maze_builder | (no subject)

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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"Cute. No. You will put her on the phone or I will make sure you never work again. And I will still get her help."

Arthur rolled his eyes at the "never work again" part. As if Harris had the authority. "I don't have time for your whining. Tell me the offer or I'll be forced to take action."

Haris chuckled on the other side of the phone. "Ask her about her father."

Arthur didn't want to take the bait, but he covered his hand over his phone and looked at her. "What's he talking about?"

"I have no idea. He and my mother died when I was ten. My grandfather said it was a car crash." She gripped her elbows until her knuckles turned white.

He had read that in the file he made about her for the Fischer job so why was Harris bringing it up if her father was dead. "Tell me more. Quick."

"He's alive. And currently residing in Shanghai. He stole something from me and I want it back." Ariadne could hear him chuckling. "I thought it would a nice little family reunion."

Arthur clenched his jaw. "So what's your plan then? To get back whatever he stole."

"That is a conversation for her and myself pretty boy. Hand the phone over."

Arthur wasn't happy as he handed the phone back but not before putting it on speaker.

Edited Date: 2014-09-06 03:18 am (UTC)

"Hello Ari. I'm so thrilled you finally decided to call. I can't wait to meet you."

"I can't say the feeling is mutual." She set the phone down on the table and sat in Arthur's lap, pulling his arms around her.

"Well I suppose we can't have everything the way we want." He cleared his throat. She could almost feel him building up his own ego. "To the point of me contacting you then; I want you to design several dream layers to aid my team in extracting the information from your father." He said very matter of factly.

"No." She pressed down on the end call button.

He wrapped his arms around her loosely, listening. When she ended the call abruptly, he raised a brow. "Ariadne..."

She was shaking, furious that anyone would use the memory of her parents like that. "No. I don't believe it." She stood abruptly and stormed into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

Arthur sighed and got up, knocking on the bathroom door. "Do you want me to look into this?"

"Yes." she whimpered quietly. She was leaning over the sink trying to gather herself. She was angry. Beyond angry.

"Can I come in?" He asked next, feeling slightly helpless about the situation.

She hesitated before she slumped onto the floor. "Yes."

Arthur opened the door slowly and looked in, finding her sitting on the floor. He sat down beside her, not saying anything at first.

Pulling her legs to her chest she wrapped her arms around them. "I don't believe him Arthur. Ransacking my home? Leaving a threatening letter? A poisonous bouquet? Those are not things you do when recruiting. And now this?"

"I know." He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "He's a psychopath."

She leaned her head against his shoulder as tears of anger began welling up in her eyes. "How can I get rid of him Arthur?" her voice was starting to waver. "I get the feeling he's just going to keep coming after me until I say yes."

He was silent for a moment, not sure if he should offer. "I...I can hire someone to take care of him." And by take care of him, well.

"I-I don't know how I feel about that right now." she tightened her grip on her legs.

He nodded, relieved but out of solutions at the moment. "Come on, let's get into bed."

Nodding she released her hold on her legs and hissed as she tried to stand on them, the blood returning to her limbs. She clung to his arm as she stood and let him escort her to bed.