Fic: Traditions to Carry You Forward
Title: Traditions to Carry You Forward
Author: sunriseinspace
Character(s): Ariadne / OMC, Arthur / Eames (hinted at), Yusuf, Cobb, Saito, OFCs
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I own nothing about Inception, its characters or plotline, including any recognizable dialogue.
Summary: They’re all crowded into the tiny hallway, Cobb at the front and Saito at the rear, all watching her with varying expression of fond happiness.
“We’ve got something for you,” Cobb continues, oddly solemn around the grin creasing his face.
Written for this prompt on inception_kink (oh, good Lord, I’ve found a new addiction)
+++
She’s not nervous, exactly, she thinks, sitting tolerantly in front of the dressing table as Gretchen and Holly fuss with her hair, makeup, and dress. She’s not nervous, she’s not scared or anything, she’s a little overwhelmed, but she’s in love, she’s happy, she-
-needs a minute alone to breathe before she screams or pulls a gun - it’s a toss-up at this point, really.
“Guys, guys, guys!” she says and her best friends finally stop chattering and look her in the eye. “Could you give me a minute, maybe?” she asks and nearly groans as their eyes go wide with misplaced sympathy and understanding.
“Oh, honey, it’s okay to be nervous, I know I was nearly sick to my stomach before my wedding, but don’t worry, Geoff’ll be there, I’ve never seen a man so devoted to a woman before, there’s nothing to worry about,” they coo at her and she rolls her eyes, planting her hands on the dressing table and rising to her feet. Yards of satin and lace shift around her legs as she turns to peg them with a pointed stare.
“Look, I’m fine, I just need a minute, okay?” They blink at her in confusion for a moment, hands hanging limply. It goes on long enough that she starts to wonder if the whole wedding madness has finally gone to their heads.
Then Holly shakes back her long red hair and the strong, level-headed, blunt woman Ariadne’s come to love like a sister returns. She grabs Gretchen’s arm and directs the other woman to the door. “Gotcha, babe. We’ll go check on the caterers or the guests or something, right, Gretchen?” she asks pointedly and sense returns to Gretchen’s eyes as well.
“Right! We’ll, uh, be over there, if you need us,” she says, gesturing down the hall and winking knowingly at Ariadne before ducking through the door. Holly rolls her eyes and waves over her shoulder, latching the door behind her as she goes.
Ariadne’s really not nervous, just eager and excited. She’s sure about Geoff, has known him for over a year and loved him nearly that long, and she finally understands what Mal meant about being a lover and one half of a whole. She’s found the one she wants to spend the rest of her life with; she’s just ready for that life to get a move on, preferably sooner than later.
There’s a tentative tap on the door and she looks across the room, wondering. She’s twenty-six, has been dreaming for three years, and has never been prone to believing in superstitions, but she wanted all of the old wedding traditions. To that end, she hasn’t seen her fiancé since the rehearsal dinner last night and is now equal parts eager to and dreading finding Geoff on the other side of the door.
She leans up against the panel and presses her ear to the wood as she calls, “Who is it?”
“Just us,” she hears Cobb say and grins, yanking open the door.
They’re all crowded into the tiny hallway, Cobb at the front and Saito at the rear, all watching her with varying expression of fond happiness.
“We’ve got something for you,” Cobb continues, oddly solemn around the grin creasing his face. Eames pulls an atrocious face over his left shoulder and, as she laughs, is promptly elbowed in the gut by Arthur. Yusuf rolls his eyes and tries to edge away, while Saito sighs long-sufferingly. They’re all looking expectant and hopeful and it ignites a fierce curiosity in her.
At her gesture, they all pile into the room, each stopping to hug her or kiss her cheek as they move past. The room, confining when it had held just her and her two bridesmaids, is downright suffocating with all six of them in here. She couldn’t be happier.
“Cobb, what-” she starts and he holds up a hand to cut her off, his smile going softer and ineffably sweeter as he pulls a box out of his jacket.
“I wanted you to have this,” he says, prying open the lid. He holds up a beautiful silver and pearl tiara, worked into a multitude of tiny flowers. Crystals flash and sparkle as he steps close and reaches out to settle it into her hairstyle, where it nestles perfectly against her dark hair. She reaches a shaking hand up to touch the edge, fingering a smooth pearl as she moves to see herself in the mirror.
