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]

Sure you wanna risk getting me on a bend eating weird stuff?

[Back into his winning territory.]

[jadedlynx]

[ The link is too weak to embarrass Ash. ]

Why not? I'll start prepping you. Nothing but oatmeal and pudding for your meals.

[papalobo]

I'll get to craving something hard.

[jadedlynx]

I'll look for a nursing home that allows conjugal visits.

[ Finally, he looks toward Max, a small smirk stretching across his face. The lights from the L.A. city shine in through the car, mixing with other traffic and replacing the natural light brightness their home allows. It's a manmade world far into the city, but the speed and walls allow for small amounts of privacy. Ash is equally at home in both fields and next to skyscrapers but despite his popularity, he's always preferred smaller groups.

A group of two works just fine for him, especially after braving the perverts at the bar. ]

If you're good between now and then.

[papalobo]

[Max is driving, so he only gets a passing glance at the lights flickering over Ash's face as the red slowly fades to his usual pale hue. It's a thought he repeats so many times it's almost like a song caught in Max's head by now: God, he's pretty. Not just hot, though yes, also that too, very much so, enough he can feel a part of himself half-ready for another round, something in his blood almost confused that they only did it once as if it remembers to associate Ash with fucking to exhaustion. But he's someone he could stare at for a long time just enjoying the view. Shame the road is much more demanding of his gaze.]

So no conjugal visits, then, huh...

[Since he will not be good. It's murmured with mild fake-disappointment. It's not until they're pulling into the driveway that, trying his best to sound offhand, he asks, as casually as he can fake:]

So. Your age just suddenly catch up with you randomly, or....

[jadedlynx]

[ Max is a good actor. He's the kind of ham who'll throw himself completely into any role, but this isn't a side character. Still, the catalyst is embarrassing enough to stop Ash from looking too deeply into the question.

Ah. Damn it. The car still has to stop.

Ash is a very good liar. Some may even call him a professional. Still, he tends to show softer, more vulnerable sides when he's in safer spaces.

Max won't believe his answer. If anything, he'll assume Ash saw the opportunity and ran with it. It's something he may do in certain situations so it's not an analysis that brings resentment. ]

Everybody gets in the mood sometimes.

[ The words are defensive, as if Max is accusing him of something.

With a groan, his head falls into the arm he'd been using to prop up his chin. If Max misses the next words, he can't be blamed. ]

But thanks for being stupid.

[papalobo]

[Everybody but you, he bites back from saying, only to wince to himself when he misses whatever Ash murmurs into his arm as he closes the car door. Still. If it was meant to distract him from being stupid, well, Max had already backed off properly. He was doing better about that; in fact, this kind of "stupidity" was increasingly rare. Max didn't need distraction sex not to beat a guy up.

Ash is weird. But he's good looking enough, and good enough in bed, to get away with it. Looking a gift butt in the mouth is... ... The metaphor is getting lost on him, Ash has a good butt and a mouth, doesn't he?]

[jadedlynx]

[ Once, Ash would've been a little more confused by the lack of reaction, but Max hasn't fully believed his feelings for a while now, not since he became sure Ash showed his true feelings.

Understanding doesn't make it much easier, though Ash will gladly allow this particular case slide without acknowledgment. Who wants to have this kind of thing remembered?

He follows behind. ]

And that bar might be a little safer for the next week. The guy left looking uglier than he went in.

[papalobo]

And me hotter. I mean, you were all "you-face" when we went in, and when we went out....

[jadedlynx]

[ Maybe it wasn't ignored as Ash hoped. Immediately, he slaps a hand over Max's mouth. Compared to his usual anger, his shouts seem much more like youthful outrage. ]

Just pretend I didn't say it!

[papalobo]

[He at least stays quiet as long as the hand is over his mouth. But Ash has to move it some time.]

[jadedlynx]

[ The look of suspicion remains in place as Ash slowly removes the hand from Max's mouth, the downward turn of his lips showing what can only be called a pout.]

[papalobo]

[A moment. Two. Three.]

Should I pretend you didn't do it, too?

[jadedlynx]

Just pretend it was teenage hormones! I still have another year to use that excuse so just accept it. It's not like I walked in hoping you'd get in a fight so I'd get it up.

[papalobo]

I can go get a side hobby as a luchador if you want. You know, for Christmas. For you.

[jadedlynx]

So you can make sure I never get it up again?

[ Max has to know that Ash isn't into violence. Or ridiculous costumes. Or violence while in ridiculous costumes. ]

[papalobo]

I give up.

[jadedlynx]

[ Suspicion remains, but Ash's hands settle at his side. ]

That's not going to trick me into saying it. You want thanks and a bullet point?

[papalobo]

What'm I tricking you into saying, here, exactly?

[jadedlynx]

Explaining it would be falling for your trick.

[ Surely that was his intention. ]

[papalobo]

My trick. To turn my boyfriend on more.

I dunno how I live with myself and these evil plans. Santa's got me on his naughty list for sure.

[But he will unlock the door and head inside.]

[jadedlynx]

I didn't say you planned it.

[ Ash is sure that Max didn't go in looking for a fight. ]

No, you'd have planned the opposite, right?

[papalobo]

The opposite of what? You think I make plans to specifically not fuck you?

[The fight isn't remotely on his mind as relevant; he had sex with Ash, that's what it all comes back to, the fight's just something else he did today along with brushing his teeth.]

[jadedlynx]

The opposite of fighting. How hard did he hit you? Don't make me feel gross by thinking I just had sex with a guy who had a concussion.

[papalobo]

I didn't go there planning to pick up my side-piece or make friends or anything...

[But how does this relate to having sex with Ash and how he can do more of it?]