[For a moment, it seems like she might argue that, demand to see the files, but eventually she just nods.
From the way he's acting, she guesses those files already exist and are on that laptop, which won't be too hard to hack into if she needs to.]
You know that's not gonna be easy with Jesse doing the whole cookie thing. [She might not have actually partaken in any of the free cookies, but she pays attention.]
[Somehow, he'd forgotten about that. He buries his face in his hands for a moment, pressing the heels of his palms against his eyes. There's no way Jesse would stop, and Saul wouldn't ask him to just because of a possibility.
When he moves his hands away, he sees spots.]
Okay. Okay. That's — I can stick with Jesse at the tent. All the new Transports come from the same place, right? The Hold. I'd need you stationed right outside.
[She just shrugs, the most casual of gestures, as if this really isn't a big deal at all. It is, and she'd kind of hate it, but serving as a bit of a distraction wouldn't kill her.]
I've only got PTSD, I'm clear on everything else.
[Answering his question as if it's a legitimate question.]
[That's not exactly how he meant it. Poor word choice.
But since she's asking...]
Or you'll put all of us in danger. Me, you. Jesse. Jesse's friends. You said you have mutual connections, right? If Walt shows up and decides he needs Jesse in the same position he was in back home, he'll go through anyone and everyone to make that happen. We can't take any risks.
[And now she's angry, just staring at him in silence for a moment, her jaw tense.]
Talk to me about risks again, and we're done. [She doesn't need to be lectured on that.] I will listen to you because you asked for my help, and because you know this situation better than I do, but don't for one second think that means you can give me orders.
[He almost continues with a line about vigilantes and how the hell is he supposed to trust anyone if he can't trust her, she who is supposed to be on his side, but doesn't. Whether she likes it or not — and he's not exactly keen on the idea, either, for the record — he trusts her. And she's an adult, right? So she can deal with it like one.
He nods at her reassurance, only half-convinced.
Maybe they'll get lucky. Maybe she won't have to prove that she knows what she's doing, because maybe Walt won't ever show up. Maybe the cancer will get him and he'll drop dead before the Initiative has a chance to pick him up in their little lottery. Maybe everything will be okay.
Saul can dream, right?]
Anyway, I'll take your word for it. And I'll give this whole thing some thought — we can reconvene closer to the beginning of next month.
[Somehow, that actually makes her feel better, and she gives him an apologetic smile, though it only lasts for a moment before it's gone.
Then she just nods.] Normally I'd stop using this place once someone knows where it is, but I'll leave it for now. It's safe, if you ever need somewhere to go.
[If he doesn't feel safe in the housing complex, for whatever reason, Walter related or otherwise.]
[He sounds genuinely grateful for that. And it's not just that he sounds grateful — he is. He might be here a little more than Steph bargained for, just for the sake of escape.
After a few seconds' pause, he shuts his laptop and starts packing up.]
[He's almost ready to start moving toward the door when she asks, and he has to set his briefcase back down and look at her for a moment before responding.]
Mostly bladed weapons, including longer ranges ones, but there's also escrima sticks, a collapsible staff, and an assortment of these-- [And suddenly there are silver batarangs in her hand, held between her fingers.]
They're basically stun grenades, tasers, smoke bombs, freeze grenades, et cetera, depending with what they're labelled.
[She throws a deactivated freez-a-rang so it sticks in the desk next to Saul's briefcase, so he can have a look; the centre of the batarang is a light blue coloured cartridge, which is apparently what she means by "labelled".]
[The mention of "bladed weapons" makes him wrinkle his nose — too messy, no thank you. The batarangs catch his attention, though. They could be useful.
But he flinches when she throws it, then tosses her a Look. Steph. That briefcase is real leather. Watch it.]
I'm good with darts, but I don't know... [He trails off and approaches the desk, carefully plucking the object from its surface.]
[The batarangs she had disappear back into her sleeves as she walks over to Saul, taking the batarang from him once he's had a chance to look at it. Then she demonstrates how to activate it, before just lazily tossing it at the far wall, where, after a few seconds, there's a sort of crack, and thick ice crawls about four feet up the wall.
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controlledvariable) wrote2014-02-02 07:59 pm
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From the way he's acting, she guesses those files already exist and are on that laptop, which won't be too hard to hack into if she needs to.]
You know that's not gonna be easy with Jesse doing the whole cookie thing. [She might not have actually partaken in any of the free cookies, but she pays attention.]
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[Somehow, he'd forgotten about that. He buries his face in his hands for a moment, pressing the heels of his palms against his eyes. There's no way Jesse would stop, and Saul wouldn't ask him to just because of a possibility.
When he moves his hands away, he sees spots.]
Okay. Okay. That's — I can stick with Jesse at the tent. All the new Transports come from the same place, right? The Hold. I'd need you stationed right outside.
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I can be inside the Hold.
[A thought occurs to her, then, and it's kind of obvious by the way her expression sours and then hardens.]
