max is very familiar with myth. "If you talk about True Names, you will probably make my brain explode. And I suppose I'll stop pestering you now, since you obviously don't want to talk about the subject." See, she learns.

"How has your catalog-browsing been going?"

"Just Name."

But he drops the subject cheerfully,

"I bought harmonicas. One of them for Jason."

Max groans, and thumps her head on the...well, on one of the rather large piles of books she has in front of her. "That will be a disaster. He's like an over-exuberant puppy."

"I also got him a book."

He says carefully. At least she's distracted now?

"And promised that I would help."

And mildly terrified. "You've never heard anyone who was bad at playing the harmonica, have you?"

"I never heard a harmonica before last night."

It is pointed out wryly,

"And I am very good at learning music."

Max can't help but laugh, if only a little. "You are very, very lucky, then. When played badly, it can be a truly terrifying instrument."

"Should it become unbearable you will be pleased to know that I will make it silent."

Spell it to play something for Jason's amusement and to leave the rest of them alone.

Max grins slightly. "My eardrums thank you." And then the grin falters, as she realises she may well not have to worry about it at all, after her and Jason's last fight.

Green, green eyes (cael narms kiel'ien) watch the grin falter and while he dies a little more deep inside where no twitch of expression, no change in scent will ever tell he asks quietly,

"What happened?"

"It...doesn't matter. We had another argument, that's all." She looks intently down at her books. "I have other things to worry about."

"And so you will worry and fret about both."

He says quietly,

"Speak, karmak'ka, and if nothing else you will have felt less alone for a few moments."

"And many other things I can do nothing about, but will probably eventually try to fix anyway," Max replies agreeably.

"I've been trying to find a solution to my newfound...problems." She gestures at the books. Because this is a far easier topic than her and Jason's many problems.

"I can bind the beast within if it attempts to escape."

He says quietly.

"I have no cure, however."

Max smiles faintly. "I'm not looking for a cure; I'm not that ambitious. Just a way to make sure it doesn't get out of control." She looks down at her hands. "I've got enough blood on my hands without any of it being by accident."

"Ah. Well. I am here for that, in so much as needed."

He touches one of her hands, lightly, with the tips of his fingers,

"Most of us have blood on our hands. We will all help you."

Max smiles faintly, sadly. "I just don't want to hurt anyone here. I think it would kill something inside me, if I did." And she means it. As much as she's ever had a home, this is one.

"I don't know how far the loss of control can go, but after what I've seen from Jason and Richard, it scares me a little."

"I understand."

He says quietly,

"This is home, in a way no other place is. Or can be."

Max nods slightly. On that, they are in perfect agreement.

"If you see me slipping, please, don't hesitate. Hell, feel free to knock me out cold, if you have to."

"I will not have to. Jason and I tested the limits. It will hurt, but I can put the beast down without putting you down."

Which should be reassuring.

And it is. "That's good to hear, honestly." She offers a slight, wry smile. "And I'm no stranger to pain. At least it would be for a good reason."

"Indeed. I do not, however, enjoy causing it. I will see if I can find non-painful ways."

He smiles in return, and rubs at his head.

"I understand." And she does, in her own way. "But if you do have to hurt me, know that I won't resent you for it."

"Thank you."

He is s'Ffalenn. It means more than she knows.

Likely more than she ever would know.

"So how is the harmonica practice going?" It seems like a safe topic to veer onto.

"I enjoy it. It is very different from other things that I have learned to play. It is not easy, but not nearly as hard as the lyranthe was to learn."

...poor Max. You got him started.

Max smiles slightly. "Next time I'm on an Earth, I'll have to pick you up some rhythm and blues music..."

"Pardon?"

He looks confused (derailed, but confused)

"What is that?"

"It's one of the few styles on Earth that uses the harmonica extensively. It's actually quite interesting." She smiles. "Something to experiment with, if you were so inclined."

"Yes. Please."

The expression on his face is one which suggests that if she admits to the slightest amount of knowledge regarding the mechanics of how to play the blues he will quite happily pin her with questions until her hair turns grey.

It may be a little unnerving, he doesn't tend to allow people to see this much of his inner drive.

It is perhaps lucky for Max, then, that she's woefully undereducated when it comes to actually playing music.

"I'll make sure to pick some up, then."

Probably. He looks wistful, and nods,

"I would like that. Thank you."

Max smiles warmly. "You're welcome."

She slides out of her booth, careful not to topple the books. "I think I'm going to go for a walk, get some fresh air. Have a good night."

"Good night, Lady."

He murmurs with a bow.

Sometime during the evening, perhaps when Arithon's a bit busy talking to someone, or the like-

There's a slice of chocolate birthday cake left at a table near to hand. Svava knows he's not a huge fan of sweets-

But its birthday cake. That's supposed to be shared with friends.

He looks at the cake, picks up the fork, and eats.

The whole thing.

And manages to pretend he likes it, too.