GENERAL OPEN POST/IC INBOX/WHATEVER IDK

[burnination]

"Busy. Send a text."

[ that's right. it's been a decade and he still hasn't changed his voicemail message. ]

Comments

[burnination]

you say that like it's a challenge

[tangit]

because it is!!! but not like in a CHALLENGE ACCEPTED kind of way, i mean this just isn't something i have the time or energy to do right now

but thank you for the compliment i do really appreciate it

i'm glad you like the permanent thing i put in your skin

[burnination]

you don't just make a scary face and send demons running?

i'm glad you like putting permanent things on my skin

[tangit]

my face is the least scary

[burnination]

i know, i know. must be an angel thing. just keep me around for it. i'm very good at scary faces, you know.

[tangit]

i don't believe you

[burnination]

[ dani will next be sent a serious of absurd snapchats, full of max trying to make scary faces, and mostly just looking like a loser. like this and like this.

and then the last one is max looking half normal and half like this thing, eyes glowing like embers, rock like armor covering parts of his face, something that might be the beginnings of a horn, and flickers of fire seeping out from behind his teeth.

tmw the bae is legit demon possesssed, oops. ]

[tangit]

[Oh shit. Oh shit oh shit oh shit.]

ok that last one might be a little too much

you okay?

[burnination]

[ a-aww, dani, he's sorry. he didn't mean it. ]

i'm sorry. i'm fine, promise.

i shift easier these days. and james made me something to help.

[ so dani can be sure, there's another snapchat following of max looking totally normal again, making a lame kissy face ]

[tangit]

[He doesn't... really like the sound of that, but. If Max says he's okay...]

ok if you're sure

[burnination]

[ ah, fuck. he's calling, screw this. the last thing he wants is dani worried about him.

or worse, afraid of him.

welp. ]

It was a shit joke, I'm sorry. [ max blabs out once the line picks up, letting it out with a sigh. but he does sound completely like himself, albeit a bit sheepish. ]

I am fine. I've been working on it, the last few years - shifting back and forth faster. [ for one, if he can get to full power fast, do what he needs to, and snap back out, that's less time he has to spend in full throttle berserking, or building up to it. less strain on his body, less strain on his mind. but along with that, if he can go from zero to full tilt fast: ] Sometimes going straight to the physical changes freaks out thieves fucking around the temples and shit. Keeps me from having to fight them.

[tangit]

[He is... so relieved to hear Max's voice, all normal, apologetic, and he lets out a deep sigh.]

It's never... you're the one in control though, right?

[Because he knows Max, he knows Max's past, and he knows the things that have happened to Max because of those shifts.]

[burnination]

[ the things in max's past brought up between the lines here have max quieting some, pausing a moment as he swallows, hanging his head as he looks at his shoes for a moment, aware of the silence he lets settle for a moment. ]

It's me. It's been a long time since it wasn't me in control.

[ there were times, of course, yes. and definitely when he was young, it was hard to really tell how much was him and how much wasn't. some days, it definitely was not max, and his last few years of school really tested that. but it had been a good test, as had the years monster hunting after, and the year he had in prison to self-reflect.

but dani's never with him when he fights these days. so he wouldn't know. not that it's at all easy to tell by looking at max, when he shifts, who's the one pulling strings in his head. ]

[tangit]

[He's quiet for a long moment, relief soaking through him like water filling up a dry sponge. He takes a deep breath.]

Good. I... good. I'm really glad to hear that.

[He doesn't really know what else to say apart from that. It's been one of his big worries for so long. Two of his closest friends are demonic class, and he's always worried for them.

The fact that his own possessions gone wrong are just as dangerous if not more so doesn't really cross his mind.]

[burnination]

[ it doesn't likely help that dani had been one of the primary forces that burned the demon occupant out of him, that last year at BCR, when Max had settled with the conclusion that he wasn't going to be coming back.

yeah, that... had been an experience. that would have been the end of him, really, if he didn't have these people inserted into his life. he sighs, a slow stream of air. ]

I'm sorry, Dani. [ he repeats, shaking his head at himself. ]

[tangit]

[He takes a few more deep breaths, his face in his hand.]

Just don't... don't joke, please. I'm glad you've got it under control, but... it's not a joke.

[burnination]

I know. I'm sorry.

[ sheepish, quiet. for a moment longer, there's silence, and max swallows, clearing his throat a second, before asking - ]

Do you mind if I come by?

[tangit]

[Dani smiles a little to himself.]

Yeah. Sure. That'd be nice.