v i d e o ][ 007

[diastereomer]

[ For once, the feed kicks on and Yusuf is ready for it. He's in the lab (otherwise known as, the basement, but he's not exactly picky about these things) and the feed gets a clear view of... well. Not very much. For something that is supposed to be a lab, it's noticeably sparse. This, ladies, gents, and pterodactyls, is the reason for this feed. ]

Comments

action;

[oneminutemaze]

[ Upon seeing Yusuf's post to the network, Ariadne figures that it's safe to go down into the basement without possibly ending up as a test subject. She doesn't knock, though she's not making any effort to be silent as she heads down the stairs, either. ]

Are you just looking for the lab, or for the house in general?

action;

[diastereomer]

[ At the sound of the door at the top of the stairs opening, Yusuf looks up, mostly expecting to see Eames-- he has made it clear that the lab here is no more sacred than Yusuf's actual lab back in Mombasa. When Ariadne's skinny legs come into view, Yusuf turns his chair around fully to properly address her. ]

Mostly for the lab, as it is arguably first priority. Though I can make a second post if you know of anything we might need for the common areas.

action;

[oneminutemaze]

I'll think about it.

[ Honestly, she just wants to get rid of the monstrosity of a couch that Eames managed to wrangle up.

There's a pause as she looks around the lab, one slight hand reaching up to tuck some hair behind her ear. ]

How's it all coming, then?

action;

[diastereomer]

[ A motion to the mostly empty space around them. His bedroom has the staples (a mattress, a pillow, and a box to put what remains of his clothes in) but the lab area has little more than a table and a swivel chair that Yusuf had a hell of a time getting down the stairs. ]

Little by little. Whoever the dreamer is, they've got an agonizing eye for detail.

[ Not to mention a very weird sense of humor, but Ariadne's already been ribbed enough about that aspect. ]

action;

[oneminutemaze]

[ They're all so convinced that this is a dream, but Ariadne is the youngest of them, the newest to the field of dream-sharing, and she isn't so sure. She keeps her mouth shut on that opinion for now, however, looking around the lab instead. ]

I might know someone who could use your PhD. Tony Stark at City Solutions -- he offered me a job. Well, he told me to get in touch with a woman there, anyway.

action;

[diastereomer]

[ Yusuf has heard of genius, billionaire, philanthropist Tony Stark. Not much, just that he's got a loaded wallet and a mouth just as much so. Either way, being on his payroll certainly wouldn't hurt Yusuf's ultimate goal. In fact, having that kind of connection would make getting equipment and chemicals exponentially easier. ]

What kind of a job did he offer you? Your skill set differs rather drastically from mine.

action;

[oneminutemaze]

[ You forgot playboy. That's exactly the sort of thing that made Ariadne consider the job in the first place, despite having also been offered one by Billy at The Palance. She's actually considering working both of them. ]

He wasn't specific. Apparently it's all about innovation, invention, and creativity, though. [ There's a half shrug. ] I think he offered it because I know the properties of copper and gave him a compliment.

action;

[diastereomer]

[ Not applicable in Yusuf's book until those $$'s come out. Yusuf smiles, amused at the way she relays the other man's words; a flashy tagline by anyone's standards. ]

If I get in touch with him, I will keep the compliment in mind. Did you get in touch with the woman he referred you to or are you still looking for employment?

action;

[oneminutemaze]

[ Heeheehee. ]

I left her a message, but I haven't heard anything. Someone else -- Billy Kaplan, I'm not sure if you've met -- offered me a job as well. He co-owns that large-scale replica of Versailles and they need people for upkeep, as well as art contributions for the gallery. I figure I can sell some drawings, if nothing else; that way I'll still be getting practice and have some money.

[ It's not what she came down here to talk about, but Ariadne doesn't mind the casual conversation. ]

action;

[diastereomer]

That sounds more enjoyable-- at least, more like something that would keep your interest. Would you be providing them with architectural pieces or something more along the lines of traditional art? Some of your conceptual pieces could certainly pass for surrealism.

[ Realizing that he has all of one swivel chair and a stool (pushed off to the corner of the lab), Yusuf goes to fetch it. ]

How rude of me. The lab is not quite up to lounging standards just yet. Here, have a seat. Or, we could move up to the living room. [ We know how much you like that couch Ariadne~ ]

action;

[oneminutemaze]

It's probably worse, pay-wise, so I think I might do both. Stark is an interesting man, if nothing else; I think we could get some equipment from him. As for pieces, I'm not sure yet -- maybe some of everything.

[ Ariadne shakes her head, but goes to sit on the stool anyway. ]

It's fine. [ Though having a place to sit is nicer than standing there awkwardly; it shows she's welcome, for one. ] Speaking of equipment -- how's the PASIV and everything coming along?

action;

[diastereomer]

He is probably the best place to start if we want to minimize work on our end and maximize productivity in the long run. If we can avoid having Eames steal the small things, sterile tubing and the like, we have a better chance of keeping under the radar.

[ Eventually he'll have a kettle down here, and then it'll be a real party. Though how that will help his natural tendency to being slightly awkward (hence, the late offering of the stool...) is dubious. ]

Arthur has more experience with the PASIV. My operation does not travel, so my input on the construction of the piece is limited. Have you spoken with Arthur at all?

action;

[oneminutemaze]

We'll have to talk to him about it when he gets back, then.

[ Because of course they don't know that he won't be back for over a month. ]

He's been out when I'm in, most of the time. I talked to Eames about it a little bit, though. [ There's a pause then, a slight shift on the stool. ] He told me a few of the plans.

action;

[diastereomer]

He has made himself sparse since Thanksgiving. Really though, between you and I showing up within a couple months of each other, and Cobb just now, it is hardly surprising; money has got to come from somewhere.

[ And then.. things got exponentially more difficult.

Elbow resting on the arm of the chair, Yusuf inclines his head in a go on gesture. ]

For example?

action;

[oneminutemaze]

[ Cobb. She doesn't want to talk about Cobb. Cobb is complicated, her relationship with him moreso -- it's easy to break into someone's head and shoot his late wife when it's a life-or-death thing, when you don't think you'll have to see him again for an extended length of time after that.

Because of that, she simply goes on, as directed. ]

Checking forging and building, first of all.

[ And then she tries to meet his eyes. ]

And trying to get to Limbo.

action;

[diastereomer]

[ Creating a stable dream without adding the alterations-- forging, building-- will be difficult enough with the looming knowledge that they have no idea where they are. Too much sedative and things go wrong with the physical, too little sedative and the dream spirals out of control, cerebral whiplash of the likes few have seen before.

Few, save for those who work on the compounds and those who saw the initial budding of weaponized dreamshare. The governments that had access to such devices were sure to keep those screw ups very tightly under wraps. More than a few Military Crosses lead to psychiatric wards.

Yusuf sighs, knowing the intricacies of the challenge placed before him. ]

Eames has a mind for big ideas, but these ideas depend on a vehicle. A stable dream must be compiled before we can start looking at altering the dream- let alone going deep enough to hit unconstructed dream space.