At the sound of a feminine giggle, that was not her own, echoing off the loft that had been their so called head quarters for the job Cobb had hired her for, Ariadne turned towards the source. As far as she knew, she was the only woman on the team, but apparently the woman the Eames was directing to where the rest of them sat, that would no longer be so.
The woman in question wore a pair of high waist gray slacks that seemed to make her legs look longer and a matching short sleeved stylish blazer. Underneath the blaze, a lacy black top could be made out and the toes of shiny black heels peeked from beneath the pant legs. Black hair that shined black in the lighting, was styled up in a bun. There were strands that remained free to frame her face, revealing in her Asian decent and black jeweled earrings.
Her brows shot up when Eames suddenly halted their progress by wrapping his arms around the woman's waist and bringing her into his hold and locking her into place. Another laugh echoed in the loft, though words were once again exchanged and the woman's tone was playfully scolding. A pair of delicate hand were placed against Eames' chest, but that didn't seem to deter him from bending down to whisper something into her ears. The woman turned her head away in response, a happy smile on her face and opened her eyes.
Shock fill Ariadne at the deep blue that locked with her own eyes, and she couldn't help but squirm at the depth of those eyes and the feeling of being looked at and through. It was as if the woman was looking straight into her soul, and Ariadne felt a sense of being... flawed and unworthy.
When the connection broke, due to the woman turning her attention back onto Eames, a sense of relief washed through Ariadne. Despite that strange and foreign feeling that had washed through her, she couldn't tear her eyes off the couple. She wondered if they were a couple as she watched the woman unlock Eames' hands and walking towards the rest of them sat around.
Eames smirk, it was easy to see where his eyes were to cause that sort of smirk. He was quick to be back at her side with an arm wrapped around her waist. His hand was easily seen on her hip, a rather possessive hold, though when they finally came to a stop just outside the circle of chairs they all occupied. The hand on her waist disappeared, but the arm wasn't removed.
"Eames, if you don't move that hand," a slight squeak escaped her that was followed by a masculine chuckle from Eames, a small hand moved to reach around behind her to remove Eames' hand from her person. "...not what I meant and you know it."
"Sorry love, but it's been too long." Eames' defense earned him a scoff and a roll of blue eyes.
The woman turned her eyes towards Cobb, her warm and fond smile turning into something a little more strained as she eyed the man. "Cobb, you better have a good reason as to why I'm here. I told you last time, would be the last time."
Said man rose from his chair, taking on the business persona that had approached Ariadne when they first met. Smiling and fixing his appearance. "Don't worry, if all goes according to plan, this will be my last job. I'm asking you here as a favor, after this no more favors. In fact, you won't have to hear from me ever again."
The woman inhaled and sighed out through a long and low sigh. "I told you before, I won't be going in."
"And you won't have to!" Cobb jumped in, his smile widening at narrowed eyes she pinned him with for interrupting her. "We'll need someone to keep an eye on us." he spread his arms out to indicate to the rest that were present.
Blue eyes swept across everyone, though Ariadne noticed the lingering glance at Arthur that was more than shared before the woman returned to staring Cobb down. "You have gathered quite the motley crew since we last saw each other. I can assume all that are present are going in. My I get some introductions?"
Cobb smiled victoriously and jumped into naming the new faces. The first person he presented was an older Japanese man. "This here is our employer, Mr. Saito." the two shared a bow in greeting where Cobb moved onto the next person. "Yusuf, is a chemist that will be providing with the necessary sedatives. And our newest architecture, Ariadne. This here is Kagome, she'll be our, doctor, while we go in."
The now identified woman, Kagome, swept her gaze at each new face. "You play a dangerous game, Cobb. Sedatives, and with this many people including the target?" she shook her head and moved to a couch that had been added to their little circle and promptly sat in the middle.
Ariadne more than expected Eames to follow her and take up one side, but she was shocked when Arthur moved to sit in the available spot. Her eyes widened when he ducked and kissed the corner of Kagome's lips, a teasing smile at the light blush that colored her cheeks and sat on her free side. Eames was relaxed and had an air of confidence when he slung an arm around Kagome's shoulders, while Arthur slid to wrap and arm around her waist with a smug look.
