neededforger | (no subject)

Eames could have gone back to Mombasa, he knew he could have, and he could have gone right back to what he'd been doing when Cobb came to find him. But he'd decided not to, after all, it had been a while since he'd been stateside, and he didn't have anyone breathing down his neck (yet) and it had also been a while since he'd gone to visit his mum, so he figured he'd stick around for a while, do some sightseeing.

The first thing to do, after debarking, and being careful not to pay attention to any of his compatriots, at least not actively, and never with more than the faint, gentle recognition of people who'd just spent more time in a plane together than most people spent together at work in a day. He paged through his phone, checking his funds, not at all surprised to find that Saito was a man of his word, and they'd already been paid.

The next thing he did, while waiting for his checked baggage to come around on the carousel, was to check mid-range hotels in the area, looking for one that had a week's vacancy at such short notice, since that was the minimum he was going to need to wait for the world to settle again and start looking for another job. Booking didn't take long either, which he was pleasantly surprised by.

That evening he found himself in the restaurant down the block from the hotel, enjoying a celebratory steak dinner, and collecting details. The way that woman folded her hands, the way that man held his knife and fork, the way the bartender smiled at one of the waitresses. Each of these, and others, were stored away for later perusal, practice, and eventual use. He didn't always have to forge someone in particular, sometimes he just had to be a person other than who he was, background, security and observation and those little details could make or break a character.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

littlspecificty

"For one thing, it isn't professional. And another, I would be too tempted to shoot you on the job." Yes, Arthur has thought of this. These were his reasons why he hadn't been partners with Eames before despite being and living together.

From:

neededforger.livejournal.com

That second response was more what he'd been expecting, though the first puzzled him, and so he asked: "How would it be unprofessional? There's plenty of teams in our line of work made up of couples." He knew better than to bring up Dom and Mal, but he continued, "There's a chemist and a forger I've worked with once or twice who work together more often than not, though... their relationship isn't exactly what I'd call stable, volatile would be more accurate, so they really aren't the best example."

From:

littlspecificty

Arching an eyebrow, "Oh? And we are?"

Shaking his head again, "You've seen what this job can do to couples..." He didn't want to mess up again and he certainly didn't want to end up like Dom and Mal.

That realization, though, came as a bit of a surprise to him... But once it was there, he knew it was true and it settled itself firmly.

From:

neededforger.livejournal.com

"What? Stable? Hardly. But we'll get there, eventually." He had no doubt of that, which surprised him a little, he didn't generally aver things like that unless he was positive of them. The fact that he seemed so certain about it actually gave him pause for a moment, but he shook it off with a shrug, replying: "But if you think we're better off not, I'll trust your instinct on it."

From:

littlspecificty

Arthur looked at him, a bit skeptical, "You're very optimistic in that thought."

"And I know becoming partners would seem like the logical choice but..." Shaking his head, "We're just starting back in this kind of relationship. I don't... I don't want to fuck it up with putting something like that on it, too." He didn't like to admit it but he felt, since just coming out and saying what he was thinking worked in the elevator, maybe it would help prevent them from having even further misunderstandings?

From:

neededforger.livejournal.com

"Is there a reason I shouldn't be?" He replied to the first, before nodding at the explanation, "It makes sense, though I'm not going to completely rule out working together. After all, we are the best at what we do, it would be silly not to think that someone who can afford the best is going to want to hire us. Eventually."

From:

littlspecificty

Arthur ended up leaning against the arm of the couch on his side, propping an arm up on it. That argument did make sense, too, but... Arthur just had too many reservations about doing that yet. He didn't really respond, was too busy trying to let it sink in.

Hell, he hadn't even thought he'd be restarting this with Eames - it just seemed a little too sudden [to Arthur] to add him as "business partner", too.

From:

neededforger.livejournal.com

Eames was glad to see the other man relaxing a little, or at least seeming to. At the silence he arched both brows again, just a little, head tilting once more, "What's going through that pretty little head of yours, Arthur?"

From:

littlspecificty

Arthur gave a slight glare to the other man, his heart not really in it, but answering with, "None of your business."

There were times when he could be slightly petulant; remember, he was the more spiteful of the two.

From:

neededforger.livejournal.com

He laughed once more, shaking his head again and settling himself more comfortably again, "Fine, don't tell me, I'll just guess. Bound to be more entertaining that way."

From:

littlspecificty

"Hmph. You can try. But then I can always lie and say you're wrong every time." Oh yes, far more spiteful.

From:

neededforger.livejournal.com

There was another, fuller laugh, "Well that's true, I suppose, but would you?" He shook his head then, "Don't answer that, you would. I know you."

From:

littlspecificty

Arthur couldn't help it; he actually laughed.

But when he sobered, not looking at Eames but his voice indicating his sincerity, "I wouldn't lie where it mattered." He knew that and meant it with all his heart.

From:

neededforger.livejournal.com

It was good to hear that laugh again, one of those things that Eames hadn't really realized how much he'd missed it until he got it back again, and mostly unexpectedly. Though, that was the way Arthur's laugh usually was, even more rare than those few true smiles.

He nodded at the response, "Ah, just for fun and profit then. I see how you are." There was still amusement in his own tone, but there was sincerity there as well. He knew Arthur meant it and just knowing that warmed him.

From:

littlspecificty

The smile stayed on his face, turning to the other man, "Yes, my fun and profit with your porn and spite. An equal match. In most cases."

From:

neededforger.livejournal.com

"We do make quite a pair. If it weren't for physics and law enforcement we'd be unstoppable." A pause then, just for dramatic tension before he added, "Oh, wait..."

From:

littlspecificty

Arthur snorted, leaning back on the couch arm, shaking his head. "You put Oscar Wilde to shame, Mr. Eames. Truly." The smile just stayed there. A part of Hell must be freezing over...

From:

neededforger.livejournal.com

"Bite your tongue." Was the response, Eames managed, if barely, to look appalled, though it dissolved into another smile a moment later, shrugging one shoulder, "Though really you ought to leave that sort of thing to the professionals. Such as myself."

From:

littlspecificty

"I would gladly do that. If you were actually any good at it." He even clicked his tongue, just to be further contrary.

From:

neededforger.livejournal.com

"Oh, so now it's my fault that you hardly ever let me practice?" He asked, brows both arching once more.

From:

littlspecificty

His brows now arch up, "If you call that practice. What kind of smart-ass would I be if I let you get a good jab in?"

From:

neededforger.livejournal.com

His smile was just a little wry and just a little predatory, likely it was an expression Arthur was familiar with, he had been, once upon a time, "Practice biting, Arthur, not verbally sparring with you, as delightful as that is."

From:

littlspecificty

Oh, Arthur definitely recognized that expression. And what it usually led to. It sent another tingle down the back of his neck and even in his stomach to the point right above his groin. And that was his signal to go.

With his own wicked little smile, "And as delightful as this has been, I must take my leave. " He got up and walked towards the door.

"It has been a very... interesting day and I am very tired from it. Not to mention everything that came before it."

From:

neededforger.livejournal.com

He laughed softly at that, mostly because he knew full well what effect the expression had on the other man, or at least, the effect it used to have, though he was pretty sure that hadn't changed.

Shaking his head he unfolded from his comfortable sprawl, "Of course, I'll walk you out. Was thinking of doing some sightseeing tomorrow, if you'd care to come along."