Day 328, Friday, November 28th

[papalobo]

[It's weird, to end up at a home that's not home. He's spent more time there than anywhere else this year, but that says more about his transience than anything. If told five years ago he would live such a lifestyle, he'd have believed that, but not the part about most of those multiple places being not just six but seven, eight figure abodes.

And yet it's Jessica's home (still probably the nicest one he'd lived in as an adult, before Ash swept in) they're doing Thanksgiving in. Maybe it's a fear of being upstaged on her part if it's in such a house; such a naive thought is, while unvoiced, just more proof of Ash's suspicions, that Max's mind is on something, something Ash had likely been trying to put his mind on for months. Because with even half of his braincells to put to it, he'd suspect the worst sooner.

It's not until they're pulling up to the house and there are two other cars there that he remembers the hell of Thanksgiving is not only family, but family you don't normally have to see. And thanks to Michael, Jessica's family is still his family.


And their ride is a taxi. It's not like they can turn around. Though Michael coming out to greet them right away in a hurried excitement would've made it impossible in anything.]

...Maybe she decided to start investing in cars. But not especially good ones. To be more undercover. As a journalist.

Day 375, Friday, December 14th

Comments

[jadedlynx]

[ This is the most Max's father has been mentioned around him, but Ash wouldn't have introduced him to his old man if he'd had a choice, either. He also knows that such a fact could be used against him if someone wanted to flaunt Jessica as the real relationship. They had a kid. She knew his family. She was potentially more likely to be accepted by less family.

Ash isn't dating his family. ]

This sounds like the kind of conversation that can happen over dinner. Everything is set out.

[ It's a high class meal, with premium steak and sides, and Ash hopes that can offer a little distraction. ]

I know L.A. has a lot more vegetarians than New York, but there's enough sides and a salad if you don't like steak.

[papalobo]

[That gets everyone settling in; Michael is sure to get a spot next to Ash. Ash is his favorite. Max would normally consider it a given, Ash 'with' him, but he's pretty eager to pat Ash on the back and be a little more nudgy-army-touchy-feely than he'd normally be.

You liiiiiiiiiiike me. You braaaaaag about me. You're prouuuuuuud of me.

Natalie claps her hands twice, then clasps them.]

Now it's time to be thankful to Max and Ash, and then to give our thanks to God!

[jadedlynx]

[ It's not like Ash hasn't prayed in his most desperate times, but that wasn't something he expected here. At least two of them had been involved with porn - - three if you counted it despite willingness.

Ah. Either way.

Unless... ]

Do they say grace?

[ It was a whisper to Max. ]

[papalobo]

Looks like it.

[He whispers back, awkwardly folding his hands to at least ape the motions to get through with the least drama. Michael is looking to Ash for guidance. Jessica makes no move to fold her hands, however.]

[jadedlynx]

[ It would be fake. Ash waits and gives them the time by not eating, but he doesn't bow his head. He offers respect, which is the next best thing.

Especially from him. ]

[papalobo]

[Then Michael doesn't either. Natalie pauses, a brief flashing frown, and then a tight smile. One of Tyler's closed eyes opens, before cracking a smirk and grinning, ready to watch a scene unfold.

Natalie's eyes first go to Michael, as if to pressure him. To Max. Look. Your Father is doing the right thing. But Michael only looks down and stiffens his shoulders. Once he realizes he's being used as a weapon, Max's hands lower, letting out a soundless sigh; he's willing to go along, but if he's going to be used against Michael, he'll stop and be the bad guy. But he's given in once, and Michael is at least a little cowed. So she'll look to Ash next.

Jessica on the other hand looks ready to spoil for a fight. Only the interest in how pressuring Ash is going to go keeps her from jumping in first. Let her sister bring the fight to them. Jessica can play the patience game well too. No matter how hungry for blood she is.]

[jadedlynx]

[ While he's less practiced in these situations, Ash still maintains that nothing here can be as scary as what he's faced. He's both patient and unfazed. ]

Go ahead. We'll wait for you to finish.

