[h1][i][color=7ea7d8]Mason Crawford[/color] and [color=brown]Ruben Tarblatt[/color][/i][/h1][hr][sub]In collaboration with [@SepticGentleman][/sub][hr]

Ruben's office was a lot smaller then the others were. Or at least, it put on that facade due to its clutter. The white, tiled interior was littered with assorted equipment, varying in size and supposed function. Tanks and canisters filled with bright fluids. Small, white orbs with USB cables running from them. Terminal upon terminal upon terminal. This was less an office and more a refrigerated storage room. And oh, it was cold. A stark opposite to Rosaline's room. Ruben sat behind a metal desk placed neatly in the center of it all, various papers and a suitcase-laptop combo resting atop it. He peered at Mason without averting his gaze even the slightest distance away.

Mason stopped gawping around the office and returned his attention to the grotesque construct of flesh and steel that was Professor Tarblatt. It didn't phase Mason, and the longer he spent with Ruben, the more fascinating he found him. The unwavering glare from Ruben's solitary lens of an eye was mildly disconcerting, but ultimately Mason felt welcome in the office-turned-laboratory within which Tarblatt resided. He shifted in his seat, waiting for Ruben to break the silence. 

[color=brown]"Mirrors."[/color] Ruben stated, raising a tendril and pushing forward a single slip of paper, full of info regarding Mason and his abilities. [color=brown]"This. Is not. A common. Manifestation. Of perception. Based. Pocket. Dimension. Manipulation."[/color]

Mason didn't give much away through his face, but the idea that his ability might be rare made him feel a little more positively about it. "[color=7ea7d8]That's what Harmon told me,[/color]" he said. "[color=7ea7d8]That guy seems to know his stuff.[/color]" 

[color=brown]"Harmon. Knows. Much. Of what. I. Know."[/color] Ruben replied, [color=brown]"He. Was right. To direct you. To me. Blackmore. Is not. An appropriate. Instructor. In this. Scenario."[/color]

Mason nodded in agreement. "[color=7ea7d8]I don't mean to discredit Mr. Blackmore,[/color]" he said with honesty. "[color=7ea7d8]It's just that... He seems more interested in the 'real' powers. Mine doesn't really... Do much...[/color]" he said, embodying less of a self-pitying tone and more a voice of logic and fact. He saw this approach in the way Ruben worked and wished to mirror it. Mason didn't want to waste his chance with the professor and wanted to build rapport. 

Ruben looked down at Mason's file. He ran his optic lens over it before saying aloud, [color=brown]"Ability. Application. Does not. Lie. In combat. Alone."[/color] He looked back up at Mason. [color=brown]"Many. Are more. Situated. For practical. Uses. And few. Beyond that. Are more."[/color] There was a brief pause as he processed the word he was about to use. [color=brown]"Covert. In nature. Yours. Is an ability. That puts you. In a position. Of advantage. Over. Many."[/color]

The younger man furrowed his brow as he mulled over what Ruben was saying. "[color=7ea7d8]Yeah, I guess,[/color]" he said. Truthfully, Mason was disappointed with the information. He had already gathered that much for himself, and the way Harmon spoke about the guy made him seem like some sort of omniscient oracle. Still, Mason was not one to be impolite. "[color=7ea7d8]I mean, I can't think of a better hiding place, really. When I'm in a mirror, no one can see or hear me.[/color]" he explained to the professor, not wishing to offend him as he eyed over the tentacle that was doing most of Ruben's work. 

[color=brown]"The possibilities. Lie. Beyond. That notion. What you. Can gain from it."[/color] He leaned forward and spoke in a bit of a lower tone. Probably dialing down his external volume. [color=brown]"An agent. Of subterfuge. Information gathering. An individual. Who can bring about. Many. Forms. Of change. In a variety. Of ways. Without ever. Even. Being. Seen."[/color]

Mason was unsure whether the professor was being serious. What was he supposed to do? Wait in a room for some scandalous plot to be revealed? As enticing as the idea sounded to him, it wasn't practical in application. Not as far as Mason could see, anyway. "[color=7ea7d8]Sir,[/color]" he said cautiously. "[color=7ea7d8]While I may be a great hider, there's no telling how long I would have to wait in a mirror before anyone said anything worth knowing...[/color]" he tried his best not to undermine Ruben as he spoke, though the longer the conversation lasted, the more he doubted its value.

[color=brown]"Is it. Restricted. To singular. Mirrors."[/color] Ruben asked.

Mason frowned. He wasn't sure what Ruben meant. "[color=7ea7d8]I, uh... It's worked on any mirror I've tried, sir.[/color]"

[color=brown]"But are. They. Linked."[/color]

"[color=7ea7d8]I... I don't know, professor.[/color]" he said. "[color=7ea7d8]I've never... Thought of it that way. How could they be [i]linked[/i], exactly?[/color]"

[color=brown]"Many. Manifestations. Of this. Power. Exist. On their own. Spectrum. Of ports. For you. It could be. You simply. Haven't. Explored. Enough."[/color] He set forward a slip of paper and grabbed a nearby marker with a free tendril. He began jotting down a few diagrams - rectangles and arrows, mainly. [color=brown]"Do this. For your own. Benefit. Set some mirrors. Aside. In various. Positions. Attempt. To percieve. An opposing. Scape. Between our. Reality. And yours."[/color]

Mason took the paper and began scrutinising the drawings. The strangest thing was that it seemed to make sense... Mason was no dimensional scientist, but it seemed apparent even to him that, in order for him to pass through a mirror, there must be something on the other side... Just waiting to be explored. He had never ventured into that blackness. 

He folded the paper up neatly and with precision, before tucking it into the pocket of his dungarees. "[color=7ea7d8]Thank you, professor...[/color]" he said, his thoughts occupied with other business as he thought about the possibilities of extending his power. 

[color=brown]"What's. More."[/color] Ruben continued, [color=brown]"And this. Is only. A theory. But you. Should attempt. To expand. Your reach. To other. Reflective. Surfaces."[/color]

Mason nodded in understanding, but his brain was too busy to form much of a vocal response. "[color=7ea7d8]Thanks again, Mr. Tarblatt.[/color]" he said, standing and walking over to the door, before hearing Ruben's voice call after him.

[color=brown]"Speak. To me. Again. When you. Have made. Progress. In your. Discoveries."[/color] Ruben said aloud, [color=brown]"You have. My. Interest."[/color]