"You know that complete lack of social convention awareness you claim you don't have?" Once again Nathaira tackles the discussion before Rush has the chance to, something which he does not appreciate. "Yeah, so I do have an awareness of how conversations are actually supposed to work. For the love of fuck, Nick, stop talking."

That halts Rush in his tracks.

"Well it is a dream, isn't it?" he asks testily, opting to ignore the panther's outburst. She used his first name. Who does that? No one does that. Not even Rush does that. "Unexplainable things happen in dreams."

Of all the simulations to get caught in it had to be the one with talking animals. This dream can't possibly be pulling from his thoughts and memories. Rush will never admit to being remotely open to the idea. Ever.