24 Christmas Eve // Homesick in Alpha House
Finn didn't feel a huge need to girl-it-up in the house anymore, within reason. Everyone either knew or wasn't important enough to his bottom line to hide from. To anyone not paying attention, he made a well and fine lady. If he didn't, oh well, he lived here. He was already in the trenches with all the newly empty rooms and being alone on Christmas Eve, he didn't want to spend it slumped alone in his room. He was spending it alone slumped into the couch in the living room. Home Alone 2 had just started and as on the nose as it felt he liked the movie too much to change it. At least some housemates let their dog run around the house so at some point he was joined by Rosanna's English bulldogs. A little piece of the homeland. He knew what Rosanna was doing tonight because Ethan had already told Rose that he, Mark, and Ro would be spending time. He knew because she was invited. He couldn't bring himself to go. How could he intrude on real friend's time like that? The guilt would eat him alive. There's a point between the family running through the airport and the toy store scene where he closes his eyes for just a few minutes. When they open again he sees someone sitting on the end other side of the sofa. Before he blinks a few times to get the sleep out of his eyes he thinks it is Schlatt, but no. Max had been sitting for some time, petting Coconut. Finn stays quiet and looks at the movie to see where they are then back to him. He glances over and when their eyes meet he gives the most unguarded smile Finn's seen in quite some time. "Settled down for a long winter nap, ain't ya?" He chuckles as Finn fixes his hair and sits up, rubbing his eyes and all. "Oh you don't need to get up! Sorry I just- I saw ya down here and- and I-" "Are you alone too?" He cuts him off, softly, quietly, but his own real tone. Max nods, cheeks pink but he doesn't wear the same shame that was prominent on everyone else who would be caught existing. Finn pat's the spot next to him and settles back down under his blanket and on his pillows. "Come sit with me at least. Max, right?" "Yeah! Uh yeah, Max." He tries to hold back a little enthusiasm as he scurries over the couch to sit next to Finn, surprised his presence was taken so well. Finn throws a side of his blanket over Max's legs and looks forward at the movie trying to not have him take it any kind of way. "And you're, Rose?" He weighs the choices in his head, turning his head to look at the other and wondering how worth it it would be to string him along, to build another collect of half-truths and stories. "Not tonight. Finn." Max seems to consider it for a moment and the thought is clearly still in his head as he gives a nod. Finn gives a nod back and looks back to the movie with his heart racing. @vomxtprxnce














