She got a C for her final grade in Element of Design: Modern Architecture.
Ariadne folded the paper into perfect halves, and tucked it calmly into into her shoulder back. She showed her small, pearly white teeth in a polite smile for her instructor, The Dolt.
"You have good ideas," said The Dolt, "But all your work is starting to look like Escher. Impossible staircases just aren't applicable in real life."
Ariadne never blinked.
"Don't be too upset," Arthur said reasonably. He leaned on one elbow across from her, jabbing idly at the olives floating about in his martini, "You're making more in a month than she does in ten years."
"Not applicable in real life," Ariadne seethed, "I hate college. I hate it! You know what I'd need to ace her course? Use lots of triangle and make everything asymmetrical, heavier on the right. That's it. Because that's the only thing she ever does!" She shredded her napkin.
Arthur rolled his eyes, "Oh, give it a rest, you know giving out poor grades to good students is the only way people like her are able to live with themselves.
"I'm sick of it," Ariadne snapped, her eyes flicking to him, "I'm dropping out."
Arthur said nothing, only lifted the martini glass to is lips, and studied her over the rim as he drank. She continued to fume. "What?"
"You're already halfway through."
"I don't care," Ariadne muttered, "You were right. I can make more, a hundred times quicker, the other way. And I've already got you for my partner."
"Your partner?" Arthur smiled a little. She shot him another look, challenging.
"What?"
"That's it?"
Her lips pursed. Arthur grinned, then settled back. "Alright, so. Just don't regret it."
"I won't," she sighed, and reached into her pocket, thumbing her chess piece, "I won't. It's all so...heavy, here."
Arthur looked at her warily, "Be careful you don't forget to live outside of your head, Ariadne."
"Oh, I know," she waved him off impatiently. He leaned forward, catching her dismissive hand.
"You might be the best creator I've ever seen. But remember that you can never build a human. You can never build me."
There was a hard silence.
"That's why you dream with me," Ariadne said softly, not blinking, and rose up from the table.