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As of 10 minutes from now.

I hope you like merlot.

[That's the last response he gets before she arrives at the makeshift office exactly ten minutes later, bottle of wine in one hand and two (proper) glasses in another. Maurice is at her heels, because she finds these sorts of discussions are easier when there's a cute animal in the room, and Maurice is nothing if not disarming.

She tucks the bottle under one arm long enough to knock, then steps back to wait.]

[Of course he likes merlot.

Saul's at his desk when the knock comes. He debates between telling her that it's unlocked and actually getting up to open the door like a gentleman, then opts for the latter — she's classy, right? So she'd appreciate such a gesture.

He's grinning wryly when he opens the door, looking as ready for business as ever.]

Afternoon.

[It's nice when people get the right impression.

Max's smile is polite, but warm enough for the circumstances. Maurice, meanwhile, has considerably less manners and takes the open door as an excuse to nudge his way past Saul and investigate what's going on inside.]

Ah - Maurice. [He's immune to being scolded, and Max's smile is apologetic as she turns her attention back to Saul.] Hello. Sorry about that, he's been a bit cooped up lately.

[In a tone that implies a no shit on the end of that, considering the situation.]

[Oh, look.

A dog.

Something about that makes Saul chuckle — it probably has less to do with the fact that there's a dog in here at all and more to do with the realization that Medusa's beast of a pet never would have fit in this place.]

Completely understandable. As long as I don't get any noses in my crotch...

[saul wat]

[The look she gives him is one perfected by years of practice; eyebrows raised, head tilted slightly up to give the impression that she's looking down her nose at him, but softened by the tiny smirk on her lips.

It says you're being ridiculous and we both know it so I'm not dignifying it with a response.]

I hope I'm not keeping you from anything important.

[He's used to that look.

What a surprise.

Moving back to his desk, he's careful to pull out the chair opposite it for Max first. So gentleman-like.]

Nothing so important that I could say "no" to you. What's up?

[such gentleman. very manners.]

I'm flattered.

[It's said just a little dryly as she takes a seat, though her smile is playful enough. Friendly and disarming is the aim for today, considering the answer to that question.]

The answer to that is a little complicated, can I ask something of you, first?

[wow

He nods as he drops down into his own seat, unbuttoning his jacket and shifting around until he's comfortable.]

's what I'm here for. Ask away.

[Maurice is kind of a doofus of a dog, but he knows how Max works, so once Saul is settled, Maurice wanders over and plops his head on Saul's knee. People are less likely to freak out if they've got a dog to pat.]

Could I ask that you reserve judgement until I've finished explaining?

[Well.]

[Saul's not less likely to freak out when a dog is in such close proximity to his junk, but he plays it cool anyway, scritching Maurice's head while keeping his gaze focused on Max.]

Is this the part where I remind you that I'm a criminal defense attorney? Reserving judgment is my specialty.

[She hums thoughtfully, like she's weighing up whether to comment on that, but ends up just opening the bottle of wine and pouring two glasses, sliding one over to Saul.

He didn't seem to reserve judgement during the mutiny, but mentioning that might not be strategically sound.]

Then I hope you'll understand that there was no malicious intent in my actions. I was in a rather dangerous profession in my home universe, and upon arriving in Exslium I continued to operate in a similar manner; out of habit, and partly out of concern for what might happen if anyone else from my universe was here. I didn't want to risk being recognized.

[That's the explanation, she'll let him digest that before she says the rest.]

[He'll hold off on the wine until his curiosity's dealt with, but Max gets a grateful nod nonetheless.

At least this gives him something to fidget with while she speaks; he turns the glass around and around, brow furrowing.

Hesitantly:] Okay. And?

When I arrived here, in the interest of keeping my personal activities seperate from professional ones, I assumed a second identity.

[Which sounds simpler that it is, but the I'm a shapeshifter will come in a moment.]

Do you remember Alice Roscha?

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