[ But he also doesn't want more fighting in front of Michael so he chooses the less rude reply. ]

[papalobo]

Could you show a little more respect?

[Max looks down at the plate. Maybe he should just be the really bad guy here and start eating, get them really mad at him. Ash doesn't need this.]

[jadedlynx]

[ But Ash doesn't look fazed in the least. This is hardly the worst he's heard. He's not even being nasty yet; that's still for Michael. ]

Quietly waiting for you is the respectful reply. Lying about it would be a lot more disrespectful.

[papalobo]

You won't regret showing a little reverence now when you do come around to being a believer.

[jadedlynx]

If I did, I'd feel pretty wrong for lying.

[ Ash isn't even mocking the idea of grace. He'd prayed recently. Eiji survived. He'll leave that much there and try to keep the peace as long as Michael was present. ]

If you see me do it, you'll know I mean it.

[papalobo]

That's an awful lot of respect for someone you won't give a little thanks to. And you're influencing the children more than his own parents.

No? [She can be protective of Ash, but he's also a little shit. But Michael's not about to be drug into this, so Jessica enters the fray.] This's the one place where I won't say Max's an especially bad influence.

Don't think she means the part where he started to go with it, then backed out when he was looking like a punk next to his new boyfriend.

[He all but gleefully tries to throw an oil can into the fire.]

A guy tries to be nice...

[jadedlynx]

I'll support him if he joins you, too, but don't try to bully him into it.

[ He'd support Michael in most things, and he can't mock someone he called out to in his darkest time. Especially as Eiji lives and breathes. ]

It's probably saying more about what you think if you consider Max's gesture to be something a punk would do.

I'm willing to wait until grace is finished. If you keep going, I'll assume it is.

[papalobo]

It's the backing out part as soon as he sees it's more popular not to./font>

This is all just so disrespectful! To God! Quiet down, we'll argue after we've at least said our gratitude!

[jadedlynx]

So what are you waiting for?

[ She'd be easy enough to drown out while he ate. Most people are. ]

[papalobo]

[And so it begins.]

Dear Lord,

We gather here today, despite the many trials and tribulations of bringing everyone together. We are so grateful for the opportunity to unite with family, even when some of us may not fully appreciate the sanctity of this moment.

We thank You for the bountiful feast before us, a feast that reminds us of Your everlasting generosity--a generosity many think of in shallow terms of earthly values and riches. Yet, we know You love all Your children, even the wayward, calling them ever back to Your grace.

Lord, we ask for patience and understanding, especially for those who find it challenging to sit quietly and reflect on Your blessings, and for those for whom it had never been convenient to parttake of this blessing until now, ever so busy with their earthy distractions. We pray for peace and calm in this home. Guide us to be more tolerant and accepting, as You are, and help us to remember that the true spirit of Thanksgiving is about gratitude, not just for the food, but for the opportunity to share it with all, the gracious and the entitled heathens alike.

May this meal nourish our bodies as Your wisdom nourishes our souls, and may we all find common ground in the joy of being together, even if we do not all share the same faith.

In Your name, we pray, Amen.

[jadedlynx]

[ He'd be offended if he cared enough to be offended. Instead, she met his expectations, and grace was over.

There could be an argument after. He could mention the insult. He's good at returning them, even, but Michael sits beside him. Ash knows they'll be fighting whenever Max and Jessica are in the same room, but he isn't going to add fuel to that fire and make this a day for Michael to regret.

Instead, once finished, he picks up his knife and fork to prepare to eat. The steaks aren't as good once they're cold.]

[papalobo]

[There was bait, but it remains a loose line unbit. It's a few second later, once everyone's eating, that Max shifts as if his phone has vibrated. Ash didn't hear it do so, despite being next to him, but he takes it out and mumbles an off-hand apology; his job being what it is and all, can't let these things slide. He starts to text something briefly, which Ash might catch, only to make a frustrated expression, sigh, and go back at it again, then finally set it away.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Is he setting up a need to step out? The timing is a little too off to be a way to break the tension.

