Day 265 - Friday, September 12th

[papalobo]

[A Chinese man who is definitely a mature adult and not a teenager checks in to the Hyatt, one of their more exclusive rooms, along with his half-white half brother who is also certainly not a teenager and most definitely not the notorious gang leader wanted on suspicion of a September 11th New York City bombing in retaliation for an angry rogue sect of anti-American zealots.

The entire suite floor has been rented out, and it requires a special key card in the elevator and on the stairs to enter that floor. But they can rent one of the still very luxe rooms directly beneath.

A familiar white limo is in the car garage, though the opportunity to gawk or investigate is slim, between the security cameras and live guards.

There's still no contact from Max, but the Department of Homeland Security has become involved, and has begun to enter Ash's territory with intent to arrest any known figures within his gang to bring in for questioning.]

Day 284, Wednesday, Oct 1st

Comments

[papalobo]

It's a joke. Don't get out of here until I get one, though. I'm scared, Big Brother. I am too beautiful for Prison.

[jadedlynx]

I have to turn myself in before they start searching, or it looks like I got caught instead of following the deal.

[papalobo]

Never turn yourself in. I tried to play nice with the system and I ended up at The Unit, you know.

[jadedlynx]

They have Max locked up. If I run, I'm always going to be on the run, and that's not the kind of life I want now. It's not a justice thing.

[papalobo]

We can break him out. The life you want's not behind bars, either.

[jadedlynx]

I don't want that kind of life for him, either. He has a kid.

I'm not going to roll over. I'll fight it. This should be enough to fight off the current charges.

Watch the Unit kids a little longer.

[papalobo]

Thinking of everyone but you again...

[jadedlynx]

[ Ash nudged him. ]

I'm basically keeping you in New York. That means I'm not thinking of you either.

[papalobo]

Bullshit. You know the Lings after my spot out there're likely to kill me on sight if I set foot back there. You're making me stay here acting like it's for someone else's sake.

There's such thing as too nice in our line of work, y'know.

[jadedlynx]

You're giving me too much credit.

[ Nuding him away, Ash moves backward and dials Max's number. ]

[papalobo]

Hey there. Ready to turn yourself in?

[jadedlynx]

[ Ducking behind a cluster of people, Ash removes the contacts. ]

It's why I'm calling. How is he?

[papalobo]

He hasn't gotten here yet. I just know we got him.

[jadedlynx]

If you could...

[ The wig doesn't just pull off easily. ]

...make sure they don't shoot me on sight, it'll help with the interrogation. I talk a lot better without bullet holes in me.

[ It's easy enough to toss in a nearby trash as he starts to wipe at his skin. ]

I'm in the lobby.

[papalobo]

Alright. Hold up both hands and stand there. What shirt color?

[It will be a matter of seconds before forces are descending on him, reading him his 'rights' in a fashion so hurried it's like a foreign language robot being read English script.]

[jadedlynx]

I'm the only guy with blonde hair.

[ It's the last thing he says before his arms are up. He knows they won't be up long. He knows the cuffs are coming next. He knows they're not going to be kind to him.

Ash doesn't actually want this. He just wants the alternative less. ]

[papalobo]

[It's a long, vicious interview, with the feds, with the state, with the city police. He's asked about his history before joining Golzine's rings. He's asked about past crimes on his records. He's asked about Max. He's asked about a failure to disclose information about himself while paying to try to win custody for his boyfriend. He's asked about his interactions with Yut Lung. He's asked if Yut Lung knew who he was, before and after. He's asked if Jessica Randy knew. He's asked if Michael knew. He'd asked if Eiji knew. He's asked if Ibe knew. He's asked what's in his home. He's asked for passwords to accounts, to Max's accounts. He's asked again, again, again, and again. He's deprived of sleep. He's deprived of food. Old records, old pictures, old films are trotted out to try to get a rise and a reaction out of him.

Some play good cop bad cop. Some promise not to withhold Max's medication if he's a good boy; if he points out how illegal that is, those identified as DHS explain proudly that these are special circumstances, and both of them are wanted domestic terrorists.]

[jadedlynx]

[ He's tired. He isn't hungry, but he's tired. But, he's also on stage.

The story comes out a little too close to home. He was among the kids that Dino traded in before he decided to adopt him. There's history enough to prove some kind of sexual abuse. He tried to run. People died. A lot if the crimes in his file could be twisted to be him sending men after Ash. After all, he was always outnumbered.

They hadn't known. Yut Lung knew him through Dino. He tried to just be Ash around them. When Dino was dead, he tried to just be Ash again.

They get access to all the accounts they need to know exists. It's normal spending things. Bills. Household supplies. College. They can have full access to the house. His car.

It's not acting to be shaken at certain images. He doesn't want to keep seeing that stuff. He really doesn't know how much more of a 'good boy' he could be. He really didn't attack the mansion. He wasn't close with Yut Lung at all, and he'd be the last person with easy access to the mansion. ]

[papalobo]

[It mustn't be a shock that as attractive as Ash is, as helpless as he is, and with his history, there are those who consider taking advantage of the situation. A Lieutenant Colonel suggests he may get some clemency if he's willing to show thorough enough submission.]

[jadedlynx]

[ His 'submission' stops are answering questions. ]

[papalobo]

[Things can go a lot more smoothly. It's not the first time he's sold out his virtue to help his causes.

They have his Candy Bar video, from his escape from the Mental Health Institute.

Isn't that what Ash likes? Sweet and yummy Candy Bars?]

[jadedlynx]

[ He doesn't expect that to be brought up. His surprise, the way his eyes widen and his cheeks flush, is entirely real. The way he looks away is real.

His 'submission' stops at answering questions. ]

[papalobo]

[He's got to be wanting it. His live in boyfriend had been ordering some pretty shady pills. Couldn't get the job done.

Ash was a teenage boy with needs. He didn't need to be shy.]

[jadedlynx]

[ He wants a different officer to do the questioning. ]

[papalobo]

[It soon starts all over again, without rest, well into the next day.

Nobody outright tries to force him down, but he is told how much easier it could be.]