From the moment Armstrong first mentioned it, the notion of a fifth stand user who would be joining the already-assembled quartet of misfits did dwell in the back of Arthur's mind.  Since that individual did not appear, however, he'd allowed it to drift there for the sake of focusing on his new acquaintance's briefing, having figured that whoever that person would be would bear thinking after arrival.  When the sounds of a commotion, punctuated by a man's colorful language, reached Arthur from the hall, he suspected they might be heralding the elusive fifth user's sudden appearance, but never for a split second did he imagine that this individual would be anything other than the speaker.  Of course, he did wonder with no small amount of curiosity what was causing all the hubbub.

When the door burst open, Arthur turned to look along with the others, and as if someone had given the man an electric shock he jolted upright, eyes flown wide open and eyebrows ascended to maximum altitude.  Before him lurked a snaggletoothed reptile of monstrous proportions, so out of place it might have made him laugh if the thought of ripped flesh and crushed bones didn't factor in so strongly.  “Crocodile...?” he murmured beneath his breath, any intelligibility lost into his mustache.  Eyes still glued to the beast's leathery hide, he gave the rest of his attention to Armstrong for the explanation he felt he very understandably deserved.  Only after Armstrong introduced Hogan did Arthur dare to blink, shaking his head to make sure he hadn't misheard that this primeval monster would be occupying the very role he had so surely felt belonged to that Simon fellow.

The others seemed to recover more quickly.  Perhaps they'd seen crocodiles before?  The same couldn't be said for Arthur, whose chilly home harbored remarkably few of them, though legends of the creatures' destructive power were not nearly as rare.  He'd been planning to ask Armstrong for assurance that this animal was trained, but the sight of the crazy woman just reaching down and petting  it convinced him his question was moot.  [i]Patient and docile, or...maybe...[/i]  Arthur watched with slight disbelief as Hogan seemed to read the card Skinner offered him.  [i]Intelligent.  Comparable to human.[/i]  The more Arthur thought about it, the more ridiculous his own recalcitrance seemed to him.  [i]All the things I've seen, and this is where I decide it's too weird?[/i]  A moment later, the businessman found he could not suppress his mirth any longer.  “Bahaha!  Incredible!  I've only ever seen one other animal that had a Stand, but to work alongside one?  Now I'm excited.”  Crossing his arms, he gave to his new ally a respectful nod.  “The name's Arthur.  Good to meet you, Hogan.”  His attention returned to Armstrong, though his planned assurance that 'anything else we can work out among ourselves' fizzled out when Skinner brought to light a reasonable concern.  After its resolution, and receiving a questioning glance, he shook his head told the man, “I'm good.  I'll look forward to this lead of yours.”