“Dom, I can’t-”
“It’s a wedding gift,” he says firmly and smiles at her again, eyes slightly bittersweet. “It was Mal’s. She’d’ve wanted you to have it, I think.” He curves large warm hands around both of her cheeks and kisses her forehead fondly, using his thumbs to wipe away the moisture dampening her eyelashes. She manages a smile for him and he turns away, moving to stand at the back of the room, where he watches them all out of the corner of his eye, a fond smile curving his mouth.
Arthur steps up next and she sniffs away the last of the tears wrought by Dom’s gift. He grins wryly at her and the familiar expression chases away the heavy feeling weighing down the room. “I chose jewelry, too,” he says and she realizes he’s holding out another hinged velvet box, “but it’s not sentimental like Dom’s.”
Frowning a smile up at him, she takes the box, eyes skimming over his beautiful dove gray suit as she opens it. She gasps, then giggles, grinning hugely as she pulls out the silver charm-bracelet nestled inside and sets the box on the vanity behind her. Spreading the links of the bracelet out over her fingers, she smiles to see the charms Arthur chose for her.
He’s wrong when said his gift wasn’t sentimental, but it isn’t sentimental for the same reasons. The silver charms dangling from the chain remind her of each of them - a tiny airplane, an atomic symbol, a chess bishop, a top, a two-dimensional dice, a poker chip, and a machine gun. She’s still smiling, her cheeks almost aching with it, as she looks up from the bracelet to meet Arthur’s patient gaze.
“It’s perfect, where did you find them all?” she asks, holding out her wrist so he can fasten the clasp for her. She shakes her hand, childlike, just to hear the charms jingle.
“I know a guy,” is all Arthur says before pulling her into a careful hug. She holds him tighter, not caring if she wrinkles her dress, and he touches a finger playfully to her nose as he steps away. He goes and stands next to Eames, who slings an arm over his shoulders, while Yusuf slides around Saito and goes down on one knee.
“Oi, pretty sure you’re a bit late for that,” Eames catcalls, coughing lightly when Arthur elbows him in the gut again. Yusuf turns away long enough to wave his middle finger at Eames.
“Every bride needs something blue on her wedding day,” he says smoothly, opening the narrow box he’s holding to reveal something frothy and royal blue. He pulls it out and she can’t help the laughter that spills out as she realizes what it is.
“Wow, I wouldn’t have pegged you for the type,” Cobb remarks mildly as he comes to stand nearer the group, eyebrow raised at the lacy garter Yusuf’s holding. Eames whispers something in Arthur’s ear and Arthur’s cheeks go pink. Ariadne wonders what he said, but Yusuf steals her attention back when he curls one warm hand around her ankle.
“May I?” he asks, eyes gleaming salaciously, and she giggles and braces herself on the dressing table, lifting her foot so he can slide the garter into place on her thigh. She notices Arthur and Eames whispering furtively to each other and catches the occasional phrase, like “next time” and “not blue, though, green, I think” and “blonde or brunette?”, and wonders just what their planning, especially since Arthur’s cheeks are still glowing pink and Eames is looking particularly pleased with himself.
Yusuf climbs to his feet and helps her smooth the skirt of his dress back down. His cheeks are lightly flushed and he looks so happy for her, she doesn’t fight the impulse and leans over to kiss his cheek. He preens a little under the attention and magnanimously gestures to let Saito come over and take her hands.
“My dear, you are a truly beautiful bride,” he says, leaning back to look her over. She smiles at him and squeezes his hands. She doesn’t get to see him as much or as often as the rest of the gang, but he’s always been a warm, steady presence. He reminds her, just a little, of her dad and she’s glad he could make it for her wedding. “I hope you will allow me the honor of lending you my car and driver for the evening, to take you and your new husband wherever you need to go.” He shrugs gracefully at her exclamation of surprise and brushes it away as inconsequential. “I would offer to pay for your honeymoon, but your Geoffrey assured me his parents had it well in hand.” Since he won’t accept her protests, she pulls her hands out of his and flings her arms around his neck.
