#max: threads.

as a kid who’d grown up on a farm, nature and camping were nothing new to max. usually, he enjoyed the peace and quiet of the woods, even more so after the time he’d spent living in the city, but tonight, there was a certain unease that he wasn’t used to - most likely having something to do with all those ghost stories his friends had shared around the campfire earlier that evening.

“what was that?” jolting up to a seated position, max took a quick glance around the tent, as if expecting a monster to have joined him and caleb while his eyes had been shut. fortunately, it appeared like they were still alone, at least for now, but the sounds coming from the surrounding forest were doing nothing to alleviate his nerves. “...those stories earlier... they were just that, right? stories?”

it wasn’t until the moment his fist tapped on the door, that max realized this was a huge mistake. he shouldn’t be here. they hadn’t even spoken in years, and yet, here he was, at their doorstep, only now letting it sink in just how ridiculous this all was. the only reason that he even had their address was because of the rsvp information on the invitation, which should have been a sign that what he was doing was insane. they weren’t even friends anymore, so what on earth had made him think taking a flight out here was a good idea? before he had a chance to make a run for it and pretend he’d never been here, however, he heard the sound of the door unlocking, alerting him that it was too late. he had no choice, but to face the stupid decision he’d made. 

"i only wanted to help.” 

“do you want to come in?” 

"lay back down, you need to rest."

“...you’re not from around here, are you?” the longer his eyes remained on the other, it became increasingly obvious that his question was completely redundant. it was always easy to spot a visitor - in part, because they didn’t get them all that often, but additionally because they always seemed totally perplexed when they showed up at charlene’s on a saturday night, and expected some sort of wild party. sure, it was the most happening spot in town, but that wasn’t saying much. “it’s line dancing. let me guess... you were expecting all that... bumping and grinding, like at some nightclub? that’s not really how we do things around here, hate to break it to ya.” 

The comment drew a suspicious, side-eyed glance from Max.

It was true that the newcomer to Captain Flint’s crew had not been in Nassau long enough to get a sense of the shifting sands that moved this place, or how this very brothel was the heart of all the important information that ever crossed this island – but some of them never did. Most were content to hunt, return, brag to the girls, then go hunting again. Few among Flint’s men would have even had the notion to steal the page from his log, and fewer still would have been able to read it.

He did not understand – that much was true. If he did, he might have been able to cheat her out of this partnership. He might have figured out himself who to contact, where to arrange the transaction and who to avoid until he’d been able to flee the island with a handful of money and no harm done to him. But for how long would he not understand?

Something told her not to underestimate this man. Her eyes turned to the leather pouch protecting their prize, pensive, planning, thinking of another life far away from Nassau – far away from Noonan and his clients, the stench of this place, the never-ending disputes over prize and power. 

it was his first day, day one of the job, and here he was, already completely fucking up. this had to be some sort of record, truly. shift not even halfway done, and he was on his ass in a pile of hay, from having slipped after crashing into none other than one of the members of the royal family themselves. oh, he was so getting fired. it had taken longer for him to travel from the countryside, than he'd actually spent being employed for the palace. it'd almost be funny, if it wasn't so humiliating. "oh my god." at least he could take some solace in the fact that he hadn't taken them down with him, but he supposed it'd make sense that someone of their status would be better with their balance. "i am... so sorry." he stood quickly, brushing the dust off his pants with his hands, before giving them a quick glance over - while making a point to avoid eye contact. "are you okay? i-i didn't hurt you, did i?"