Paris in Springtime

[loadedparadox]

((Rp for dreamsofmazes for Iris verse))

They had been back in Paris for two weeks. Despite returning with her, Arthur had given her space. Assuring the warehouse was clean, he released the rental and then set about finding his own place. Settling in, he made himself do what might have made him nervous otherwise. Furniture, his clothes shipped in, even plants in the kitchen and bathroom, offering a hint of hominess to it all.

Only after it was all done did he send the invitation to Ariadne, inviting her over for dinner. Preparing, he set the table, ordered the food and then moved it all to pots and pans to make the pretense that he might know how to cook more than the handful of meals he tended to make for himself the few times he had kitchens in his hotel rooms.

Dressed careful, button down shirt, tucked in but sleeves rolled and collar unbuttoned, slacks and loafers. Lighting the candles on the table, going all out, including pastries waiting for dessert.

Comments

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

She gave him a look more torn between amused, and are you serious? Just shaking her head, she let out a content sigh, finally reaching for her wine and sipping. "I'm not that hard to keep track of, fairly sure it's not that hard to do." She said it, giving him a playful smirk at the end.

"No honestly, I'm fine with it, Arthur. Just never really thought about it." She admitted, a small hum in thought coming out. "I mean, I know I'm good. But for some reason, I'm not that excited to work with others. I don't know, maybe it's just a phase with school and all? Who knows."

Taking another sip of her wine, she just watched him a moment over the rim of her glass, debating on her question. (Or how to word it.) "So what are you going to do now, if Cobb doesn't come back?"

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

Silent, taking a bite of his dinner before offering her a smile. "You ever used your phone to map you way? Turns on the GPS. It can be used by the right people to track you. Why people should still use maps."

Considering her a moment, thinking about it. "Well, I'll tell you now. I take on a full time job any time soon and I'm insisting they ask you first. You say no, fine but I'd rather work with you. I know I can trust you work. Why I like working with the same extractor. If he stays away? I'll start looking for a new one to work for."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

Her expression scrunched up at that, obviously trying to put together his statement. "Wait? You've followed me on my phone?"

Her expression softening, a smile settling on her lips at his statement, nodding in understanding again. "I like that idea, Arthur. Besides trusting you, I like ya. Can't see me working with anyone but you for point, if we want to be honest." She admitted again, picking her fork up to move around her food a moment, honestly happy he had said what he did.

"If he doesn't come back." She started, attention back on him again. "Folks will be lucky to have you working with them."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"No, but I could. I have others. It isn't that hard a program, and it's why I disable the GPS the moment I get a new phone. Safer that way, though I'm glad most don't. How else do I keep track of what matters," he asked, rakishly winking at her.

"I like you too, Ariadne," he said, almost shy for a moment, pausing as he moved to take a bite. "If you're interested in working, let me know. I'm sure I can arrange something with us working together, if you wanted."

A small frown crossed his face. "Chances are, he's not coming back. I'll start actively seeking a new point soon enough."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

Her head tilting to the side, pondering all of the facts with that statement. Only to shrug, giving him a small smile. "Call maybe?" She said, a smile on her lips.

"And I'd like that, Arthur. And I will, you know that." She replied, smile not failing as she watched him a moment.

Adjusting in her seat a moment, she nodded, taking a few small bites before saying anything. More knowing, the idea of Cobb not coming back, might not be the easiest thing for Arthur. Or she assumed that was the case. And that seemed to have her stuck on words on how to make it better. "I know you'll find the perfect one. Or you'll figure something out, I have all the faith in the world in you."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

He tried to look innocent. "And what if you don't answer," he asked with a grin that he couldn't quite hide.

"Good. I'll work on finding us a job. Shouldn't be too hard. Some have already been contacting me since Cobb came back to the states."

He ate, watching her and then the words made him shrug, hiding a bit of a sigh. "I have faith in me. Not sure I'll find the right person though. We'll see. I'm sure there's other things I can do."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"Then you'll just keep trying. I have to keep some form of mystery to me, don't I? I can't be too easy, now can I?" She stated, a small laugh coming out, as she toke a sip of her wine, watching him behind the rim.

"Well let me know, I trust your judgement." She said nodding, only to poke at her meal some, trying to find the next set of words that she wanted. "Other things, such as?" She asked, her tone fairly neutral, her expression more curious then anything.

"And have you ever thought, extracting yourself? I mean, I know you can do it. But I guess I'm more curious what your thoughts on it are."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"There are many things I've thought about you, Ariadne, but none of it involves you being easy. Trust me, I have only the highest thoughts for you." He said it sincerely, intent as he watched her.

"I won't take you into anything you wouldn't want," he said, voice still soft and sincere. "Damned if I know," he admitted, smiling then. "I'm sure there's something but no idea.

