Putting things in motion: A ficlet for Complications verse
It was bound to happen one day. That was the reality Arthur kept repeating to himself. He knew all about odds, and the game of statistics, and how even when you planned and prepped the way Arthur did, eventually the Universe was bound to catch up with you and give a person the proper smiting that they so rightly deserved. Knowing it was the way of the world and accepting it was not the same, not to Arthur, but he was working to accepting it.
He'd likely have an easier time accepting that his entire wardrobe had turned into the same sort of hideous paisley that Eames seemed to favour.
Ariadne had agreed to pass on the news to the Forger, leaving Arthur to contact Cobb and let him know about the visit from Nash. Logically Arthur knew it needed to be done, that Dom had to be warned, but there was a deep running desire to do what he had always done. To run point. If he was smart about this, Arthur would find Nash, put a bullet into the base of his skull - small caliber so it rattled around in his skull for a bit until there was nothing left but mush - and then either buy off Cobol or see who he had to finish off amongst their finest - a term he used loosely. Except there was no guarantee that handling it that way would do anything but send Cobol scurrying to send someone after them all, and if he got Dom and the kids killed in this, Arthur would likely put a gun to his own head.
Not that he was sure there was a way to handle this without killing people.
"Damned stubborn women," he muttered, clearing his desk and assuring that everything was put neatly in its spot. If not for Ariadne's refusal to bow out gracefully for a few weeks, Arthur would call up a few people and start a war. Maybe it wasn't something he'd done since he was practically still a child, sometimes it still sounded like the best answer in his head.
Curling down into the high backed leather chair, he pulled the keyboard to him and worked rapidly. Off shore accounts and investments had left Arthur well provided for, but as he'd feared, not nearly well enough prepared to simply buy off Cobol, returning the money they felt they'd lost and compensating them for the loss. Nor were they likely to buy the truth - that Saito had simply been better than they were and offered a better price than even money could buy. Dom had his kids, which meant whatever Arthur had to clean up now was worth it in the end. Now to try and do it without bloodshed or lives lost. At least those he actually cared about.
First step, get those who needed to be out of the battle out of the way. He picked up his cellphone, hitting a single button, listening to the rings as he leaned back in the chair, closing his eyes and counting the seconds until he heard that familiar voice.
"Dom, it's Arthur."
The words were met with silence, and that alone sent a sharp pang through the pointman. At least until the words that followed.
"I was beginning to think you'd never call."
He'd likely have an easier time accepting that his entire wardrobe had turned into the same sort of hideous paisley that Eames seemed to favour.
Ariadne had agreed to pass on the news to the Forger, leaving Arthur to contact Cobb and let him know about the visit from Nash. Logically Arthur knew it needed to be done, that Dom had to be warned, but there was a deep running desire to do what he had always done. To run point. If he was smart about this, Arthur would find Nash, put a bullet into the base of his skull - small caliber so it rattled around in his skull for a bit until there was nothing left but mush - and then either buy off Cobol or see who he had to finish off amongst their finest - a term he used loosely. Except there was no guarantee that handling it that way would do anything but send Cobol scurrying to send someone after them all, and if he got Dom and the kids killed in this, Arthur would likely put a gun to his own head.
Not that he was sure there was a way to handle this without killing people.
"Damned stubborn women," he muttered, clearing his desk and assuring that everything was put neatly in its spot. If not for Ariadne's refusal to bow out gracefully for a few weeks, Arthur would call up a few people and start a war. Maybe it wasn't something he'd done since he was practically still a child, sometimes it still sounded like the best answer in his head.
Curling down into the high backed leather chair, he pulled the keyboard to him and worked rapidly. Off shore accounts and investments had left Arthur well provided for, but as he'd feared, not nearly well enough prepared to simply buy off Cobol, returning the money they felt they'd lost and compensating them for the loss. Nor were they likely to buy the truth - that Saito had simply been better than they were and offered a better price than even money could buy. Dom had his kids, which meant whatever Arthur had to clean up now was worth it in the end. Now to try and do it without bloodshed or lives lost. At least those he actually cared about.
First step, get those who needed to be out of the battle out of the way. He picked up his cellphone, hitting a single button, listening to the rings as he leaned back in the chair, closing his eyes and counting the seconds until he heard that familiar voice.
"Dom, it's Arthur."
The words were met with silence, and that alone sent a sharp pang through the pointman. At least until the words that followed.
"I was beginning to think you'd never call."