ic inbox [box]

[unknowable]

"Please leave a message and I'll return it as soon as I'm able."

[if necessary, you can also leave a message for Ronan Lynch here]

Comments

[unknowable]

[All that means is that Max is a very smart man.]

Durable or not, I'd prefer you in one piece. You've been kind to me. Why don't we both try not to get seriously injured for a few days?

[interception]

(Or that Adam is very easy to make happy.)

alright alright. no serious injuries.

(It feels slightly strange to have someone pestering him about taking care of himself again. The last time someone did that it was-

Ah.)

and if someone is bothering you, let me know.

[unknowable]

[Since Adam is actually very difficult to make happy, Max = smart is proven.

Also, he isn't really sure how to respond to that. Adam is aware that his friends have his back if he needs it, but they'd never say that. Ronan would definitely punch someone for him, but that's Ronan. This is most certain not Ronan, and that makes him strange.]

I'm all right, I can take care of myself. But thank you.

[Adam cannot really take care of himself, but he also can't accept an offer like that, so a polite fiction is necessary.]

[interception]

(Yeah see Max is starting to understand how you work, Adam. Starting to work through the little niches of your brain. He's not so sane himself. Half the time can't even remember where he was. But he can figure this much out.

So he selects his words carefully.)

i dont doubt that. youre smart.
thing is i operate on one function adam and that's survive
problem with that is when i like people and theyre around me they get under that umbrella with me
if i survive you survive
thats really all there is to it
not being protective or saying youre incapable

what i am saying is that all i know how to do, all that im good at, is seeing another day

so if i can do that for you then let me cause otherwise i stay nothing

[unknowable]

[And that right there - that's even harder to respond to. Adam stares at the message for a long moment. In the end, of course, he predictably decides to respond to the parts that aren't about liking him or complimenting him or wanting him to survive. He just doesn't know what to do with that, so it's easier to - not ignore it, that's impossible, but set it aside for now.]

It doesn't matter what you do for me. Or for anyone else, either. You aren't nothing. I don't know a lot about your life before you came here, but I don't need to. Just the fact that you said all that is enough to make it clear that you were never nothing.

[He's not like Gansey, he's not given to inspiring words, saying the right thing at the right time. For all he knows, this is exactly the wrong thing. It just needs to be said.]

[interception]

(It was a lot more than Max would have ever said in person. But the phone, texting, it made him easier on the tongue. He didn't really get why but it was easier to just let stuff go. Especially when it came to these boys.

It was a lot to say and he doesn't actually expect a response- going as far as to put the phone aside and curl up on his bunk, as if planning to go to sleep.

Except Adam does respond and it makes something uncomfortable furl up in his gut. Not a bad uncomfortable. He doesn't know what to say to it, staring. He has no feeling of obligation to respond either and so- he doesn't.)