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

[jadedlynx]

[ Untangling himself, Ash tries for composure. He isn't proud of the tears, but he isn't so ashamed that he can't look at Blanca. ]

It seemed like some Chinese folk story or something. Mentioned Baba. I had more important details to follow. I don't get why they didn't just call you the big guy like everybody else who mentions you.

You're getting less secret.

[sentimentalstoic]

[Casually, he keeps a hand on top of his head to urge him to keep his face down, if it makes him more comfortable. Blanca needs no niceties. Ash can let his pride go as much as he likes.]

It isn't for you to worry about right now.

[jadedlynx]

I'm pissed about the sex tape, but I'm not worried.

Why did you let him record it? Was that part of his price?

[ Blanca had to know. ]

[sentimentalstoic]

[He shouldn't be happy that Ash is angry, the boy has enough troubles and turmoil and things to be emotional about. The hand on the top of his head smooths through his hair again.]

Despite my mention in a few texts, I'd imagine if anything my mythological existence stalled them rather than it causing a problem.

[So, don't worry about it.]

[jadedlynx]

It stalled them.

[ That much is sure. ]

The only reason the Lees haven't moved in is because of that sex tape. Is that why you did it?

[sentimentalstoic]

I'm just shameless like that, I guess.

[jadedlynx]

Couldn't you have sent him a recording pledging alligeince?

[sentimentalstoic]

But that would be a lie.

[jadedlynx]

You're not really a cop with bad skin, either.

[sentimentalstoic]

You've got me there.

[jadedlynx]

[ He's ready to stand and collect himself now. ]

He's like a fusion between Godfather and a high school mean girl. It's hard to have a conversation with him that doesn't include how trained you are for him. I hate the guy, but even I get some secondhand embarrassment.

[ Embarrassment; not sympathy. ]

[sentimentalstoic]

[A hand sliding from his head down his back tries to tempt him to stay down longer, not to hurry to pull himself together just yet. If they aren't visiting Max, they have all the time in the world. He'd hurried to get ready to make it in time to visit the jail, but now, they needn't settle for the lunch he'd made to be edible in the car.]

I apologize for making you uncomfortable.

[jadedlynx]

I didn't say I was uncomfortable, and I don't buy your apology.

It's just a weird shift. 6 months ago, the question was if I knew about Banana Fish. Now, people are making bets on who's the better lay in case I decided to sway you to my side.

[sentimentalstoic]

You should believe it. If it were entirely in my hands, you wouldn't know to be bothered by it. I don't particularly want others thinking of you sexually, either.

[jadedlynx]

[ Since Blanca has decided to block his ability to stand upright, Ash gives another jab at the fake layer of fat. ]

The problem is that it exists, not that I know.

I'm pretty surprised by him, too. A sex tape wouldn't be my Exhibit A when I'm meeting with my enemies.

[sentimentalstoic]

[Other than the lack of body heat to it, it's pretty convincing. Ash had enough fat men pressed over him recently to know, if he'd forgotten that sensation since Golzine had died.]

Genius is often unpredictable.

[jadedlynx]

Genius, huh?

[ Effective at the current moment, but Ash has to disagree with the genius. It plays into the very idea that he'd fought to battle: their power came from pretty faces. It lost respect for them and once they realized Blanca wasn't an issue, Yut Lung would not only seem much less dangerous, he'll be even more sexualized. ]

[sentimentalstoic]

You understand what it is, to make less than ideal decisions to survive the moment.

[jadedlynx]

You're not actually his trump card. The fact he's playing as if you are lets them know that without you, he's a lot weaker. When you don't start showing up when he's in trouble, they'll get bolder. Not that they need the excuse, but when they have him, it's going to be a lot worse now that they think sex is his strongest weapon.

Did you save him?

[sentimentalstoic]

Save?

[jadedlynx]

The text said they were moving forward with the plan against him.

[ He at least struggles enough to look up at him. ]

I used to know you wouldn't have, but you came here.

[ For him, Ash knows. ]

[sentimentalstoic]

[He'll let him, if he really seems to want to. With his face face, any expression he has to pull will have to be as intentional as a puppeteer moving a marionette's arm, meaning the face that stares down at him looks unduly cross.]

I suspect he saved himself. As far as I know, nothing happened to him.

[jadedlynx]

[ But it's funny. Ash can almost imagine the face Blanca would make, and seeing the juxtaposition over the 'officer's' face actually makes him laugh before he drops his head back down. This time, his eyes close. ]

Thanks for coming.

[sentimentalstoic]

[The smile is too faint to translate into his mask without intentionally doing so, as well. He strokes Ash's hair again, while on the outside looking as if he's about to bellow out a terse insult.]

[jadedlynx]

[ In spite of the disguise, Blanca is warm and solid. For the first time since he'd been pushed into the table and forced to take yet another man, Ash feels safe. Even the hospital wasn't safe. Now, in Blanca's lap, he's all but invincible.

Still, the sleep that takes him isn't intentional. ]