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]

Why would I come back to L.A. just to go to Japan?

[sentimentalstoic]

The sting of rejection.

[jadedlynx]

[ Ash's head won't allow for him to actually contact Yut Lung yet. ]

It's not a total rejection. After this is settled, we'll have a longer call.

[sentimentalstoic]

I'd settle for a Christmas list.

[jadedlynx]

Maybe. Do I get one that doesn't have sappy stuff instead of something I can give?

[sentimentalstoic]

Now I'm curious what you expected me to ask for.

[jadedlynx]

Then add it to your list.

[sentimentalstoic]

And, yours?

[jadedlynx]

I'm pretty good at not turning myself down so I'll have to think about it.

[ And he's not someone swayed by material things despite his inability to simply let money be. ]

[sentimentalstoic]

I think you engage in a tragic amount of self denial.

[jadedlynx]

You're right. I'm staying in my multi-million dollar house in L.A. instead of my hundred-million dollar house in New York. I'm a pretty sacrificing guy.

Lunch will be here soon, and I still have to shower.

[sentimentalstoic]

Your list when you think of it.

[jadedlynx]

You just spent two months watching Eiji for me. I might get selfish.

[sentimentalstoic]

Mine is demanding so do try to match it.

[jadedlynx]

How should I know if I managed? You could show up here carrying your head, and the face would still have a smile.

Getting into the shower.

[ It's no good to not be finished when the food arrives. ]