[ it's offhand, dismissive even, on the back of an exhale. he just doesn't feel that joel would consider him one of his, not because of anything joel's said or done, arthur just has pretty severe trauma surrounding this kind of thing. ]
[ okay, the pointedly curious look is apparently here to stay. ]
Got some outside loyalties I ought to be worried about? Planning on runnin' off on us any day now? [ not that he wouldn't be well within his rights to. still. ]
[ arthur gives him a confused look, eyebrows pulled as he tries to figure why joel's asking. (arthur's not a stupid man, but he is, unfortunately, an idiot.) leans forward with a shake of his head to pass the joint back. ]
Nah-- just. Figure I'm only here 'til I'm not so useful anymore.
[ again, there's no real weight to the way he says it, could as well just be talking about his plan for the day. arthur knows what he is, he's a workhorse, it's why people like having him around. he's not so trusting anymore to believe anyone wants him around for more than what he can do either. ]
[ that gets a not-really-laugh out of joel, who fixes him with a skeptical look, smouldering joint in hand. arthur might say it like it's as mundane a fact as the weather, but it's still a pretty weird thing to say. ]
Take a look around. Plenty of less useful assholes than you, out here.
[ and none of them have been unceremoniously excommunicated, despite it all. ]
[ arthur cuts himself off with a huffed breath, he doesn't want to sit here and argue about whether these people like him enough not to wanna see the back of him once his usefulness starts to wane. ]
Ain't nothin' worth arguin' about either way-- here, move over will you.
[ with a tired grunt, arthur pushes himself up off the coffee table and nudges joel's ankle with his boot. he's gonna sit himself down in the corner of the couch either way, so it's up to joel if they're squeezing up to eachother or not. ]
[ joel isn't really a pep talk kind of guy, so he's more than willing to let the subject drop. criticizing arthur's nonsensical statement is about as far as he's going down that road, anyway, and half just because it's an opportunity to criticize him.
he makes a vague, acquiescing grunt of affirmation as he shoves over on the couch, scooping up the pack beside him and depositing it back between them. he hands the joint back, after, putting his feet back up on the coffee table. getting back to appreciating the view is just fine by him. ]
Been out here a few days. You run up any new trouble, yet?
Got shot at by some folks holed up in some run down little cabin outside town.
[ they were scared and didn't want to talk, so arthur left them to it. arthur spares a thought to wonder how they're doing as he tucks himself comfortably in the couch corner, but it slips out of his mind just as quickly. ]
Can't tell if there just ain't much worth it round here or if I'm missin' something obvious.
[ annoying, because arthur's usually good at digging shit up. doubly so on account of how he literally was just musing on how his place is weighted against his usefulness, but it hasn't been long. maybe he just needs a little more time to catch a lead. ]
Only thing worth it around here is bein' a few hundred miles away from every-damn-body else.
[ okay, and, well - more than that. but nothing joel is inclined to speak on directly, at the moment, mild intoxication aside. ]
We ought to go back up and see if those folks are still holed up in there. Might want to make sure that they've moved along, already, if they're not looking for trouble.
[ arthur doesn't intend to go anywhere anytime soon, just enough of a high to get him feeling a bit lazy. if he doesn't have to move he won't anytime soon. ]
[ the only way arthur could make a worse impression on somebody would be to try and do so unsober, in joel's estimation. besides, he's not in a rush to get anybody going anywhere, right now. time set aside to just do nothing is a rare commodity, these days. he's not going to go and ruin that. ]
'Specially not if they tried to put a couple new holes in that dumbass [ (fond) ] hat of yours.
[ the mention of his hat makes him take it off and look at it, checking for any damage, but he can't see anything. he dusts it off anyway and seats it back on his head. ]
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[ joel is momentarily surprised by the offer, but takes the joint without comment. at least not about the pot. ]
Havin' some basic common sense?
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Admit to smokin' somethin' you found under someone's floorboards.
[ arthur shrugs a shoulder, it's a dumb joke about a dumb hypothetical. ]
We both know you would. And I'd never let you live it down when it made you sick.
