Cared for him?  Of course Stephan cared for him.  Stephan cared for everyone; that was just the type of person he was.  Not that he expected Sylvester to know or understand that.  It wasn’t that Stephan had been slave to an eccentric fascination with neko in particular, but rather that he had always possessed a sort of love of the world that was lacking.  He’d helped orphans through charitable donations, hosted fundraisers to fund the building of wells and schools and hospitals in developing countries, and of course he’d been an active advocate for neko rights.  Those things had never been done for acknowledgement or commandment.  Stephan had done it all because he wanted to and he could.<br/><br/>“He was a good man,” Max agreed, but didn’t feel the need to share more than that.  This was still a stranger, and he wasn’t big on opening his heart.<br/><br/>As the conversation shifted back to business, he was rewarded with what he swore was exactly what he’d hoped to find.  It wasn’t just the ability, which he’d have accepted without complaint, but the joy that art seemed to bring Sylvester.  That was what made not slapping the offer down right then and there so very hard.  The idea of a probationary period eased him somewhat.  If they agreed on a goal or a time frame for Sylvester to prove himself as the man for the job, then Max didn’t have to be so cautious.  He thought it over for a few moments, absently running a finger over his bottom lip; a nervous habit.<br/><br/>“There’s an event in LA next week,” he began, then paused.  He’d intended to take Jason, but if he could just have Sylvester go, then he could pretend to be the man’s assistant.  It wasn’t like Jason had been looking forward to the trip.  “We can try things out there.”  Then he let his eyes wander over the human in greater detail.  They needed to get this guy into something more visually appealing if they were going to have a chance of coming across as authentic.  Not that he looked terrible right then, but anyone from money or class would be able to spot that suit in a sea of carefully fitted Brioni and Kiton.  Max was almost disappointed in himself that he was amongst them.  “We need to get you to a tailor between now and then.  I have one in mind.  I’ll have Jason set it up for you, unless you have any objections.”