loadedparadox | For Clarkie

The truth was he needed something more than somnacin. He had thought this part of his life was over and done with but there were times when one had to resort to what they knew best to get the job done. That was what mattered in the end, getting the job done.

Leaving the mark and others there in Barcelona, he had returned to Vegas. The time was mostly spent dealing with old friends and worse enemies. In the end though he had gotten a name. A name and a place. The next flight was for the Netherlands.

Just after touchdown, he sent a message to the number he'd been given and waited for a response.

DeVico gave me your name. We need to talk.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

freebaseforger

Ever since the semi ironic and not so coincidental gun fight that forced Mr. Smith to fuck off to Argentina, Clarkie (now going by the name of Eames, thank you) had made a name for himself. He wasn't in the drug trade anymore -- well, he should say, he wasn't only in the drug trade anymore. He still had his hand in it but it wasn't his sole means of income any longer. He too had to take a short hiatus from the life and in doing so, found a whole new drug. Dream share and the world of forging was a cruel mistress at the best and worst of times.

He had Yusuf to thank for that - the bloody bastard.

Now, as he had made a name for himself in the dream share community, Eames had found a select few people who knew about his second life - the life where he still had his hand in drugs, in somnacin distribution and the making of said product. There were a few other side businesses - arms and forgery (naturally) but he left the arms dealing to other trusted contacts. Eames had taken all the lessons that Mr. Smith had reiterated time and time again and incorporated them into his dealings with both coworkers in the dream share and his personal business dealings.

As such, he kept the two lives separate with a thin vale which consisted of two different identities that wouldn't and couldn't be traced back to the other (even to connected and devious point men who he had had the pleasure of working with) and two different cellphones.

DeVico was a trusted confidant in the States and if he gave this person his name and number? Must be something good. Still - he would test the waters a bit.

Do we? I don't believe we need to do anything of the sort.

From:

loadedparadox

Arthur waited at the coffee shop, drinking cup after another and watching people go by though he wasn't speaking to anyone. Just an occasional glance at the phone, seeing nothing that meant a message until he saw the light blink.

Staring at the message, he growled and sent back one quickly.

I'm in the country. I know the rate. He says you're the only man that can help me on four continents. You name the time and place. I'm at your mercy.

From:

freebaseforger

Eames felt a curious mixture of feelings regarding that quick text message; amusement, curiosity, pride (how many others could say they can help a person on four different continents afterall) and alright, even more curiosity. It was that in of itself that made Eames sent the location and a time.

The Underground. 10 PM. Tell them I sent you.

The Underground was a dance club that would undoubtedly be packed and loud but with secluded areas, it was also the perfect place to meet for business such as this.

From:

loadedparadox

The next message didn't come so quickly and it was likely obvious he was checking the place out online. Only after Arthur had the basics did he sent back a message.

I will.

So it was that at quarter to ten he arrived at the Underground wearing a Saville Row suit that was likely more than out of place and yet he didn't even seem to notice in the way he carried himself. For this meeting, in his own head, he wasn't Arthur the point man, but Arthur Tossi. Made man and right hand to one of Las Vegas' remaining mob bosses.

At the door he slid faked identification and a hundred dollar bill to the doorman/bounced. "Clarkie sent me," he said, tone not asking but telling, expecting.

From:

freebaseforger

The bouncer briefly looked over the fake ID, handed it back before pocketing the money and allowing the man through. He didn't need to know any other information. He had been given explicit directions to allow someone in if they had been given Clarkie's name.

As Clarkie, Eames had a much different style, as Arthur would soon find out. It all had to do with appearances and how he wanted to come across to the average, general person. As Clarkie, his style consisted of expensive and fine suits. He was making an appearance and giving off the idea that he wasn't someone to be messed with. As Eames, however, he wanted to be taken lightly. He wanted to give off the appearance of nonchalance and to blend in.

As with any club, it was dimly lit inside so it was only when the strobe lights flashed over the entrance that Eames spotted his client. He had to be - after all, who else would wear Savile Row in a club in the Netherlands? As far as he was aware, there wasn't any other job going on in the vicinity and he would be aware of such things. This would be a very interesting meeting.

