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specifications) wrote2018-05-01 10:18 pm
specifications) wrote2018-05-01 10:18 pm
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( notes | letters | items | window calling | courtyard shouting | etc. )
( notes | letters | items | window calling | courtyard shouting | etc. )
[ He gives a flat look at that first part. That kind of idealism has no place here, sir. No matter how much a part of Arthur wishes he could believe it.
But he sighs through his nose again, nodding. ]
Alright. If I do this for you, can I ask for a favor in return?
But he sighs through his nose again, nodding. ]
Alright. If I do this for you, can I ask for a favor in return?
[ He looks suddenly far too hopeful at even the mention of assistance. He nods, and tone entirely trusting: ]
Of course, that's only fair. What?
Of course, that's only fair. What?
Edited 2018-05-21 03:40 (UTC)
[ Arthur hesitates for a moment because he's only really mentioned this in passing to "Adam" before now. ]
I'm trying to make notebooks for keeping important information in. About the Titans, research. And I want to try and use them for the clinic some guy in my house is starting. But I need more supplies for that.
[ He misses his Moleskine, okay? ]
I'm trying to make notebooks for keeping important information in. About the Titans, research. And I want to try and use them for the clinic some guy in my house is starting. But I need more supplies for that.
[ He misses his Moleskine, okay? ]
Edited 2018-05-21 16:33 (UTC)
[ Charles nods along with what sounds like a reasonable enough request. He's hankered for a writing medium that wasn't as malleable as wax himself. ]
Do you want me to get you supplies or money or--?
[ He could do with a little less of this house bleeding him out, but at least there's a tangible reason to pay out over this, if it comes to it.
He doesn't say no. ]
Do you want me to get you supplies or money or--?
[ He could do with a little less of this house bleeding him out, but at least there's a tangible reason to pay out over this, if it comes to it.
He doesn't say no. ]
[ Arthur shrugs, ]
Whichever. I gotta go shopping again soon for more supplies.
Before then, I need to scope out the senate building.
[ Try to get an idea of how many guards are around, the schedule. But he makes sure to add, pointedly to Charles. ]
Alone.
Whichever. I gotta go shopping again soon for more supplies.
Before then, I need to scope out the senate building.
[ Try to get an idea of how many guards are around, the schedule. But he makes sure to add, pointedly to Charles. ]
Alone.
[ He does look a little surprised at the insistence, and his first instinct is to take offense. But he bites back the immediate response that threatens to follow and nods.
He'd come to Arthur for a reason; this is not his area of expertise (nor had it been, it seems, of the man he'd asked in the first place), and if he could have done this on his own, he would have. ]
Alright. [ And there's an awkward pause before he turns to leave. ] Thank you.
He'd come to Arthur for a reason; this is not his area of expertise (nor had it been, it seems, of the man he'd asked in the first place), and if he could have done this on his own, he would have. ]
Alright. [ And there's an awkward pause before he turns to leave. ] Thank you.
[ The only he reason he says that, aside from being used to doing research on his own, was that it would be less suspicious for just one guy walking around the building. Two and someone will wonder what's up. A lone vagrant doesn't draw the same attention in this kind of city.
Arthur gives him a nod. ]
Don't thank me yet.
[ He hasn't gotten him in yet. ]
And don't let that other guy know we spoke. Don't talk about this to anyone. It's just between us right now.
[ It may not have needed to be said but it bears saying all the same. Just so they are both at an understanding. ]
Arthur gives him a nod. ]
Don't thank me yet.
[ He hasn't gotten him in yet. ]
And don't let that other guy know we spoke. Don't talk about this to anyone. It's just between us right now.
[ It may not have needed to be said but it bears saying all the same. Just so they are both at an understanding. ]
Even an attempt is worth acknowledgment.
[ Deal with it, Arthur. But he nods toward the last as well. ]
I'm not positive I want to make a habit of conversation [ (Would any of it be true?) ], but mum's the word, as it were.
[ Deal with it, Arthur. But he nods toward the last as well. ]
I'm not positive I want to make a habit of conversation [ (Would any of it be true?) ], but mum's the word, as it were.
[ He gives a shake of his head, ]
Only when the job is done.
[ Because who knows how successful it will even be? He's learned not to assume smooth sailing after the last few years with Dom. ]
Only when the job is done.
[ Because who knows how successful it will even be? He's learned not to assume smooth sailing after the last few years with Dom. ]
[ It takes some time to gather, between the time to do so, the resources to do so, and finding the right places for what he needs. But Charles pushes through it anyway, playing a slow game, even if that "slow" is...well, a crawling speed.
