Day 261 - Monday, September 8th

[papalobo]

[Max isn't awake early enough to be shocked by how early in the morning Ash can pull it together to text, nor is he shocked by waking up first and alone. Although that he's going to be in a good coma with the pill and his exhaustion probably isn't a great cause for concern for Ash in not getting a response. It's around 11:00 AM that Ash gets a thumbs up emoji as an answer.

In actuality, things are not thumbs up. Max wakes up alone, and his mind combines the dream with reality to quickly determine Ash has left him to finally take that flight to Japan; unaware he's awake, even while aware that's not very realistic, he lies there looking at the empty space not even occupied by cats, for several minutes, before the need to use the bathroom finally gets him moving enough to come back to reality just a little more, to process that all of it were dreams, that he has no right to get depressed, to blame Ash for any dreams. Nor for any realities. He told him to take on Blanca. He's urged him to take up Eiji when he's ready.

Ash had to go without breakfast today. Probably. He'll check the kitchen for signs of cooking before realizing the texts he read about Ash leaving last night weren't part of the dream, but were real; so he's living that double life, away from him now. Things are dangerous, and Max... sits at home and worries about food. Things are hazy. Maybe the good parts of yesterday were a dream too; at best, they were a delusion that really physically happened, he realizes.


He could call Alex and ask for a full update on the situation. He could probably ask Ash directly and get one.


Instead, he tends to his own work e-mails. He'll be on a few major shows soon, after all. Time to get his data together, time to follow up with some of those politicians, time to get with Charlie about how the lawsuits and investigations into The Unit are going.


Time to reach out to Shawn, since he does have his number. In confidence.

Misplaced confidence. At 12:30 Ash is texted by Shawn.]

Your old man's a drug addict~~

[Also today, the girl who is not presently covered in twigs but still looks as if she's been rolling around on carpet for static, frizzy hair and clothes meant for painting a house more than actually going out, glares at him bitterly through class, even during a test that should have her more distracted by it. But Ash is surely too busy to deal with that.

All the more when at 2:00, Wu is calling him. He's more of a caller than a texter.]

Comments

[jadedlynx]

Yeah, find somebody who worries about getting me out instead of somebody who tries to fit in their ego.

[papalobo]

k

[jadedlynx]

[ Ash isn't a babysitter. He doesn't know what decided to crawl into max's ass and die since they went to sleep on good terms the night before, but he changes his check in to Alex.

At this rate, the Viagra was a waste of money.

But with a new chain, Ash rents yet another car to head to Wu's. ]

[papalobo]

[When he rings the bell, Wu greets him through the speaker and pushes the button to open the gate.]

Ling Gou Sheng just arrived moments ago. His friends are at the door and don't seem to want to come in, but let them know when they come in they're still welcome. There's tea.

[That's Ash's warning, and an assurance Wu has tried to stress to them not to pick a fight here, for all the power he actually has---which is not much, aside from being well liked by the general community, something similar to Nadia's stance as a supporter who is there mostly for completely legal assistance methods.

At the door are two men standing so stiffly as to pass as statutes if not for their eyes following him, expressions neither menacing nor welcoming, giving no nodding gesture; their age is hard to tell, whether they're buff teenagers who are old for their age or men in their early thirties who have that Asian slow aging magic. Their attire looks straight out of an old fashioned Bruce Lee movie, with loose pants and Chinese gi style button shirts, one red with yellow buttons, one red with yellow buttons.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Ash could pass along the offer. He could also treat this as seriously as he did when visiting Cain. Instead, because they're being way too formal about this, he gives them a cheeky wave as he passes with an even cheekier: ]

Hi.

[ But he's not here for them. ]

[papalobo]

[If they mind, they don't bat an eye at it, not even a hint of frustration and his flippancy. It isn't quite the same as Dino's men who tried to demand a little more austerity from him.

When he lets himself in, seated in the living room at one chair, dressed in black silk Tang suit with a high collar, with embroidered turtles also in black only noticeable when the light's angle shows a lack of silky luster, is another Chinese boy or man hard to place by age. He probably isn't over twenty five, but if he's below twenty, he's managed the calm and stiff, adult look Ash can pull off in a boardroom. He smiles, but it's less welcoming than the look his friends outside had.]

Gou Sheng Ling.

[jadedlynx]

[ He becomes a little more serious if only because of the lack of seriousness out front. ]

Ash Lynx.

[ This is the man meant to replace Sing who replaced Shorter.

It should have been Shorter. ]

Did Wu abandon house after I got here?

[papalobo]

[His brows raise, looking towards the kitchen, as if idly wondering about that himself.]

The snacks are almost ready!

[Brows lowering again, he looks to Ash as if to ask if that answers his question. Apparently there will be snacks.

He doesn't quite get it either but Wu is known to be a strange man.]

[jadedlynx]

[ A man of few words, huh? ]

While we wait for the popcorn, I'll get to the point: there's a power struggle in China Town, but it doesn't have anything to do with me. Sing does. Where is he?

[papalobo]

[A predicted question, a calm, preplanned answer.]

If I did know, and I were keeping it a secret, why would I decide to tell you?

[jadedlynx]

Are you keeping it a secret? It's the first time I've asked.

[papalobo]

Your first instinct isn't to ask a stranger without doing some legwork yourself.

[jadedlynx]

It means maybe I haven't asked the right person. So now I'm asking. Neither of us want me involved more than I have to be.

[papalobo]

Then stay out.

[Wu enters with mooncakes, setting them down along with a tray with tea. He moves to sit on the wide couch, looking between the two with shameless interest.]

[jadedlynx]

Happily. After I see Sing.

[papalobo]

[He sighs at that and reaches to take a cup of tea, keeping otherwise silent.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Instead of reaching for tea, or snacks, he keeps his eyes trained forward. ]

[papalobo]

[He sips, eventually reaches for a snack.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Ash considers that an answer.

So, he turns his attention to Wu. ]

Moonpies?

[papalobo]

Mooncakes. More traditional for a mid-Fall festival, but you probably won't be back before Winter.

[jadedlynx]

[ He picks one up. ]

They don't usually hide dead people, right?

[papalobo]

If they're of a mind to, most can take care of the body such that there's nothing to hide.

[jadedlynx]

I know.

[ He takes a bite. ]

Thanks for the snack. I'd say I hate to eat and run, but you know me.

[papalobo]

Not much talk.

[He's disappointed.]

[jadedlynx]

I didn't come to beg.