tushanshu | 1st train | anonymous text

Entry tags:

1st train | anonymous text | open to action?

[It's not that Cobb has been here for a while, it's that he learns very, very quickly. It comes with the territory, of being very much accustomed to laying low. He's always been fairly cautious and wary unless personal matters are involved, after all. It's something that comes with the territory when you've been on the field long enough. He deems it appropriate enough to talk to the network as a whole now. Plus, he's asked enough to catch the basics--he's near a console by the window in a cafe in the earth district, nursing the best tea he's had in years and typing anonymously. ]

Interesting for a place not quite near life, death, or dreaming. How many people here are well versed in Oneirology? -Mr. Charles

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Arthur gives Ariadne a nod of welcome when she comes in - it's no more than he expected, it's why she has security clearance for his suite.]

I don't know what this is. I'm totally at a loss. The only thing I can think is it's some new prototype tech I haven't heard about. I keep my ear to the ground but I'm not perfect. [He almost winces as he says that - it's pretty glaringly obvious how not perfect he is after his mistake on the Fischer job.]

Either way, I haven't been able to figure out the mechanics of it, which means I can't manipulate it.

[ there's a faint smile that appears on ariadnes lips as she takes in the sight of cobb, glad to see that he was okay and seemingly taking it all well (she'd have to ask him later how everything went after she jumped).

but the smile doesn't last long, as her attention was than moves up towards arthur, frowning in concern, as she finds herself shaking her head slightly at his words - she really hopes he isn't blaming himself for anything here - he’s kept her alive this long after all. ]

Is it possible that this dream belongs to the supposed Emperor here, and she is the one blocking us from doing anything?

That's possible, but it doesn't explain the projections. [ Cobb's mind is preoccupied, trying to ignore what Arthur said. That heated debate in the warehouse was something he'd rather forget, really. He can't, though. So instead, he forces himself to focus at the matter at hand. ]

[That's why they work so well together, as far as Arthur is concerned. They do what needs to be done, and leave the rest alone.]

There are people here who dress up in costume and have, uh, magical powers. Never seen projections like that.

[ Hold on. ]

....what.

[ her attention is moving between the two, her brow furrowing in consideration (yeah, she can sense the lack of communication with them) when cobb speaks and she blinks, looking up at him with a small shrug. ]

There's even some that claim to be from the future.

[ and well...a few other things that she wont even start to get into ]

I got into a fight with a walking, talking turtle, the first week I was here. [Let that sink in for a moment, Cobb. Because Arthur sure as shit doesn't know what to make of it.]

[ Cobb is quiet. His jaw hardens, gaze lowering just so. Otherwise, he shows no emotion. He's been very, very good at hiding stuff like that.

They had a point.

They did, and that's what worried Cobb. This place is foreign, so is the feel of it. So is this situation.

He focuses on the broader picture: ] Any evidence of them being actual projections?

[ she looks up at the two, a flash of confusion appearing on her face. ]

Well what else would they be?

[ assuming that they were hooked up, there couldn't be that many dreamers - could there? ]

[Arthur rubs a hand over his face, trying to parse it all out.] The only other option, from where I'm standing, is they're real. But a walking, talking turtle can't be real, either. Nor can someone who flies, or someone who can breathe underwater...

[He paces the floor - back, forth, hands in his pockets.]

Unless the dream somehow gives them those powers.

This many dreamers is possible. Difficult, but possible. [ He's seen Yusuf's dream den. It's a higher step from that, yes, but Cobb finds himself trying to grasp at straws to make sense of this whole thing. ] It's possible the dream--if this is actually the Emperor's, then hers--is vast enough to encompass everyone. Just hard to believe.

[ ariadne doesn't know what to say for a moment, as she just looks between the two, her eyes wide with a clear uncertainty. ]

Well...what are we going to do now? [ of course she doesn't expect them to have a definitive answer here. but she does want to make sure they are on the same page. ]

People already know Arthur and I are friends from home. [ and yes, she did just call him a friend and expects arthur to deal with it. ]

What about you, Cobb. [ a beat and she is looking up at cobb with a questioning brow. ] What do you want us to tell them?

[Her words bring Arthur somewhat out of his funk - because now he can talk about the actions he's already taken. He gives a firm nod, turning to Cobb.]

I'm using the private security cover, the one we used in Mumbai. We can do the business partners thing again, or we could do the architecture firm thing again.

I'm working on setting up a network of contacts, too. It's slow going - the kedan don't like to talk much, but I've got a couple of informants in the local criminal organizations. The other transplants - people, or projections, I don't know - I'm trying to get as much info as I can without annoying the costumed vigilantes.

Backstory. [ Right. ] Architecture firm it is. Probably fit better for Ariadne.

[ which earns a glance over to the girl. ] If you're going to lie, keep it simple and rooted in truth. Easier to remember.

[ she just slowly nods at the two men, shoving her hands deep into her pockets as she takes a deep breath, thinking her next few words out. ]

I already talked to a few people here - none of them know anything outside of the basics. [ studying in paris and interning at a firm, that's about it. ] So it shouldn't be too hard for me to keep that up.

[ a long beat and she is looking back up at cobb, her expression curious (nothing new there) ]

Have you met your neighbors yet?

[ a quick glance over towards arthur and she is adding with a faint smile. ] Arthur go lucky and has no one living by him. And I have yet to meet mine.

Ariadne's a natural, so far anyway. [Arthur gives her a faint smile.]

And will you keep going by Mr. Charles? [He's vaguely disapproving of it, but that's mostly because he hates the Mr. Charles con in general, not that he disapproves of Cobb taking an alias.]

Not yet. [ Neighbors aren't high on his priority list in the least--but it's not so far down it's reached the 'trains' list. ]

If I'm anonymous, it'll be Mr. Charles, yes. Otherwise Cobb is fine.

[ an almost smug smile appears on her lips at arthur comment, before she is nodding in understanding, letting her attention move fully onto cobb. ]

If you want to get settled back at home... [ a beat, her brow arching in curiosity ] Where exactly did they put you, Cobb?

[ because yes, this seemed like something she should at least be made aware of. ]

Earth Section, I believe. [ He'd been far more distracted figuring out what the hell was going on than to pay proper attention to the actual number. A sloppy mistake, and one that has him reaching for the paper he wrote it down on. ]

EA3-A.

Really? [Arthur smiles faintly.] You and Ariadne are neighbors, then. [He raises an eyebrow at her, because geez, Ariadne, pay attention to who's moving in next door.]

[ she blinked in surprise, only to shoot arthur with a look of her own. SORRY ARTHUR, she was too busy staying away from zombies to notice this detail. ]

Well that saves us some. [ not that she was going to be bugging him there, but at least she knew where he was. ]

I haven't been back to my place since the zombies, so I didn't even know they were getting the place ready.

Don't quite trust a room that's all fresh and picked out for me. [ The smile is a half-hearted attempt. A light dismissal. ]

[Arthur gives a shrug.] The level of technology here is pretty low. I swept both mine and Ariadne's suites for every kind of bug I know of, and didn't find anything.

[ her nose crinkles, sighing as she rubs at the back of her neck. ] Arthur's right - the technology is really low here - our places are the only places I'm not too worried about anything.

[ a small shrug of her shoulders and she is looking between the two men, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. ]

We'll figure this out, I know we will. [ and yes, she sounds somewhat optimistic about that still. ]

[ And there's Ariadne, optimistic and clever and Cobb's toying with the idea of telling her that that wasn't how the world worked before he snaps himself out of it. ]

I guess for the moment it's just basic intel. Keep your ear to the ground, keep pushing theories.

1st train | anonymous text | open to action?

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