Eames made eye contact with Terry, still a trusted friend, and nodded to Arthur. With any luck, Terry would get the picture and lead Arthur over.

From:

loadedparadox

Some days it felt like returning home to be sliding back into the "skin" that was Arthur Tossi. It had been his life until he was twenty-two, longer than he had been pointman by quite a bit. The difference was in so many little things. Like the stick in his ass, as many thought of him when he worked dream share. Not many thought of him as the deadly man he was, not unless they'd seem something in dreams to make them realize. Not many knew him as a made man.

Most that had seen that side of him hadn't lived long past that moment if they weren't with the organization.

Terry caught Arthur's eye as he ordered a drink, whiskey and soda, turning when he was bade to. The suit caught his eye, impressed though it hadn't been expected. His gaze traveled up and then, between one step and the next, he came to a dead stop.

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

From:

freebaseforger

Despite all outward appearances, nonchalant and relaxed, Eames was as surprised as Arthur was. As he sat there waiting for Arthur to join him, not if he joined him but only when he joined him (after all, Arthur contacted him, not the other way around), several thoughts ran through his mind. Not surprisingly, Arthur had to know some more powerful people in order to get a name like his, more specifically the Clarkie identity. More curious was why Arthur was wanting to get in contact with someone like him (Clarkie) who could help him with what Clarkie was known to help with?

He met Arthur's eyes across the floor and arched an eyebrow. He tore his gaze away from Arthur's and sent a charming smile to the waitress who had asked him if he wanted another scotch. He nodded and told her he wouldn't want to be disturbed after he was brought his drink.

From:

loadedparadox

Remembering himself, Arthur closed the gap between them as the girl took Eames' drink order ... Or whomever the hell he was because he damn sure looked like Eames but he wasn't acting like him. Waiting until she left, he took the seat across from the man he thought he knew as forger and thief.

Unlike how Arthur was normally, rocking back in his chair and anxious to do something else, he was seated almost sideways, one leg crossing over the other with his elbow hooked over the back of the chair and curled around, drink glass nearly dangling from his fingers.

"So, my first thought is that someone is toying with me," he admitted. "Most likely culprit is you," he added. "Unless this is a case of good twin, bad twin and then I'm going to have to figure out which is which," he said, hair clicked back and his dark, beady eyes watching the other man closely.

"Got an answer for me?" Not acting like the point man, still accepting this could just be one of those cases where two people in the world really did look like one another. Doppelgangers and what not.

From:

freebaseforger

Eames didn't say anything for a long minute as he watched the girl walk away and out of earshot. Once he was sure they wouldn't be overheard in the time it took for his drink to be brought over to him, Eames studied the man across from him silently. He wasn't acting like the point man that he had worked with - he certainly looked like him of course but he didn't act like him.

Still, he knew this game very well between seasoned criminals and he wasn't going to allow Arthur to get one up on him just yet. "It looks like we both have secrets, doesn't it," he asked.

Eames was leaning back in his seat with an arm slung over the back of the booth and surprisingly, or unsurprisingly, there was no hint of a pokerchip in his hand, toothpick or anything else to keep his hands busy as would be the case in any dream share job. He kept his eyes on the other man closely and silently took in everything about him. "You contacted me, Arthur. Not the other way around. I believe you had something that needed to be talked about, didn't you?"

From:

loadedparadox

"I have need of something I haven't used in a lot of years but someone made it clear to me you would be able to get it." And asking for it from a stranger could raise enough questions but asking it from Eames could open him up to a lot of questions, and possibly blackmail.

"I need liquid arsenic," he said. "Not powder added to water and diluted. I need the pure distilled form," he admitted, raising his chin slightly. "Poison pen letters went out of style but they're not forgotten," he said, giving Eames enough info to hang up - and enough to back out if he wanted no part in it all.

