#max jagerman's dad

[weltato]

GUYS I NEED A NAME FOR MAX'S DAD I'M GOING INSANE NOT USING A NAME FOR THIS MAN LIKE WHAT IM NEARLY 5000 WORDS IN AND NO NAME HAS DESCENDED INTO MY BRAIN AND I WANNA GET THIS FIC PUBLISHED TODAY SO I CAN WORK ON ANOTHER ONE AAAAA

[lady-loveluck]

I just realized I never shared my HC of how Max's dad looks! The older Jägerman ajkshdfkljsdhgfkj

[im-not-a-l0ser]

I know that Grace's Max fantasy isn't Max; I'll be first to scream that from the rooftops, but I would like to analyze one small thing.

'Love me like you don't care.'

That is how Max has had people love him his entire life. That's it, that's the post, thanks for watching, hit that notification bell—

[rentumblsstuff]

Just a little jagerposting

[thejagermeister]

i don't know if there's a prevailing fanon name for max's dad but in my personal headcanon his name is joe. full name joseph j. jägerman (whats his middle name? who knows. he can be a little goofy even though i hate his guts)

max is so jesus-coded. his dad's name has to be joseph

[eurydices-carnation]

Venn diagram of my top 3 tenors (these are referring to the characters not the actual actors!)

[heyitsspaceace]

richie's death hits so much harder when you headcanon max and richie as childhood best friends who grew apart bc max's dad is an asshole

[maaaaxjagermaaaannnn]

Ooooo Lore Drop

Max walked into his home for the first time in a few days. He was finding any and every excuse to not be there. Now, he had nothing left that would warrant staying away. Nothing that would be up to his Dad's standards though.

The moment he opened the door, the stench of cigarette smoke and bud light assaulted his senses. Half of those beer cans were from Max himself. His father never even noticed them being added to the mess. After his mother just up and left, Max's dad took to alcoholism and taking out all his issues on Max.

Max himself...he just missed his mother. He was around 12 when she won Honey Queen and left Hatchetfield. So when in the 8th grade when he was showing up to school with bruises on his arms and legs, everyone knew what was happening. And no one said anything. Did anything. Just like what they did to Becky Barnes. To Tom Houston. To Alexandra Foster. This town has a problem with ignoring the abused.

And Max resented it. But he abused this cycle. He used it to take out all of his issues on everyone he saw as less than him. Which was everyone. No one could ever know what he has gone through. No one could experience this and still survive. He was God in his eyes, because no one else would save him but himself.

But this was home. He had nowhere else to go. He had no choice but to conform to the cycle in which the abused become the abuser.

"Hey Dad! I'm Home!"

[diamondpython00]

One line I haven’t seen talked about much that is relevant to this is in Literal Monster when Max says “Don’t need no one to tell me/High school will be my peak/So I’m willing to take advantage”. Coupled with his reaction to the prank, his comments about his dad, and his interactions with the rest of the school, a picture starts to form of a kid who has been told his whole life that he’s going nowhere. At the Waylon Place, we get a glimpse of what Max could have been if he had the right influences in life. Treated with something vaguely resembling respect, he returns it, and notes that he was probably wrong about these guys. And then he dies, thinking that they betrayed him, and the rest of the show happens because he’s so obsessed with his social order that it lasts into the afterlife. Max is a literal monster, but he’s very much a manmade one, and that makes him very interesting.

Reason number 2636185372 I love Nerdy Prudes Must Die-

Max is humanized without being absolved of his actions. Maxwell Jägerman was undoubtedly a piece of shit. He was a controlling prick that refused to let anyone have control over their own life, abusing his "friends" and his enemies alike. He took real joy from punishing the people around him when they tried to sidestep his arbitrary rules, enforcing them with the threat of violence. He knows he's physically stronger than everyone around him, and he takes advantage of that. He's 100% eager to fight before considering other options. Even the other jocks are scared of him, because he defaults to beating the hell out of people. (Also note that he's stronger than all of them too. When they do the chest bump Jason falls backwards and has to catch himself, and he knocks Kyle senseless with just one hit, to the point that he has to be carried out by his friends.)

I feel all of that very strongly. But at the same time? He's like... A full person. Big things can be revealed when a character thinks they're alone, and although him going through the Waylan place shows him being a prick as expected, it also shows him being scared. It seems to me like he's a very fearful person. Scared of ghosts, skeletons, judgement from his dad, even those cheap costumes seem to genuinely freak him out before he forces himself to get a grip (which just means getting aggressive). Or look at how he interacts with Grace. It's easy to assume he's just being manipulative, but there's never a point where it seems like Max is particularly skilled at emotional manipulation. It seems to me like he actually, genuinely likes her in a weird way. He's an ass, but he totally brightens up when he talks to her. He thinks she's funny, he seems a little bit awkward during conversation with her, he doesn't like people picking on her.

"She's such a prude!"

"Yeah, isn't she great?"

