capeandcowllogs | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

WHO:

specifythepoint
WHERE: A bar near Arthur's condo.
WHEN: This evening.
WARNINGS: None, unless you count drinking and probably some massive awkwardness and misunderstandings.
SUMMARY: Two people, having a drink. Is it a date? Your guess is as good as mine.
FORMAT: Action spam.

[Okay, so asking her out for a drink is unexpected, but that good kind of unexpected. And if she throws on a little lipstick, and fluffs her hair a bit, well, who can blame her, really?

He was right - the bar is hardly a dive (she doesn't think there are any in this part of the City), but it's not the sort of place where she'd be expected to show up in a slinky little dress. Which is a bit of a relief, because Ariadne has never been able to pull off that kind of look.

She finds a table towards the back, but with a good view of the door so she can spot him when he comes in.]

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I would never suggest that it was. [She frowns at him.] I'm not looking for a boyfriend, if that's what you think. I - [Does she really have to tell him that she likes him and enjoys spending time with him? She thought that was self-evident.]

I think I enjoy spending time with you, and I'd like you to like spending time with me.

I do. I wouldn't go to Barcelona with someone I thought was boring.

I guess I'm just saying... I also don't usually accept extravagant gifts, or go out to dinner at a restaurant that requires me to wear a dress and makeup with someone I consider just a work buddy, or even a good friend.

[He leans back against his chair]

Would you rather I didn't offer?

[How to say this in a way that won't either make her sound like a bitch, or a stupid little girl?]

I'm not - You can offer whatever you want, and if I'm interested, I'll accept. I'm just saying that... there are certain motivations implied - at least, to me - when certain offers are made.

All right.

[Sometimes she really just wants to hit him.

Instead, for the moment, she just gives a long-suffering sigh.]

Look, okay, you're not interested. I get it now. Water under the bridge.

[Oh, Ariadne. It's more complicated than that. He just takes a drink]

You could give me some kind of cogent response, you know.

I feel like I'm having a conversation with myself, and you're just watching.

I'm sorry.

And you're surprised I don't feel like I know you very well?

That's not your fault.

So I don't get any insight here at all.

What do you want to know?

Um, how you feel about me? That would be a good place to start.

You're smart. You managed to be an asset to the team even though you had never done anything like that before. You're discreet.

I think you're lovely. I think you could be an extractor beyond what Cobb's capable of.

[He takes a drink]

I could be with you, someday. But that's not going to happen now.

[She has to take that in for a moment - she was getting used to the monosyllabic answers, there.]

Why not now? [She's really just... genuinely curious what his reasoning is. After all, in her experience, if there's mutual attraction, you go on some dates, and if it works out, eventually you're a couple.]

Because I'm not interested in a relationship with anyone right now.

Oh. I see.

[Her ice cream consumption is going to go up a lot in the next few days.]

At least we're on the same page now.

[Great. Because Eames will totally notice. She can always eat Arthur's emergency stash of Magnum Bars that he keeps for whenever he needs to cheer up Zatanna.]

Is that all you want to know?

I suppose I could ask why you think you might want a relationship 'someday' but not now.

But that might be prying. [She gives him a wry smile.]

[Well. Opportunity to know Arthur's deep dark secrets missed, then! He just smiles.]

[Oh, come on.] Broken heart?

Something like that.

[She's almost tempted to do that thing Cobb always did, with the squinty-eyed glare.] Are you going to tell me or not?