Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me.
As they entered the dining room, Ariadne could feel Arthur stiffen. His hand was clamped firmly round hers, and she also, with slight prickle of trepidation, realised he was actually sweating. His nerves were far worse than she'd considered. As they entered, she realised Arthur's father was already seated, but his expression was tight and drawn.
As they sat down, she realised that Arthur's family had a maid. She mentally jabbed herself - they were wealthy, that had been evident in the memories that she had seen and been privy to. She looked round the room - it was beautifully decorated, with tasteful, expensive furniture. As the maid shuffled round quietly holding a tureen, Ariadne suddenly felt out of place.
She looked at Arthur, who smiled reassuringly. As light green soup was ladled into her bowl - Asparagus? Celery?- she noticed that his father was smiling at her.
"Ariadne..." he began, then his voice trailed off, as though trying to grasp the right word. "Its wonderful that you've come. Arthur hasn't brought too many girlfriends home over the years."
"That's because I haven't been back for five," Arthur said, calmly, and his father flinched. Ariadne swallowed - the hostility between the two men was evident. An older man who clearly seemed to think his son had turned his back on his family, and a son who had assumed his father didn't care.
She picked up her spoon. "This looks lovely," she said, trying to lighten the conversational tone. Arthur's mother looked t her. "Why, thank you." She swallowed. "Asparagus was Arthur's favourite."
Arthur dropped his spoon with a clatter. "Mom, I didn't-"
"Think I'd remember?" his mother looked at him, but there was a sad, wistful smile on her face. "Arthur, I know that that was the only green thing you'd eat as a teenager."
Arthur blushed, and Ariadne looked at him. "Huh?"
"I wasn't into vegetables," Arthur explained. "Junk food, yes..."
Ariadne blinked. It was hard to believe this fastidious, health conscious man would eschew vegetables. "Junk food?"
"Yes." Arthur was trying hard not to smile.
"Oh, he would eat it all day!" His mother broke in. "Candy bars, cereals...but he was always so thin..." her voice trailed off. "Still, it was probably metabolic."
Arthur looked at her. "It wasn't an eating disorder," he said, softly.
"But can you blame us for thinking that, son?" His father suddenly spoke. "Its not as if you were a football player or a wrestler..."
"No," Arthur retorted, coolly, "just a nerdy bookworm."
"Well, its wonderful that you've met a young lady who will straighten you out." His father's tone was blunt. "You need to be a man Arthur! Take care of her!"
"Bulk up, you mean?" Arthur snapped. "Bulk up, like you did? I-"
"Listen!" Ariadne burst out, desperate to end this unhappy cycle. "Arthur isn't the one with an eating disorder! I am!"
A stunned silence fell across the assembled party. Arthur turned to Ariadne, who ashamed, pushed back her chair, and left.
Thank you for reading, please review!
Apologies for the lack of updates...work is very very busy.