[open] winded through monotone

[falsify]

1 // Late August // Ye Olde Sainsbury's (Canary Wharf/Tower Hamlets)

There's literally no other way to describe how Eames looks right now other than the words 'vacuum sealed skeleton'. It's just a Bad Look, and for a man with his degree of vanity it's pretty much the worst thing that could ever happen.

He does still need to eat though, and Eames refuses to hole himself up in his flat and have people deliver to him because pride is a frustratingly unhelpful vice.

Thankfully though, Eames looks sufficiently little like himself at this point that he's not worried about being recognised. He's kind of trying to own this 'walking corpse' look, even if none of his clothes fit and this cap feels dumb and people are giving him weird looks while he looks at the booze section. Like a man who has no business still being alive can't enjoy a drink. What a bunch of pricks.

2 // 5 September // Tate Britain (Southwark)

When you're used to a degree of fluidity with your presentation, being stuck looking one way with no control over what's happening to your body while it ages rapidly is suffocating. As much as he missed his face looking how it should, it's been something hellish not being able to change even the slightest of his features.

As much as he'd like to be doing something fun, however, business calls. Which makes it Alice's night.

There's a gallery showing in the Tate — a history of 19th century Communist art — and as a fence by any other name, Alice is responsible for securing a significant amount of the paintings on display. Aside from a tidy sum of money, she also has a VIP ticket for the opening night, so she turns up- suit on and magic suppressed.

Most often, she'll be found with the man in charge of this, being introduced to friends and anyone with enough money to be an 'associate' of his, but she spends a lot of time on her own looking at the displays too. Inspecting the paintings with an appreciating eye and a glass of wine that never seems to leave her hand.

3 // 1-7 September // The New House (Camden)

Thanks to an Asshole Who Will Go Unnamed, Eames has had to put some plans back significantly, and had to endure a lot of things he'd rather not do again ever in his lifetime.

He's back to himself and back on track now though, with a new house and everything. And a dog! A quiet and cautious rotteweiler he's put off on bringing home since he didn't exactly want to deal with what was happening to him and training a pet at the same time. Decorating and dealing with a pet, however, has been surprisingly easy. Especially now he's progressed to the upstairs. It does make everything take a little longer, but it's a worthy sacrifice.

Anyone with cause to visit his new place can be treated to this, and more! More being: Eames in a tanktop and tracksuit bottoms with paint splatters all over, beer, and being stared at by a dog trying to decide how to feel.

4 // Wildcard

PM, hit me up at FiremanSam, or just tag me. Let's party.

Comments

[iustitiae]

Connor knows better than to try to cash in for helping Eames with his attempt at the territory claim; he hadn't done much and he hadn't been asked to help. There was nothing to trade in on that. So instead --

"Depends on what you want," and if it comes out a tag more suggestive than it semes like it should, well. That's just Connor.

[falsify]

It's probably for the best that Connor doesn't try to cash in on that. Even if he'd been massively helpful, Eames wouldn't feel obliged to him for it in the least. It wasn't something he'd asked for, and by the looks of things Connor got an activated curse out of it too.

But he catches that edge in Connor's tone, and under normal circumstances he'd even consider it — it's hardly as if Eames is a stranger to bartering sex for favours — but this isn't just for his own personal gain, so he can't can't just make a deal with some beta for something that could have a real knock-on effect for the Courts.

He shakes his head, expression a little regretful, and he leans forward to put his empty mug on the table. "I'm going to need a solid offer, I'm afraid." Eames says with a soft sigh, pausing to scratch Boxer behind the ears, "attractive as you are, you're asking for something that could fall back on more than just me."

[iustitiae]

Connor shrugs like it doesn't matter to him one way or another. He doesn't deny the implication was there, but he doesn't seem phased that he didn't take it. "Then name your terms."

[falsify]

"Let's call this a trial run." Eames leans back in his seat with a sigh, "honestly? I've no idea how much of a difference we can make this short notice, but at least it'll let us know if we can work together."

If Connor's half as smart as he seems to be, he'll be useful at least. So he shrugs a shoulder before he continues, "your lot take Enfield? I may call in a favour later. If not? You owe me nothing."

[iustitiae]

"I don't know either," Connor admits, but he's relieved Eames was willing to help him out on this. However, "I'll owe you a favour either way. You're doing something for me, even if we fail."

Fair is fair. It's something his associates don't deal in a lot. He's trying to be better than that.

[falsify]

"I'll hold you to that." He says it like it's a joke, but it's not. You offer a favour to a fae, they're gonna collect sooner or later.

[iustitiae]

Connor wouldn't have offered if he didn't mean it. He just nods. "I really appreciate you being willing on this."

[falsify]

"Don't worry about it," he shakes his head. "The last werewolf who came looking for an alliance was a prick. I'd say you're an improvement."