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]

I'm not asking questions just so you can practice avoiding them.

[sentimentalstoic]

[Ash earns a loving headpat for that.]

For now, it's fine to be selfish and let yourself be one-sidedly taken care of. Isn't it?

[jadedlynx]

I'm not stupid enough to think I could take care of you in this even if I turned into Florence Nightengale. You taught me to assess, not be egotistical. If you're worried, you can protect him better than I can.

[sentimentalstoic]

I'm not in the habit of forming attachments to clients. Setting him up so well was a matter of fulfilling my contract with you properly. Your interests were better protected by his safety and stability, despite your animosities.

[jadedlynx]

Better the enemies I know.

[ Ash agrees; he understands. Or, he understands it a bit, but there are some parts he doesn't understand at all. Yut Lung is competing with Ash for Blanca's affection when Blanca doesn't care for him at all, not in a meaningful way.

But Ash has his answer. ]

[sentimentalstoic]

The same for him. He loathes that a normal, love-filled life is possible for you, and that it's your choice, but it does serve him well on a professional front to be certain you will never make active moves for your own group's empowerment. His primary vector is also likely to be ineffective against you.

I may have used him, but you were never under any impression that I was a good man, while hiring me.

[jadedlynx]

I'm not saying I expected anything different, but I'll probably know about anything happening with him before you do. It's not hard to send a text if you want to know. It's stupid to send a text if you don't.

[sentimentalstoic]

[The question of whether Ash really wants to do him a favor or whether Ash is trying to feel out where his loyalties and heart lie isn't a fair one. He does know that. If nothing else, he does know that Ash isn't jealous in the same way Yut Lung is, but he isn't any more capable than Ash of dismissing the urge to analyze another's true motives.]

I'd rather be texted romantically.

[jadedlynx]

You should've thought about that before picking me.

[sentimentalstoic]

[Another stroke through his hair, kneading the clarifying water and conditioner in.]

It's good I have no regrets. There's no turning back.

[jadedlynx]

[ Ash isn't jealous. It's hard to say he'd feel jealous even if he had doubts, but he knows Blanca is on his side. He'd assumed there was a chance even when be was working with Dino.

But maybe a part of him was feeling out Blanca's involvement with Yut Lung for curiosity sake.

For now, he allows Blanca to spoil him, to run his hands through Ash's hair as long as he avoids the neck. ]

[sentimentalstoic]

[Which he does; seeing the bruises, knowing his response to an offer to rub his back, he can extrapolate. The soap lathers, and the conditioner seeps into his already soft strands, further softening them.


But now that there's a lather, if his hands can't wander further south, they are going to start shaping cat ears.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Lathering and rinsing are necessary. Ash can't tell the shape by the feel, but he can tell there is shaping. ]

What are you doing?

[sentimentalstoic]

Enjoying your bath.

[jadedlynx]

[ His hands slap at whatever shape is taking place. ]

[sentimentalstoic]

[The bubbles whish and pop and flutter away. It was cute adorable while it lasted.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Some of the bubbles are gathered in his hand and flicked at Blanca. ]

You're off hair duty.

[sentimentalstoic]

[He chuckles, shifting to rest his hand on the rim of the bath, leaning, looking down at him admiringly once again. Most would find it an irresistibly smothering look, and were his company anyone but Ash, an Ash completely out of the mood for anything sensual, the way his bathrobe falls partially open would surely seem scripted and deliberate.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Blanca is a handsome man. Ash doesn't actually deny it. It's not something that attracted him in the past, and nothing can attract him in the moment, but it's undeniably obvious.

Yet, his focus on getting clean now that Blanca has been barred. ]

[sentimentalstoic]

If I can make it up to you, just say how.

[It's the best way to offer so that, if there is something Ash would like him to do, he can now ask with his pride in tact. There's not a hint of remorse or repentance in his offer at all.]

[jadedlynx]

By asking you to do the thing I just banned you from?

[sentimentalstoic]

I assume you'll have uses for me beyond hair dresser.

[jadedlynx]

[ Hm. Blanca is offering, but Ash knows he'd do it anyway.

Ah. He grins. ]

I'm out of hairwashing practice. Maybe I can style yours.

[sentimentalstoic]

I'll have to get in with you. Is that alright?

[jadedlynx]

I'll sit on the edge, and you can get in front of me.

[ It's the only way to account for the height difference. ]