melodymania | Max Davis Voicemail

Thanks for calling. If you're reaching out to sell your soul, I'll already know and I'll be there soon. If you're calling to just talk, leave a message and I'll call you back when I can. Which will probably be soon. Talk to you then~

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[She laughs feebly. That's pretty much what the others' verdict was alright! She's relieved that Max is able to take it in stride like this - certainly, his personality should have made her expect as much, but she couldn't help but feel like she was returning with quite disappointing news.]

Thank you. I appreciate you saying that.

[As for his question, though...]

After the others vetoed our plan, I initially wanted to ask you to at least help me figure out how to abolish the curse of the titans - not to do so immediately, because that idea, too, was vetoed, but so I'd at least have a path mapped out for when the time arrives. However, I learned from one of my countrymen that the curse actually will be broken within our generation.

[She, of course, won't be alive to witness that, having died a decade prior in that timeline, but it's nevertheless a heartening prospect.]

The only thing that worries me is that the people involved in the curse-breaking are currently here in Ellipsa. I know that eventually, we'll all be returned to where we came from, but what if those people don't want to return? Do you suppose the timelines will branch into parallel universes, or something along those lines?

[Here she goes again with questions that no one could possibly answer with certainty - but if anyone may be able to at least give her a reasonable guess, it's probably Max.]

Hm. An excellent question and idea. Another means to break the curse. To end it, in case of multiple timelines. But time isn't always linear. The people who decide to stay, they may, or may not, also return. The transcendentalism of it all can be quite confusing. Still, it's always good to have a backup plan.

Do you know how they break the curse? Did they tell you that, at least?

No. The one who told me... I felt like he didn't fully understand how it happened himself. All he could say with certainty is the name of the person who'll accomplish it, and she... she hasn't lived through it yet, being from earlier in the timeline than him, and isn't supposed to be told.

[Even if Mikasa weren't the last person she'd want to approach with any kind of question - she downright frightens her with her cold, threatening aura -, she wouldn't have an answer for her.]

My best guess is that she'll kill my successor, which would be upsetting for her to learn about since they're comrades-in-arms, but there must be more to it than just that. After all, the Founding Titan would only be inherited by its next holder under normal circumstances.

[It's a vexing riddle, but she can more or less accept that she won't be able to understand it, as long as only the outcome will remain... which brings her back to her worry of what will happen to their world if all of them who are here never return home.]

Hm. Understandable. It's best to not tell people the future, vague or specific. It can cause problems, for them here and back home, especially if they remember.

Some things, good or bad, are meant to happen. And fighting Destiny is a hell of a brawl. And more often than not, a fruitless one. [His voice sounds almost tired talking about destiny like that.]

Without that information, we'll need to work on finding another cure method here. Which would require your blood and other information from you, more than likely. If you go the science or magic routes, more than likely.

[She nods, gathering up her resolve for the task. She can't completely silence the nagging voice in her head that's telling her to withdraw from any further dealings with Max, fueled by her fellow Eldians's mistrust and warnings, but she tries to drown it out. Max has taken her whole miserable story in without so much as balking, and while the others would doubtlessly only take that as proof of his unscrupulousness, she feels that she'd ill repay his patience and kindness by giving in to their misgivings.]

That's alright for me. If we're only looking for possibilities, I'll be ready when you are.

[So long as the curse remains in place for the time being, the others should have nothing to complain about.]

I like that kind of thinking. We're just looking at the possibilities. We're looking at it with a lens of academic interest.

The curse, would you say it is integral to the reality of your world?

[She's quiet for a long moment, then admits what he may already have suspected.]

...

Much as it dismays me, the curse of the titans has shaped the history of my world significantly and over a long period of time.

The more integral something is to your reality, the harder it is to change. On an individual basis, maybe not so much. But at a large scale, we're fighting reality to fix it. Which is difficult.

But for just you, it could be a little easier to come up with a theoretical cure for you.

A cure just for me...

[She ponders that. Instinctively, she wants to decline - why should she alone be freed from the curse? -, but then again, wouldn't doing away with the Founding Titan be a good thing regardless? It's not like she can control the pure titans as it stands with her ancestor's vow in place, and at least her powers couldn't fall into the wrong hands anymore. Of course, Eren as her successor would likely veto even this path, given how adamant he's been about wanting to keep his titans - but this is only a theoretical exploration of what would even be possible.]

How do we begin?

[Max watches Freida as the gears turn in her head. He enjoys enabling people to make their own decisions. And she is making hers. And he likes it.]

Theoretically, we find a way to sever the connection between you and the founder titan. Which, hypothetically, would remove the ability from you and make it impossible for you to pass it on to anyone. Or have it stolen.

[She nods - never mind that he can't see that over the phone (or can he - who says that he's not already watching, all the more since she calling him from a public, if somewhat secluded, park pavillion?). The prospect of never having to worry about someone abusing the Founder's powers feels heartening even just as a hypothetical.]

Should I meet you somewhere?

[More like vice versa, what with his teleportation, but details!]

Edited Date: 2025-02-25 05:05 pm (UTC)

If you want. Right now? Or do you want time to think before we meet to continue this hypothetical conversation? Just checking before we proceed.

