Art: Safe House [Inception]

[motetus]

A while ago I volunteered to create art as a prize for an inceptiversary scavenger hunt winner, and luckily I ended up with an absolutely lovely person whose request was Eames patching Arthur up after a job gone wrong, and who didn't mind when my response was "sure, shirtless Arthur, I can do that, but more importantly, how do you feel about a billion insignificant background details that will take me months and months, YEAH, BACKGROUND DETAILS"

At first I was going to go along with the obvious setting of a hotel room, but then I came across these family holiday photos from about twenty years ago which had this charming old Malay kampung house with blue painted wood panels and gorgeous shuttered windows with intricate green grilles, and suddenly I thought a shabby little safe house in south-east Asia would be a much more interesting location. So sorry I'm using your photography to help me draw slash, dad.

Many thanks to Ms Soot for being so patient and such a pleasure to create art for, and also for being so open to all my ideas. Thanks also to the ever-patient bauble, whose critical eye saved this from being an anatomical clusterfuck!

Comments

[bauble]

"Tut tut, Arthur," Eames says as he opens the door. "Already back again?"

"I've never been here before," Arthur points out with all the dignity he can muster, swaying as he is in the doorway.

"This is the fourth safe house of mine you've dripped blood all over," Eames says as he takes Arthur by the elbow and leads him inside. "I'm starting to think you're using me for my real estate and medical abilities."

A hundred sharp and witty retorts run through Arthur's mind as they make their way into Eames' cramped bedroom. Unfortunately, blood loss has left him woozy and all he manages is a grunt before half-falling onto the matress.

He fades in and out of consciousness as Eames sets to work on him: cutting the shirt away from the worst wounds, cleaning them, bandaging his arm. After he's been cleaned off, the injuries don't look too bad--mostly shallow cuts and scrapes that produced a great deal of blood but might not even scar.

Arthur slowly becomes aware of Eames' voice and arms encouraging him to sit up. Arthur does so, ability to stay awake and concentrate improving after he downs the large glass of water Eames offers him.

"I'm not using you," Arthur says as Eames rearranges his body like a rag doll. "I fully intend to blow you after I sleep for three days."

"No debts left unsettled, hm?" Eames' voice is warm and amused as he climbs behind Arthur, wrapping gauze around Arthur's chest. "If there were an elderly Malaysian woman living here instead, what reward would you offer her for saving you life?"

"Same deal," Arthur says, looking back at Eames with a completely straight face. "I'd give her a night to remember."

"Good thing I sent the housekeeper home early today," Eames says. "I can only imagine the mischief you two might have got up to."

"A side benefit of stumbling into homes near death is that I usually get laid after," Arthur says seriously, craning his neck to steal a kiss from Eames' amused lips. "Sometimes right after. Immediately after."

Eames kisses back for a moment before guiding Arthur backwards onto the bed. "What happened to sleeping for three days?"

"I can rally," Arthur says, even as his eyelids grow heavier. "I'm good to go. Seriously."

Eames lays a heavy palm on top of Arthur's chest and smiles. "Go to sleep, Arthur."

fin

[motetus.livejournal.com]

YAY FICLET *BOOKMARKS*

Aww, Arthur, your mother certainly did bring you up to be an excellent houseguest! What delightful manners - he's welcome over at my place any time. Thank you, that was adorable and perfect and I've been grinning for over a day thinking of Arthur attempting to seduce Eames' poor housekeeper (who I don't think would take any of his nonsense).

[bauble]

Arthur likes to think of his penis as the only housewarming gift he'll ever need.

Glad you enjoyed it :D

[mrsdstephens.livejournal.com]

Perfection!

[bauble]

Thank you!