unconventionaltechniques | Arthur and Eames

Arthur and Eames

Arthur and Eames have been partners for longer than they've been with the organization. Both started out as criminals in two different fields, but the word of dream sharing brought them together. Arthur, a brilliant tactician, and Eames, a forger in every sense and meaning of the word, started out almost adversarial. One crisp and sharp with a military precision and the other messy and wild and dangerous in other ways they found it interesting to work with one another, to say the least.

In the end though they learned that friction between them was all about attraction and once they opened up to one another, the world for them changed.

Now they've walked away from dream share to work for an organization that keeps America safe, protects its people, and lets them do what they do best. Subvert criminals by twisting the law.

Everyone knows they're not just partners in the work sense but in every sense. In love. Devoted to one another. Able to read the other without a word, Barely with even a look. They're not as tightly wound as some in the Ravens, and certainly cause a lot of trouble in different ways, but they're good at what they do... and they're feared by those that know the truth of who and what they are.

General Contact Thread

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Eames settles in comfortably, trying not to think about Mal. It is easy to move on with their lives, away from dreamshare but the memories of her were still here.

Not that it wasn't easy to not think about her now. Not when the air in the entire place seemed to shift. How did they manage to hide away from others, to operate in secret when they look like they do even moving in that space. It's like watching panthers slink through a restaurant.

Point and Forger had barely been in the business long and already they were brown ravens. Strong, deadly, as well paired as Ex and Meridian. Meridian had read everything he could about them, even before the view they'd had. Yet seeing them together, he can see it.

In a look they share, how easily they moved around one another. Almost identical to them.

Interesting.

"Good evening," Mere said, waiting for Ex to sit before he did. "I appreciate you both meeting with us. We know it's not ordinary but then we think you're not exactly ordinary."

Edited 2024-02-05 20:13 (UTC)

"You are a talented one, Mr. Eames," he says with a grin. "If criminals had CVs, that would have to be the #1 recommendation."

Slowly he stands from Eames' lap and holds out his hand to him. "We should shower before it's a pain to get all of this off of us."

He hums at Eames' answer and nods. "I agree... I wonder then if they saw us in the fitting room," he says almost flippantly as they walk toward their bedroom.

Meridian hadn't been the only one to read up on them, Ex had done so as well and their history fascinated him. It didn't surprise him at all that they had moved up quickly to brown ravens. If they were anything else, he'd be most disappointed. If he felt emotions like disappointment.

They were an attractive pair and deadly, no doubt. It was fascinating to see.

He wondered between the four of them, how many weapons they had all together.

No doubt they were packing.

Ex takes his seat with a nod.

Arthur watches them and allows his mouth to quirk up. "Are any of us exactly ordinary," he asks, watching the waiter come over with the bottle of red. "We ordered a bottle of red but feel free to order something different."

Ex studies the bottle closely and shares a fleeting look with Meridian. "He'll have a Remy Martin Black Pearl Cognac, neat," he says to the waiter once he's poured a little for them to taste.

"Why thank you, Arthur. That means the world to me," he says, sincere and meaning it. "And it means a lot to me that I can talk to you about it. I've not had anyone else that knew about the things I've done and my talents. I'm glad I can share them with you."

All of them and he's glad about that.

He chuckles, taking Eames' hand. "Come on then." He follows, considering that. "Do you think? So what? They're calling us out on breaking the rules?"

Eames watches the pair, curious. Compared to them, he and Arthur don't look intimidating. They are working hard at being intimidating. Dark clothes, dark eyes, bad asses where as he and Arthur went places undetected and then did everything they had to.

Like switching out masterpieces.

These two would have security watching the taller one and he suspects the falcon-y one would have a corpse at his feet before anyone noticed. One was a panther, the other a viper. Interesting.

A brow arches as Ex ordered for his partner, and then...

"And he'll take a beer. Bottle. Whatever you've got," he says in precise, careful French despite the flippancy of his words. Oddly the waiter doesn't even blink, despite the oddity of the order for a place like this.

"I'll take a glass of the red as well," Meridian says. "If I may."

He's seen the label and it's definitely impressive.

"Seems we share a few things," Meridian says after the order. "Including a tailor. You weren't surprised by the message so... you saw us as well?"

"I'm glad I can indulge your talents," he says with a smile. While a few other ravens were paired together due to a computer algorithm, Eames and he had been working together for years before they were brought into the organization. His parents had even worked with Eames prior to them meeting.

Even during the days they'd been at each other's throats before realizing that a large part of it had been due to attraction on both of their parts, Arthur had recognized Eames' talent.

