Comic/Manga Catching up... (DollZone Hong and Cherry, Volks Link)

This takes place a couple of hours after the previous chapter, which can be seen HERE...

The cafe and bar are in the front of the club "Bambu", where Duke's band sometimes plays.


Maxim: Oh. Maura, hello.
Maura: Maxim. Here for lunch?
Maxim: Yes, I'm meeting Trevor.
Maura: Hmph, I don't know why you still hang out with him.


Maxim: *dryly* One tends to hang out with friends.
Maura: Just because you were roommates for a year and a half in undergraduate school doesn't mean you have to be best friends for the rest of your lives.
Maxim: Well, he was a good roommate. He was thoughtful and considerate, which is more than I could say for the majority of the animals in that dorm. That goes a long way with me.


Maura: A lot longer than he deserves. I don't think he had a single date the entire time he was there.
Maxim: He had dates.
Maura: None that I ever saw. He certainly didn't date anyone in my circle of friends.
Maxim: No doubt you would have known if he had.
Maura: Of course I would have. He --


Trevor: Sorry I'm late, Maxim.
Maxim: No problem.
Trevor: Maura, hello, it's been a while. Don't you look wonderful.
Maura: Oh... thanks. I must be going, Duke's waiting for me backstage.
Trevor: Good to see you again, Maura.
Maura: Enjoy your lunch, you two.


Trevor: *to the waiter* Two club sandwiches on whole grain with side salads and house dressing please, to go.
Waiter: Very good, sir.


Trevor: I didn't mean to keep you waiting, Maxim. I'm afraid I can't stay. I got called to the hospital for a consult, and I have to get back to the office.
Maxim: That's fine. We can always get together another time. Sounds like you've been busy.
Trevor: I have been. My practice has expanded with so many new patients. I don't know what I'd do without my associate, I'd be swamped.


Maxim: She's working out well? Your associate, I'm sorry, I forget her name?
Trevor: Marjorie, Marjorie Weems. Really, she's been priceless. She specializes in hypnotherapy, but she's excellent with her regular patients too. I can't believe it's been eight months already. I don't know how I ever managed without her.
Maxim: I'm glad your practice is going so well.


Trevor: So am I, thanks. So... what was THAT about?
Maxim: Oh... you mean Maura.
Trevor: And Duncan?? I hadn't heard.
Maxim: Oh... yes. Apparently that's the latest. He asked her out, they've been seeing each other about a week.
Trevor: At least they've known each other long enough for there to be no illusions.
Maxim: I suppose not. But I, uh... I admit I wasn't too thrilled to hear it.


Trevor: Oh no. Maxim, I'm sorry.
Maxim: We've all known each other for about nine years now, but... I don't know, sometimes I still see Duke as the fourteen-year old little punk he was when I first met him. I can't get past it.
Trevor: You're not the only one. I'll never forget when he started shooting up in height right around then, and I was shocked when he kept on GOING.
Maxim: I think we all were.


Trevor: I always envied you your height, Maxim, but... I didn't think I would have to envy my own brother, too. It shouldn't be right for snot-nosed little brothers to EVER be taller! *laughs*


Maxim: I don't know how you can laugh about it.
Trevor: *shrugs* Well, it's not like I can change it, can I? He is who he is.
Maxim: I'm surprised Maura doesn't still see him that way, too.


Trevor: Oh, so THAT'S where the trouble lies with you.
Maxim: Don't put your therapist hat on.
Trevor: Okay, okay, I won't. But Duncan has changed a lot since then, and undoubtedly she sees it too. He certainly looks better than he did.
Maxim: And smells better. But his behaviour hasn't changed much.

 

Trevor: Maybe not on the surface, and maybe he still needs me to bail him out now and then. But really, he has gotten better. If it's any comfort... it won't last long. You know how he is.
Maxim: Yes, I do. But... I feel like that's no comfort. I don't want to SEE who she's dating. I've never had to see them before.
Trevor: Maxim, I'm sorry.


Maxim: *shakes his head* I can't figure out... why I can't get over her.
Trevor: Maxim... there's no telling what makes us love someone. Sometimes it's just... unconditional.
Maxim: She never did anything to make me NOT love her any more... if that makes any sense. And... I still see her as I did when I first met her, too. *wryly It must be a failing of mine.
Trevor: Maura always was different from her friends, you know. She looked like them and acted like them on the outside, but there was something more about her. You were able to see it better than I was, though. I wasn't a close enough friend of hers to determine what it was.
Maxim: Then why don't I know what it is? And... why can't I get over her?


Waiter: Here you are, sir, have a good afternoon. Your lunch too, sir. Enjoy.
Trevor: Thanks. Listen, Maxim, I'm so sorry, but I have to run.
Maxim: I understand.


Trevor: Come by the office after four some time, and we'll have a chat. I promise I'll leave my therapist hat off.
Maxim: All right, I will. Thanks, Trevor...

Linda S.
galatia9

Next chapter: Duke gets caught!

 

Aww, elve! We all enjoy our dolls in our own way as best we can. But I feel the same way when I look at other people's photos.

Maxim and Maura's knitwear was made by another friend of mine in the UK!

Linda S.
galatia9

 

Thanks, @animemom. I wrote this story mainly to establish Trevor as Maxim's friend. I felt like Maxim needed him! I'm glad I did, too.

Linda S.
galatia9