unconventionaltechniques | 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

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Eames glances at Arthur, knowing that they're pretty much in for a penny, in for a pound at this point. Why hide things when they've already opened up as much as they. After all, they're already in deep, sharing a meal and conversation that they shouldn't be.

"We had a run in with the Royals once, but they don't know who we were. Just..." He figures if they haven't looked yet, they might find the connection one day. "Prince isn't the only royal in the business. My family is in the House of Lords and holds titled lands. So we were at an event with them, and obviously knew who they were but they only knew me for my family not for the Ravens."

Arthur gives Eames a little nod. Much like Eames, he felt that at this point, they were so far in the deep end that what was one more piece of information?

Ex's face to his point had been fairly expressionless but that does give him a little bit of a surprised arch of an eyebrow. "Interesting," he muses, studying him silently before giving him a little nod. He supposed it made sense though.

"And your family were okay with your first career path?"

Arthur snorts at the question and tops his glass off.

Eames can't help but to laugh at that, lifting his glass in toast and obviously liking the question and all it infers.

"Oh they see me as a troubled bohemian. They have known about some things I've done over the years and it's why a blind eye is turned to things, but they don't know about our work with dreams."

He says it lightly but he watches them closely. And that might get him a look at Meridian shifting slightly, the most discomfort he might show.

"I was original recruited for that program." It's something he's never talked about, hadn't had a reason to before now. "They thought I would make a good point." He gives a nod to Arthur, the best in that business and he knew it. "I wasn't good for it. Too aggressive, they said."

Ex nods in understanding. He knew about the program - from Meridian mostly but he'd done his own research into it. They had access to everything and if they didn't, he found access into everything else.

Arthur returns Meridian's nod. "It does require a little subtlety," he agrees with a little quirk of his mouth. "Unless you go the forging route," he shoots a teasing look at Eames.

Ex gives Meridian's hand a little squeeze when he shifts slightly and rests it on his thigh. "The program sounded fascinating," he admits.

It's an odd conversation to be having. One that brings up a lot about the past, of the things that were part of his life before Ex. Things that, perhaps, they should talk about. More than just the programs he had been unqualified for in one way or another.

"You both embody what you need. Subtlety and imagination. I am the best at what I do, but not for either of those reasons."

It had been a blow, being told he couldn't do the job, but then he had found he was much more suited for something else.

His hand squeezes Ex's. "Suppose there's some things we should talk about," he murmurs.

Eames finds himself practically mesmerized. It's like watching a play of their early years. No matter the past, it showed how well suited they were for one another and the program they're in now. Both himself and Ex, and Arthur and Eames.

Arthur gives Meridian a nod. "Despite their best efforts, we still have our strengths and only minor weaknesses," he can't help but rib their employers just a little bit.

Ex, not having expected that for some reason, chuckles and takes a sip from his beer. "Speak for yourself," he says. "We are perfect." And although he says it with a perfectly straight face, there is a teasing glint in his eyes.

He glances at Meridian at his words and cocks his head just a little. "When you're ready." It wasn't the only thing they'd eventually talk about. He still wants to know what happened in that cave even if he hasn't brought himself to think about it for too long.

Arthur watches them for just a minute. As someone who spent much of his early military years in Project Somnacin, he couldn't help but be curious what either of the two men's mindscapes were like. He assumes the'd be militarized to the millimeter of possibility. Maybe he'd bring it up to Eames later and get his read. Not that he thought they should ever try to get in their minds. He was more curious than he was wanting anything nefarious from them.

Arthur glances at Ex. "You weren't missing much from the program though from a military standpoint," he says, his voice low. "Watching someone die over and over and over again wasn't enjoyable."

Meridian is quiet, taking it all in. Then he does something that very few have ever seen from him.

"They tell me I'm the Apex which means there are no faults. If I do it, then it's meant to be."

It's a bad joke, but it's a joke and coming from him.

Though it does make him think of something.

"But if they see our emotions for one another as a weakness, then that is their mistake. For any of us. Since we finished training we have been connected in ways most humans will never know. Since things changed for us a few weeks ago, I've realized that these emotions don't hinder us. Its why I think command discouraged it. It makes us stronger than they can handle. No threats will work. Nothing they can hold over us."

Even as he says it, Eames nods. "Exactly what it is. I agree with that.'

Even as he says it, his hand slides to take Arthur's under the table as he talks about people dying, about watching it and how bad it was. "The military doesn't care about lives, just about winning."

Before Ex realizes what he's doing, a laugh escapes his mouth. He can't help it. He knows when Meridian is joking and he's amused.

Arthur snorts. "I agree," he says simply. He pauses and looks at them. "I can say that I am more dangerous with having Eames at my side and in my life."

He takes Eames' hand in his and squeezes it. "They don't," he agrees. "Only that they win this never-ending war."

Ex nods and watches them then looks at Meridian. They've learned a lot since sitting down with them and he's thankful for it. He's glad that it's not something that "shouldn't have happened" and they were some kind of abnormality.

That he can make Ex laugh means a lot to him. More than that, it delights him that his partner knew his joke. Even as close as they are, humor is not something he's shown often so for his partner to know and see it, that means a lot to him.

"I never thought I could be more deadly until a cave and bitter below zero temperatures," he murmurs softly, his hand going to Ex's and squeezing it tight. "Now I know."

And they will live with it or they'll handle things in a whole other way.

"I appreciate you both meeting with us. I think it's given me a perspective I had found hard to perceive until now."

Arthur once again studies the lined suit jacket that Ex wore and wonders if that had something to do with it. Okay, no, he doesn't wonder so much as it makes sense now. With something like that and with the near death experience Ex suffered, he's sure that's had to fuck with his core body temperature.

"I'm glad you reached out," Arthur says. "No matter where or what we are, it's helpful to know that there's another out there who has gone through something similar."

Ex nods, squeezing Meridian's hand tightly. Glad for it and the warmth of his hand. He didn't want to let go. Not right now. It felt too warm and right. "Thank you," he says and watches as their appetizers are brought over.

"And we will talk more over the weekend," he says, looking at Eames then Arthur. In their line of work, having coworkers wasn't a thing. But if they could work on this connection with another set of Ravens, it would useful, he's sure.

Arthur and Eames

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