"Didn't say I was gonna take it," Char replied. He sat up, neck straight and head tilted up, either in an attempt to deal with that nosebleed or because he was doing his best to look down on Max despite Max being larger than most mountains. He wanted to drive the point home that he was not entitled to Char's forgiveness: that even if Max sat all uncomfortably, even if he said please and lowered his head, even if he was in a position where he needed help, there was still the very real -- and in fact, highly likely -- possibility that he would still get nothing from Char, because taking the full brunt of Maxizard's ugliness did not mean Char was responsible for teaching Maxizard how to keep that ugly side under control.

But then again, this was Max, so Char, in his hardhearted, bitter way, did not remain especially optimistic that this point would reach him.

"What exactly are you expectin' from me, Max?"