004 ↔ text

[5055034455]

Good morning, Exsilium. Your resident legal experts — Sonya Karimov and myself — are curious about those of you who have leadership experience. In the interest of looking toward a brighter future in which we Transports have a self-governing body, we're asking anyone who formerly held a position of command to answer the following questions.

If you're uncomfortable with sharing this information publicly, encrypt your responses or contact one of us directly.

1. What was your position? 2. How long did you hold that position? 3. How did you come to power? 4. Briefly, explain to us the government with which you have experience. Is there a written constitution of any kind? What are the laws like? Did you have other officials working under/around you? How many people did you hold authority over? 5. Are any of your former constituents/subjects in Exsilium as of this moment? 5a. May we have their names? 6. What do you think is the ideal form of government for Exsilium? 7. If a committee were to be formed in Exsilium with the intent of eventually creating a Transport-governing body, would you be interested in serving on it?

Comments

text

[5055034455]

["CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT" DOESN'T COUNT, HELENA. WHY? WHAT OTHER EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE??

So wow it sure is great that Saul is feeling professional today, huh.]

No limitations. If you consider it a position of command, we will, too.

permatext

[crossbearing]

( listen okay being the last Bertinelli is a big fucking deal

children do make the mafia look like a piece of cake, though )

I hope the two of you are going to be objective in your assessments. People can twist all sorts of things to sound good. It's not like you can fact check or ask for references.

[5055034455]

Don't worry, Ms. Bertinelli. There'll be an abundance of objectivity.

[crossbearing]

Mr. Goodman, excuse me for doubting the objectivity of lawyers, especially one working for the Initiative. Lawyers can be bought. Any position of government can be bought.

[5055034455]

I'm a defense attorney, she's a prosecutor. We balance each other out well.

Nothing's set in stone yet. This is preliminary. Testing the waters, etc. etc.

private. ( as I quietly backflip into bed )

[crossbearing]

There's an English cliché: 'two wrong don't make a right.' I say lawyers can be corrupted, you say there are two lawyers on your team.

( It's hardly the sort of thing that needs to be spelled out. )

Not everyone has had good experiences at the hands of the state, Mr. Goodman. Bear that in mind as you 'test the waters.'

private. (GO TO BED)

[5055034455]

I'm aware, Helena. But we have to start somewhere, so this is where we're starting: with two people who know our respective governments very well and who are probably best suited for this task, at least organizationally speaking. And hey, if that proves to not be the case? If someone else steps up who seems more fit for the job? Great. I'm more than happy to work with them.

But please don't start giving me crap just because of my choice of profession. You're not helping.

private. (NEVER)

[crossbearing]

Don't make the mistake of thinking I'm being petty, Saul. My concerns are reasonable.

( Lawyers, police, the state; as a general rule, they can do a lot of harm. They have done a lot of harm. )

You don't know Gotham personally. Has anyone ever explained No Man's Land to you?

[5055034455]

Reasonable or not, there's no need for the attitude.

And no, but this isn't Gotham. It's not Albuquerque, either. Or Naboo or whatever the hell. This is Exsilium. It's its own beast, we're building from the ground up, and I'd appreciate at least an attempt at cooperation.

[crossbearing]

What attitude is that, exactly? Questioning you? Questioning the possibility of corruption? Yeah, that's a really unnecessary attitude. You'd love it if everyone offered up the information you wanted and fell into line.

No Man's Land was when Gotham stopped being Gotham and became anarchy, it wasn't even counted as part of the United States any more. It was definitely it's own beast, not just Gotham any more, and we had to build from the ground up.

( There's your cooperation. Sort of. )

[5055034455]

Does it count for anything if I say I would actually, honestly, really like it if I had someone who reeks of competence on our side with this? Because we could use your help.

You can keep us in check, if that's what'll tickle your fancy. Make sure we're not shoving anyone into any kind of line. Aid in keeping what happened to Gotham from happening here.

[crossbearing]

( What a strange person you are, Saul Goodman. )

Seriously?

I'd think about it.

[5055034455]

[He may be obnoxious, but he knows opportunity when he sees it.

Helena should just be thankful he's feeling so professional today.]

Then consider this your formal invitation.

SUBSCRIBING WON'T WIN YOU FAVOUR, SAUL

[crossbearing]

( This is not how she expected her day to go, and passing up opportunities isn't really her style. )

Is there an expiration date? I need a day to think it over.

( Time to consult with her ladies. )

IT WAS A MISCLICK ; A;

[5055034455]

No expiration date. This isn't a process we want to rush.

OF COURSE IT WAS

[crossbearing]

My people will contact your people.

( SHE ISN'T SURE HOW TO FEEL ABOUT THIS EXCHANGE so help you if she thinks you are trying to manipulate her, Saul )

:C

[5055034455]

My people are looking forward to it.

[legal_eagle]

Hi. Sonya Karimov. We've spoken. Technically speaking, you can too.

[crossbearing]

We have.

( And, a beat. ) And no, I can't.

( That much she can guarantee. )

[legal_eagle]

Okay. So you're spouting that. So what if I say I can't be bought either?

[crossbearing]

Time will tell.

( She's seen more lawyers and cops be bought than she can count.

Then again, being the daughter of Gotham's most infamous mafia family doesn't exactly clear her of the title of hypocrite. She's just cagey around cops. All these posts about police forces, lawyers collecting information on people. It doesn't sit well. )

[legal_eagle]

[A pause, and then with exquisite sarcasm:]

Nnnnneat. So let me get this straight. I'm supposed to trust your word about yourself, but you're gonna be the one to judge me.

[crossbearing]

I never said that. You can doubt me as much as you like. ( she's used to it. )

I've just seen lawyers do enough screwed up things that yeah, I reserve the right to be suspicious.

( Then again, Pol Pot was a teacher. Let's not touch on that. )

[legal_eagle]

Yeah, and I assisted on a case where a grade-school teacher snapped and exploded three of his pupils. You don't hear me being prejudiced about your career.