paradoxlol | .008

Entry tags:

.008 | Video.

[The video turns on, and Arthur's looking... well, as slick and suited up and uptight as usual. He's actually pretty relaxed right now, thanks to his night of binge drinking and partying in port, but since he's not like BUDS with any of you, it's unlikely anybody would notice the slight changes in his body language. He clears his throat, then holds up a MYSTERY BAG.]

I'm not wearing this. I don't care if the Admiral strikes me down or, or turns me into a rabbit for going against orders. I draw the line at [He points to the bag] this.

[Slowly, his eyes drift upward, as though he's expecting retaliation. When nothing happens, he sets the bag down and moves on.]

Oh. And with the Doctor's return, I've resigned from my position in the library. [Arthur may be all business here, but he's secretly TOTALLY HAPPY about this. Because damn, librarian was a horribly boring cover, in retrospect.] It just makes more sense this way. [He offers a slight smile.] So, if you're looking for a book, don't come find me.

[Private to Mindy]
I think this is the longest you've gone without trying to kill me. [A beat.] If you're interested, I'd like to show you what I do.

[Private to Hayley]
If you're free, I can meet you on the deck.

[OOC: ~~This is assuming, Jae, that the "LOL ARTHUR ALLOWED MINDY TO BUY HIM A COSTUME" thing I mentioned to you is still a go.~~ lolol got his costume now]

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[Hayley shakes her head.]

I needed some time to think and my warden's pretty good about giving me what I need. [She shrugs as if this is the way it should be, whether true or not.] He was nice enough to get me a costume.. He wants me to be Little Red Riding Hood for Halloween, though.. I didn't think he had such a sense of humor.

[She pauses.] What about you? Did you and "Hit Girl" [yes, there's sarcasm and air quotes there] go out and about?

Ah, because of the... [Arthur points to the red jacket.]

We did. [Sort of.] It was relatively peaceful.

[He takes a look around, then starts to walk, waiting for Hayley to follow.] So, you've tried meditation, right? [Normally Arthur would remember ~~but I can't check the other post~~ but he was still a little hungover.]

Oh. [She glances down at the jacket, then back up to Arthur.] Kinda. It's an inside joke, really.

[Then she's walking with him, hands still in her pockets.] If that's your brilliant idea that you wanted to meet in person for, you really should have saved yourself the trip.

[Arthur shoots her a brief, exasperated look.] Just listen. How deep did you go?

[Hayley looks over unamused, thinking he's toying with her. Then she seems surprised.] I don't.. I don't know. I mean, I'm not a monk or anything, but I was in a decent trance?

[He nods.] Meditation's often used for several different ends, but typically, the purpose is to transcend your current state. To connect to something higher than yourself-- or at least to open yourself up to the possibility.

With a repressed memory, you want to do the opposite. You want to go deep within yourself, to the subconscious-- what Freud would call the unconscious mind. Now, our greatest connection to the unconscious mind [He looks at Hayley.] is dreams. The trick is to combine the discipline of meditation with the direct line to the subconscious. Through dreams.

Edited 2010-10-19 15:39 (UTC)

[Hayley gawks at Arthur, skeptical. He strikes her as the overeager librarian that know everything according to the books and nothing according to real application. His theories are sound in principal, she supposes, but the entire idea sounds ludicrous.

After a long pause and stare, she offers only:] So...

So, basically. [He pauses, careful about how much he wants to reveal.] I can help you retrieve your memory through an intense sort of... guided meditation, conducted in a state of lucid dreaming. [There, that sounds better than "I HAVE A PASIV AND SOME SOMNACIN."] In order to facilitate an increased state of awareness within the dream, a specific sedative is administered. [He looks at her seriously.] Hence, why I wouldn't do any of this without your warden's permission. [Well, that and he needs a third person to monitor things.] Assuming you're interested and don't think I'm a complete lunatic.

Edited 2010-10-19 17:16 (UTC)

[Hayley is silent for a bit and, at the lunatic remark, gives a considering tilt of the head. Then she returns to a more skeptical expression again.] You have the specific sedative.. so, you're not a librarian?

[There's a moment where the inmate realizes just how relaxed she's gotten on the Barge, to have trusted Arthur just for looking like Rex and because he was quiet and demure. A "librarian." She glances around to see if anyone's around, glad at least she's carrying her taser as always.]

