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]

I went from getting jumped every night I went out to taking early-morning walks without even being groped.

[ Obviously, both are an exaggeration. Ash wasn't raped daily -- anymore -- and he did receive unwanted attention here, but it had been a dramatic decrease. ]

[papalobo]

Just stopped tellin' me about it when it happens, huh?

[jadedlynx]

When it happened in New York?

[papalobo]

Every night 'n all. Guess after how I reacted to the last one, s'the only thing that makes sense. Not like I'd make it any better.

Need another bottle?

[jadedlynx]

You were with me some nights and saw it didn't happen. A writer should know hyperbole.

Yeah. Grab more.

[ Max isn't drunk enough yet .]

[papalobo]

I better, or it'd mean I was serious just now.

[Up he gets, though, entirely serious about more liquor.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Ash watches for any kind of sway in his step. There'd have been more even if Max didn't offer. ]

[papalobo]

[It's there, but he could just be feeling more gimpy as the night draws on. It's nothing severe. But Max's broader motor reflexes were usually good until completely smashed.

He's back with two bottles, a Wild Turkey bourbon and a cheaper (but still by no means 'bum wine') rum, in case Ash wants something sweeter as a 'dessert' to their liquor post-dinner-dinner.

He intends to stay on theme with Turkey. The name suddenly hit him as amusing enough to bring down for the next drink.

He explains none of this, despite normally surely being prone to running his mouth on it as an 'interesting' story, drunk or not.]

[jadedlynx]

Turkey, huh?

[ But Ash notices, and he'll be the one to comment. ]

It's been a really long time since I've had a second bottle. You missed out on the bet.

[papalobo]

You got an unusually full belly. You don't usually eat that many calories in a month.

[This time, when drunk, he could pass for serious more easily, as if rather than losing enunciation, it's lost intonation, become flatter, yet not dry or cynical.]

[jadedlynx]

Good job learning hyperbole.

[ He twists the top. ]

Think you can think straight enough to think of a toast?

[papalobo]

To getting felt up less in LA.

[They weren't doing glasses to begin with so instead of raising that, he raises a fist, then lets it drop, holding out, waiting to get the bottle back.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Ash planned to keep that bottle for himself, but if a drunken Max is his goal, he has to pass it over.

He'll take the second bottle, then. ]

You get felt up in L.A. that often, huh?

[papalobo]

Used to know the number 'n could give you an answer to that.

[Another drink!]

[jadedlynx]

[ Ash blinks. ]

You really do? Then why did you act like you were just gang raped when a guy touched your butt in the bar?

[papalobo]

Huh? ---No, not... I'm not drunk enough if I still remember that. Even with you 'mindin' me...

[jadedlynx]

[ A slur. ]

Don't give me some bullshit answer. Tell me the first thing that comes to mind: would you really want me to tell you every time it happens?

[papalobo]

Of---... [An exhale around the rim of the bottle.]

Whatever you want, it's your tr.. pro..a...thing.

[jadedlynx]

What happened to the guy who pretended like he wanted to know?

[papalobo]

"Pretended."

[jadedlynx]

[ He was poking a bear. Ash knew that. But, kindness wasn't working. ]

It wasn't pretend? So you only wanted to know when you thought the number would be low?

[papalobo]

[The anger at the accusation fizzles out almost immediately, the answer well mentally rehearsed.]

I didn't handle what happened to you right last time 'n look what happened. No wonder you don't wanna tell me.

[jadedlynx]

[ Damn it. ]

What happened last time?

[papalobo]

You're not so drunk you forgot.

[jadedlynx]

I'm pretty dunk, but I hide it well so humor me.