“Arigato, Saito-san,” she whispers against his shoulder and he hugs her gently before stepping away.
“I’ll go inform Henri.” He makes her a little half-bow and slides out of the room, leaving her alone with the others.
Cobb shifts a little and starts to say something, when Eames steps forward, hand deep in his pants pocket.
“So, Ariadne,” he drawls her name with a hint of a leer and she sees Arthur roll his eyes. “You’ve got something old,” she frowns and reaches up to touch Mal’s tiara, “something new,” Arthur’s charm bracelet chimes softly as she glances down at her wrist, “something borrowed,” her eyes flick involuntarily to the door where Saito has just exited, “and something blue,” he smirks over at Yusuf, who flushes again. “There’s only one thing missing then.”
He pulls his hand out of his pocket and reaches toward her face, shifting just slightly at the last second to curl his fingers lightly around her right ear. She flinches a little, looking at him in confusion, but his fingers are gentle as he traces a thumb over her cheekbone briefly. Then he grins mischievously.
“What’s this in your ear?” he asks and when he pulls his hand away, there’s a silver coin tucked between the knuckles of his index and middle fingers. She smiles at him, recognizing the trick for what it is, and waits for his explanation. “A silver sixpence, for fortune and prosperity, not that you need it with us lot around,” he says and hands her the coin, which is warm with the heat of his skin.
“Where-” she means to ask, trying to figure out where she can tuck the coin for the ceremony, when there’s a knock on the door and Holly sticks her head into the room.
“Hey, babe, it’s-Oh, I didn’t realize-” She looks perplexed, brown eyes wide as she takes in the men in the room. “Um, it’s almost time,” she says and, when Ariadne nods, ducks back out of the room, glaring daggers that Ariadne is sure mean she’ll have to explain herself before Holly will allow her down the aisle.
“The sixpence goes in your left shoe,” Dom tells her as he gives her one last hug and a peck on the cheek. “You’ll be good together; Geoff’s a good guy,” he pronounces and his approval flare warm in her chest, chasing away any lingering nervousness. He smiles one more time and slips out.
“D’you think you could introduce me to your friend?” Yusuf asks as he comes to kiss her cheek. Ariadne laughs and slaps his shoulder, promising to try - something tells her Yusuf and Holly would get along great. He gives her another kiss and heads out the door and down the hall, muttering pick up lines and come-ons to himself as he heads out of earshot.
“If he ever gives you any problems,” Arthur starts, taking the hand circled by the silver charm bracelet.
“-call and we’ll have us a little chat,” Eames finishes, his warm fingers wrapping around her free hand. She smiles and squeezes their hands, appreciating their support.
“Thanks, guys, but I think we’ll be good,” she says. They both nod and accept this, but their eyes are still solemn, promising her that, no matter what, they’ll be there if she needs them for anything. Then Arthur sighs and kisses her cheek and Eames hugs her until she squeaks and they smile and leave, hands loosely clasped together and swinging gently between them as they walk.
She has enough time to take a deep breath and release it on a long sigh before Holly and Gretchen come storming back in to settle her veil into place and fluff the wrinkles out of her skirt one last time. She walks with them to the vestibule at the back of the church, taking a moment to deflect Holly’s suspicious glances by telling her who the guys were and what they meant to her. She’s not entirely mollified, but Miles joins them, smiling proudly at her as they get into position. Just as the music starts, he leans down to whisper in her ear.
“Ready, my dear?”
She’s silent for a second, thinking about something-old-new-borrowed-blue, about the sixpence rubbing gently against the side of her foot, about lovers and halves-of-wholes, and freight trains and window ledges and ideas and elephants. About dreams and reality and the difference between the two. About Arthur and Eames’ loosely clasped hands, the gentle curve of Dom’s bittersweet smile, and Geoff’s expressive brown eyes.
Then she nods and stands on tiptoe briefly to press a kiss to Miles’ cheek through her veil. The doors open and all of her friends and family are standing there, smiling at her with tears in their eyes. Miles catches her eyes one last time and winks at her, charming and encouraging and proud, and she lets him lead her down the aisle, ready for the rest of her life to begin.
