Max had been surprisingly busy the past few days. He had gone on a couple of private dates with Angel and Poppi, though both of them insisted on keeping things hidden so none of the Vees would find out. Between Valentino's obsession and the Vees constantly watching people connected to them, secrecy was safer.
He had also tried going on a date with Charlie and Vaggie.
That… had been a little awkward.
Not terrible, but definitely awkward for a first real date. Charlie kept trying too hard to make everything perfect, Vaggie stayed tense the entire time, and Max spent half the evening trying to stop the two of them from apologizing for every little thing.
Still, it wasn't bad.
It was honest.
Now Max found himself back at the hidden island, mainly to restock food and supplies. The second he stepped into the massive library, however, he noticed someone curled up in the bed that had somehow formed in the middle of the room.
Octavia.
"You're here sooner than I thought," Max said quietly as he entered.
Octavia didn't even look at him. "Just… leave me alone. I've been through enough."
Max could hear the strain in her voice immediately. The exhaustion. The frustration. The sadness she was trying to bury.
Instead of pushing, he simply sat down across from her.
"Why do you let your parents get to you so much?" Max asked calmly. "I don't see why you blame yourself."
Octavia finally looked at him, her eyes tired.
"But why does it happen all the time?" she asked quietly. "My parents hate each other so much and… maybe they're only still together because of me."
Max frowned slightly.
"Why would you think that?" he asked. "And pardon the way I speak, but none of this is your fault. From what I know, your mother is honestly the worst. And I get it, your dad is off with some imp, but do you see how much happier he is now?"
Octavia stayed silent.
"I'm sorry," Max continued, "but your parents were only together because of royal obligations. That kind of relationship was doomed from the start. And sadly, knowing Goetia traditions, they'll probably try arranging something similar for you eventually."
Octavia's feathers shifted nervously.
"But your dad would fight against that for you," Max added. "I genuinely believe that."
"I… guess that's true," Octavia admitted softly.
She hesitated for a moment before speaking again.
"What if I became one of yours?" she asked. "On paper, I mean. Just so I can't get forced into some arranged marriage."
Max blinked before immediately shaking his head.
"First of all, I don't do fake relationships," he said. "Second, my contracts are pretty ironclad. Those aren't things people casually sign."
Octavia looked away slightly embarrassed.
"And third," Max continued more gently, "that's missing the point entirely. You shouldn't have to tie yourself to someone just to escape your family's mistakes."
The room went quiet for a few seconds.
"Don't take what's happening with your parents so personally," Max said. "None of this is your fault. Your mother is a cold bitch, and your father is… honestly kind of a lovable disaster."
That got the faintest snort out of Octavia.
"I can't even really insult him too much," Max added. "He genuinely cares about Blitzø."
Octavia narrowed her eyes slightly.
"How do you know the imp's name?"
Max immediately realized he might have messed up.
"Well…" he started awkwardly, "I'm dating Blitzø's adopted hellhound daughter and one of his employees."
Octavia stared at him.
"But don't worry," Max added quickly. "I don't steal people from relationships. Well… I guess Bee was close, but she was probably going to dump Tex eventually anyway."
"You're with Bee?" Octavia asked, her eyes widening. "As in Beelzebub? The Queen of Gluttony?"
"Yeah," Max answered casually. "I've got all kinds of girlfriends. A hellhound, an imp, a succubus, a couple sinners, Bee, the Princess of Hell…"
He paused awkwardly.
"…And some other complicated stuff."
He still wasn't entirely sure what category Vaggie counted as anymore.
Octavia stared at him in complete disbelief.
"You're dating Charlie Morningstar too?"
"Technically, yes," Max admitted. "But I don't use her authority for anything. I'd rather earn things myself."
That part, oddly enough, seemed to stick with her the most.
Max stood up and stretched slightly.
"I can tell you've got a lot to process," he said. "Feel free to take more books or food if you want. Just don't break anything too expensive."
A tiny smile appeared on Octavia's face.
"And if you need something," Max added while opening a portal, "I'm staying at the Hazbin Hotel for now."
Before leaving, he stopped for a second.
"Oh, and Octavia?"
She looked up at him.
"You don't need to become someone's possession just to have value."
For the first time since arriving on the island, Octavia genuinely looked shaken by something he said.
Not hurt.
Touched.
Max gave her one last nod before stepping through the portal and disappearing, leaving Octavia alone with her thoughts once again.
She slowly looked down at the blanket in her lap.
Then at the key card he had given her.
"…He's really weird," she muttered quietly.
Yet despite her words, she held the card a little tighter.