( feb catch-all )

[specifications]

who: arthur
what: feb catch-all for tdm prompts and w/e else gets added
when: the month of february
where: all over the quarantine, jungles, etc
warnings: will add if needed



[ Multiple starters will be in the comments labeled open or closed as needed. If you're wanting something, you can PM me at this journal. ]

Comments

[specifications]

[ Dryly, ]

And you're not going to tell me what that "something" is?

[personifications]

[ Eames rolls his eyes. No sense of adventure in this one at all. ]

No, I'm not.

[ He's not entirely sure Arthur would say yes if he did. Hell, he's not sure he'll get one in any case, but it's at least worth the try. He's not going to swallow pride when it's still wounded and healing over for just anything, not when Arthur is seemingly still so intentionally distant.

This is important. ]

[specifications]

[ Now it's time for Arthur to roll his eyes in return, sighing heavily and looking back at his table covered in books. They aren't going anywhere. And it's not actually pressing. ]

Fine.

[ He looks back to Eames, ]

I'm assuming you mean right now?

[personifications]

Better than never.

[ He doesn't want to sound demanding, but there is a measure of impatience to it. This is, apparently, simply what life is now, this place, and no one here is getting any younger.

If he's going to settle down, he's going to do it the way he's always meant to. (Some of those things are just more easily realized than others). ]

Don't look at me like that, it'll be fun. You could use some.

[specifications]

[ He wrinkles his nose at Eames before grumbling under his breath as he closes the door almost entirely so he can go get his shoes and jacket. He's still grumbling something as he opens the door again, ready to go and locking the door.

He gestures for Eames to start walking. ]

Lead the way. Since you won't tell me anything.

[personifications]

[ And so he does, leading them out of the complex with that same satisfied smirk. ]

I promise it's not going to kill you.

[ But he doesn't give much more than this, even as they eventually make it to the center of the Quarantine and the market area surrounding the political heart of the city he hasn't yet ventured into. They pass several establishments from food to clothing to various other kitsch shops, and as they move on, it becomes more apparent that Eames is after something very specific.

He doesn't start to pause until distant sounds begin to mix with the general bustle. Distant sounds that are awfully close to that of a bark. ]

[specifications]

[ He gives a less than impressed look to Eames' back as he follows. He's heard that kind of proclamation before and he's just waiting for the next shoe to drop. And it's only when they stop at the pins with puppies separated into their various breeds that Arthur finally gets it. ]

Seriously?

[personifications]

Deadly so.

[ He's laughing. The one thing he had expected: Arthur taking this far too seriously, and it seems he wasn't too far off. But he's not to be denied or swayed by that question; he's already perusing. ]

I can't very well pick one on my own, can I?

[specifications]

[ And it's probably typical that, before he can even think better of it, he's blurting out: ]

A dog is a huge responsibility! Have you ever owned one before?

boi

[personifications]

[ He turns away from a group of puppies that look to be some approximation of beagle and gives Arthur a pointed roll of his eyes. ]

If I needed a parent, I'd have made up with mine years ago, thank you.

[ It's a slip. It's more than he means to say aloud. And yet, it's not all that surprising, given his own tendency to not stay in a single place for too long. ]

Unless you'd like to go into why you think I can't manage, hm?

it's a valid question okay

[specifications]

[ He isn't expecting the slip any more than he expected Eames to still have parents. But then it's not something he gave much consideration to before. For as much as the other man wants to act like Arthur keeps himself closed off, Eames isn't much better when it comes to his past. Still, he doesn't comment on it. He crosses his arms in front of his chest and sighs through his nose. ]

If you want me to be honest: you've never seemed like the type. You never stay in a place for long and a dog needs more stability than that.

[ He looks down at the pin with terriers zooming around each other, ]

Especially a puppy.

[ He had tried several times to convince his mom to get him one, to no avail. He had wanted one for most of his childhood but gave up on the notion when he set out on his own at sixteen. Mentally repeating the cons of owning a dog helped squash any fleeting desire over the years. ]

huff

[personifications]

[ The skepticism doesn't cease, even when he has to admit Arthur has something of a point. He knows well enough that it needs stability, and that he has none. If he'd chosen to settle down and remain content with local theater and his hometown, perhaps it would have been viable.

But he hadn't and it hadn't. The fact that he's now found himself coming back around to that role is not lost on him. But he knows more about himself now. The world, too. (Or he had). A man does not have to remain any one thing. All the world's a stage, and all.

He shrugs. ]

And I haven't had one to now, have I?

[ The closest he's come of late had been Yusuf's bloody cats, and even that's something of a stretch when they hadn't been close. Not any more so than any man and his dealer, in any case. He's seen Yusuf's rugs up closer than he likes to remember, but "friend" is a distant consideration he's not sure he'd use.

He doesn't consider this strained relationship with the man's cats a great regret. ]

[specifications]

[ He gives Eames another look before he looks back at the puppies they stopped at. He shakes his head, ]

You don't want a terrier. You got too small a space and they have too much energy. They'll destroy everything.