I'm sure part of it is that he just wants to get in her pants, but that doesn't seem to be the only factor here. He wants to carry her books, he wants to cuddle, he doesn't see her prudiness as an obstacle the way you would expect an asshole like him would. It seems to be part of the reason he likes her at all. It's not a healthy or respectful dynamic, but it is bizarrely genuine.

The characterization in this show is just so good y'all

[riddlegecko]

genuinely tho, should i make a separate character sheet for the rehabilitated version of neferata that i've mentioned a few times? cause like. she is such a different character from regular ol neffie, and it always feels like i should provide Context everytime i mention her.

[lilacthebooklover]

hatchetverse but paul accidentally becomes everyone's parental figure. lex & hannah's? sure, they deserve a good parent who'll look out for them. stephanie lauter? yeah, why not, her dad highkey sucks. richie? absolutely, could even make them be biologically related for the lols. he meets peter through ted, they're chill (potential for angst if ted disappears in this iteration of the multiverse). he's the guy alice goes to about all of her stresses and worries- the 'cool uncle'. he meets ruth at the coffee shop where he sees emma before they have a concrete relationship, ruth is very vocal about how she wishes she could have a partner too. he could be even max freaking jagerman's unofficial dad (he does not think max has to fight off "one lousy skele'un" to be worth something). he tries to solve grace chasity's religious guilt with "yeah no sex is normal" and she views him as a source for all advice on the matter after that. paulkins but paul is a tired dad and emma doesn't find out he has like 50 kids until they've been dating a couple months and one of them randomly runs into his house. she introduces him to tim and he just rolls with it. it's another nephew, okay, neat. he's not great with kids but he finds himself with loads of them somehow anyway. then they all face off against sadistic eldritch gods and multiple cults together like a family. what more could you want?

[fridgrave2-0]

because i hate myself (/hj) i wrote the beginning TW domestic violence, injuries, blood, themes of drowning, death

the waylon place happened, but max didn't die, just broke his leg. he won't be able to play in the big game, max knew that the moment he fell, but he couldn't just tell his dad about it. it would be a nightmare. he couldn't go to the hospital either because it would make his trauma official, so max (as always) hoped it would heal itself, said what he's fine and just hobbled home after everyone left him alone on the waylon's porch.

max reflected on his life. he did it all the time, but this time is different. even after being on the verge of death he felt better than ever. the nerds made him feel something what was not anger or fear (was he ever happy?), and max decided what it was right, what he wants this feeling to follow him. for once in his life he thought what there is hope for him after school, what he can change and become a better person.

it spinned in his head all night. when max returned home he didn't expect his dad to be awake. he snitched the beer when his father fell asleep drunk, but still at this hour he was greeted with yells and humiliation (as always).

this time max was different. he was in pain, but light as a feather, and he answered back like never before, tells where he was and why. max was ready to spend the night outside (not the first time) after he spoke, but it made the things worse than they should've been.

his dad snaped. he pushed max, making him hurt the broken leg again. his dad found out. his dad was furious. max used all his strength to run up in room when he realized what his father completely lost it. he closed the door and placed a chair under the door's handle (he wanted to push the table, but it was too heavy. why was it so heavy?) when the banging at the door started. it was more loud than ever, and it didn't stop after few hits. his dad won't let him leave. max didn't think about it when he ran (it was so fucking stupid of him. his room was never safe. stupid stupid stupid)

max didn't need to collect his things, he had an emergency bag under his bed for years. the window was the only choice (he knew he couldn't make it). the sound of his blood drowned all else when he opened the window (why his hands were shaking?) and looked down. it was the second floor, he was making this jump all the time (he just fell three stories this night. what can possibly go worse). the bag felt heavy, it pulled him down to the floor. max was tired (he was so tired), but he sat on the window opening, his legs outside (so painful. why was his leg wet?), the cold night air pinned his skin. it wasn't cold before. max focused on the bangs behind him and tried to jump down, but it turned out to be a sliding from the cornice. the bag stuck in the nail. he fell.

the pain was everything. his leg was burning, his head was burning, something in his chest was burning. it was all max could've feel. he wanted to get up, he needed to run, but he couldn't. maybe his dad was right all along. max is weak. pathetic. useless. can't even get up with one little fracture. was this his thoughts, or it was his dad talking above him? when did he get here?

the pain exploded like a nuke. dad picked him up (like the old times) just to drop a second later, and max knew he was crying. he just wanted everything to be like before. like when his mom was alive (she never wanted him. she left him), when dad did care about him (he never wanted him. god max wished he left him).

his dad didn't even bother to carry max (he never did). he grabbed max by the leg, and gravel with pebbles were cutting his open skin when max was dragged to the pickup truck. max didn't even bother to think what they were going to the hospital.

he could've see the clear night sky from the back of the shaking truck (his dad was drunk as hell. max hoped they both would crush and die). it was peaceful, deep blue sea with the sparks of star which he wasn't able to distinguish anymore. his eyes were heavy, the pain became a part of him, and max could not imagine himself without it anymore.