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How would you know to give me shit about something I'd never admit?
[ nitpicking, and doing it deliberately, just to be an ass. ]
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[ arthur leans forward on an elbow to take the joint, takes a slow drag before he continues. ]
But you'd wait 'til I smoked my share to tell me.
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I may be an asshole, but I like to think I'm above deliberately poisoning my own people.
[ at least by a little. ]
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[ it's offhand, dismissive even, on the back of an exhale. he just doesn't feel that joel would consider him one of his, not because of anything joel's said or done, arthur just has pretty severe trauma surrounding this kind of thing. ]
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[ okay, the pointedly curious look is apparently here to stay. ]
Got some outside loyalties I ought to be worried about? Planning on runnin' off on us any day now? [ not that he wouldn't be well within his rights to. still. ]
no subject
[ arthur gives him a confused look, eyebrows pulled as he tries to figure why joel's asking. (arthur's not a stupid man, but he is, unfortunately, an idiot.) leans forward with a shake of his head to pass the joint back. ]
Nah-- just. Figure I'm only here 'til I'm not so useful anymore.
[ again, there's no real weight to the way he says it, could as well just be talking about his plan for the day. arthur knows what he is, he's a workhorse, it's why people like having him around. he's not so trusting anymore to believe anyone wants him around for more than what he can do either. ]
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Take a look around. Plenty of less useful assholes than you, out here.
[ and none of them have been unceremoniously excommunicated, despite it all. ]
You're probably safe.
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[ arthur cuts himself off with a huffed breath, he doesn't want to sit here and argue about whether these people like him enough not to wanna see the back of him once his usefulness starts to wane. ]
Ain't nothin' worth arguin' about either way-- here, move over will you.
[ with a tired grunt, arthur pushes himself up off the coffee table and nudges joel's ankle with his boot. he's gonna sit himself down in the corner of the couch either way, so it's up to joel if they're squeezing up to eachother or not. ]
no subject
he makes a vague, acquiescing grunt of affirmation as he shoves over on the couch, scooping up the pack beside him and depositing it back between them. he hands the joint back, after, putting his feet back up on the coffee table. getting back to appreciating the view is just fine by him. ]
Been out here a few days. You run up any new trouble, yet?
walks back in 6 months later with a sandwich
[ they were scared and didn't want to talk, so arthur left them to it. arthur spares a thought to wonder how they're doing as he tucks himself comfortably in the couch corner, but it slips out of his mind just as quickly. ]
Can't tell if there just ain't much worth it round here or if I'm missin' something obvious.
[ annoying, because arthur's usually good at digging shit up. doubly so on account of how he literally was just musing on how his place is weighted against his usefulness, but it hasn't been long. maybe he just needs a little more time to catch a lead. ]
and nothing for me?? 😤
[ okay, and, well - more than that. but nothing joel is inclined to speak on directly, at the moment, mild intoxication aside. ]
We ought to go back up and see if those folks are still holed up in there. Might want to make sure that they've moved along, already, if they're not looking for trouble.
i got you this: https://i.imgur.com/nyY2DqB.png
[ arthur doesn't intend to go anywhere anytime soon, just enough of a high to get him feeling a bit lazy. if he doesn't have to move he won't anytime soon. ]
Ain't in any rush to see 'em again right now.
thanks i hate it ☺
[ the only way arthur could make a worse impression on somebody would be to try and do so unsober, in joel's estimation. besides, he's not in a rush to get anybody going anywhere, right now. time set aside to just do nothing is a rare commodity, these days. he's not going to go and ruin that. ]
'Specially not if they tried to put a couple new holes in that dumbass [ (fond) ] hat of yours.
🤠💨
You know, most folks like my hat.
[ it's not his fault you have bad taste, joel!! ]
no subject
[ he could draw on 'em real fast, and he always sort of has a look on his face like he might. ]
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[ he is truly suffering, people just... tell him stuff? all the time? ]