While working on Turnabout Tragedy, I’ve been writing some snippets for my upcoming Amnesia AU. They’re mostly focused on The Show-Stopping Turnabout, the Turnabout Big Top rewrite. I wanted to post a Max snippet. I’ll post more if people are interested!
“Why do you pretend to hate them so much?” The question slipped out before Phoenix could stop it. He probably wouldn’t have held it back either way, though.
Max looked startled. “I-I’m not sure what you mean, sweetie!” He laughed, but it was clearly nervous.
Phoenix crossed his arms, unimpressed. “You keep talking about how untalented they are, but you negotiated to get a higher salary for all of them. You got into a fight with Ben, but you also lied to protect him. You act like you hate them, but I know you don’t. Why?”
“Because they don’t like me! Why should I care? Why do I care?!” Max’s voice wavered, a bit of twang slipping through. He looked a bit like he was going to cry.
Phoenix tilted his head, frowning slightly. “They like you just fine. Regina thinks the world of you. You’re like an older brother to her.”
Max shook his head, looking distressed and hopeless. Phoenix suddenly felt a bit guilty. “They don’t like me. They like Max Galactica, not Billy Bob.” Phoenix furrowed his brow. Max looked away, eyes downcast. “Forget it. It don’t matter much.” The twang was back.
Phoenix shook his head. “It matters to you. I’m listening. Talk to me. Help me understand.”
Max sniffed, the vulnerability vanishing. “I highly doubt you could understand fabulousness, given your attire, sweetie.”
Phoenix frowned just a little, though he wasn’t insulted. Maya had helped him pick the suit, so he knew it was good. “You aren’t going to drive me away. I’m not going anywhere.”
Max looked at him for a long moment, haughty facade slipping away. “… Max Galactica… it’s a performance. A part I play. Underneath, I’m Billy Bob. Just some country hick. But nobody likes Billy Bob. He’s not flashy or fabulous or fancy. Even the Judge didn’t like ‘im. The only one who did was my daddy, but he didn’t like Maximillion Galactica. Said it was shameful, that I should be a ‘man’.”
Max (Billy?) sighed softly, retreating into himself. Phoenix felt a pull in his chest. He had to be able to do something. “He was wrong. There’s nothing shameful about who you are. I think you’re beautiful.”
The magician shook his head, though he flushed. “Ya think Max is beautiful. Who I am now, some kid off a pig farm… it’s hardly purrty.”
Phoenix shook his head, defiant. “You’re thinking of it all wrong, Billy Bob.” The pink-haired man looked up in surprise. Emboldened, Phoenix continued. “You see yourself as Max or Billy Bob, as magician or farmer. But that’s not how it works. You’re still theatrical when you’re not onstage, when you’re just Billy Bob. You’re kind to animals and you get your hands dirty, even as Max. Those parts of you don’t stop existing just because the name changes.”
Phoenix suddenly thought of a heist movie he and Franziska had watched, of the multi-colored gemstone. The metaphor was a bit clunky, but he’d try. “You’re like a diamond. It has different faces- heck, it can even look like a whole different gem depending on which face you’re facing.” Definitely clunky. Phoenix continued anyways. “But it’s still the same thing. It still shines. You still shine, no matter which part of you the world sees. Some people may not realize that, but the ones who matter will. Just talk to them.”
Maybe recommending communication was a bit hypocritical, but Phoenix never pretended to take his own advice. Billy Bob looked at him, halfway between wonder and something softer. Fiddling with one of his cards, he smiled. It was gentler than the usual too-bright grin. Phoenix found he liked it quite a bit. “Thanks, Phoenix. Maybe once all this is over, I’ll have a chat with ‘em. I’m sure it’ll be fabulous.” Hearing the signature catchphrase in a Southern accent was a pleasing juxtaposition.
“I’ll hold you to that,” Phoenix replied with a smile. He held Billy Bob’s gaze for a moment, feeling his heart beat just a bit faster. Was he always this… pretty? Maybe I get Maya’s obsession now… A thought flashed in his mind, distracting him for a moment. “Do you want to be called Max or Billy Bob?”
The magician paused for a moment, considering. “I like Max. I chose it myself, y’know? Billy Bob is nice and all, but Max feels special. He’s the first time I got to show what I kept hidden. I love my daddy, I always will, but Max is the me I had to hide. It’d be nice ta let ‘im breathe for a bit. Does that make sense, sweetie?”
“Completely. Family’s complicated.” Phoenix was learning that lesson a lot. He tried his best to ignore the traitorous flutter in his chest at the nickname. It never got to me before… Face heating, he ran a hand through his hair. “Visiting hours are almost over. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“See ya tomorrow. I know you’ve got it.” Just before Phoenix walked out the door, Max’s voice stopped him. “Fer what it’s worth… I think you’re beautiful too. Absolutely stunnin’, Sweetie Bird.”
Phoenix did a terrible job of hiding his flustered smile. “T-Thanks, Maxie,” he managed to get out, making a swift exit. As soon as he was out of the room, he sank down in the hallway, face covering his hands. Having a crush on a client was certainly ill-advised, but when had that ever stopped him?