"I... I've been told I don't have the spontaneity to do it. I'm a planner."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"Thank you, Arthur." She quickly said, only to take a sip of her wine, letting her eyes closed briefly, a slight smile on her lips, as she attempted not to let that statement be taken as anything wrong.

Her expression calming again, as she set her wine glass down, eyes on him with a smile. "I know. And I'm sure there is something out there, you might find interesting, if push came to shove. And as far as not having any spontaneity. You do. I think you think on your feet. Which is what you need, or at least what I assume."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"You're very welcome." He leaned a bit closer, arching a brow. "What's that smile for," he asked.

"I can do it. I know I can. I'm not the best at it. Besides, hard to run point and extract at the same time and the truth? I am the best point out there. That I know," he said with a chuckle.

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"Oh nothing really." She started, knowing full well, he would ask. Chewing on her bottom lip, a quick roll of her eyes, trying to hide her slight, but brief embarrassment. "Just..that statement. You left it open to a lot of interpretation by me." Shrugging as she fished, taking yet another longer slip of her wine. Attempting only to hide the blush, she now suddenly felt forming on her cheeks.

"Well whatever the best point decides to do, one of the best Architects wont be far behind."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"You do know you're only leading me, don't you? The obvious question here," he murmured, watching as the glass touched her lips. "Is for me to ask how did you interpret it? I am curious."

Chuckling at that, unable to stop smiling. "I think between us we can definitely work things out."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"I am not." She shot back with a tease. "You're mind is allowed to wander just as mine is. Not that mine wanders. Well. Maybe it has been know to from time to time. But that doesn't mean, that it did." She started, obviously flustered, and rambling now. "Well that's a lie. It did wander, and obviously to places it shouldn't. Well not that it's not healthy to think that way, just..." She paused, scrunching up her nose. "You can tell me to stop, anytime now, Arthur."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"Except it very obviously did," he said with a wide grin. "So, tell me, where did your mind wander? Come on. Share with me," he said, waggling his eyebrows. It was adorable when she got like this and he couldn't hide it. Not the way he was watching her, was smiling.

"Oh no. Don't stop. I like it."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"To Naked place, Arthur." She sputtered out, covering her face slightly with a giggle, obviously read now in embarrassment. "Is that what you wanted to hear? Cause it did. I can't help it, I'm young? Apparently I have the mind of a twelve year old boy? I don't know. But it did. And now obviously you just are enjoying this far too much. And....I have no idea how to shut up, do I?"

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

Arthur fairly choked on his wine, laughing as he set down the glass before it splashed over his hand. "I can't believe you put it like that," he said, nodding. "And yes, yes it was," he admitted, grinning. "No, you don't know how to shut up and you may have a boy's mind but a beautiful girl's body and you're not the only one that went there," he said, watching her for a reaction.

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

There was a quick laugh, louder then the rest at that. Trying to make her embarrassment over it all. "Well I was only being honest. It was the first word that came into my mind after all." She said, a laugh still to her tone. Realizing how odd that sounded, but it was what it was. And there was no way of going back on it.

"Thank you." She started, attempting to hide the ever present blush on her cheeks, behind her wine glass as she took a sip. "For not making me sound like a complete nut job."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"So is that why you accepted my invitation," he asked, arching a brow. "Hoping to get in some quality naked time in my new place?" Not that he sounded the least bit adverse to the idea. Not at all.

"You're not. Quite possibly you're the most sane amongst us, all things considered. Besides, what's completely nuts about wanting naked time," he asked, lips twitching into a smile as he said the words.

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

Choking slightly on her own air, she bit back a giggle. "Oh my god, Arthur. I honestly don't know how to respond to this anymore." Her eyes widening at the statement, and her smile not fading. As she honestly thought this to be one of the most amusing things she had come across.

"I will never live, naked time down, will I?" And she honestly didn't sound to bothered by the idea.

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

Picking up his glass, Arthur watched her over the rim as he took a drink. Slow, tongue playing against the rim for a moment. "The truth? Probably not, though I suspect I might forget it. Eventually. Especially should it ever happen," he added, watching her closely for her reaction.

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

Stifling her giggles more, as she shook her head, looking back down at her meal a moment. "Should it happen." She started, tone as calm as she could make it. Before looking back up, a sly smile now on her lips. "We're using that shower."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

The smile widened. "It is only appropriate to have naked time in the shower. What with it being the shower and all," he said with a grin. "Natural to be naked in the shower, right?"

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"Exactly. Naked time is a must in a shower." Her smile bright and her eyes filled with amusement over this all. "Especially with your shower. It's a extreme must. Let's just hope it can handle our naked time."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

He smiled, putting down his glass. "Would you like to see the shower in question," he asked, holding out his hand.

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

Her brow arched, glancing down at the food a moment then to him, a smile on her face. "I suppose that would be a good idea." She said, taking his hand with a quick laugh. "Lead on, good sir."