From:

freebaseforger

Of course Eames could get it. It wouldn't be too difficult. If there was one thing he knew other than his vast criminal knowledge, it was chemistry and how to get certain chemicals and elements. He didn't ask what it would be used for though he was curious. It wasn't his business and if Arthur wanted to tell him, he probably would. "No, they're certainly not forgotten, I'll give you that."

"When do you need it by," he asked, picking up his scotch and taking a sip of it.

From:

loadedparadox

Arthur was silent, watching Eames closely. In truth he looked how he felt. Nervous as all hell. How could he not be? It was one thing arranging for a murder. Another doing it with someone who could ruin you in the business you had made yourself quite comfortable in.

Taking a drink, he watched Eames over the glass, considering that. "As soon as possible, or I will have to come back to the country," he admitted. "I'll need an little less than an ounce." He shrugged a bit, trying to look amused with himself. "I'll be getting it where I need it in a perfume bottle so won't do for it to be too empty."

From:

freebaseforger

"Would two to three days be too long of a wait?" Eames asked. "We'll even put it in a nice perfume bottle for you." His lips quirked up at that.

It certainly wouldn't be the first time Eames had done something like this. But it was certainly different working to facilitate a murder with someone you worked with in another field entirely. Dream share was far more clean than what he did as Clarkie.

He had no intention of ruining Arthur though. He had always been impressed by the point man's attention to detail on the job and his efficiency in getting a job done. It wouldn't do to ruin one of the several that Eames could truly say he enjoyed working with.

From:

loadedparadox

He considered that, swirling the ice in his drink as he thought about it. "No, I can manage that. I have to be back by Saturday but I can manage a few days," he said with a nod, chuckling. "That would work. Just need to stay within the regulations for such things." Last thing he needed was them opening the bottle coming through customs.

He feel quiet once more, taking another drink before glancing at Eames.

"You're loving this, aren't you?"

From:

freebaseforger

"Be rest assured, it'll remain within regulations, Arthur. Do give me some credit," he said, sending the point man a mild look. "I'll send you a text when I have it and where we can meet to do the exchange."

Eames took another sip of his scotch before setting it down again and raising an eyebrow at the man before him. On some level, he was enjoying himself, yes but on a much bigger level, it had been ingrained into him from a young age that business was business. Arthur could very well ruin him if he so wanted to but Eames hoped that respect went both ways.

"I'll admit, I do a little but it's also business and despite what I let people believe about me, I am if nothing but a business man." He paused as he swirled the amber liquid int he glass before sending a wink in Arthur's direction. "And a hopeless flirt but that's beside the point."

He tilted his head and considered the man before him. "I am interested in hearing how you came across DeVico and across my name but since it appears neither of us are too interested in revealing our secrets indepth, I'll just wait."

From:

loadedparadox

"Never had a doubt." Not just because it was Eames, whom he had heard all good things about, but because the same with Clarkie. And besides, if he could keep this secret from the dream share world, then he was doing something damn right. Better than he might have thought if someone had told him who he was meeting before this had happened.

He was quiet, considering what he was saying. More importantly what he was asking. He knew that if Eames started asking, he'd find out the truth without Arthur ever having to tell him. IN a lot of circles, he was well known and not with anyone feeling he should be kept a secret. Most in those circles felt he should be proud of who he was and all he had done.

"Eames, I didn't meet DeVico. I enlisted him into the family back when I was nineteen."

From:

freebaseforger

Of course.

That made a lot of sense now. DeVico had mentioned the family more than once in the time that he had known him but to know that Arthur had been his, or one of his, sponsors was truly interesting. It shed a whole new light onto just what kind of person Arthur was.

"This gets more and more interesting by the minute," he said, looking a little surprised if not impressed as well. Course, he should have put two and two together once he had mentioned DeVico's name.

From:

loadedparadox

"Doesn't it though," he agreed with a snort. "No one in the business knows this."

He moved suddenly, shifting in his seat and bringing his glass down on the table with a clink.

"I mean it, Eames. This life is kept from the dream share. Not even Cobb knows. Mal, she might suspect but no one else knows. No one," he said, waving a finger at him. "We have a deal here and now. Not a word on either of us."

