#((''I promise I didn't put Ariadne in my luggage'' oKAY BUT WHAT IF THAT WAS A THING THAT HAPPENED BEFORE))

[beermanoftana]

Twenty Steps c. 2

Nineteen little steps Ariadne takes to get closer to Arthur. And one giant leap he takes to show her his love.

Step Two: Totems – Los Angeles, CA

She's been putting up and tipping down her Bishop for the past three minutes. It's not that she thinks she's still on the plane and is in the dream world, it's just reassuring.

The last time she's seen any of the guys was two hours ago. She saw Cobb leave with Professor Miles, Yusuf getting on a flight back to Mombasa, Eames waiting for his luggage and Arthur getting in the cab right after hers. She misses them already. Eames had promised to give her a call, to catch up, and she hopes that he'll keep his promise since they agreed that she can't call him (in case he's on the run…again).

Tipping the Bishop once more, she sighs and decides to call room service to bring up a slice of strawberry shortcake and a cup of tea.

She rolls onto her back, looking up at the ceiling and trying to relive her moments on the plane. Her moments in the dream. Arthur's kiss. She had been so tempted to take out her Bishop that time. It was a dream, but at that moment, she didn't care. Arthur had kissed her in his dream. That uptight member she's been crushing on had kissed her, and when she figured out it really wasn't a distraction, she wanted to ask for another. She touches her lips and smiles. "You lucky girl," she says to herself. A soft knock and the ringing of the doorbell takes her away from the memory.

*~*

As she walks along the streets of Los Angeles with the moon shining down and the lights almost blinding her, Ariadne can't help but feel lonesome. It's the weekend so she sees families walking around, couples holding hands, friends hanging out, tourists and the occasional L.A. natives walking alone. 'Maybe this was a bad idea,' she thinks, 'just go back to the hotel, book a flight back to Paris.' She pulls her jacket closer and puts her hands inside the pockets, looking down and continuing to walk forward, despite her decision.

"Would you care for some company, miss?" someone asks her.

At any other time, she'd ignore it and walk along, but she recognizes the voice. Her insides flip and she tries to keep a smile from forming. Ariadne looks up and blinks at the suited man in front of her. "I'm sorry?"

"I can't help but notice you looking lonely." Arthur smiles at her. His messenger bag is hanging comfortably by his side.

"Wouldn't I make you late for your job interview?" The smile she's been holding finds its way to her lips, teasing. Who would go to a job interview this late at night? "Wouldn't want you to lose a good position."

He chuckles and shakes his head. "Your company is worth more than a job, trust me."

Ariadne can't help but blush at that. "Flattery won't get you anywhere, sir. But it does make me want to take up your offer. Are you headed anywhere in particular?" She steps closer to him and they begin to walk forward.

"Crowne Plaza Hotel," he replies. "I was going to meet with an architect."

She raises her eyebrows, completely forgetting that they shouldn't know each other. "Really? Why? Do you need to talk to me about something?"

"I wanted to see if you're okay," he says. "If the job had any…negative effects on you."

"Arthur, it's only been a few hours."

"We've been stuck there for a week. That's the longest you've been in a dream. You went to Limbo with Dom, that hell of a place." He narrows his eyes. "I'm worried."

Ariadne boldly laces her hands with his and squeezes them. "I'm okay." When she notices Arthur furrowing his eyebrows, she asks him, "What's wrong?"

"You in Limbo," he answers without hesitation, "I don't like it."

"It's done, I'm here. Alive. Sane." She lets go of his hand and fingers her Bishop. "Roll your die if you have to."

Arthur suddenly stops and faces her. "Ari…" he breathes. He lifts up his hands and touches her hair, her cheeks, her neck, her shoulders and her arms. "I've never been to Limbo but I know that…it might have been easier to avoid being lost in Limbo because you and Dom went there on purpose, but it doesn't mean you couldn't get lost."

Ariadne doesn't reply. A part of her is pissed at Arthur for worrying too much. She knows the risks and she took it because she wanted to save their asses. She was able to wake up from Limbo and all dream levels at the correct time, right? She's the only one to do it. The most inexperienced member went to Limbo and back, sane, and on the dot. A part of her feels giddy that Arthur is worrying too much. For her.

Before she can think of a response, he lets go of her and they continue to walk. She looks at him and asks, "How long do you have to stay?"

He shrugs. "For now, until I feel like it."

Deciding to go for it with the new found courage, she wonders, "Do you want to go out for dinner tomorrow?" She never makes the first move, and technically, Arthur made the first move. But she doesn't know when she'll see him again. Will he call her if there's another job in need of an architect? Will he call just to check up on her?

Arthur looks surprised and she wonders if she's being too fast. Then, he relaxes and gives her a smile. "I can make reservations. Shall I pick you up at, say, seven?"

