Eames lowers his mouth to Arthur's ear so Arthur will have to concentrate to hear him whisper. "All right, love, I can see we're at a standoff. Why don't we compromise? I'll give you some of what you want, and you'll be good and hold off on anything else til it's worn off. If you still want more then, I promise you, we'll go somewhere as soon as we get out of here and make it happen."

"Deal," says Arthur, almost before Eames has quit talking.

Eames puts a hand on Arthur's chest to hold him back just a little longer. "One more thing. You let me handle this. If you try to push me, deal's off and you'll get nothing else, sober or not. So don't push, darling. You know I don't make empty threats."

Arthur, Eames can see, is making a heroic effort to compose himself. "You have my word," he says, and holds very, very still.