#its the code of their history that takes a rosetta stone to decipher

[mister-eames]

hii! mustn’t be afraid nonnie here .. your words are absolutely wonderful seriously!! Thank you for putting so beautifully.. so here’s another one..

What’s with the deal of “speCIFICITY”? I mean it’s once again, loving improvised by mr Hardy and we would never know why (I guess?) but given in A/E context I feel like it’s either because of one of their past incidents (idk may be once Arthur didn’t take something eames specifically asked for or sth) or OR eames making fun of the using fancy word by Arthur who is actually from a working class family in contrary to eames being from a family who uses such words quite often? Or what do you think? Have a lovely day!!

Hello nonnie and welcome back!!! Thank you for both questions, they're very thought-provoking!! <3

I must say I've always loved the idea that 'specificity' is the latter scenario. I'm convinced of the idea of street-rat Arthur who is self-taught, who doesn't have a fancy education -- mispronounces words/names accidentally, isn't always grammatically correct, despite often being the smartest person in the room. And that, no matter Arthur's attempts to appear refined, and how he can fool everyone else, Eames can tell how rough he is around the edges from a mile away. Maybe when they first met Arthur was seemed read, well-travelled, but gave his inexperience and unconventional education away by mispronouncing words like homage, ingénue, or gist with a hard 'g'. Maybe Arthur can cite pi to the nth place but has never read Vonnegut.

It's not that Eames thinks Arthur is, or has ever been, dumb, that he's not intelligent. It's just that Eames remembers how far Arthur's come, but is also very much the same. He's still that same twenty-something who hates Sunday drivers and will flip off a belligerent stranger on a crowded street and drink cheap, bottom-shelf liquor to save a dime. Now he's just dressed better and can fool others to think he was born with a silver spoon.

Eames, it seems in the case of Arthur, cannot help pigtail pulling. We see him being a bit more of a lad when he's aiming for levity and genuinely taking the piss out of someone ("too much champagne, eh Yusuf?" and making Saito visibly uncomfortable with his forge) but with Arthur he is purposefully trying to rile him up, to poke and prod him until Eames gets prodded back. With 'specificity' and 'condescension' and kicking Arthur's chair, Eames isn't going in for a laugh for the sake of laughing, he's pre-pre-pre-pre courting. Classic 'pay attention to me' behaviour. Eames is exactly like a patellar reflex test - he knows exactly where to tap to get the reaction from Arthur he wants.

And then Arthur looks at Eames with impatience and that something in his eyes and Eames thinks ah, there you are.