Day 26: Periwinkle Shirt / On the Art of Forging
Yep, it's another "one scene extended over two drabbles" post in my ongoing Inception drabble series. The latest challenge prompt over at inception100 (“Periwinkle”) inspired me to write about this topic, but the topic forced me to backtrack and write out of order. Chronologically, the two drabbles in this post, which are #13 and #14 in the ongoing series, happen right before #8 and #9 - this is the dream from which Arthur catches Dom and Eames waking up.
Also, this is the first occurrence in this drabble series of a convention that several other Inception fanfic writers have used, and I will take up as well: In my writing, dreams can easily be distinguished from reality because any action taking place in a dream is written in the present tense.
“Do you remember the day we first met?” says Eames.
“Yes.”
“Well, we're going to break a rule and recreate from memory, at least to begin with. Think back to your first impression of me and sort of wrap that memory around yourself.”
Dom tries it. Nothing happens at first. Then, his friend's face and fashion sense hang superimposed over his own, misty and uncertain in the cafe window.
“Not bad,” says Eames, “but I don't believe I was wearing my periwinkle shirt.”
“Oh, right. Sorry.” Dom changes it to salmon, attracting a suspicious, sidelong glance from a passing projection.
“Your dream?” Dom asks.
“All the better to impart my knowledge,” says Eames.
“Not if we’re constantly running!” They’re now walking, trying not to attract more attention. “Next time, at least build us somewhere secure to practice, will you?”
“Not my specialty. You or Ariadne will have to.”
“Okay, okay.”
“Eventually, you’ll be able to practice on your own.”
Dom thinks of something else. “The shirt. How did I get that wrong?”
“The periwinkle you used almost matched your eyes. You haven’t learned to disregard or overwrite your own subconscious knowledge of what you normally look like. It’s not easy.”
Also, this is the first occurrence in this drabble series of a convention that several other Inception fanfic writers have used, and I will take up as well: In my writing, dreams can easily be distinguished from reality because any action taking place in a dream is written in the present tense.
“Do you remember the day we first met?” says Eames.
“Yes.”
“Well, we're going to break a rule and recreate from memory, at least to begin with. Think back to your first impression of me and sort of wrap that memory around yourself.”
Dom tries it. Nothing happens at first. Then, his friend's face and fashion sense hang superimposed over his own, misty and uncertain in the cafe window.
“Not bad,” says Eames, “but I don't believe I was wearing my periwinkle shirt.”
“Oh, right. Sorry.” Dom changes it to salmon, attracting a suspicious, sidelong glance from a passing projection.
“Your dream?” Dom asks.
“All the better to impart my knowledge,” says Eames.
“Not if we’re constantly running!” They’re now walking, trying not to attract more attention. “Next time, at least build us somewhere secure to practice, will you?”
“Not my specialty. You or Ariadne will have to.”
“Okay, okay.”
“Eventually, you’ll be able to practice on your own.”
Dom thinks of something else. “The shirt. How did I get that wrong?”
“The periwinkle you used almost matched your eyes. You haven’t learned to disregard or overwrite your own subconscious knowledge of what you normally look like. It’s not easy.”