controlledvariable | exsilium; ic inbox

I do.

[And again, after a few minutes, though whether she's just counting or deciding whether to tell him will forever remain a mystery.]

about twenty five, give or take.

[He doesn't know whether to believe her or not, but — if she's telling the truth, that's a good number. Could be better.]

How do you do it?

which part?

I guess "what do you use?" is a better question. Tracking device? Bugged outlets? Should I be checking my neck for strange bumps?

[It's hard to tell whether he's kidding or not.]

intradermal bugs are a little invasive even for us.

["Us" being Bats, of course.]

i've got an assortment of tracking devices, listening devices, and spy-cams, all about the size of a pinhead. most of the listening devices/cameras are activated by keywords, so i'm not spying all the time, just if someone says something suspicious or that means they might be in danger

[Comic book tech.]

Wow. Way fancier than what I had back home. Can I buy one off you?

i might give you something, depends what you want it for.

[Helena is actually going to kill her.]

To track Walter. Unless you already have one on him, in which case I'll have to ask you to take it off.

i'm sure we've had a conversation about how you're not my boss.

[Which... isn't an answer.]

how exactly do you plan to plant a tracking device?

Just because I'm not your boss doesn't mean I can't have a say in how involved you are with another client of mine, and you're already in way too deep for my comfort.

[BUT WHOSE FAULT IS THAT, JERK?]

You'd show me how, right?

it means you don't get to decide who i do and don't consider a threat.

[God Saul that question barely even deserves a response. As if it's anywhere near as simple as showing him how to do it.]

have you heard of the school of seven bells?

[She's going somewhere with this.]

[Whatever; he's not in the mood to argue, especially not when the argument involves Walter, so he'll let that go. For now.]

No. What is it?

it's an urban legend, a school for thieves, based off the idea that to learn how to pick-pocket, you tie seven bells to specific points on a jacket and learn to take someone's wallet without the bells making a sound.

i learned on a jacket with fifty bells.

you can't just show someone how to plant a tracking device.

[Welp.]

Point taken.

[She thought so.]

now are you going to ask nicely if i'll put the tracking info into your laptop so you can keep an eye on walter, too?

[Saul's totally exasperated sigh might be audible to Steph, wherever she is.

Like.

Maybe even if she's five miles away.]

Pretty please?

[She totally heard it.]

better.

i can come over in a couple of days and set it up?

[She could do it right now, theoretically. but.]

[Theoretically...]

Why not now? Since it's obviously already on him. And we're both awake.

[There's a slightly delay, before:]

you sure?

[Considering. everything.]

[Now there's a question. It'd be stupid to say yes, but Saul's pretty sure it'd be even stupider to say no. "No" would be an admission.

So:]

You're right — it's late.

[Is it bad that response makes her want to show up anyway?

So. Another delay, because she just needs to throw herself off a building to feel the rush of wind and to see the ground coming to meet her before she catches herself with her grapple line. She may still be hanging upside down off the side of the Housing building as she sends the next text.]

saul.

should we talk?

Edited 2013-06-10 12:47 (UTC)

[Another excellent question!

There is not enough liquor in the world for this.]

About what?

you want me to spell it out?

[Don't make her do that, Saul. No one wants that.]

text;

text;

text;

text;

text;

text;

text;

text; heather that is not sleeping

text; I'm sleep-tagging...

text; I stopped tagging to make sure you slept

text; :|

text; well it worked, didn't it?

text; MAYBE...

text; I rest my case

text;

text;

text;

text;

text;

text;

text;

text; 1/2

text;

text;

text;