exsiliumlogs | [closed] if you believe there's nothing up his sleeve

Date & Time: Late October
Location: Around the base
Characters: Saul & various
Summary: This is the log I promised everyone throughout the month and never put up oops. In which Saul holds various meetings!
Warnings: N/A; will be updated accordingly.

[CLOSED to the NPC crew; October 24th —

Saul has an idea.

His idea is what brings him to the area of the base he's sure other Transports don't frequent for funsies with a cup of coffee in hand. It's not his; it's a peace offering. Or maybe it's a bribe. More like both, actually.

He just hopes this works.

After searching for someone, anyone working for the Initiative, he knocks on the nearest surface with his free hand and calls, in sing-song:]

Yoo hoo!

*

[CLOSED to Kerrigan; October 28th —

A knock on her door, a note left behind:

Meet me in the cafeteria.
—Saul

And a steak, cooked medium rare, waiting for her when she shows up.

Saul must have a thing for women with weird hair.]

*

[CLOSED to Jesse, Mike, Skyler, Stephanie, and Lisbeth; October 29th —

Saul has another idea.

He's never held a meeting quite like this, but that's okay. He's prepared.

The VR room's been set up to look like a legitimate conference room, complete with conference table, a large screen on which he can put Important Information, and cozy virtual reality chairs. Also: carpeting. He felt that was an important detail.

This idea may or may not go over well.

Then again, things involving Walter White — even as the subject — rarely do.

He's positioned at the head of the table, leaning back in his chair with his feet up until everyone is present and accounted for. Then, he stands, bounces forward on his toes, claps his hands together, and grins.]

What a crowd.

[Except the mood is grim, so the smile doesn't last long.

And then he switches to business mode, wringing his hands momentarily and clearing his throat.]

Alright, so — let's just cut to the chase, shall we? The first of the month is but a few days away and we all know what that means, so it's time for us to figure out some kind of contingency plan in case you-know-who shows up again. Ready? Go!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The phantom toast gets a mock salute and a wry smile.]

Something, yeah. You got a few minutes?

[He considers Saul a long moment before setting the cup down. He lifts a couple of books and a half stack of papers off of a stool and drops them on the table.

He reclaims the cup almost immediately.]

[Huh.

This is already going better than expected. Saul nods his thanks, then perches on the stool, unbuttons his jacket, and extends a hand.]

Saul Goodman.

[There's ways to each of them. Bird, a friendly drink, Lowell... leaving him alone, but Vennett... coffee is the charm.

Still there's another moment of surprise, looking between Saul and his hand. This must be a hell of a complicated mission he wants set up.

He shakes. His grip is firm and hand is rough with old callouses.]

Vennett. Gotta say, this ones a new one on me.

[It's always nice to find a kindred spirit. Saul makes a mental note to bring back more decent coffee, the next time he's out.

His hand is smooth and warm, the mark of someone who isn't much into hard labor.]

What? You're telling me Transports don't drop in unannounced to sit around and shoot the breeze?

[He snorts.]

That's a good one. Got any more?

Plenty, but I'd rather not blow all my tricks at once.

[Saul leans back, grinning.]

Are you familiar with the Department of Initiative-Transport Relations?

Nope.

[He takes another sip of coffee. He gives a little half shrug. The only files about the situation he'd brought are the tools he'd need to make his job work.]

Name does its own talkin' though. Your gig, I'm bettin'.

One of.

[Technically.]

I helped set it up back in May. Our grand vision was to encourage a little more cooperation and trust between us and you, but that didn't really go as planned.

[Now that he thinks about it, he's not sure they've accomplished much of anything.]

Now that we're on the moon, I'm personally feeling a little more pressure to do something about that. So my question is simple, Vennett — what can we do to help you out?

'Less you got some assistants with half a wit for programmin' hidden somewheres can't say... [He glances over his paperwork and rubs his hand down his face and irritation blooms in the wake of it.]

No, actually, I got one.

[He pulls a rather large pile. He flips down one page after another. Most have some variation of FOOD. CLOTHES. LIQUOR. printed on the top. One after another... There IS another sizable mission pile by his elbow, marked URGENT: MISSION.]

I aint seeing what they're pulling back through, but I recon by now we got enough eats t'last inta the next century. Y'even got an idea what this shit takes in time, research an' sheer power t'do?

Fuck me, next bakin' supplies mission I get, Imma put them on a fuckin' roof an' let em shimmy down on their own. The uppers can take task wit me later all they want. Gods damned kids don't see this as more than an inconvenience.

[Saul watches silently as Vennett flips through, remains silent as he speaks, then laughs.

That mental image.

It's so beautiful.]

Sorry, sorry. Anyway, it's true that we're comfortable with the food situation right now, but there's not a surplus. And we'll be getting another batch of newbies in just under a week, yeah? So that's more mouths to feed. The food runs need to keep happening.

[He laces his fingers together, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees.]

I'm working on a supply list right now. When it's ready, I'll upload it to the network so everyone can keep track of what we've got — including you.

That aint gonna work for a drunks dime. Items a luxury an' convenience in times a scarcity don't bring out none of t'shiny sides a people.

Whatcha think's gonna happen if I were t'say, y'kids got enough. Focus on y'missions...

Aint none gonna report shit. Just gets squirreled up where not even their neighbor knows they got it.

[He's silent for a moment, putting the stacks of supply missions back to the far side of his impromptu workstation, where he'd picked it up.]

Look, I aint stopped shit for a reason. Keepin' y'kids all kindsa king-spoiled keeps us movin' forward.

But I'd rather like t'focus on t'mission work. Takes a lot more thinkin' t'give the advantage when there's armed guards rather than shopkeeps an' a few drunks.

[Wow, this guy's accent.

Saul chews his lip, thinking. Deciphering, too.]

Or you'd have a riot on your hands. There's a delicate balance between us right now, and that's an optimistic estimation. I'm not gonna tell anyone not to go where they want and get what they think they need.

[No way. He can't be that guy, not when he's trying to stay on everyone's good side.]

I think the problem here is that we're not sure what moving forward involves. Has the Initiative been talking about solutions?

[He shrugs at that first assessment. Not particularly dismissive of the sentiment. It would be a riot he wouldn't have even a fraction of a second's survival, and knew it. He just never really expected another answer.]

Direct strikes on t'UE system are t'most effective but they're also t'hardest. There's a lot in play right bout then. Surveillance, mappin, their media's public spin on our actions, the launch systems themselves. I've got em a bit further narrowed.

Been some talk on buildin' countersystems. Aint got much stock there, personally.

So what I'm hearing is that you don't have the time you'd need to devote to missions like that because you're so busy with the supply runs, yes?

[There's a plan forming in Saul's head. He just needs a few more answers.]

That's t'short of it.

You need an assistant.

[That's not a question.]

Do you need someone with specialized knowledge like yours, or would you settle for someone with administrative experience who can help you out with —

[He gestures at the piles.]

I could get good work outta either. I aint got time t' properly train up a new kid. ... But someone with an eye for details an' placement is a good start.

I think I've got the perfect girl for the job.

[Pause.]

If this all sounds good to you, of course.

Aint got a quarrel. Aint making no guarantees neither.

Fair enough. Her name's Kanaya. I'll put you two in touch ASAP.

[closed] if you believe there's nothing up his sleeve

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