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Arthur stood, thunderstruck. He hesitantly moved forward, then dropped to his knee. Extending his finger, he began to gently brush it down Elise's cheek. The movement emboldened him, and he repeated it, using the back of three fingers.

He studied her face. The cheekbones, the jaw. He looked intently, remembering the first time he'd seen her. It had been in a hotel room, in New York. A few years before.

He'd felt unsure of himself on this job. He'd only just met Cobb, started working for him. He'd been trying to combat his bulimia – going to the gym, seeing a therapist. But he wasn't sure it was working. The therapist kept trying to guide him into talking about his childhood, his High School, college, and Arthur had felt himself burn with embarrassment at her questions. He'd begun to lapse into silence, and eventually, had stopped speaking completely.

After three frustrating, monosyllabic sessions, the therapist had told him to leave.

"I want to help you, Arthur," she'd spoken with a hint of gentle chiding in her voice. "But you need to help yourself first."

He'd nodded dumbly, turned, and left. On his way back to his rented apartment, he'd stopped off at a convenience store, and bought several packets of cookies, and two tubs of ice cream. An hour later, gorged and bloated, he'd felt nothing but empty.

Walking into the hotel room, he was aware that he needed to impress. The insider would be there. Cobb hadn't given him any further details. He'd straightened his shoulders, put on a sharply cut grey suit. And made sure his hair was slicked back. He wanted to look sharp, calm, in control.

He'd walked in, expecting the insider to be a drab, faceless corporate guy in a suit. When he saw the young woman waiting there, he'd sucked in his breath.

She was attractive. Curvy figure, dark red hair. Her face was intelligent, with intense dark eyes. But it was the way she carried herself – with confidence, with grace. She'd walked towards him, and extended her hand.

"Hi," her voice was calm, assured. "Elise."

He took it, and grasped it perhaps more firmly than he'd intended. "Arthur."


Eames fiddled with the air con. "Its small, but it'll do."

"What do you expect? Its Tokyo." Cobb had spoken more sharply than he intended. He rubbed his face. He felt dried out, and headed for the kitchen to fetch a glass of water.

"So, whats the plan?"

"The plan?" Cobb looked at the Forger. "We go and get Ariadne and Yusuf, and find something to eat. Then we group together to go through how we're going to get Arthur."

Eames looked at the Extractor. "Dom. Don't you think this is – "

"What?"

"Crazy?"

"No." Cobb spoke earnestly. "I don't. We failed at the clinic, now is our chance. We find Arthur. We sedate him if we need to. Get him to the airport, get on that flight. We have the cabin, the protection. Twelve hours-"

"-To implant the ideas that he's loved, he's wanted, he's desired." Eames looked at Cobb. "It's a start. He'll still need some professional help."

"Of course," Cobb sounded irritable. "But if we can start by implanting the idea…"

Eames looked at the Extractor. "I hope you're right."


He hadn't acknowledged his attraction at first. He'd simply been professional. She was trying to crack some difficult information about Cobol, and was succeeding. Arthur had received the information, and spent hours scrutinising it, until there was a soft knock on his hotel door.

He'd looked up, irritably. "Yes?"

She had opened the door and entered. "Hi."

He'd looked up, and felt himself starting to unravel slightly. "Hey."

"Listen, I have some information, but, I'm not sure its useful. Do you-"

"Yes!" He'd spoken a little too eagerly, and felt himself flush slightly. "Yes, I could look at it."

"Ok." She smiled, "I'll get it."

As she left the room, he'd felt himself feel impulsive, slightly reckless. He cleared his throat. "Listen…do you want to go for dinner?"

She'd looked taken aback. Then she'd smiled. "Oh, Arthur, I'd love to – but I've already agreed to go for dinner with Dom."

He'd felt deflated. "Oh. Sure."

"But I'd love to go for dinner with you at some –"

"No, you're right, its getting late." He'd spoken abruptly. "I should be finishing up anyway."

She looked at him, puzzled. "Arthur, its half seven. I'm sure Dom wouldn't mind if you joined us-"

"No, I'll get room service." She looked at him. "But thanks," he added as an afterthought.

She'd turned and left, and Arthur had picked up the phone. A heavy meal and rich dessert later, and he was bent over the toilet bowl.

Of course she'd prefer Cobb. He's smooth. You're just a silly liitle kid in comparison.

He'd become more frosty towards her. But after another week, he couldn't stand it. He'd watched her and Cobb get closer, the way the Extractor had leaned closely, whispering things in her ear, suggesting a new intimacy. He'd seen him put her hand on her arm, and then lean in close. She'd giggled, a soft throaty sound.

Arthur couldn't bear it. It ignited a hot flame of jealousy, something he felt he'd never possess. People weren't objects, he'd always rationalised. They were free spirits, to be with whoever they chose. But when he saw Cobb and Elise together, he felt irrational, jealous, furious. Cobb was married, with children – what gave him the right?

Arthur started to withdraw. He couldn't articulate it. Except through the route he'd always known. Bingeing took on another dimension, a way of expelling his hurt, and anger.

Finally, he couldn't stand it any longer. He knew they were having an affair. He could hear them, through the walls of the hotel. Eventually, he waited. He went to her room, and knocked on the door.

"Yes?"

The door swung open. She was standing there, in a silk robe. Her eyes widened slightly.

"Arthur!" Her voice was surprised. "I wasn't-"

"Doesn't matter." He cut her off. "We can still-"

"Still what?" Her voice was taking on a slightly harder edge. "Still what, Arthur?"

He was starting to undress. "We could…have some fun…"

Elise looked at him. "Arthur – I'm flattered, but I'm-"

"Sleeping with Cobb." Arthur's voice was bitter. "I know."

She flushed. "Its none of your business."

"It is my business!" He shouted. "He's the Extractor, you're part of this team, for God's sake! Do you have any idea what your doing?"

"Yes, I do." She looked at him. "He's married, I'm single, its just sex! It doesn't mean anything, its just a release!"

"But why him?" Arthur's voice was soft. "Why him?"

"He makes me laugh, he's attractive-" she broke off. "Arthur, why do you want me to say this? Its going to hurt you. I know you like me-" he blushed – "but you're not my type."

"Why? Because I'm single?" The words came out harshly.

"No." Elise looked at him. "Because you're sick. You have an eating-"

"Nothing wrong with me." Arthur glared at her.

"I'm sorry, Arthur." Elise pulled her robe round her more tightly. "Its not going to happen. You can see yourself out of the room, I'm sure."

He'd gone, hurt, and angry.

Why are you so surprised? You are so useless. So ugly. You're not smooth and interesting like Cobb!

He stroked her cheek again. When he'd seen her again – slightly thinner, and with dyed dark hair – he'd tried to ignore it. Tired to pretend he didn't know who she was. But he'd known. And when he'd seen her at the club, he'd hovered between wanting to dominate her and wanting her to dominate him. She'd tried to kill him. But he still couldn't help but feel something. Until he remembered.

He looked at her, and kissed her forehead. "Sorry Elise," he whispered. "I'm sorry."