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

[jadedlynx]

Maybe they didn't want to get Shawn's blood on the nice carpet.

Why did you want Shawn?

[papalobo]

To offer him New York. I intend to take Chicago.

[jadedlynx]

If you're dead, what good is he to your men?

[papalobo]

They're clearly not really mine after all.

[How he wishes he could end it there.]

Likely, my family has decided to take both. I have enough siblings. Normally, a youth gang boss would be below us, but my guess is that this was never about me. I was sent to take New York to look for an opening with Yut Lung Lee. However, I had changed the plan. I have no intention of hunting a competent man who has no animosity towards me, simply for not being the chosen son of his clan. So, I will negotiate and claim a territory to build my own strength, allying with Yut Lung to root out mainland traitors trapped in a blood-hierarchy obsession rather than a mreitocracy.

[jadedlynx]

So why the hell are you acting like an enemy?!

[ Ash didn't hate that idea, and with the drugs, he knows them to be the truth. ]

You thought you'd gain ground by making enemies out of the people already here?

[papalobo]

Was I supposed to waltz in and ask nicely? You negotiate from a position of strength and competence, you don't beg for territory.

[jadedlynx]

Neither of us would have supported ousting Sing, but we could've helped hold off your family. Both of us have done it before.

They went ahead with the plan against Yut Lung. What is that plan?

[papalobo]

It's clear they did not give me all of the details, the same as I did not detail them of my plans.

[jadedlynx]

They probably have Max. Where would they keep him?

[papalobo]

[That's worth a snort, answering now without needing the drug's aid.]

Max? Lobo? Why? He isn't any use to us nor to you, besides a living comfort blanket. If we wanted to control you with a hostage, there are easier ones to take who don't require finding an easily recognized celebrity who lives under your very roof.

[jadedlynx]

That wasn't a question asking for judgment. Do you know where they'd keep him?

[papalobo]

I have no idea where their base is. They may be using mine. I did know what was happening in Chinatown for the most part.

[jadedlynx]

Who was feeding you intel on me?

[papalobo]

The men of Chinatown New York. Many were dubious to Sing's leadership and welcomed his overthrow.

[jadedlynx]

You took intel from a bunch of guys who hated me? You didn't think that'd make them a little bias?

I have other questions, but right now, getting Wu out if he's in that hotel room is more important. I have a plan, but it'll be a lot less of a pain in the ass if I don't have to do it. If I can convince you I won't kill you if you work with me and call you a doctor, would you be willing to get him out of there?

[ Ash doubts it, but it's worth a shot. ]

[papalobo]

They hate and fear you. I'd imagine if they obtain the Japanese boy after all, that will be the end of this game.

Though, I don't especially enjoy bullying civilians and wished to avoid that much. His existence also seems to be a sore spot for the younger master Lee.

Your strange, slutty interminglings are Western in the worst way. Maybe coming to this country was a mistake.

[jadedlynx]

Yeah, yeah. I'm a whore. Answer the question.

[papalobo]

I'd betray you at the first opportunity.

[jadedlynx]

I didn't really need a drug to believe that one.

Then we'll go the nasty route. What can I threaten you with to have you call the cops and tell them your friends brought Wu back to your hotel room? What are you afraid of?

[papalobo]

And here my reports said you were clever... I suppose physical torture again is your best bet, but I'm mentally prepared to die. It'll be a test of fortitude, and I suppose my final act on this Earth, so I'd like to hold out.

[jadedlynx]

I don't need it that badly. My current plan is to get as many secrets from you as I can, including the Ling secrets, and then give you back to Mom and Dad.

Why were you looking up acid? Who's body did you plan on getting rid of?

[papalobo]

Everyone who didn't cooperate fully.

[jadedlynx]

So you make this big talk and act like you're better than your family, but you were planning on doing the same stuff they do, huh? Your high horse has lost a few feet there.

Tell me about the turtle.

[papalobo]

I don't want to hear that from the man who tried to circumcize me.

[jadedlynx]

If I tried to circumcise you, you'd be circumcised. I actually stopped short of the worse kind of damage. If I'd gotten everybody back unharmed, I'd call in a doctor and send you on your little Chinese way. If you'd been able to tell me you didn't plan on hurting any of them, he'd be on his way while you told me about the turtle.

But either way, I don't play the good guy.

The turtle in the text messages. Tell me about him.