From:

freebaseforger

Eames nodded and picked up his scotch again. "I figured that one out myself."

He took a sip of the liquid before setting it down again and looked at Arthur straight on. "Trust me, darling. It's not exactly something I want shared with the entire community either. You keep my secret and I will keep yours, yeah?" Eames stretched his hand across the table so they could shake on it.

"I am surprised, however, that the Cobb's don't know. You're so close to them after all."

From:

loadedparadox

"Yeah well, it begs to be said. I've worked..." He growled then, fiery in ways he wasn't usually. "Do you have any idea how long and hard I've fought to keep this from being public knowledge?" And by public he meant in the dream share business. "All I wanted to do was reinvent myself from the man I was then."

A man still respected and yet it wasn't who he wanted to be, certainly not the lifestyle he wanted to live.

"I've got not plan to reveal yourself, especially not after what I just asked you for," he pointed out. "Truth is, Clarkie, you've got me by the short hairs, don't you?"

He laughed at that, taking a drink. "You would think, wouldn't you? Cobb... he would want so much from me for it if he knew. The connections and all that comes with it. Naw, never letting him know."

From:

freebaseforger

"Probably as hard as I fight to keep my two lives seperate on a daily basis," he said, not batting an eyelash. "You've done a remarkable job, if I do say so."

"So what brought you back into the fold if you tried so long to stay away?" He didn't expect Arthur to really answer him but still, he thought he would ask.

In this situation, he did very well have one up on Arthur. Still, as he had learned, it didn't do well to become over confidant.

"That is exactly why I have only told select people about my second life."

From:

loadedparadox

"Trust me, I had no plans to step on your toes in this. I went home looking for the best of the best. You were the only name on that list," he pointed out, giving the compliment almost grudgingly though he nodded as if offering that respect at the same time.

"In the course of the job I'm on, I ran across someone I had thought I finished. This time I'll make sure the job is done right. I blame myself for failing the first time," he admitted.

"And now we both have to trust in the other. Make you a bit uneasy," he asked, arching a brow.

From:

freebaseforger

"No, I don't imagine you planned on this, all things considering," Eames said with no hint of malice or irritation.

He worked with, more or less, the same set of rules as Mr. Smith had when he was younger. He worked in small teams (typically, this even went with dream share jobs), with only people who came recommended and kept a, strictly speaking, low profile. Low profile, in Eames' mind, meant that he didn't go out broadcasting what he did, who he was and what he could obtain for you. No, Eames stayed true to what had gotten him this far and out of prison - trustworthy people/connections, class A product(s) and his charming disposition. He was intelligent, far more than he let on when he was Eames. He knew how the game was played and he didn't flaunt it. It was those who flaunted it that were most likely to be caught, sent to prison, killed by enemies (as he had experienced once or twice) or, in his slightly biased opinion, just plain stupid.

Eames nodded. That made sense. "Least you have the ability to do it right this time. I can assure you that this will do the trick so long as you can get it to them." If someone had told Eames before today that Arthur would be pulling off a job like this, he would question their sanity and if this was the same point man that he knew. Now? Well, it was sitting right across the table from him.

He was quiet for a minute as he watched the amber liquid swirl in his glass. Finally, he raised his gaze and looked at him. "No. We both have a lot to lose if we out the other. Not only that but I only work with those who are recommended, trusted by others that I have worked with and for. DeVico gave you my name, he trusts you and from what I've seen and worked with, I trust you. You're efficient." He nodded, offering his own respect in return.

From:

loadedparadox

"Obviously not efficient enough."

Which was what was burning his ass. Despite how meticulous he was with the things he did, the way he ran things - whether for the family or for dream share - Arthur was the man that took care of it all, saw to loose ends and worked hard to make a job come off without a hitch. Now he found himself facing a dead man he should have finished. Fuck that it was ten years ago when he'd been just but nineteen years. He wasn't new to the business, even then. He hadn't seen the body and that was his mistake. One he would fix.

