extinguishment | IC Inbox

Hey, Daniel. Got a minute? I was wondering if you'd consider a new hire.

Evening, Max. I do, and I probably would. Who is it? And for upstairs or downstairs?

His name is Raleigh Becket. I'd actually like to take him on to help me out in the kitchen. It's gotten popular enough that I could use an extra set of hands.

He's a good guy. And he's already given me a hand once with the pretzels. He caught on quick.

I've met him, he seems like a lovely guy. You've got my blessing. Can we pay him in pretzels?

[This is a joke.]

Great. He's the type like me who needs something to keep him busy. He'll be thrilled.

[Max snorts.]

Ha! Knowing me, he'll probably get a few of those as a bonus. You know how I can't resist sharing.

It's true, generosity is your primary vice. [He'll chuckle.] I suppose we can start him the same as the shopboys.

Just following your lead.

Heh, fortunately for both of us I think he might be a little less distractable than the boys upstairs.

[Not that Max has any room to talk because he may be responsible for some of that distraction with a certain one of them. First letter L - the rest of it ucas.]

Thanks, I appreciate you hearing me out. Did you want me to let him know or should you take care of that part?

There are butterflies less distractable than the boys upstairs sometimes.

[He's not complaining, he hired them for... reasons. He likes the view. And they are good at their jobs...]

You go ahead. Let me know when his first shift is and I'll come by and welcome him to the team.

But none so pretty.

[Yeah, Max isn't complaining either. Daniel has excellent taste.]

You got it boss. Should be pretty soon. I'll give him the good news today.

I'd say I never used to mix business with pleasure like this, but pleasure was my business for a very long time, so...

[At least he's not actually running an escort service here.]

Great. I'm sure he'll be wonderful.

Hey, I'm not judging. I never kept the two separate at home either. You could say I still don't, since I get so much enjoyment out of my craft.

Although I'll admit, I'm not actually one-hundred-percent sure what you did before you got here.

Well, I've been in the club management business for a couple of decades now. Before I got here I was a madam-slash-freedom-fighter, though.

[The two things go together surprisingly well.]

[This doesn't surprise Max at all, not after knowing Daniel this long.]

That's an interesting two-fer. I mean, yeah, I see it. I can definitely see it.

So, what was the cause?

[This is an odd conversation to be having by voice only, but it does mean Daniel can just be... tired. And not have to pretend anything.]

A bunch of aliens came and instituted 'world peace', by which they meant taking all our resources while subjecting us to forced labour and constant surveillance and telling us it was for the best. Some of us weren't too fond of the idea.

[Max feels weird about it being voice too now, so he flips his video on. Some things require eye contact. If he can't just straight up give the guy a hug.]

Holy shit. Yeah, not fond is an understatement, I'm sure. Damn. Is that still going on?

[Daniel blinks in surprise as the crystal lights up to show Max's face, but offers a tired smile, pulling his hand away from the ugly scar on his collarbone that Max has probably seen him fingering before.]

We were... taking steps. Trying to provoke an uprising. As far as I know it's continuing, I hope it is, but... well, my part was done.

[In a very final way.]

And now I'm here anyway.

[Max has a talent for reading between the lines and these...are not hard to read.]

I'm sorry. I wish I was there in person, I'd offer you a hug, for what that's worth.

Don't worry about it, darling, it's old news.

[His smile is wry. Accepting emotional support? Him? Nahhh.]

But I appreciate the thought.

I know you've got your shit together a whole lot more than I do, but if you ever feel like chasing out old ghosts over a drink, you can call me. I'll bring the cookies.

[That makes Daniel laugh.]

Well, the way to my heart is through double chocolate chunk, so I may take you up on that sometime.

You know you can put a special request in any time. I'd be delighted to make them for you. They happen to be a favorite of mine, too.

I can also do double fudge.

I'm going to have to buy new skirts because of you.

[This is not a complaint. Or, strictly speaking, accurate.]

You and everyone else who works here.

[This is the face of a man who's not sorry.]

I can't seem to keep the lot of them out of the cookie jar. Not that I've been trying very hard. They think I don't notice. It's kind of cute.

They're incorrigible. I think they encourage each other.

[What does that say about his hiring practices?

Well, he likes brats, for one thing.]

If you ever do need any of them spanked for it, feel free to send them my way.

I'll send them your way. If I get to watch.

[He's never done this before. Flirted this openly with the boss, that is. But, okay. Here goes.]

You know, sometimes I steal from the cookie jar too. Might mean I'm also in need of a good spanking.

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