IN-THEATRE

A dull ache in your chest, the ominous buzz of fluorescent lighting. Being back in-theatre has got you reminiscing: How’d you get yourself into this line of work in the first place?

Procure In-Theatre

You say that now, but extended time in-theatre is highly correlated with 'It' obsessions.

"Sadly we haven't got the time nor the connections to arrange a proper import. This one's going to have to be 'procure in-theatre'."

"I'll be there for you as well. You can reach me from any payphone if you need help in-theatre. For anything extra sensitive, you can call me from the phone in your apartment."

A Mircean background makes you a natural for in-theatre work across the Developed World.

"Another operant was zeroed out in-theatre today."

"Operants perform better in-theatre when they share a bond with their controller. So, yes -- the psychomancers recommended that we be paired."

They are intended for the general public, if a niche section, so should be way below the level of cryptography you encounter in-theatre.

Oh god, he's wearing merch in-theatre.

Together in-theatre again -- the sweet slosh of nostalgia in the flooded basement of your brain.

"M.I.H.O. doesn't use in-theatre reports to preserve operational security. Or writing implements, for that matter."

"The Existential Threat is adrift in-theatre. It looks like an elongated toddler."

Double: LOST IN-THEATRE. Status: Captured. Interrogated. Loyalties: Non-existent. Conclusion: Failure, brackets, Inevitable.

Just one of the neat tricks you've learned to keep yourself alive in-theatre. There are many others still to come.

Busted in-theatre.

6) CASCADE: Status changes to REANIMATED. Operant arrives in-theatre -- unbriefed, unassigned, and...

3) PSEUDOPOD: Active in-theatre. ASSIGNMENT: Meet with TAXMAN, retrieve message.

"To be a spy like you. In-theatre. Getting totally absorbed in a task greater than myself."

"Way ahead of you. I'm in the middle of smoking this cunt out. My asset is already in-theatre. Cryptonym... SCARF."

"I'm about action, Hersh. I'm smoking this headphone cunt out. My asset is already in-theatre. Cryptonym... SCARF."

"Are you currently on assignment in-theatre?"

Ancient files hidden in the Remembrancer's Division speak of a bonding process, used in-theatre to braid one's fate with another.

Seduction has proved a winning tactic in-theatre -- but never yet when employed by CASCADE.

Reliable-core. Though operants are encouraged to submit new proposals for in-theatre practises, if so inclined.

WHEN IN-THEATRE, AN OPERANT MUST ALWAYS PREPARE TO BE ASSASSINATED. OF COURSE, IT IS BETTER NOT TO BE KILLED.

"We've been in the freezer for five years. This is our first assignment back in-theatre."

The average lifespan of an operant in-theatre is four years.

Picking up an asset in-theatre, without the target even knowing. Remarkable stagecraft.

More smokes, more secrets. Nearly everyone in-theatre learns this trick eventually.

Nearly everyone in-theatre learns the cigarette trick eventually. You've taught it to half a dozen assets yourself.

"I was just wondering: how it feels, you know, being in-theatre again?"

"No, see, this is why I'm hot operant in-theatre and you're a special asset, ethereal-class."

"No, see, this is why I'm hot operant in-theatre and you're a special asset, liminal-class."

"PSEUDOPOD was a very good teacher, he said it would fall on me to see after any operants who are incapacitated in-theatre."

"Before you do... I understand this is your first time back in-theatre for some time."

"Not right now, not in-theatre. You're playing a part."

"In-theatre work can be excruciatingly lonely. You spend all day hiding yourself from the world, acutely attuned to a million possible threats. It's amazing. I don't know how any of you do it..."

You've been on filing duty for five years. Out of action. The Opera wouldn't rush you back in-theatre, unless:

"I mean in-theatre. There must be some positions open for the sock exporter down on their sales. Dog walker, shoe shiner?"

"Hershel, please. This is a basic in-theatre analysis. Highly preliminary. It would take many hours of analysis to derive more than this."

"Can we just put it behind us? Such things happen in-theatre. We both live. Move on."

"No. Such things happen in-theatre, you'd have done the same."

"PSEUDOPOD... I'll remember it." A moment. "Was this his first time in-theatre?"

"That wouldn't be beneficial to either party. Such things happen in-theatre; you'd have done the same."

"To ensure that they're sufficiently comfortable for extended wear. And to increase their durability and stability -- perfect for the in-theatre lifestyle."

"Of course, I shouldn't be apologising at all. This was an in-theatre engagement with the enemy."

"On assignment, actually. In-theatre. Just like your unfortunate friend." An eerie pause. "The Felix Kaido incident, in Tallicho, 92."

It was too early for PSEUDOPOD to be in-theatre alone. The Opera failed him.

The plastic is to craft the feed mechanism. Without that, what you have on your hands is a one-shot zipgun. A dangerous toy for delinquent teenagers, not a weapon to carry in-theatre.