max sat himself down --- possibly searching for yet another batch of hair ties. "oh, trust me .. if I WANTED to have something from you here, I'd simply take the c l u m p of hairs you regularly leave here. how much hair can a human being lose before it gets concerning." it was rhetorical, of course. his eyebrows furrowed at her next words, eyes INSTANTLY scanningg the room for said object in question. "playing cards?" everything in his room had a p l a c e --- nothing was far out of the order. so one fluid reach underneath his bed was enough to pull out what was asked from him. "like these ones?" with that he c h u c k e d the cards over to her. "do I want to know why you need them, exactly?"

   maxime was left to w a t c h in pure and utter horror as nikolai removed the paper from underneath him only to continue to absendmindedly shove it into somewhere deeply settled within his jacket. "contempt ... doesn't even BEGIN to describe what I'm feeling right now." he r a r e l y meant things like that. sure, he was taken aback by most things the other did without any sign of HESITATION but going as far as hating on him for his natural ways would be a notch too far .. even for him. "since you're up actually using my tips, why don't you take this one in CONSIDERATION, as well?" sharp eyes carved holes into nikolai --- a try to capture his attention. "use that nonsensical sugarcoated bullshit on the people you're trying to charm out of their pants, alright. all that does to me is wanting to peel myself out of my fucking s k i n . last warning or else I'm gonna ruthlessly feed you to your ex .. dick first, I don't fucking care." he was ranting again, he was aware of that. he was ranting as he took the bottle from the other's hand, uncapping it and taking a cautious WIFF. "and oh my .. what in the hell is that?" not like he gave nikolai enough space to actually answer. "you're trying to poison someone with this shit?" he let the tip of his tongue slightly d i p into the unknown liquid before cringing into himself. "absolutely no fucking way." with that the cap went back on the bottle --- throwing it directly ontop of nikolai's stomach. "take that rat poison back to your dungeon." only then, he realized the gaze lingering on him. "what are the moon eyes for, huh?"

   max would be lying if he said he wasn't aware of nikolai's reputation around campus. of course, he knew. everyone did at this point. to most his sheer presence was enough to cause a huge fucking ruckus. maxime, himself, wasn't sure as to why. not exactly, at least. sure, he wasn't u g l y .. sure, he could be rather charming but there was no need to flaunt over another human being like that. but he simply put it off as one of the few things he didn't understand in life. turning on the back of his heels he was met with nik's gaze, fixed on nothing but him. it STARTLED him for a brief moment, he had to admit as far. but he much rather gloss over it than adress it --- mostly the way to go with someone like nikolai. "sure, that's plausible." he sighed in relief as his sneakers dropped to the ground, which made him finally walk back over to his bed .. his own fucking bed. "hiding .. again, huh." there was little to no judgment in that, surprisingly. "fucking HORRAY. didn't even bring cheap ass wine with you. the least you could've done, really." maxime sighed as he plopped himself besides the other. "now be a decent guest and scoot.." he pushed him a little before an irritated groan rumbled deep out from his throat. "you're literally laying on my notes. the notes you'll probably need to copy, anyways. so, like .. fuck off."

   maxime couldn't help but narrow his eyes at her tone --- something within him triggering at that. "I don't recall having to explain myself to you." it was false pride, he knew it the moment it left his lips. it was always just that. false pride and cynical bitterness. "but if you must know .. no, there was nothing going on last night. nothing more than the old usual, that is." absentmindedly he nodded towards the library only around the corner .. she would know what to make of it. "satisfied now?" he let his gaze roam over the woman for any sign of change in her expression. "what about you?" it was like he caved without him really w a n t i n g to. "you alright?" here was to hoping winnie would pick up on him caring without him having to actually say it outloud.

   one eyebrow a r c h e d at nikolai, maxime bit the inside of his cheek to focus himself. it wasn't rare that the other came around to his place --- it wasn't rare that he got under his skin almost instatly, either. something about his casual behaviour and the way he simply took what he desired made max furious --- like he didn't see the full picture, ever. not to forget about that damned smirk. "you throw words like 'insanity' at me .. yet you still continue to provoke me." and there was almost a little humor in that. deciding to drop the bothered act seeing that nikolai wouldn't care for it eitherways, max nudged his knee one more time. "if you're gonna keep on being an obnoxious little fucker .. at least take your shoes off. pretend to have some manners, will you." bright hues scanned the room, almost tactical. "also do us all a favor and learn to close the fucking door." with that he gently pushed it back into it's frame. "and no." his gaze fell onto nik again before rolling his eyes. "can't be assed to even give you a proper answer to that. what about you, though? no desperate soul to harvest for your ... desires?" his lips curled in something very close to DISGUST at that. "yikes, I feel like disinfecting my hands after saying that." and so he did.