..Which means either you were lying and I shouldn't trust you until you tell me the truth? Or that you just happen to be too helpful, which is prooobably a fetish thing.. or plans to hurt or manipulate me somehow in the process. [A beat.] None of these options looks too good for you, champ.

Edited 2010-10-19 19:29 (UTC)

Okay, and why can't a librarian engage in projects on the side?

And-- [He gives her a sharp look.] No. It's not a fetish, and I don't plan on hurting you. [He stops walking and stares at her with a frown.] Why would I insist on taking this to your warden if I was? [Not to mention the fact that if he was planning anything sketchy, he could have just sedated her on the sly... which he's done to people countless times... BUT NOT FOR ANYTHING MORE THAN EXTRACTION.]

[Hayley stops with him, turning sharply. Her arms leave the pockets of her jacket only to fold across her chest.] Because the only people that would have some sedative like that are witch doctors, real doctors, drug dealers, or specialists. You're not old enough to be a research librarian and a doctor. There's no way.

[Still, his reasoning of not wanting to talk to her warden if he had bad intentions is sound. She considers the option of him sedating her silently as well, but quickly dismisses it from her mind uncomfortably. She pauses to consider.]

Unless you're an alien that's older than you look. [That's as logical as anything else on the Barge.] Or an android. [Sideways glance.] Or lying.

[She looks back up at him, trying to read his perfectly formulated expression.] If it's none of the above, then explain it to me.

[Arthur crosses his arms and stares.] Or none of the above. [Which is true, since the PASIV is rather easy to use. The dreams themselves, the synchronization of the kicks, getting in and out of the dream undetected, that's what takes specialization.] I was involved in studies of the sedative and its applications as a student. [Also true, for the most part. It was when Cobb and Mal recruited him to assist in their research. He's just leaving out the specifics, the fact that this is shared dreaming, not some kind of guided meditation through a lucid dream. Details aside, though, the results should be the same.] There aren't many mainstream uses for it yet where I'm from.

And you just thought, "Hey, I might as well keep some of the sample in case I get bored some day and need to go meditate for my memories?"

[She still stares at him, arms crossed. She can tell there's something a little off, but not what it is, and she begins to wonder if she's imagining it entirely. More hesitation, more confusion; Hayley's getting less patient with her inability to make firm decisions. Things are supposed to be black or white and she can't tell which he is yet.]

[WHAT'S OFF IS THAT HE'S A MIND CRIMINAL-- whoops. Arthur has no intention of revealing that anytime soon. Or, well, ever.] What you experience, when you dream in a heightened state of awareness, it's... [His expression softens a little.] incredible. I didn't want to give it up.

If you don't want my help, that's fine. I just thought I'd offer to help, because it seemed like it was upsetting you.

[Hayley uncrosses her arms and stuffs her hands into her pockets again, considering what he's saying. Yes, it is upsetting her and she wants help, but Arthur's also ~~A MIND CRIMINAL~~ someone she's not sure she can trust. Clearly, there was only one solution.]

We talk to my warden. If he approves, then you let me invite a different warden to watch us.. someone I trust to know more about what you're doing and to look out for me.

[Arthur doesn't say no outright, but he's clearly not liking that idea. He does not want to deal with inmates trying to break into his room and steal the PASIV to fuck with people.] Why can't your warden do it?

Edited 2010-10-19 23:44 (UTC)

Because my warden's a great guy, but he's naive and I don't trust him to be able to punch you in the jaw if he needs to.. You know, if it turns out you're shockingly not trustworthy. [She offers a small smile, though still not entirely comfortable with this idea yet. At least with Crane, she knew what he was and so it was easier to know what to watch for. Arthur is still an unknown variable.]

Why don't you want another warden knowing? I mean, we could cut out my warden and just let this warden know if you want to cut down on numbers, but you seemed pretty adamant about mine being informed and consenting.

Because the more people involved, the more likely everything will get out. And I'm not taking that chance. [He gives her a look.] And you know I'm not the only one who's kept secrets here. [SUCH AS YOUR SECRET INMATE PARTNER.] If you want another warden involved who definitely will punch me in the face, then I can bring in Stephanie. But that's it.

