Here's a blurb from some head canons we were talking about in the judblanc server. I wrote it in an hour and half, I'm probably not gonna edit/expand on it or post it on AO3 but if you want some Jud financial angst. Here you go. It's very Jud/Phillip centric, but Blanc is there. This is based in the idea that Phillip is the one paying for his and Blanc's apartment, so he's loaded and absolutely wants to spoil Blanc and Jud
Jud isn't used to money. He isn't. From being a boxer to living on the streets for a while, he's mastered sticking to a tight budget and not splurging on himself too often. He knows how to make his money stretch when he's not sure he'll get another opportunity for a while.
So when Benoit Blanc shows up in his life, successful husband in tow, he's not quite sure what to do. He loves them, he does with all his heart. The beginnings of their relationship start at Chimney Rock only occasionally, when they can make the drive up. Blanc has his cases and Phillip has his trials, so their hours don't often line up enough to make the 3 hour drive. He yearns to be closer.
“You want to move to New York City?”, Langstrom asks, when he meets with Jud next.
“Yeah, I… it's been a while, but I don't think I can stay in Chimney Rock. The case, it keeps coming back no matter how much I confess. And you know I could probably do more to help the at risk youth in the city.”, he says, half a lie.
Langstrom watches him for a second, and Jud feels a little guilty, just in case his mentor can read through him.
“That makes sense, kid, I'll talk to the diocese and see what I can do.”, he promises as he squeezes Jud's shoulder.
It's a month or two later that Jud gets the confirmation he can start at a church in Manhattan. He decides to make the journey down to NYC instead, he knows they're both home. Jud feels so out of place in the lobby of their apartment building, but focused on what's at the end of the elevator ride.
Phillip answers the door, smile wide as he pulls Jud into his arms. Jud can smell the dinner he's making and his heart tugs in his chest. Blanc is sitting by the fireplace, reading a paper.
Jud tells them the good news over dinner.
“I got moved to a church down here.”, he says shyly.
“That's amazing. Do you have a place to stay? You're always welcome here, darling. Always.”, Blanc asks softly. Jud can tell from the emphasis of always what Blanc is asking him.
Jud had looked around the apartment when he got there, counted the floors up. Almost a penthouse apartment, he'd never been in one of those before.
Jud just flashes a smile at them “I'd love to move in.”
Phillip is the one who reaches across the table to squeeze his hand “Of course. We just didn't want to assume, if you intended to keep living on your own or needed your own space.”
When Jud moves in finally, he still feels a bit lost. He loves being closer to Phillip and Blanc, loves getting to be sandwiched between them at night. He knows Blanc and Phillip are busy, so sometimes after service, he'll stop in the bodega and grab something to cook for them. The meat costs the most, so if he gets the generic brand of cheese and pasta, he should be able to keep it pretty low cost.
And one day, Phillip and Blanc meet him after service at a little coffee shop nearby. Blanc pays, and Jud has that odd feeling in his stomach again. The coffee is delicious, of course it is. With it being so close, he could just as easily run over before Mass and grab a cup, but it would easily run his costs up.
When they try to set up their next date, he mentions how good it was, and how he wishes he could get it every week before Mass. He tries to savor it when they get there, tries to remember the taste.
The next weekend before Mass, as he's unloading things from his pocket, a $20 falls out as he's removing his phone that he doesn't remember ever being in there. He treats himself afterwards.
It happens again the next week. And then the next one. And the next. Jud buys a coffee, takes the change and gives it out to whatever poor soul is in the alleyway over.
Everything comes to a head when he's out shopping with Phillip. He's trying to do mental substitution in his head when Phillip walks up next to him and also stares at the pasta shelf.
“Darling, are you stuck on which type of pasta you want?”
Jud just blinks “Well I already have the chuck roast, and that's about twelve, so I'm deciding if I should get the name brand or not?”
Phillip is silent for a moment. “It's a dollar more.”
“Yes but if I'm trying to stick to budget-”
Phillip's hand squeezes his shoulder gently “Darling. Get the name brand.”
Jud knows what's coming, he knows Phillip is going to sit him down and talk to him. Some part of him knows it's irrational, but it's a habit he's worn for so long in his life.
Phillip does sit him down, on the couch and pulls him into his arms after they get the groceries put away. “Now, love. What happened in the store?”
Jud hesitates as Blanc walks into the room and Phillip gently rubs his back. “I… I went over budget. I spent too much”
Phillip sighs and kisses his cheek “I bought Ben a set of Rolex watches for our anniversary one year. You can buy the name brand pasta.”
Jud shakes his head “I need to save-”
“Save for what, darling?”, Blanc asks, eavesdropping from the kitchen.
Jud blinks and pauses for a second “In case I need it.”
Phillip’s face looks so sad and Jud is ready to eat his words immediately as Phillip cradles his face gently. “Love. I will make sure you have as much as you need forever. Because I can, because you deserve it.”
Blanc nods “There were so many times I thought I fucked up, but he was stubborn enough that I couldn't get rid of him. You won't be able to convince him otherwise, ask me how I know”
Phillip snorts softly, still focused on Jud “And still I put a ring on him. I do hope you never “need it” because of us.”
Something in Phillip's voice that sounds like ice cold fear makes it through Jud. How could he ever imply that these sweet men would treat him like that? And somehow he's crying, and Phillip is hugging him tight, and he's letting himself release all the fear and stress of his youth go in the arms of this man who wants the best for him.
By the time his tears stop, Phillip has taken to stroking his hair and Blanc is watching them with a fond smile.
“If it helps your peace of mind, give me your account number, I'll add something to it”, Phillip murmurs. “We won't touch it after it's there, it'll be yours to keep and do what you want with.”
Jud’s heart squeezes. After implying that they'll treat him bad enough for him to flee, Phillip, soft, kind, generous, Phillip, is still offering to build out his savings. He absolutely doesn't deserve it, but with testimony from Blanc, Phillip is apparently stubborn enough to get him to acquiesce.
“Okay… but can you also donate some of it to the homeless shelter? Instead of to me, they need it more and I'm supposed to be living humble-”
The grin on Phillip's face as he asks is blinding. “Yes, of course, darling. Thank you for telling me. That's all I want, is you to tell me. I want you to have nice things, you deserve nice things. I absolutely can make donations if that's where you want some of the money to go.”
When Jud finally gets up to wash his face in the bathroom, his phone pings.
Deposit: $2000 “in the hope you never feel you need it - P&B”