[closed] yeah yeah and I'm alright

[5055034455]

Date & Time: June 29 — July ∞
Location: Around Exsilium
Characters: Saul & TBA
Summary: A catch-all log for Saul's many business etc. meetings throughout the month, because otherwise there would be like a million logs up. Not even an exaggeration. An actual million.
Warnings: Drugs in Jesse's thread, violence in Coby's, sap in Effie's.

[Sometimes, the best way to get over something is to find a suitable distraction.

Since Saul's #1 distraction has always been work, he doesn't see why that can't be the case here as well — he may not technically be practicing law at the moment, but his skill set is undeniably useful. Extremely so. (As far as he's considered, anyway.) He doesn't need his own office or a secretary or a PI or a bodyguard to get plenty of shit done. He's Saul Goodman, for godssakes — what the hell good is he if he's not working?

His hands have been idle for too long, and look at where they've gotten him.

Devil's tools indeed.

So here he is, keeping busy. Training, doing business, drinking more coffee (and alcohol) than he probably should. Whatever works, right? Right.]

Comments

[5055034455]

One guy didn't.

[That he knows of.]

[chore_boy]

'Will'. The same sort of ability I use to sense others when I'm blind can coat my body to act as armor. It's used to enhance my physical attacks.

However, it can also work to prevent my strength from causing you real harm. If I focus my will and weaken it enough, my punches won't strike you with full force at all.

[This was supposed to be comforting, he thought.]

However, I'd much rather ease you into training rather than exchanging blows with you. For starters, you'll be the only one attacking.

[curatesecrets]

Yeah, it ... it seems like. I wonder if they're going to start bringing in more Transports who are used to dealing with this sort've thing to compensate.

[legal_eagle]

Only one? Because I see, all over, people who used to chat on the network and now don't.

[5055034455]

[And here he glances over at Artie, one skeptical eyebrow raised.]

You really think they screen us before they bring us in?

[5055034455]

And you've interpreted that as them being dead? They're not — people just leave, sometimes. And sometimes, they come back after spending time elsewhere. They're not dead.

[Maybe he sounds a little too sure of that.]

[5055034455]

[He's still confused. At least the prospect of attacking has him looking a little more confident...?]

I — right. Okay. Let's just get this thing going, huh? I always learn better by doing.

[Which is code for "CAN I PUNCH YOU IN THE FACE NOW PLEASE."]

Effie | July 14;

[5055034455]

[So Saul's not sure whether to consider this a legitimate date or not because he hasn't been on one of those in a very long time, but he supposes all evidence points to this being a real date: he's in his nicest suit (the blue and gray number that came with him from home), his shoes are freshly shined, he's sporting some cologne that only faintly reeks of desperation, and he got her a flower.

Just one.

Because they're apparently expensive as hell and he is not ready to make that kind of commitment yet. At least he went for a rose — a white one, symbolic of sincerity or some bullshit like that. It's currently tucked into the outer pocket of his jacket, an accent to his suit that he's going to pluck out and offer to her as soon as she opens the door.

...he should probably knock, huh?

A quick glance at his watch reports 7:59. Since she demanded 8:00 and he promised 8:00 on the dot, he waits for the second hand to sweep around, and only then does he tap out a rhythm against her door with his knuckles.]

Re: Effie | July 14;

[powdered]

[ Effie had spent the better part of her day preparing. Not because she really needed that much time, but because it felt good to be busy doing something she knew how to do. Effie didn't know how to hold a gun or fight a battle, but she did know how to make an appearance.

She didn't have a stylist or a makeup artist so everything had to be done by her own hand. First was carefully ironing the delicate silk of her dress. Second was teasing and carefully rearranging her wig, twisting the synthetic curls back into a more elegant coif for the evening. Third was to find the best lighting available and make up her face which was a task unto itself.

It was frustrating to work with both limited resources and assistance. By Capitol standards she was grossly underdressed for a night on the town. Effie had been told time and time again to not stand out, so she would suffer a more demure look if only to preserve her limited resources and see if it could be done tolerably.

Admiring herself in the mirror, Effie had to admit to herself that given the circumstances her results were not entirely unsatisfactory. Less than what she was used to was more than enough for these people, and above what Exsilium deserved from her.