[ He turns and walks down the other side of the pins lined up, hands moving to his hips as he looks. ]

[personifications]

[ Ah, now that's better. He hums in approving consideration, even as he stoops down to make a face at the terriers anyway. They bounce around with a sort of energy he envies--hell, he'd have envied that as a child--which speaks to the animals being treated well. It's a better sign than some he's seen.

Back home, he may not have adopted a pet himself, but if a pet store, farm, or other opportunity presented itself.... He's seen much, much worse than this, in any case.

But Arthur seems to move along, and he hangs back to watch both the man and the dogs; Arthur has always been methodical and analytical. He hadn't expected less. ]

[specifications]

[ He walks by what he assumes are Pomeranians and other toy dogs. Not as bad as the terriers but noisy and probably not what Eames was wanting. He considers the bulldogs and their squished faces.

He waits for Eames to come over before saying, ]

They drool a bit and can be stubborn and huffy but if you can stand that...

[ He shrugs, ]

It's an option.

[personifications]

Oh, so like you?

[ It's not entirely serious, but then again, if it fits... ]

[specifications]

[ He barely refrains from huffing through his nose at that. He glances over at Eames again, ]

Except there's little chance of me pissing on your floor.

[ And with that, he's moving onto the next pins. Those breeds are larger, automatic out. As long as Eames lives in the private housing, it's not a good option. Though he does stop when he thinks he recognizes another breed. He bends down to get a closer look and almost smiles at the barking and whining. ]

Pit bulls.

[personifications]

[ He's still enamoured with the bulldogs strutting around and falling over each other as Arthur moves on. He's on the brink of considering picking one up when his voice calls out and his focus is pulled away.

It's will some (minor) reluctance that he pulls away and joins him farther into the room at the pen of scrappier looking, mostly blue-gray puppies that remind him a fraction of the terriers they'd passed earlier. ]

You think?

[ The question is wholly sincere, lacking the derision or levity of their banter thus far. His attention then shifts to the puppies themselves who are all quick to whine over one-another and shove each other out of the way for individual attention. ]

[specifications]

[ Arthur gives another shrug, reaching down to rub one of the puppies' heads and it leads to two others coming over to try and nudge the other one of the way. ]

They get bigger than a bulldog but they are loyal and protective, easier to train, and very affectionate.

[ As Eames can see with the whining puppies trying to lick and nuzzle at Arthur's hand. ]

[personifications]

[ He gives a soft, hidden sort of smile at the explanation, an expression that broadens as he watches Arthur interact with the puppies. He makes a quick decision then, reaching into the pen to pick up one of the smaller puppies that keeps getting shoved out of the way. It's quick to yip and nuzzle both, clamboring to try and crawl up Eames' arm.

The idea of the dog growing is a daunting prospect; a pitbull is usually bigger than he'd expected, but as the puppy is eventually wrangled and nestled in his arms (for the moment, at least), that seems a small, distant consideration. ]

The reputation doesn't bother you at all, hm?

[specifications]

[ Arthur straightens back up, leaving the other puppies to whine and bark in protest. Shaking his head, ]

That reputation belongs squarely on the shit owners, as far as I'm concerned. Their nature is more gentle than people think. It always has been.

[ He demonstrates again by reaching over to the puppy Eames is holding and rubs a finger along the small muzzle. The puppy tries to lick at his finger. Not bite. (Though with one this young, teething hasn't happened just yet.) ]

[personifications]

[ The answer makes an astonishing amount of sense, given what of Arthur he's seen, but that rationality blindsides him when he's shaken out of focus on the dog by the adamant declaration.

He takes it back: this is far more like Arthur. A product of a tragic upbringing and not near enough trust. Sentimentality Eames is positive is better left unshared.

Instead, Eames pivots, as if the question (and the response) hadn't been the affirming declaration he knows it to be. ]

You know, I always took you more for cats, but she really seems to like you.

[specifications]

[ He snorts softly at that, completely oblivious to any conclusions Eames has come to on his own. He gives the pup's nose a little boop with his finger before taking his hand back. ]

Cats don't like me.

[ He pulls the sleeve of his jacket up enough to show the inside of his right forearm. Eames may have noticed the small group of scars there. White, faded and easy to miss for anyone not looking. ]

Getting a set of claws in your arm at six is a pretty good way to ensure you won't want one later on in life.

[personifications]

[ Unexpected. He frowns and then turns back to the puppy, holding her up as she tries to lick him. ]

Cats don't like anybody, darling. Never did like them.

[ He then holds the puppy out to Arthur. ]

[specifications]

[ Arthur hesitates for a moment, the excuse of not wanting to hold her on his tongue. But she turns her head to look at him and any and all resolve dissipates completely. He carefully takes the puppy from Eames and holds her against his shoulder. Much the same way he did with Philippa.

The puppy squirms and whines some but his hand rubs soothingly up and down her back, applying just so much pressure, and her eyes close in contentment. ]