video; 001.

[ihope]

[The video flickers on without any trouble. The console's familiar enough that Lex doesn't have to fumble with it to get it working the way he wants. Behind him is the large space of a luxurious room that obviously originates from the Metal Sector. He couldn't see the harm in letting the, uh, 'citizens' of this In-Between see where he stands on trivial matters like his choice of interior decoration and he'd even gone and tidied up some before the broadcast, or at least that's what it looks like with two small cuts above his right eyebrow nothing but thin red lines now as opposed to the angry marks of earlier.]

[And the young man himself is seated comfortably, leaning to one side, legs crossed somewhere off-screen, left arm propped up on the table where the communicating device rests. A finger twitches and, right, he doesn't have anything around to grab a hold of at the moment. And so he begins to speak.] 'Tu Vishan. An In-Between of life, death, and dreaming.'

[And he has a sort of hushed voice despite the obvious intention to project to, well, the audience. And there's some light in his eyes that signals amusement-- or something resembling it. Excitement is either good or bad, never both. There's no upturn of his lips, no creased brow. He shifts, sitting straighter, peering closer into the camera, damn well expecting someone out there to listen.]

I'm supposed to believe this?

[He expects someone to listen, not to answer, because he just goes on.] The Kedan were generous enough to offer the explanation that I might not be dead, and to be frank, I appreciate any attempt of reassurance on the matter. I'd put more faith in it if I hadn't also heard the turtle had been in danger of dying. Spending the rest of my years aboard an ailing reptile wasn't exactly the life I envisioned. [He can believe abduction and drugs, but no deep sleep of his will ever revolve around an animal so stupid and slow. His voice turns wry. He knows he's not dead. He knows he can't be fully alive. The... Kedan were nothing from his waking world. That could only mean one thing left to figure out.]

[He's still seemingly calm. He's still only just sitting, just talking like he can see the company across the screen already. Like it's only a conference call he's taking from his desk. But now he sighs and he wants to smirk, but he doesn't. And now he'll be waiting for an answer.]

So who's the big dreamer?

[Show yourself, mastermind. A clear challenge, but after a second he tacks on a detail with clear concern and some well meaning urgency.] I also heard something about a clinic in trouble. Is there anything I can do to help?

Comments

[angermanaging]

[It takes him a second to put that thought together. But personal distaste has no place in the simple exchange of information, and Bruce is even and measured as he speaks.] To keep out the enemy? I doubt it. It's more of a, metaphysical entity than an army. Which is probably why they haven't had much luck fighting it in the past.

It's safe to go out onto the turtle, but there's... [His expression draws more serious.] Not much out there.

[ihope]

Except for a metaphysical entity.

[Keeliai's walls were what first struck him hard, their impression's been made and he's refusing to let them go. It's true he doesn't know the enemy being spoken of here, so he only parrots what he's heard of it. They're fighting, what, a spirit? With little or no guidance? And what more could be expected of a divine war.]

If you're telling me this is the only city to be found, [Because if exploration's been done and Bruce speaks with certainty, then that's what Lex is reading off of him.] then there should be no need for those fortifications. What's there to fear if the turtle is safe, if there's not much out there? You can't think it's that simple.

[Now, he's not thinking crazed men with their ruler sitting atop horseback and waiting to thrust their lances and swords into the heart of the city at an opportune moment. But that's kind of what he's thinking. Any figure's only a shadow by moonlight.]

[angermanaging]

[Bruce sees his point, but clearly isn't all that concerned about it. A military strategist he isn't, and he doesn't want to be.]

Maybe you're right. Maybe it's meant against the mainland. It's not exactly a happy place.

The commander might give you some answers if you ask nicely. [There's a slight note of sarcasm to that, not aimed at Lex but just at having to ask anyone for answers nicely.]

[ihope]

[Mainland. Of course. They're living atop an animal- it'd have to rest eventually. Nobody would want that place to be the bottom of the ocean. It's a subject tucked away into another day's business.]

[So's the commander's name and whereabouts. Those he'll find pride is finding on his own.]

[And speaking of asking nicely--]

I don't believe I ever caught your name.

[angermanaging]

[There's a beat, because that's somewhat intentional on Bruce's part, just an old habit he's never shaken off. But it's easy enough to find out who he is here, and no real purpose in hiding it, so he answers.]

Bruce Banner. Doctor. Nuclear physics.

[Bruce doesn't usually bother with titles, but this is just the kind of guy that rubs him the wrong way enough to want that distance.]

[ihope]

[And of course, the more he understands he's drawing information out of the man that he'd rather not give up, the more Lex grins until he's looking particularly wolfish and smug. What would be so difficult in giving up a name, he'd like to know? What's there to hide?]

Important man.

[Like a pat on the head of a pet who's done well.]

I'm sure we'll keep in touch.

[angermanaging]

[What there is to hide is, in short, everything, and Bruce lets out a faint scoff.]

Not really.

[But he doesn't want to touch any further on his relative importance or unimportance, especially as Bruce is uncomfortably aware that he's far more important here than he'd like. He hadn't meant to be at all influential, but apparently he is in some respects, and now he's stuck with it.]

If you find anything worth passing on, [he says levelly,] I'm all ears. [Otherwise, please don't.]