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

[sentimentalstoic]

[His bedhead of hair is there begging for his attention, but he remains cordial.]

Is it in your car on on your person?

[jadedlynx]

Car.

[ Ash's voice is stick thick with sleep. ]

Didn't trust the cop not to take it.

[sentimentalstoic]

Should I get it for you, or bring you with me?

[jadedlynx]

I'll get up.

[ Get it for me ]

[sentimentalstoic]

[Setting the book down, he gently slides out from being Ash's pillow, settling him down against the arm cushion of the couch instead, tugging the blanket further up over his neck to urge him to stay down.]

[jadedlynx]

Why am I being tucked in?

[sentimentalstoic]

[He lets himself selfishly stroke that hair once as he turns to leave.]

[jadedlynx]

[ He sits up with a sigh. He was definitely being babied and while it's nice when he wants it, it's embarrassing when he doesn't. Isn't that how all emotions work?

Ash watches his back. He misses Max. That is a truth that can't be replaced. He worries for him now, and it's only Max's feelings that keeps him from following through with Blanca's idea.

But he might have fallen more for this assassin than he meant to. ]

[sentimentalstoic]

[It's a broad back, vanishing towards the entryway, the faint cologne already quickly gone with his presence. Ash hears the door open and close, once, twice, but his return isn't immediate. It's about five full minutes before Blanca returns, with a tray holding a spread of unrolled wraps with a six color salad spread pre-loaded into each, with quinoa, three colors of peppers, slices of green apples, purple cabbage, crisp bacon bits, tofu chunks seasoned in blackened garlic oil, egg whites, egg yolks in various states of hard and soft, and three home made dressings or to drizzle or dip as his whims desire. Assuming Ash would have little appetite, the aim is to make every bite interesting enough to keep going, different in texture, in flavor, while providing all essential vitamins and nutrients, in an easy to handle form that isn't hard to digest. There's also a cup of earl gray tea with a mixture of cinnamon and cocoa faintly seeped in.]

Some of your medication is best taken with food, it seems.

[jadedlynx]

[ Several bottles rest inside of the bag waiting in the car. There's a pain medication along with two antibiotics; the guards only made the infection worse, and it's internal. There's also a sleeping aid. It seems like Ash doesn't need it tonight.

As for the spread... This is impressive, even for Blanca. ]

...

[ Ash means to say something. It should be annoying for how over the top it is, but damn it, it's just impressive. ]

[sentimentalstoic]

[He sets don the spread as if bringing in a basic hospital tray, settling back down beside him and beginning to look over his medication bottles again, opening and setting out appropriate doses, setting aside those not meant to be taken together to be saved for later, preparing to set him on a schedule.

He assumes the silence is from Ash still being sleep hazy, which earns a private smile he might not be so annoyingly openly endeared with if he'd realized Ash was now wholly cognizant.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Sometimes, it's better to stay silent he decides for the first time. Blanca is waiting on him hand and foot, and in a way that's far beyond the minimum. The food looks so good that Ash finds himself a little hungry.

Max probably isn't eating well.

So much for being a little hungry. But he does need to eat. Reaching out, he pulls the tray closer. ]

[sentimentalstoic]

[Knowing the appetite of an Ash is a delicate thing, the first thing to break down in his body when his heart's breaking alone is not sufficient destruction for the pain life puts him through, Blanca chooses not to force him into small talk, nor to peer at him like a scientist. Instead, he takes a ship of his brandy again and feigns attention to his book once more. Peripheral vision is enough to observe Ash through.

The meal was made anticipating a resistant appetite. Even if he isn't of a mind to avail himself to the sweeter dressing, the more earthy dressing, or the slightly spicy one, for a good variety, no two bites are exactly the same, and yet there is a coordinated, fresh, vegetal theme through it all. It's meant to make him take a third bite to determine what had been so different from the first and second, and to end up losing himself in the curiosity of texture and taste, before he can think of how much he's eating or why some part of him doesn't feel he should eat.]

[jadedlynx]

[ He's only two bites in when he holds the tray out for Blanca's portion assuming this is meant to be shared between them. ]

[sentimentalstoic]

[It is. If his aggressive presence isn't a distraction, then he'll set down his book and his drink to take up a roll himself.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Sharing food comes naturally to him now. He places the plate between them; Blanca will eat faster so he'll need even more access to the food. ]

[sentimentalstoic]

[He intends not to be such a gawker, but Ash really does think a lot of him in such casual, subconscious ways. It should be only natural, they are dating. But it's hard not to recall that when things were strictly business in California, Ash also just casually prepared him pizza as well. It's a decency only natural for a guest, but given Ash's previous thoughts on him, he wouldn't have been at all surprised if Ash treated him like a tool whose meal bills he was already paying.

Of course, Yut Lung also tended to him kindly, made active attempts to seduce him, which said quite a bit about the effort he would put forth when callous dismissal was his standard for most of the human race.

Maybe it's that he likes Ash too much and is too easily endeared is all.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Some may argue that Ash's actions are less romantic. Yut Lung actively pursues Blanca whereas Ash plans to gain nothing. The assassin isn't being chased or wooed; they're simply spending the evening with one another.

As usual, Blanca is skilled in all endeavors. Ash eats more of the food than he might have otherwise even while wishing Max was eating well. Tomorrow, he needs to apologize for making Michael endure the questioning. Tomorrow, there were things to do.

Tonight, he's safe with Blanca. ]

[sentimentalstoic]

[Tonight, Blanca eats beside him, quiet, content, and leaving just little enough left past what Ash initially feels like eating that he thinks he might finish it off in order not to waste food. Ash hadn't come from such a spoiled background, after all. It's too little to save and wrap up, isn't it?]

[jadedlynx]

[ He's lived with Max for too long. Once he's full, Ash is sure that Blanca will finish it off. ]

So, you cleaned up?

[sentimentalstoic]

[Yet it sits there...]

Mm. Too presumptuous of me?

[jadedlynx]

Saves on a cleaning bill.

Did they wreck the painting room?

[sentimentalstoic]

Quite a bit. They were likely looking for anything hidden in your books or supplies.

[jadedlynx]

Next time I expect to be kidnapped or arrested, I'll burn them beforehand.

[sentimentalstoic]

That would be a waste.