Max watched in discomfort as the kitchenette filled up with people in what seemed like seconds, forcing him to abandon all hope of a one-on-one conversation. Holding his donut and newly acquired book over his head in an effort to keep them from being squashed or defaced, respectively, Max was slowly forced up against the wall of the small room. He looked in dismay at his briefcase and Thermos, sitting tantalizingly close on the counter but blocked by a vampire (Max was bad with names- Atlas, was it?) and a kid he had never seen before (possibly an alchemist? they always had a certain look to them, it seemed). Might as well be the Berlin Wall.

Unable to get a word in edgewise, Max attempted an awkward reach-around to grab his stuff, but realized it was unwise to violate the personal space of a vampire, even one he knew like Atlas. Out of options and unable to get a word in edgewise, Max decided to simply wait a few minutes for the kitchenette to empty out before retrieving his property. Now the only trick was getting out.

Pressed up against the wall, still lifting a Bavarian cream donut and one of the classic occult reference books above his head, Max slowly shimmied along the wall towards the door, his cordovan loafers scuffing on the linoleum floor. He smiled at Glory on the slow, shuffling way out the kitchenette door, mouthed "thank you, dear" at her as he tucked the book under his arm and snagged a fresh corn muffin. 

Max arrived at his desk just in time to hear Jaklo's warning- a new case. Great. Max felt that careful scholar's excitement welling up in his stomach. His stomach promptly grumbled- he had had nothing today but a cup of coffee. With that thought in mind, he quickly wolfed down the donut before starting on the muffin at a slower, more leisurely pace, careful of where any crumbs might fall. He didn't think it'd be appropriate to be eating during the meeting.

Max took a moment to gather up a couple materials that might be helpful to whatever discussion was about to take place- his notebook, [i]Tobin's Spirit Guide[/i], his pocket-sized Ouija set. He stopped briefly and cringed at the crack of wood breaking, but seeing no immediate danger, shrugged and continued to put his notes together. As he had learned over the last month, there was a volatile mix of personalities in this place. Not surprising someone would get rubbed the wrong way and lash out, as long as they left him out of it. Max had no (mortal) enemies and intended to keep things that way. 

With all of his notes and resources tucked under his arm, he walked in Seph's office and sat down quietly, patiently waiting for the briefing to begin.