Author's note: Sorry this took so long in updating! A mix of severe writers block and major job hunting kind of consumed me! Hope I still have readers, still love and appreciate comments and I'll be working hard to get my updates posted more often. trying to keep an even mix of team stuff and Arthur/Ashby past and present. HOLY CRAP! INCEPTION IS UP FOR BEST PICTURE! WHOO HOO! enjoy :)
"Alright, I think we can call it a night" Cobb said.
"Right then," Eames said almost excitedly "drinks anyone?"
"You're buying" Ashby said packing her bag up.
"Eames is buying?" Arthur said "This I have to see, count me in"
"I'm game" Ariadne shrugged "Dom?"
Dom seemed almost surprised at the invite, but glanced at his team members and soon obliged.
"It's been awhile" he said packing up a second PASIV device "By the way, excellent job today Arthur and Ash"
"So you're joining us then Dom?" Ashby said getting his thoughts back on track as she grabbed her own materials.
The team sat at a large table in a bar they'd all decided on, in her time trying to run from the past, Ashby had forgotten moments like these where the group could be somewhat normal despite what they did in their sleep. She watched as Eames teased Yusef and Arthur relentlessly, Arthur lightening up and firing back insults as more alcohol was passed around. She also observed Cobb and Ariadne's interactions together, noting there seemed to be something blossoming.
Finding the perfect excuse to find out more she looked to Ariadne.
"I seem to be...empty.." Ashby said tipping her empty glass upside down on the table.
"As am I" Arthur noted.
"Perfect!" Ashby grinned "Ari? want to join me at the bar?"
Ariadne looked to Arthur first then Dom who shrugged and nodded.
"I don't bite..." Ashby laughed.
"Perhaps we should ask Artie.." Eames grinned.
"I told you never to call me that!" Arthur groaned.
"For that, I'm getting the top shelf beer for myself and Arthur" Ashby smirked.
"On your dime Eames," she reminded "pay up!"
"In that case," Arthur said with a smirk "St. Bernardus Tripel"
"Read my mind" Ashby winked "And whatever Ariadne wants"
"Oh that's alright," Ariadne said.
"Nonsense!" Ashby laughed "No use feeling sorry for Eames, he offered to buy. Don't let him play you for a fool, it gives him too much pleasure"
"2 bottles of St. Bernardus Tripel" Ashby ordered as the approached the bar
"Oui Madamoiselle!" the barman said excitedly.
"I'll have the same.." Ariadne decided
"Good girl...trust me, I know Eames has the money" Ashby smiled. Ariadne smiled back, she still hadn't had much of an opportunity to socialize with Ashby and was still intimidated.
"So, I've been noticing something" Ashby began. "It seems you have an interest in a team mate.."
"Oh, well...I mean it was nothing really..." Ariadne said thinking Ashby knew she'd been interested in Arthur for a time. Nothing much had come of that, except a good friendship.
"It's not like I care, just curious" Ashby shrugged.
"We just kissed...nothing more...I mean, he still wants you" Ariadne confessed. Ashby shot her a confused look.
"Still?" she asked surprised.
"Well, yeah...it's obvious isn't it?" Ariadne said. It then dawned on Ashby
"Are we talking about the same person?" she asked. Ariadne thought a moment.
"We are talking about Arthur aren't we?" she ventured. Ashby laughed.
"I thought we were talking about Dom!" she said grabbing the bottles for the table.
"Oh god! I just dug myself a hole..." Ariadne laughed embarrassedly. Ashby shook her head.
"It's alright," she waved a hand "not going to lie, there seems to be too much to look at on this team..anyway, now that we're aware of who we were talking about..."
"Dom?" Ariadne said "Well, I don't know...I guess things are sort of developing. It just happened...what about you? and Arthur? he really missed you"
"I'm sure he did.." Ashby said without much thought "We've been through a lot together. It's hard to ignore that"
Upon returning to the table Ashby took her seat next to Arthur as Ariadne returned to sit by Dom.