Instead of drawing further attention and making something big of something small, Ash notes the oddity of not noticing a notification and returns to the food. Max really is busy with his work, now.

Today is for Michael more than Max. As much as he'd like to pretend otherwise, Max hadn't spent many Thanksgiving with Michael -- not even belated ones. So, it's no good to allow the meal to pass in silence. There were a lot of things to ask about a boy who rarely got to talk about himself. What did he think of basketball? Did he look forward to the music stuff instead? If he did, he should learn entire songs so that he wasn't like Max, who got stuck on a line or two.

Ash might brag about him, but that didn't mean he couldn't also tease him. ]

[papalobo]

[Michael doesn't think he'll be tall enough for basketball, but he doesn't love it enough to be that sad about it. Ash is tall. Not basketball tall, but he's fast and could be skilled enough to be good at it. He bets if his dad and Ash play, Ash always wins. Max can't exactly deny it, so. He says Dad might win if they played football, but two people can't play football. He won't bring up baseball unless Ash does. Michael is as interested in Ash as Ash is in asking him the right questions; Thanksgiving with Dad is cool, but Ash is Ash. It's not something Max begrudges him. Ash is actually a little cool.]

[jadedlynx]

[ He's pretty good at basketball, yeah. He also agreed Max would be good at football. If he had to guess, they'd stalemate. Ash is hard to catch, Max is hard to bring down. They'd both score, but it'd be hard for either of them to stop the other from scoring. Probably, Max could drag both of them from one side of the field to the other.

Little boys usually like to hear how strong their dads are.

He asks about baseball. He listens about baseball. Ash's trauma was a decade old now and while still painful, shouldn't take priority over the child in front of him.

Once dinner was finished, he'd offer to help with cleanup but then asked if they could stay long enough for Max to setup the ninja set. When spoken to by the other two guests, his voice wasn't falsely sweet, but he remained civil. As long as Michael was around. ]

[papalobo]

[Jessica casually points out that even carrying a willing Ash across the entire field would probably be beyond him now. If it seems at first as if Tyler is perhaps even going to step in as one man to another with a certain sense of how low a blow it is to knock a guy in front of his son like that, when what Ash is doing is pretty clear.]

If he lost his part as a linebacker, he might still have a part as a tight end. Burst leg strength and all. Instead of stamina. Mostly a lung injury you got, right?

You did say he used to be able to dunk.

[Why does it sound just a little poisonous from Natalie, though, as if Jessica had perhaps been waving what was a catch at the time in her sister's face? Max was tall, but not basketball tall, and even people who had a good two or so inches on him couldn't necessarily dunk, so for a man who was clearly more built for football than basketball, it would be a surprise.]

Come to think of it, those burst strength days're probably over, though. Building back at your age's a lot more of a long shot than getting there in the first place in your prime.

[And then Max is up. For a minute, it looks like a rant like his recent Youtube fame incident is about to fireoff. But then he turns to Michael, who looks to be already grabbing his plate with a bored look, intending to flee the scene under the guise of starting the dishes.]

Heeeey. So. We got enough adults to do the clean up! Since you're a kid, and I'm an invalid, how's about we duck out on the cleanup and try settin' up that ninja set while all the able bodied adults do that?

[Michael looks as much to Ash as Jessica, to see if it's really okay.]

[jadedlynx]

It's probably fine, right? Your dad can show you how easily false information spreads. His physical therapy's going well enough that by next year, we can test our football theories.

[ Now, defending Max has become a mission. ]

You play?

[ Ash so nicely asks Tyler. Really, it's stupid. Strength isn't the end all. Nonetheless, it was the avenue being used to attack Max. ]

[papalobo]

Not either of those; I do tennis and golf.

Maybe one day, since therapy is going so well, Max will be able to do a golf course without the cart!

Have you ever done that in your life...? [Max mumbles under his breath but clearly enough to earn a tapered-lip scowl.

Michael could not look more bored with every single adult in the room if he tried.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Ash notices. ]

If you stick around for too long, we'll put you to work.

[ Get Michael out of here. ]