⚂ [ a u d i o || a c t i on ]|

[specifics]

Never liked this tradition. I mean, I'd rather not take orders from a plant. Seriously, just...

[ - annnnd, some subsequent mumbling, as well as the words - you know it's a parasite are articulately audible but not much else before the device turns off. ]

[ ooc/accosting reference: Arthur today will have been in order - getting coffee,

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[adamantined]

[Everyone knows that one of the best ways to pick up girls involves walking a small, cute dog to spike their interest. The same might be said for the reversal, but Claire isn't thinking of anything remotely along those lines as she follows Mr. Muggles' power walk down a relatively empty sidewalk, and though she's hardly even aware of Arthur, it's likely that his thoughts aren't running that race either. Still, the two dogs - both hilariously proportioned in their own right, though Pancake has the benefit of being adorable while Mr. Muggles just has the benefit of having hair that resembles that of a lion's mane - are on a crash course, and it's only a matter of time before Claire is pulling the leash tight against the barely-there weight of her dog as he rushes to make friends with the corgi walking down the street, attached to a figure with much less ridiculous legs.

Claire looks up, caught on the edge of an apologetic laugh, pushing her hair behind her ear as she says:]

God, I'm sorry - come on, Muggles, don't - he's not going to

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[specifics]

[ Sure enough, Arthur waves off her apology with his free hand, keeping a tight hold on Pancake's leash as the surprisingly nimble dog headbutts with the scrawnier compatriot. He recognizes Claire's voice in that vaguely certain way of having spoken before but not being able to pin her actual name down, just the awareness of familiarity. Eying her thoughtfully then letting his focus drop to the dogs now half bumping into each other in a much failed attempt - likely - to circle one another, he shakes his head. ] Nothing to be sorry for.

Good to know though. Not big on cannibalism - dogs or otherwise.

[ Things seem to have settled down when one of the nearby shops opens its door and the burst of warm air funneling out carries with it the distinct beckoning smell of food - stew maybe, something savory. Whatever it is gets Pancake's attention and he bounds for it, sort of barreling into the other dog as he does so, which means their leashes tangle and it ends up being all of them briefly tugged along toward that shop. ]

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[adamantined]

[Less capable of actually barreling, the Pomeranian Claire currently has a still-white-knuckled grip on rolls after the corgi rather than follows him. She tries to pick him up and right him, but the bend at her waist only proves to be a wasted effort as Mr. Muggles squirms his way right again and takes off on clicking toes to catch up with his newly acquired canine friend. He's not typically so social with other dogs, so Claire allows him the opportunity to be less diva and more follower, hardly minding the tug at her wrist, since it feels like she might just have a squirrel attached to the end of the leash, with as much as her dog weighs

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[specifics]

Nope. Arthur's right. And you're... [ Honestly he has to dig for it for a second, but Arthur tries very hard not to forget anyone he has spoken to (still guilty of it a couple times anyway) and a moment later, still being tugged (well, letting himself be tugged) by Pancake, the name finally comes to him. ] Claire. Claire who was thinking of starting a business...of some kind. [ Okay he's not absolutely on his game unfortunately, since that's pretty vague considering the size of the City, the density of its population, the probability of there being more than one Claire not low but the one of there being a Claire who sounds young and entrepreneurial exponentially more so. He returns her smile, a similar proficiency in politeness as a reflex

[whitetwoguns]

[Long day of work, and now it's quitting time. He seemed to have it together thus far today. Plenty of awkward moments all around today but this was it. After this its the home stretch. The door about shines like an exit.

Oh look, there is Arthur.]

Hey. Don't you keep on workin' too hard.

[specifics]

[ There indeed is Arthur, or rather, here is Arthur in one of the low-traffic side halls nearest an exit, rifling through his courier bag before snapping it shut again, adjusting the strap as he nods at White. His mouth quirks upward at the corner just barely - shy of a smile. ] I try to work just the right amount.

[ No more, no less.

It's not a lie, in this case. Where his usual job is concerned it is, prone to workaholic syndrome in his element but this is just to hold him over as long as he's here. It's easier to take it at a more casual stride.

He tilts his head. ] Done for the day?

[whitetwoguns]

[Make that two smiles. There's something about a properly overturned curse-heist that brings people together.]

