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]

At least in Americanized Chinese food.

[ Ash looks over his shoulder; there's a definite 'thereness' that didn't exist early this morning. ]

Get something with broth, too.

[papalobo]

Egg drop or sweet and sour?

[And then someone picks up; he starts the order. He'll order big, trying to avoid the fatty, greasy things Ash won't like even when his hangover is over. Even though they're the best.]

[jadedlynx]

Egg drop.

[ The words are muffled. With the laptop closed, Ash uses his arms as a pillow for his aching head.

Last night wasn't worth the pain this morning. It's good advice for sex ed and drinking. ]

And an IV of fluids.

[papalobo]

--Wait, really? Eggs?

[Usually runny eggs are pretty unappetitzing to the hung over, but maybe sweet and sour's too oily and stimulating. Well, whatever. He conveys the order. And a Diet Pepsi.]

30 minutes.

[jadedlynx]

[ The corner of his lips is barely visible, but it curves upward. ]

What? You don't want runny eggs when you're hungover?

I like the taste better.

[papalobo]

Well, if you might taste it twice, guess it makes sense to pick the one you like...

[jadedlynx]

[ It's no secret that Ash's biggest weakness is his stomach. While he can push through almost anything, that alone can defeat him.

With a groan, he pushes up from the counter. ]

I'm going to try a shower.

[ It's easy to act casual when he hasn't realized the level of disarray his hair reaches. ]

[papalobo]

Don't wanna save it for after you throw up?

[As if it's a foregone conclusion he will.]

[jadedlynx]

If I do, I'll aim for you since you're so sure I will.

[papalobo]

Could just ask me to shower with you like a normal person.

[jadedlynx]

Why would I reward you for making me throw up?

[ As if it's Max's fault instead of the copious amounts of alcohol he consumed the night before.

His clothes, as much as he'd brought with him, are upstairs. It's also the master bath so Ash's reply comes as he rounds the corner to climb up to the second floor.

Upstairs, Blanca gets a text. ]

I'm going to stay in L.A. for a little while.

[sentimentalstoic]

Did you want to be that much closer to him just in case?

[Often enough there are longer waits between his replies, a given when he's 'on the job' so to speak, but it's about 4:00 AM in Japan and so Blanca being anywhere out and about or where he needs to be hyperattentive is unlikely.

Given the task he's on and has been on for two months, that he would, ether jokingly or serious, immediately muse on Ash's motivations being Eiji rather than the man whose family is in L.A. is probably a little more jutified.]

[jadedlynx]

If the 'him' you mean is Michael.

[ It wasn't. ]

Pretending that doubling zero will give you two, I doubled my number of Thanksgiving dinners this year.

[sentimentalstoic]

You're becoming a consummate family man.

[jadedlynx]

That's almost an oxymoron.

Is Heather's plan to bore you to death?

[sentimentalstoic]

Eiji is a charming young man, watching his growth is measures better than spending long periods watching a single point for movement in inclement weather.

[That is not actually a ringing endorsement.]

[jadedlynx]

Watching a single point for movement in inclement weather wasn't your alternate plan.

How much longer is he going to drag this out?

[sentimentalstoic]

I can make him stop whenever you need.

[jadedlynx]

Without a dead body?

[sentimentalstoic]

Without an immediate one. Admittedly this is keeping the Chinese Triad's Civil War somewhat in check.

They see him as keeping you from becoming involved as much as you see me keeping him in check. Once they realize your Thanksgiving outing is more permanent, they'll see it as a sign of your pulling out and it may end the stalemate and allow for a few movements.

More importantly, I imagine, he'll finally be paid.

[jadedlynx]

[ Unfortunately, Blanca can't hear the sigh over text. ]

I could've come to L.A. before now if I knew it'd end this part. I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm not Chinese.

[sentimentalstoic]

I'm not sure if you'd consider the end of the stalemate a good thing.

[Of course he'd like him away from Eiji. But he's also not actually worried about Eiji so much as he's guilty that there's a situation in which one could, hypothetically, be worried.]

[jadedlynx]

I don't think the stalemate is a good thing.

You're not wrong, but we both know it's not going to last forever. How much does Princess know about Heather and Eiji?

[sentimentalstoic]

Enough not to have made grand moves, for your sake. He is courting Chicago for when the time comes. He supposes I'm there still.

["He's courting me but it gives your friend in Chicago a reason to be courted instead of steamrolled."]

[jadedlynx]

[ Then Blanca can't tell him of the change in plans. ]

What's the likelihood that the Lee family will let your presence in Japan slip? I can play the jealous loser, but if he finds out it's an act, there'll be some fires.