While working on Turnabout Tragedy, Iāve been writing some snippets for my upcoming Amnesia AU. Theyāre mostly focused on The Show-Stopping Turnabout, the Turnabout Big Top rewrite. I wanted to post a Max snippet. Iāll post more if people are interested!
āWhy do you pretend to hate them so much?ā The question slipped out before Phoenix could stop it. He probably wouldnāt have held it back either way, though.
Max looked startled. āI-Iām not sure what you mean, sweetie!ā He laughed, but it was clearly nervous.
Phoenix crossed his arms, unimpressed. āYou keep talking about how untalented they are, but you negotiated to get a higher salary for all of them. You got into a fight with Ben, but you also lied to protect him. You act like you hate them, but I know you donāt. Why?ā
āBecause they donāt like me! Why should I care? Why do I care?!ā Maxās voice wavered, a bit of twang slipping through. He looked a bit like he was going to cry.
Phoenix tilted his head, frowning slightly. āThey like you just fine. Regina thinks the world of you. Youāre like an older brother to her.ā
Max shook his head, looking distressed and hopeless. Phoenix suddenly felt a bit guilty. āThey donāt like me. They like Max Galactica, not Billy Bob.ā Phoenix furrowed his brow. Max looked away, eyes downcast. āForget it. It donāt matter much.ā The twang was back.
Phoenix shook his head. āIt matters to you. Iām listening. Talk to me. Help me understand.ā
Max sniffed, the vulnerability vanishing. āI highly doubt you could understand fabulousness, given your attire, sweetie.ā
Phoenix frowned just a little, though he wasnāt insulted. Maya had helped him pick the suit, so he knew it was good. āYou arenāt going to drive me away. Iām not going anywhere.ā
Max looked at him for a long moment, haughty facade slipping away. āā¦ Max Galacticaā¦ itās a performance. A part I play. Underneath, Iām Billy Bob. Just some country hick. But nobody likes Billy Bob. Heās not flashy or fabulous or fancy. Even the Judge didnāt like āim. The only one who did was my daddy, but he didnāt like Maximillion Galactica. Said it was shameful, that I should be a āmanā.ā
Max (Billy?) sighed softly, retreating into himself. Phoenix felt a pull in his chest. He had to be able to do something. āHe was wrong. Thereās nothing shameful about who you are. I think youāre beautiful.ā
The magician shook his head, though he flushed. āYa think Max is beautiful. Who I am now, some kid off a pig farmā¦ itās hardly purrty.ā
Phoenix shook his head, defiant. āYouāre thinking of it all wrong, Billy Bob.ā The pink-haired man looked up in surprise. Emboldened, Phoenix continued. āYou see yourself as Max or Billy Bob, as magician or farmer. But thatās not how it works. Youāre still theatrical when youāre not onstage, when youāre just Billy Bob. Youāre kind to animals and you get your hands dirty, even as Max. Those parts of you donāt stop existing just because the name changes.ā
Phoenix suddenly thought of a heist movie he and Franziska had watched, of the multi-colored gemstone. The metaphor was a bit clunky, but heād try. āYouāre like a diamond. It has different faces- heck, it can even look like a whole different gem depending on which face youāre facing.ā Definitely clunky. Phoenix continued anyways. āBut itās still the same thing. It still shines. You still shine, no matter which part of you the world sees. Some people may not realize that, but the ones who matter will. Just talk to them.ā
Maybe recommending communication was a bit hypocritical, but Phoenix never pretended to take his own advice. Billy Bob looked at him, halfway between wonder and something softer. Fiddling with one of his cards, he smiled. It was gentler than the usual too-bright grin. Phoenix found he liked it quite a bit. āThanks, Phoenix. Maybe once all this is over, Iāll have a chat with āem. Iām sure itāll be fabulous.ā Hearing the signature catchphrase in a Southern accent was a pleasing juxtaposition.
āIāll hold you to that,ā Phoenix replied with a smile. He held Billy Bobās gaze for a moment, feeling his heart beat just a bit faster. Was he always thisā¦ pretty? Maybe I get Mayaās obsession nowā¦ A thought flashed in his mind, distracting him for a moment. āDo you want to be called Max or Billy Bob?ā
The magician paused for a moment, considering. āI like Max. I chose it myself, yāknow? Billy Bob is nice and all, but Max feels special. Heās the first time I got to show what I kept hidden. I love my daddy, I always will, but Max is the me I had to hide. Itād be nice ta let āim breathe for a bit. Does that make sense, sweetie?ā
āCompletely. Familyās complicated.ā Phoenix was learning that lesson a lot. He tried his best to ignore the traitorous flutter in his chest at the nickname. It never got to me beforeā¦ Face heating, he ran a hand through his hair. āVisiting hours are almost over. Iāll see you tomorrow?ā
āSee ya tomorrow. I know youāve got it.ā Just before Phoenix walked out the door, Maxās voice stopped him. āFer what itās worthā¦ I think youāre beautiful too. Absolutely stunninā, Sweetie Bird.ā
Phoenix did a terrible job of hiding his flustered smile. āT-Thanks, Maxie,ā he managed to get out, making a swift exit. As soon as he was out of the room, he sank down in the hallway, face covering his hands. Having a crush on a client was certainly ill-advised, but when had that ever stopped him?