In early April, there will be a package outside of Arthur's door, a bundle wrapped neatly in linen, that upon unwrapping is:
1. a hefty amount of thin, quality papyrus,
2. a vial of ink, and
3. a sculpted metal pen.
With this is a short note with a seemingly innocuous message:
Time to thank you yet? ]
In early April, there will be a package outside of Arthur's door, a bundle wrapped neatly in linen, that upon unwrapping is:
1. a hefty amount of thin, quality papyrus,
2. a vial of ink, and
3. a sculpted metal pen.
With this is a short note with a seemingly innocuous message:
Time to thank you yet? ]
[ Arthur honestly wasn't expecting the gifts and while there wasn't any name on the note, it wasn't hard to guess who wrote it. He almost smiles at it. Almost.
Charles will find a note stuck in his own door later in the day:
You already did. ]
Charles will find a note stuck in his own door later in the day:
You already did. ]
[ Eventually a makeshift "paper" airplane follows in through Arthur's window. It looks a little blunted on a wing (or two) like it's taken more effort than initially visible to get it in.
When unfolded: I had a promise to keep. ]
When unfolded: I had a promise to keep. ]
[ That gets a laugh out of him before he's actually making one to go back over. It took some effort but it glides pretty good across the courtyard.
Once it is unfolded,
Consider it kept.
Written on the very papyrus given to him and the pen. ]
Once it is unfolded,
Consider it kept.
Written on the very papyrus given to him and the pen. ]
[ Beyond an occasional quiet comment through the proceeding of the first day of what seems as if it's going to be a days long debate, Charles saves the bulk of his concern for Arthur's condition. He can see the obvious: the red eyes, the heavy bruising. But he worries, even silently, that the state of those injuries is worse than they look--he'd witnessed them, saw the worst of the blood mingling with the heavy, relentless rain. (And with a tight feeling in his chest, he knows the cold and the wet hadn't helped anyone).
He saves it for a particular moment: when the conversation starts to flag and the lack of sleep after heavy fighting and various injury starts to push past the wall of adrenaline collectively holding the exhaustion off. He doesn't notice at first, as incensed and concerned and wrapped up in this frustrating argument as he is, but eventually, he notices that Arthur has broken off from the dwindling group.
Charles spares a glance back at the fauns, concerned with the turn in conversation and how much of that becomes moot if one (or all) disappear in the night when there's no one around to notice or decline. But his own exhaustion begs, and he has to trust--for the first time--that the gods really are watching. One man can only do so much, and they're all battered and bruised in various states. The fauns included, who seem to be nodding off in kind.
He too breaks off from the remainder of the small group, but instead of heading for his own insula, he turns and crosses into the building that faces his own. Semi-familiar stairs creak under slow steps as he drags himself up to the third floor. He's never been so regretful for the loss of elevators in his recent memory. But he finally crosses that final stair, and without further hesitation, knocks on Arthur's door. ]
Anyone home?
He saves it for a particular moment: when the conversation starts to flag and the lack of sleep after heavy fighting and various injury starts to push past the wall of adrenaline collectively holding the exhaustion off. He doesn't notice at first, as incensed and concerned and wrapped up in this frustrating argument as he is, but eventually, he notices that Arthur has broken off from the dwindling group.
Charles spares a glance back at the fauns, concerned with the turn in conversation and how much of that becomes moot if one (or all) disappear in the night when there's no one around to notice or decline. But his own exhaustion begs, and he has to trust--for the first time--that the gods really are watching. One man can only do so much, and they're all battered and bruised in various states. The fauns included, who seem to be nodding off in kind.
He too breaks off from the remainder of the small group, but instead of heading for his own insula, he turns and crosses into the building that faces his own. Semi-familiar stairs creak under slow steps as he drags himself up to the third floor. He's never been so regretful for the loss of elevators in his recent memory. But he finally crosses that final stair, and without further hesitation, knocks on Arthur's door. ]
Anyone home?
[ There's a grunt on the other side of the door. It's the only answer he will get -- to Arthur's half-awake mind, he thought he had said "go away".
His exhaustion finally caught up with him and, lacking any appetite or any determination to go to the clinic, he used what was left of his energy to head to his room. As far as he was concerned, the rain had mostly washed his cuts out and he had made sure not to land or press them against any surface since. Though he does regret not at least getting some of the remaining snow they still had in the Bacchus insula. ]
His exhaustion finally caught up with him and, lacking any appetite or any determination to go to the clinic, he used what was left of his energy to head to his room. As far as he was concerned, the rain had mostly washed his cuts out and he had made sure not to land or press them against any surface since. Though he does regret not at least getting some of the remaining snow they still had in the Bacchus insula. ]
[ It's acknowledgement enough, though to be fair if he'd heard "go away," he still would have pushed forward as he's doing now. He finds the door unlocked, and knowing that this does directly against decorum, he enters anyway. The door closes behind him with a quiet click. ]
How are you feeling?
