Legal Advisory

Aaron Haloua. Chief of Staff to the Vice President of the United States. Democrat. Player.

[eackerman-blog1]

“No sweetheart, I ain’t the secretary. This is actually my office. Can I help you or are you gonna stand there gawpin’ until you catch a fly?”

[aaronhaloua-blog]

Aaron watched with mild amusement as the appropriately cowed individual was dismissed from the office. He even gave a nod and an encouraging smile. Hey, chin up, my man. Maybe one day you won't be a complete fuckin' idiot. Maybe he should have thrown in a bro shoulder thump on the back for good measure.

Presently, Aaron strode into the empty office and said, "Hi, congresswoman. You have a second? The boss has me running around checking in with everyone, you know how it is."

[aaronhaloua-blog]

maygarner:

“Oh–” she said, looking up at Aaron from where she was seated at her desk, his voice pulling her out from a spiral of focus. Her fingertips stayed tucked between the corners of a set of papers, pad of her thumb still wet where she’d licked it to find the edge. “Yes–please, oh my God, you’re a lifesaver,” May said, lifting herself halfway up to reach for it, tops of her thighs pressed against her desk. She motioned towards the chair opposite her own and brought the cup to her lips. The smile on her face was short-lasting as the coffee’s bitterness washed over her tongue. “Mm – oh, it’s strong,” she said, bridge of her nose wrinkled, and set the cup down on her desk. “Surprised you didn’t drink them both, now that the vote’s finally happening – can you believe it?”

“Don’t worry about it,” he said with a kind smile as he took the offered seat. He placed his own cup on the desk and waited for May to appreciate the caffeine for a moment. 

“Yeah, the place I got it from make them really strong,” Aaron sympathized. “It’s good to wake you up, but I can’t drink it straight. Got them to put some random stuff in mine.” He waved a finger at his cup. “But yeah, I thought about it. You’ve been getting all the calls for the last minute meetings with Julian, right?” Aaron sighed and rolled his eyes a little. “Talk about a headache. I get it, I get it--comes with the job. But man, I’m tired of these white folks telling me I got to give them the meeting if I care about this God given country.”  

[aaronhaloua-blog]

freddiereyes:

Freddie shot out her hand in a manoeuvre that would have impressed any teacher from the Kobra Kai dojo, and helped herself from the stranger. Tossing back the espresso like a tequila shot felt like injecting adrenaline straight into her heart. (It was unlikely the caffeine worked quite that fast, but it was mostly psychological anyway.)

“Thanks,” she said belatedly, tilting her head to scrutinise the man she’d treated like a vending machine. Aaron Haloua. Pretty damn unmistakable if you paid for Fox News. “Hi.” Freddie blinked, and the words Vending machine pinged at the back of her head as a reminder. “If I give you five bucks for the coffee, will that make this less awkward?”

No sooner had the offer left his mouth when a hand came out of nowhere and snapped the spare coffee out of his grip. She downed the entire thing in a single chug. If they were in college, maybe Aaron would’ve even whooped--maybe. 

As it was, her enthusiasm entertained him; when she looked back, there was a smile on Aaron’s face. At her offer, he chuckled and shook his head. 

“Got it for free,” he said. “The guy in front of me took my drink and left this one, so they just let me have it. I’m not a huge fan of black, so you’re doing me a favor--so basically: it’s not awkward unless you think it is, and I won’t say no to an extra five bucks if you’res till so inclined.” 

[aaronhaloua-blog]

quicovidal:

“You’re a saint.” No one had ever called Quico grateful, but this was a good place to start – his hand already pressing into the cardboard sleeve, and the warmth that rushed up to meet it, and the dull, grinding headache that only more caffeine could help. He tugged the cup out of Aaron’s hand. “Seriously. I could use three more, even.” 

Desperate didn’t have to mean impulsive. He lifted the plastic lid, and ducked his head to blow across the coffee like a skipping stone, trying to cool it as soon as he could. “Thanks,” he said. An afterthought. “It’s been a long year.”

“Make sure to let my mother know,” Aaron said around his laugh. “She’d be ecstatic to know her baby sprouted a halo.” 