He laces their fingers together. "We'll just have to see if they reach out to us. If they do, I doubt it'll be because we're breaking the rules. If that was the case, they wouldn't wait."

When Mere orders him a beer, Ex can't help but spare a fond look at his partner. Not that anyone else likely would see it as fond, it was a very subtle change in his look but Mere would see it, he was sure.

The waiter nods and pours the three men a glass of the red.

"When this one is done, bring another, please," Arthur says in perfect French, watching the man go to put in the other drink orders.

It was fascinating the way the two worked with each other and ordered for one another.

Arthur's mouth curls up. "You have great taste," he says, bringing his glass to his mouth for a sip.

After he sets the glass down, he nods to Eames. "He spotted you in the alleyway as we were leaving."

That alleyway feels like weeks and months ago. Not hours and days ago. Shotgunning a cigarette with his partner was one of the hottest things he's done. Feeling Mere fuck him was higher than that but there had been an intimacy there. He didn't dare share either of their reactions to watching them.

"Is your relationship flying under their radar or do they know all about it," he asks, simply cutting to the chase.

Well they had wondered and now that question definitely makes it clear just what they had seen. Or at least part of it.

And yet despite himself, Eames can't help but smile on that questions.

"Have we told them? No. It wasn't a secret in our previous work but we saw no reason to make it obvious when their goal was reproducing, well..." He waves a hand at Meridian. "We did not respond the way he did, and the truth is? I don't think they have had a singular soldier yet become what he has."

Talking about him as if he isn't there but also giving him a nod and a look that was respectful not judgmental.

"Are you planning on going to them and telling them the truth?"

There's no heat there, no anger, just needing to know what plans had to be made.

Ex doesn't seem at all bothered by the fact that he'd watched them for a moment and the smiles on both Eames and Arthur's faces makes it clear (he's sure) that they don't seem to care? Maybe?

"No, they haven't," Ex agrees, looking at his partner with a hum. He knows his partner is one of a kind and he's his. Everything he's wanted since they were partnered together.

Arthur chuckles. "We also haven't been entirely hiding it either. We're sure they knew everything there was about us before joining so why bother? It doesn't affect our job and that's what's most important."

Ex studies Arthur for a moment before nodding a little in understanding. "No, we're not," he says looking at Eames. "We were simply curious how you keep it to yourselves without them separating you."

Eames isn't sure this was where he expected this conversation to go, but he's curious now that they're here. They've known they had to be semi lowkey about it, and now here they are with the men that could ruin everything asking for their help about it.

But he's still not expecting that statement and his eyes widen, glancing at Arthur. Well well wasn't that interesting. Huh.

"Well apparently in the future we won't be having great sex at the tailors because apparently someone saw us," he points out, definitely sounding amused.

He glances at Arthur again and then he can't help but ask.

"So... even the poster child for the program broke through their training?"

"That's disappointing," Arthur remarks, looking his partner over with a smirk. He's not surprised though that someone - these two spotted them.

Ex watches them and although his expression doesn't change much, there is a sort of fascination in his eyes. The relationship between the Point and Forger is intriguing and they've been able to manage this long in their previous careers that they've been successful.

Mere and he could handle the same, right?

He glances at his partner. "To an extent," he says. And he's sure it's because they'd been separated for seven weeks after his near death. Ex watches as the waiter brings back Meridian's cognac and his beer bottle.

"You can't spend every waking moment with someone without something happening," he says after the waiter leaves them to peruse the menu. If these two had been put through the same thing Meridian and he had, then they had the same experiments done, spent every waking and sleeping minute together for the first several months... you were supposed to form an attachment to your partner and to know them as well as you knew yourself. It was only natural, right?

Meridian has been letting Ex handle things, but he feels that in this moment, it's time for him to speak up.

"They believed they could burn all emotion out of us in an attempt to get rid of empathy for the enemy and the targets. I think that was their mistake and in that not happening they got more of what they wanted. I think you might understand that."

He takes a sip of his drink, enjoying the burn.

"If we lost all of it, then we would not work like the partners we are. We never considered taking that step though to something else. Not until recent, but I know now where we stand."

It's more than he's said to a lot of people, more than he often speaks, but he wants to be clear her.

"Something that we took a chance with because of you both."

Arthur nodded. He did understand that. There was a fine line between destroying just enough empathy of a person so that you can destroy the enemy or your current target and destroying all empathy so that no one mattered, let alone the partner you were assigned to.

