brutal.

40. scorpio. detroit, mi. friendly neighborhood drug dealer.

[max-richmond]

MYSTIC TASK. ABOUT ME. 

In the wake of unspeakable family tragedy, Max Richmond (Jon Bernthal), pulled himself up by his own bootstraps to do what was necessary for the survival of his wife and immediate family. He quickly amassed an arsenal of talents and took on a number of different “jobs,” to make ends meet and keep everyone’s heads above water. But when he becomes intoxicated by the fast, easy money to be made selling drugs, his marriage suffered the consequences and the family he’d move mountains for began to distance themselves from the changing man before them. Now, after 2 years of living in his late mother’s hometown, Max is finding himself struggling to resist the pull toward the fast money that brought his life crashing down around him in the first place.

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[max-richmond]

MATTY RAZO​:

Valentine’s Day had been quite the night for Matty, between his shenanigans with his best friend Will, what happened between Matty and Nina and how drunk he was; it was hard for him to remember all of it. But one look at the man and Matty remembered some of their conversation. He could be wrong but he thought that the other male had mentioned his red suit and how different it was or something. 

Again, it was a long, crazy night that he barely remembered. So he could be wrong. “Oh yeah, you’re right. Oh, damn. I hate to say this but I don’t believe we said each other’s names that night, right?” It was embarrassing to admit, but he assumed that his drunk state would let the other know what he meant. He had no recollection of their actual conversation, but he did remember his face and that he had been good company for a short amount of time before he disappeared.

x

For a moment, Max was sure they’d gotten their wires crossed, that the other man was referring to someone else. Because, really, he only recognized his counterpart in a vague, far off sort of way. He narrowed his gaze at the other man, tried to place the face in the memory, to pin it all in place... And then.

“The suit! You were the guy in the suit. Yes, I remember you now!”

Valentine’s Day had, in truth, been a rare moment of weakness, for Max. It had been right on the heels of his sibling ditching him for the millionth time — when he thought they were finally going to be on good terms after their most recent fight, up and disappearing without a word, and it was, well, it was a romantic holiday, and he was divorced. While he wasn’t sobbing his eyes out — as if he’d ever, Max wasn’t exactly feeling particularly cheery that evening, either. It would explain, though, why he drank so much at a public event. 

Had he said anything embarrassing then? “I hope I wasn’t like, weird. Or whatever. You know.”

[max-richmond]

— late night, outside of MOONIE’S, featuring @carinagarcia.

Max decided on taking a night off, for once, which mostly just meant heading over to Moonie’s to drink what passed for expensive scotch in a small town, which was really just a 12-year-old double-cask bottle of Macallan. Well, it could be worse, he supposed. He’d popped out of the unusually busy bar for a weeknight, lit a cigarette, and brought it to his lips for a quick pass before expelling the obligatory plume of smoke. It felt weird, even for a night, to not be hustling in some way. 

Weirder, still, to see a Mystic PD cop car pulling up outside the bar, and knowing he hadn’t even done anything to bring about its arrival. At least, until he recognized the particular member of the force in question.

“Lady, don’t even look my way. I haven’t done shit, just like I didn’t the last time. And, honestly, if you wrongfully arrest me again, I’m gonna have to consult my lawyer. I know my rights.” Although he was serious, Max couldn’t help but grin, secretly, even. And, truth be told, he did wonder what had brought about the appearance of the cop he was only familiar with because she’d gifted him his first pair of silver bracelets, since arriving in Mystic. 

[max-richmond]

MATTY RAZO​:

@mysticstarter​

It was a part of Matty’s routine to run along the shore of the beach. Living in a boat made him spend more time at the beach and at the dock, obviously. So it wasn’t rare to see him around the area, he knew Mystic like he knew the back of his hand by now. Even if he wasn’t born in the small town, he felt like he did. He’d been reborn there in a way, his life completely changed since the moment that he stepped into town. Now though, instead of only going for runs in the morning, he’d been jogging most evenings as well, not because he needed it, but because he was aware of the panic in town. Matty was protective, so he took some of his free time and made sure that, at least, those that lived near him, were safe before he went to bed every night.