   "you did what?" it was rare for maxime to react in such a strong way to ... literally anything. yet the shock in his voice couldn't be contained from leaking through. several seconds passed by in nothing but SILENCE before another rather uncommon thing for the tall man happened --- he l a u g h e d. full on bursted into laughter. his head fell back into his neck, hands finding their spot ontop of his stomach. "oh my GOD, stasie. what the fuck.." and it was almost completely s w a l l o w e d by the ongoing chuckle rumbling through him.

   a s t r o n g puff of air pushed past his lips --- sighing heavily. "alright, STOP.. for a hot minute there." brows furrowed as he leaned in, arms resting ontop his legs. "repeat yourself for me, will you." oh no. "but not the entire thing. just .. just the.." another irritated sound escaped him. "just what exactly did you plan on doing?" it was a casually occuring thing for josie --- turning up at maxime's place and babbling about yet another of his little P R A N K S that he had planned on pulling. in the end, not that max would openly speak up about it, it was somehow endearing how he searched for his opinion before actually doing it. stupid, without a doubt --- but also endearing.

   "I swear to god.." it was mostly whispered --- venom wrapped in a h u s h e d voice. "giada." a single slender finger picked up the offending piece of plastic sprawled in front of his feet. "if you keep on shitting your hair ties all over my god damn floor I'm gonna P O P a nerve in my head, I swear to fucking god." there was no real rage in his tone, nothing to be actually feared. "seriously.. I have an entire collection of 'em and guess what? I don't LIKE it."

   "no, fuck off.." desperation lingered within his voice. "you literally CAN'T be serious, man." hands flew up in protest but soon found their place ontop of his hips. "look, you made me so mad that I don't know where to put my fucking hands, jeez. think before you s p e a k, will you. because I can't be having this kind of conversation with you again." there was almost a little laugh piercing through his words. it was clear as the day that he actually wasn't seriously s c o l d i n g the other. not this time, at least.

   legs casually propped up against one of the empty chairs, max w a i t e d. waited for nell, as per usual. she was probably stuck talking to the bazillion of people she seemingly owed an explanation to. she was that kind of person --- the one to apologize way too much. and max was nothing like that, so if she took any longer than this .. he would pack his bags and leave. nell and him met up almost weekly to study for something that was important to her. it was his service to her and he almost caught himself rolling his eyes as this thought passed his mind. it wasn't like he expected anything in return but sometimes she would bring little gifts ... something she made for him. sometimes cupcakes, sometimes she drew him a picture that mildly represented him. it was ENDEARING, it really was. so, he slumped back in his chair --- waiting.

   the woman's voice c r a w l e d up his spine in what seemed like lightspeed. it was enough to make him stop in his steps that he so sternly directed towards the exit. instead he turned now --- bright hues instantly scanning winnie. he would rather be caught dead than admitting to it but it would never be easy to look at her .. not with everything that happened between them --- not when she looked as beautiful. frail fingers found the slim edge of his collar --- firmly s q u e e z i n g it back into it's right place. "well.. you see.." and there was already another coldly wrapped almost insult ready to be unleashed from his tongue but he swallowed it --- going for one of his half assed not really meant smiles .. the one's you'd see on a manager ready to seal the deal of his life. "there's no need to be worrying about me, guinevere." there was acid burning in his veins, he was sure of that. yet there was nothing that held him back when he cleared his throat --- ready to make a run for it. "well, now.. if you don't mind. I've got things to return to." and, yes .. saying that hurt like a bitch. and, no .. he did not want to leave her like that. but what was he supposed to do?

   maxime certainly wasn't a man of great understanding. well, at least that's what he liked to be known about him. yet he could sense the girl taking his words personal. he could see his spoken sentence disappear in her --- settling within. it almost made him feel s o m e t h i n g, something among the lines of guilt maybe. yet instead of wording that emotion out loud, he arched one eyebrow --- turning completely towards the woman. "excuse me? for what?" it was a daring tone. not that she was opposed to explaining herself to him, god forbid he would actually CARE. but he couldn't grasp the whole picture here. he was the one being openly rude. why would she feel sorry?

   instant halt came to his tracks as he heard a voice that was more familiar to him than anything he had witnessed so far. but why was this so known to him? one f l u i d movement later he was facing the other male resting ontop of his bed .. seemingly not caring about a single thing. oh, right. it almost outraged him — made him f u m e in his shoes. how could someone be so assured of themselves as nikolai vasiliev, himself? “you do know that breaking into someone’s home is a fellony, right?” slender fingers tugged on the bottom of his shirt to even out the rest of the offending flaws. “also.. get your dirty ass shoes off my comforter, you uncultured pig.” he hissed before shoving nikolai’s feet with his knee. "what's in my head, you wanna know? how to get your sweat stains out of my fucking pillow." his voice rose a notch or two --- something quite common when it came to the both of them.

   he almost laughed at that --- a betraying i t c h pulling on the corners of his mouth. instead, though .. he simply crossed his arms in front of his chest with his chin lifted a bit upwards. maxime's gaze wandered alongside her frame. did he know her? was there any reminiscence of something here? "no, thank you." he plainly muttered then and only split of a second passed by before he turned on his heels to leave.

   max stood there simply blinking at the woman. there wasn't much for him to say now. he had already brought forward what he was intending to share. "judging by the look on your face.. that should probably be a whole lot." once again .. no real b i t e behind his words -- only furrowed brows and narrowed eyes.