[PRP:Fin] As Time Goes By [Maxwell+Julien]

[HyTech - Maxwell]

The histrionics of HyTech, escalated by the increasing number of youths, seemed to be at a dramatic high; he rolled his eyes at the thought of them as he passed the kitchen door. Night had come and the air was silent. It was time to raid the reserves of instant fondue chocolate, then the perfectly seasonal strawberries. Both were plucked carefully from their arranged lines [Belle kept the drawers quite organized in expanding extraneous nervous energy] and delicately maneuvered by jaguar claws into a pot and onto a plate respectively. He produced a lighter from his vinyl pockets to set the wick aflame, and as he stooped to check the candle, the glow reflected in his globular gold eyes.

The chocolate bubbled calmly; he lifted the entire fondue construct with one hand and balanced the plate on the tips of the other paw’s fingers. His tail slid up to open the door, moderating its swing to reduce the noise. With all this in tow, he made his way across the floor.

He carefully sidestepped Chrys’ carrot-flavoured token of affection outside, his tail now reaching to tap on Juli’s room door. “Open the door,” he said, “come on.” Looking down at the lonesome carrot cake left outside for a dubious amount of time, he transferred the strawberries to a forearm, retrieved the cake and waited.  

[HyTech - Julien]

Only silence emanated from beyond the steel door for a good minute. Silence, and then - "go away," small, muffled, and perhaps a little teary.  

[HyTech - Maxwell]

He waited a moment, exhaled and repeated patiently 'open the door.'

Essentially it would happen sooner or later.  

[HyTech - Julien]

At first there was only more silence...then, perhaps imperceptible to any but a jaguar's fine ear, the rustling of sheets, the hasty clicking of a keyboard, running water. Finally, the door cracked open - a dark bunny eye, peering resentfully out of a pale face looking suspiciously scrubbed. "What do you want?"  

[HyTech - Maxwell]

He looked him in the eye, a side of his mouth quirked up and he presented the cake helplessly. "Chrys left this carrot concoction outside in the afternoon and it's getting dangerously old out here."  

[HyTech - Julien]

The eye widened in surprise, then softened at the thought of the lady who doted on him so. "Oh," he started weakly, then finished with a sheepish regret, "I...don't really like carrot."  

[HyTech - Maxwell]

"I know."

He shuffled and swapped the carrot cake for the fondue; a small jerk of his head alerting the bunny to the warm chocolate and the small plate of piled strawberries balancing precariously on his arm. There was an expectant stillness.  

[HyTech - Julien]

The door held for a beat as he debated with his pride - but with a quiet sigh the battle was over. The crack became an invitation as he padded back into the room: "Come in."  

[HyTech - Maxwell]

Juli was terribly dishevelled - fondue was definitely a good call. Watching a loose strawberry with some trepidation, he slipped into the room and shut the door behind him.  

[HyTech - Julien]

He picked up his earlier-discarded clothing - pants, vest, tie - and pitched them onto his desk chair, reaching over to snap the suspiciously blank, glowing screen of his laptop down before hopping onto the rumpled nest of blanket across his bed. "Ignore the mess." He crossed his legs and scooted back to make room, then turned a sober gaze on the hovering jaguar: "Now - what do you want?"  

[HyTech - Maxwell]

"Don't be bitchy to someone with chocolate for you," he said smoothly, sliding the carrot cake onto his desk and making his way over with the (very specific) bunny treats. He settled on the bed soundlessly - the strawberries were displaced upon the sheets. The fondue was about to be put on the bed too, but he reconsidered its flammability and stabilised it with a paw on his knee instead.

"Go on," the encouragement was heartfelt; the chocolate inviting.  

[HyTech - Julien]

The sobriety segued into a pout at the reproval; he turned away from the [considerable] temptation, drawing his knees up to his chin. "I'm not being bitchy - I meant it." He slid a dark glitter over the other's face, "I doubt you're here to say sorry."  

[HyTech - Maxwell]

"To be honest, I'm not sure what to be sorry about." He laughed, fixing the glitter with his own. "But I could be sorry about making you c - upset, so just take a strawberry, will you?" He took his own advice and pierced one, licking the red juice that ran down his claw.