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]

[ 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.

[papalobo]

Was anyone, 'sides you?

[jadedlynx]

[ For Michael's sake, Ash wonders if he should bring it up. He's sure Michael knows them well enough to know that kind of thing didn't happen, though. ] </small It's a tough crowd. Let's go see Michael.

[papalobo]

[Which is when they hear a voice from that room with the window Ash had left to avoid the source of said voice:]

Ash's gonna be with him now, does someone need to keep watch still?

[Max pauses, looking briefly confused.]

[jadedlynx]

Try that again when you have the brain cells to make it believable.

[ As if Tyler isn't just talking to himself. ]

[papalobo]

Not so loud!

[Natalie's timing is clearly only after Ash calls back, as if to validate him without being so blunt about it. It's enough Max puts it together; his shoulders and chest rise as if taking in a deep breath to let out a sigh, but it doesn't come out. Ash has been a good boy. So he has to be all mature and crap, too.]

Let 'em watch. Like I've ever been decent enough to care if there's an audience.

[Mature and crap.]

[jadedlynx]

They're being annoying, but nobody worth anything is going to buy it.

[ Natalie barely counts so he may as well be talking to himself. ]

I know a pervy old man when I meet one, Jessica doesn't think you'd hurt your own kid that way, and Michael's too smart for that, too.

[papalobo]

She doesn't?

[He has his doubts about that, but it's better to take it outside, out of earshot. of course, Michael is also there...]

[jadedlynx]

It's not like somebody watched the entire time.

[ His mumbled words would be hard for Michael to hear.]

[papalobo]

Thought Ty there just did, but...

[But Michael has spotted Ash and it's time for Michael to show Ash the cool set up and to say thank you to them both again.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Not the entire time, but that conversation can wait. For now, they can play with Michael. Ash suggests he try this or that with some of the more 'dangerous' tricks -- he won't suggest anything too dangerous -- suggested only with the caveat that it's a fun test to try while there's somebody big around to catch him.

Ash isn't in any rush. Today is for Michael, after all. And Max is still immature... youthful at heart enough to be into this kind of stuff, too.

He only stops when Jessica, Max, or Michael suggests it's time. ]