eye of the tiger playing in the distance

[falsify]

[Training for this team has been rougher than Eames really ever expected. SHIELD has already put him through the ringer over the years, but this dream stuff requires a lot of skills he'd never heard of before. And that's before even getting to handling it in the field.]

[Stressful, difficult, and at times painful as it is, it doesn't take Eames that long to get to grips with the fundamentals — using his powers in a dream, learning to navigate something that feels real but isn't, the right checks if he's not sure whether or not he's dreaming — he's dedicated to getting this right, absolutely willing to give everything he's got to it. Plus it helps that Cobb's usually there for the briefings, and he makes an excellent translator when Arthur gets overly technical or theoretical about the whole thing.]

[This part is another one of those things he'd never thought he'd have to learn. A frown on his face when it's just him and Arthur and the plain room they're using, because he wouldn't think someone has to be taught how to handle being killed in a dream, but apparently it's a pretty big deal. Something about being able to take it in stride, to be able to immediately move on to the next thing when you wake up, but surely when you know it's not real, it shouldn't be a problem.]

[He frowns, thumbing over a bottle of light sedative, and glances at Arthur with a raised eyebrow when he asks his question. Seeking a little more information from Arthur's point of view rather than the technical aspects of it.]

So... I have to learn how to die?

Comments

[specifiercity]

[Arthur sighs as he thinks, sitting back down in his chair and look up at the ceiling. He tries to create a ripple there and it doesn't work.]

It's stupidly simple, but the way I make totally sure that I'm in a dream and not in reality is just by using my ability to create imperfections. Just something momentary that no one else notices, but it proves to me that I am in control of the world and it isn't real.

[He gestures to Eames.]

There are boundaries in reality but there aren't any in the dream world. There have to be limits to what you can do that you can push past in the dream world, right? Is there any way you can turn that into a test?

[falsify]

[Eames pulls a bit of a face, thinking. He's still reeling a little, but having a problem to focus on helps a lot with that. Redirects his attention to something more pressing, or at least that makes him feel a little less frustrated by not immediately having this.]

I can't do animals, but I'm not sure turning into a cat is the most efficient test.

[He says it a little wryly as he stands, pacing a little to stretch his legs and get a bit of blood flowing.]

If I could concentrate it into something smaller, maybe. Something easy to hide...

[Eames looks at his hand as he trails off, expression thoughtful. If Arthur's paying close enough attention, he'd see a shift in Eames' fingers; length, shape. It's subtle and short-lived, the kind of test he does to check his powers are working and under control.]

[specifiercity]

[Arthur doesn't pay too much attention. He's focusing on getting a bit of water instead, trying to think of other methods for this.]

We can go back under to try some stuff out if you want. No dying this time.