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It's Majin's mustachioed face that greets Max at the front door. "Come in, come in.~" He holds the door open for him stepping aside to let him inside. "Lordy has had a bit of a late start so he'll be a moment." He follows after him into the living room. "Just make yourself at home. You can sit wherever you like (except Lordy's throne, of course)."
The shorter male thanks Majin for his time before he runs off to do something else. Without the other man there to distract him, he finally notices there's another hedgehog in the room.
The hedgehog in question is a young man with indigo blue colored fur with the ends of his quills and hands and wrists in an almost black looking shade of the same color. His irises are small and black which stare him down in an awkward guarded gaze. If he has a mouth, it was hidden behind his enormous sized scarf.
Being the ever social and friendly person that he is, Max walks right up to him offering a hand to shake. "Hello, I'm Max. And who might you be?~"
Ears pin back at the greeting, and eyes squint from the sudden excitable approach. A finger's held up at the older man before he pulls a small notepad and writing utensil out of his cargo shorts pocket.
"Oh!!" Max exclaims before he starts vigorously signing with his hands. "[While I'm still learning, you don't have to write anything. I know most of ASL!~]"
Ears perk up and irises grow large from excitement. The young man signs back just as quickly. "[It's such a breath of fresh air to meet someone who can actually speak ASL!]" Eyelids close as he leans his head to the side with one of his ears flicking. If he could make sound, Max is sure it would be him laughing. "[And yeah, I can tell. You should have signed that one word this way.]" He makes a show of demonstrating what he's talking about. "[And my name is E-X-E.]"
Max by this point is beaming. Watching Exe light up from having someone to communicate on his level makes the man very happy.~ Plus, he is being corrected on how to sign something properly by someone who utilizes the language above everyone else. "[Why thank you.~]" That striped tail of his is going crazy. "[Not gonna lie, it's been tough the last couple of years having just picked up ASL, but I want to make sure my child has someone who can speak on their terms instead of everyone else's…]"
Exe nods heavily to that statement. "[Oh I'm sure they appreciate it.]" His chest heaves in a sigh. "[It's tedious having to write out everything all the time…]" An ear twitches thoughtfully as eyes close and eyebrows furrow tiredly.
Max says an 'aww' in sympathy for the poor guy. Since his eyes are closed, he decides to speak with his mouth instead of with his hands. "That sounds rough… Sorry the world isn't as accommodating to you or others like you as they should be. I wished my child wasn't forced to use text to speech, but whatever they need for emergencies/safety, am I right?"
His words seem to put the other hedgehog at ease. Exe feels as though he's found a kindred spirit who didn't mind learning instead of being offended upon being corrected. It was nice…~
"Apologies. This week has been rough at the University."
Max immediately rushes up to Lord X's side the moment he appears in the living room. A dismissive hand is waved at the man. "No need to apologize. You just worry about enjoying yourself (and the company of course).~" He reassures him with a smile, a wink, and a chuckle.
However, the eldest man's attention isn't on Max, let alone welcoming. Lord X looks absolutely livid as he scowls over at Exe. "Rotten Boy." He spats behind clenching teeth. His tone dripping in utter loathing.
When Max looks over at Exe he sees that the young man's ears have flattened as his eyebrows furrow in anger. Exe snaps his head up in the direction of the newly arrived Lord X glaring up at him with rage. One of his tiny black irises seems to have blown up making the white sclera look as though it had shattered like a glass pane. Inside the explosion of black is a big red dot that Max presumed was his new iris.
Exe couldn't believe his eyes! Why would someone so friendly and understanding like this Max fellow fawning over such a stinking loser like Lord X?? Un-fucking-believable!!
Both of their hostile reactions towards each other catches a clueless Max completely off guard! His little striped tail tucks itself between his legs as his own set of ears pin back. However, those ears kept flopping up and down as he watches the youngest man sign all sorts of colorful insults at Lord X followed with both hands flipping him off before stomping past them both in the direction of the kitchen, most likely seeking out Majin. Lord X flips him back off holding the finger up at him till he was out of sight. Despite Exe having left, he still looks pretty pissed.
Max hesitates before resting a cautious hand onto one of Lord X's shoulders. "Are you okay…?" Is what he asks in a gentle tone.
The older hedgehog accidentally directs his glare at the younger upon looking down at him. His thumb and index finger pinches the bridge of his nose as he heaves out a sigh. "Apologies, once more." He tries his best to ground himself so he can rid himself of his sudden loathing. Especially since poor Max looks utterly worried (even a bit timid towards him) for him. "That boy just… gets under my skin." He practically growls out that last word.
Max does his best to pat his shoulder comfortingly. "Are you up and ready to go? Maybe some space will do you some good?" Is what he offers with a reassuring smile. "How does The Steamy Void sound? My treat.~"
The sound of coffee, especially from his favorite coffee shop, is divine.~ When he smiles down at Max does it makes the man's concerns melt away…~ "What would I do without you?~" He asks against the man's bangs when he hugs the man to his side.
Max smiles the biggest smile with flushed cheeks. "Probably starve, if it wasn't for Majin."
They share a laugh as they leave out the front door.
Max feels a heavy weight lifted off his chest and his nerves calming down. He promises himself to never be in a room with them together ever again, or at least not with just the three of them…