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 was impressed when Griff made a big meal for the holidays. I was impressed when EIji jumped the wall. I was impressed when the greenhouse was so big. Sometimes it's weird, sometimes it changes. You were impressed by the cost of the wine at Dino's mansion. I was annoyed that he thought it meant something.

[papalobo]

Wonder if we'd be doing any better if we stayed out there with the greenhouse making an argument for me every day.

[jadedlynx]

A greenhouse can't make an argument you're not arguing for.

[ No. ]

[papalobo]

Hope you still go to school, though... You probably would've without me, eventually, but I'll take credit for it anyway, if you do.

[jadedlynx]

[ There's no need to point out that he won't. Sometimes... Often, his tongue can be sharp, but this isn't about hurting Max. This isn't about offering a truth that needs to be said. But the reality is simple enough: he can't the two lives. ]

There's no reason to make all the decisions today.

[papalobo]

So you won't, huh...

[jadedlynx]

I'm saying I don't know.

[ Future Max can be disappointed in him. ]

You think that's what I want to thank about now?

[papalobo]

You're leaving the cats. There's no way you're going to school.

So, when do you want me out by?

[jadedlynx]

I'm not leaving the cats. I'm giving them to a family that can take care of them. They're alive. School isn't.

Nobody's kicked you out, either. I want you to stay here until you're better.

[papalobo]

If it's gonna happen, I want a date. Rip the bandaid off. Start getting used to it.

If you're not already committed to leaving me, then I'll work from there to get you back in school and catted and all that. I can't win if you made up your mind. I know that much.

[jadedlynx]

[ He aims an elbow at Max's side, but it's a gentle enough dig. Ash knows he's healing. ]

You think I should make that call today? I told you, I just got out of the hospital yesterday.

[papalobo]

Then, keep that in mind about all the things you think you decided today. Don't go bandaid-ripping and preparing yourself to leave the cats, either.

[jadedlynx]

[ School could shift. Ash is leaving wiggle room on it. The cats deserve better. ]

I have a good memory.

[papalobo]

I'm not in a position to say much. Since it's how I feel about you. But I'm trying.

[jadedlynx]

How you feel about me?

[papalobo]

"You haven't been bad. You're a great kid. I'll miss you. But it's..." [Despite himself, his throat tightens up. He corrects fast enough.] "..gonna feel really good... knowing you're with people who..."

[Nevermind, he's not in control of his voice. Clearing his throat as if he just suddenly had a fully random tickle, he gestures with his hand as if Ash ha memorized his own spiel to Kuroneko, as if he'd even recognize it.]

[jadedlynx]

Me and Blanca disagree on a lot of stuff, but books are one of those things. He loves literary devices. I don't. I don't find beauty in suffering or tragedy. There's just pain. People survive because they have to, not because they're some kind of caterpillar becoming a butterfly.

And I hate irony. Even when it's funny, it's in the way that makes you want to hit something. It's so frustrating that I'm a breakdown away from dosing myself with the honesty medicine so you at least have to confront the fact that even if I screwed up, everything's happening in spite of how I feel, not because of it.

[papalobo]

You didn't screw up, yet.

[jadedlynx]

You gave me the 'I'm the sucker for coming back just because you broke your pride enough to ask me to' talk less than an hour ago.

[papalobo]

Yeah, that's my screwup, not yours.

[jadedlynx]

[... There's no way Max is missing the thought process here. ]

You're a sucker for coming back which means I had to do something bad enough that only a stupid person would take me back.

[papalobo]

[Max stares up at him from the chair seat.]

You can't be this stupid. There's only three reasons someone wouldn't want you.

[jadedlynx]

There's nothing stupid. Why would you be a sucker if I didn't do something wrong.

[papalobo]

For your good, not mine! There's a reason you just ignored it when I try and give something a hard no!

[jadedlynx]

[ He was scared. He'd been subjected to men's base desires for months with the knowledge that young children were being abused just feet away. He was scared and hurt and not thinking straight, but saying any of that felt like leaning on his trauma as an excuse. He should have been stronger. Ash can't say it was his weakness without it being argued, too. ]

We've had this argument before, too.