12th Kick || 4th Wall Day [action]

[windsorknot]

[ It's Sunday, which means Arthur's foregoing his usual homemade coffee for a trip to one of the cafes in the Square. Except once he gets outside, he find that the City is once again far more busy than it usually is. Which could only mean... ]

This again?

[ There's an incredulous tone in his voice as he continues on while scanning the crowds

Comments

[alleged]

[ His head jerks round at the voice and he tilts his gaze at the speaker, brow arching. ] You're a native?

[windsorknot]

You could say that.

[alleged]

[ Neal cracks a smile, considering. ] Any chance this city's train system makes stops in midtown Manhattan? [ The way he says it clearly communicates he's sure it doesn't, but he's poking for any kind of information additionally, certainly. ]

[windsorknot]

[ Which earns Neal a slight grin. ]

Unfortunately, we're pretty far from New York right now.

[alleged]

Too bad, too bad. [ With a shake of his head, Neal stuffs his hands into the pockets of his suit jacket, just one facet of a considerably well put-together ensemble. Then he lifts one out again, cellphone scrolling. ] Good reception here according to the number of bars. Shame that doesn't seem to extend to New York either. [ He looks over at Arthur again, still as congenial as ever, an effortless nature to everything from his posture to his inflection. ] Maybe I'm dreaming?

[windsorknot]

You could be.

[ Arthur can't help but glance curiously at Neal's phone. It's true that they get reception here, but who or what provides the cell phone service remains a mystery to him. Just another aspect of the City-something that works without any logical explanation behind just how it works. ]

You just got here, I take it?

[alleged]

[ His head cocks to one side this time, not expecting that kind of answer and not with that sort of similarly casual sincerity. Okay then. Interesting. Neal slips his phone away again as Arthur asks his own question and nods, his glance ever roving over the impressive crowd. ]

Pretty much. One second I'm walking down sixth ave and the next...

[ He lets go a breath that feigns exasperation more than Neal actually feels it, his hands spread wide, shoulders shrugging as if to say: here I was, somehow. ]

[windsorknot]

That's the nature of this city, oddly enough. Supposedly people can be brought here from any place at any time.

[ This explanation never ceases to sound ridiculous, no matter how many times Arthur finds himself repeating it. He shrugs to emphasize the fact that it's more of an explanation than the absolute truth. ]