The fire tomorrow is born of the night

[dun_moch]

WHO: Count Dooku and Max Masters
WHERE: Ice Cream shop in Heropa
WHEN: Afternoon in early April, before the dream plague begins
WHAT: Dooku takes his young friend out for ice cream with no other purpose in mind whatsoever.
WARNINGS: None

[Count Dooku doesn't exactly have an intuitive grasp on how to pose as an Earth-type grandatherly figure for the sake of maintaining the loyalty of a small teenaged boy, so he actually has to look up suitable activities online before he decides to invite Max out for ice cream. The advantage of this plan is that he's certain Max will enjoy it. The drawback is that it involves visiting Heropa, which is consistently too warm for Dooku's taste, especially since the Count rarely wears anything but his full black outfit with brown cape.

Nonetheless, they are here now, the Count sitting across from Max with a mostly-untouched milkshake in front of him, watching the boy dig into whatever he has ordered.]

How do you like it, Max?

Comments

[radventure]

[ The past few months had passed like a blur for Max, and not even for reasons he could really put a label to. His brief — laughably brief — return home had brought him good news, and from there he'd felt like things were getting better. He'd been an effective positive force during the horrible blackout, and with Dooku's invitation into the Constellation, Max felt he'd have the opportunity to be an even more positive force for society.

Yet when the anniversary of the Peretroiska Seminiar rolled around, though — and when Max had recognized it as such — things just seemed to... slow to a halt for him. It was such a gradual change that he couldn't even consciously recognize it. He still came to work, even if he always seemed a bit distracted these days; He was still amiable and cheerful to his friends, even if these days he was finding more and more reasons to avoid socializing; He still seemed like himself, just... tired. Maybe even a little anxious. Reminders of horrors he'd endured and things he'd lost may not be lingering in his waking mind, but they were tangled in there somewhere, weighing down his thoughts and his motivation to move forward.

Max had even considered turning down Dooku's invitation today, which surprised even him, considering how much he admired and respected the man. But today was one of the better days - he found the energy to push through it and go, which was for the best. It felt good to just go out and do something with someone not work related. And also, this banana split was awesome. ]

It's great. Thanks for doing this - you really didn't have to.

[dun_moch]

[For his part, the Count had observed the unmarked anniversary of the Perestroika Seminar's many horrors in the same way he always recounted slights against his interests: he had meditated long and hard upon his hatred, forcing himself to relive every agony and humiliation, and then he had drawn up vast and complex plans to exact vengeance upon his tormentors. The time to settle affairs with the Russians was not quite yet, but that did not mean he had forgotten. It only meant that he was old, and experienced, and had long ago learned patience in the art of settling scores. He could wait.]

But of course I did. You have been a good friend to me, Max. And a brave hero, despite your young age. You deserve a reward.

[The Count can sense the truth, of course- that Max does not have the same strength and clarity that Dooku has through the Dark Side. His memories are haunted, and the lingering pain saps at his strength. But he is strong, for his age- strong enough to be useful, which is all that really matters.]

I hope that you have been safe and well, since our last meeting. We have all faced many dangers since the blackout.

[radventure]

A reward. [ He smiles sheepishly at that, averting his gaze and poking at his banana split with a spoon. ] Maybe. I don't know. Seems like in the end, the things I do right and wrong all seem to balance out somehow.

I think I just need a rest more than anything.

[dun_moch]

Not all can claim to have achieved that kind of balance. Take what rest you can, while you can. That, too, is something you deserve.

[Dooku speaks with sympathy in his voice and his eyes. But he's not going to let Max's existential fatigue stop him from getting what he came here to get.

Better to make it Max's offer than Dooku's request, though. Dooku is silent for a moment, then heaves a sigh as he looks down at his own (disgusting) milkshake, letting his shoulders heave beneath his cape as though he were burdened.

If he knows anything about Max, the boy's next words will be asking after the Count's own well-being.]

[radventure]

[ Max is... well, he's a very easy read, at least. Like a well-tuned fiddle, Max plays right into Dooku's ploy, a look of concern crossing his face at the sigh of (apparent) discontent. ]

Sounds like I'm not the only one with problems. My teen angst aside, what's going on with you?

[dun_moch]

[Dooku restrains a smile- not for the first time around one of his 'friends', and not for the last.]

Ah, I do not wish to trouble you. It is only that I have been anxious for my safety, in the wake of our recent troubles. I have investigated a powerful new means for my protection... but I need something in exchange for it, something that is not easily acquired.

[radventure]

[ Max frowns, then nods in understanding. ]

Yeah, that... definitely makes sense. Even with all these superpowers we have, we've still got... you know, everything that's happened so far to us.

[ He gives a general sweep of his hand, in that "you just gestured to all of me" way. ]

I can definitely imagine wanting a little extra protection. What do you need, anyway?

[dun_moch]

[Excellent. Dooku leans forward, moves his milkshake to the side, and steeples his fingers in front of him on the table.]

It is a magical item. An imPort says he can create it for me, but at a cost of certain tokens. For instance, a sample from a person who exemplifies the value of sacrifice.

[This isn't really what Mr. Gold actually told Dooku to do, but rules are for lesser beings and the Count won't give up something of his own if he can get someone else to do it for him.]