"Alright, let's hear it for John and Rita Seagul for not being tired of each other after sixty-three years of being wed!" Nick's voice was blasting through the microphone. Jayne and Shane remained on stage as if ordered to. When the applause died down, Shane took the microphone.
"How you all doing?" his Greek accent was making a reappearance after years of sounding American. "Here on Greek cruises we service and praise people of all race and nationally. On many cruises we have more than Americans and Europeans; we have many other types of people sail with us. Who here is American?"
The majority of the audience put their hands together for the red white and blue.
"Great country. Love the US. Any Canadians in the house?"
"Yeah!" Jules yelled over a few shy clappers. Shane called out the English, the French, the Asian and even the Arabs and of course, the Greeks. After examining the backgrounds of the audience, Shane continued.
"Who here has a Greek name?" he asked. A quarter of the audience cheered. "Are any of those names the same of a God or Goddess?" The room was completely quiet. Ariadne was either the only one or was not afraid to raise her hand. "You in the sparkly dress, what's your name?"
"Ariadne!" she called out so he could hear. Nick started to grin a little.
"Ariadne…" Shane paced around the stage. "For those of you who don't know who Ariadne is, she is the daughter of King Minos and Queen Pasiphaë of Crete. Dionysus is her husband. 'Ariadne' means 'most holy' and the Goddess herself is called the 'Mistress of the Labyrinth'. She fell in love with Theseus, a mortal who stepped up to slay the Minotaur and she gave him a sword and a ball of red fleece thread that she was spinning, so that he could find his way out of the Minotaur's labyrinth." Nick got up and grabbed the microphone from Shane.
"I think this is the first one!" he said. "The first 'Ariadne' in Greek Cruises history to be sailing with us!"
"Loom at that face." Joe growled in Arthur's ear. "She's such a kiss up."
"It's the cruise line's policy that I have to do this." Said Nick. "The first 'Ariadne' has finally arrived. As a bonus, Miss Ariadne…" her eyebrows lowered. "How would you like to go on as many excursions as you please, free of charge?"
"What?" she burst out. That was literally thousands of Euros worth! To explore Spain, Portugal, Morocco and more without paying a cent was a complete fantasy!
"That's right! Isn't it great to be a Goddess?" he asked.
"Alright Ariadne." Jules hooted. "Your luck's turning around already."
"It might be turning around too fast." The brunette whispered back.
"I'll be right back Rodger." Joe told him, pointing to the woman's washroom. Eames and Jules walked off to the casino leaving Ariadne alone with Arthur after the show. Ariadne had no idea why she was still hanging out with him when the blonde was around. What did Arthur see in her? Ariadne played with the heel of her shoe by pressing it into the carpet.
"Have the nightmares died down yet?" Ariadne didn't even want to think about the past. That's why she was on the ship in the first place. Arthur read her irritation. "It's my job to ask you."
"Yes, they're gone." She replied simply. "Now I'll never dream alone ever again."
"You asked yourself why it's so important to dream." Arthur reminded her.
"I meant dreaming with the briefcase. Besides, I always ask too many questions."
"Alright, that's all I needed to know." He said. "Now it's officially vacation time."
Ariadne smirked. "I bet you haven't taken a break in years."
"Well I don't like to, but for my own sake I have no choice."
"And Joe knows nothing?"
"She believes a different story." he explained. "Now do you think it's ok to let your friend run off alone with Eames?"
"I can't stop her." Ariadne crossed her arms as she felt the boat moving below her. "Besides, she's very tough… they seem compatible enough."
"You just wait. He's going to cheat on her." The Point Man predicted.
"I wouldn't be surprised." She agreed. "But she would kick his ass if he did." Ariadne could see a hint of a smile on Arthurs face. Suddenly, she felt the surface ramp. Barely able to stand on high heels on flat ground, Ariadne fell forward, Arthur falling back. They landed on each other like two dominos after an accidental push. "Oh my God excuse me." Ariadne got off of him.
"What's this?" Joe was out of the bathroom and saw them hit each other on the ground.
"A little wave that's all." Arthur assured. "We just fell." Joe glared at Ariadne who cleared her throat.
"Well… I think I'm going to throw on my gym clothes and go to the gym." She said.
"It's almost ten." Said Joe.
"Gyms open twenty-four seven." Ariadne corrected. "Besides, I like hard exercise. Beats karaoke, disco or what ever cheesy thing they're offering." The elevator opened and Ariadne stepped in, holding her shoes in her hands.
Around midnight, Ariadne and Jules were in their cabin, getting ready to rest.
"Eames is so awesome!" Jules gushed behind the bathroom door. "He won me fifty Euros at the casino and he's so funny. And oh my God, that accent and those lips!"
"Don't get too carried away." Ariadne warned her. "He might be seen like that to three other women at least."
"I never said I trusted him." Jules secured her thoughts. "I'm saying he's funny, hot and a gambler that doesn't go broke."
A knock was heard on the door. Ariadne threw her gym towel onto her bed and slipped on a bathrobe. Gazing through the peephole, she saw a sack of potatoes that was blonde hair.
"Hey Joe. What's up?" she asked innocently.
"Can I come in for one second?" she asked. "I want to ask you something."
"Sure." Ariadne moved out of the way, allowing the blonde who was still dressed up to step in. "What is it?"
"I just wanted to know…" the blonde hesitated. "I just wanted to know what you think about Rodger."
"What I think about Rodger?" Ariadne's eyebrows rose. What did she think? Arthur was smart, hot, dressed well and was respectful. "He's a good friend, that's all there is."
"Well that's too bad isn't it?" she snapped. Ariadne blinked.
"Excuse me?" Her hands found her hips and attached like buckles.
"Rodger is mine. So stay away from him."