Aaron waved off the thanks. “Hey man, I didn’t even pay for it. Honestly, glad I could get it off of my hands--without having to deal with all the interns trying to hound me for it, that is.” He didn’t even want to think about the discourse that would’ve happened in the office over this single cup of black coffee. 

“I hear that,” Aaron nodded sympathetically. “Don’t worry though--the new one’s just starting.” 

[aaronhaloua-blog]

sentrevisan:

Looks like you need it. Guess how many times he’s heard that in the past nine months.

“Yeah, I do,” Ian says, because it’s what he always says. There’s no point to denying it. He reaches over and takes the spare cup, setting it on the table instead of drinking right away. “No, it’s fine. I prefer it, actually. And,” – he continues as an afterthought – “something about not looking a given horse in the mouth, right?” 

“Look a gift horse in the mouth,” Aaron corrects reflexively, but only because he opened up the end of his sentence in a question. With his hand now newly freed, he held it open and said, “Aaron. Figured two guys sharing a coffee should know each other’s names, right?” 

[aaronhaloua-blog]

“You need a pick me up?” Aaron said sympathetically as he held up the second cup of coffee in his hand. “They gave me an extra by mistake. Looks like you need it. It’s black though--don’t know if you mind.” 

[daily-men]

Understand that we are all co-creators of our respective destinies. (x)

[aaronhaloua-blog]

minnie-walker:

“Of course not,” Minnie smiles easily, accepting the extended hand with a businesslike charm that only politicians and the rich seemed to be able to master. Of course she’d heard of Aaron, and about more than just his politics: Julian Berkeley certainly had a knack for keeping beautiful people in his circle. 

“How are you, Mr. Haloua? Keeping the boss out of trouble, I hope? I’ve heard you have no shortage of talent,” she adds, though it’s not particularly true. “Certainly enough to get my staff members to betray me.”

Aaron’s smile grew ever more brilliant as Minnie accepted him with warmth. He shook her hand firmly, as any professional deserved, but couldn’t help brushing a thumb very slightly over hers. 

“Well, I’m trying,” Aaron chuckled a little. “He runs everywhere trying to take care of everything. You know how it is. Mostly I try and remind him to eat.

“Then you’ve heard more than I have,” said Aaron. “Didn’t even know people talked about me around here. Hope it’s good stuff. And come on now, Ms. Walker: when the VP’s Chief of Staff asks you for something, you’re wont to do it--if you’re a secretary, at least. Don’t give them a hard time; I’ll feel bad.” 

[aaronhaloua-blog]

loklein:

“So, I’m just assuming you’ve never been here before?” Lauren asked, genuinely curious as she stepped into the bustling bar. “It’s the best spot in Washington, but the thing is… some people are turned off because it’s a lesbian bar.” The blonde explained with a shrug. It was her go-to place to hang out after a busy day at work, or with her wife on their date nights. It was somewhere the blonde had always felt accepted, she started attending 30 years ago, and the place hardly changed, except for a few aesthetic touch ups to appeal to the younger patrons. “Don’t worry, though, everyone of all genders and sexualities are welcome here.”

Navigating her way through the crowd, Lauren found some empty seats at the counter. Once she was seated, she pat the seat next to her. “What’s your poison?”

“Ha,” chuckled Aaron as he was addressed. “Thanks for the info. I’m aware.” He was a straight man inside a lesbian bar. If he was white, he was pretty sure he would’ve been kicked out at the door. As it was, he looked particularly out of place--not that he troubled him. He wasn’t here to socialize. He was here to have a good drink. 

“I’ve been here once,” said Aaron as he followed the woman through the crowd. “A while ago. I liked the bar. And the people are nice too, you know,” he added with a mild shrug. 

He took the seat next to her and thought about it for a moment, considering the colorful bottles of alcohol on the back wall, before looking back at her. “You’re the expert,” he said. “Surprise me.” 

[aaronhaloua-blog]

julianberkeley:

At that, Julian laughs— genuinely, which was a rare act in and of itself. I’ve dragged reporters to far worse places, my friend, he thinks, but allows the words to die out in his head. If Aaron knew the good things Julian did, he also knew the bad; all of which remains hidden.

