Author's notes: Set straight after the Fischer job. I of course, do not own Inception in any way (except for the movie tickets that I bought to go see this epic creation), and this story is written only to get my ideas off my chest. You just happen to be able to judge it :P
Ariadne stood not too close to the carousel, trying to prevent being pushed around by other less concerned passages as luggage of various sizes and colours rotate pass. She was still trying to overcome the bouts of nausea and jetlag that has suddenly set in after waking up from what feels like weeks in the dream world. It was only ten hours. Pull yourself together. Her hand tightened on the gold totem. She had a sudden urge to pull it out of her pocket and testing it on the nearest flat surface. Not now, too many people. At least decide on where you want to go first.
Cobb walked passed her, his luggage in one hand, departure ticket in the other. He was going home. Cobb gave her a slight nod, acknowledging her for what she'd done for him. She smiled back. Eames stood on the other side of the terminal, leaning on his trolley, looking utterly relaxed while Yusuf was tugging his baggage off the carousel. This is it. Everybody is leaving. Where are you going to go now? The thought gave her another wave of nausea.
The crowd thinned slightly, and Ariadne saw her non-descriptive hand luggage. She looked around the terminal again and caught the back of Saito as he left. Her heart skipped a beat. Glad that both her hands were occupied and thus prevented from shaking, she pulled her luggage along to the queue at the ticket counter, passing a determined looking Fischer on the phone. He's not here. Organized as he is, he probably left before the rush. A voice cut Ariadne out of her reverie. 'How can I help you?'
'Uh, one-way to Paris please,' said Ariadne to the pretty clerk at the desk, surprised that she knew her destination all along.
'There are a couple of seats left for a direct to Charles de Gaulle leaving at 1320, would that be suitable? Madam?'
Ariadne checked her watch. It was a little pass 12.
'The next flight will be tonight at 1800 hours if that is more convenient for you? Check-in for the earlier flight is almost closed.'
'No, the 1:20 flight will be great,' said Ariadne as she paid for her ticket with what's left in her wallet and declined her baggage for check-in.
'Head straight to gate 16; just follow the corridor and it's on your left. You should be boarding very soon. Have a safe trip!'
'Thanks.'
With a quick intake of breath, Ariadne pulled along her now-handbag and glanced around the Arrivals area. The luggage carousel was swivelling a couple of baggage with no one there to claim them. Everybody has headed home, and now, so was she. Slowly exhaling, Ariadne turned and headed towards the Departures corridor, not realizing that all this time, Arthur had yet to collect his luggage. He smiled to himself as Ariadne flicked her bishop over and over on the window ledge before lining up at gate 16. He was watching the novice team-member from the upstairs Arrivals gate, making sure that she was safe, and was heading home. That was his responsibility as the point-man.
Post Scripts: Hey guys, this is my first ever story that I've published (and a hundred others that I won't) so feel free to comment, as we all know that's the only way to grow as a writer! Enjoy, and I'll try to update and add more chapters over the coming days, likely a chapter a week? (How others can update a chapter a day is beyond me... lol!)
I am hoping for a multi-chapter story so... I'll see how I'll manage. Cheers, Lyn.
