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]

You think only thugs would threaten somebody who might hurt a kid? Maybe focus a little more when you go to those church meetings instead of imagining what life would be like if your wife was willing to do something besides missionary.

Michael isn't dumb.

[ Ash finally steps a way from the window. ]

Try to convince him of anything weird, and you'll be the one on the outside if Jessica lets you live.

[papalobo]

[Tyler doesn't turn away from the window completely, watching the 'movie' outside Ash has lost interest in. Ash knows what kind of 'movie' he's seeing.]

It's trying to protect him. Get prickly all you want, you're the one dating a creep. I know you're a victim too, but Jessica's got to have limits on how far pity takes her on that.

[jadedlynx]

[ That conversation was definitely more annoying than the talk they had over dinner. Tyler is right: it won't be a unique opinion. It's the inclusion of Michael that takes it a step too far.

Still not wanting to interrupt the scene but also not feeling up for a second round of pedo talk, Ash moves off to the kitchen under the guise of looking for more cleanup. In reality, he's looking for solitude until Max is finished. ]

[papalobo]

[Fortunately or unfortunately, not long after it's set up, Max is coming inside looking for him. He wasn't thrilled leaving him alone in the viper's nest to begin with.]

Look at you, being all domesticy and sticking around to make small talk instead of looking for the first chance to bail out for a walk after dinner. You're learning this 'normal' stuff real fast, for your second Thanksgiving.

[jadedlynx]

I looked.

[ Once Max enters, Ash pulls his phone from his pocket and begins to type. ]

I found. I decided to torture myself. I don't get why people are into it.

[ As he finishes speaking, Max's phone should ding with a notification. ]

[papalobo]

[Instead, he makes a face and heads over to Ash, trying to pull an arm around him and yank him in to read Ash's phone directly.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Ash assumes his intention is to be annoying and though he still doesn't believe himself wrong, he doesn't realize that Max's true goal is the phone.

It's a text to Max with the pictures attached. ]

What are you doing?

[papalobo]

[He's not exactly wrong, as Max is still making a face, still trying to be clingy.]

What're you doing?

[So his hand goes for the phone. He could just check his own, but.]

[jadedlynx]

[ One hand pushes at Max's face while the other keeps the phone out of reach... as much as possible with Max hanging onto him. ]

Check your own phone.

[papalobo]

[So he tries to reel his arm in, reaching for his forearm instead.]

You can just say stuff direct, you know. What're you getting shy for now?

[jadedlynx]

[ His mind was pulled away from Tyler, at least. ]

They're pictures! What am I supposed to do?! Describe them?!

[papalobo]

Pictures?

[jadedlynx]

Pictures! You're hanging on me so there's no way you misheard!

[papalobo]

[Well, at least he pries off of him to take out his own phone and look now, even if mumbling.]

You take away my texting privileges, I figured it was unfair you had 'em...

[jadedlynx]

I took a few pictures of you with Michael. That's allowed.

[ Because Ash makes the rules. ]

[papalobo]

But no pictures with you.

[Ah. He realizes the problem as soon as--but not before--the words are out of his mouth.]

[jadedlynx]

I thought about taking a picture of me in front of the window taking pictures of you, but I thought once I'd done it once, who needs a second one?

[ Stupid. ]

[papalobo]

[Not what he meant but he'll let it go, scrolling now through the sent photos.]

You're kinda sappy.

[jadedlynx]

You had a picture of him in your cell, but nothing newer. It's for him, too.

[ Ash isn't someone who needs pictures. It really isn't a 'normal' thing he feels the need to learn. Enough people become endangered by knowing him. Why make it easier by giving his attackers pictures? ]

[papalobo]

He's got a cell now, too, doesn't he?

[jadedlynx]

Yeah. I'll send it to him after we leave.

Is it finished?

[papalobo]

Yeah. He's playing on it now. S'why I came to get you.

[And definitely not to come save you. Which has him looking around, slightly amazed Ash could get alone at all.]

[jadedlynx]

Jessica and her sister probably keep each other busy.

[ Ash slips the phone back into his pocket. ]

Tyler's never been your biggest fan, huh?

[papalobo]

More than either of the girls. Why?

[jadedlynx]

[ Ash shakes his head.]

He didn't seem to be on your side during dinner.