fete au Paris (open, dreamscapes!verse)

[chesstotem]

Time might work differently in dreams, but it was even weirder when an event both anticipated and feared was approaching. The past week or so had occasionally felt to Ariadne like it was speeding along at a breakneck pace towards a barrier, while at the same time crawling up a tall mountain.

And then, almost as soon as it arrived, it was over. Her thesis defense was successful, and the following afternoon she and two of Miles's other students received their degrees.

The mistress of labyrinths was now a master of architecture.

Miles knew how to throw a party. The entire upper floor of a trendy Paris restaurant had been rented out for the occasion - there was lots of food, and even more champagne, to toast Ariadne and her two classmates.

Lots of people were invited, of course, but there were a few in particular Ariadne was especially excited to see. Not that she was waiting, or anything. She was already on her second glass of champagne.

[Okay, this is mostly for dreamscape!verse folks, but anyone else who might reasonably be expected to be invited is welcome, as well as potential party-crashers! Threadhopping is not only encouraged, it is essentially mandatory, so have at it!]

Comments

[thesecurity.livejournal.com]

"I'd say it serves the same purpose that shaving once every two weeks does," Arthur said, pulling absently down on his cuffs before crossing his arms over his chest, careful with the glass in hand. The words were an actual obversation, not a slight, but Arthur didn't follow the thread of conversation further. "I'm a little surprised to see you here." Glad--for Ariadne's sake, of course--but surprised.

[perfectforgery.livejournal.com]

"Your lack of faith in me is encouraging, really. On both counts," Eames responded, making a face and nursing the glass. Good champagne isn't something he usually had. Not because it was too expensive, but because it was only meant for special occasions. What can he say, he's a traditionalist. "I told Cobb I would be, I'm surprised he didn't pass the news on. Or Ariadne for that matter."

[thesecurity.livejournal.com]

The first count had actually been a compliment... if backhanded. Arthur assumed that despite Eames' words that he'd take it. As for the second count, well. "I heard that you were coming, I just didn't believe it. I didn't figure you for the legitimate, champagne drinking crowd."

[perfectforgery.livejournal.com]

"Did I ever tell you that I went to Eaton, Arthur?" Eames asked with an amused smile on his lips. He rarely let anything out about his past if he could help it, but he'd known Arthur for more than long enough, and the potential to see his face was just too much. It seemed like a good rebuttal. Champagne drinking crowd indeed.

[thesecurity.livejournal.com]

Arthur opened his mouth and then snapped it shut. Of course Eames would chose then to turn and finally look at him, always for the impact. He tried not to give him the satisfaction. "People change," he just said. Dryly.

[perfectforgery.livejournal.com]

"Always a little, but not massively." Arthur 0, Eames +200. The world order was stable, and he took the opportunity to drink more. "Don't worry, I was an sharp little shit then too, your world-view is safe."

[thesecurity.livejournal.com]

Arthur snorted quietly and looked the other way, giving the point to Eames. He wet his lips with his own drink. "I suppose I know where you get your general distaste of uniforms, then. From one to another?"

[perfectforgery.livejournal.com]

"Not exactly," He clarified, though he really didn't need to. "I didn't exactly graduate the way you Americans do. Took my A levels though, that was all that mattered."

[thesecurity.livejournal.com]

Arthur wasn't exactly on top of the English educational system; in all the places he'd lived as a child, England hadn't been one of them and now that sort of thing generally fell below his radar. He did notice that Eames said took them--not what he'd actually scored. If it hadn't been high, Arthur assumed it wasn't because of a lack of brains. Eames was too smart for his own good.

He supposed that Eaton had been a skill-set for the Forger. Learn how to act, to blend in, because he couldn't see Eames actually being happy at a place like that... unless that was his own assumptions of the man. Arthur didn't ask, just filed away the information, another piece in the puzzle of Eames. It was an ongoing process. "I tend to think that education is more than the degree or the grade. Have you seen Ariadne yet?"

[perfectforgery.livejournal.com]

If Arthur had asked, Eames wouldn't have answered. It was important to keep some sense of mystery after all, even with someone who knew too much already. He smiled his typical, condescending smile right back at Arthur in response before sipping his champagne. "Then we agree on something, that's nice," After his sip, he continues with a nod. "She seems happy, as she should be."