[ The question too is quiet, tempered by a month of tense silence, but even more by what he sees before him: Arthur half-passed out, still looking as ragged as he had an hour prior. ]
How are you feeling?
[ The question too is quiet, tempered by a month of tense silence, but even more by what he sees before him: Arthur half-passed out, still looking as ragged as he had an hour prior. ]
[ There's that voice again. His brow creases some but his eyes remain closed (one of them has little choice in the matter). The word is slurred, ]
What?
What?
[ Part of him wonders if he shouldn't just leave now, but the reaction and the look of Arthur's face alone, is not something he can simply leave. That feels worse, paining him more than leaving the rest of his worries in the courtyard below. It's here or it's out there with the fauns until he's bodily dragged away.
He crosses the room, settling as gently as he can at the foot of Arthur's bed. (It looks worse up close). And then asks again: ]
I asked how you were feeling.
[ Which obviously isn't well, but he can't exactly do anything about a nebulous "bad." ]
He crosses the room, settling as gently as he can at the foot of Arthur's bed. (It looks worse up close). And then asks again: ]
I asked how you were feeling.
[ Which obviously isn't well, but he can't exactly do anything about a nebulous "bad." ]
[ He hears the voice again but not the words. Not really. For a brief moment, he sees a flash of his mother by his bed -- a memory from a long time ago. The same brown eyes he has staring down at him and his heart gives a sudden lurch. His eye open and he looks around.
He's genuinely surprised and puzzled to see Charles there. He looks over at the door and then the room again. ]
... I don't remember coming up here.
He's genuinely surprised and puzzled to see Charles there. He looks over at the door and then the room again. ]
... I don't remember coming up here.
I do hate to harp on a point, but-- [ look at you-- ] I suspect that's the work of a heavy concussion at the least.
[ His face screws up a little; this has done little to allay his concern. It answers his question, at least, but it's an answer he'd been hoping--perhaps futilely--against. ]
[ His face screws up a little; this has done little to allay his concern. It answers his question, at least, but it's an answer he'd been hoping--perhaps futilely--against. ]
[ He frowns more at Charles, ]
I'm not a fan of taking opium and I'd rather not start now.
[ Which is the closest thing they have for a painkiller in the clinic. ]
I'm not a fan of taking opium and I'd rather not start now.
[ Which is the closest thing they have for a painkiller in the clinic. ]
That's not what I came up to suggest.
[ And he worries how that would actually come into play with a concussion--he's not a doctor by any means, but it doesn't sound like the most positive mix. That's an awfully strong "solution" for something that ought to simply be monitored.
And, well-- ]
Honestly, after today, I have my doubts about the clinic as a whole.
[ Arthur will get little argument from him on that front. He shrugs, and finally shakes his head. ]
I just wanted to make sure you were...well, as alright as circumstances allow, I suppose. I didn't mean to wake you in doing so.
[ And he worries how that would actually come into play with a concussion--he's not a doctor by any means, but it doesn't sound like the most positive mix. That's an awfully strong "solution" for something that ought to simply be monitored.
And, well-- ]
Honestly, after today, I have my doubts about the clinic as a whole.
[ Arthur will get little argument from him on that front. He shrugs, and finally shakes his head. ]
I just wanted to make sure you were...well, as alright as circumstances allow, I suppose. I didn't mean to wake you in doing so.
After what's happened down there?
[ Because that's the only thing that comes to mind. People's true colors are flashing pretty brightly right now and he doesn't know how to feel about it. It all feels messier than it should be but then that's people. ]
And I've had worse before.
[ Gunshot wounds and all that. ]
[ Because that's the only thing that comes to mind. People's true colors are flashing pretty brightly right now and he doesn't know how to feel about it. It all feels messier than it should be but then that's people. ]
And I've had worse before.
[ Gunshot wounds and all that. ]
Yes, after--
[ He sounds almost thirty years older than he ought to as he punctuates that unfinished thought with a heavy sigh. There's little else to be said about it today. Nothing productive, at least.
He pushes against the mattress then, scooting up just a little closer; if Arthur truly wanted him gone, he would be. ]
I...I also wanted to apologize.
[ He sounds almost thirty years older than he ought to as he punctuates that unfinished thought with a heavy sigh. There's little else to be said about it today. Nothing productive, at least.
He pushes against the mattress then, scooting up just a little closer; if Arthur truly wanted him gone, he would be. ]
I...I also wanted to apologize.
[ He watches Charles but he doesn't move or give any indication he wants the other man to leave. He shouldn't encourage... whatever this is. ]
For what?
For what?
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