After his latest walk around town, Matty let out a small sigh as he walked along the beach, watching the sunset, hands shoved in the pockets of his shorts. “Pretty, isn’t it? I always like looking at it, especially these days.” He mumbled as he approached the person that was standing near the shore. “Makes me forget about everything that’s going on.”

x

                    Max felt like he was living two lives, most days. During the daylight hours, he could be found in a work uniform, hands coated in the slick, shiny sheen of oil. Or, maybe, on a slow day around the shop, he’d be over at Retrograde, hands wrapped in bandages, a punching bag bearing the weight of his frustrations. At night, though? He was almost always in all black. Sometimes a t-shirt, sometimes something a little nicer. A watch, always. And clean, always clean. Clothing felt like a costume  — had to be, with a profession(s) like his. 

                    So, with his nightly costume on, Max headed to the beach. A particularly self-conscious ‘client’ had insisted meeting there, with the daytime crowds now clearing out. And while the currently faceless, unsaved number in his phone would be able to maintain their dignity, Max felt like a ridiculous asshole with his boot-clad feet sinking into sand. 

                    He was almost startled by a man speaking over his shoulder, gazing swinging over in the direction of the sound. Brown hues squinting, focusing, Max realized he recognized the man; he worked at Sea of Ink. Puzzle pieces were aligning. Except, what was he saying? 

                                        “Oh, honestly, I hadn’t even, uh..” he spared a chuckle, “Hadn’t even looked. Hey, I know you, don’t I? Well, sort of.” 

[allmymetaphors]

i accidentally showed some weakness earlier today it was disgusting i would not recommend it 

[max-richmond]

CHANGES!

Hello, everyone. Small PSA to announce a few updates to our lovely Mr. Richmond. He’s got a new face, a (slightly) new name, & a new occupation (plus a new blog layout & infographic).

Say hello to your friendly neighborhood drug dealer, the artist formerly known as Elias shall now be called Max(well). He’s still a mechanic by day, he just has multiple income streams now. Wink wink.

[max-richmond]

CARINA GARCIA​:

      “Your ass? I thought it was your hand,” Carina teased, an airy chuckle floating out from between her lips. “Although, I’m sure there’ll be a next time. Who knows what tattoos you keep hidden on that thing.” It was rather interesting to see how well the conversation flowed between them – Carina taking note of every smile or laugh they shared. Sense of humour was something that had attracted her to Abby in the first place, and it was easy to see that the siblings had that in common. 

       “If it helps, I’ve never understood why people get family portraits. Who wants to look at their partner’s dead Grandmother while they do the nasty? I’d take a South Park character over that scenario any day.” With a warm smile, Carina glanced up at the older man before lowering her gaze back down to the floor. After so many months of radio silence, it was taking everything in her not to ask him how his sister was doing. But in doing so would be a line of questioning she didn’t know she was ready for. “I suppose I should let you get back to your evening plans. Are you heading over to The 401?”

-

Despite the cheesy nature of the joke, the man found himself laughing all the same. Elias thought for a moment how easy it must be for Carina to make friends, and how much other people probably liked her. Before, he’d been able to chalk it up to her profession, but even now, in a situation where she didn’t have to be nice to him, let alone speak to him at all, the conversation was effortless. She’d even remembered small things he’d said, and was able to recall them with ease. Some people, he supposed, were just born with it. An innate ability to connect with others. 

Meanwhile, he couldn’t even connect with his own siblings.

“Now I’ll be sure to keep my ass protected at all times. Can’t have you seeing my super secret tattoos there.” Elias was laughing again at the perhaps childish nature of the conversation, when a grin found its way onto his lips. “I hadn’t thought about it that way before, but thanks for the tip. ‘No dead relative portraits at eye-level for a future girlfriend to see while we are doing the nasty,’ as you put it.” 