"Yeah, it will get into his hands," he said with a growl, downing the rest of his drink. "Trust that I won't let this happen twice. What I get for having faith in the system." A system that brought about death and brought illegal products into the country. It was the life he'd known, and the one he'd stepped out of for the much cleaner - at least on the surface - line of dream share.

Leaning back in his chair, he shook the glass, making the remaining ice tinkle against the side. He shouldn't be kicking himself this hard, but he was. Worse he didn't want to do this easy, a quick tap and walk away. He wanted it to be memorable. Arthur Tossi might be out of the business but he wouldn't have some mook thinking they could slip out of his, and the family's, fingers.

"DeVico and I go back. He worked for my old man," he said, no accent as most expected from men in his line of work. Those truly from Vegas - which most were not - didn't have that.

From:

freebaseforger

Eames watched Arthur intently, taking care to note the way his eyes flared with anger, the sound of that growl and his hands holding that glass. He was still very much the forger. Arthur was upset and understandably so, in his opinion. If there was one thing that Eames didn't enjoy, it was a job not being done right.

"You just had faith in the wrong system," he said with a small smirk. He finished off his drink before setting the glass down again.

From:

loadedparadox

"Why do you think I'm no longer with them," he asked, voice still a bit of a dark rumble. "If I have to do it all myself, what's the point of being involved with it?" Which was only part of the story but it was a damn good one to give when he wasn't ready to get into the whole truth. Something he might not ever be comfortable with.

"In the end, only one you can wholly trust is yourself," he said, though he knew there was one other he did trust, but she was madly in love with Dominick.

From:

freebaseforger

Eames tilted his head. He would give him that. There was no point to having a team if you couldn't trust your team to get their shit done. "If the system you're working with isn't working, change the system. Put in people you do know will get their shit done."

Oh, it sounded simple but Eames knew better than to think it was. It wasn't. Especially if Arthur wasn't in the game any longer. Least that game. And then there was the family and although Eames had been and was a member of a leading crime family in London, it wasn't exactly like being in the Mafia.

There were only two people that Eames had learn to fully trust over the years - Terry and Yusuf. Both men had been by his side since he was early in the game for different reasons. "Indeed," he mused. "Saying you do not trust the darling Mallorie?"

From:

loadedparadox

Despite himself, Arthur laughed. Not a sweet sound, a lot of bitterness and self mockery going into that laugh. "Some systems you don't change. Now, before you ask why," he said, his hand went into his jacket pocket. He pulled out a slim silver case and sterling butane lighter. Pausing the conversation, he lit one and exhaled blueish smoke towards the ceiling. "I want to change that, I have to take everyone out and take over. I had my reasons for leaving and none of them will bring me back, especially not to take over like that," he said, pointing at Eames with the cigarette for emphasis.

He started to lean forward, offering the case when he stopped. He stared at Eames for a long time. That wasn't what he wanted to talk about. Mallorie was a huge part of his life and she always would be, but she had made that choice and that choice was Cobb.

"That's none of your damn business," he growled, eyes narrowing as he took another drag. "And what the hell kind of question is that?"

From:

freebaseforger

Eames glanced over at the waitress and motioned for a another before watching Arthur. "That answers that last question then," Eames smirked and took the drink from her with a smile, glanced at Terry then back at Arthur.

He raised an eyebrow when Arthur started to become irritated and possibly even angry at his question. "No, indeed it's not," he granted him. "It was a simple question, Arthur. But as I see it was meant with hostility, I withdraw the question." Besides, his reaction was as good of answer as any.

From:

loadedparadox

Another puff, taking a hard drag so that the tip flared red before he flicked the ashes at his glass. He stared at Eames for a long time before deciding on his actions.

Leaning forward, he fixed Eames with a hard look. "The answer is that anyone, and I mean anyone, that harms that woman will be dead. No games. No if ands or buts," he said, voice hollow and flat. "She's the only good person I've known in my entire life and I will protect her," he said, laying that out now. "Not that I think you're a threat to her."

From:

freebaseforger

While Eames hadn't worked with the Cobb's very often, least not nearly as much as Arthur did, he still knew there was something special about the lovely Mallorie. "You can rest assured that I would be standing by your side if that ever happened," he said just as seriously, giving him a look.