Kagome seemed to be taking their holds on her with stride as she pinned Cobb penetrating stare. "I need to know who your target is. And knowing you, how deep you'll actually be going and for how long you intend everyone to be under. Your new friends, I'll have to do a basic evaluation of each of them." she turned to Arthur. "All the information you have on this target, I'll need to know it as well."
"It's a lot, we may end up staying late." though the tone was concerned, his expression was anything but.
A delicate shrug of her shoulders showed that she cared very little for that fact. In fact, she got more comfortable in her seat, the two men on either side of her drawing closer to her. Ariadne on the other hand was more than confused, what on earth did she mean by evaluations? When Kagome spoke up, it appeared she had voiced the question out loud.
"It's so I have a better understanding of who I'll be keeping an eye on, and your mental state should I for any reason need to enter the dream." her answer was calm, polite, respectful but there was also something distant and cool in her voice.
Ariadne frowned. "I thought no one could enter while the dream was already in progress. Leaving at any time, yes, but enter... I didn't think it was possible."
It was Cobb that spoke up. "That's why I asked Kagome to be here, she had a special talent when it comes to dreams and shared dreams."
"Yes Cobb, do continue on bragging." Kagome huffed with a cross of her arms.
Eames chuckled and leaned into her. "Someone has to since you won't." he lingered longer than was necessary, his lips brushing against her ear. His smirk grew when he felt and noticed the minute shivers that racked her frame. When he pulled back, he couldn't help but chuckle at the raised brow from Arthur. As if to prove a point, he moved in closer and openly nibbled around her earring only to pull back and blew a cool breath on the noticeable wet spot he left behind.
"Eames." the warning tone had come from the woman between the two men, sharp blue eyes watched him as he once again chuckled as he leaned back into his seat.
"Again, I can't help it love, it's been far too long." he shrugged his shoulders, not at all sounding apologetic for what he had just done.
"So, who wants to go first for the evaluation?" Kagome smiled at them, her gaze lingering on Yusuf, Saito and Ariadne.
It had been two hours since Kagome had first asked the question, and now she sat across from the woman that had kept her thoughts in a constant state of turbulence. The woman was sitting in a random chair compared to the couch she had lounged in with Eames and Arthur from when she first arrived.
"This is just for me to understand your mental state, so no need to feel nervous or anything of the sort." she crossed her leg over a knees and rested her hands comfortably in her lap. A gentle smile and her eased posture helped relax the tension from Ariadne's own body.
"So, what exactly is this evaluation going to entail?" she shifted a bit in her own chair, hoping to achieve a state of being as relaxed as the woman across from her.
"Think of it more like the two of us getting to know each other better, than an evaluation. I'll simply ask you some questions, and you can return with an answer and then your own question. Much like the game 21 questions." her head tilted to the right and her brows pinched slightly. "I will warn you, some questions may feel and be personal, but answer as truthfully as possible. And feel free to ask me any question you like."
Nodding her head, Ariadne tried to swallow past her swollen feeling tongue. The first few questions were surprising, but once she thought about them, were actually not all that shocking. Drug or alcohol abuse did alter one's state of mind, emotional issues, past head injuries or past traumas how her life was currently like. It was all questions that really were what most people usually asked when getting to know each other, and as she thought longer on the subject matter, really told where one's mental health stood.
"Why are you taking part of this?" the question, while not unexpected, was something she didn't easily have an answer to.
Floundering about at first, Ariadne felt her lips twitch when she remembered when she became aware that she was actually in Cobb's head. "It's... mind blowing and amazing, and I would have to be crazy not to want to take part of this."
Kagome nodded her head, an all to knowing look and smile in her eyes. "Yes, I can't deny how amazing dream sharing is. Since you're here, I can tell that it was Cobb that made you the new architecture, and was also the one to give you your first taste. Tell me, have you met her?"
The question had her back going rigid, and a state of panic began to flood her. "Her? Her who?"
