maze_builder | (no subject)

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dontthinkabout

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Ariadne had arranged a peaceful, quiet life she for herself after the Fischer job. And then he showed up. All smiles and charm that sent her head in a frenzy. It seemed like every time he was in town, he would visit her and she would be conveniently available. She knew the kind of work he was still involved in and the risks that came with it. But she didn't think that he would be under surveillance or that anyone would notice his infrequent visits to Paris.

But someone had found out about her. Someone had been in her apartment and was looking for something other than money. They even went to the trouble of leaving her a note. A friendly enough note to try and inspire her to come out of retirement. That sickeningly sweet kind of note that felt like it was laced with cobra venom. They wanted an Architect.

She called the only person she could think of.

"Hey..."

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Their drive back to the hotel was a quiet one. Ariadne clutched Arthur's hand with her own as she stared out the window of the taxi. When they finally reached the hotel, Ariadne headed inside as Arthur paid the cabby. Just as she walked passed the lobby desk, the concierge called out to her. "Miss, someone left this for you."

From behind the desk he pulled a vase full of azaleas with a small note attached. 'Can't wait to meet you.' She wasn't certain, but she was almost sure that that was the same handwriting from the earlier letter.

Arthur frowned deeply when he saw the flowers and then took the vase from her. He thanked the concierge before walking to the elevator. "Well, someone's pushy," Arthur murmured.

"And doesn't check their email." She tried to laugh, but it came out shakily.

When they got to their floor, Arthur handed the vase to her. "Stay here." He took out his gun, opened the door, and then made a quick sweep of the place, checking the closet and bathroom and anywhere else someone could hide. "Okay, it's clear," he said.

Waiting for the all clear, Ariadne turned the note card over in her fingers thinking. Maybe it was the stress, but an amusing thought dawned on her and she couldn't hold back a chortle.

Edited 2014-09-05 19:51 (UTC)

"What's up?" He asked when she started laughing. He looked at her, confused, as he ushered her in and locked the door behind him.

"I've never received flowers before and the first bouquet I receive is a threat." She had to wipe away tears she made herself laugh a little too hard. She immediately went to the bathroom and washed her face and hands after placing the vase on the dresser. "Be sure to wash your hands. Azaleas are poisonous."

Arthur looked at her in concern and then followed her to the bathroom, washing his hands in the same sink. "Go get ready for bed."

Feeling his concerned look, she focused on scrubbing her hands thoroughly. Hearing his question she looked at him as she titled her head to the side. "I thought you wanted to change hotels."

Edited 2014-09-05 20:50 (UTC)

He nodded after a moment. He was going to wait till morning but Harris obviously knew where they were so they might as well do it tonight. "Okay, do you have everything packed?"

She let out a snort. "I never unpacked."

He fought the urge to roll his eyes and went to check his email on laptop. There were no new messages. Harris wasn't going to communicate with Arthur at all, it appeared.

After packing his things, they left the hotel for a pricier one by the Seine.

Ariadne resisted the urge to smirk when Arthur's face contorted slightly to keep from responding to her.

She tried not to grumble as he had the cabby pull into one of the posher hotels. "Are secure and expensive synonyms in your book?"

"Not necessarily, but with this hotel, you have to show your key card to at least make it to the elevators." After checking in, the bellhop took their bags up to their suite. Arthur tipped him after and locked the door securely.

She walked the around the suite, closing the curtains on every window before plopping backwards onto the bed, the day finally catching up with her.

Arthur sat back down at the desk in the corner of the bedroom and took out his laptop, checking his email again.

When he didn't immediately return to her side, Ariadne rolled onto her side to see what he had gotten up too. Seeing him at the desk, she stood and walked over to him placing a hand on his shoulder. She gave him a questioning look.

"Nothing," he said when he felt her hand. He looked up at her. "He must be new. We don't conduct business like this."

She shrugged. "Could be from a different business entirely as well."

"I thought he wanted you as an architecture?" He asked, a creased forming between his brows. "A contact of mine IDed him. He must be in Dreamshare."

She shook her head. "I meant that he could have come from another... line of work. One that might be interested in having a pet Dreamer. Or has a specific job in mind."

He frowned and turned back to his computer screen, thinking. "He included a phone number in the letter, right?"

Nodding, she went to her bag and pulled out the letter before handing it over to him. Looking at it, she could tell it was a European phone number, but that could just be a number that would redirect to another phone. She shook her head at herself as she thought through the possibilities, concluding that she read too many intrigue novels.

Arthur took out his work phone, one with an untraceable number, and dialed the number on the paper. He waited to see if Harris would pick up.

The phone rang three times before the tone changed, sound of the phone transferring their call automatically. The phone repeated this several more times before the receiver picked up. "Hello Arthur. Please put her on the line." The voice was thick and smoky but otherwise unaccented.