Elias pretending not to notice the mildly distant look on Carina’s face; it disappeared just as quickly as he might’ve commented on it. “Oh, uh, I didn’t know that was a thing,” he responded to her comment about the 401. It sounded familiar enough, but not somewhere he’d planned on going tonight. 

[max-richmond]

WILL HOLDER​:

       “Sorry, man. Hopefully this makes up for it.” Arching a brow, Will found himself curious, turning back to glance Elias’ way.. and to ensure he was audible over the music. “What gives? The free drinks?” Amusement colours his features some as he continues weaving his way through the crowd. It was hard getting a word in edgewise, but they managed. “You’re not wrong.. I guess yeah, I’m one of the owners amongst other things. You frequent here a lot?” 

-

The two men nearly bobbed and weaved through the seas of people, maintaining a conversation by carefully collecting the others’ sound bites, and hoping they’d heard correctly. Elias had most certainly heard amongst other things quite clearly, though. And while the man hadn’t moved to Mystic to once again be wrapped up in other things, it just sort of felt like he was be summoned back toward them. His mind was wandering, back to days when money was faster, easier, and when he could sleep in. Sometimes, he had to be at the shop as early as 6 AM. It was the little things. “I actually hadn’t ever been here, before tonight... It’s a, uh, it feels familiar. Used to be a bouncer.” So, maybe the man was sort of laying his trap a little too obviously there, but he was rather too old for the subtlety of the cat-and-mouse game. Surely, this would prompt the other to announce whether or not they were hiring, right? 

[max-richmond]

BEN HOLDER​:

“Best thing I’ve seen here.” Ben mused, as even better it seemed that his company could also say the same. Glancing in the direction of the group once more to check on any potential wipeouts, he shook his head with a grin, honestly feeling slightly better, even if temporarily. Since after downing some more of the glass in front of him, Ben shifted back to check his phone again. 

So he was being that obvious. “Yeah, She’s important..really important.” He nodded with a slight hint of a grin before instantly shaking his head. “No, definitely not a sister. And uh, it’s my fault for the phone tag that’s happening. — I probably sound worse than them right now.” Ben scoffed a bit in reference to the teenagers nearby, though probably needed an unfamiliar perspective more than he realized. 

-

While the other was glancing around their crowded surroundings, Elias was watching his body language — that, and taking another quick drag off his quickly dwindling cigarette. Elias probably would’ve made his way off the beach soon if he hadn’t ran into the other man; maybe this was a good thing. He was trying to make friends, right? 

As the other man started to speak again, Elias turned his head to glance in his direction, nodding his head to signify he was listening still. “Well, does she know how important she is to you? I mean, because, if she does.. You seem like a reasonable guy. Just talk to her. Tell her how you feel, all that jazz.”

[max-richmond]

WILL HOLDER​:

       “They always forget the back tables,” Will murmurs as he shakes his head, an inaudible tsk tsk tsk escaping his lips. He makes a mental note for later in a bid to better the service The 401 gives. Nodding for the guy to lead the way, Will raises his voice over the music for the guy to hear. “I’d offer you another table but we’re totally booked out for the night.” And it was true; it was ridiculously packed. It always was in the Summer with tourists floating through, but this was unbelievable. “Drinks on the house though. Work for you?” 

-

“Hey, it happens,” the man immediately responded, mostly unfazed by being forgotten, as the other had put it. The other members of his party might not have been so relaxed about the matter, hence his trip to the bar, but it had been good. A relief. The mention of drinks on the house caused his eyebrows to shoot up, and his curiosity to be piqued. “‘Ppreciate it,” Elias retorted quickly, while selecting his next words cautiously. “You know, if I didn’t know any better, I’d swear you’re the one in charge around here. Free drinks, and all. That true?” They were both shouting, by now, to be heard over the music, but it wasn’t anything the pair of them weren’t used to. 

