"Such foolish emotions..." he murmured, frowning darkly. He had steeled his heart years ago, what seemed like thousands of years ago but had been only several years. He had forgotten what it was like to feel most anything, yet this girl before him was determined to make him feel. It was an impossible goal, for years; he denied him the comfort of others and animals alike. Day and night, he walked and lived alone; taking no heed of warning from other life around. Fear did not strike him, though there was much for him to fear and he knew this. But fear and hate restricted a clear head and mind, such a thing could affect one's judgment and decision on a serious matter.

Max would take no such risk, the years of his childhood taught him that and he retained the knowledge of pain. It made his life miserable when he actually bothered to think about it and seldom ever did; forcing it from his mind from day to day. He could not afford to think about what had happened, it was the past and the past was set in stone. Nothing could be erased nor forgotten, no matter how hard one tried and he tried very hard to wipe it from his mind. He knew shame, pain, and self hate; his life's philosophy had brought him far in life. He had always forgiven but he never forgot what had happened in the past. Fights, arguments over meaningless things, forced separations, and words thrown around meant to harm the heart. Though he never let it bother him for long, though often he wanted to change what he had said and done.

Pain often clouded his mind and his head, but he continued on with his day as if nothing ailed him. This always bothered him most though he was determined to hide it, his stoic mask having been built from determination. Very few people he could be open with and at ease in their presence. Mostly, his days consisted of studying or writing papers that were due soon or sleeping the days away since he stayed up all night, most nights. His blue-gray optics shifted toward his unannounced visitor, he had not been expecting company today and it annoyed him greatly though he did not allow it to show. He stepped aside and allowed the girl in, his "little sister" as she had begun to act like even though he did not have one. As an only child, he preferred his space and tended to seclude himself in his own room for hours, if not days, at a time.

Max stepped aside to admit his unexpected visitor into his home, he had not dressed yet today though he wore dark brown shorts made of denim and a tight, black shirt. It was what he often slept in when the nights were hot and he did not feel like opening the window or turning on the air conditioner in his room. He lead her to the living room, he needed no introduction for he knew who his guest was. "Make yourself comfortable..." his low voice seemed to rumble as he turned to vanish down a dark hallway to his room. He shut the door quietly and changed from his clothes he had slept in to a pair of dark blue jeans and another black shirt that was plastered with skulls with crowns all over his shirt.

As Max stepped from his room, he returned to his living room to greet the girl in question. His voice was low as if he spoke to a spooked animal in a cage and soft, which was quite unusual. Surely, she was as uneasy as he was about her sudden visit. He knew her face and features rather well, having listened to her describe them time and time again. He almost winced as he spoke, it was awkward that he'd ever have any visitors over just to see him. Usually they were clients or people who had asked for something to be drawn or made for them. His skills were uncannily accurate and well renowned within his class and school. "So good of you to stop by...Daniella."