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[specifications]

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[congenitally]

[ He nods quietly and will follow just as much so. Outside of his informant, the information is still sensitive enough that Charles recognizes without issue that it's something to keep quiet.

As much as he wants to help, as amiable as he can be, he knows well the value of privacy. And once upon a time, he'd scarcely had to worry about it. Until now.

Once in the dilapidated bath: ]

I'm very sorry for the runaround. I need some help, but it's best left...discreet.

[specifications]

[ He crosses his arms, shaking his head, ]

It's fine.

[ He understands the need for being discreet very well. Granted, it was usually for his profession. ]

What do you need help with?

[congenitally]

I was told--

[ He starts shifting from one foot to the other, clearly not practiced on the art of actually being clandestine. ]

--That you were someone to talk to if I need someone I can trust. The irony, of course, being I wouldn't trust this source with discretion of any kind that doesn't involve payment or some kind of upper hand.

Please tell me I didn't actually hand him money for nothing.

[specifications]

[ Arthur makes a face at all of this, confused as hell by the vagueness of it all and it shows on his face. He holds up a hand when Charles gets to the end of... whatever that was. ]

What the hell are you talking about? Who did you pay?

[congenitally]

[ Under his breath: ] So "minion" isn't an apt descriptor, thank god.

[ But then he just fixes Arthur with a look, glances up to the "floors" above them, and then back with a "you know who" expression that looks suddenly very tired and not at all as cagey as he'd started. ]

[specifications]

[ His brows go up at that -- or at least what he thinks he just heard. ]

Excuse me?

[ And then he gets a look but he holds up his hands, ]

No, I need more than that. Talk. To. Me.

[congenitally]

[ Charles sighs. Look, he'd tried, alright. But there's a reason he's worried about talking about this in this building. He knows how old walls grow ears. ]

He didn't give me a name. Acerbic. Walks with a cane. Rather incapable of telling much of anything resembling the truth, if my gut feels right.

[ Somehow he still really doesn't envision the man as anything approaching the James Bond he knows. ]

[specifications]

[ Arthur sighs tiredly at the description and reaches up to pinch at the ridge of his nose. ]

Oh god, that guy. You shouldn't have given him money.

[ He straightens up and gestures to the door and the yard beyond it, ]

Never give that asshole money. Because your gut is right.

[ The guy, whoever he was, was not someone Arthur was remotely willing to trust despite them being apart of the same house. ]

He's a liar, an asshole, and if I were to go deeper, manipulative. Or he likes to think he is.

[ It didn't work that well on Arthur and it just annoyed the other man in return. ]

[congenitally]

It's not as if I enjoyed doing it, but I needed an answer. I can't just--This isn't something you can ask publicly. But I couldn't exactly trust anything he said, including giving me you--

It didn't sound like anything you'd consent to.

[ "Minion." Christ.

But Charles pauses; if this is the right time for trust--and he thinks it might be--he's not going to be the man that lies to get what he wants. ]

Look, it's--back home, this is easier. I didn't have to wonder what people thought or felt, I just knew. I don't have any of that anymore and I--

It's...difficult to know what I can trust and what I can't.

[specifications]

[ He holds up his hands to the other man, waiting for him to stop before finally saying: ]

Again, I have no idea what you're talking about with most of this. Just that the guy told you about me. Fine. Whatever. Don't give him any more money.

Second, just tell me what you want me to do.

[ He's not even Touching that... other stuff. Right now. Later. ]

[congenitally]

[ He looks a little taken aback by this, though whether it's not asking for an explanation or bluntly moving straight into business, he doesn't say. There is, however, a slight huff in his voice. ]

I don't want you to do anything. It sounds as if you have enough trouble with people taking credit for your work as it is. I need your help.

[ Which, pedantically, is still doing something. Whatever. He doesn't give Arthur the chance to tiredly ask him to just get to the point, however, as he doesn't take much of a pause before: ]

...I need to break into the Senate.

[specifications]

[ He sighs through his nose because, honestly, it's part of a Point's job to do that. They bring the job together and collect the information everyone else needs. He's used to doing the work. And he already misses it.

But when Charles finally does tell him, Arthur stares at him for a moment before a laugh seems to wheeze out, ]

Seriously? Why?

[ But he's not saying "no". ]

[congenitally]

I can't honestly be the only one around here who's noticed this sort of "live and let live" isn't really working.

[ Lawlessness in American Western Expansion terms is never a thing he's had to legitimately consider, but much of the Complex seems to be taking to it with abandon. ]

Community cooperation starts with responsibility. [ Which, given what's drawn them both here, they're in sore need of. ] But I need to know how it works. Actually see it, not just...read about it.

[ But there's a glint in his eye and he sounds far more excited and present as he explains. ]

We're in Rome. Why are we here if we don't take advantage of it?

[specifications]

[ Arthur finds himself smiling for a whole other reason as he listens to Charles talk. The excitement, while low key, is a bit contagious. Hands on his hips, he nods. ]

You're not wrong. On either account.

[ He looks back to the closed door, ]

They keep expecting us to be... what? An army?

[ He looks back to Charles, ]

That isn't going to happen right now. Everyone spends too much time in their own head, thinking they are more right than everyone else.

[ Arthur included. But at least he can see how much of a disadvantage that is to the overall goal. Maybe they are used to that in their own world (which still sounds crazy) but this place isn't the world any of them know. ]

[congenitally]

A team at any rate. There has to be a reason for the training and close quarters living arrangements. It's...not so different from home in that way at least.

[ But home both includes amenities like heating, and refrigerators, and the neighborhood watch-like phone trees. Or town halls.

They need their town hall. ]

But no, I don't think it is either. Athenian democracy may have had its problems, but modern "democratic" governments cite it as a foundation for a reason, right? Get people involved in their own government, give them a reason to care about it for themselves, and the community emphasis will come around.

[ Hopefully. ]

[specifications]

Pretty sure it's an army if there's to be a war.

[ But he agrees overall. So far, just forcing them to live closely together doesn't seem to doing much but making people more irritable. ]

You're placing a lot of faith in strangers getting along just because we make them sit together and talk.

[ Which will be a whole other issue if Charles really does plan to do this. They can't make everyone participate in this. ]

You know it's going to be guarded, right?

[congenitally]

I have faith in people. Everyone has the capacity to be better; they only need the opportunity.

[ And he leaves it at that. Outliers aren't what society should be judged on as a whole, only how that society treats its outliers.

And he laughs, leaning in to grasp Arthur by the shoulder. ]

Thus why I need help.

[ And a particular set of skills. ]

[specifications]

[ 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?

[congenitally]

[ 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?

[specifications]

[ 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? ]

[congenitally]

[ 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. ]

[specifications]

[ 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.

[congenitally]

[ 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.

[specifications]

[ 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. ]

[congenitally]

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.