[max-richmond]

CARINA GARCIA​:

       While Carina almost always remembered her patients, Elias had definitely stuck out amongst the list of names and injuries she’d categorized within her mind. She hadn’t truly known him prior to their run-in at Lakeview Hospital, but known enough of him to be sure of who he was. With a smile of satisfaction, she allowed her eyes to scan the freshly healed wound and gave herself a figurative pat on the back. The skin looked almost good as new and the scar was barely visible amongst the lines and creases covering his palm. 

      Although his introduction was rather unneeded, Carina was careful not to make herself too obvious. Would he find it odd that she had not only remembered his face, but known his full name? “Elias… right! I think I remember reading that somewhere on your paperwork. How are things? Did you finally hear back from NASA? Or maybe Sea Of Ink.” She laughed playfully, recalling not one, but two of the ‘dream’ career paths her acquaintance had mentioned. 

-

Elias was startled, perhaps pleasantly so, to learn that Carina remembered his late night ramblings, at least enough to comment on them. Especially considering she was quite literally sewing him back together at the time. It was an impressive level of recall, to say the least. He blinked, then almost barked out a laugh, before turning his head away from his counterpart, to take another long drag from his cigarette. The man exhaled the accompanying plume of smoke, before speaking. 

“It’s actually quite impressive that you remembered that, but no. Didn’t hear back from anyone, but I didn’t exactly do much besides spout off pipe dreams to the poor nurse who was stuck stitching my ass up. Thanks, by the way. I’m good as new.” He laughed again, lifting a shoulder in a shrug. “I shouldn’t tattoo anyone. I could probably handle like a word or two, but a portrait? Nah. A memorial for Grandma would come out looking like one of the kids from South Park.”

[max-richmond]

BEN HOLDER​:

x

“Definitely the best thing I’ve seen.” Ben mused, as even better it seemed that his company could also say the same. Glancing in the direction of the group once more to check on any potential wipeouts, he shook his head with a grin, honestly feeling slightly better, even if temporarily. Since after downing some more of the glass in front of him, Ben shifted back to check his phone again. 

So he was being that obvious. “Yeah, She’s important..really important.” He nodded with a slight hint of a grin before instantly shaking his head. “No, definitely not a sister. And uh, it’s my fault for the phone tag that’s happening. — I probably sound worse than them right now.” Ben scoffed a bit in reference to the teenagers nearby, though probably needed an unfamiliar perspective more than he realized. 

-

Elias could tell, just by how quickly the other man’s gaze reverted back to the phone clutched in his grasp for dear life, that it was serious. Or, serious enough. For a moment, he thought back to the death grip he had on his very own phone, after he’d first moved out to Mystic. Part of him kept hoping, against reason, that Vanessa would reach out, and they’d find some way to fix the mess they’d she’d made of things. Even still, even now, it had taken Elias far too long to accept that wasn’t happening. And likely never would.

“Not a sister, so definitely a girlfriend. And considering the lost puppy dog look in your eyes, it’s still early on in things. I’m guessing... first fight. How am I doing?” At this point, Elias was just using his observational skills to see how close he was to the mark, though a lot of his counterpart’s emotions were written all over his face, even if the other didn’t really realize it.

[max-richmond]

BEN HOLDER​:

Ben eyed where his company was gesturing at the pathetic group of teenagers, nodding in agreement with a smirk as the other took his own guess. “Now, I like that one even more, leaves possibility for a double wipe-out.”  Honestly, this was the most amused he’d been the whole night. “I don’t blame you, but I usually have to show up.” He replied in regards to attending town events, further noticing the cigarette between the other guy’s fingers. Finally, someone like-minded for a change. 

“Close. A lot of the time it’s work.” Ben laughed lightly under his breath at the predication made about him this time. “But uh..” Might as well share with all the instantaneous similarities in this encounter so far. “I’m..trying to see if someone’s going to come tonight or not…the problem is..she and I have been sort of, well, playing phone tag..” God, he was internally cursing himself for likely sounding like one of those kids they’d just scoffed at. 