Kagome narrowed her blue eyes, causing them to go darker. Her leg lifted and relaxed as her posture became more... deafening, if it were at all possible. She screamed power, strength and something that was telling Ariadne not to mess with the woman and that she was not amused by the feeble lie. "Don't try and lie to me. His wife. Have you met her?"
Twisting in her chair to look at the group that were discussing on the other side of the loft, not aware of what was being discussed, she knew she would get no help from them as they trusted Kagome more than herself, and that whatever they discussed was going to be kept secret. She faced the woman with a sigh. "Yes, I've met her, the charming woman that she is."
Kagome nodded, her posture once again relaxing. "How long did it take before you met her?"
Pursing her lips, Ariadne tried to recall how long it had actually taken before she did appear. "Well, we were at least half an hour into the dream before I realized that we were actually dreaming. After that, I'd say anywhere between fifteen to twenty minutes."
A sharp tisk came from the other woman. "I'm not trying to blame you, but what were you doing in the shared dream?"
"I was exploring the rules of physics, well, bending them actually. I had recreated the bridge I cross every day to get to and from school when Cobb's subconscious attacked. Then she showed up out of nowhere and stabbed me." she offered a sheepish smile with a small shrug of her shoulders.
"How much bending?" her brows were furrowed, though her eyes were bright with curiosity.
"I, I folded the city Cobb had created in half. But it wasn't until after I recreated the bridge from memory that things went wrong." she watched as Kagome nodded her head in understanding.
"Did he say anything about the bridge before his subconscious attacked?" her questions were confusing her on how they were centering on the shared dream and Cobb.
"He said he recognized the dream. After that he said as an architecture, I shouldn't build from memory, then I would have a difficult time telling the difference of the dream to reality. The attack then happened and his wife then appeared." she waited patiently for the next question, already suspecting what the next question was going to be.
"Aha. Are the others aware of his state?" while her expression was relaxed, her tone spoke up worry.
"I'm sure Arthur knows, perhaps Eames as well. But the others... I highly doubt it. Have you met her before?" she leaned forward the slightest amount, curiosity of such a meeting between the two women just burning her with a need to know.
"Yes, I have. Had an interesting chat when Cobb was trying to steal information from me. Imagine my surprise when she turned against him and forced him out of my mind." her lips quirked the slightest amount that spoke of her amusement, but she knew the situation they were discussing was anything but.
"She turned against him? From what I've been told, she is part of his subconscious and meant to keep others out." feeling her face contort in confusion.
"She... is a special case. While she is a part of his subconscious, she is also her own individual. Think a split personality. She is made from all the memories he has of her, and then all his ideals of her as well. When people share a dream, a part of them is left behind in the other person or peoples minds. While it may be something small, the memory of how they looked, acted, lingering scent or how they felt in the dream, to many that are untrained in dream sharing, it feels very real. These small parts she left behind from when she shared dreams with Cobb are also a part of what makes her up. As such, this version of his wife is very possessive of him, but is also more than willing to hinder his actions when sharing dreams with others. Think of her as a possessive Jiminy Cricket." the sarcastic tone had Ariadne smirking, grimly.
It was an interesting theory behind Mal, but with so little known to the human brain and how it ultimately works, there wasn't anything else that could explain the woman. It was then she recalled what Kagome had said. "Wait, Cobb tried to extract information from you?"
"Extract, steal, it's all the same thing" Kagome waved a hand about with a fond smile. "It was how I first met them all. I have some interesting connections to some rather high standing individuals, and there were a few that thought they could gain information of those individuals through me. I didn't know who they were, but they had the money to hire Cobb and his team along with a few others. Cobb and his team were the only ones that backed off, the other... well, let's just say Cobb and his team aren't only the best because of talent alone."
Ariadne easily picked up on the hidden words. The competition had been eliminated. She didn't know how, and if what she said was true about her high standing friends, she didn't want to. So, nodding her head in understanding and the two of them sat in silence. When the silence continued, Ariadne felt that they were done, she moved to leave her chair and rejoin the others.
"Before we join the others, I have a favor to ask of you. Since you know Cobb's situation, keep an eye on him." her eyes became more tense more imploring and penetrating. "And should he fail to stop her for whatever cause, then do it yourself. Death would normally wake you, but under sedation won't. This knowledge won't matter to her."
