tushanshu | 005; audio;

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005; audio;

[With Ariadne most definitely gone - awake, presumably, though Arthur still can't figure out how she could've woken up but he still can't - Arthur is now alone in this place.

In some ways, being alone opens up certain possibilities that he wouldn't have considered available as long as others were here that he needed to protect. It's just him, and he knows how to look after himself, and he doesn't have to worry about keeping stories straight or anything like that.

Besides, the dream hasn't collapsed yet; what's a few more projections knowing some things?]

I want to get in touch with anyone who had knowledge of those archways in Sinbrilee. [He still disdains the whole idea of magic, but it's clearly a delusion he'll have to work with for the time being.] Especially the dreaming ones.

There are some, ah, tests that I'd like to run.

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[Well, Arthur had to know this would probably get somewhat repetitive. He also didn't expect anyone to offer to help without any kind of questions asked - it's how he operates, too. Everyone needs to be thoroughly vetted before being brought into the fold.

At this point, what he's saying is pretty much the truth. If the dream falls apart on him, well. He can handle that. If someone tries to come after him, he can probably handle that, too.]

I'd like to see what kind of compatibility there might be with the dream sharing tech I already have, and if it could be used to get any more information on that ridiculous thing we're not supposed to name.

I'm a little wary about using it for that, [he says cautiously,] but I did... take some notes on the archways when I was there. I might be able to help.

[Note that he isn't saying he will help. This is a total stranger; Bruce isn't about to hand over sensitive, dangerous information that's relevant to their overall struggle against Malicant. But he is considering it.]

[It's funny because if Costigan would stop being a secretive jerk they wouldn't be complete strangers to each other probably...]

What else would we use them for?

Look, I already have dream share tech here. There's plenty I can do with it, I just thought I'd open it up to people who might be doing stuff with those arches, see if there could be any uses or interactions with them. If you're interested, fine, we'll meet up sometime and compare notes. If not, that's fine, too.

[Bruce is at least as much of a secretive jerk as Costigan, arguably more. He probably wouldn't reveal it was him who'd made the somnacin if he did know who the recipient had been.

He's completely focused on the practical.]

You're the one with dream sharing tech. You must use it for something that's not... investigating incorporeal extradimensional threats. [Bruce shakes his head briefly, not arguing but rather explaining.]

I see your logic. But this is-- is dangerous information. We've already invited it in once before. I don't want to do it again.

Classified military program, back home. Even here, I don't want to go into too much detail.

[It's the same story Costigan has, it's the story he'll give to anyone who asks. It's not a complete lie - it's how he got into dream share in the first place. He's just been private sector for a few years now, but the people here don't need to know that.]

I'm not inviting anyone or anything in. I'm thinking about asking Asti, maybe the Emperor or other locals to volunteer to run some tests.

['Classified military program' are the three words guaranteed to ratchet up Bruce's distrust, and he can't help a sour, dry look.]

I have some experience with those. [Not positive experience, obviously.

That aside, he can't deny the logic in Arthur's proposal. They do need more answers, and Bruce has never had the intention of hoarding all the information he has. That's wildly inefficient, and simply not fair.]

Alright. I'll share the notes I took on the archways if you tell me if you find anything useful with it. Deal?

Don't we all.

[The irony isn't lost on Arthur, pretending to be part of an organization he kind of hates just to keep people thinking he's on the up-and-up. More or less.]

You've got a deal. I'll share any relevant information with whoever wants it, frankly. Anything that'll get us more answers at this point.

[Bruce shares his information relatively freely, but not cavalierly at all. To him, he wants the explicit agreement that the information will be shared with him specifically, and now that he has it, he nods.]

I'll forward my notes over. Good luck.

[Shortly there will be a picture forwarded of neatly written notes, both an exact recording of the symbols that had been present on the archways and Bruce's observations about their placement and architectural angle of curvature. He's nothing if not thorough.]

Thanks.

[He'll make good use of those notes, you can count on that.]

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