13M03 [AUDIO]

[lostundercover]

Anyone have any suggestions for a job around here that might- might pay a little more than the average?

[He's clearly choosing his words carefully, trying to hint at a deeper meaning.]


[95% encrypted to Evandau]
You want to tell me what's going on with your group cloning the foreigners?

[30% encrypted to Ariadne]
I'm sorry about- [...] Look, something came up, alright? I didn't mean to stand you up.

[30% encrypted to Reid]
You said you might be able to help with.. [The 'my meds' is implied as he trails off.] My supply is low.

[30% encrypted to Kyle]
Is there any way to figure out who an anonymous message on the network comes from?

[30% encrypted to Cobb]
Your people made any progress?

[30% encrypted to "Freddie"/Eames]
You busy later?

Comments

[audio | encrypted]

[lostundercover]

Thanks, guy.

[audio | encrypted]

[polyhistor]

It's no trouble.

[The distraction might actually be nice.]

So, um. How've you been?

[audio | encrypted]

[lostundercover]

Could be better. How are you doing?

[audio | encrypted]

[polyhistor]

Busy.

[He says that a little too quickly, and exhales immediately thereafter.]

I've been busy. It's... a different kind of busy than I'm used to, but it's not really that bad?

[Yes, for some reason his inflection treats that like a question.]

[audio | encrypted]

[lostundercover]

What's been goin' on?

[audio | encrypted]

[polyhistor]

Research, primarily. I'd like to be able to find a way to... get us all home.

[audio | encrypted]

[lostundercover]

It's not good for you to bury your head in books all day.

[A beat.]

Have you found anything?

[audio | encrypted]

[polyhistor]

Not the first time I've heard that, actually.

[His tone's a little dry.]

Nothing. Not yet, anyway. It's a commonly held belief that we're here due to some form of magic but-- I'm not sure how I feel about that yet.

[audio | encrypted]

[lostundercover]

[He can tell Reid's not quite himself, but has no idea how to handle that.]

You heard about the clones, right? I think that's related to how we got here. I don't- I don't know shit about science, but it seems like it would be pretty easy to knock us out where we're from, copy our DNA or somethin', and then make new versions of us here.

[A beat.] Time travel, magic, a dream. I don't fuckin' like any of it.

[audio | encrypted]

[polyhistor]

I'm not sure we're meant to. Like it, I mean.

[He doesn't sound terrifically happy about that either.]

[audio | encrypted]

[lostundercover]

Yeah, I got that part already.

[audio | encrypted]

[polyhistor]

[Hm.]

Would you go home? If you could?

[audio | encrypted]

[lostundercover]

[A beat, then pointed non-answer.]

Wouldn't you?

[audio | encrypted]

[polyhistor]

Of course I would. My team--

[On second thought, he doesn't want to get into that discussion right now. He clears his throat and gives his head a brief shake, brows drawn down in disconcertion.]

It's okay if you don't want to tell me.

[audio | encrypted]

[lostundercover]

[There's a small pause. When Costigan speaks again, he sounds more tentative.]

You know everything about me, guy. Tell me what you were going to say.

[It's not a threat, but actual concern and sincere interest.]

My answer is I don't know.

[audio | encrypted]

[polyhistor]

It's not you. It's-- um. These.

[He taps the console, the faint noise comes in over the mic.]

I'm not really a big fan of technology. It seems tremendously impersonal.

[He accepts that Costigan isn't sure. It doesn't seem like the sort of question he'd evade intentionally.]

[audio | encrypted]

[lostundercover]

Do you want to grab a cup of coffee?

[That's as close to 'do you need to talk about your feelings' as Costigan will ever get.]

[audio | encrypted]

[polyhistor]

[Reid drags his index finger along the line of his jaw and smiles briefly. It's a pointless expression, given the audio.]

That obvious, huh?

[audio | encrypted]

[lostundercover]

Just two guys talking. No pressure, Reid.

[audio | encrypted]

[polyhistor]

No, I know.

I wouldn't mind coffee.

[audio | encrypted]

[lostundercover]

I'll meet you at that little place down on the street by the clothing store in fifteen.

[Assume that makes sense to refer to Costigan's usual cafe.]

[audio | encrypted]

[polyhistor]

Acknowledged.

[And he turns off the feed, tugs on his jacket. He's at the cafe a little earlier than Costigan's projected timeframe, but he uses it as an opportunity to snag a table in a fairly isolated corner. No coffee yet.]