001 | video

[mcgill]

[The man seated uneasily in front of the camera probably looks familiar to anyone who knew or knew of Saul Goodman, ex-defense attorney and daytime TV judge extraordinaire. He has the same face, mostly, save for the abundance of hair on his head (which is sticking up just slightly, like he's been exposed to a stiff breeze or, in his case, static electricity) and fewer wrinkles around his eyes than anyone who got close enough to him might remember. And his smile, just like Saul's, is playfully crooked — though it's laced with a nervousness that doesn't really fit the image Saul projected whenever he had an audience. This man isn't as confident as his older lookalike, that much is clear, nor is he as brightly dressed. (A white dress shirt and a bland, striped tie are all that's currently visible.)

But he has that same ol' sparkle in his eye, and he straightens up a bit as soon as he's ready to speak, which is a habit anyone would recognize: that sudden shift from casual to professional Saul made any time he approached the bench or a business meeting.

And as for his voice — that's the same, too.

This is almost definitely Saul Goodman, but:]

Hiya. The name's Jimmy McGill. James, technically, but — I prefer Jimmy.

[He lifts his hands into view. Saul's trademark (fake) Rolex and gold pinky ring are missing, but that's because they're obscured by a pair of heavy-duty electrical gloves.]

I've got a little problem on my hands, pun only halfheartedly intended. [A laugh, one quick huff of air. Saul's laugh: Heh.] Seems the powers that be decided I should have the ability to manipulate power itself. Electricity, I mean. More specifically — [A brief pause, a swallow. He tries to play it off; there's no reason this word should bother him.] Electromagnetism. So, since I have no idea how to control an honest-to-God superpower because they're not really real where I come from, this is... uh, it's an issue. Anyone got any tips? Tricks? Ways to wake up, maybe?

[He smiles again, this time thin-lipped and a little desperate. It looks like he's on the verge of panic.]

Please?

Comments

[shittybirthday]

[ Looks like that lawyer guy. Sounds like him, too, from what Joel remembers. But he seems weirdly different, like... a wildly similar looking, more nervous younger sibling or something.

As for advice on the superhero thing... ]

youre stuck with it
you'll get used to it

[mcgill]

[Oh. Okay. A text message. HE CAN DO THIS. He can touch his communicator without breaking it.

Thanks, gloves.

After a little longer than it might take the average person to respond, because typing with gloves on encourages way more typos than Jimmy's comfortable with:] Thanks for the encouragement, I think.

Do you know anyone who has this same power? Someone I could talk to?

[shittybirthday]

nope
you related to that saul guy?

[mcgill]

[...that Saul guy?

What Saul guy? There's no Saul guy. Not unless —

haha nah that would have been in his file, right??]

Who?

[shittybirthday]

saul goodsomething
cant remember his last name, been a while since i last spoke to him

[mcgill]

[Ways to break your communicator other than shorting out its circuits: dropping it.]

I have a brother, but his name is Chuck.

[shittybirthday]

dont know any chuck
you sure look like him
the saul guy, i mean

[mcgill]

It's probably just one of those familiar face things.

[shittybirthday]

maybe
guess you dress like less of a schmuck than that saul guy did
still pretty uncanny though

[mcgill]

Anything's possible, I guess.

I mean we DID get kidnapped and were given superpowers, so. You know. Life is weird.

[shittybirthday]

my advice - practice your power on things you don't care about damaging. you'll get the hang of it pretty quick.

[mcgill]

That's good advice.

[But not exactly what he was looking for, because mostly he just wants someone to pinch him.]

[shittybirthday]

sure

[ Joel supposes this is the point where he ought to lock the conversation to private just in case. ]

so if youre not saul goodman or whatever, then i guess that means you don't know jesse pinkman

[mcgill]

I don't know anyone by that name, no.

[shittybirthday]

well hes probably gonna think youre that saul guy, too
pretty sure everyone here who remembers him is gonna think that
had his own courtroom tv show here with advertising everywhere, so he was pretty hard to miss

[mcgill]

This place just keeps getting weirder and weirder.

[And he's just gonna go throw up a little now.]