Day 264 - Thursday, September 11th
[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.]
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.]
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[ It'll allow Ash to hide the knife. ]
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You're gonna fuck me and get feelings for me and that's why you're gonna let me go. That's worse than just being a killer.
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[ Pulling out his knife, he changes hands and moves closer to the guy. Ash slips his hand around his waist, beneath the hoodie, to press the knife to his side. ]
It's insurance to make sure you don't run. I can't keep the gun out in public. It'll hit something vital so don't be stupid.
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So you guys are working with the Lees?
[ Ash urges him to walk. ]
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It's kicked in already...
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Is your group responsible for Sing's disappearance?
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An hour of questioning later...
How rare for you to be this eager for me. If you miss me this much, I might not be able to resist coming to you, even when you're in the middle of something very involved.
he was well paid for it
One day, it might be a social call, but it's business.
Did you know he recorded having sex with you?
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Does it matter?
[He knows it does to Ash. But he'll try talking him out of his natural guilt and the anger he suspects Ash has on his behalf, just the same.]
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[ So yes. ]
He's not using it for the warm and fuzzies waiting for you. He's showing it off to scare people away.
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["And?" It's not quite an 'I know' but it's certainly not surprise in his voice.
Still, it's an unexpected oddity, a stirring of something close to shame. He'd been aware of the cameras at the time, much as he'd tried to hide them. Ash also knows they had sex, so what does it matter if he also knows it was filmed? And yet, some part of him wishes Ash didn't know, and not merely for wishing Ash won't feel bad about it later.
He's a murderer for hire, Ash will definitely not have his opinion lowered just for having also taken a job as a prostitute-porn star, if anything it's a step up, really.]
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[ He is angry. So far, Ash has been cold even when playing at the line of taking the situation so lightly as to make jokes. His anger has been buried. Now, alone with Blanca, it's rising up. ]
Don't act like that's okay!
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And likely hoping word of it gets to you to anger and worry you.
You're not calling for my sake, are you? Let's focus on what matters.
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But, if it matters, they probably have him. He wasn't actually interested in working with me so much as trying to give orders. He's not answering Sing's number now. I haven't tested yours, but I don't think it'd make a difference.
And it's better if you avoid this number for a few days. They probably have Max. The ransom call will come soon, and they're needle happy.
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[Now that is a legitimate surprise. He hasn't had a single bitter rage call or drunk dial, and that is much more maturity than he ever assumed Max Lobo capable of.]
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[ Ash was trained to use everything at his disposal. ]
If it's an emergency, I'll still ask, but when it happens and you say no, I'm not going to pretend it's all dream dates and vacations when it's over.
[ He doesn't pretend that he doesn't mind the part of Blanca that's so disconnected, nor does he think Blanca is at his beck and call. ]
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