#ashton!

where: apt. #306

when: may? late may?

she'd made herself scarce when maisie had moved in, trying not to upend the world anymore than it already had been for the two of them. it was only in the brief moments when she was trying to tall asleep at night that she'd felt she failed ashton somewhere, dropped the ball. too selfish or too something by staying away.

so, when maisie had a sleepover planned with the roses, it was easy to insert her own plans. she let herself into the apartment, a case of wine coolers under her arms. the plan to spend the evening sitting on the couch and laughing like nothing in the world had changed. as though they weren't in charge of this whole town, trying to keep everyone alive.

"happy night off!" she greeted, as though she was perfectly on time and not derailed by a too much time in the hospital and a late run on the dinner rations. there was already drinks on the table, taking in the scene quickly, "oh— you started without me?"

‘ashton! good morning!’ laudna trilled, fluttering a wave his way. they grunted. nodded her over.

she settled beside them, skirt of her new dress wafting out over his knee, the layers soft against their skin. it burned. soft things did, which was some cosmic fucking joke probably. it made him entirely too fucking aware of the itch under his skin, the one that felt like his body was trying to turn itself inside out. laudna apologised, which he ignored. she didn’t have to apologise for shit. ever.

‘so?’

‘so what.’

‘how’s it going? your meditation?’

a frown crunched between their brows.

‘honestly?’

‘of course!’ she said, loud and bright and cheery. he’d fucking die for her.

‘seems like a lot of being patient,’ he said. laudna nodded, smiling. ‘no. i’m no fucking good at patience. it’s a fucking scam. people are always harping on about it but it’s always for their own fucking benefit. be patient so we can treat you like shit for longer. be content with fucking scraps, the hunger is good for you, makes you determined. be patient and you’ll learn something. life’s a fucking prison and patience is your time fucking served and you better be on your best behaviour or else. it’s bullshit! meditation is bullshit. it’s all…’ ashton grabbed the nearest rock, one they’d been focusing on for this meditative shit, and chucked it. hard. it sailed a considerable distance before impacting a tree, which shattered.

‘holy shit.’

‘fuck. that’s not. one of their important trees, is it?’

‘i don’t know,’ she said, and climbed swiftly to her feet. ‘but just in case, we should not be here.’ she held a hand down to him, like she could actually lift him. ashton took it, softly.

there had been a time when he’d done stupid shit, got into scrapes, and had no one to run away with. it had taken fucking years before he salvaged FCG, then the rest piled in by accident. had it been patience that got him to all of them? or something else?

when they stopped running, laudna didn’t need to catch her breath because she didn’t ever really do that. ‘are you going to try again? the meditation.’

ashton groaned and dropped to the ground, sprawling beneath the sprawling branches of some nice old tree. the stretching shadows mimicked his outstretched limbs. did that mean something? laudna nudged them.

Who insists on cleaning the house for “a fresh start”?

we know this is ash. she cannot clean.

Who sneaks away to watch the stars and reflect on the past year?

is it sneaking away if it was always going to pointedly happen? ash is always going to watch the stars, and ruth is always going to wander outside and find him.

Who struggles to stay awake and falls asleep before the countdown?

depends on the year! every so often ruth has a struggle to stay awake and make it to midnight, and then it's on ash to make sure to wake her up before the count down. usually it's the other way around though. usually.

Who always wants to watch the fireworks, even in freezing weather?

ruth! ruth! she loves fireworks!

Who writes a detailed list of resolutions?

they write the list together, adding a mixture of serious things (publish an article) and complete jokes (go to bed early). it's a fun tradition at this point.

Who's claims not to care about New Year traditions but secretly hopes they work?

ash drags his feet on this stuff, but she wears him down with the continued optimism.

Who insists on always spending New Year's together and kissing at midnight?

ruth loves going out for new year's, finding a party or a bar to attend. but she always makes it back by midnight to wish her best friend happy new year.

Who wants to start New Year's Day 'the right way' (early, nice breakfast, etc)?

ash starts every day the right way, this is no different.

Who starts a hobby on January 1st and sticks with it all year?

ruth would say she's starting a hobby, but ashton is the one who could actually follow through with something the entire year.

Who suggests writing a letter to their future selves to open next New Year’s?