Knowing that in her own mind and having someone confirm it were two different things and reminded her of the very real danger she was putting herself into. She also felt, however, that she did have to look out for Cobb, since she had an inkling that Arthur had some knowledge, he wasn't aware of all the facts when it came to Cobb and Mal. Nodding her head, the two left their seats and made their way towards where the others finishing up their discussions.
Ariadne watched as both Eames and Arthur easily welcomed her back to their sides, Eames the more open with Arthur the more discreet. The questions of their relationships burned at her tongue, but she had felt it was far too personal to ask after just meeting the woman. She had admitted, if only to herself, she was attracted to Arthur, he was handsome after all. He was dedicated to whatever task he took on, paid attention to the details without getting lost in them, and his sense of style wrapped him up completely. Sadly, it appeared he was taken.
She watched on with a sense of longing, not exactly that which belong to jealousy, but one day hoping to be in a happy relationship soon. Perhaps one that had clearer conceptions, then again, she could have their relationships confused, she be a partner with one of them and a rather good friend with the other. It was rather hard to tell with how openly intimate the three of them interacted with one another.
The others had safe for three individuals had gone for the night, Kagome being one of the individuals was leaning over a desk as she read some of the files Arthur had provided for her on the intended target. It was necessary to know something about the man, this Robert Fischer if she was going to monitor him as well. What made it so difficult with Fischer was the undeniable pressure he was currently under. Inheriting his father's company, his father recently passed and the relationship with his father had become strained when the wife and mother died.
She was currently reading on the uncle when a pair of hands rested on her hips and began to pull her away from the desk. "You're to much like Arthur, love, you need to relax." the sound of Eames' voice breathed into her ear as he begun to sway the to of them to some song only he could hear.
He wasted no time planting kisses along the right side of her neck as his grip pulled her tighter against his own form. Their dance continued, swaying in sync with each other to whatever music Eames was listening to. A hand left her hip to take hold of her wrist and pulled it up and behind so that it rested on the back of his own neck. Once her fingers curled into the short hairs and he was sure the hand would be going nowhere, his own trailed down her arm in a slow and teasing manner and he was more than happy she had taken off her blazer despite that it had been a short sleeved one. It simply meant more of her skin was exposed for his exploring pleasure.
The trailing hand diverted and pulled the inky hair free of it's restraints causing the locks to tumble free and fall over her free shoulder. The pair of hair sticks that had been used to hold up her hair were carelessly tossed to rest atop the desk with the rest of Arthur's files, bouncing with light clatter and hissing to a stop atop some random papers. His hand once again free, took up it's previous path to explore as much of the exposed skin as possible.
"And what are we listening to, tonight?" the sudden question startled Kagome into paying attention to
her surroundings.
"Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra, Sway." Eames continued to dance with Kagome, refusing to put to much distance between him and the skin of her neck, turned so they faced their intruder. Pale blue eyes watched the other male that stood across from them with his hands in his slacks pockets. "I was just telling Kagome love how much the two of you are so alike, darlin'. I thought she could use with a break and loosen up."
A dark brow raised at the comment, but all Arthur did was watch the two continue dancing. With how Eames guided Kagome, and knowledge of the song Eames was mentally listening to, Arthur imagined the music himself. His eyes drifted to the woman in Eames' arms, she really was a vixen, sprawled across Eames' form only making her appear that much more feminine at the sheer size difference between the two.
Smirking and approaching the two, he couldn't help but comment. "A good choice in song."
AN: This was inspired by blackfox-vixen. She wrote a cute little piece with the same... Pairing? Coupling? Threesome? Menage a trois? Oh, go read for yourselves and decide what you think. As I was saying, this was inspired by a piece she had written, and I had finally went and watched the movie. Free gravity scene was simply amazing, the ending? Not so much, to much of a cliff hanger for my tastes. I was also experimenting with the writing style a bit, far more descriptive than what I usually write. So please tell me what you think. Other than that, read, enjoy, and review!