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]

[ His head shakes. ]

The assumption behind the training is that I'm fighting somebody in the vehicle.

[papalobo]

That does sound kinda impressive.

[jadedlynx]

[ It's all also a lie. Almost all of Blanca's lessons were about offense, not defense. ]

Nobody wants to die the first day out of prison.

[papalobo]

[ I dunno, somethin' poetic about gettin' taken out by some really specific skill that guy taught you that you never got a chance to use otherwise.

But he bites those words back. Mentioning him is forbidden. It's just easier to pretend he doesn't exist. It's just easier to pretend things are fine.]

Depends how much of a wreck the house is. Havin' to clean it up don't sound fun.

[jadedlynx]

It's handled.

Thanks for hiding the paintings. I didn't want those guys seeing them.

[papalobo]

You're not mad, then?

[jadedlynx]

About what?

[papalobo]

I did kinda ditch the cats again, out there... 'n didn't leave a way for you to know how to go find 'em. [He's not that concerned with it; Ash knowing things he shouldn't has become old hat now.] ... How did you find 'em?

[jadedlynx]

You were protecting them.

[ He had limited mobility. It wasn't the best plan, but it was the best plan he could manage. ]

I'd have been pissed if you ditched them at home without knowing of a plan, but it's not like you could make a lot of moves when running from Homeland Security.

[papalobo]

I had to go to my place before yours. You didn't want your guys seeing those paintings either, I figured...

[jadedlynx]

No. The last thing I need when a turfwar is about to happen is for my guys to see that kind of stuff.

[papalobo]

...I'm getting off that easy, then?

[jadedlynx]

What's easy about it?

[ It's a sincerely confused question. ]

You left them with food and water. If we'd been allowed lawyers and calls like we were supposed to have, they'd have gotten out soon. They're okay.

[papalobo]

You were just pretty pissed that time I left 'em with the cops in Tennessee...

[jadedlynx]

I was pissed that you didn't take them and run in the cabin.

[papalobo]

You're pissed I care more about you than them.

[jadedlynx]

They're a lot easier to kill than I am.

[ Not even a contest. ]

[papalobo]

You'd die for 'em.

[jadedlynx]

I'd try not to. It's not like I have some kind of death wish.

People recover from rape. Nobody comes back to life.

[papalobo]

Still annoying that you talk about people doing that to you like it's just getting a black eye or something.

[jadedlynx]

[ It's a bit of an awkward position. Max will remember this conversation when he finds out. ]

I'm not saying it's okay. I'm saying people recover.

[papalobo]

I spent the last few weeks or whatever here worrying if it wasn't happening to you again, y'know.

[jadedlynx]

Did you think I'd be taken out by a Chinese gang that came in underestimating me?

[papalobo]

You're the type who'd stop fighting as soon as they had a hostage. And as far as the government side's concerned, I was a hostage as soon as I got caught.

[jadedlynx]

They had two hostages.

[ He smirks over at him. ]

I broke the mold and surrendered to somebody else to save one of them.

[ Which got him raped, but Max doesn't know that yet. ]