Maxim stopped walking backwards for a moment. His heart beat had gotten even faster or so he felt. It began to hurt, like small needles being rammed into his chest area over and over again. He wasn't used to his nor did he want to be. Ben spoke again. Damn right he was nervous. Though Ben couldn't p...

The footsteps stopped. Whoever was there, around the corner, they obviously had a reason for stopping. Since spontaneous death was both silly and unrealistic as an option, it had to mean they had somehow noticed him as well, despite his best efforts to remain hidden. Though those efforts had only co...

Morning in Paris, the city awakes To the bells of Notre Dame The fisherman fishes, the bakerman bakes To the bells of Notre Dame To the big bells as loud as the thunder To the little bells soft as a psalm And some say the soul of the city is The toll of the bells The bells of Notre Dame It was temp...

((Maxim Kehlenbrink continued from The Land Across )) There were buildings up ahead, quite a few. An entire compound, really. Not exactly what he'd have considered inviting, but just about lifeless enough to make him consider the possibility of them not being 'inhabited' yet. Some of them, at least....

((Maxim Kehlenbrink continued from The Strange Case of Nadia )) There was a bridge in the distance. Beyond that, he could see water, lots and lots of water. So it was true, even though he had never really doubted it. Granted he had only had a limited look around yet, but it seemed like this was an i...

Maxim couldn't help it, not with that response. Despite his best efforts to suppress his amusement,  a single snort escaped him. He had expected something, well, more dramatic, really. Some lamenting words, something about bleak prospects or heavy with gloom. Not a response like that - so casual, al...

Maxim looked at Ben as he delivered the news, his expression remaining unchanged throughout it. So that was it, the reason for the other boy to seemingly panic yet again. At least it wasn't over nothing. Hell, even he himself wouldn't have expected that Lili to just bail, didn't take her for the typ...

There was yelling coming from outside of the room. Not quite enough to startle Maxim, but sufficient to make him wonder for a couple of seconds. That was Ben, right? Had to be him. Yes, yes, that was his voice, no doubt. Even so, he was shouting, apparently looking for him, asking if he was there. U...

He had to force himself to continue to listen. The overwhelming sensation hadn't left his mind, of course, it was all too reasonable for him to be distracted. Maybe he even wanted to be distracted. But even now, even as fate or life or whatever goddamn higher force was responsible for this mess had ...

((Maxim Kehlenbrink, continued from Prince of Nothing )) Finally, there it was. It had kept him up for hours; a sting in his side each time he had been about to nod off. He knew it would come eventually, one could almost say he had anticipated it. Whether it was out of morbid curiosity or just in or...

Maxim nodded. Ben's words didn't warrant further response, so that was the best he could do. At least the guy seemed to have calmed down. It had only been a few seconds, a shameful display of insecurity, but just a few seconds nonetheless. If it was going to stay at just that, then all the better. B...

"Hm?" Maxim didn't say more, since his mouth was occupied with the first bite of his loaf. He turned his head to Ben, careful not to make too much noise while chewing. He had expected his friend to bring up the issue of first watch again, of their means of defense or really just anything e...

Maxim watched as his friend made to go and join Lili in her room. He was pretty sure he didn't approve. Not that he would have admitted it to Ben, but he was rather glad she was out of the picture for now. He knew Ben, he didn't mind his presence. Lili, he wasn't sure he wanted to stick around yet. ...

Maxim watched as Lili scampered away and disappeared into the room he had occupied for all of two minutes earlier. Didn't seem likely for her to miraculously recover all of her strength after she'd be done with her meal, so she was probably out of the picture for now. Fine by him.   He turned back t...

Maxim's suspicion was only confirmed once he actually saw Lili move. Or rather, stumble around. Pitiful display really, this girl wouldn't make it through ten minutes of her shift before keeling over. Someone else would have to take first watch, that much was for sure. But for the moment, that was n...