xp_logs | Sam and Ashley | Donut Discussions

Sam and Ashley bump into each other while Sam is trying to avoid his siblings after Made You Feel Second Best.

It had been something of a feat, avoiding his siblings since they'd returned from Kentucky. He'd been smuggling his work clothes out of his room and taking them to Clint's, timing his trips to Paige's usual study schedule, Jay's work schedule, and the tell-tale absence of Mel's laughter from the suite across the hall.

He hadn't meant to run into Ashley, though he did feel a bit guilty about her stumbling upon his rather obvious sneaking around. He was sure that the bags under his eyes were anything but designer and that the shaking in his hands that hadn't stopped since he'd spoken to his mother last might tell her too much about where his head was at.

"Oh...hey Ash."

Ashley hadn't even spotted Sam until he said something - and had to stop and shuffle around the box on her shoulder so it wasn't blocking her peripheral vision. "Hey, Sam." She started, and then ended with a trailed off "um." before she just set the box down entirely. "That. shirt is really purple." It was possibly the most purple shirt she'd seen in her life and on a second and third glance, absolutely the wrong size. "Laundry day?"

“Somethin’ like that…. It’s Clint’s….” He offered, almost sheepish but mostly just tired. “How’re you? Good, I hope.”

"You know, getting school restarted, audition tapes, landed a little photo shoot for a plus size leggings shop." Ashley tapped the box with one toe. "Got some samples off that one, and they're really pro mutant, so I've got some stuff to donate too. And." She pointed at the box. "And. I got through a, um, I forget what it's called, strength control course in the Danger Room, so hopefully fewer moments where I break doors. So busy. Tired. Might've over scheduled myself, you know, that kind of thing. How are you, besides the empirical knowledge that your boyfriend's colorblind?"

"Uh.....my fifteen year old sister joined a cult with a guy ten years older than her, we got her back but my mother doesn't really seem to give a shit. My fourteen year old little brother thinks he has to take over being in charge of the family. And I don't think my mother is overly happy that I learned how to voice my own opinions, if her threats of violence and never letting me come home again are anything to judge by.....Kentucky was.....bad." Sam grimaced awkwardly. "Worst it's ever been actually and I was a pallbearer at my Daddy's funeral."

Ashley puffed out her cheeks. "Geez, Sam. That's... " She shook her head, and set the box down. "Is this a good time for a hug? Because I did just pass that control course. Flying colors and everything. I had to carry eggs. Not a single omelette was made that day."

"Yeah, a hug might be pretty good." His smile was more like a grimace. "Elle's okay, I just...gotta keep tellin' myself that."

Ashley's hugs were, like, the rest of her personality - and hair - and voice - big. She nearly lifted Sam off the ground for a second, but gently, carefully, just enough squeeze to be comforting, not enough that he was at risk of bones making noises bones ought not make. "Well, I don't know how to help with that, but I can do hugs and donuts?"

"Hugs and donuts are always acceptable." Sam said, squeezing her back tightly. "And I'll be fine- it just blows."

"It sounds really awful, and like your mom needs to learn that, well, it's a thing my Zayde Sam says, he says the hardest part of being a parent was apologizing when my mom was right about something." She patted Sam's shoulder, a little awkwardly. "He says that's the only reason she didn't run to LA and marry some asshole and got my dad instead. He likes my dad."

Sam blinked, a little rapidly like he'd just had a realization. "Oh god- Mel's about due for another disaster relationship and I just rage quit bein' everyone's dad......."

"Mel's fine, she's just sleeping around." Ashley said, with a handwave. "I sleep with like just as many girls as she does guys and I'm fine." Probably, she was fine. It probably meant something that she'd slept her way through an entire production of Spring Awakening, but that's what you were supposed to do with that show. "Plus if anyone does mess with her I'm pretty sure we can squad up. I know where there's at least two gross dumpsers I can throw some guy into."

"Yeah." Sam said, breathing intentionally slow. "Maybe this time it'll be Paige havin' boy problems."

"Or girl problems." Jay was the token straight Guthrie, Ashley thought. She was almost certain of it. Probably. Paige definitely wasn't. Probably. She was suddenly questioning her gaydar and bifi though. "Or." a pause. Dramatic flair. "or, everything could be okay, even if you're not the guy putting out the fires. Even if I think your boyfriend would probably lose. his mind. if you had like, a firefighter hat on."

"See, I'd say girl problems, if it weren't for the whole she thinks Jono ain't into her thing." Sam sighed, and then laughed at the idea of Clint being into a fireman's helmet. "You think Clint would be into me in a costume?"

"I have met Clint Barton one entire time in my life, and I know he absolutely would be into you in a firefighter hat." Ashley said, with an air of extreme confidence. "I would also bet you money he has a frequent biters card at Donutulas, and not for the good donuts." In Clint's defense, Ashley had two punches on her own card, because she would eat a terrible donut for tiktok clout.

"I dunno how I feel about your speculatin' about what my boyfriend's into." Sam laughed. "Aside from very bright purple, I feel like that's....that's a fair thing to comment on."

"I watched him eat a kimchee and fried egg donut." Ashley said, as though that explained everything else she'd inferred about Clint. "It had sweet soy glaze. He wrote a review card."

"Why are you describin' that donut like it's gonna hurt ya...I'd try it." Sam said, scrunching up his face in confusion. "All those things go together an' then it's fried dough. Why are you actin' weird about it?"

"Because it was a blueberry cake donut full of all that stuff." Ashley said. "And you know, I'm pretty sure he didn't know that because the donut was purple and he didn't even react."

Sam looked thoughtful for a moment. "I'd still try it....but you ought've led with the blueberry cake donut part."

"I might've maybe yeah." Ashley agreed. "And being fair I ate a chicken pot pie donut, and that was in a maple glazed, I don't really have room to talk."

Sam shrugged, that flavor combination didn't sound terrible to him. "Hey good job- you distracted me."

"Good job me!" Ashley said. "Actually, do you wanna go make bad donut life decisions? It's huge on tiktok, and the shop could use the engagement."