Maxim Svoboda

Maxim

Nationality: Polish, Slovak

Fluent in: Polish, German, English

## Appearance

Maxim has extremely dark unruly hair and narrow eyes, and a pink nose. He is very tall for his age, often quite lanky and underweight. To counter this, he eats a lot of chocolate, which doesn't really help, but he doesn't really care. He normally wears a massive scarf which covers most his face, until he forgets it at le Mont Rôchin, and Stefan starts to use it. He wears a long murky green coat and jumpers most of the time, would rather be comfortable than stylish, and has a very dark red-brown backpack which he carries most of the time. Being a middle sibling, most of his clothes are hand me down, and he doesn't have much money to buy better clothes because he's a broke university student.

## Personality

Maxim is incredibly intelligent and analytical, overly sarcastic and darkly humourous. He has slightly greyed morals, and somehow has an inferiority complex and a superiority complex at the same time.

He thinks that he has the right to analyse others but people don't have the right to analyse him, and when they begin to question his morals, he tends to get annoyed. When he is mad, he can become toxically sarcastic and passive aggressive. He loves cats, and bubble tea, and hates being called by his real name, Maksyma.

He secretly indulges in Polish folklore, storytelling and baking, which he is embarrassed of, and hesitates to tell others about, and only proceeds to admit to Lena. He is motivated by mystery, the unknown, wanting to understand people who interest him, and competing with those who don't (which can make him jealous, of people like Alex, who are annoying but seem to be on par with his smartness). This jealousy tends to drive him to be motivated to do potentially dangerous things. (like jumping off a 30 storey building to prove his scientific theory).

When he's excited, he becomes giddy, talks very fast, and acts like what Alex always acts like (excitable and dynamic), and behaves similarly when he's in love. He is easily flattered, doesn't take many hints and thinks he's amazing at judging people. Maxim is captivated by certain people, especially people who seem to find happiness in reality, and overanalyzes people's actions, and most of the time, gets it wrong.

Maxim doesn't enjoy getting into fights, but if he does, it will get serious. He much prefers refering to himself as German than Polish, because of his hatred for the Polish obsession of religious belief. He's quite stubborn with his opinions, and they do not change frequently, unless if someone comes to him with a really strong argument. Even then, he will admit defeat begrudgingly.

## Role in the plot

After realising that he could have an advantage over his classmates in the end of semester exams by stealing scientific papers belonging to his physics professor (who has helpfully disappeared), Maxim runs into an ambassador (Stefan) secretly investigating her disappearance, and gets convinced to join him in his investigation. Stefan tells him that if he doesn't come with him, he will get caught by the police and sent to prison, which convinces Maxim to come with him to Belgium. He strikes a deal with Stefan (one which he is very proud of) where Stefan protects him from the police, and Maxim gives him the papers. It is finalized that Maxim should come with him and his daughter (Lena) to Belgium, where a important EU meeting is being held.