[cw: This character's backstory comes baked-in with some things that may be triggering: slavery/servitude, sexual abuse/mental abuse, biting/bloodplay (because vampires), unhealthy power dynamics. Happy to accommodate where necessary just a general FYI.]
1. You know the drill One shock, leads to another, leads to another. It was bad enough waking up in an unfamiliar place alone. But then he was compelled to come to drill, and meet that lady with no face. How is that possible? How is any of this possible? He tried asking her but all the answers he got were vague and unsatisfying.
"Please," he pleads with nearest person who walks by. For such a tall and athletic man, Max looks for all the world like a cowering lost puppy, complete with big watery brown eyes. "Have you seen Lord Osborne? Has anyone seen him? I have to get back to him."
2. In all my dreams I drown It's been several days now. He kept hoping maybe this was some terrible nightmare. But he's still here. It's the longest he's been without his master in seven years. In the back of his mind, he always wished and hoped a day might come where he could be free. Not like this. This isn't relief. This is terrifying in its abruptness. What can he do? Who can he trust?
He only knows one way to cope--sticking to his routine. 5:30 am he's in the gym, running, then lifting, then drilling martial art techniques. 8:00 am he goes to the pool to swim laps for another hour after that. Then he finishes with stretching and yoga poolside. After that, he grabs some coffee and gets himself cleaned up. He arrived here in a nice suit, it seems to get washed every day, somehow, so he goes on wearing it. (Just his luck he ended up with one of his least favorite ties, the gold paisley one. Why couldn't it have been the nice navy blue one?)
By 11:00 am he's washed, dressed, ready to present himself. This brings him to the problem. Usually, now is when he would go upstairs and find his master. He'd make himself a hearty brunch and then sit at the table discussing the affairs for the day, plan what chores need doing. But his master has not appeared and everything seems to clean itself. What is he supposed to do with all these unfilled hours?
Catch him between noon and 7:00 pm all over the ship, trying anything and everything to stay busy. He scours the bookshelves in the library for interesting titles. He goes to the arcade to try and distract himself with games. The casino too. He's not bad at cards. Playing against vampires with hundreds of year's of experience bluffing means he's pretty used to losing. He's a good sport about it. Max makes his way to Sand Dollars several times a day to feed his coffee addiction. Although, the way he jitters and spooks at every little sound or sideways glance makes it seem like more caffeine is the last thing he needs.
By the evening, as early as it feels safe, he can be found occupying a seat at one of the many bars (except for Tauva, because his master was always against smoking), nursing whiskey after whiskey with his shoulders hunched down, like he's trying to make himself as small and unnoticeable as possible. Sometimes the fear and hopelessness overcome him, and he sniffles into his glass, hiding his face from view while he wipes at his stinging eyes. He will stay huddled up like this for hours, well past midnight, because he can't bring himself to go back to that room and sleep alone. Every time he closes his eyes, he sees all his worst fears coming true. But, he can't keep up this pattern forever. Sooner or later, his head thunks against the bar and he starts to lightly snore. Not exactly an ideal way to catch any rest, but he feels less guilty this way, like at least he fought for as long as he could not to get comfortable here.
3. You actually eat like this? There's a lot of things that suck about being here. But the worst--the absolute worst--is that buffet. He's standing there frozen in pace with a mixture of disgust and horror while he surveys the rows of homogenous lukewarm food offerings. No. He can't do it. He can't. Where are the kitchens? He'll make something himself!
Max Maximum | OC | OTA (Yes, another Max)
1. You know the drill
One shock, leads to another, leads to another. It was bad enough waking up in an unfamiliar place alone. But then he was compelled to come to drill, and meet that lady with no face. How is that possible? How is any of this possible? He tried asking her but all the answers he got were vague and unsatisfying.
"Please," he pleads with nearest person who walks by. For such a tall and athletic man, Max looks for all the world like a cowering lost puppy, complete with big watery brown eyes. "Have you seen Lord Osborne? Has anyone seen him? I have to get back to him."
2. In all my dreams I drown
It's been several days now. He kept hoping maybe this was some terrible nightmare. But he's still here. It's the longest he's been without his master in seven years. In the back of his mind, he always wished and hoped a day might come where he could be free. Not like this. This isn't relief. This is terrifying in its abruptness. What can he do? Who can he trust?
He only knows one way to cope--sticking to his routine. 5:30 am he's in the gym, running, then lifting, then drilling martial art techniques. 8:00 am he goes to the pool to swim laps for another hour after that. Then he finishes with stretching and yoga poolside. After that, he grabs some coffee and gets himself cleaned up. He arrived here in a nice suit, it seems to get washed every day, somehow, so he goes on wearing it. (Just his luck he ended up with one of his least favorite ties, the gold paisley one. Why couldn't it have been the nice navy blue one?)
By 11:00 am he's washed, dressed, ready to present himself. This brings him to the problem. Usually, now is when he would go upstairs and find his master. He'd make himself a hearty brunch and then sit at the table discussing the affairs for the day, plan what chores need doing. But his master has not appeared and everything seems to clean itself. What is he supposed to do with all these unfilled hours?
Catch him between noon and 7:00 pm all over the ship, trying anything and everything to stay busy. He scours the bookshelves in the library for interesting titles. He goes to the arcade to try and distract himself with games. The casino too. He's not bad at cards. Playing against vampires with hundreds of year's of experience bluffing means he's pretty used to losing. He's a good sport about it. Max makes his way to Sand Dollars several times a day to feed his coffee addiction. Although, the way he jitters and spooks at every little sound or sideways glance makes it seem like more caffeine is the last thing he needs.
By the evening, as early as it feels safe, he can be found occupying a seat at one of the many bars (except for Tauva, because his master was always against smoking), nursing whiskey after whiskey with his shoulders hunched down, like he's trying to make himself as small and unnoticeable as possible. Sometimes the fear and hopelessness overcome him, and he sniffles into his glass, hiding his face from view while he wipes at his stinging eyes. He will stay huddled up like this for hours, well past midnight, because he can't bring himself to go back to that room and sleep alone. Every time he closes his eyes, he sees all his worst fears coming true. But, he can't keep up this pattern forever. Sooner or later, his head thunks against the bar and he starts to lightly snore. Not exactly an ideal way to catch any rest, but he feels less guilty this way, like at least he fought for as long as he could not to get comfortable here.
3. You actually eat like this?
There's a lot of things that suck about being here. But the worst--the absolute worst--is that buffet. He's standing there frozen in pace with a mixture of disgust and horror while he surveys the rows of homogenous lukewarm food offerings. No. He can't do it. He can't. Where are the kitchens? He'll make something himself!
"People actually like eating here?"