But I ain't no madman.

[whitetwoguns]

"Sorry I missed your call. Leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. Have a nice day."

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Comments

[signatures]

It's all right, just trying to keep the habit off.

[ Doesn't help that whatever it is White is toting on like an angry dragon smells rather nice. ]

I don't think the stance you have on your relationship should be something you keep underwraps for sake of anxiety, Mister White.

[whitetwoguns]

Anyway I feel ain't gonna help him a lick figure out himself. I think that's the problem.

[Seriously, Eames? They're Chesterfield. A gentleman's refined cigarette! Lawrence Dimick's favorite. Somehow they mix well with the smell of Marlboros.]

I can't fucking chain him to the bed.

[It crossed his mind.]

[signatures]

[ They don't have Chesterfields in his land okay god. ]

I think the problem is that the both of you apparently are terrible about discussing your own feelings to one another.

[ He downs the rest of the soft drink, ordering something a little bit stiffer. ]

[whitetwoguns]

[Another head shake. The old man drinks down more of his boozy concoction.]

So you think spelling it all out's gonna do something good? I think that'll push him on into a corner.

[Fit him into a box. The kid cannot fucking stand a box. Looks like that is where he ended up.]

[signatures]

[ Eames shoots the other man a look that's between skeptical and bewildered. ]

I think spelling it out's going to ensure he knows what you want so nobody has to do any predictions. What he decides to do with the information afterward is his own perogative.

[whitetwoguns]

I'll tell him I don't want to share. I've already told him that I'm dealing with it the best I can since it's just been sprung.

[He'll tell him everything that he can. More booze. He's ordering another even though his has about a third left.]

...I don't want to lose him over this.

[It's muttered nearly into his mug.]

[signatures]

How much are you already losing by letting him dally away with half your piece? [ Eames catches on to the words because he's not old enough to have his hearing completely gone, anyway. Still, he keeps his own voice quiet rather than accusatory. ]

[whitetwoguns]

Point.

[Losing intimacy, privacy, a sense of ownership to one another, open availability... Shit the old man did pull him away from work for a screw. It's so much more than fucking. Would Freddy be so ready still for just a stroll or going for a midnight snack? How frequently would they share a meal? How much is enough here?

Good and attentive bartender has the next black and tan when the other is gone. Larry takes to it immediately.]

May as well put us at a distance trying to pull him close then just...letting it all fucking drift.

[signatures]

[ The both of you are cynical fucks, too. ]

Never know, old boy, epiphanies come at the oddest of moments. But it is always best to have an active hand at your own relationship.

[whitetwoguns]

[Soulmates, right? Puff, puff, puffing away.]

We're plenty active.

[And that hasn't been enough. How much talking though? Larry looks at the slick varnish of the bar counter top. That much is true. They have talks, big ones when it's absolutely necessary.]

I appreciate the drink, pal.

[And prodding even though he is not in the best spirits.]

[signatures]

Sure.

[ He's making dud chips out of your casino, White, least he can do is buy you a drink after losing a few hundred to the tables regardless. ]

Perhaps we can get another round again some time without it being prompted by my blatant curiosity.

[whitetwoguns]

Sure.

[Another sip. He's not rushing anywhere yet.]

I knew you were a nosy son of a bitch.

[Arthur's here too right? Somewhere. Eames gets a drift of where the old man stands. There's an age gap there. Maybe not maturity. Arthur seems like one fucking old soul.]

[signatures]

I'm an absolute mongrel for everyone else's business, I'll admit.

[ Eames can sympathise with White for many different reasons, after all - just due to separate things. And yeah, he knows Arthur is working tonight; waiting for the point to finish up with his business so they can get into their own, like Eames wanting to get Underground. ]

I'm also a terrible liar.