Ariadne's heart flutters; all she can do is nod.

Arthur told her that he made reservations in a place called Bestia, a restaurant on the other side of the city. She had to research, making sure that she had the right outfit before going out and buying an extravagant dress.

Now, she's standing in front of the mirror in the bathroom, thankful that she brought along a white sundress and a light brown cardigan. Her brown boots would have to do in this occasion, she didn't bother bringing her brown wedges and she feels really bad about it. 'Didn't think Arthur and I would go on a date,' she thinks, 'no…just…two friends having dinner.' Combing her hands through her hair again, she mentally pats herself for doing a good job with her make-up.

The buzz of the doorbell makes her jump. Arthur said he would be picking her up at six, changing the time he mentioned the night before, since their table is reserved for seven.

As she walks to the door, she adjusts the pink belt that hangs around her waist and the scarf around her neck. She's used to seeing Arthur and his immaculate suits during her times with her co-workers, but when she opens the door, seeing him in a grey three-piece suit and smiling at her, her heart starts to beat faster than usual. 'This isn't a date. You're friends,' she reminds herself, 'just friends.' She greets him, "Hi."

"Hi. Are you ready to go?"

"Let me just grab my bag," she tells him. She runs back inside and picks her little brown bag.

*~*

The dim lights and the chatter of the people around her makes Ariadne feel…good. The place is perfect, not too fancy and not too casual. She also hasn't eaten Italian in a long time. Arthur, being a gentleman, had pulled her chair back for her to sit before he sat across from her. Ariadne orders Casarecce al Pomodoro and Gates of Eden while Arthur, the Pistachio Pappardelle and Refreshing.

"Are you okay with this place?" he asks after the server leaves.

She nods. "Have you been here before?"

"Just once, a meeting with a client."

Ariadne surveys the area one more time, taking in the designs of the restaurant. She loves the idea of a warehouse-like theme outside but a beautiful and elegant restaurant inside. It'll actually make a great dream design.

When their food arrives, they chat about her college, how she's doing and what she plans to do in the future. She realizes that Arthur likes to steer away from questions that involve him.

"There's nothing to know," he says coolly when she asks him about his family. And she drops the subject.

The rest of the dinner goes by in silence. Ariadne feels the tension and she tries desperately to come up with something they could both talk about without having to touch on topics that would make Arthur uncomfortable.

It's when their desserts come, both ordering Crème Fraîche Panna Cotta, that Ariadne blurts out, "Why's your totem a loaded die?"

Arthur stops from picking his food and furrows his eyebrows. She starts to fidget, wishing she could take back the question that he clearly didn't want to answer yet. She made sure not to ask him any more personal questions but the thought arrived and she's curious. She doesn't expect him to answer even if a small part of her wishes he would. "I'm sorry, I didn't—"

"Ever since I was young I always liked to be sure, to be precise. I wanted to control outcomes. My brother liked being spontaneous, taking up chances. Board games were always his thing," he pauses. "One time, our parents took us to a factory for his birthday and he was allowed to get any game he wanted. While walking along the dice makers, one fell out the machine." He fishes out his die and places it on the table. "It's a defect, the number six has black dots while everything else, except the number one, was white. I took it, kept it in my room ever since. When Mal told me about totems, my brother Edward was the first thing I thought of—how he liked to be surprised, something that isn't allowed in this job. Then I thought about the die, when you roll it, you don't know what it'll land on, the results can be surprising. It's the only thing I know no one had ever touched yet. So I modified it." He shrugs. "Now it's a die that's always sure and precise." He doesn't look at her, instead he resumes eating.

She stares at him, surprised that he actually answered her question. Ariadne feels like he just spilled his life story to her. His perception on reality and dreams with his die is clear, and it makes her wonder if his relationship with his brother is as close as she imagines.

Suddenly, she says, "My grandfather taught me how to play chess. The bishop's his favorite piece, and since I didn't know any better, it became my favorite and well, it just stuck." She sees Arthur look up at her, listening. "He always let me cheat in games, card games, board games, tic-tac-toe, anything really, just not in chess. It's his favorite, learned it himself when he was young. As I grew older, I learned why it's so important to him not to cheat. Strategy...makes you think. He was training me to use my mind. Taught me to...build structures of strategies." She smiles. "When I visit him in New York, his chess set is always ready. If I don't see it on the table when I get to their place, I know something's wrong."

Arthur nods, and she knows he understands her view on reality and dreams.

"And thank you," she says.

"For what?" Arthur asks, raising an eyebrow.

"For telling me about your totem. I know it must've been personal but you told me anyways." She raises her cocktail. "Toast?"

He smiles and raises his cocktail as well. "Toast."