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Born in a village in deep Siberia (now named as Muravlenko city), 25 September 1910. The eight or last minor character I've made who worked in Alexandrov Ensemble... and the most hated character I've made as it's based on some 'people' I've ever met in real life.
His childhood is messy: seeing the neglect mother who prefer strutting around and cheating with other men. His father taking care Maxim kindly... but can't always be there as the father has to work as farmer. When finally the father decided to divorce, it caused backlash by the church, condemning Maxim's father who cannot guiding the wife instead assessing the reality of that woman already problematic to begin with. This led to the father get exiled together with Maxim to different village and become farmer there, too.
Secretly Maxim harbor the hatred, thinking all woman are unfaithful. He is quite protective to the father and always helping in the field, even though later the father died in exhaustion after working without too much hydration/rest around 1925. Maxim finally use the savings that his father have to move out and enter music school at Moscow. He studied in a conservatory there too, graduated at 1930, and working for a while at theatre as trombonist.
He joined Alexandrov Ensemble at 1935, when the ensemble being more opened to orchestra section. During first day working, he already eyeing over Andrei who looked "different", but he hasn't proceed further. Because seeing Andrei is kept surrounded by fellow male ballerinas in ballet section of the ensemble. So far, he is only try to get close by giving small attention "How's your mother?" and watch Andrei happily mention about his mother, unknowingly it was meant to make Andrei thinking only Maxim who truly sees through Andrei. But deep inside... Maxim hated with every answer from Andrei whenever mentioning "Mother will always sacrificing everything for the children".
His chance only came when also knowing Andrei's grief a year later. So... yeah. he manipulating about full care and some seduction. he also manipulating that "If your mother truly care, she wont be careless to die and left you alone". This worked. Maxim felt truly in power and comfort.
And so, they become 'forbidden lovers'. But more to Maxim controlling what Andrei liked and dislike. Andrei might still hanging out with the ballet section and sometimes to the other characters... but he is far more distant than before.
What's more worse worse? More characters are believing Maxim is just an extroverted guy who is a bit misogyny and haven't find "perfect" woman. So far only Semyon and Ivan who knew the truth, but cannot tell as it will become scandal in Alexandrov Ensemble... and more to queer love rather than the manipulation scandal.
The characters who knew something is up to Maxim is only Dmitry, Vasily, Fyodor and Vadim - They feel something is wrong with Maxim but cannot pinpoint the proof. The rest of characters are casually hanging out with Maxim sometimes, pulling jokes and had good conversations (yes, even Alexei/Vitaly is actually believed Maxim more than Andrei!). and so, Dmitry, Vasily, Fyodor and Vadim are more to avoiding to too much interacting with Maxim.
He stayed in the ensemble not only because he has decent income, but also has long-term entertainment...