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]

[ 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. ]

[papalobo]

[It's Jessica who will eventually come out to say it's getting dark, to come inside and spend a little more time with the family.]

Think that's our cue to step out....

[jadedlynx]

Not the worst ...

[ He should probably not mention how often he's kicked out of places in front of Michael. ]

Yeah. Probably.

[ But before they go, Ash asks if Michael will make him something with the 3D pen set for the next time they visit. ]

[papalobo]

Even though you guys are family, too?

[Max muses his hair.]

She means her side of the family.

Are we gonna have grandpa and your side over too?

Nah, I'll spare you that.

I like them. [It's matter of fact, as if he knows and is not surprised Max himself is decidedly less into the idea.]

M'sure grandpa'd be glad if he knew. Anyway....

[jadedlynx]

[ Michael is smart for his age in so many ways, but it's moments like these that betray his innocence. In his eyes, Ash is 'cool' and so, he doesn't really know how others may see him, especially when in a relationship with Max. Perhaps he wouldn't know about the lack of even a high school education or even the myriad of gang activity, but Ash isn't even in college right now. He's 19. His latest news appearance had him being gangbanged for a week while in legal custody. He already pushes his luck by visiting his own grandparents, and even they've recently shown fear of him.

The kid will understand in time.

Ash shoots Max an amused look from behind Michael as if to mutually acknowledge the disaster that would erupt from his family knowing even a little about Ash. ]

[papalobo]

[Max is not amused; he takes that look as mockery of Max's own awkward connection with his own side of the family. He doesn't wanna take that from Ash. But Michael's still there, so for now he'll just glower at him.]

[jadedlynx]

[ It's a silent conversation and both are on different pages. First, confusion passes across his face. Why is he receiving a glower?

Ah. No. Max isn't...

No, Ash can't think of another reason for that look of annoyance. Max wishes he had somebody his family wouldn't dislike. Max wants somebody he could show his family.

He looks forward. ]

[papalobo]

[Which is why Ash receives an elbow-check when walking Michael back to the doorway to say goodbyes and thanks and all that to the 'family.']

[jadedlynx]

[ Ash's reply check is a little too rough, but Ash never claimed he couldn't be petty on occasion.

Max knew who he was dating before they made if official.

But he faked pleasant well enough to say goodbye to the others. ]

[papalobo]

[All three adults notice it, though. They'll be a topic of some gossip, for sure. Once they're in the car, Max keeps on an overly-strained smile just until they've backed up; as soon as they're back in drive, not even out of view: ]

I'm not nearly drunk enough to be putting up with this holiday.

[jadedlynx]

You thought it was that bad?

[ Annoyance aside, it's a sincere question. It seemed pretty tame. ]

[papalobo]

I dunno what Ty said to you but it sounds like I'll spend the rest of the week regretting not feeding him my fist.

[jadedlynx]

He's not worth thinking about.

[ Ash really isn't lingering on that conversation. He's not even well-meaning so there's no guilt in brushing off someone sincerely concerned. ]

Groomer talk.

[ Since Max didn't know .]

[papalobo]

I wasn't groomed, I just like crazy and you're more crazy.

[For someone who was sincerely annoyed and elbow-jabbing him, he flows into what sounds straight faced but is (probably?) obviously a joke with relative ease.]

[jadedlynx]

I don't know what happened before Jessica, but you can be pretty crazy yourself so my guess is that it's narcissism.

[papalobo]

What about the part where I've never been into any guys before you?

[jadedlynx]

Straight people can be narcissistic.

But.

[ Since it's on the edge of his mind now.]

If you wanted to do the whole family thing, it's not like they have to know I exist if Jessica hasn't told them.