Gone was the embellished jacket with high shoulders, saved for a more formal occasion worth risking the expensive fabric and beading- the dress was brilliant on its own. Her wig had been rolled back from her face into an elaborate series of curls and swept high in an updo, fastened with the flower broach of her choker. The makeup had been her biggest struggle, with less than half of her usual cosmetics on hand. In the end she had mixed her foundation and shimmer powder with her moisturizer for a thinner and more dewy coating, with only a flush of pink on her lids and cheeks for colour. Effie's 'signature' for the evening's look was the brighter red lace pattern embellishing her lips, created by dabbing rouge over the lace fabric of her powder case sleeve.

Despite having worked for a solid six hours Effie was finished only moment before Saul's arrival, and with a quick mist of sugary perfume watched the clock for a full minute before opening the door. She didn't want to look too eager after all.

Even if the man she was looking at had cleaned up rather well, definitely better than she had expected. ]

Oh Saul, a pleasure to see you- and on time I might add.

[5055034455]

[Saul, on the other hand, was expecting Effie to look considerably more toned down than she did when he first — and last — saw her. He knows this place has already started taking its toll on her because he heard it in her choked sobs just the other day, but by all appearances, she seems perfectly fine. Better than fine, even.

She looks great. He has no idea how she managed it.

So he's appropriately impressed when she greets him, eyebrows up as he takes in the sight of her. For about one second, his thought process strays elsewhere and he finds himself wondering if taking all of that off would take as long as it did to get on, but — no, he's getting ahead of himself.

He offers her the flower as planned and flashes her a bright, wry grin.]

On the dot, as promised.

[powdered]

[ The rose was pretty and immediately recognizable. They were a favourite in the Capitol- and the familiarity of it was so comforting it made her sigh wistfully.

Effie took the flower from Saul without hesitation and gifted him with a dazzling smile that met her eyes in response. ]

Why thank you, it's lovely.

[ She twirled the stem in her fingers, admiring the white petals. Upon closer inspection they looked brighter and whiter than any other she had ever seen. Effie canted her head to the side with a bob of curls, musing for a moment before speaking again. ]

I'm not certain what it is, but maybe because Exsilium is so bleak I can truly appreciate this rose.

I don't think I've ever seen one look so beautiful as it does now.

[ She lifted it to her powdered nose to inhale the sweetness of the scent, closing her eyes for a moment before opening them again with a flutter of sparkling lashes. ]

One moment, I just want to put it in a vase or... whatever is available.

[chore_boy]

Feel free.

[He smiled. It couldn't have been anymore an honest smile, but Coby was still hardly telling Saul the whole story. It would have to be pure luck for him to land a punch, which was totally fortunate.

If he landed a punch in the first place, he'd have to opt out for the day. Punching steel didn't often yield the best results. Coby raised both hands, keeping them level as if offering himself as a buffet of physical assault.]

[5055034455]

[...okay but the rose was supposed to make him look sincere, not coax it from her. Saul's left standing there with his head tilted to one side, brows slightly furrowed.

So that's twice Effie's surprised him in the span of two whole minutes.

Huh.]

Um — yeah. Yeah, sure. Take your time.

[powdered]

[ Effie disappeared back into the apartment for at least ten minutes. She popped her head back out the door to show Saul the glass bottle she was holding. It had been scrubbed clean of any dirt or label and sparkled with water, the rose resting demurely inside.]

It's unfortunate, but this will have to do.

There really is all the shopping in the world to be done before this place is liveable.

[ A sorrowful shake of her head and she trotted back inside to set the makeshift vase on a side table before reappearing and shutting the door behind her. ]

Thank you again, I'm ready to go now.

I hope you have someplace nice in mind.

[5055034455]

[At least ten minutes, the bulk of which time Saul spends questioning his life choices and fidgeting with his tie, adjusting and readjusting the knot.

Windsor, for the curious.

By the time she's back, it's perfect.]

Of course. It's this little place a few blocks away. Kinda dirty, but the food's... well, it's a little hit-or-miss. Last time it was a miss, so this time should be a hit.

[He winks.

PLEASE REALIZE HE'S JOKING, EFFIE.]

[powdered]

[ Effie stared at him for a long moment, fingers tightening around the jewelled clutch in gloved hand. She could see it so clearly, her imagination was quite active when roused.

Cracked porcelain. Rats scurrying beneath their feet as they prodded at the rats on their plate with rusted utensils. For dessert there would be blood pudding, except it was likely real blood and by romantic flashlight one of them would pull out a pinky finger and laugh.

