.: And a Happy New Year :.
The Extractor of the Dream Team, Dom Cobb, is celebrating this New Year's Eve at home, with his children and their grandfather.
Just before midnight, the kids are all excited and playing with each other in the living room. Cobb has no idea what game exactly they are playing; somehow James seems to want to be a dinosaur and Philipa a fairy. But Cobb doesn't really care, as long as he hears their bright and happy laughter. Their grandfather is just beyond, in the kitchen. Suddenly he comes into the living room and holds out to them a tray on which small snacks, cheese, grapes, tomatoes—all of which have been punctured on toothpicks—are available for gobbling.
"You'll give the kids a stomach ache before bed."
Stephen Miles faces Cobb's questioning gaze. "A couple of snacks for our little New Years Eve party," he says knowingly while shrugging his shoulders.
Cobb scoffs and reaches for a mozzarella and tomato skewer. Typical Miles. Cobb cannot describe how grateful he is to him.
The children crowd around the snack tray Miles has placed on the table in the middle of the living room. They eagerly reach for the mini skewers. Cobb had almost forgotten that James loves cheese, and Philipa enjoys grapes. He'd almost forgotten how easy it is to bring a smile to his children's faces.
Miles also takes a skewer and sits next to Cobb on the checkered sofa.
"You know, Dominic, it's hard to believe a new year is about to begin."
Cobb nods in agreement. "Yes, how quickly time flies. They've both gotten so big since I last saw them, or does it just seem like that to me?"
"No, that's right," the other confirms. "They really grew in a jiffy."
A slight smile forms on Cobb's face. Then his gaze wanders down to his glass of champagne, and Miles frowns.
"They are happy to have you back, Dominic."
Cobb looks into his father's serious face and nods. "I know," he says and drops his voice to a whisper. "The best moment of this year was when I was able to hug them and feel them in my arms again.''
His words give Miles a smile.
"And you know what? Where did you actually stow all the toys I bought them. The ones I asked you to give to them?" Cobb has to laugh a little himself at his sudden question.
"Oh, those!" Miles chuckles. "I put most of them in the closet for the Christmases to come. You tell me I'll spoil their stomachs, but you spoil them rotten all the way through. It's just that you gave them way too many!" They both start to laugh heartily.
James and Philipa laugh too, even though they've no idea what they're laughing at. They're all together, and that's all that matters.
Saito, the Dream Team's most recent Tourist, is on his way to see his family in Kawasaki, a city on the Japanese main island of Honshu.
The rich man settles deeper into the passenger's seat of his newly-bought private plane, a Boeing B747-8, which he'd ordered especially for the inception heist. He's been toying with the idea of ordering a drink from the stewardess out of boredom, but he doesn't want to drink anything alcoholic, at least not yet. He prefers to save that for the family celebration.
Saito is particularly looking forward to his eleven-year-old son, Takuma, whom he hasn't seen since the heist. But of course, he also misses his wife, Anzu, whom he hopefully would see smiling at him in two hours. He sends up a prayer, hoping he will be there before midnight. He'd ensured he wouldn't make any promises with his son. Saito never makes a promise he can't keep; he honors every agreement.
Looking back on the past year, he smiles, satisfied, because he has achieved all of his goals. His company had made huge profits in the past few weeks, and a better future seems just on the horizon. Indeed, Saito the tourist is already looking forward to the next meeting with this Dream Team, to which he now belongs.
In Mombasa, it is long past midnight, and the first day of the new year has already begun.
Eames persuaded Yusuff to "party fat'' with him at his favorite bar (where he also played poker religiously). By "party fat," Eames of course meant drinking far more than usual. Unfortunately, Eames didn't know that Yusuff is a lightweight.
The Chemist of the Dream Team is now lying with his head on a table on the edge of the bar, snoring loudly. Eames, the Forger of the Dream Team, slightly amused by the sight, snaps a quick photo of the little trail of saliva that runs down Yusuff's mouth as blackmail material for later. As loud as the snores are, the music is louder.
Many people are out there already, moving to the beat of the bass. Eames, however, has no desire for something like that, not this New Year's Eve. This evening he can do nothing but think. In fact, "partying fat" was an excuse to forget about his recent debacle with his recent girl. He envies Arthur and Ariadne's relationship; they have it easy. Of course, Eames isn't angry with the Pointman. He's just much too disappointed with himself.
He turns to the bartender and opts for a double, still thinking about the new year. He notes that he has set neither resolutions nor goals. Somehow... he doesn't care about anything at the moment.
He just hopes the new year will be a little better.
Sitting at his desk, Robert Fischer, the most recent Subject of the Dream Team, is close to tearing out his perfect hair. For the past three hours, he's been unable to block out the loud calls coming from outside.
"Ten minutes until the new year, everyone!" calls out a woman.
Fischer is alone; he doesn't want company. Why should he celebrate? This past year is definitely not on the list of the best years of his life. But he is by no means too disappointed with it. After all, his father really did love him. Though he had no idea where the thought had first come from, Fischer resolves to forge his own path, separate from his father's.
Something occurs to Fischer... This resolution seems so unlike to him. He glances again at the paperwork smothering his desk.
"Oh, what the heck."
Fischer reaches for the schnapps.
For Arthur, Pointman of the Dream Team, and for Ariadne, the Architect, it's the best New Year's Eve since they can remember. What could be better than ringing in the new year with one's sweetheart? Although the two of them share a simple celebration alone at Arthur's apartment, everything is perfect. Everything is perfect because they have each other, and that's what counts.
Ariadne is snuggled up to Arthur's arm. It's two minutes before the new year starts, and the couple, newly in love, are splayed on the sofa, eyes glued to the television. The Pointman has a tendency to celebrate the new year as precisely as he can. A live television broadcast helps, of course.
Ariadne smiles and turns briefly to Arthur. "I think this was my favorite year."
"You've probably never seen so much as in this year, with just the inception."
"Oh..." Ariadne sighs. "It's not really just because of the inception..." she adds. The Pointman smiles.
"The countdown is on!" the television screams. "Ten!"
Ariadne turns around.
"Nine!"
She scoots closer to Arthur.
"Eight!"
The Pointman looks into her beautiful eyes, the eyes of his Ariadne.
"Seven!"
Her arms snake around his neck.
"Six!"
They exchange a knowing look.
"Five!"
He leans in closer and rests his forehead on hers.
"Four!"
It strikes them that it just feels good to be alive.
"Three!"
This time, Arthur brings a hand to her cheek.
"Two!"
Ariadne closes her eyes.
"ONE!"
Arthur's lips slowly move to hers.
"Happy new year!" echoes from the television.
They share a sweet kiss full of good intentions and plans. The moments when they grew to know and love each other play out in their heads.
Ariadne then breaks the kiss. "Happy New Year, Art!" she says and smiles.
Arthur is beaming. "Love you, too," he says, laughing lightly. As the television pans over the confetti-filled streets of Times Square, they continue where they left off. They have many long years and many more new years ahead of them.
A/N: Unfortunately, the idea for this story struck my yesterday night, so I was unable to post it on the genuine New Year's Eve. In order to get this out at least by the end of January first, I absolutely bulldozed though this, so please pardon the rougher quality of my writing here. It's still very much a first draft. I may go back and polish it soon. If you've read my Inception piece titled "Museum," you may recognize this parallel story structure. I think it fits the movie style well.
As always, reviews are appreciated and replied to. Or, if you'd prefer to comment more privately, feel free to shoot me a PM. I hope you all will have a very happy new year! Cheers to 2021! + KVP