Author: sunriseinspace
Character(s): Ariadne / OMC, Arthur / Eames (hinted at), Yusuf, Cobb, Saito, OFCs
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I own nothing about Inception, its characters or plotline, including any recognizable dialogue.
Summary: They’re all crowded into the tiny hallway, Cobb at the front and Saito at the rear, all watching her with varying expression of fond happiness.
“We’ve got something for you,” Cobb continues, oddly solemn around the grin creasing his face.
Written for this prompt on inception_kink (oh, good Lord, I’ve found a new addiction)
+++
She’s not nervous, exactly, she thinks, sitting tolerantly in front of the dressing table as Gretchen and Holly fuss with her hair, makeup, and dress. She’s not nervous, she’s not scared or anything, she’s a little overwhelmed, but she’s in love, she’s happy, she-
-needs a minute alone to breathe before she screams or pulls a gun - it’s a toss-up at this point, really.
“Guys, guys, guys!” she says and her best friends finally stop chattering and look her in the eye. “Could you give me a minute, maybe?” she asks and nearly groans as their eyes go wide with misplaced sympathy and understanding.
“Oh, honey, it’s okay to be nervous, I know I was nearly sick to my stomach before my wedding, but don’t worry, Geoff’ll be there, I’ve never seen a man so devoted to a woman before, there’s nothing to worry about,” they coo at her and she rolls her eyes, planting her hands on the dressing table and rising to her feet. Yards of satin and lace shift around her legs as she turns to peg them with a pointed stare.
“Look, I’m fine, I just need a minute, okay?” They blink at her in confusion for a moment, hands hanging limply. It goes on long enough that she starts to wonder if the whole wedding madness has finally gone to their heads.
Then Holly shakes back her long red hair and the strong, level-headed, blunt woman Ariadne’s come to love like a sister returns. She grabs Gretchen’s arm and directs the other woman to the door. “Gotcha, babe. We’ll go check on the caterers or the guests or something, right, Gretchen?” she asks pointedly and sense returns to Gretchen’s eyes as well.
“Right! We’ll, uh, be over there, if you need us,” she says, gesturing down the hall and winking knowingly at Ariadne before ducking through the door. Holly rolls her eyes and waves over her shoulder, latching the door behind her as she goes.
Ariadne’s really not nervous, just eager and excited. She’s sure about Geoff, has known him for over a year and loved him nearly that long, and she finally understands what Mal meant about being a lover and one half of a whole. She’s found the one she wants to spend the rest of her life with; she’s just ready for that life to get a move on, preferably sooner than later.
There’s a tentative tap on the door and she looks across the room, wondering. She’s twenty-six, has been dreaming for three years, and has never been prone to believing in superstitions, but she wanted all of the old wedding traditions. To that end, she hasn’t seen her fiancé since the rehearsal dinner last night and is now equal parts eager to and dreading finding Geoff on the other side of the door.
She leans up against the panel and presses her ear to the wood as she calls, “Who is it?”
“Just us,” she hears Cobb say and grins, yanking open the door.
They’re all crowded into the tiny hallway, Cobb at the front and Saito at the rear, all watching her with varying expression of fond happiness.
“We’ve got something for you,” Cobb continues, oddly solemn around the grin creasing his face. Eames pulls an atrocious face over his left shoulder and, as she laughs, is promptly elbowed in the gut by Arthur. Yusuf rolls his eyes and tries to edge away, while Saito sighs long-sufferingly. They’re all looking expectant and hopeful and it ignites a fierce curiosity in her.
At her gesture, they all pile into the room, each stopping to hug her or kiss her cheek as they move past. The room, confining when it had held just her and her two bridesmaids, is downright suffocating with all six of them in here. She couldn’t be happier.
“Cobb, what-” she starts and he holds up a hand to cut her off, his smile going softer and ineffably sweeter as he pulls a box out of his jacket.
“I wanted you to have this,” he says, prying open the lid. He holds up a beautiful silver and pearl tiara, worked into a multitude of tiny flowers. Crystals flash and sparkle as he steps close and reaches out to settle it into her hairstyle, where it nestles perfectly against her dark hair. She reaches a shaking hand up to touch the edge, fingering a smooth pearl as she moves to see herself in the mirror.
