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]

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?]

[jadedlynx]

[ Max. Could he try a little? 'I didn't go to make friends'. Ash took him there to make friends!

His hand twitches with the desire to punch him for that. ]

Why do you sound like you're arguing when we're agreeing? If you'd planned it, it'd have been just annoying instead of annoying and...

[ Ash refuses to finish with 'hot' and so, he waves his hand. ]

[papalobo]

You keep acting like I went there with any kinda plan a all... No, if you asked me what happened there after the fact, I probably couldn't tell you much.

[Who remembers anything but the Ash sex, after all?]

[jadedlynx]

I've already said twice that I know you didn't plan it!

[ Concussion. Concussion. Max has a concussion. Hitting him would worsen it. Unless he hit him in the st---

No. He had to forcibly remember the warmth he felt in the bar. ]

You. No. Plan. Me. Know.

[papalobo]

[Making a face, he reaches out and pats Ash on the head. Whatever the case, he seems mad and like he should be pat. It's a little like dealing with a dog or a fussy baby who can't say what it needs.]

It's all over now. Good job?

[jadedlynx]

[ The red that spreads across Ash's face this time has nothing to do with embarrassment.

He'll kill this idiot of a man. Right here, in front of him, Michael was about to lose a father. His hands clench so hard that they almost shake and yet, he stalks past Max. To the couch.

Of all the ways he assumed the night would end, it wasn't with a pillow cushion flying at Max's head. ]

You reach a new level of stupidity!

[papalobo]

[He catches it, with relative ease given Ash is signaling his 'attack' quite a bit with his flustered anger.]

How come you getting turned on means I'm an idiot?

[jadedlynx]

[ It's a big couch. A second one flies through the air. ]

The guy who got me into idiots should just shut up!

[ It's still a childish rage, something very different from his cold, dangerous anger. ]

[papalobo]

[Blocked with the one he has.]

I don't even know which part's getting me called "idiot" anymore... You want anything from the kitchen?