[December 6th] holiday for a hanging
holiday for a hanging
PG
Author : tequilideas | Artist : mayamei
“It’ll be fun,” Ariadne says, but Arthur knows better.
“It’ll boost morale,” Cobb says, which is an outright lie.
“It’s easier not to fight it,” Yusuf says, because he’s the only one with any sense.
“It’ll be brilliant,” Eames says, but Arthur expects that from him, since Eames was the one who showed up with the shabby little spruce in the first place. It looks like he got it from A Charlie Brown Christmas.
“I’m Jewish,” Arthur reminds him.
“Does that mean you’re opposed to coniferous trees, then?” Eames counters. Arthur treats him to a decidedly unfestive gesture and tells Eames exactly where he can put his coniferous tree.
“It doesn’t have to be a Christmas tree,” Cobb says. “It can be a nondenominational workplace holiday season tree.”
“When you put it like that it sounds so much more cheerful,” Arthur deadpans.
“’Tis the season to be PC,” Eames says, tucking a handful of tinsel behind Arthur’s ear.
“Touch me again and I’ll shoot you in the face,” Arthur says and brushes it off.
“That’s the holiday spirit!” Eames grins.
“I’m going to need to be drunker for this,” Arthur says.
“Oh,” Yusuf sighs blissfully, “I was hoping someone would say that.”
It turns out Yusuf has been perfecting some kind of holiday cocktail, thereby cementing his place as Arthur’s favorite member of the team. But Arthur still needs three glasses before he can even untie his tie.
“Deck the halls with whatever’s in the warehouse,” Eames sings, clipping a ballpoint pen to a branch. The weight makes the branch droop so far it almost touches the trunk. “Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la.”
“That tree looks like an Office Depot,” Arthur says.
“Maybe office supplies are the wrong way to go,” Cobb allows.
“We’re going to need those pens,” Yusuf agrees.
“What if we each put something that’s important to us on it? So it’s like a little part of all of us?” Ariadne suggests. Arthur rolls his eyes.
“Brilliant,” Eames says, “the stick up Arthur’s arse can be the star on top.”
“It’s like you want me to shoot you in the face,” Arthur says.
Cobb contributes a picture of Mal, paperclipped to the top of the tree like a Christmas angel. Ariadne winds one of her scarves among the branches like a garland. Yusuf hangs his father’s pocket watch. Arthur sighs and donates his brand new Cartier cufflinks, but he’s damned if he’s letting Eames keep them up there until February.
“Alright,” he says to Eames, “it’s your stupid tree, what have you got?”
Eames eyes Arthur speculatively, then steps forward and whips Arthur’s tie out of his collar, wraps it into the branches with Ariadne’s scarf. “Short of putting you on the tree, darling, this is the best I can do.” He grins widely.
Ariadne coos and Yusuf groans and Cobb squints up at the ceiling, pretending he can’t hear.
“I’m really going to shoot you,” Arthur says, “it’s my New Year’s resolution.” But he kisses Eames anyway, quick and soft.
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