[ AUDIO ]

[shifts]

[ There's the sound of Eames flipping through channels on the television until he finally settles on some sort of talk show. A very excitable yet gently toned woman is spouting off about free items and giving said free item to everyone in the audience. There is, too, plenty of crying involved - but for whatever reason, Eames has decided that this

Comments

[greedful_cheat]

Well, you'll have to explain the reasoning of that better. Sounds a bit dishonest. [Not that that's a problem...]

[shifts]

Or, alternatively, filled with charity.

[greedful_cheat]

If only such beliefs worked. Damn legal structure deny us from such desires.

[shifts]

I think reprimand might be the better term, but I'm not so picky with wording, at this point. Deny just rather suggests an inability completely.

[totallyinaband]

Who exactly are you cheating here? Her or the winners?

[shifts]

I'm not cheating anyone; it's just an observation, Stephen.

[totallyinaband]

Sure.

I reckoned I'd be seeing you around here this weekend. Staying out of trouble?

[shifts]

Of course. Have I ever given you reason to suspect otherwise? We're only in for a few days, anyway. Old time's sake.

[specifics]

[ From the other room, Arthur's voice comes through loud and clear and mildly disapproving. ]

Yeah so just go and tell everyone all about it.

[ He knows very well that their covers are thorough, that it can be played off as any kind of locale-appropriate joke, but Arthur functions half on paranoia and the rest on tactics, both of which come in handy and not always at the same time. Ducking his head through the door that leads from the bedroom (the side he's in) into the sitting area (where Eames is) he scowls, the tie loosed around his neck while he finishes rolling up his left sleeve, the silver watch there a flash in the half-lit status of their quarters. ]

What're you watching?

[shifts]

It doesn't have to be me. I mean, it could be you, or anyone else. It could be Freddy. All I'm saying is that with a little sacrifice, you could be well on your way to getting a free house.

[ There's an uproar of applause from the television. ]

Or a car, apparently.

[ He tips his head back on the couch, turning it so that his cheek is pressed to the cushion as he raises his eyebrows at Arthur. ]

I don't know. It caught my attention. It's really quite moving, honestly.

[specifics]

That's if I wanted a free house. Which, I don't.

[ He pauses. ]

Or a car.

[ The sound Arthur makes is indistinguishable from something derisive and something wholly noncommittal as he walks the rest of the way to the couch, resting his hands in a wide splay across the back of it, the way other people lean out over balconies. For a moment, he watches the proceedings on the screen flash by before returning his more than slightly judgmental expression in Eames' direction. ]

Right. Well when you're done being moved, [ Arthur hops over the back of the couch, seating himself easily in his own corner, reaching out to pick up the champagne which he eyes shortly before setting it down again ] I'll fill you in on the ventilation system.

[ And how it fits into their....er....plans. ]

[shifts]

[ Eames looks at Arthur a bit incredulously, but accepts the decline for what it is. Returning his attention to the television, he speaks from the corner of his mouth in Arthur's general direction. ]

I wouldn't bother. [ Concerning the champagne, at least. ] It was in the discount bin. [ So to speak! ]

[ He waves a hand, all the same, wiggling his fingers a bit to coax Arthur into continuing. ]