“For someone with such a distaste for the media,” he says, the smile still there. “I’d say you’ve found yourself in the wrong place.” But of course, Aaron knew that already. Where Julian was made for the empty smiles of press releases, Aaron fit best into the darkness of all that was backstage. In politics however, trouble is those often collide. “Camilla’s almost three now. She doesn’t cry for no reason anymore. Only if you refuse to play princess with her,” — which is only half a joke, bent to gauge a reaction — “so if you’re unwilling to, say it now and save us both the trouble.”

Julian nods slowly as if saying, Right. “I understand that. Which is why I never asked again.” That, and it traumatized me for years. “But if it counts for anything, I still eat all the same shit as before.” Which a higher price tag, sure, but that had little to do with taste. It was much more closely linked to power instead. 

Julian retrieves the phone he had left unattended atop his desk, typing something — short, direct — into the brightly lit screen. “There.” Sent. “I just texted Elise. You can’t back out, now.”

Aaron returned the smile with his own. “You know the only reason I’m here is because you asked.” If it was anyone except Julian, Aaron wouldn’t have just walked out by now--he wouldn’t have joined this circus in the first place. Not only was Julian a friend, but he was guaranteeing something great and grand in the complex mechanics of their government. 

“Princess,” repeated Aaron. “She’s the princess, right? Not me? Because I’m not putting on a tiara--especially if you’re in the room.” 

He watched as Julian reached for his phone and sent a quick message. With a triumphant press of his thumb, he looked up and announced Aaron was officially committed. 

“Back out? From dinner at the Veep’s? Hell no,” Aaron grinned before rising. “Then, I’ll see you tonight. Let me know when I should come by. Want to make sure you guys have enough time to fluff up the couch pillows and everything.” 

[aaronhaloua-blog]

minnie-walker:

”Now, listen– I don’t know where you’re getting your information from, but I never said I was voting against this little energy bill Mrs. President has written up,” Minnie replies, voice sweet as honey. There’s a fire behind her eyes. “But, if you would like to discuss the effect of government involvement in the business sector, we can go right ahead and schedule a little appointment with my secretary.”

Whoever Representative Walker was speaking to looked appropriately cowed, and they mumbled something about yes, they would like to make an appointment, and thank you very much for your time, ma’am. Aaron had to keep himself from grinning too hard. 

“Am I interrupting something?” said Aaron, who knew perfectly well that the preceding conversation had very much ended. “Hello, Representative Walker. Don’t know if you’re familiar with me. I’m Aaron--VP Berkeley’s Chief of Staff.” He stuck out a hand and gave a brilliant smile. 

“Hope I’m not keeping you from anything important,” Aaron continued. “Spoke to your secretary earlier. Don’t get mad at them, by the way; kind of wheedled out where you were.”

[gael-garcia]

Mahershala Ali in Kicks (2016)

[aaronhaloua-blog]

julianberkeley:

To Aaron’s PR, Julian corrects: “Ben.” He should know by now he was far more than just a title. Ben was, most likely, the sole reason why Julian sat behind this desk now, the words Vice President spelled out under his name. “And that’s not what I meant. Your news are the best thing I’ve heard today after Elise’s news. Nothing matters more to me than my children, you know that.” 

Where the outburst of humor came from, Julian didn’t know. He was always one to appreciate Aaron’s smile, but not in matters such as this. It wasn’t funny– it was their careers. Their future. At that, Julian forces himself to smile, a monosyllabic ha the most laughter he could offer.

“Of course, don’t tell people that,” he says. “May, mostly.” If she couldn’t swallow murder, this probably wasn’t too far off. 

Julian smiles again, more genuinely this time: “Management’s perfect.” 

The offer catches him off guard, though it shouldn’t have. They shared the dynamic of boss-employee now, but they were only friends once. Good friends, he might even say. Much as they hadn’t forgotten, it did seem to get somewhat pushed onto the back of the closet, all sorts of political junk concealing it well. 

What will Leon think– he finds himself wondering, borderline worried. He likes you as you are now. With no friends besides him. 