they stopped, apparently. max didn't know where and didn't care. but once again he felt father's hands getting him up. max was keeping his eyes open, he didn't see anything but blue sky above. his head was too heavy to move it (he wanted to see his father's face for the last time)

then the sky was gone, but max recognized the place immediately. waylon hall again. maybe he was dreaming this whole time since he fell? (why it felt like the fall made him wake up?) was the party the nerds have organized for him even real?

max felt his lips curling up without his will. if he knew what it would be the last thing he'll do in his life, he would've stick with the nerds a little bit longer and bring more beer. he really thought he would have a chance to know them better. to apologize. (he never had.)

his dad dropped him where max did fall the last time (he dropped max like a bag of garbage he has always been). finally max saw his face, and something rose in his chest (besides the sharp planks he was dropped on). he never felt anything like this. it was more than blue, more than pain. it was deeper than the michigan lake, deeper than the pit in what they put his mother's empty coffin.

it wasn't his fault. he never wanted his mom go missing. he never wanted his dad to become a drunk. he never wanted to be doomed by his father's anger and grief. his father's hands never supposed to hurt him.

"you were supposed to carry me." (now max is angry. he was betrayed by someone who never has the right to betray. he is his son. why would anyone do it to their son or daughter?)

"you were supposed... to take care of me-" his lungs are full of blood. it chokes max. (he is drowning.) "you judas! i will- kill you!"

max was five when jagermans went on a beach. his parents told him not to go in the water alone. max wanted to learn how to swim. he wanted to impress his dad and mom. but the riptide made him fall, and the lake swallowed him like a big monster. water was everywhere. (blue was everywhere.) then max felt being pulled out of the water in his dad's arms. he never felt more safe when his dad carried him to the beach.

instead of red he sees blue.

(he is drowning)

"TRAITOR..."

(dad won't pull him out)

"...DADS..."

(no one will pull him out)

"...MUST..."

(no one will pray for him)

"...DIE!"

(he is drowning.)

im having a vision

au where max dies because of his father and still returns as a ghost but now he kills shitty parents (including the mayor 🥳) across the town. the nerds are trying to find out who does that after steph becomes an orphan (gladly in 18 not 33), and they need to do it quickly. if in the beginning it was getting better for the students of hatchetfield high who's parents were BAD bad, after some time max started to target all the fathers and mothers who was mean to their kids even a little bc his ghost mind is loosing it. in the end the nerds are trying to find the way how to stop it and not send max to superhell at the same time because in this au they know what his life already was its own kind of hell and they feel a little bit bad for him (and steph was feeling better after her dad was gone so she was kinda thankful)

[startedwellthatsentence]

NPMD Meta:

The Lords In Black knew that Steph killing Pete would be the most devastating of the three options, which is why they pushed for it. As many people have pointed out, they probably already got her mom and Max just killed her dad, so she’d end up completely alone. In the short term, this is the most fulfilling option for completing the summoning ritual. There is no part of Steph that wants to go through with this plan.

Pete is a good second choice because there is also no part of him that would want to go through with the plan. HOWEVER, he ostensibly would still have a family after the act. Less devastating overall, but still fulfills the summoning ritual.

There is a HUGE part of Grace that absolutely wanted to do what she did (fuck Max Jagerman, and also kill Max Jagerman). She only very technically fulfilled the language of the summoning ritual. Her sacrifice was absolutely not an equivalent exchange — thus, she still owed work to the Lords in Black. Exchanging one Lord for another (i.e., Jesus for the LiB), the new ones with significantly more personal benefits, was an unwritten part of the deal. She’s still paying off her debts to the Lords in Black, and as long as she keeps finding pleasure in her work, she always will be.

Side theory: she’s most closely sworn to Nibbly. Grace hungers for power, for sex, and for murder. She literally used a food metaphor in her sexual fantasies. This also might be why the ending to NPMD is less world-ending than the previous two installments: Nibbly sustained a cult for like a century in order to have regular meals in multiple timelines, he is capable of long term planning.

[moonmoonthecrabking]

max jagerman likes musicals. to me. bc i like giving him a not as stereotypically masculine interest that he feels like he has to hide bc he’s a jock and has an interest in control, especially because i like to pretend his dad is workin’ boy greg who, after college, had a very depressing life that we don’t have time to get into right now. also i think it’s funny if paul is literally the only person in hatchetfield who doesn’t like musicals

[jeremiahthefroge]

Au where Tom Houston BlackFriday stays teaching at the highschool, has Max Jagerman in his class, and begins to encourage Max to get on a better path. His past as the highschool quarterback, subsequent life struggles, and position as a father all make him specifically suited to address Max's whole "I know I'm gonna peak in highschool" massive daddy issues situation. I feel like Tom could help Max feel like he could find a future after highschool, yk? And let him know that his father is a bad person, and that Max deserves to have a dad who's behind him and believes in him and would do anything for him. I also think Jagerman and Lex interacting would be pretty funny. She would be so mean to him.