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]

[ Part of a relationship is exploring likes and dislikes. Ash enjoys the pampering of a hair wash from a trusted pair of hands, but it seems like Max isn't into the affectionate act. It's a short process so he finishes it up and files it under the 'not again' category. If Max doesn't actively enjoy it, their time can be used in better ways. ]

If I took you to court, the judge would send you to jail on reflex.

[ Rinsing out the suds, Ash steps back. ]

But at least you'd have the prettiest hair there. All clean.

[papalobo]

You'd come with me and wash my hair there?

[jadedlynx]

My experience in prison is a lot different from yours, but I'll write sometimes.

[ He grabs the towel just outside of the shower.]

If I remember.

[papalobo]

[His hand runs through his own hair, as if remembering the experience, or maybe just pushing his wet bangs back.]

You would. You love me.

[jadedlynx]

I'm really busy. It's almost Christmas, but maybe after the holidays.

You staying in?

[papalobo]

Huh?---Oh.

[He finally stops playing with his hair to turn the water off and holds out a hand for a towel.]

Nah, I'm ready.

Speakin' of that, any Big Asks for Christmas this year?

[jadedlynx]

[ Ash knows that the answer to that question should not be 'Blanca also wants to know'.

Fresh from the shower, he's still nude and wet enough that thick droplets fall to the floor. He focuses on drying off, but Ash still tries to think about the question again. ]

It's pretty hard to say. I don't really deny myself something if I want it.

[ At least not things that can be bought with money. ]

[papalobo]

So somethin' you can't get for yourself...

[jadedlynx]

Isn't that the usual goal of a Christmas present? That's why it gets harder when you're a billionare.

[papalobo]

I don't think most people are buying something outside the other person's price range unless it's a literal kid.

[jadedlynx]

Unless they're rich and close.

[ Ash and Max are both rich and close. ]

If I lost the case, you'd probably be trying to get money to get me something good.

[papalobo]

I keep forgetting I got money, so I still end up trying to think how to afford something sometimes.

[jadedlynx]

You've always been pretty bad at being rich.

You'd probably have some kind of job right now without the money.

[papalobo]

Yeah, I'm all unemployed now.

[jadedlynx]

Unemployed? You're still writing.

[ With the towel still over his head and his body on display, Ash shoots Max a quizzical look. ]

[papalobo]

That's the joke.

[Max isn't looking at his face to notice. He has a body. It's nice. He could look at that all day.]

[jadedlynx]

The joke only works when you're not getting spammed with work offers.

[ As if casually, without knowing Max saw the laptop, Ash adds:]

I'm thinking of finishing school online.

[papalobo]

[It's a really nice body. He forgets to pretend to be surprised.]

A formal PhD could end up useful, I guess.

[jadedlynx]

I guess somebody growing up in a family that didn't think college was important probably has a harder time seeing its use when we're already rich, but yeah, I think so.

[papalobo]

So that is what it was about, huh...

[jadedlynx]

About what? Going to school?

[papalobo]

Yeah. For me it was the social part I was pushing, but that didn't really have a lotta sway for you...

[jadedlynx]

That was the reason behind going in person.

[ With the mood settling into something almost positive, even Ash hesitates to bring it down. ]

I had to leave before that took off.

[papalobo]

If you see a point in going for the whole academic thing, that's still something you didn't think you could have. I'll count it as progress.

[jadedlynx]

Some of the better schools want more than just good scores. The top universities even ask for volunteer time.

[ Which isn't impossible to get, but it isn't something that can happen in an instant, and Ash can't imagine himself on that side of the soup kitchen. ]