You said he's got a family, how devoted is he to his wife?
[It's--
She hates that she even has to make that suggestion, but if they need a distraction, nede a way to lure Walter away from Jesse, well.
Batgirl isn't really useful, there, but Steph could be.]
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Absolutely not. No. Are you crazy?
[No, really. She's kidding, right?
He rubs his eyes again.
This is too much. Never mind the fact that it wouldn't work, he just — Stephanie. No.]
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I've only got PTSD, I'm clear on everything else.
[Answering his question as if it's a legitimate question.]
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I don't want you interacting with him directly.
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'Hugpunch' really was accurate.]
Okay. [Another shrug, but she's a little relieved, except:] You're not my boss, though.
[Her pride demands that she remind him of that fact. She's deferring to his expertise with Walter, that doesn't mean he can give her orders.]
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That doesn't mean you can get away with not listening to me.
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[It's not... angry, not really, but there's an edge to it, if only because she's so damn sick of men thinking they can tell her what to do.]
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But since she's asking...]
Or you'll put all of us in danger. Me, you. Jesse. Jesse's friends. You said you have mutual connections, right? If Walt shows up and decides he needs Jesse in the same position he was in back home, he'll go through anyone and everyone to make that happen. We can't take any risks.
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Talk to me about risks again, and we're done. [She doesn't need to be lectured on that.] I will listen to you because you asked for my help, and because you know this situation better than I do, but don't for one second think that means you can give me orders.
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I'm trusting you with this, Steph.
[So don't fuck it up.]
I need you to be as careful as possible, okay? That's all.
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[She regrets it as soon as it's out of her mouth, visible in the way she winces, eyes closing.]
Sorry.
[She rubs at her brow, like trying to dispel a headache, before finally looking back at him.]
It's gonna be okay, Saul, I know what I'm doing.
[It's her way of saying that she'll be careful, that she'll listen when she neds to.
She's not as reckless as she used to be.]
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[He almost continues with a line about vigilantes and how the hell is he supposed to trust anyone if he can't trust her, she who is supposed to be on his side, but doesn't. Whether she likes it or not — and he's not exactly keen on the idea, either, for the record — he trusts her. And she's an adult, right? So she can deal with it like one.
He nods at her reassurance, only half-convinced.
Maybe they'll get lucky. Maybe she won't have to prove that she knows what she's doing, because maybe Walt won't ever show up. Maybe the cancer will get him and he'll drop dead before the Initiative has a chance to pick him up in their little lottery. Maybe everything will be okay.
Saul can dream, right?]
Anyway, I'll take your word for it. And I'll give this whole thing some thought — we can reconvene closer to the beginning of next month.
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Then she just nods.] Normally I'd stop using this place once someone knows where it is, but I'll leave it for now. It's safe, if you ever need somewhere to go.
[If he doesn't feel safe in the housing complex, for whatever reason, Walter related or otherwise.]
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[He sounds genuinely grateful for that. And it's not just that he sounds grateful — he is. He might be here a little more than Steph bargained for, just for the sake of escape.
After a few seconds' pause, he shuts his laptop and starts packing up.]
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[She shrugs, a little unsure how to deal with how grateful he sounds, when it's not something she hears often.
She waits until he's packed up to add:]
Just don't touch anything if you're here alone, 'cause I don't wanna get back and find you've poisoned yourself.
[Seriously.]
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[There are stupid questions, and then there are questions that would seem stupid only out of context.
He has to make sure.]
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Anything that isn't furniture.
[The furniture is safe.
And then she's quiet for a moment, considering him, deciding whether she wants to make the next offer.
Eventually:] You wanna know where the weapons are?
[Just in case.
Apparently she trusts him enough to tell him.]
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What kinds of weapons are we talking about?
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They're basically stun grenades, tasers, smoke bombs, freeze grenades, et cetera, depending with what they're labelled.
[She throws a deactivated freez-a-rang so it sticks in the desk next to Saul's briefcase, so he can have a look; the centre of the batarang is a light blue coloured cartridge, which is apparently what she means by "labelled".]
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But he flinches when she throws it, then tosses her a Look. Steph. That briefcase is real leather. Watch it.]
I'm good with darts, but I don't know... [He trails off and approaches the desk, carefully plucking the object from its surface.]
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You don't neeed to throw 'em. Watch.
[The batarangs she had disappear back into her sleeves as she walks over to Saul, taking the batarang from him once he's had a chance to look at it. Then she demonstrates how to activate it, before just lazily tossing it at the far wall, where, after a few seconds, there's a sort of crack, and thick ice crawls about four feet up the wall.
She grins at Saul.]
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...speaking of chill.
Saul raises his eyebrows, impressed.]
Huh. And that — I mean, freezing someone. Isn't that kind of deadly?
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Because she remembers Damian's face when she froze him.]
Depends how long you leave them frozen. This stuff isn't straight up ice.
[It melts at a lower temperature, for one.]
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