for isnt_the_same

[chesstotem]

The only good thing about being in Paris, and away from Arthur for a while, was the easy ability Ariadne had to report back to her bosses with what information she had so far.

It was also a bit of a relief to know that they didn't really have any intention of prosecuting Arthur, or anyone else from the Fischer job - at this point, her bosses were sniffing out something much bigger, and just wanted her to use them to get closer to whatever the bigger operation was, to figure out who was behind it.

She suspected it was something much worse than anything Arthur would be willing to do.

Still, aside from the regular calls to her bosses, it was exactly as boring and depressing as she'd known it would be, having to pretend to be a student again, attend classes without even the hope of Arthur on the phone in the evenings. She walked to the college most days, went to a couple of classes, walked back to her messy little apartment in the late afternoon or evening. Ate takeout for dinner, because she could barely cook for herself. At night, she would touch herself, remembering how Arthur felt on top of her, inside her.

The next day, she did it all again.

Comments

[chesstotem]

"Don't you think that's something we should be deciding together? Partners, and all that?" she asked, flipping the slices of bread in the pan.

[isnt_the_same]

"I suppose, but you're still new to the business," he explained. "I'll tell you about them later."

[chesstotem]

"I am new. But I won't get better, or learn anything, if you don't share with me," she pointed out firmly.

As she turned back to the french toast, she realized with a sudden start that for a while there, she'd totally forgotten her real purpose here; she'd actually become Ariadne; burgeoning dream criminal.

She didn't know how she felt about that.

[isnt_the_same]

Arthur walked over to her and kissed the back of her head. "I'm sorry."

[chesstotem]

"Apology accepted," she said, giving him a faint smile. "There's butter and syrup in the fridge, if you want to get those out. Breakfast is ready."

[isnt_the_same]

"Alright." Arthur turned to the fridge and took out the butter and syrup before setting those down on the table.

[chesstotem]

She put a couple pieces of french toast on a plate, and handed it to Arthur. "I'm not a gourmet, but I think I do all right," she commented, turning to fix up her own plate.

[isnt_the_same]

"It's fine, Ariadne," he said as he set his plate on the table before going to pour them each a cup of coffee.

[chesstotem]

"You have to at least try it before brushing me off like that," she said with a laugh. "C'mon. I like feeding people."

[isnt_the_same]

"Okay, okay." Arthur sat down with their coffee before pouring syrup on his french toast and eating a bite. "Not bad. A little burnt, but other than that, it's fine."

[chesstotem]

"Burnt? Lies!"

[isnt_the_same]

"I am, it's perfect. Don't worry," he said with a laugh.

[chesstotem]

She wadded up a paper towel and tossed it at his head, laughing.

[isnt_the_same]

"Hey, that was uncalled for!"

[chesstotem]

"No, I really don't think it was," she said, sticking her tongue out at him playfully.

[isnt_the_same]

He laughed and went back to eating.

[chesstotem]

She smiled, digging into her own breakfast. She was really glad he was back - that he'd come straight to her place. That he was staying here with her.

Even though it would only make her life more complicated, casual or not.

[isnt_the_same]

When Arthur finished his breakfast and coffee, he went over to the sink and started on his dishes.

[chesstotem]

"You don't have to do the dishes," she pointed out.

[isnt_the_same]

He turned slightly to glance at her. "I don't mind."

[chesstotem]

"All right," she said with a shrug. She stood and offered up her plate to his scrub brush with a little smile.

[isnt_the_same]

Arthur took her plate with a smile and added it to the sink.

[chesstotem]

She gave Arthur a silly smile, until her phone started ringing. She glanced at the number, then stepped outside on her tiny balcony to answer it.

"Hey. What's up?" She listened for a moment. "Yeah, I've got a friend here right now, though, so I'll have to call you back. Okay?" She paused. "I'll be fine. Promise. Okay. Bye."

[isnt_the_same]

He couldn't help but listen to her on the phone, but when she came back in, he didn't acknowledge it. "I'm gonna take a shower," he said as he wiped his hands on a dish towel.

[chesstotem]

"Okay," she said with a smile. "I'm afraid I just have a vanilla-scented shampoo, if you don't have your own."