Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me. All reader and reviews appreciated, thank you!
Arthur swallowed as he stood in the corridor. Suddenly, the door opened, and a young woman stood in front of him, smiling.
"Arthur! Come in!"
He walked into the room. As he looked round, he noted it was a proper doctor's surgery – clean, modern, and efficient.
"OK," she said, smiling. "If you'd just like to go behind the screen and get undressed, and put this on-" she handed him a tunic – "we'll start the examination."
Arthur took the tunic, and stepped behind the screen. As he unbuttoned his shirt, he slid his hands down his torso. He bit his lip. He could feel the bulge, the ripples. Taking a deep breath, he slipped the tunic over his head, and walked into the main office.
"Right," she said, surveying him dispassionately. "Get on the scales please."
Arthur complied. She slid the metal bar, and he watched in growing horror as it went higher...and higher.
"You really need to shed some weight."
The Point Man felt a jolt of embarrassment and remorse. He inwardly cursed himself, but also felt that Ariadne was to blame. He'd grown complacent, lazy, in the few weeks they'd been together. She'd reassured him, told him he was fine.
"I would say you need to lose at least 20lbs, if not more." The doctor chided him. "Arthur, you cannot go around carrying all this excess fat."
"But-"
"Its quite simple," she said, acting as though he hadn't spoken. "I'll give you a diet. 1,000 calories a day. No more."
Arthur swallowed. He could feel himself shaking inwardly.
"Now, go and get dressed, and I'll get your diet ready. I'm sure Mr Fischer's kitchens will be able to cater to you."
Eames watched as Ariadne slept. He'd covered her with a blanket, and decided to stay and watch her. Her eyes were red rimmed, and her face slightly blotchy.
"Hang in there," he whispered. His phone began to vibrate, and he stood up, quickly walking into the kitchen. "Hello?"
"Eames. Cobb." The Forger swallowed; Cobb sounded tired, defeated. "I went to the Imperial; Saito refused to talk to me. I asked the receptionist how long he was booked in for – no reply."
"So what next?"
"I have no idea." Cobb's voice was breaking. "I have no idea where Arthur is, or what to do. How's Ariadne?"
"In a bad way." Eames walked into the hallway and stole a glance at the Architect – she was starting to stir.
"OK. I'll be over in ten."
"A 1000 calories a day?" Fisher frowned as he looked at the young woman sitting in front of him. "Are you sure that will sustain him?"
She shrugged, irritably. "Robert. You said you wanted him to be kept weak, vulnerable. Keeping him on such a low calorie dose is a way of maintaining that."
"But he'll want to binge."
"Possibly."
Fischer looked at the desk. "I know he's bulimic. I don't want this tipping into anorexia."
"It won't. Get him weak enough to complete this job – then put him in a clinic."
Fischer looked at her. "I will. Thats your considered opinion, is it?"
She smiled. "Of course."
"Anyway, if you'll excuse me." She nodded, and got up to leave. Fischer waited until she had gone, and then picked up the phone.
"Why, hello," he said, kindly into the receiver. "Arthur?"