“All in order?”
Raven nodded.“I think so.”He glanced at the Video 2000 system they had unearthed, along with the boombox Heath had kept on his desk for the longest time.“You know, some of these things…”
“Yes?”
He tapped on his phone some more.“I mean, say we can’t find a place to donate this to.”
Maxim crossed his arms.“Then we should keep it.How would you feel about curating a little exhibition for the donors?Wouldn’t that be fun?I always worry they’ll get bored.”
Raven looked up from his phone, and Maxim was struck by an odd feeling when the fledge’s eyes met his.He wasn’t quite sure what it was, couldn’t really name it.Perhaps I’ll file this away for later consideration.
“What do they do, anyway?Do they work for you?”
Maxim leaned back in his chair, though he stopped when something in the vintage construction creaked noisily.
“You mean apart from offering their blood on a regular basis?Hmm.I know some do administrative tasks for Heath, and since some of the donors are also qualified lawyers and accountants, he forces them to labor away in those fields as well.In general, however, we don’t require any of that and are happy to offer them much leisure.”
“So they’re not being exploited?I mean, you hear things.No offense.”
Maxim smiled.“None taken.Suspicion where the welfare of others is concerned can never be wrong.”
Raven licked his lips.“Do you, uh… About the biting.I don’t… Is that something that happens?”
It’s well that he should ask.Healthy that he wonders.“Not all of them are open to being bitten, but they’ll let you know if you ask.The biting itself is largely instinctual, but you do have to learn how much to take, which is usually going to be less than you want, early on.”
Raven gaped.“That’s not what I meant!I don’t want to bite anyone, I was just wondering.Whether I have to.”
“Oh.Not these days, I don’t think.”
“Okay.That’s a relief.Also, I think I’m maybe a little thirsty.”
Raven looked at his own feet as if his thirst were a mark of shame, and Maxim felt an urge to put an arm around his shoulders, though he didn’t.
“Let’s head downstairs, then.We can return to the cylinders and the slides later, and then maybe you can impress upon Bryan how nice it would be for him to guard an exhibition of these aged and wonderful things.Perhaps… You know, it might be nicer to keep these things than to give them to a museum.What do you think?”
Raven looked up.“You wanted to keep all the stuff all along, didn’t you?”
“Who, me?”Maxim put a hand to his heart and did his best impression of a Shakespearean actor inJulius Caesar.“Heath has corrupted you.You mustn’t let his prejudice cloud your judgment, Raven.”
Raven scratched his head.“I’m not sure I signed up for this.”
Maxim, never having been a salesperson given his preoccupation with hunting things, failed at delivering a winning smile just then.“We shall talk about it over a nice drink of blood.”
“Uh-huh.”
They took the elevator down to the restaurant and sat at the same table they had first shared.To Maxim’s relief, Raven seemed far more at ease this time around.He turned to look out the windows.
“It’s real sunny today.”
“Isn’t it just?Such a perfect day to stay inside.”
Raven laughed at that.Not with full humor, but with a lightness that helped Maxim release some of the tension he’d held ever since he’d given Raven his blood.
Ume let out his Shiba whine, as if rejoicing too, then booped Raven’s leg before heading away toward the general kitchen area.
“Hey!Hey, where’s he going?Shit, he needs walkies, right?”
Maxim leaned on his elbow.“If you’re brave enough to face the sun, I don’t think he’d mind, but I believe he has learned where the kitchen is.Which is where he gets served fae-made food—a specialty even for dogs, no doubt.”
