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]

You already know we're not in love with each other.

[papalobo]

That means one side could still be, y'know.

[jadedlynx]

We're not. I told you, we don't even pretend we are.

[papalobo]

You hate him near as much as you hate you?--I'm gettin' a hotdog, what do you want?

[jadedlynx]

Hot dog, lots of mustard.

There's a lot of room between love and hate.

[papalobo]

You know my point. You give him a pass, enough to be in not-love with him. Enough love with him to fuck him. You're not exactly an easy guy to get into bed. You figure he's gotta get shit done but if it's you, you feel worse about it than he does, but you, you're bad.

[jadedlynx]

I don't pretend he's some kind of saint, either. I know what he's done. Get me some chips, too.

[papalobo]

Would you've ever tortured someone for the reasons he tortured you?

[jadedlynx]

He took me back to the guy who tortured me. I'm pissed at him for it. But it's not the same thing.

[papalobo]

The lead up to that wasn't torture too? How much leeway d'you give the guy? Is that why you got none left for yourself?

[jadedlynx]

Lead up? What lead up? I met with them in some abandoned factory, and they gave me the conditions.

[papalobo]

You went there after he hunted you down 'n made you sweat out not having any other options. He had hostages. You'd be happier if he just tried cutting your dick off.

[jadedlynx]

I haven't forgotten any of that. He shot Eiji. I told you it's not love. There are reasons.

[papalobo]

I'll be back.

[He slams the truck door, off to fetch three hot dogs.

Something happened to Ash. Is that something he's sensing, or something he's spent too long worried about that he can't let it go? Pinching the bridge of his nose, he tries to gather his thoughts, mind not really in that same old argument they keep having, so much as it is in the sick feeling that, while wrong on this, Ash may be right on something else: Max may have ceased to believe in the possibility of a normal life for him that's anything more than play acting, if he can't let go of this feeling now, that Ash is holding out, suffering under something alone.

Is it umbrage that someone dared hurt him? Sympathy for a victim? Is it his own inability to handle something maturely? Is it his own inability to save him? He's out of prison now. He shouldn't feel so restless.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Ash doesn't plan to keep it a secret forever; Max can figure out the specifics even if his name is kept out of the press. But is it wrong to want him to enjoy a meal and some rest? Knowledge won't make him stronger, it'll be another burden.

And, selfishly, Ash wants this with him. ]

[papalobo]

[Max returns with four hot dogs, and a bag of plain chips. Two of the hotdogs are as Ash orders them. The others include one with double chili, extra cheese, and then one with everything.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Assuming they're going to eat in the truck, he's already turning so he can use the seat as a table. ]

No matter what, it's going to beat prison food.

[papalobo]

What, they didn't bring out the caviar and escargot for you?

[jadedlynx]

They said they only did that for the nice prisoners. Guess I didn't qualify.

[papalobo]

Maybe it's 'cause I'm the cute one. Between us, you're the brains, I'm the hot arm candy.

[jadedlynx]

[ He reaches for the hot dog. It couldn't be more different from Blanca's meals. ]

Should've used that brain to get better food.

[papalobo]

I did. I avoided the escargot and caviar. You ever eaten slugs?

[jadedlynx]

Yeah.

[ And now he's eating hot dogs. ]

Pretty often.

[papalobo]

The hell do rich people pretend that stuff tastes good?

[jadedlynx]

It does, but it's not something you can go into thinking it's gross, or it will be. There's also a lot better dishes out there, too, for a lot cheaper.