She shuddered, anxiously primping the curls at her neck with a scared look up at the man. ]

If there is any such thing... well.

[ Followed by a tightlipped smile.

Wasn't an unspoken threat always the scariest? ]

[5055034455]

[That's some look, Effie. And Saul has a completely inappropriate response to it: he volleys a smile right back at her, obviously amused, and leans in a little closer so he can speak more softly.]

Don't worry. They season their meat well — you won't even know what you're eating.

[ha ha ha

this is your date, effie

you agreed to this]

[powdered]

[ Her response was to place two gloved fingers on Saul's chin and push his face away with a magnificent roll of her eyes. She further emphasized this with a long-suffering sigh. Effie often felt people didn't truly realize the value and extent of her patience. ]

I'm going to pretend you didn't say that, and you will generously offer me your coat because we are leaving now.

[5055034455]

[Saul has 99 problems and they are all suddenly this right here. He jerks his chin back toward her, still grinning, and literally bites back whatever smart-ass retort he had in mind. If she wants him to be obedient, that's fine. He's cool with that; he can play along.

And he'll do so happily, too.

So, he offers her his coat. Generously.]

Here.

[5055034455]

[Well.

Okay then.

Maybe this will be easier than he thought!

He makes a show of stretching out a bit more, then bounces on his toes like he's psyching himself up for what's about to happen, balls his right hand into a fist, and takes a surprisingly solid swing at Coby's face.]

[powdered]

Oh, I'm fine thank you, but the offer is appreciated.

[ Effie strutted past him, pausing only to shoot him a teasing smirk over her mostly bare shoulder before continuing down the hallway with an even click of her impractically high heels. ]

[legal_eagle]

He says, sounding like he's desperately trying to convince himself.

[5055034455]

[Did she just —

Saul stands there for a long moment, a little stunned. He should really stop underestimating people. It might have worked back home, where he could safely predict the actions of his mostly-similar clientele and associates with impressive accuracy, but there are too many people here from too many places he'd never even dreamed existed in reality somewhere.

Whatever he was expecting from Effie, this also wasn't part of it. He might as well wipe that whole slate clean right now before he's proven wrong about something else.

He lurches after her once he's snapped out of it as though being tugged by an imaginary leash whose slack has just run out (already too accurate a metaphor for his liking, but color him unsurprised — hasn't this been the trend, lately?) and hurries down the length of the hall to catch up.

The restaurant he leads them to is indeed only a few blocks away, but it's nothing like what Effie was picturing in her twisted little mind's eye. The establishment is small and cozy, the lighting warm, the crowd this evening small. It markets itself as an Italian restaurant, but with all that distance and time between what Saul knew as Italian food and what Exsilium knows as Italian food, it's not quite Italian food.

He wonders if Italy exists in Effie's world full of Districts.

As soon as they're inside — after he's opened the door for her, of course — he turns to her with an expectant look, silently waiting for approval.]

[powdered]

[ Italy had been a place at one point, but not anymore. Like most of the world it had been swallowed by water or obliterated by nuclear warfare and forgotten. The name wouldn't mean a thing to Effie if mentioned. All that existed was Panem, though the Capitol and Districts were so different from one another they may as well have been separate countries unto themselves.

When they arrived at the restaurant she was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't large, nor was it high-class but it had an ambience and she hadn't seen a single rat upon entrance. There were just enough people for the cuisine to look desirable, but not enough to feel cramped in the small space. Effie had never felt a need to be cozy, but with the weather and world being what it was... she almost preferred that the interior was honest and ambient rather than chic. ]

It's not awful.

[ That really was high praise coming from a Capitol woman. ]

[5055034455]

Glad to hear it.

[Not awful.

He'll take it.

Saul's been here a handful of times and has never been disappointed with the food, but the atmosphere of the place is what had him choose this over all other options: it's difficult for him to get the seemingly ever-present chill out of his system even on the days where he sleeps in under the pile of blankets on his bed, but something about the soft glow in here makes him at least forget it for a little while.

He thought Effie might appreciate that — he just hopes it works for her as well as it works for him.

The other draw of this place was — and is — the much higher than usual Transport-to-Exile population frequenting it. On the off chance Effie might somehow wind up looking the way she did when they met, Saul figured this would be safer for both of them. At least he got something right.

It's not long at all before they're led to a table, and Saul would have pulled the chair out for her like the gentleman he's trying to appear to be, but the waiter beats him to it.

Hmph.]