“Dom, I can’t-”
“It’s a wedding gift,” he says firmly and smiles at her again, eyes slightly bittersweet. “It was Mal’s. She’d’ve wanted you to have it, I think.” He curves large warm hands around both of her cheeks and kisses her forehead fondly, using his thumbs to wipe away the moisture dampening her eyelashes. She manages a smile for him and he turns away, moving to stand at the back of the room, where he watches them all out of the corner of his eye, a fond smile curving his mouth.
Arthur steps up next and she sniffs away the last of the tears wrought by Dom’s gift. He grins wryly at her and the familiar expression chases away the heavy feeling weighing down the room. “I chose jewelry, too,” he says and she realizes he’s holding out another hinged velvet box, “but it’s not sentimental like Dom’s.”
Frowning a smile up at him, she takes the box, eyes skimming over his beautiful dove gray suit as she opens it. She gasps, then giggles, grinning hugely as she pulls out the silver charm-bracelet nestled inside and sets the box on the vanity behind her. Spreading the links of the bracelet out over her fingers, she smiles to see the charms Arthur chose for her.
He’s wrong when said his gift wasn’t sentimental, but it isn’t sentimental for the same reasons. The silver charms dangling from the chain remind her of each of them - a tiny airplane, an atomic symbol, a chess bishop, a top, a two-dimensional dice, a poker chip, and a machine gun. She’s still smiling, her cheeks almost aching with it, as she looks up from the bracelet to meet Arthur’s patient gaze.
“It’s perfect, where did you find them all?” she asks, holding out her wrist so he can fasten the clasp for her. She shakes her hand, childlike, just to hear the charms jingle.
“I know a guy,” is all Arthur says before pulling her into a careful hug. She holds him tighter, not caring if she wrinkles her dress, and he touches a finger playfully to her nose as he steps away. He goes and stands next to Eames, who slings an arm over his shoulders, while Yusuf slides around Saito and goes down on one knee.
“Oi, pretty sure you’re a bit late for that,” Eames catcalls, coughing lightly when Arthur elbows him in the gut again. Yusuf turns away long enough to wave his middle finger at Eames.
“Every bride needs something blue on her wedding day,” he says smoothly, opening the narrow box he’s holding to reveal something frothy and royal blue. He pulls it out and she can’t help the laughter that spills out as she realizes what it is.
“Wow, I wouldn’t have pegged you for the type,” Cobb remarks mildly as he comes to stand nearer the group, eyebrow raised at the lacy garter Yusuf’s holding. Eames whispers something in Arthur’s ear and Arthur’s cheeks go pink. Ariadne wonders what he said, but Yusuf steals her attention back when he curls one warm hand around her ankle.
“May I?” he asks, eyes gleaming salaciously, and she giggles and braces herself on the dressing table, lifting her foot so he can slide the garter into place on her thigh. She notices Arthur and Eames whispering furtively to each other and catches the occasional phrase, like “next time” and “not blue, though, green, I think” and “blonde or brunette?”, and wonders just what their planning, especially since Arthur’s cheeks are still glowing pink and Eames is looking particularly pleased with himself.
Yusuf climbs to his feet and helps her smooth the skirt of his dress back down. His cheeks are lightly flushed and he looks so happy for her, she doesn’t fight the impulse and leans over to kiss his cheek. He preens a little under the attention and magnanimously gestures to let Saito come over and take her hands.
“My dear, you are a truly beautiful bride,” he says, leaning back to look her over. She smiles at him and squeezes his hands. She doesn’t get to see him as much or as often as the rest of the gang, but he’s always been a warm, steady presence. He reminds her, just a little, of her dad and she’s glad he could make it for her wedding. “I hope you will allow me the honor of lending you my car and driver for the evening, to take you and your new husband wherever you need to go.” He shrugs gracefully at her exclamation of surprise and brushes it away as inconsequential. “I would offer to pay for your honeymoon, but your Geoffrey assured me his parents had it well in hand.” Since he won’t accept her protests, she pulls her hands out of his and flings her arms around his neck.
