Maxine Ming is a student at the September Institute as part of House Whitestar. She is a princess of the Principality of Kesh[1] and was born on Kesh itself.[2]
Appearance[edit | edit source]
Maxine dresses like a pilgrim in 15th-19th century style clothing, with her hair covered. Her clothes are in the House Whitestar colors (white with gold accents). She's hot.[3]
Personality[edit | edit source]
She is both "weird" and "cool as fuck." Unlike most people in House Whitestar, she never seems to feel out of place; she carries herself like "the most comfortable motherfucker in any room."[3]
History and Involvement[edit | edit source]
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Spoiler warning! This section contains major spoilers for COUNTER/Weight through Episode 40. Tread carefully! |
Maxine was part of the earliest classes at the September Institute, from the age of twelve or thirteen. As such, she remembers the time before the Bacchus Recreational District was built, when Maryland was still teaching classes, and she remembers that things got worse when Maryland left. She's pretty sick of what the September Institute has become.
When Cassander finds themself dressed in House Whitestar colors and "remembering" through Mesh memories that they're a student of the September Institute, they encounter Maxine, who they identify as their "friend." She shows them a shortcut off of campus and to the woods, and accompanies them to Maryland's home.[3] When she approaches the cabin, AuDy feels the presence of a Divine.
Cass and AuDy try to confront Maxine as a Divine, but while something in her seems to respond and she identifies AuDy as a Divine in return, she herself doesn’t understand what they're doing. She panics, realizing she doesn't actually know either of them. When AuDy tries to calm her down, she reveals that she can hear Rigour, too. Maxine demands to see Maryland, and when Cass and AuDy take her inside, Maryland is happy to see her.[4] Maryland explains to AuDy that the Divine they sensed in Maxine is Voice, who empowers everyone in Mode City.[5]
Cassander is able to save Maxine when the Chime escapes September.[6] Later, they pay her a visit on Kesh to catch up, where one of her family members tries to matchmake the two of them into a political marriage. They become genuine friends.[2]
Appears in[edit | edit source]
- COUNTER/Weight 35: A Knock at the Door
- COUNTER/Weight 38: Found Footage
- COUNTER/Weight 39: Just Another Machine
- COUNTER/Weight 40: The Storm Over September
- COUNTER/Weight 42: A Splintered Branch, A Ringing Bell Pt. 2