First Breakfast (I.D. says Flynn Lambert)

[flynnnotjunior]

[ Flynn is rubbing his eyes as he finishes centring the camera to face him. He smiles though when he's done. ] Uh. Hey. Um, I've never been in a club with a personal network before. I guess it's pretty cool, right? 

Anyway, I guess I should... um actually introduce myself. My name is Flynn. I come from my world's Albuquerque, kinda my whole life, so Florida's kind of a move, even without the, uh... Porter? 

I'm eighteen, and I got a job at uh Puppytown Petting Pound as an Assistant Manager. Zero experience, so that's kinda nuts. Mom taught me how to run a car wash, a little, so I guess I'll figure it out. [ He is... not in the least bit sure if he'll be able to figure it out. ] And you can't go wrong with puppies, I guess. 

Also! Um, if anyone has tips on how to fly... well, I already got crutches, but I kinda don't wanna break my legs anyway. [ It's the principal of the thing? ]

Comments

[flynnnotjunior]

[ There's a snort of the kind of laughter that's cynical and filled with despair. ] Do you honestly think it m…matters? …Do you think there's a …difference between "Man Be comes Meth Dealer, Kills People" and "Pscyho Science Teacher Goes on Meth Rampage 'Cos Cancer"?

[ He shrugs and shakes his head, holding back tears. ] Like, he's my dad, OK? I don't think it's an unfair expectation for him not to be a complete bastard.

[5055034455]

[Whoa, whoa. Shit. Not the waterworks. Not already.

Saul holds up a hand and makes a "slow down" motion.]

Hey, hey. Listen. That's not what I mean. I just wanna make sure you know what it is you're after — you're free to read that book if that's what you want. I know you're gonna do it anyway, 'cause that's what I would do, but my point is: You'll be reading about your dad from the perspective of someone who I, personally, don't trust. The man who wrote that book... he's bad news, kid. He's rollin' in dough right now because he "treated" — [Air quotes. Dramatic ones.] — Walt. Is that the lens you wanna view all this through?

[The answer he's looking for is obviously "no," but that means he needs to offer an alternative.

Swallowing around the lump in his throat, he finishes with:] Or do you wanna talk to someone who actually lived through it all?

[flynnnotjunior]

[ His agitation is clear when he grips his crutches, twisting them. ]

Both. All of it.

I'm... tired of being in the dark.

Told half truths so I couldn't make my own decisions.

I'm not going to be a weapon to be pointed at whoever suits. [ He leaves off the 'you' because he doesn't want Saul to get the idea he's specifically calling him out.

He doesn't actually trust him yet, but he is recognising that he seems to be trying. ]

He did that to Mom, I'm not letting it happen again. [ So don't manipulate him, Saul. ] I'll talk you first, though, if you want.

[5055034455]

[He feels bad for the kid. He really, really does.

And now he's put himself in a position where he has to tell the kid — Walter White's kid — all the shit he did to help his father avoid getting caught.

Saul can't help it; when Flynn agrees, he sighs and runs a hand over his face.]

Fine. But I wanna put one thing out in the open first: Anything I tell you isn't actionable here. You can't get anyone locked up, should you decide that that's what seems fair. You get me?

What happened back home happened there. Now, as far as this place is concerned? I've got my own life. Pinkman's got his own life. We're trying to move on as best we can. All I'm asking is that you swallow that bitter pill and try to save all your anger for therapy, okay?

[flynnnotjunior]

[ He's already shaking his head a little. ] You don't get to decide that. Not after what happened.

You either trust that my reaction isn't going to hurt you and remember what it takes to get me to listen to you before I go and spout all that happened 'back there' to anyone who'll listen, and it takes one hell of a lot, Mr. Goodman, or you don't. And if it does wind up hurting you...

[ He shrugs ]. Actions have consequences. Maybe that wasn't something my dad believed, but it's something he taught me.

I didn't make you come forward. Or Jesse for that matter. I've never lifted a hand against anyone, and certainly not you, in anger. I have had my life thrown upside down by events that I had barely any knowledge of, let alone control!

You don't get to decide how I'm going to respond to what you have to say. Whatever 'involvement' you had with my dad, you owe me that much.

[ There's a kind of brittleness as he echoes Saul. ] Ok?

[5055034455]

[Boy, that sure is a reaction.

Saul wisely keeps his mouth shut while Flynn speaks, looks appropriately somber, and responds in a quiet, gentle tone that says yes, yes, he totally understands, you have a point, kid, and he's listening.]

Okay. But not here, though — not over the network. It's not secure.

[And he needs backup. He needs Jesse.]

How about we do this in person?

[flynnnotjunior]

[ He doesn't respond immediately. He's not really concerned with security because somebody has to care enough to breach it in the first place. And the only people who'd give a damn right now are Saul or Jesse.

That said, he probably isn't finding it easy to be this personal over a network, so he nods. ]

Yeah, ok. There's a square near the apartments. Um. There's a frozen yoghurt stand? How about the tables there. You can see all around and make a quick getaway, I guess.

[ Just covering the bases, because he's not entirely sure where Saul's worries about 'security' are coming from. ]

[5055034455]

[Saul is both impressed and disturbed by Flynn's thinking, there.

Still, he gives the kid a look like, Really? He's almost insulted.]

We're not gonna bolt on you. That said, much as I like froyo, I was thinkin' something a little more private. You wanna come by my place, have a little chat out back in the yard? I'll provide refreshments.

[flynnnotjunior]

[ It's not thinking Saul's going to hurt him that makes him pause, but the knowledge that less is more when it comes to contact with his father's associates and going to Saul's place speaks of more.

But he hasn't been here long enough to know the movements of his roommate and the only other 'private' place that springs to mind is a hotel.

Which is too close to 'illicit affair' territory for him to take seriously.

He sighs. ]

Yeah, ok.

[5055034455]

[The temptation to clap his hands together and bust out his trademark grin is strong, but he resists. Yes, he just made a deal, but considering why the deal was made in the first place?

Not exactly reason for celebration.]

Okay. I'll run it by Jesse and come back to you with a time. Meanwhile, you got any questions for me about this place?

[flynnnotjunior]

[ Well, that's a jerk of a subject change. Flynn's head is practically spinning. He's a sulker, he can't change moods as quickly as Saul can. ]

I don't even know.

[5055034455]

No? Not even about the powers thing?

[Victory.]

Flying, huh? That's pretty cool. Can I recommend a helmet and some elbow and knee pads to get you started?

[flynnnotjunior]

Unless you can fly?

I'm not wearing that. I got enough to carry.

[5055034455]

Hey, fine. You wanna go flapping head-first into the side of a building, that's none'a my business.

[flynnnotjunior]

[ He sighs in exasperation. ] I don't, which is why I was asking advice from people who could actually fly, man.

Pointing my head away from buildings is something I figured out myself though, funnily enough. [ He's not comfortable enough to talk to Saul about his shield power. ]

[5055034455]

[Wow. Jesus.

Teenagers, man. Such attitude.]

Well then. A gold star for you.

[...maybe he shouldn't be antagonistic. Maybe.]

Look, I'm just tryin' to provide my two cents, speaking as someone who's been here for a while.

[flynnnotjunior]

And I'm just trying to… [ He rubs his forehead and pushes out a breath. He looks back at him. ] Be ok, I guess. [ Far too much emotion. ]

[5055034455]

[There's a pause from Saul's end, followed by a quiet:] I know.

[That's all any of them are trying to do.]

I'll be in touch, okay? We'll all meet up and talk soon.

[flynnnotjunior]

[ He appreciates the honesty and nods. ]

Yeah.