[thesecurity.livejournal.com]

Arthur had long ago stopped wondering how Eames managed to make even agreement sound that way. Against his will. Or smug. Or... like he'd just won some small battle that Arthur had never been intending to engage in at all. "It's a big achievement. I'm glad that she didn't give up on it after the job, a lot of people might have."

[perfectforgery.livejournal.com]

Eames nodded, entirely in agreement. "It's too easy to give up with a new opportunity like that. I'm glad she's sticking with both though, it would be a shame to lose a talent like that. In more ways than one for you, I'm sure." Oh yeah, about that secret. Eames figured it out hours ago.

[thesecurity.livejournal.com]

Yes, well, just as Ariadne had, Arthur breezes right past the pointed comment. "She'll be better for having the degree, being established, though I'm sure she would have gone far without it."

[perfectforgery.livejournal.com]

For Ariadne, brushing past the point was simple. Eames had let her. Arthur though, was not going to be getting any special treatment. "How long did you think it would take me to figure how that you're sleeping with our dear graduate?"

[thesecurity.livejournal.com]

Arthur's expression didn't change at all--he even took a moment to turn his eyes from the crowd to Eames, a moment in which he mostly considered and discarded the idea of playing dumb. "I had bets on at least two weeks as business days go." His tone walked the edge between annoyed and amused. "What gave it away?"

He asked because if he knew, then he could remedy it.

[perfectforgery.livejournal.com]

If Arthur had decided to play dumb, Eames would have been disappointed. Dumb was just not a good look for him, and Eames expected honesty above all else from this particular man. "Body language," He said casually, looking around at the crowd. "I've been here longer than you think, and you're not exactly the best actor, Arthur,"

[thesecurity.livejournal.com]

The comment stiffened Arthur's shoulders and he put his champagne on a passing tray, crossing his arms over his chest. "Excuse me if I don't make a living being someone else. I think we're doing good enough."

[perfectforgery.livejournal.com]

"Good enough is variable." Eames stated, taking another champagne glass from a passing tray, handing it to Arthur. He much preferred the man mildly intoxicated to entirely sober, and this was good champagne. "I would make a cradle robbing joke, but its a bit overdone."

[thesecurity.livejournal.com]

"And thank God for that," Arthur muttered--into the glass as he drank. Eames was always easier to handle when he was mildly intoxicated. "You do realize that she's more than legal? I know twenty-three must seem incredibly far from your age, though."

[perfectforgery.livejournal.com]

"You would know," He rebuttaled, taking another drink of his own champagne that was running painfully low. Three years ago, at the turning point, his age might have been an issue, but now he could deflect as well as anyone. "And she may be more than legal, but she hardly looks it. And, despite what the general public wants to think, looks really do matter."

[thesecurity.livejournal.com]

Arthur was still a year from that fabled turning point and he didn't consider the six years between he and Ariadne an insurmountable gap. "Is that why you shaved today?" There was a close-lipped smile for that.

[perfectforgery.livejournal.com]

"That is exactly why I shaved today, thank you for noticing," He replied with a smile, one that reeked of the unsaid truth. You're not getting him riled up that easily, Arthur, you're going to have to try better than that.

[thesecurity.livejournal.com]

It was harder with a flush from the champagne; the glass 3/4ths gone, Arthur put it back on a table's side. "Anyway, despite pandering to the status quo, Eames, we both know very well that none of care or we wouldn't be doing what we're doing."

[perfectforgery.livejournal.com]

Eames nodded in agreement, taking a last sip of his glass and looking around for a waitress. He knew that was true, and had very little problem with any of Arthur and Ariadne's goings on, but it was just too fun to pick. "I hope she's lovely at it, then, if you're going to keep it up."

[thesecurity.livejournal.com]

Arthur sighed. "You're exaggerating. And honestly, this isn't the place to be talking about it so--thank you for your always exquisite timing, Mr Eames." He pushed himself off the wall, shaking his head. He'd go find Miles; Cobb's father-in-law seemed handy when wanting to elude the company of Forgers.