No, I... I'm ready.

[If she's left to ruminate over this, she'll only be restless until she does meet him! Even so, she does appreciate his consideration.]

Will you meet me where I am, or should I find you elsewhere?

[Last time, he simply popped up... and in any case, he'll probably take her to a whole other plane again, so it's not like she has to worry about bystanders witnessing whatever they're going to do.]

Alright. I figure we could both use a little normalcy for what we're doing. Come on over to the house.

[He sends a location marker.]

My partner is out right now so it'll be just us.

[His partner... is that Evangeline? No, they don't live together (unless something changed since she last visited her). It must be someone else.

On arrival, she curiously takes in Max' home and its surroundings - what kind of abode would a fae god choose (unless his partner lived here first, and he moved in later)? Regardless, she rings the doorbell - or knocks, depending.]

[The house is fairly mundane. Perhaps to Freida's surprise. It's a simple smaller house. It has a yard and a fence. There's signs of gardening in the front yard but clearly it's in the budding stages. He has a doorbell. Max opens the door and smiles.]

Hey there. Come on in. [He steps out of the way. The inside is just as mundane. Normal furniture, hard wood floors, the craziest thing is a blue accent wall in the living room.]

Make yourself comfortable. Want anything to drink?

[It's a nice house! Now she's all the more curious who the partner he lives with might be - but no curious enough to outright ask. She'd feel too nosy! At his offer, she shakes her head. While no harm came from accepting his food and drink the last time, the other Eldians' admonishments about the fae have somewhat stuck in her mind.]

Thank you, I'm not thirsty.

...

You mentioned needing a blood sample, didn't you?

[She's putting on a brave face - it's not like she doesn't have multiple healing mechanisms at her disposal -, but she can't help but feel a little apprehensive, not least due to, once again, the others' warnings resounding in her head. Internally, she chides herself. Don't do Max an injustice just because of the others' prejudices! He immediately made time yet again!]

[Max nods and moves to sit down in his chair. He smiles at Frieda as she speaks.]

Yes. Your blood will be a good starting point for our little hypothetical experiment. Straight to business. Let me ask something before we proceed.

In all honesty, are you wanting to proceed with removing your titan abilities if we find a way to do so?

[It's a fair question - one she can't immediately answer, and her discomfort over that quickly seeps in. Shouldn't it be an obvious 'yes'? She regrets inheriting her powers. All those memories are too much for her, too much for any one person. They're painful to bear. What's more, the way in which she can't tell herself apart from King Karl sometimes is frightening. She's scared of losing herself altogether one day.

And yet...]

...

It's harder than I thought, letting go of power. This must be the reason my ancestor sealed most of the Founder's abilities away from his successors. Even what little control I have obtained here in Ellipsa already feel worth holding on to. My titan form is hardly as battleworthy as the others', yet it makes me feel like I can make a difference.

[And that's without going into the ability to mold her countrypeople's memories, minds, and even bodies to her liking, one of the few abilities at her free disposal. She doesn't want to do such things, of course... but what if it becomes necessary?]

It is. Power not only feels good but it has a lot of uses. So then my question is if you aren't sure you want to give up your power, why are we searching for a way to remove it?

Is it, instead of for you, a backup just in case for others?

[Her frown only steepens.]

...

Maybe so.

[These realisations are only becoming more uncomfortable.]

I didn't deceive you - I really want to prevent greater harm. But given the different timelines that are converging here, wouldn't I risk losing all recourse of counteracting my opponents if I gave up my powers?

[In theory, the removal of her Founding Titan ought to retroactively prevent Eren from obtaining it once he's returned to their world - but who's to say that this will really go according to plan?]

If I implied you deceived me, I apologize. That wasn't my intent. More I'm seeing if your intent is perhaps more robust than we initially discussed over the network. You know. You had time on the way here to let the ideas steep. The ideas grows. So does ambition and yours is quite the ambition. To find a way to bring peace among those here with your people.

This all being hypothetical, of course. Having a permanent and temporary removal of Titans powers via some concoction could be very useful. Especially when needing to subdue someone from your world under a status effect or even giving them the choice to voluntarily remove their Titan abilities, if they want.

Preventing greater harm is a good and worthy goal. Though I doubt if others find out they see it that way.

Edited Date: 2025-03-23 04:14 am (UTC)

[She shakes her head - she took no offence. If anything, his questions brought an important truth to light: Her willingness to sacrifice everything doesn't come as easily as she thought anymore. At his final comment, she sighs.]

You're right to doubt that. My fellow titan holders left no uncertainty about their intent to hold to their powers. If they were to find out what we're trying to do, I'd lose their trust for certain.

[It's not like she's trusted as it stands!]

...

Even so, the potential gain is worth that risk.

[The front door opens and Esme walks in, closing the door behind him.]

I'm home.

[But he doesn't leave the entryway just yet, waiting for a response so he knows which room to head for.]

[Before Max can answer, the door opens and that voice calls out. He smiles softly.]

In here, love. Come meet my friend.

[He looks to Freida.] My partner. I'll introduce you. And I think you're right. The risk gain is worth the risk.