<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
DIRECTOR: My... Apologies for the interruption, ladies and gentlemen. I''m afraid we''ve run into some technical issues regarding the next scene due to take place in the production.
<div>
<div>
DIRECTOR: I won''t trouble you with excessive detail. Suffice it to say, we''ve encountered some ''mechanical failures'' with some of the ''stage equipment''. No doubt due to someone failing to sort it properly after the last show, despite me going out of my way to remind them every damn time...
<div>
<div>
DIRECTOR: <muttering to himself, looking away> In any event, there''s nothing for it. Our actors are too rigid to adapt and perform it anyway, so we''re going to have to skip it.
<div>
<div>
DIRECTOR: I don''t think it will interfere with the plot too much, fortunately - it''s fairly minor, just a short conversation involving... My god, it''s like these notes were written by a child...
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
DIRECTOR: <irritated> Well, it''s between the protagonist and a minor character, taking place somewhere between the previous set and the next one, which is set back in her private chambers. I''m fairly certain it''s filler, so I wouldn''t concern yourself with it overmuch.
<div>
<div>
DIRECTOR: Still, this is very unprofessional, so please accept my most sincere apologies, as well as those of the production staff. We''ve arranged to have a handout distributed to keep you entertained while we sort things out over the next few minutes.
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
DIRECTOR: What? I don''t... Oh, right.
<div>
<div>
DIRECTOR: <sighing> I''ve been ''reminded'' that a new rule, concerning the reliability of the handout, would add greater substance to the activity. So, let''s get that done.
<div>
<div>
4. ALL SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL PRESENTED OUT-OF-NARRATIVE IS GUARANTEED TO BOTH EXIST IN-UNIVERSE AS SHOWN AND TO BE FROM THE STATED SOURCE, BUT OTHERWISE MAY BE UNRELIABLE
<div>
<div>
DIRECTOR: For example, if you were to be shown a chapter of an encyclopedia, and were told it was from a specific date and volume, those facts could be taken as a certainty. A trick such as later saying the content you were shown was actually a version misremembered by a character, rather than the original, would be strictly forbidden.
<div>
<div>
DIRECTOR: And regarding the ''as shown'' part, that''s to clarify that there will also be no attempts by us to obfuscate the truth by removing or editorializing the content. If one were to take a page from a history book and remove a paragraph from the middle without notifying the reader, it could leave them with a completely incorrect understanding of the content. Thus, it would not be permitted.
<div>
<div>
DIRECTIOR: However, that''s as far as it goes. Unlike the perspective of the protagonist, no assurances are to be given regarding the accuracy of the material. After all, history books and encyclopedias are all too often incorrect--
<div>
<div>
PLAYWRIGHT: <interrupting loudly, from Offstage Left> Say, did you know that ''encyclopedia'' comes from the same root word as ''cyclops''? They both come from kuklos, meaning circle. In the latter example, it''s obviously combined with ''ops'' to make ''round eye'', whereas in the former it''s part of the phrase enkuklios paideia, meaning ''well-rounded education''! Pretty interesting that a turn of phrase like that would translate so gracefully, isn''t it?
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
PLAYWRIGHT: Ow! That hurt!
<div>
<div>
DIRECTOR: <deadpan, bowing> Once again, please pardon the interjection. We hope you continue enjoying the production. Thank you.
PLAYWRIGHT: I was just trying to liven up your boring explanation--
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
CONTEXT: Letter sent from Dr. Cheng Gue via Oreskios Pyli District Post Office, to Dr. Adul of Juraid, Apartment 286 of Blessed Reach Communal Tower, Grand Market prefecture, Old Yru. Delivered September 27th, 1400. Sealed as sensitive material, obligating special diligence by the postmaster.
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
several degrees. In our initial meeting, she came across as intellectually mature and with a high degree of self-consciousness, both qualities you would expect to exemplify an ideal candidate for the initiation process. She passed all of the usual competency tests with an exceptional degree of confidence, and though she expressed some disquiet with the process during our initial meeting, I was able to soothe these reservations without too much difficulty.
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
opposite and telling her she is well within her moral rights to cut all ties and start a new life wholesale elsewhere, and even, in desperation, suggesting she could simply abandon any complex ambitions for the time being and live a comfortably placid life of relative isolation off the stipend! In all cases I am violently rebuffed. She is singularly obsessed with an impossible goal, and I do not know what is to be done.
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
him, he insisted that referred to another instance later in the week. No matter who I spoke to, the story went in circles. And when I went to the pneumorium myself, their records for the patient''s induction were starkly odd, detailing an initial response far too conventional for a type-III case, and listing the overseeing physician as an acolyte who left my practice to found his own seven years ago, on the other side of the Mimikos!
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
Abbey House | 2:05 PM | Second Day
<div>
<div>
should''ve thrown it out, really.
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
You''re already here now. C''mon, just get on with it.
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
once-in-a-lifetime chance to bask in the fruits of their Great Work myself!
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
Ah, so I was right, then, I thought.
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
situation earlier and, well, now she''s taking me for a couple hundred." He folded his arms. "Can hardly blame her too much, honestly. If I had a job like this, with a bunch of spoiled rich kids making assess of themselves right in front of me, I''d wanna stake a claim or two. Can''t imagine the order''s paying her much."
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
The dirty clothes. "Like, physically?"
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
Shorter then what I asked for, but still... Pretty big list." He leaned against the side of the narrow tunnel while we waited. "Unfortunately, it turns out that if you''re so neck-deep in personal bullshit that it''s making it hard to work, said bullshit isn''t generally in the habit of vanishing in a pink fart cloud in, like, 3 months."
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
real passive aggressive, talking about how everything was ruined. Then getting more and more explicit, until Theo and Bard basically had a clear picture." His face grew more serious, his eyes looking tired. "Then, when we were alone in the transposition chamber... He used the Power to smash some of my luggage. My project."
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
Besides," he said, yawning a bit as he emphasized the word. "Like I said, it''s not a question of trust. I know you won''t say anything, Su. You''ve got that power."
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>