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]

[Maybe he expected an empty balcony; instead, one of the men from the day before--or maybe they all blend together in his mind--stands waiting for him, sunglasses on even in the dead of night.]

I'll be taking him back, now.

[jadedlynx]

That's my line.

[ The gun shifts until it's pointing down Ling's back. ]

You're all so sure I'm not going to kill him. It's not going to be my first choice, but I sure as hell won't hesitate to paralyze him. From the waist down. I want him to feel everything above that.

[papalobo]

We've got it on good authority you've got a loud roar, but that the Lynx has been declawed. Don't bluff when we've got all the cards.

[jadedlynx]

You really think I won't shoot him?

[ It's fast, the way Ash moves the gun to Ling's arm and shoots. It'll miss all major arteries, it's as nonserious as a gunshot wound can be, but it is a gunshot wound.

The sun is almost instantly back at Ling's head. ]

You should be careful who you listen to.

[papalobo]

[It's a sharp enough pain to draw Ling out of his unconsciousness, the gunshot and the scream echoing through the night. Ash can't see the man's eyes, but by the raising of his brows, there's likely a betrayal of shock even as he keeps his jaw tense and firm; as for Ling, he's jerking, gasping and not fully cognizant of where he is or why it hurts, much less the gun at the back of his head as he spatters out something in Chinese, trying to get away without even knowing right away what it is he's trying to get away from.]

[jadedlynx]

Give me Wu and Shawn. I've avoided the dangerous bits, but I'm getting tired of this.

[ The hand tightens on Ling. ]

The next one hits something that earns a lot more blood.

[papalobo]

Gei ta ta xiang yao de!

[Ling hisses out, having trouble with the words. The man only stands his ground; in the distance is the sound of a car peeling off n the road, with a metalic grinding sound.]

[jadedlynx]

[ They left without Ling, huh?

The next shot goes directly through the other guy's kneecap. He won't be standing his ground for long. ]

Call them.

[papalobo]

[Down he goes with an outcry; he does try to make a move for Ash as soon as he sees the gun coming for him, but again, Ash is too fast, too accurate. Ling, too, tries to push back into him, as if he might be able to push Ash back into the veranda table. reaching with his still good hand directly for the boy's eyes, though none of it is faster than Ash's trigger finger.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Instead of shooting him, the gun hand grabs for Ling's fingers as he Ash takes a step away from the man withering on the floor. He immediately bends them backward. ]

Call. them. Bring Shawn back.

[papalobo]

[That earns another outcry; the man on the ground is reaching into his suit; it could just as easily be for a gun as for a phone to comply.]

[jadedlynx]

If that's not a phone, trust me when I say I can shoot your hand faster than you can aim it.

[papalobo]

[Panting, he seems to be considering something; what does ultimately come out, whether it was the original intent or not, is a phone.

Ling continues to writhe and gasp in pain.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Ash lightens up on the fingers in his hold, at least. ]

Where's Wu?

[ He'll let the man make the phone call. ]

[papalobo]

[Ling answers in Chinese, or maybe he's giving an order to his subordinate making the phone call; it's hard to say if it's intentional, or if his mind is so racked by pain he can't think to answer straight.]

[jadedlynx]

If you're answering me, English works better. If you're not, answer me. Where's Wu?

[papalobo]

Once... you have answers, we're... potentially dead.

[There's no incentive to answer; even the threat of torture just means he has enough value alive. His information was wrong. Ash is dangerous. There's no use trusting he isn't just as apt to murder them as soon as they're dead weight.

Police sirens are heard in the background. To be expected, with gunshots and screaming at 2:45 AM in a nice neighborhood.]

[jadedlynx]

You're not. I've kept my word. There's supposed to be a kind of honor among people who lead the territories if you want to get far. You're the one who double-crossed me.

Give me Shawn. Give me Wu. I'll consider the bullet holes in your body a reminder not to mess with me. If you keep holding out, I'll keep shooting. I know the places that won't let you bleed out. I know the places that will take out motor skills. Your little friend, that knee is gone. Your arm? I missed everything important.

I won't keep missing. My patience is gone.

[papalobo]

I think you... missed, missing... I can't feel... a thing there.

[The other man makes a phone call, talking in Chinese.]

[jadedlynx]

I don't miss. If you really can't feel anything, it's shock and adrenaline. You're not dying. Your arm will heal and go back to normal.

Let's start with Wu. If he's here, he'll need to be the one to greet the cops.

[papalobo]

Rahng tah-men dye tah hway lye...

Sheeanshung, neen de sheeohngdee geh-eh-leh tah-men chee-tah deh meeng-ling.

It sounds like you'll have to be the one to greet them.

[jadedlynx]

Where is he?

[ That's not a very promising answer. ]

[papalobo]

They're not.. giving me an answer ei--..ther.

[He sucks in a pained breath through his teeth, unable to hide a dry, bitter laugh at the absurdity of this situation, of where his confidence in his information on Ash had got him.

But his good arm reaches out.]

Ba dianhua na goulai.

[The servant looks to Ash as he hands the phone over, making sure he's not making any moves that may set Ash off again.]

Ni yao ji zhu, ni shi wei wo gongzuo de, er bushi wo de xiongdi...

[He trails off, looking at first dumbfounded, then scowling, maybe as much from the pain cutting through his confusion.]

Ni haisile wo...

[jadedlynx]

[ Ash is reasonable enough. He isn't going to stop them from working together to meet his demands. ]

Have you lost control of your own men? Talk to me in English.

[ Damn it, Ash hopes he's wrong. ]

[papalobo]

[The sirens are coming closer. Ling closes his eyes and tilts his head back, a grim smile in place.]

Shouldn't you worry about the police more, right now?