“Arigato, Saito-san,” she whispers against his shoulder and he hugs her gently before stepping away.
“I’ll go inform Henri.” He makes her a little half-bow and slides out of the room, leaving her alone with the others.
Cobb shifts a little and starts to say something, when Eames steps forward, hand deep in his pants pocket.
“So, Ariadne,” he drawls her name with a hint of a leer and she sees Arthur roll his eyes. “You’ve got something old,” she frowns and reaches up to touch Mal’s tiara, “something new,” Arthur’s charm bracelet chimes softly as she glances down at her wrist, “something borrowed,” her eyes flick involuntarily to the door where Saito has just exited, “and something blue,” he smirks over at Yusuf, who flushes again. “There’s only one thing missing then.”
He pulls his hand out of his pocket and reaches toward her face, shifting just slightly at the last second to curl his fingers lightly around her right ear. She flinches a little, looking at him in confusion, but his fingers are gentle as he traces a thumb over her cheekbone briefly. Then he grins mischievously.
“What’s this in your ear?” he asks and when he pulls his hand away, there’s a silver coin tucked between the knuckles of his index and middle fingers. She smiles at him, recognizing the trick for what it is, and waits for his explanation. “A silver sixpence, for fortune and prosperity, not that you need it with us lot around,” he says and hands her the coin, which is warm with the heat of his skin.
“Where-” she means to ask, trying to figure out where she can tuck the coin for the ceremony, when there’s a knock on the door and Holly sticks her head into the room.
“Hey, babe, it’s-Oh, I didn’t realize-” She looks perplexed, brown eyes wide as she takes in the men in the room. “Um, it’s almost time,” she says and, when Ariadne nods, ducks back out of the room, glaring daggers that Ariadne is sure mean she’ll have to explain herself before Holly will allow her down the aisle.
“The sixpence goes in your left shoe,” Dom tells her as he gives her one last hug and a peck on the cheek. “You’ll be good together; Geoff’s a good guy,” he pronounces and his approval flare warm in her chest, chasing away any lingering nervousness. He smiles one more time and slips out.
“D’you think you could introduce me to your friend?” Yusuf asks as he comes to kiss her cheek. Ariadne laughs and slaps his shoulder, promising to try - something tells her Yusuf and Holly would get along great. He gives her another kiss and heads out the door and down the hall, muttering pick up lines and come-ons to himself as he heads out of earshot.
“If he ever gives you any problems,” Arthur starts, taking the hand circled by the silver charm bracelet.
“-call and we’ll have us a little chat,” Eames finishes, his warm fingers wrapping around her free hand. She smiles and squeezes their hands, appreciating their support.
“Thanks, guys, but I think we’ll be good,” she says. They both nod and accept this, but their eyes are still solemn, promising her that, no matter what, they’ll be there if she needs them for anything. Then Arthur sighs and kisses her cheek and Eames hugs her until she squeaks and they smile and leave, hands loosely clasped together and swinging gently between them as they walk.
She has enough time to take a deep breath and release it on a long sigh before Holly and Gretchen come storming back in to settle her veil into place and fluff the wrinkles out of her skirt one last time. She walks with them to the vestibule at the back of the church, taking a moment to deflect Holly’s suspicious glances by telling her who the guys were and what they meant to her. She’s not entirely mollified, but Miles joins them, smiling proudly at her as they get into position. Just as the music starts, he leans down to whisper in her ear.
“Ready, my dear?”
She’s silent for a second, thinking about something-old-new-borrowed-blue, about the sixpence rubbing gently against the side of her foot, about lovers and halves-of-wholes, and freight trains and window ledges and ideas and elephants. About dreams and reality and the difference between the two. About Arthur and Eames’ loosely clasped hands, the gentle curve of Dom’s bittersweet smile, and Geoff’s expressive brown eyes.
Then she nods and stands on tiptoe briefly to press a kiss to Miles’ cheek through her veil. The doors open and all of her friends and family are standing there, smiling at her with tears in their eyes. Miles catches her eyes one last time and winks at her, charming and encouraging and proud, and she lets him lead her down the aisle, ready for the rest of her life to begin.