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[controlledvariable]

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[5055034455]

[His, too. One of. That and betting and like twenty other things, including her.]

Yeah? How much?

[controlledvariable]

[There's a moment, amongst the easy banter, where she forgets about all the tension between them and nearly suggests a kiss. Thankfull, her brain catches up with her before her mouth can get her into trouble.]

A hundred marques?

[5055034455]

[There was a moment where he was kind of hoping that would be her suggestion.

A hundred marques is pretty good, though.

He smirks, clasps his hands behind his back, and leisurely steps forward.]

I have no witnesses to back me up on this, unfortunately, but gee, your honor, I've got this crick in my neck that just wasn't there before Miss Brown attacked me...

[controlledvariable]

[She watches the little display with obvious amusement, before offering him a lazy shrug.]

You've gotta find a judge first, Saul.

[Also it's weird when he calls her Miss Brown.]

[5055034455]

Easy.

[He's walking around her in a wide circle, now, smirk giving way to a toothy grin.]

[controlledvariable]

[That's-- no that shouldn't be allowed.

She's watching him as he circles her, but stays standing exactly where is as some kind of defiance against his smugness.]

They have to be qualified, not just someone dude you grabbed off the street and gave a gavel to.

[5055034455]

What, you really think I'd just find some schmuck to play court with me? This is serious business, Miss Brown.

[He turns on his toe, switching directions.]

So what I'm wondering now is who's gonna defend you if I'm the plaintiff?

[controlledvariable]

[She isn't entirely sure what happened, here, but she would like it stop right now because it's a little unnerving.

She licks her lips, pushing wet hair back from her face as she keeps watching him.]

There's that other lawyer here, I'm sure I could convince her to help me out.

[Some... how...

Help.]

[5055034455]

Who, Karimov? [He chuckles, shakes his head.] God, she'd love that.

[Also wow is that a terrifying thought: Sonya defending Steph against him. That's nightmare material.]

[controlledvariable]

[Yes? That one. Steph hasn't been paying as much attention to the network as she normally would.]

See, I'm all set. And you're still down a judge.

[5055034455]

[Saul has to stop himself, then, because instinct almost has him wonder aloud who might not like Stephanie around here. And that's not playful; that's just malicious.

He stops behind her, head cocked to one side.]

I'll find someone.

[controlledvariable]

[Somehow it feels like turning around is letting him win, so she's just watching him over her shoulder.]

If you say so. [so very skeptical] I'd like my marques in cash, rather than on one of the debit cards. Just for when you're paying up.

[He doesn't have a monopoly on being smug.]

[5055034455]

[Was he that close to her a few seconds ago?]

Cash, of course. Lawyers prefer being paid in cash, anyway, so that'll make Sonya happy.

[Legal fees, Steph.]

[controlledvariable]

[help.]

What, you think I can't convince her to represent me for free?

[no really.

help.]

[5055034455]

[Don't worry, Steph; he's not stupid enough to move any closer. Because.

No.

He's pretty sure there's a gravity/orbit metaphor hiding somewhere in here, but he doesn't care to look for it. He shrugs, then pushes his wet hair back. Why are they still out here?]

Maybe.

[controlledvariable]

Definitely.

[Maybe if she keeps trying to be smug she'll stop being... unsettled by every Saul is doing.]

I'm good with lawyers.

[Wait no can take that back it's too close to actual flirting ABORT ABORT.]

[5055034455]

[...he tried so hard and got so far...

Pop goes Steph's little bubble of personal space as Saul places a hand on her arm, still grinning. And also wanting to throw himself off the building a little.]

I dunno if you're her type.

[controlledvariable]

[She might, possibly, maybe just a little, gulp at the touch, realizing just how terrible an idea this was. Pretending that they could just joke around like there wasn't... anything between them.]

I'm everyone's type.

[why]

[5055034455]

Trying to make me jealous of a co-worker?

[What he wants to know is how.

How did they go from talking about feelings to a stupid fake argument to a stupid not-even-serious lawsuit threat to this? How does shit like this happen every time?]

You're bad for business, Stephanie.

[controlledvariable]

[If making him jealous was her actual aim, there are a lot of other things she could bring up other than a co-worker she's never met. She's not going to say that, though.]

How's that?

[She'll just focus on the rest of what he said. Surely that'll be safe.]

[5055034455]

[He knows. That's why he specified co-worker.

His hand trails up to her shoulder, then drifts back down.]

This is tremendously unethical. You should probably fire me.

[controlledvariable]

[This is really bad.

At least it's easier to not look at him when he's standing behind her.]

I don't think that'd help.

[Maybe they'll both just ignore how rough her voice suddenly sounds.]

[5055034455]

[He probably shouldn't be standing out here in the wet cold like this with no jacket on after getting over an illness that almost killed him. This thought comes courtesy of the realization that he's shivering a little — not that he thinks the weather has anything to do with that, but it's good cover. It'll get him out of this situation, at least.

...except first he's going to bow his head, almost like he's about to kiss her shoulder. Again. It's too familiar a gesture, though, especially paired with the fact that he's still touching her arm like he was touching her arm back in his room that night, so he doesn't. Wants to, but doesn't.]

You should go back inside.

[Careful word choice: you, not we.]

[controlledvariable]

[Even not looking at him, Steph is still hyperaware of her surroundings, which right now mostly just includes rain and Saul, so she... kind of just stops breathing, as he leans in. She's expecting another kiss, and isn't sure what to do when it doesn't come.

The words take a moment to register, but she manages to nod after a moment.]

You planning to stay up here on your own?

[Because he said you.]

[5055034455]

[She should have taken that as her cue to move away, not just nod her head, because now he's — well, it's not quite a kiss, but his lips are definitely touching the fabric of what he suddenly remembers is his own coat. So when he speaks again, it's more of a mumble.]

For a little while, yeah. Might be a good idea...