maskormenacelogs | To All of You [OPEN]

WHO: Max Caulfield and you!
WHERE: Heropa, De Chima
WHEN: Forward-dated to December 5th.
WHAT: Max does some camera work and other stuff.
WARNINGS: Mention of nightmares, but nothing serious.

Portrait Studio: [And here it was, the Christmas rush she'd been warned about. Screaming babies, crying families - seriously, it was a nightmare. And she wasn't just saying that because she'd had actual nightmares, and was getting little sleep. She was seriously beginning to suspect something wrong.

But there was no time to ponder that now. Sighing to herself, Max stepped out of the break room, nervously smoothing out her clothing and giving a shy smile to her next client.]

De Chima: [Work was finally - finally! - over for now, and Max had a powerful need to just get the hell out and do some good, old-fashioned exploring. Not that she really wanted to explore, so much as clear her head and avoid going home. The last thing she needed was Cindy giving her worried looks or something. But this seemed a nice enough city, and considering the kind of transport she could get around here, it was good for her to get out.

Gripping her bag and shifting it over her shoulder, Max decided to take a picture - away from people, of course. Normally, she liked taking pictures of people, at least somewhat, but this job of hers had kinda taken it out of her, for now. Besides, her portfolio needed more work.]

Wild Card: [Catch-all!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[There's a nice park just outside of downtown where the dead grass is still combed over with fallen leaves and the air is chilly and quiet. Peaceful and deserted except for a lump of green perched on a bench.

Closer inspection reveals the green lump to be an oversized coat, wherein Hermann's nursing a steaming thermos and looking deeply contemplative of the scenery in front of him. It's several moments before he notices Max, and then it's only as a girl with a camera that's possibly some sort of civilian stalker.

Fortunately, Hermann manages to look so thoroughly unlike an imPort that it's generally not a problem. Still, it's possible. More likely it was a school project though, given the girl's age]

Ah, hello..

[Max turned to look at the man, vaguely recognizing him. He looked familiar, but Max couldn't quite place it. Carefully putting her camera away after shaking out her picture, Max drew closer, looking at him curiously.]

Hello.

[It's a curious thing, her camera- either very ancient, or one of this world's strange mash-ups of technology. Other than that, there wasn't much to tell him whether or not the girl was an imPort. Considering he usually hoped most of the people he ran into weren't imPorts, Hermann was experiencing a strange hope for the opposite this time.

But he had the coordinates to his apartment in his head, and could teleport home at any time, so there was that at least.

He managed a brittle smile over the rim of his thermos]

Not as colorful as they could be, but I suppose much more north and they're rotting beneath a layer of snow.

[He was usually terrible with small talk.]

I miss the trees up north. They're so beautiful this time of year. Most of the leaves down here are just... yellow.

[Max looks at the stranger again, still finding him familiar, but thoroughly unable to place it - they had only spoken once before, after all.]

Have we met?

[Hermann nods, not personally familiar with north american winters except where Alaska is concerned. Not many leaves to see there. But Newton's memories have given him a glimpse of those colors. They remind him of England.

But that has to be the second time he's been asked that question in little more than a week. And once again, he does not recognize the face asking him]

I do not believe so. [But there's a simple way to solve this. He sets down his thermos and levers himself up with his cane, then steps forward with an outstretched hand]

Doctor Hermann Gottlieb.

Edited 2015-12-08 01:24 (UTC)

Oh! That's right! We spoke on the network once. I'm Max Caulfield.

[Max smiles shyly, giving a little wave. He'd seemed rather nice when they'd spoken, and Max was glad to see a (presumably) friendly face. She takes his hand gently, giving it a gentle shake.]

It's nice to meet you for real, this time. How are you?

Ah. [That doesn't tell him a whole lot, because 90% of his conversations are through text.

Max Caulfield.. It does ring familiar, not least because there's another Max he knows, but that had been a nice conversation about destiny and probability. She's rather friendly..]

Yes.. you were the sweet girl that asked how I was settling in. [They talked about his world's oceans and seafood last month. That had been an exhausting post, if a fascinating one.]

I'm... rather well lately, actually. Working and keeping warm for the most part. Yourself?

[Aw, he called her sweet! Max blushes at that, her smile growing wider.]

I'm glad to hear it. I'm pretty much doing the same. [Not that it's hard to stay warm; this is the south, after all.] I just decided to come over here and take some fall photos. I love this time of year.

[Shh. Oversized parkas are necessary.]

Yes, it is nice. Not the best example of it here granted, but I'd rather it over Maurtia Falls.

[He gestured toward the camera] Just something of a personal project then?

I haven't been to Maurtia Falls, yet. What's it like?

[Maybe the scenery is bad, or something?]

Yep! I want to be an artist, one day. I'm always taking photos.

[Bit of a half shrug, Hermann turns to reclaim his thermos] It's not a nice town. Crime rates are rather high, and the local police force is.. ambivalent.

[To say the least] I lived there for a time, but found I was much more at ease here.

[All the tech centers in the area help. He sips his coffee]

Is it just photography, or is there another branch of art you're looking to study?

Wowser. Glad I live in Heropa. How long have you lived here?

Mostly just photography, but I also like drawing and using watercolors.

[It's disconcerting to think how well Newton and Max might get along, but then the man's use of childish vernacular has never failed to grate on his nerves]

I've lived in De Chima for two months now. [And he's heard Heropa wasn't the safest place to live and only visited infrequently]

Are you attending university or taking courses at all?

Actually, I'm still in high school. I'm a senior. I go to Xavier's.

[Hermann drops his approximate age estimate by two years]

The imPort school, if I recall correctly? [He's heard of it, but obviously hasn't had much need to know more] I've always wondered what sort of education they offer.

That's it. It's nice! The arts program isn't what I'd like it to be, but it's miles better than the other school I was going to here.

[Besides, beggars can't be choosers.]

Do they have classes for those young imPorts adapting to new abilities?

[It would be rather irresponsible if they didn't in his opinion]

Yep! I'm really relieved about that.

[Not that she doesn't know what she can do already, but having her file and the offer of help is always good.]

To All of You [OPEN]

De Chima

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