He watches Ex give another look to his partner when he speaks about knowing where they stood and glances over at Eames and then back at Meridian. Of the two, he could relate to the man a bit more.

When he says it's because of the two of them that they took the chance on something more, Arthur can't help the little smirk. "I'm glad that us being unable to keep our hands to ourselves in public paid off for someone else."

He pauses, consideringly. "It's not easy to have a relationship under their radar but considering everything, that won't be so different than normal." Because regardless of how well one took to the training and experiments, joining the organization wasn't an "easy" path.

Looking back, Eames knows the changes he's gone through. He remembers the man that had sat at Mal's side, and he knew the man he'd become together with Arthur through the program.

"I won't say you haven't become one of the best teams out there. Everyone knows that Meridian is the yardstick against who we're all measured against but..." He fixes Mere with a hard look. "But tell me you don't think you're a better warrior now. Because you know why you're going in there and how you have to come out."

Because he's always known. He's known he has to always come out on the other side with Arthur. Whether it's through a dream or a warzone. He will do whatever he has to so that when the day is over, he is there with Arthur and they're together. Any other answer is not acceptable.

He looks at Ex. "And you know it too, don't you?"

Edited 2024-02-12 00:05 (UTC)

Arthur's specialty in dream share had been primarily to be the point person. Ultimately, it wasn't very different from how they operated now only on a much larger scale. Still, he made sure everyone got in and got out. When his relationship with Eames shifted and they joined the program, no one else mattered. Except Eames. He was a much better warrior and point.

He watches Meridian and Ex's faces as Eames speaks and while it doesn't appear that it hits home, he's sure it does.

Ex stares at Eames for a long minute before he nods shortly. No one else mattered. Except Meridian. He would do everything in his power to make sure they came out of any situation alive.

If their places had been reversed in that cave, he's not sure he would have done half as well as Mere did. He picks up his beer bottle and takes a pull from it, his gaze and awareness on every single person in the room.

While he was more in tune with his emotions and more open than Meridian was, talking about them to others wasn't always the easiest. "What do you recommend here? The beef fillet sounded great," he says.

Eames knows that after all they did to them, the way they made their partnership their entire life, that it had only strengthened their relationship. It made them more than lovers and friends. Even more than partners in his book. They were one unit, a single person in two bodies, and he truly believes that is what makes a team in this program work.

He and Arthur just knew before they started. Until the two men in front of them.

And yet he sees it. They are one person, working as one, both focused on the other and that was what made them strong.

So when they face that truth and change the subject, he can't help but chuckle, shaking his head.

"This weekend, you're coming over to our place," he says, not even looking at Arthur as he says it, sure he's getting a look for that. "Some place we can talk without others listening. Because you see it now, don't you?"

His voice drops softer, almost tender. "How you're one person in two bodies. I know I see it." He pauses and then adds. "And order the Chateaubriand, you won't regret it."

Arthur does look at Eames when he invites Ex and Meridian to their place over the weekend. But to Eames' credit, it was a good idea for them to talk in a more private location, and what would be more private than their place... or the Black Raven's? Wherever they were staying.

Ex stares at Eames. He was not incorrect. They were one person in two bodies and it was how they operated as one unit. They all did, right? That was what they were trained to be like.

He glances at Meridian. "Saturday then."

It's taking a leap but they came to them to admit their relationship and maybe look for advice. Maybe it was a set up to learn all they could about them, about their relationship, but the truth of the matter is, he doesn't think so. Not when he saw the look in their eyes, the way they communicate without a word.

No, it's not a set up. It's two men facing something new and looking for advice.

And Meridian felt the same. They could be setting them up but then they reached out to them... and they were finding answers. He could see it in their eyes how much they love one another, how deep they are with one another.

"We appreciate your assistance," Meridian says in a low voice. "It's new territory and one neither of us have ever faced. Recently... there was an incident and it brought to light things we've ignored."

Eames looks between them, settling on Ex. "They said for a time that you'd died."

As far as Arthur saw it, he didn't think Meridian and Ex would come to them if it was a setup. It wasn't their MO. So the fact that they did, it must be what they said it was - about their relationship and looking for advice.

Arthur nods at Meridian's explanation.

Ex looks at Eames. "The reports of my death were greatly exaggerated," he says with a trace of humor lacing his tone. "But, yes, I was for a time."

Until Mere had saved him.

He didn't expand on what that had left him with - a much lower body temperature. "That shed light on what we'd been missing... and ignoring as unattainable."

Arthur watches and notices the thicker lining of Ex's suit jacket. Their tailor did excellent work so it was hardly noticeable. He only noticed because he'd gotten better at noticing things like that over the years.

