[exsilium] contact

[5055034455]

№ 150



❝ This is Saul Goodman. Leave a message. ❞

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[fullmeasure]

[Mike decides he doesn't want to know why Saul's happy - because there's a handful of things it could be, and none of them are his business.

He sets aside the tablet and shifts to get comfortable]

You owe me a couple of explanations, don't you?

[5055034455]

[More than a couple, Saul thinks.]

Where should I begin?

[fullmeasure]

[Mike picks up his coffee and takes a long sip. He could mention a few things, but there was a lot he wanted to know, and a lot he had yet to be told. So, he shrugs and gestures with the cup]

Wherever you want.

[5055034455]

Well — okay, first, a question for you: When are you from? What's the last thing that happened to you?

[He really hopes it's not "Walter killed me."

It's bad enough he already feels like he's looking at a ghost.]

[fullmeasure]

[Saul probably knows the answer before Mike can say it, by the face he makes.

sry Saul]

I think you already know. You and the kid both looked at me like you were seeing a ghost.

[5055034455]

[welp

Saul lowers his gaze to the table, biting his lip until the wave of guilt and fear passes.

When he looks back up, his expression is wrought with something that looks an awful lot like sadness.]

I'm sorry, Mike.

[fullmeasure]

[Mike faintly shakes his head and takes another sip of his coffee. But now he wishes it was something else instead, like whiskey, or something stronger]

Yeah, so am I.

[5055034455]

[Saul wishes he had thought to grab some coffee before coming over here so he'd have something to occupy his hands with, but alas.]

The Walt that showed up here, he thought he was done. Out. Finito. And when I said the other day that he hung around and didn't do anything, I mean that almost literally — I only saw him twice, and the rest of the time he was either with Jesse or working. Or both.

But man, did he fuck things up.

[fullmeasure]

[it's not the first time he's wished he'd pulled the trigger during one of the many times he'd had a gun to Walter's head. Half measures]

Walt has a gift when it comes to that. How'd he manage it here?

[5055034455]

He showed up. That's it. That's all it took, and Jesse just...

[He trails off there, making vague gestures with his hands.]

Things were fine until then. Good, even. Jesse was happy.

[Sort of.]

[fullmeasure]

[Mike shakes his head, frowning. That's all it took, huh. It figured]

When did he finally leave?

[5055034455]

August. Jesse thought I was lying when I told him.

[fullmeasure]

He didn't take it took well, huh.

[5055034455]

Does that kid ever take anything well?

[Saul leans back and sighs.]

He's self-destructive and looking for any excuse to justify pushing everyone away. Thank god you showed up when you did.

[fullmeasure]

[he can't say he's surprised; after everything the kid's gone through back home, and whatever he's been through here . . .]

I've got good timing. [or well, the Initiative did]

[5055034455]

Yeah.

[Someone did, that's for sure.

He pushes a hand back through his hair.]

Obviously, Jesse's not just my client anymore; I consider him family. And I didn't say this the other day because I know I can't say it in front of him, but — if Walter shows up again, I'd be more than happy to put a bullet through his head myself. Just puttin' that out there.

[fullmeasure]

[that surprises Mike. He didn't take Saul for the type - finding someone else to do it, sure, or even asking Mike to do it (because he'd happily do it), but this? Not in a million years]

You won't have to. [it's one thing for him to do it, it's another entirely for someone else - like Saul, or even the kid]

[5055034455]

[Walt is one person Saul would break his own rules for.

Anyway, Mike's response doesn't surprise him, but he figured it was the best way to let Mike know where he stands re: Walter White.]

Everything else that happened between Jesse and me is his business. If he wants to tell you, I'll leave it up to him.

[As for Saul himself...]

I work for the Initiative — an associate of mine and I started the Department of Initiative-Transport Relations together, so that's where a lot of my time used to go. Not so much up here, but we're working on it. I have friends. A lot. Close ones, too, and I'm not even paying 'em. I have —

[This is where he pauses. He can't say girlfriend.]

Someone. So... moon situation and dying aside, this world's been pretty good to me. And good for me. Also, two words: Super. Powers.

[fullmeasure]

So in short, you don't want anything coming along and screwing it up.

[but one of these things aren't like the others, and Mike raises an eyebrow]

Super powers, Saul? Is that what you're calling them?

[5055034455]

Not a second time, no.

[Jesse's life wasn't the only one turned inside out when Walt showed up. And when Walt left.

But he'd rather talk about something fun, so...]

Yup. They exist here.

[fullmeasure]

[he almost wants to say "prove it" but knowing Mike's luck, Saul would]

I'm almost afraid to ask.

[5055034455]

[Oh, Saul already wants to.

He unfolds his hands and rests one elbow against the table, bringing his hand up into proper arm wrestling position.]

C'mon, Mike.

[fullmeasure]

[Mike looks from Saul's hand, to Saul, then back and forth again.

Really?]

You're joking, right?

[5055034455]

Not at all.

[DOES HE LOOK LIKE HE'S JOKING]

[fullmeasure]

[oh for—

Mike heaves a sigh and pushes his coffee out of the way, then shifts forward to copy Saul with the opposite arm, then grips Saul's hand.

He couldn't believe he was doing this]