God call, good call.

[He is fumbling for his cigarettes. Wait. That's right. He ran out.]

Yep. And not an incident to speak of.

[One more check. Maybe Arthur has some. Larry doesn't notice the leafy greens above them.]

Say, you got any gum?

[specifics]

Don't jinx it.

[ A properly overturned curse-heist involving a man with hornets coming out of his hand, no less, Arthur can't decide if he'd rather forget it or not. Still, he shakes his head, apology on the tip of his tongue. Arthur carries neither gum nor cigarettes - the latter of which he could guess White might be interested in as well. Instead of actually saying sorry though, Arthur reaches to curl his fingers at the back of White's neck. That's the only so-called warning before curse impetus has him slotting their mouths together.

At least there aren't any fangs involved this time. ]

[lessdeadlythan]

[This has solved a lot of problems today, being a man and not a woman. Some days it's just easier. He's well-dressed, sharply dressed in a tailored suit and colors that complement him perfectly when he passes Arthur in the street]

[specifics]

[ Shooting off another text to Ariadne, Arthur notices the other man but not in time to avoid running into him. It's not a full-on collision, their arms jarring, but it's enough to warrant him stopping and turning for a second - stopping right underneath the jutting roof of the shop beside them, men's accessories at it were: ties, braces, cufflinks, etc. ] Sorry about that.

[lessdeadlythan]

[He moves in parallel, so they're almost dancing around each other]

It's not a problem.

[He looks over Arthur's outfit and is about to comment when he feels himself tugged into Arthur's space, his hips slotting against the taller man's, and his mouth coming up to greet Arthur's in a kiss]

[specifics]

[ His brow arches as the other man moves in and he has enough time to think oh right with some degree of this again before the stranger's mouth is angled against his and Arthur, immune to nothing he'd hoped he might be, returns the kiss, the press of hips enough to have Arthur himself stepping backwards, hitting the wall of some shop or whatever. Like it matters. It doesn't. ]

[saidrepent]

[Almost there. Raymond's almost made it back to his place safe and sound, carefully avoiding whatever mistletoe and-slash-or other people he can, with minimal kissing incidents. "Minimal," of course, would be including the two he's already suffered, but - no, there's no use thinking back on that, not while he's still out and about. No use at all, and he's almost...

Almost, and of course he would have to run into just one more person on his path. Just his luck.

He sets his jaw for a moment, preemptively steeling himself against the inevitable curse, and gives Arthur a small nod.] Good afternoon.

[specifics]

[ Running into people literally seems to be par for the course today - all that rushing to get out of public property possibly. Anyways, Arthur takes a reflexive step back but they're still less than an arm's length away as he assesses the other person. Brown eyes blink in equal parts surprise and shock. He hasn't spoken to this man since his arrival though he has kept particular tabs on him, to what degree he can. Arthur can't help his wariness but also his need to be in the know about this person who bears unfortunate and unsettling resemblances to Fischer, verbally, physically. It's disturbing.

But as Arthur knows that's not what he calls himself, so he nods with similar curtness. ] Mister [ Fischer. ] Leon. [ He pauses. ] Didn't see you there. Sorry, [ he says and it's polite, almost neutral.

The mistletoe crawling to life overhead is, decidedly less so. ]

[saidrepent]

[He recognizes the voice, though it does take him a moment to correctly place the name.] Arthur. [He presses his lips together for a moment.] Likewise.

[And then he's glancing for an exit, some way around him in the least awkward manner possible, though it doesn't immediately come - and so of course he doesn't notice the mistletoe overhead.]

[specifics]

[ For fuck's sake. That's what he's thinking as Raymond Leon (Fischer? Some weird alter ego dug out of his subconscious? What?) glances around, and it's what he's thinking as he rolls his eyes, catching sight of the Stupid Plant. He's also thinking it as he reaches for the other man's chin, basically pulling him forward with his fingers curled under his jaw - the easier to kiss him, obviously.

And Arthur does, remarkably glad for his rejection of possible mental repercussions, since he's not sure what making out with your ex-mark's much warped projection means (that's all Raymond is to him so far, all Arthur can conceive of him being) and he's not sure he wants to know. He's busy angling their mouths harder together as it is.

Thoughts on ramifications can come later. They always do. ]