bridgescribble | what sounds better? revenge or popcorn?

Ah, the uncle. Of course it's the uncle. Now if Saul were honest and not at risk of being a future cartel hit as soon as he's out of this room, he would say good riddance to poor tio Salamanca. As far as he cares, the fewer of these psychos out there in any vicinity to him, the better. But he can't say that, and instead, trains his face to look sympathetic as Lalo explains his situation. And truthfully, ignoring his own feelings about Tuco, it's not hard to be a bit sympathetic here.

"No, that's not it. I mean, I've got first-hand experience with meeting Tuco in... less than ideal circumstances. You know that."

Less than ideal, of course, being the nicest way to put his experience with Tuco Salamanca, and he would be happy to never have to repeat that ever.

"I think it's admirable, how close your whole family seems to be. You seem to really look out for Tuco and your Tio, and I remember how protective Tuco was of your lovely Abuelita. Jorge de Guzman must feel the same about his family, too, huh?"

A cloud crosses over Lalo's expression at the mention of Abuelita, but it passes quickly. Instead, he zeroes in on something else Saul said.

"Jorge... De Guzman...?" he repeats. Then he snort-laughs.

"Sure," he says, with the air of a parent humoring a small child playing make believe. "Jorge De Guzman loves his family, too."

As far as Lalo is concerned, Jorge De Guzman doesn't love anyone or anything because he isn't real. Just a fake name to stay out of trouble with the law long enough to get out on bail and head home to Mexico. But he'll go along with Saul's statement for now, out of curiosity to see where this thread leads if nothing else.

Edited 2023-03-13 03:11 (UTC)

He notices Lalo's clouded expression, and that's enough to tell him to not touch that area. Poor Abuelita probably had her age catch up with her, that's the only thing he can think of, and that it's a miracle she managed to live as long as she did with a family as stressful as hers. But he's not about to tell Lalo that.

"Now, uh, let's just say I'm hip to how all this is going to go."

The bail, he means, assuming anyone would even go for it, and that Lalo is going to end up long gone and never to be seen again once he's free from prison. And in fact, that's what he wants! Please, go have fun over there.

"But that family stuff, that plays well with the judges. So, introduce me to Jorge De Guzman. That's who I'm here to represent. A... fine and upstanding family man from the greater Albuquerque area, who ended up in an unfortunate mix-up with the law."

It's very smart of Saul not to pursue that line of conversation any further. Very smart!

What Saul is saying seems to be the right tactic, though. He's sitting straight up, instead of languidly flopping back in his chair or crouching forward like a cat on the hunt.

"¡Buena idea!" he says, and he slaps the table. He's grinning, which isn't unusual, but he's actually listening to what Saul has to say without being a dismissive asshole about it, which is. "So... if I had a family..."

He laughs. "'Ey, see what I mean? You're the guy for this! Evil genius."

He's not entirely sure how he feels about being called an evil genius as a positive, or that he's just reassuring Lalo's idea that he's the guy for things like this. But that's an issue for future Jimmy to weigh the morals of. Right now, he has a job to do, and figure out how to end up getting bail for a guy who absolutely did the crime he is accused of. Being a lawyer sure is fun!

He offers a smile at Lalo's compliment, because he's sure Lalo expects him to be pleased by this acknowledgement. And even if he's in prison, keeping in Lalo's good graces is the safest place to be.

"I've just got some experience in this area, shall we say. And the best stories always have elements of truth to them. It's how you make it more believable."

The wheels turn in Lalo's brain. Lies with a grain of truth. How you present things. Yeah, that sounds good. Sounds like advice with more than one applicable purpose, too. He'll have to keep it in mind. For later.

For right now, though, he's intent on the immediacy of how it can facilitate his release from prison, so he can merrily jump bail back home to Mexico after murdering an innocent person in cold blood.

Aren't you happy and proud to be helping this piece of shit, Saul?

It's a good sign for Saul that said piece of shit's eyes are lighting up. "So, then... how were you thinking we were going to make it believable?" Lalo feels like he might have an inkling of where Saul is going with this, but he wants to hear Saul say it out loud first, just in case he's wrong about his guess.

Besides, it's more fun to watch Saul squirm when he has to say the horrible things he's planning to do out loud.

Perhaps one day, further down the line, Saul will have to wrestle with the fact that he gave good advice on being a dishonest person to a cartel boss. But that's not for present Saul to care about, especially because present Saul feels like that's just something guys like them (not that he's like Lalo at all, thanks, but it's better if Lalo thinks he is) already knew by default. Right now, what matters the most isn't justice or making money, it's making sure Lalo isn't pissed at him, that he can do his job, and get Lalo as far away from him as possible.

As far as Lalo's question goes, however, Saul can't help but wince a bit. Because he knows where this is going, and it was his idea to go there in the first place.

"Well, bringing your actual family into court won't be the best idea. I get the feeling they might blow your cover, so to speak."

Aha! So Lalo was right about his guess as to where this was going. He grins as wide as Saul as ever seen him grin, points directly at Saul and snaps his fingers.

"Fake family."

Edited 2023-03-27 21:33 (UTC)

At least Lalo isn't slighted by Saul's suggestion that his real family showing up in a display of support wouldn't be the best idea. Thank God for the small mercies, he supposes. He returns Lalo's point, like the two of them are both on the same page with something simple, like what restaurant they want to order from for lunch. Not, you know, hiring a fake family for a fake man to commit elaborate perjury and get a psychopath freed on bond for a murder he absolutely committed.

He can wrestle with the moral implications of this later.

"Exactly. You wouldn't happen to know anyone who knows anyone that could get us an appearance from Jorge De Guzman's family, would you?"

Hey, Lalo loves his family — in his own fucked up way — but he's not an idiot. If nothing else, he's very aware of how it would look to have a bunch of Salamancas show up after he gave the cops a fake name. Besides, Tuco's in prison, Hector's in the nursing home and as far as the others... eh, better keep them as far away from court as possible.

And hey! Saul's point genuinely delights him.

When Saul asks if he knows anyone, Lalo leans back and just smirks. It's not even one of his usual grins. Just... a smirk.

Does he know a guy?? Who does Saul think he's talking to? Okay, most of his contacts are back in Mexico, not here in the States, but even here, he has enough cartel connections to find somebody.

Lalo rubs his moustache almost gleefully. "Yeah, I think I can maybe rustle somebody up. He'll call you later with the details. But — " Lalo leans forward and slaps the table " — anyway, time for you to run on along home!"

Saul absolutely agrees. It is very much time for him to go home and prep probably one of the worst cases he thinks he'll ever work on, if not mostly because he has no choice but to get one specific verdict. He doesn't want to think about what might happen if he somehow fails to get it.

He shuffles the paperwork he brought in with him so that it fits neatly in a folder, and quickly files it away in his briefcase. He's not going to think about that JMM emblem emblazoned on the briefcase and what he originally wanted it to mean. For now, it's Lalo's way and he knows it. Justice matters most? No. It's just make money, and just get Lalo out of his hair.

"Make sure you dress your best for the judge. But if you need me before then, you know how to reach me."

Hopefully without getting any underlings to kidnap him. A normal phone call will do.

"Oh, don't worry. I'll be in touch."

Lalo winks. As far as he's concerned, they're not done yet. Oh, no. This is just the beginning.

He smiles and makes a 'run along' gesture at Saul.

what sounds better? revenge or popcorn?

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