for isnt_the_same

[chesstotem]

The only thing more cathartic than drawing, in Ariadne's experience, was shooting at things. And after the week she'd had, she needed to shoot some things.

She'd gone into this assignment, bright-eyed and ready to bring down the bad guys. They'd assembled her identity, using her own background in design to get her an in with their cooperative witness, Miles.

But Ariadne hadn't counted on enjoying the dream sharing as much as she had - not after three years of being repulsed by the very idea of it. Nor had she counted on liking the team - Cobb, charismatic but broken; Eames, oozing charm from every pore; Yusuf, a bit absent-minded but genuinely kind; Arthur, always in control but barely concealing something wild and dark.

And now she'd just found out her job wasn't done. Her assignment was going to continue - Cobb and the others, they'd realized, weren't the kingpins they had originally thought. Ariadne was a little relieved, but now they were expecting her to keep her cover, try to get as much information from them as she could. For how long, she didn't know.

The thought made her nervous. So she did the only thing that could help relieve some of her tension - she went to the shooting range. She was intent on the paper target in front of her, putting bullet holes right in the center of the chest.

Comments

[isnt_the_same]

"What exactly am I implying with the term partners?" He asked.

[chesstotem]

"I think that's for you to tell me," she said with a laugh. "Do you mean, keep working together for the time being? Or do you mean sign a ten year contract to only work with you?"

[isnt_the_same]

"I was hoping you'd want to be my architect exclusively," he said with a grin.

[chesstotem]

She laughed a little, ducking her head again. "That's nice of you to say. Fortunately, I wasn't planning to seek anyone else out. So you've got your wish."

[isnt_the_same]

"Good. Then I get started on getting you some new identities." He'd need to call up Eames for that.

[chesstotem]

"New identities?" she asked, playing stupid. "Oh. Huh."

[isnt_the_same]

"Well, yes. New names, passports, birth certificates. You'll also need to set up some off-shore accounts for the money you'll earn." He opened his notebook and started jotting things down.

[chesstotem]

She laughed faintly. "It's like something out of a TV show..."

[isnt_the_same]

Arthur huffed out a laugh.

"How do you feel about posing as a married couple?" He asked, looking up from his notebook. "It'd be easier to travel around."

[chesstotem]

She shrugged. "Up to you. You're the expert. If that makes things easier, fine with me."

[isnt_the_same]

He nodded and wrote down a few more things. "Good." Arthur shut his notebook and set it down on the table. "So, dinner?"

[chesstotem]

"I could eat," she admitted. "This place probably has better food than what's sitting around my apartment, anyway."

[isnt_the_same]

"Here," Arthur grabbed the room service menu off the coffee table and handed it to her. "The phone's in the bedroom. Go ahead and order whatever you want."

[chesstotem]

"What do you want?" she asked, perusing the menu.

[isnt_the_same]

"Whatever you're having," he said a little distractedly as he focused on something on his laptop.

[chesstotem]

"All right." She ordered each of them spaghetti and meatballs, then looked at Arthur. "What're you doing?"

[isnt_the_same]

"Emailing a few of my contacts. It's nothing that has to do with you," he assured her.

[chesstotem]

"I'm just curious. Being your partner and all," she teased.

[isnt_the_same]

He laughed. "How long till the food gets here?" Arthur asked as he shut his laptop.

[chesstotem]

"Twenty minutes. What should we do until then?"

[isnt_the_same]

He shrugged and leaned back in his seat. "Well, we've taken care of the business side of things..."

[chesstotem]

"What do you do when you're not working?" It seemed like a logical question to ask.

[isnt_the_same]

Arthur gave her a half shrug and crossed his legs. "I go home when things simmer down for me."

[chesstotem]

"Where's home?" She honestly hadn't thought about where Arthur might live, aside from hotel rooms.

[isnt_the_same]

"Syracuse, New York," he answered.