Day 235 - Thursday, August 13th

[papalobo]

[...No answer? He waits.

Maybe he was insensitive with that one. But doesn't he have a right to protect his pride as someone who was dumped? He waits.

It's not like Ash is the only one he can't fuck. Blanca will come to mind as surely as Ash himself any time he tries not only with a partner (Haha. Ha ha ha ha. Real funny. Not into a humiliation kink so that ain't happening.) but even just trying to bust a quick nut to some porn or something. He waits.

He's done being gay, straight, anything. He's practically Eiji, now. He waits.

He waits, and he hopes Ash breaks off with Blanca, too. For such a sexy bastard, Ash leaves a lot of people in his wake Max is pretty sure will never fuck again. Eiij's not the best representative since he came in a virgin, but he's not a writer anymore, the details aren't so important. He starts to type a 'good night' that this time is properly, fully erased, and never sends. He sleeps.

By morning, Nima is up, showered, shaved, and going to pick up Max and the kitties because they're all going to have breakfast together. Ben doesn't quite think it's worth showing off with Ash's own cooking prowess, but the truth is he's a little proud of his capacity for pancake art cartoons and the fact that he can flip flapjacks really high in a pan. Rusty, for his part, is very proud of his ability to roll around in front of Ash and show off his stomach for pets.

When Nima returns with Max, she also has a very small parting gift, an oversized sleep shirt that reads 'World's Best Grandson'. It is just a sleep shirt, he's not expected to wear it in public but one can never have too many sleep shirts, she insists.

Rusty wants to smell the cats. Kuroneko is terrified of both the dog and his nose. Asher dutifully remains in front of Kuroneko and meows loudly in protest, which Rusty takes as a greeting and happily barks back. He tried to pull Ash to the cats, either because he thinks Ash needs to see them, or maybe because he wants Ash to take them out of the carrier so he can play with them. They are toys for him, right? Since he brought Ash his Santa last night?]

Comments

[jadedlynx]

It's been a while since he was able to hang out with his friends.

[papalobo]

Want the husband out of the house a little, is that it?

[jadedlynx]

I'm inviting you two over.

[papalobo]

The girlfriend who hates him, too?

Maybe she'll like him a little more now that he isn't threatening to make me infertile.

[jadedlynx]

No, you and Charlie.

[ Ash looks toward the door. Max needs something. With a sigh, he continues. ]

Does she like to shop? I'll give her a night out with her friends on me.

[papalobo]

Are things actually really bad?

[jadedlynx]

I'm not saying they're really bad. I'm saying it'll be good for him to hang out with some friends, and giving her some money can count toward the damages.

[papalobo]

It sounds like things are bad and you're really worried. She'll be even madder if I turn that down, but I was his partner for a while.

Being crippled could make even a guy like him break down. When he thought I was the one who hurt you, he might have said a little too much about the stuff he can't do anymore.

Considered a therapist?

[jadedlynx]

He's saying temporary stuff and pretending it's permanent. I'm not asking you to fix him, I'm asking you to come over and hang out with him.

[papalobo]

Easy request, then.

[jadedlynx]

I'll have some cash to pass over to your girlfriend.

[papalobo]

[He does end up scanning in a medical bill for x-rays, for a crown on a cracked tooth, for pain killers.

It feels mean to do to the kid who was raped, but Ash did offer.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Depending on Charlie's answer, Ash will order pizzas and wings and get some alcohol delivered accordingly. He'll also take Max's pain meds so he can't take one before it's time for the date Max isn't aware of having. After a few more preparations, he wakes Max roughly 10 minutes before they're set to arrive. ]

[papalobo]

[Max has historically been very easy to wake; usually just Ash getting up for the bathroom or an earlier morning commitment is enough to have his eyes flutter open before determining there's no need to be awake and going back down. It takes some nudging now, and he's groggy.]

Ash...?

[jadedlynx]

I know old men like their bedtimes, but the nap is over. Your dates are going to be here soon.

[papalobo]

We're dating again?!

[That gets him right up.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Ash isn't a preteen girl. He doesn't get embarrassing fluttering sensations in his chest at the excitement that shows on his face. He doesn't.

Only he does. The surprise is at his own reaction, not Max's. They can't date again. Max won't be happy, and Ash isn't happy with an unhappy Max. So, he shakes his head, both to clear it and give him an answer. ]

Kent and Charlie are coming over. There's pizza and beer by the T.V. It's been long enough since the last pill that you should be able to drink without worrying about their reaction.

[papalobo]

[That shocking hope sparked him out of his groggy sleep that he was hesitant to let go of until finding a reality with a little more promise. Even if Ash shakes it away, he's still here, awake, now. He lets the hope linger on his face for a few more seconds, before looking away awkwardly, clearing his throat.]

... You hanging out with us?

[jadedlynx]

A night of hanging out with old men? I'm not a sadist.

[ Ash assumes it'll be better without them. ]

I'm restocking. It's only exciting when compared to the alterative.

[papalobo]

[He gives a nasal snort at that and moves to get up.]

I must be in pretty sorry shape still. I'll get it together. Thanks.

[jadedlynx]

I wouldn't have gone.

[ Ash takes a step back. ]

The address wouldn't have been enough to make me go. I'd already decided what would have happened if I did go.

[ Max can read between the lines. Ash 'knew' he'd be rejected and decided not to risk it. He had, he's glad he had, so it's his way of saying thanks. ]

They're both the kind of guys who'll be here early so hurry up.

[papalobo]

[Couldn't it still work? He can at least get to the bathroom to wash up without his chair, but before closing the door, his eyes linger on Ash a few more seconds.

Ash still cares. A part of him has lingering love that hasn't worn off yet. But he did shake his head. It really is over.

Tonight, he'll have to try to get over that and accept that there's a world outside of his sad mess of a lovelife. But right now, the night's young, and he's allowed to still think on how it could maybe work, despite knowing better.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Ash could leave. He could meet Kent outside. But instead, through the door, he asks: ]

Any requests? I've already thought of denture cream and prunes.

[papalobo]

Bengay and Werther's Originals.

[jadedlynx]

It's hard to remember all the stuff old guys need these days.

I'll see you when I make it back.