Day 264 - Thursday, September 11th

[papalobo]

[Max sleeps; has as he'd thought, he achieves nothing, and he's not even a small-talk source of comfort or somebody to soothe Ash's nerves before his two AM meeting with yet another Chinese teenager. Something about Chinese teenagers seems to always spell trouble for Ash, and now he's in a mess involving no less than four of them.

But Max doesn't move. If Ash comes to see him, setting that pill counter and the note about the smoothie, he may notice he hasn't so much as shifted a finger. Ash has had to turn to painting, but there's no need to lock that room before, or even for a long while after. The only one in this house besides him is a breathing corpse.

But Shawn's ready and waiting for him at one, prepared to be decked out a wires that Ling's likely to hang him with if he finds out about them.]

Comments

[papalobo]

You called this meeting. Please open with your intended topic.

[Shawn moves to be standing by him, but stands instead of taking a seat, looking around from where he stands.]

[jadedlynx]

I opened with my topic when he came through the door.

[ Ash came with the peace offering. Ling isn't being very peaceful. ]

Where's Wu?

[papalobo]

This is two meetings in a short time asking me to answer for the safety of your friends.

[jadedlynx]

I asked for a phone call, and you're in the guy's house.

[ It's Ash's turn to be unimpressed. ]

[papalobo]

[Yes. That is an accurate summary of events. Gou Sheng seems to be waiting for him to make a point, now.]

[jadedlynx]

I'm trying to give you a conversation with the guy you've been trying to stalk, and the sooner I know Wu is safe, the sooner I can leave so you can finally have your talk.

[papalobo]

I could have someone take you to see him, while the two of us talk.

[One hand gestures to Shawn, tone clear he doesn't think Ash will like that idea, as if Ash's own idea is just as ridiculous.]

[jadedlynx]

You could start by telling me where he is.

[papalobo]

[He doesn't deny he could, but he waits for Ash to answer; he can have it one of two ways, being here with Shawn while they talk, or knowing about Wu.

He didn't agree to a second meeting out of the kindness of his heart, he intends to get what he wants out of this.]

[jadedlynx]

[ And Ash didn't ask for it so he could show Ling how good of a little boy he could be. He'd already offered to leave the room once he knew Wu was safe so this was some kind of power play. He can't bend to every show of their will.

So, Ling is wrong. There's a third way. ]

It looks like I'm not bowing enough when trying to present a piece offering to his highness. Shawn, can you look for Wu while I keep him company? He'll be the only old man in the building. After we find him, we can move past this game and get to why we're here.

[papalobo]

[Ling's eyes finally drift to the boy he had wanted Ash to bring in the first place. His expression doesn't change. But Shawn nods, with some hesitation, looking about, his eyes stopping on Ling's briefly. Ling stares back, as if trying to arrest the boy with his gaze, but Shawn merely continues to survey what he can of the house from the entry parlor before deciding to start with the ground floor instead of the staircase.]

Don't know the lay out too well, but... I'll yell or call when I find something.

[jadedlynx]

Thanks. Yell if there's any trouble.

[ Meanwhile, Ash keeps his eyes on Ling. He isn't the reason Ling agreed to come, but if he gains power, it's important he can't think all of the other territories are pushovers. ]

[papalobo]

[And so with no change in expression, Ling's eyes go to Ash's.]

[jadedlynx]

[ He can wait like this. Ash doesn't look particularly mean, he isn't trying to look intimidating. His stare just is. ]

[papalobo]

[Shawn can be heard moving through the house for now, as he's in rooms close enough. Ling reaches to sip his tea.]

[jadedlynx]

[ If Wu really is just sleeping, Ash will kill him himself. While Shawn talks to Ling, Ash will murder Wu. He told him it would be dangerous. What part of that suggests he should sleep deeper in the house?

He also doesn't trust the tea. ]

[papalobo]

[Ling stares, as Shawn is heard moving around the kitchen. A text comes in.]

The food out there probably was made in here. Looking at what all's in the trash and dish rack... Unless Gou Sheng there can cook, Wu probably had to be here.

[jadedlynx]

[ It's easy enough to send a return text. The first part describes where Wu's room is. He'd stayed here, after all. ]

Don't go directly there. I don't want them to know I know the layout.

[papalobo]

[There's no answer. But he can still be heard moving; he'll stay on the lower level, going right upstairs. Ling watches him text, aware, but not interfering.]

[jadedlynx]

[ And not worried, but that means nothing. Even if Wu is sleeping peacefully, it means nothing. Ling is intentionally being difficult. ]

[papalobo]

How's your relation with the Lee clan?

[Ling waits to ask until Shawn reappears to start going up the stairs.]

[jadedlynx]

About as good as you'd expect. He hates me, I hate him, we call it a day.

[papalobo]

You were best friends with Shorter Wong, and killed him.

[That's interesting enough news for Shawn to end up audibly hesitating up the stairs despite himself.]

[jadedlynx]

That was Shorter. He wasn't a Lee. Neither is Sing. Not a bad job trying to make him doubt me.

[papalobo]

Sing challenged you to a fight to the death, over territorial and honor issues, in the past. What had come of all that to lead to your current state? You go back and forth a lot.