-

When his counterpart agreed, the man spared a chuckle, smoke slipping past his lips with the sound. There was no reason for this all to be so damn funny, but... it was. Maybe it was just that this particular conversation wasn’t so front loaded with fuckin’ small talk. It was annoying. This, direct conversation, he could deal with.

Elias wasn’t normally one to shoot the shit, particularly with strangers, but the alcohol had loosened his lips, he supposed, and softened his armor. “Oh, yeah? She sounds important. I’d know that sad puppy dog look anywhere.” He’d only just stopped looking that way himself what felt like yesterday. Or maybe he hadn’t. He hadn’t bothered to know. “Which means... It probably isn’t a sister. Whose fault is it? Y’know, for the phone tag? Yours or hers?” 

[max-richmond]

WILL HOLDER​:

       Will took a good look at the guy before giving him a nod and proceeding to lead him towards the bar. His instincts were the one thing he felt he had going for him; the one thing he knew he could trust about himself, knowing that more often than not, he was right about his gut feelings. And something told him that this guy wasn’t as much a fish out of water as he seemed to be. This, was a feeling to explore. “Line of shots coming right up,” Will offered the guy a smile, ignoring the complaints and pleas of partygoers behind the bar. What felt like seconds later, he manoeuvred his way from behind the bar and appeared before him with a whole tray of little glasses of tequila. “Where’s your crowd?” 

-

Elias allowed his eyes to scan his surroundings, as they were so used to doing. He was able to pick out who was here to party in a way that was above board, and spot a few people whose intentions were less than clear. It felt like a waste of skills, really, not being in an environment like this one. His gaze settled back on his would-be savior, and Elias realized he had to be someone important in and to the club to sort of cut the line like that without consequences. Elias willed himself to be more focused, and observed how the other bartenders stood back and out of his way, waiting only until he was finished to proceed. These weren’t fearful reactions but, rather, reverent ones. He was... very high up on the totem pole here. Elias might even wager to say this was his bar. “Um,” the man began, as the other returned with the tray and the tequila. “Toward the back wall, at the hightop a little too close to the bathroom for my liking.”

[max-richmond]

BRAEDAN MUELLER​:

                                                                   * * *

Braedan had never really questioned why Elias never talked. He just assumed that he wasn’t too fond of small talk, and he could not really blame him. He was also very bad at it, and usually rambled nervously and sounded ridiculous when he was with strangers. Except that they were not technically strangers, they had been working together for several months now. But still, he wasn’t that guy to force people to have conversations.

He chuckled lightly when the other man mentioned that he had been here for over a year, and had made no friends since then. “Yeah, I guess it can be boring sometimes.” He felt a bit bad for him, but didn’t say it. Maybe he should have made more attempts at small talk, instead of leaving the poor guy alone to himself.

Letting out another small chuckle, Braedan shrugged at his words and took another sip of his beer. “Oh, you know, I don’t really blame you. A lot of people are like that. My Dad wasn’t much of a talker either and he was always able to run his business. I guess as long as you talk to customers it’s all good.” He smiled politely.

“I’d offer you to grab a beer at Mooney’s or the 401 but I got no babysitter for the night, but maybe another time if you want?” He realized he didn’t know much about the man in front of him, and maybe it was about time to finally break the ice and befriend his employee, instead of giving him small nods to say hi, and basically ignoring him.

-

Boring was putting it lightly. There were no stakes, no reasons to avoid every one of his less than noble instincts. There was more reason than one to plant roots and settle in, after all. Part of him, even subconsciously, hoped that his sister would somehow sense how well his life was going on, how much he was adapting to his new... place, then come along to shake things up. She’d been doing it since she was born. All of his siblings had. In truth, all this train of thought had done was serve to prove that point that he had no idea who he was on his own: outside of his previous ‘job,’ or his status within his family, who was he, really? Was this what a midlife crisis looked like? Why couldn’t he just develop a superficial fascinating with muscle cars, instead? 