From:

loadedparadox

Arthur watched Eames for a long moment before he nodded, sitting back in his seat and crossing his legs. Still he was silent for a long minute, willing himself to calm down. He knew he needed to say something after that reaction though he wasn't exactly sure what to say.

"I guess I'm burying myself with you," he admitted. "In keeping that secret too," he said, knowing he had shown his hand in regards to his feelings about Mallorie. "It's irrelevant and she's madly in love and happy."

From:

freebaseforger

Eames kept his gaze on Arthur's and nodded when he did.

He relaxed in his seat again and rest his arm on the back of the booth as he looked at Arthur, then around the club and back at Arthur. "Your secret is safe with me. Who you have feelings for isn't exactly my concern, Arthur." What mainly concerned him in this time and place was whether or not they were in agreement about the rate and that they would keep this under wraps. Until that was completely and one hundred percent settled, Eames wouldn't relax and come off of business mode. As Eames he had no qualm about mixing business with pleasure but as Clarkie, as the situation was, it was the complete opposite. He didn't get this far in the game by being stupid. Even as Eames, he had his limits.

From:

loadedparadox

Arthur signaled for another drink, stubbing out the butt of the cigarette as he forced himself to settle in and relax. He wasn't up to discussing Mallorie again, mostly because the more he saw of her and Dominick, the times they seemed to disappear into their own little world, it left him unsettled and nervous and yet he knew there was little he could do about it.

"So..." He let that hang there until he had his drink, taking a sip as he seemed to visibly pull himself together. "Let's talk numbers then, since I do believe you can get me what I need." Yet for Arthur, he didn't care the price. To exact his revenge, in his own personal way, was worth whatever it cost him out of the savings he squirreled away.

From:

freebaseforger

"I can and will get you what you need. You know my rate, yeah?" he asked, looking at Arthur. From the text message, that's exactly what it had sounded like. He had a going rate and a little more or little less depending on certain situations.

From:

loadedparadox

"I was given a price for general items, though not for this one in particular. I understand if the rate changes because of what I'm asking for though."

From:

freebaseforger

Eames thought about it for a minute before he nodded. "Normally it does depend on what you're asking for but for this, I just ask for my standard rate," he said.

He knew Arthur from how little he had worked with him. He knew he prided himself on his ability to get a job done efficiently, so this must really be a kick in the arse to have to do again. "I assume I can continue to reach you at the number you texted me on?" He figured so but he also knew some changed numbers quickly, threw phones away just so they were never caught.

From:

loadedparadox

In truth he had expected the fee to rise exponentially based on the need, and the way that chemical would be used. Most didn't like dirtying their hands with murder, especially if there was no way around knowing what it would be used for. Arsenic was used to kill, whether people or rats, that was what it was used for.

"Yeah. That phone's good for at least another month," he admitted, knowing he would keep it until he finished this for good, and then he'd go into hiding from the family once more.

From:

freebaseforger

"Then we have ourselves a deal," he said, smoothly as he looked at Arthur. He knew very well what it would be used for but still, there were other factors that went into his decision. He wasn't exactly most people.

"I'll text you when it's ready for the exchange. Should only be a couple of days at most."

From:

loadedparadox

Arthur nodded, downing his fresh drink before rising smoothly without a hint of having had two drinks since this conversation began. He offered his hand to Eames.

"Should I say it's been good doing business with you?"

From:

freebaseforger

Eames finished off his drink and rose smoothly from his seat, taking Arthur's hand and shaking it. "It's been a pleasure, Arthur," he said with a hint of the forger that Arthur had worked with before. He sat down a handful of bills on the table to pay for the both of their drinks and sent a meaningful glance at Terry. "We will be in touch."

He would make a few phone calls and with any luck, someone would have some arsenic handy.

From:

loadedparadox

Arthur found himself still curious, smirking at that message though. He wouldn't have trouble getting in again if need be, and likely Terry would be his conact. Whatever it took so long as he could work this out.

"I'll be in town. Let me know."