Eames is quiet for a long moment. He thinks about the man next to him. He thinks about the bond they shared before all the program had put them through... and he thought about the idea of losing Arthur.

Just even the thought in that moment guts him, leaving him feeling empty and hollow, his blood seeming to go to ice as he reaches under the table and rests his hand on Arthur's knee. Just needing the reminder in that moment that Arthur is there and alive and warm and perfect. He lets out a breath he hasn't known he was holding until then.

"I can understand that. Reminders of our mortality are a good way of stripping away all they've done and they will tell you a lot. I wish you hadn't had the moment then or at our tailors to make you truly think about it, but I'm glad for you both that you are now."

He smiles then, fond and not hiding his emotions. "It's all so worth it."

Arthur rests his hand on top of Eames' and squeezes it. The mere thought of losing Eames and not having him with him feels like a punch to the gut. If he were to ever lose Eames, there would be no saving whoever had come after them.

Ex watches him and reaches for Mere's hand under the table, needing that connection with him knowing how close they were to losing it all.

"Reminders of our mortality are unnecessary," he mutters but he nods at Eames' words.

He remains quiet for a minute as he takes another drink of his beer. "Do you find it hard to control yourselves in wanting to be together when you're active?" Ex's voice is low as he asks, watching Arthur then Eames.

Eames shifts then, leaning in closer to Arthur. There's no hiding how they feel about one another, or worrying about the others seeing them sharing that moment either.

"I'm sorry you both had to go through that," he murmurs, but there's a sincerity to Eames' words. Even as he leans in and kisses Arthur's cheek.

Mere is still for a moment and then he shifts his hand to cover Ex's, curling around his fingers and giving a squeeze. That question though gets a look and a curious arch of one brow.

"Hard is relative." He chuckles though as he says it. "Sometimes. I worry it's harder for Arthur than me sometimes, since I'm often laying on the charm to make things work."

Ex watches as Arthur leans in a bit closer to Eames. It was nice to see them show affection with each other. Ex can honestly say it was only since they were reunited that he felt comfortable with that level of affection. He'd bought his brother electronics to make up for the fact that he wasn't there.

With Mere, it was different. He could show how much he cared and wanted to have his hand in his and feel that warmth spread through him. And not just because he ran colder than normal.

He glances at Mere when his hand covers his and exhales a tiny breath, shoulders relaxing a touch.

Arthur snorts when Eames mentions it's harder for him. "He's a flirt," he says dryly but with a teasing fond look at his partner. "There were times at first when I wasn't as confident or solid in our relationship that it bothered me and made it harder but these days, not as much. We know the roles we must play on a job and know that at the end of the day, we're coming back to each other. And when we do have that time off, we have a hard time keeping our hands to ourselves."

Edited 2024-02-19 23:50 (UTC)

Mere knew that was going to maybe be a problem for them in the future. So much of his work required him to put on that mask of charming, flirtatious darling who had, historically, seduced women to distract them or to get information from them.

Now they were going to have to discuss that. In fact, he needs to tell Ex how really, since they had met, that was the only ones he'd been with and he'd avoided full on sex, for the sake of a man he hadn't known he might ever get to be with.

"I see that being something we have to consider, given that is actually my part of many jobs," he says, though many might not realize that he's the one in their team who that job falls on. The face he's showing now is real, but it's not his only one.

"How did you get to that point to realize how much it didn't change anything?"

Even as he asked it, his hand gave Ex's a squeeze, wanting to reassure him it's going to be okay, silently telling him it's okay. Before he'd do that without anything. He likes now that it comes with touch.

Arthur nods. "Makes sense there would be someone on your team whose shoulders that would fall on," he says. Especially considering everything he's heard about them, it also made sense that it would be Mere.

Ex didn't like the idea of having to see Mere flirt with others but he also knew he would handle it like he did everything else. He'd have to. He squeezes Meridian's hand in return and knows what his partner was attempting to relay to him.

It would be okay.

"It took a while," Arthur says after a minute. "We were together before we joined the program and back then, we got into a few stupid arguments." Or more like Arthur probably did, not entirely sure if Eames was as committed to them as Arthur was attempting to be. He didn't do relationships before Eames and Eames had broken through all of those walls he'd put up. "It may take a little time but I don't doubt you'll get there. Just talk to each other."

Was that what Meridian was asking? Arthur isn't entirely sure but he knows how hard it can be at the beginning.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 6 of 10

Arthur and Eames

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject