sixwordstories | (no subject)

Two pence for your thoughts.

[ Eames is sitting in the chair kitty corner to hers, legs stretched out and crossed at the ankle, cradling a cup of tea. ]

[ glancing up, a hint of a smile sent his way, as she lets out a content breath. ]

Do you ever wonder what you would be doing, if you weren't doing this?

[ He fiddles with the rim of his cup. ]

Not often. I'm not a man given for regrets. But... [ he tilts his head back. ] I imagine I'd still be doing what I was before.

[ brow arching slightly at his words, her curiosity showing. ]

What was it exactly you were doing before this?

[ He smiles, enigmatically. ]

National security.

[ Not technically a lie, if not terribly indicative of what he was doing. ]

Nothing too terribly interesting, but it was a job.

[ a small laugh escaping her, as she can't help but smile a bit brighter in return. ]

So you were James Bond?

[ there was a slight tease to her tone then, as her brow arched in question. ]

Unless you were his sidekick - does Bond even have one?

[ He makes a face at her. ]

Nothing so glamourous, or downright stupid, actually.

[ With a wry tone: ]

I think they're generally of the female variety. Though Felix Leiter may have counted, but that role is more Arthur's than mine, I'd think.

[ a slow nod of her head in understanding, as she let out a small laugh. ]

So Arthur's the sidekick type - and you're the lead?

I was never James Bond. Arthur was the Felix Leiter if anything, and neither of us has ever had a Honey Ryder.

I may be a leading man, but I'm no Bond.

[ she snorted, shaking her head in amusement at it all. ]

How wrong is it to admit; I have no idea who any of these people you are referring to are - besides Bond that is.

[ a shrug, head bobbing slightly at her thoughts. ]

I still don't understand what exactly you did before all of this.

Aren't you American? Shouldn't you know who Bond is?

[ He laughed genially anyway, taking a sip of his tea. ] Go watch Dr. No, Ariadne. It's a classic, they say.

[ To the second statement, he had no response; a hint, perhaps. ]

[ she rolled her eyes slightly, sending him a quick teasing look of annoyance. ]

Not all american's are fans of that series. [ brow furrowing then, she just nodded at the movie mention. assuming she would gladly be looking into it as soon as she could.

her brow arched then, looking at him with a questioning look spreading across her face. She could tell when they all were being vague to her - this would be perhaps one of those times. ] Do you want me to guess then?

Cultural osmosis means nothing to you then? "Luke, I am your father"?

[ Eames smirks slightly, his fingers tapping the side of his cup.

To her second statement he says, ] Nothing stopping you from guessing. But I won't be telling you if you're right or not.

Drawing out the chair next to Ariadne, Arthur gave the architect a glance. Pausing, waiting to see what she did and when she kept stirring, she waved a hand in front of her face.

"Earth to Ariadne."

"Huh?" She blinked, shaking her head slightly as if she was trying to focus back on the here and now, a ghost of a smile crossing her face as she looked up and over towards Arthur.

"Sorry, I was just thinking." She mumbled, letting a small sigh come out, quickly glancing up at the clock. "Did you need something?"

It was interesting watching the expressions on the girl's face. Arthur found them more intriguing than perhaps she should, almost as if wondering what it would like to not be so cynical towards the world. It was more than refreshing.

"About anything important," she asked, following her gaze.

Her brow furrowed just slightly as she thought over Arthur's questions. Importance of thoughts always depended on the person she assumed. So what she might consider important, could very well just been a blip on Arthur's radar.

Shaking her head some, she just offered Arthur a soft smile. "Was thinking about how things could be so different right about now." She admitted softly, as she turned slightly in her chair to her attention moving on Arthur fully then. "Just one thing could have changed it all for us." As she was referring to the Fischer case of course, hoping Arthur would have picked up on that.

It was obvious Arthur knew just what small thing that she was referring to. Or less what one thing and more the main event. A slip, a loss, a single wrong word and it could have gone completely downhill rather than sliding as it had.

"It didn't though, Ariadne. We did what we had to and got home. Everyone made it home this time. That's what matters."

"I agree. I didn't doubt for a second, that it would go any other way." She pointed out nodding slowly in agreement as she did.

"It's just amazing how just one single factor could change so much for all of us, that's is all."

"All of life can be that way," she pointed out. "A car out of control, the slip of a knife. Think back on your life, Ariadne, and I'm betting there are so many days where you can come to realize that just a single turn of direction and all of it could change."

She leaned a bit closer. "But what you have to realize is that, in the end, you can rise above that. You're more than the what ifs and the could have beens. Otherwise you live worrying for them."