"Ash?" she heard a familiar voice.
"Hi Nel" Ashby greeted looking up from her drink. Arthur nodded feeling a bit awkward that his last meeting with Nel was to pay her off so he could slip into Ashby's dreams.
"What are you doing here?" Nel laughed "You never seem to go out, at least not where I do!"
"After work drinks" Eames answered piping into the conversation "I'm sorry, I don't think we've met"
Nel visibly was flustered. Ashby laughed at Eames attempt to charm her roommate.
"Alright," Ashby said "Nel, this is Eames, Arthur, Yusef, Ariadne and Dom. Everyone, this is Nel"
"Just don't get these lads gambling!" Ashby laughed.
"Really? why?" Ariadne asked.
"Because Eames is a bloody cheater!" Arthur accused.
"Oh you're just upset over that one time" Eames laughed.
"What happened?" Ariadne asked. Dom laughed to himself, knowing both his colleagues gambling histories.
"Oh it's quite simple Ariadne," Eames began "You see Arthur isn't the world's best poker player, much as he might believe otherwise, and admittedly both of us love a good gamble. only some of us are better at it"
"Like hell!" Arthur laughed "You were hiding cards in your sleeves!"
"Always be smarter then the other players" Eames smirked.
"In all fairness Mr. Eames" Ashby piped in "I seem to recall, Arthur won most of your winnings that night at the craps table"
"Only because he uses loaded dice!" Eames laughed.
"Be smarter then the other players," Arthur fired back "Isn't that right Eames?"
"I thought you weren't supposed to use totems that way" Ariadne said confused. Yusef's interest was peaked as well, he didn't go into the field often and was constantly learning the intracacies of dream sharing.
"I don't use my totem..." Arthur said "I have other loaded die...I just use a particular one for dream sharing"
"I keep losing at my own game...I don't get it...I checked my totem and we're not dreaming" Arthur said as Ashby bought him a drink. "Eames had to have taken my dice.."
"I wouldn't put it past him to do that" Ashby smirked.
"Are you serious?" Arthur said growing agitated.
"He is a thief," Ashby teased. Arthur wasn't amused.
"Alright, can't have you sulking here now can we?" she said reaching into a small bag. "Outsmart the devil"
She handed him a small red die.
"What's this?" he asked curiously. He had an idea.
"Right, you'd said Eames was hiding cards?" Ashby said.
"I know he was" Arthur said annoyed.
"But you also said poker isn't your game..." she added.
"He's been beating me at craps as well" Arthur said "I'm out almost a grand"
"You'll win it back," she smiled "It's a loaded die"
Arthur simply stared at the small red die.
"Looking at it isn't going to make it work" Ashby laughed "Give it a try"
He let the small die roll out of his hand onto the table. six. he tried again. six.
Arthur was baffled at the new found side of Ashby.
"How did you..I mean...just how?" he stammered. In the short time they'd worked together, she'd always seemed so proper, he'd been surprised she even agreed to go to the casino that night.
"I never said I grew up in the posh areas of London...how do you think Eames and I became friends?" she winked.
Arthur grinned "You knew he'd take my dice"
"Of course!" Ashby laughed "Eames is only unpredictable if you don't know him well. I've known the devil for years, he's as predictable as rain in this country."
Arthur smiled at the situation.
"Remember when you were flagging down a waitress for another drink?" Ashby asked. Arthur nodded.
"That's when he made the switch, he doesn't know I caught him in the act. He's playing you, now it's your turn to outsmart him, your dice are good...but this one, if you trust me, is a sure win. I've never seen it cause the dealer any suspicion either." Ashby smirked. She'd been friends with Eames a long time, but also got amusement out of outsmarting him. Her growing interest in Arthur only helped with that.
"Thanks Ash," He said happily "I'll have it back to you by the end of the night"
"Don't worry," Ashby shrugged it off "it's yours. I have plenty more"