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

[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.

[papalobo]

Huh?

[jadedlynx]

The grandpa and others.

[ They're Michael's words. Ash doesn't know who 'the others' are comprised of to call them much else so it's more of a label than a dig. ]

They probably don't know I exist.

[papalobo]

Bet they do. They'd've stayed over if they wanted and done Day 2. Jessica probably figured they'd be little shits 'n it'd be bad for Michael, or something.

S'hard not to know about you, these days. We're kind of a celebrity power couple.

[jadedlynx]

So I don't have to be involved.

[ Not that he really wants to be. It's not loss on his end. ]

If they know anything, it's Ash Golzine, and his image isn't the worst. They don't know Ash Lynx.

[papalobo]

Don't try to make me go to somethin' you're tryin' to weasel out of!

[jadedlynx]

Who's making you do anything?! I'm saying you can see them anyway!

[papalobo]

I'm asking why I gotta do it and you don't!

[jadedlynx]

And I'm saying you don't have to do it! You don't have to avoid it just because you're dating me!

[papalobo]

If I don't gotta do it, don't take away one of my excuses to get out of it!

[jadedlynx]

Have you told them that's the reason you're avoiding them?!

[ Max and Ash acknowledging his shortcomings, and Max flaunting it are two very different things. ]

[papalobo]

It's not the reason, but it's good to have any number of 'em on hand if I mess up avoiding them.

[jadedlynx]

[ Max has stopped yelling. Ash has not. Shame paints his cheeks a vibrant red color, a hue not often seen on his face. ]

Even if that's the very last reason, you don't say it!

[ Even Ash has limits to that kind of thing. ]

[papalobo]

[If Ash is going to yell, Max can find it in himself to do so as well.]

Why're you so into forcing me to go deal with my ex's parents?!