Stephanie? [Hayley laughs.] Uh, no. She's great and all, really, but I barely know her and I wouldn't trust her to look out for me more than you. Capa's kept secrets for me before and he barely even talks to anyone here, so it's not like anyone would find out. At most, he'd probably want to study it.

[She shrugs.] Sorry, Arthur. I put my health and safety above my memories. [Mostly.] If you aren't willing to let Capa in on it, then I guess I'm going to have to pass.

[Pause.] Oh, and if you don't want it getting out? I wouldn't tell any of the Gothamites.. Crane, Eddie, Tim, Stephanie-- any of them. [Her voice switches to more lecturing.] They all talk and if Crane or Joker gets a hold of it? That is when you'll have a serious problem.

And I don't know him. [He shakes his head.] So there's no deal. [Because really, Ariadne's face (and his less-than-selfless longing to get back into extraction, even if it would have been consensual, in this case) will only get her so far.] Sorry. [He starts to walk away, then stops and looks over his shoulder.] Just remember that I offered this as a last resort, after nothing else worked. There was never an ulterior motive.

[Because pffth, his ulterior motives were reserved for bigger targets.]

Edited 2010-10-20 00:54 (UTC)

[Hayley immediately withdraws her hands from her pockets, voice angry.] That's it? You're willing to offer some teenage girl I barely know, my passive warden, or no one at all? I mean, I'm sure you're not really a fighter yourself, but you're talking about injecting me with drugs and expecting me to be okay with it?

[She's yelling now.] Yeah, I'm pretty interested in knowing why my best friend at the time shot and killed his warden and then himself in front of me. No, nothing else has worked, but I, personally have used drugs to do horrible things and so forgive me if I'm a little skeptical that you want to offer your help in the form of a super secret sedative.

[Hayley balls her hands into fists at her sides, storming off in the opposite direction despite nothing being that way except balcony. If he's telling the truth, the girl understands why he wants to be cautious, especially with the people that are on the Barge. But she doesn't trust him to be honest.]

Edited 2010-10-20 01:04 (UTC)

[Arthur turns around and watches her reaction, his hands in his pockets.] Actually, I wasn't. Which is why? [Now his voice sounds irritable:] I didn't offer before.

[Well, that's an interesting reveal. He doesn't let his expression change beyond a very slight raise of his eyebrows and just files that information away for later.]

I'm not the one getting upset here. [He sighs a little in frustration and walks after her, keeping his distance.] I can't share this information with people I don't trust. I don't care who it is.

I was trying to help. That's it. [He takes on a less terse voice now.] I'm sorry. I shouldn't have told you.

Edited 2010-10-20 01:27 (UTC)

[Hayley spins around, posture stiffening as she glares at him. She knows exactly what she just told him and the fact that he barely questions it only makes her more suspicious of his having more experience with criminals than he lets on.

Maybe he's a spy.. It makes sense, almost.] Of course you're not getting upset, you're the one with the power in this situation. You don't need or want anything and so you can toy with me as much as you want.

[She lets out an exasperated yell, balling both fists in her hair for a moment. Then she drops her arms and stares up at him, expression flattening as her tone becomes quiet.] Then why did you share it with me?

I'm not toying with you. [He throws his arms out.] If I wanted to drug you, I'd do it. [He gives her a serious look, dropping his hands to his hips.] You know that, because you'd do the same thing. [He guesses, judging by her admission.]

I told you already. I saw that it was upsetting you, and I wanted to offer a solution. [And because he wants to see if he can pull an extraction against the Admiral's blocks. Because if he squints and turns his head and only listens to half of what she's saying, she reminds him of Ariadne, which reminds him of the real world.] After nothing else worked.

Edited 2010-10-20 01:57 (UTC)

[She watches him for the first retort, knowing he's right and that he took all the right guesses about her. Maybe they just bonded a little, but she's focusing on the next part already.] You said you can't share this information with people you don't trust. Why share it with me? You can't be the type to trust me just because I'm in need, not with the kinds of inmates here.. you'd never make it.

[Part of her really wants that to be true, that he's not the type to hand out trust, because he seems so much cooler than that and she's still looking for her new Harvey Dent.]

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