005; audio;

[aloadeddie]

[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.

Comments

voice;

[aloadeddie]

[The voice is a little off-putting. Not the accent, really, but the tone is very authoritative. The sort of tone that tends to put Arthur on the defensive. 'Problems with authority' could be his middle name.

Still, he keeps his own voice calm and soothing. He's not just a dream criminal, after all, he's also a con man of sorts - a decent actor when he needs to be.]

Information. The Emperor says she doesn't have all the information we need to fight this thing - dreams could be a way to fill in some of the blanks, if we can make it work.

voice;

[inseine]

I don't get your meaning, [says the man sharply.] There is never a time I can tell you that dreams make sense. They have a habit of adding more questions into the mix, not the reverse. And that is the shell you want to crack!

[A low breath on the line. It is not quite a sigh, though it is very near to one.]

But if it is the Turtle you are after -- [Oho, someone's been reading and listening in on the other public conversations] -- I notice he is receptive enough to direct questions. What do you need your volunteers for?

voice;

[aloadeddie]

[Well, someone's paying attention, at least partially! Arthur continues to be patient. He's actually pretty good at explaining things when he wants to be.]

Because information could be buried in the subconscious without the person - or turtle realizing it. Because I want to see which method might be more effective, or if they are even compatible with each other. Because Asti might not be the only one who could help. Because I'm curious.

voice;

[inseine]

You talk honestly, I will give you that, [he says coolly.] Not the most honorably, but honestly.

[A thick pause. He is actually mulling this one over, attempting to wrap his mind around how this man intends to work with this. For instance, there are words and concepts he cannot quite grasp: subconscious, for example.]

And how do you tell the difference? Between useful information and dream-nonsense.

voice;

[aloadeddie]

[Honorably? Well, that's new. Ugh, the old-timey people.

At least Lord Henry is fun.]

Oh...kay. Well, the main way to distinguish the true from the false is the simple fact that the false stuff is easy to manipulate and twist around in dreams. And the real stuff - especially the valuable stuff - tends to be hidden away by the subconscious. Everyone does it, whether we intend to or not.