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]

What moves you need me to make for you? I guess you probably know the Lee Princess is alive. So Sing's been found too?

[jadedlynx]

I need you to keep the Unit kids safe. The Lings pretended to find and return Sing so they're not planning to make any more moves right now. I should probably return their kid, too.

I'm going to spend a few days resting up.

[papalobo]

Bet they don't care too much about theirs. We might see if we can strike a deal with him for a counter strike.

[jadedlynx]

His own guys weren't going to trade him for you. I'll be lucky to get bus fare out of him.

[papalobo]

He's got info. He's useful for that. Maybe I'll buy him off you for when I go back and gotta reclaim my turf.

[jadedlynx]

I'm not a slave trader.

I thought your guys had your space under control.

[papalobo]

Been a messy couple of weeks. Knowing it's big backing, I told my guys not to be suicidal if things went down.

Things went down.

I'll take care of it when I get back.

[jadedlynx]

I'll let you take him back but don't kill him. I've already tortured him, but I'll give you the same drug I eventually used so you don't have to.

[ Ash is going to try and reverse engineer it first. He managed with Banana Fish. This one should be easier. ]

It sounds like it's time to go back.

[papalobo]

Nah. Things are like this here. Splitting off now would put this base in danger too. I'll hold out here. I told the boys at home not to be suicidal. That's all I can do for now.

[jadedlynx]

Why does it sound like we've been adopted?

[papalobo]

You got a bit of a daddy complex. Maybe it's my way of trying to get with you.

How's the old guy? Prison probably isn't as rough on him.

[jadedlynx]

We were both in solitary. I haven't been able to see him yet. The lawyers are working on it.

[papalobo]

Heh. Surprised you haven't disguised your way in as a lawyer, given how good you are at those things...

[jadedlynx]

I usually like to nap between being released from interrogation and playing dress up.

[papalobo]

I'm willing to dress up with you again. A team of lawyers's more convincing... Though, I guess both of us'd look kinda young.

I'll see about roping Wu in to be the senior partner.

[jadedlynx]

Wu's out of the business unless we ever need catering.

It sounds like you had too much fun playing pretend.

[papalobo]

You don't be able to really unwind and recover until you know he's safe. I want that for you, man.

[jadedlynx]

He's an old guy with weird ideas. He's strong. I'll trust that.

[ It's what Max would want. Sometimes, Ash has it give in that that. ]

[papalobo]

I think you're a pretty common taste.

[jadedlynx]

I'm the thing that makes sense.

[ He's teasing. Ash doesn't actually go around thinking people are lucky to have him. ]

[papalobo]

What's the weird stuff he's into?

[He doesn't mean it dirtily. But he does assume this kind of talk will be a relief for Ash; he'd just say if he was too tired to be social, right?]

[jadedlynx]

I didn't mean he was into weird stuff. Just has some weird ideas.

Are you healed?

[papalobo]

Yeah. I'm healed. What about you?

[jadedlynx]

More or less. I'm heading home now. I'll reach out later.

[papalobo]

[Too tired to socialize. He gets it.]

Alright, call me back when you feel like it.


[But the fact that a police cruiser is in his driveway when he pulls up is not suggesting that his return home will be simple and restful.]