“Yeah,” he still says, that smile still there. It almost wavers– Don’t ruin it. Almost is the word. Julian was far too good at pretending not to keep his expression in check. “I miss that.” A beat. “You could come over for dinner? Or I could come over; I don’t remember if you like kids or not. But then again, I’ve known you from when you were what– twenty? A few things have changed since then.” Speaking of– “Did your cooking get any better?” 

To be frank, Aaron didn’t give a shit about Ben. Ben’s role was PR, and that’s how Aaron remembered him by. Aaron didn’t set aside the majority of his life to get along with Ben. Now, does Ben do good work? Indisputably. Does Aaron appreciate what Ben does? Of course. Does he care about the guy? No. 

But Aaron didn’t say any of this to Julian because he didn’t need to hear it. He just raised his hands in mild surrender and said, “My bad. Ben.” Hopefully he’d remember the name next time PR came up. 

Julian didn’t seem to find the humor where Aaron did, but that didn’t really bother him. Aaron always did seem to smile more than Julian did. Perhaps he simply found the irony in everything. 

“I’ll come over,” said Aaron. “I don’t want the Vice President of the United States dragging reporters to my front door. Kids are fine, as long as I get to eat and don’t need to take care of them when they start crying.” 

Then, Aaron flashed a grin. “Hey man, relax; you were asking for an actual meal after me living off years of instant ramen and take out. I’ve gotten better--but maybe not good enough for the VP himself.” 

[aaronhaloua-blog]

eliseberkeley:

“I think it is, too,” Elise agrees, her tone almost dreamlike in response. She watches as Camilla smiles up at Aaron (she, too, inherited Elise’s mother’s ability to charm everyone). 

“He has a plan for everything.” She always regarded Julian through a lens of romance– she tended to do that with most things in life, blotting out the bad however she could spin it– and now the baby only seemed to intensify it. It helped that Julian was looking at life through a whole new lens, too, waiting on Elise hand and foot and fawning over their future child in a way only he could. She loved it. 

“He told me once that he knew we would be married on the first day we met,” she says as they walk through the store. Whether or not Aaron cared about the story was unimportant; she was simply happy to tell it. “I was only hoping. Though my mother had something to do with it, too. She charmed him– or he charmed her–” Elise laughs. “Probably a bit of both. It’s hard not to be, by either of them. It’s a bit distracting, really.”

“Ha,” Aaron chuckled a little as Elise recounted the story. “You know what? I believe it. Julian always knows what’s going to happen--probably because he’s the one that’s making it happen.” It was like that in college, and clearly it never changed. If Julian’s prediction was wrong, he made it right. It was convenient, Aaron felt--most of the time. 

“Julian definitely has a way about him,” Aaron agreed with a polite smile. “I don’t stick around a lot of people, but I stick to Julian.” And Aaron had congratulated him for that--multiple times. Aaron placed his loyalty in very few people, indeed, and Julian was one of those select few. There were good reasons for this. Aaron had met lots of charming, witty, charismatic people in his life. But Julian had vision and ambition. It was--dare Aaron say--fun to be part of it all. Having a first row seat to view the action unfold. 

“Anyways, you don’t need to tell me about plans. He lays them on me all the time. I sometimes think he thinks about them right until he goes to sleep at night.” 

[aaronhaloua-blog]

hc + music

headcanons !

Aaron grew up with and listens to old school rap and rock. He also listens to some blues and has a mild taste for jazz, although he doesn’t actively seek out the latter. He does have current artists in addition to the old ones that he likes. Naturally, he’s followed Jay Z since he was a kid. He also enjoys Nirvana, Kendrick Lamar, and FKA Twigs. Occasionally he’ll listen to some mainstream song because, let’s admit it, they’re usually catchy, but he wouldn’t say he’s a follower of pop. 

[aaronhaloua-blog]

julianberkeley:

Julian does a double-take on himself, reconsidering his own words. “Right after Elise’s news that she’s pregnant, of course.” 

Then, he’s forced to regard Aaron for a moment longer, his gaze alone saying more than he could summon up with words. It shouldn’t be a surprise that Aaron doesn’t know the full extent of his plans, but it is. While Aaron knew him well, it was his first year knowing politician Julian Berkeley – who was wildly different from his human counterpart. 

