papalobo | Day 265 - Friday, September 12th

[But Max can keep up the cheesy grin, at least until Ash is gone.

It's not enough to just see him again. It was supposed to be. Is the feeing that something's off because it is, or just because he can't come down that fast and easily, just for seeing Ash's face?]

[ Can't the answer wait until after they've had the celebratory hot dog?

From the prison, Ash heads home. It's likely Blanca will have erased all traces of himself, but is there more food in the fridge? Do the cats have what they need? He only has a few hours to make it feel like he's not coming into a place that should feel like home. ]

[Blanca was never there. The cats are inside, with cat food, receipts and shopping bags in the trash to look as if Ash had just tended to it the day before. The caviar leftovers are in a dish, the stored food less well presented, set more as if Ash had made himself a mostly vegetarian dinner or breakfast. His paintings have been set in the painting room, facing the wall, with a stack of handwritten papers beside them, likely fetched at the same time.

As expected, it's clean. There's no trace of the bed being used, no lingering scent of any of his cologne. Other than the cats having more vigor than they used to, coming to the door when he arrives rather than cowering in whatever room they were last in, it's normal.]

Thanks.

[ I takes a lot of work to look as if nothing changed, and Ash knows it. Instead of waving it away as being Blanca, he'll send at least that much of a text. If there's a need for food or other items, he'll shop but if that's handled, too, Ash uses the time to be with the cats. He'll get the call to pick up Max soon enough. ]

[There are some basic fruits, vegetables, and fish, as well as drinks.

The cats are more to their old selves; it likely has less to do with Blanca, and more do to with a passage of time having to fend for themselves, but with no exterior threat, no humans, bringing out a little more gratitude for home and man.

Eventually, the call comes; Max is let out, in a plain T-shirt and a gray pair of sweatpants. The clothing he was arrested in was decidedly not decent to release him out in.

He looks more tired, the pre-release lecture, monitor fitting and such not the most exciting part of his day.]

[ When Ash pulls up, it's in one of Max's older truck, a grin on his face. ]

Need a ride?

[ He's out. ]

Mom told me not to take rides with hot strangers.

Did she specify hot?

[ He slides over to the passenger seat; Max likes to drive, especially in run-down trucks. ]

[His eyes light up at the opening, without realizing it's anything other than Ash just not liking to drive run-down trucks. He heads into the seat like a kid bribed with candy.]

Yeah, she figured if an ugly person wanted me, they could have me.