i see your star

[falsify]

[Eames and his mother aren't so similar at first glance. Some people might accuse him of being posh, (simply for sounding vaguely middle class, he'd wager,) but he's not gentle or delicate unless he needs to be. Something about him that's casual, that hints he's not afraid of getting in the muck and dirt. His mother, on the other hand, is refined. Poised and elegant in the way she holds herself. Really it's no wonder she's a muse when she looks like a painting come to life: Vibrant red hair that cascades in large curls even from the hasty ponytail it's pulled into, bright green eyes that glitter with knowledge and mischief. Accent just pronounced enough that the Irish lilt enhances the melodic timbre of her voice. Where Eames passes easily for human, she is ever so slightly inhuman. Not enough that it raises alarms, but enough that those in the know might see her for what she is.]

[One way they're extremely alike, however, is the way they argue. The family resemblance is uncanny in the rhythm of it, the sarcasm interspersed with sharply pointed comments. The way she raises her eyebrows and mockingly asks, "oh, should I read your mind next time?" Could easily be mistaken for having come from Eames himself if he weren't standing across from her, rolling his eyes.]

[So if someone fancied letting themself into Eames' home for whatever reason, this is what they'll be greeted with. Eames and his mother standing in the living room, arguing about god knows what.]

Comments

[specifiercity]

[Arthur stutters a little and then clears his throat, at a clear loss as to what to do. His cheeks are slightly hot at the thought of being special to Eames, but he's really trying to ignore all that.]

[falsify]

You're scaring him.

[Eames pipes up from his chair, at least some degree of actual concern in his voice, but he quiets down when he's shushed and rolls his eyes again.]

"Arthur, was it? What is it that you do?

[specifiercity]

I'm, uh...

[Wow she just shushed Eames.]

I'm a bounty hunter.

[falsify]

"How exciting." [She's a lot more touchy than Eames, for the curious. She brushes a knuckle along Arthur's cheek and tilts her head in thought.] "Is that how you met?"

[specifiercity]

[Is Eames' mother coming on to him? What is happening.]

Uh, yeah. We were trading information, I think.

[It's been a few years so the details are hazy. Especially when he feels like he's being interrogated.]

[falsify]

[She's just Like This, it's fine.]

"So... You met through work." [S I G H] "How... Oddly normal."

[specifiercity]

[Arthur opens his mouth to say something as if he's offended.]

I... guess so...

[He's a vampire hunter having casual gay sex with a centuries old fae he doesn't see how that's normal.]

[falsify]

Okay, okay. [Eames stands up and comes over to the couch so he can take his mother's hand and pull her up. She stands and brushes her clothes down with a huff, and Eames gives Arthur an apologetic frown.] I'm sorry about her.

"-- I'm just trying to get to know your paramour here."

[She's protesting, but not hard as Eames ushers her into the kitchen or at least like. Away from Arthur.]

[specifiercity]

[Paramour, god. Arthur relaxes against the back of the couch and takes a sip of his coffee as he just recovers from what just happened. Maybe he should just leave right now. Would that be rude? That would probably be rude.]

[falsify]

[Eames comes back after a minute or two, alone for now and looks at Arthur. He's a little amused, but he's also trying to be nice.]

You okay?

[specifiercity]

[Arthur just kind of rolls his eyes and doesn't dignify that with a response. He's a little flustered but it's nothing paricularly traumatizing.]

Why is your mother here?

[falsify]

I, uh. [Ahem. He leans against the wall and glances away for a moment.] I called her after we got back.

[specifiercity]

Oh.

[Well that's... Fine. Okay. Makes sense. He almost gets up to touch Eames, but he stays put.]

Honestly, I can leave if you wanna be alone.

[falsify]

No, it's fine.

[He sighs, listening to the sounds of somebody helping herself to a cup of tea in the kitchen.]

If you want to stay, I'll try and get her to ease up, it's just... [s i g h] She can tell something happened, I think it's got her feeling protective.

[specifiercity]

Over you? Does she know you?

[It's a gentle joke as he stands up, stepping forward to put his hand on Eames' arm.]

She seems like fun. I wanna be here, I just don't want to interrupt.

[falsify]

[He breathes out a soft laugh and shakes his head.]

I'm more worried about you than anything. She's, uh. She's intense sometimes.

[specifiercity]

I can take it.

[He looks down at his hand.]

I just wasn't prepared. I thought I was coming over here to spend the day in bed.

[falsify]

I would've warned you if I'd known you were coming.

[He smiles tiredly and is quiet for just a second, listening, and leans over to give Arthur a quick kiss.]

I think she's done in the kitchen.

[specifiercity]

[Arthur smiles at the affection and turns away, back to the coffee he's left on the coffee table. He feels a little more prepared now; maybe he'll be able to act a little more functional than a deer caught in the headlights.]

[falsify]

[So here she comes, a mug of tea cupped in her hands and a gentle sigh as she sits herself back on the couch. Eames did ask her to ease up, and she said she'd try, but she comes back and looks up at Arthur and then at Eames.]

"He is handsome."

[Eames immediately rubs his forehead and sighs.]

[specifiercity]

[Arthur laughs.]

I'm glad you think so.

[falsify]

"And such good manners!" [She leans a little closer to Arthur again.] "You wouldn't believe some of the partners he's had." [And her attention's back to Eames, though she's sticking close to Arthur.] "Remember, it must've been about fourty years ago now and you were living in Berlin with that woman? The sex must've been good, because I still can't figure out what drew you to her."

[Eames, for his part, is now just sinking into the armchair with a groan. Maybe he should've taken Arthur's offer to leave.]

[specifiercity]

[Arthur laughs again, shaking his head.]

Berlin, huh?

[He's not sure how he feels about stories about Eames' past partners, so he doesn't really investigate.]

It's a lovely city.

[falsify]

[Oh thank goodness Arthur isn't prying, even if his mother seems a little disappointed that Arthur isn't interested in her gossip about Eames' exes, but she's glad he appreciates Berlin at least.]

"It's beautiful." [But it's less interesting than Arthur is to her right now, and she keeps watching him thoughtfully over her mug.] "I just have to say-- You seem like a sensible man, I just can't figure out what you see in him."

[There is a distinct "hey--" from Eames, but she keeps going.]

"I don't need to be worried about you, Mr. Bounty Hunter, do I?"

[She's joking. Mostly. She clearly doesn't think there's much risk of Eames being hurt here, but it's not zero risk.]

[specifiercity]

I...

[He looks over at Eames, his stomach twisting unexpectedly at the idea of explaining what he sees in Eames. He laughs, awkward and bashful but playing it off as he looks back at Eames' mother.]

I don't think there's much to worry about. I guess I just wanted some excitement in my life.

[He has that half-smile of someone who's technically telling the truth, even if they've dialed the intensity all the way down to one.]