[exsilium] contact

[5055034455]

№ 150



❝ This is Saul Goodman. Leave a message. ❞

Comments

[payback]

[pleased to meet you mr. goodman :)]

When and where?

[5055034455]

[NO.]

Sometime this weekend? I can come to you or you can come to me.

Do you have nosy roommates?

[payback]

Oh yes. Do you like tea?

[5055034455]

I prefer coffee, but tea is fine. Was that a "yes" to the roommates question? Because if it is, you should come here instead.

[payback]

Why not somewhere neutral? Neither apartment.

[5055034455]

Let's just go for a walk and see where we end up. Deal?

[payback]

That sounds like a fine plan. When?

[5055034455]

Whenever. Now?

[payback]

I will meet you at the front.

action;

[5055034455]

[The good thing about this past week is that Saul's been on the go almost nonstop, so all he has to do is grab his coat and leave the apartment. Whether he beats Rin to the front or not remains to be seen — he recognizes her name, but he's not sure he's seen her face before.

So there he is, looking a little obvious in his lawyerly suit and tie, waiting.]

Re: action;

[payback]

[He may have beaten her, he may not. It takes a couple minutes until Rin is slipping up out of the crowd regardless. She's slight, at least at first glance, wiry under the slender shoulders and big eyes and neat braids. Rather than lawyerly she looks like a bit of a refugee in her coat and boots. But she does have a level stare.]

Mr. Goodman?

[5055034455]

[Man. Another pretty young girl.

Jesse's really got to stop flashing those baby blues of his all over the place.

Saul grins when he spots her and walks over, hand outstretched. His posture is perfect, his eyes bright, steps springy in spite of the exhaustion he's felt for... months, really.]

Ms. Asano, is it?

[payback]

[She smiles politely and extends her hand to shake. She's much more accustomed to the practice now than she used to be... behind the smile, he's getting sort of calmly stared down. It's not a threatening look so much as the glassy expression of a magnifying glass pointed his way.]

That's correct. It's convenient how the machines here give names...

[OK, not so much. But: filler.]

[5055034455]

I've always thought so.

[It's convenient for him, at least. Makes prying into everyone's business much easier.

Since Saul operates under the slightly paranoid assumption that he's always being watched in the way Rin is watching him right now — not that he can really tell — he's careful to come off as professional and relaxed. He doesn't know her; she doesn't need to know how emotionally invested he is in this mess.

He gives her hand a firm shake.]

Nice to meet you. [Gesturing outward:] Shall we?

[payback]

Let's. [She steps down the stairs and sets off for the hold. She's still wearing her sword, btw; constant companion and best friend. Rin cuts easily through the crowd, following its currents and weaving easily in and out of the groups of people. She's headed for the shops district, such as it is.]

How long have you been here, anyway?

[5055034455]

[A few months ago, the sword might have freaked him out. Now? Whatever. Which leads him to his answer, as he follows close behind, twisting this way and that without bumping into anyone:] I showed up in April. Worst April Fool's Day ever. What about you?

[payback]

It's been... [A little pause; she never thinks about this, really, she has to count the months. Then realizing the exact number gives her pause.]

... a year. Huh.

[But she's not going to angst about it. She's on the lookout for a place it'll be nice to sit in and nigh momentarily she gestures at a shop that is apparently somehow a coffee shop, of the quirky kind you'd find even in the old earth: windows crowded with interesting bricabrac, an awning covering the door and a small round table tucked under it with just enough space for two to sit out of the rain. Not that she'll press to go outside if Saul doesn't.]

There?

[5055034455]

[Time flies when you're miserable, doesn't it?

His handful of months here is nothing compared to a year, but he's still homesick enough to feel as though he were last sitting in his office only yesterday.

He follows her line of sight and shrugs. It's not really his kind of place, but whatever.]

Sure.

[payback]

[Speak for yourself, Saul. Rin likes Exsilium more than any of the other worlds she's been through.

She turns and leads them over to the door. Its frame might have been white once but now the paint is peeling. She pushes it open and a bell rings; the inside is dim, smelling of dust and tea and mostly empty. Without speaking Rin goes to the front counter and then when no one is in evidence raises her voice in a call.]

Hello?

[5055034455]

[This place was loads better than home.

And then you-know-who showed up.

Voldemort-lookin' motherfucker.

Saul waits for all of five seconds before he decides the lack of movement means someone isn't paying attention, so he brings his fingers to his mouth and lets out a shrill whistle.

#helping]

[payback]

[She glances back at him, eyebrows rising, but it looks like between the two of them they did it - there's rustling from the back and then a weatherworn woman appears at the front, frowning.

Gr8 job Saul, you and Rin did it. First instance of undoubtable countless moments of teamwork to come.]

Chamomile, please. Do you have coffee too? [A muttered assent from their server. Rin doesn't wait for Saul to order, but goes and takes a seat at one of the dark wooden tables next to the window.]

[5055034455]

[Saul's a great team player. He opens his mouth to say something to Rin, but when he turns his head, she's not there — so he orders his coffee and offers the server a generous tip despite his certainty that the coffee is probably going to be terrible.

Then he joins Rin, brows furrowed slightly.]

So.

[payback]

[She rests her chcin in her hands, looking young, leaning forward over the table and watching him patiently. Content to let the silence drag out and see if he'll pick up the slack or not.]

[5055034455]

[He's not picking up shit. He can go on in awkward silences for hours, if he's really focused.

This was her idea; she brought up the subject. So he settles back against his chair and folds his arms, looking neutral and casual and totally unfazed.]

god sorry I'm just the slowest :(

[payback]

[She doesn't seem uncomfortable with the silence, at least. She waits comfortably, alternating between quietly watching Saul and glancing out the window, for a refreshingly short period of time before their drinks are delivered on a scratched-up wooden tray. When they're left in privacy, Rin sits up straight and smiles with sudden brightness. With her normal neutral expression it's hard to guess she's capable of it.]

It's just like home, y'know. Tea houses.