“It’s important to me that it fails,” Julian says then, serious all of a sudden. “The bill as it is now. It needs to fail.” And if it went against his principles, then so be it. Politics was made of sacrifices, after all. “That’s Theresa’s bill. Then, after it fails, we’ll come to save the day with a new – and better – version of it. Only then it can succeed; with my name on it.” 

And that would be the headstart worthy of a President.

A beat. So much, my friend, he’s thinking, but can’t bring himself to say it. The things I have in mind for us… 

“No,” is what he tells Aaron instead. “If you don’t have a problem with what we’re doing now,” – and by that he means Berkeley-Solis 2020 mora than he does the failed bill – “then I think that’s all.” 

“Oh, sure. Figured you’d have contacted PR about that already. I can get in touch with them, if you want.” Whether or not Aaron noticed or cared that Julian seemed to think of Elise’s pregnancy as an afterthought was unclear. 

Aaron’s smile faded a little, then, as Aaron’ tone became much more serious. He listened carefully, and when Julian finished, he couldn’t help but laugh. It was so classically corrupt, so ironically mainstream political TV drama, that Aaron found it hilarious. He was living in a world that was different from his old one. It was clear he had to think differently, as well. 

“Of course it is, of course it is!” Aaron chuckled and settled back down. “My bad, Mr. Vice President. Of course it needs to fail; if it doesn’t have your name stamped on it, nice and hot, of course it’s not good enough.” 

The grin was back on Aaron’s face as he leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms. “Problems? No, I don’t have any problems. If you don’t have any problems with the management, at least.” 

He paused, then, and said after a moment, “You down for a lunch or a dinner or something? Don’t think we’ve done something like that since I came over.” 

[aaronhaloua-blog]

julianberkeley:

“I’m not being official about it,” he says, the faintest trace of mockery underlining the words Aaron had used. “I’m asking this as your friend, and not your boss. This wasn’t what you signed up for after law school, so I’d understand if a year in you decided this,” – the political game, that is – “isn’t for you.” It would be a pained loss, but Julian would accept it nonetheless; Aaron was the best lawyer he knew, perhaps only after Madam President herself or just as savage. Such knowledge wasn’t required for the job, but did it ever come in handy. That, and a friend– loyal, above all else – is the added bonus to the campaign-ready package that was Aaron Haloua. “It isn’t for most people.” 

So when Julian gets his answer – the answer he wanted to hear, but not expected necessarily –, he grins wide. “That is,” Julian starts, still smiling, “the best thing I heard today.”

“I think I might just focus on the reform bill for right now.” Even if facing Aaron, Julian’s eyes dart down for just long enough as an indication that he might in fact be talking to himself. But soon his gaze is back on Aaron, alert as always, looking for back-up. “If it turns out the way I want it to, then I’ll get a head start to the campaign.” If people – both voters and politicians alike – see what he can do as Second Best, then they might get ideas of what he can do years ahead and with a nation under his name. “And if we can get a head start for Solis, too, that’d be great.”

Aaron smiles a little at the words. Friend. He wonders how many people Julian can say that so genuinely to. Aaron knows that he doesn’t have a lot. Sure, he’s friendly, talkative, and can be sociable when he has to be, but he certainly doesn’t have many people he considers friends. In this way--like many ways--he and Julian are quite similar.

“Best thing the Vice President of the United States has heard today?” Aaron says, putting a hand to his chest. “I’ll make sure to get myself something special for dinner--on you, obviously.” 

At last, Aaron takes a seat in the chair across from Julian, crosses his legs, and folds his hands on top of them, all business. He is used to Julian taking moments in conversation to think to himself, and waits patiently. 

“Whatever you want,” said Aaron. “I think that’s smart, too; show everyone you’re committed to it, that it’s important to you.” He nods in agreement; it would be a good start to a campaign. At the same time, it is important for it to succeed; it could also be a sour start to Julian’s presidential run. 

“You got it,” Aaron continues. “Reform and Solis. I’ve already had people on it, but I’ll make sure to emphasize that it’s important, put it at greater priority now. Anything else I should know?”