Elias glanced over at Braedan when he mentioned his father, and tried to think of what on earth he could say about his own, if anything. All that threatened to come now was resentment, and the strength of the feeling was new. Which meant Elias didn’t know what to do with it, besides carry it. Sometimes, it felt like that was all he was doing. Carrying someone or something. 

“Um,” he stammered his way through a response, realizing that he’d likely be caught not paying attention if he didn’t answer soon or, worse still, his counterpart might notice how deeply in thought he was, and wonder what was going on. “That sounds great.” If only the man knew what he was agreeing to. He’d heard ‘maybe another time’ and could only hope he wasn’t signing up for something weird.

[max-richmond]

BEN HOLDER​:

Even if hardly ever having a choice not to attend town-related functions, this was one he could likely have skipped out on. Ben knew it would’ve been better if he did, ending up regretting the choice he’d made of going even more bitterly than usual, even if the night stalls with food and the beach bar was tempting enough for temporary distractions. They weren’t enough to keep him from being occupied with his phone to a string of messages he’d been set on lately, still thinking of what to say as a reply. Thankfully, some surprise company turned up, the man’s tone indicating he could care less about the party going on around them just as much.

With a grin amusedly cracking a bit at the question, his eyes glanced over to the drunken, young group that been pointed out. “— I’ll take bets on the idiot trying to stand on on that beach ball…you?”

-

“Ooh, smart guess,” Elias quipped in response, “But see... I think he’ll lean on his buddy and he’ll be the one to fall over first, then good ol’ beach ball won’t be long after.” The man pointed with his lit cigarette, then sparing a laugh at the mere thought of either of their conjectures coming true. “I don’t typically come to all these town parties and shit like that, do you?”

Elias looked over and saw the man was preoccupied by his phone — or at least that it was in his hands — and immediately regretted interrupting whatever was so important that the guy looked stressed out on a beach, on a good weather day in a New England town. And Elias didn’t want to pry but it seemed like prying and being nosy were the cornerstone of all friendships in this little town. “You look stressed and important. Something going wrong with your big fancy... office building job?” 

[max-richmond]

CARINA GARCIA​:

          Celestina had definitely done her job to ensure that Carina let loose and relaxed from the stress of her busy career. And for once, the elder sister had complied. After spending her afternoon day drinking on the beach, Carina was full of vim and vigor as she made her way toward The 401 for the night’s after party. Distracted by the rather large crowd of people, the brunette hadn’t heard Elias’ voice from behind her. In fact, she hadn’t even turned to face him until she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder. 

         Immediately recognizing the sweater that had fallen out of her bag, Carina smiled and thanked him, taking the garment back into her possession before she could even have the chance to study his features. Or him, hers. “Oh hey. How are you doing? All healed up?” Although her her hazel hues glanced in the direction of Elias’ hand, she shouldn’t have been surprised to see that it was currently being concealed by the angle at which he was holding his cigarette. While his presence had definitely kept her on edge back at the hospital, she found herself strangely happy to see him tonight. Whether that was the alcohol talking or his rather intriguing personality, she couldn’t be sure. “It’s Carina, by the way. Carina Garcia.”

Honestly, Elias had half expected to be forgotten by the other; as a nurse, she likely saw tons of people in a singular day and yet, she remembered him. It was strangely humanizing to be seen, remembered. A hint of a smile appeared on the man’s lips as he switched his cigarette from one hand to the other, to tense and flex the very hand she’d stitched up not long ago. “Yup, all good. Thanks to you.” 

Elias brought his cigarette to his mouth once again, inhaling then exhaling another cloud of smoke, while he stuck his free hand out to shake hers. He couldn’t remember if he’d personally shared his name or if she’d just read it on his file but now it felt weird for her to share her name and him not to give his. “Um.. Elias. Elias Richmond, if we’re giving first and last names... though, I feel like you might know mine already? Maybe? I can’t quite remember that far back right now.”