An Overheard Conversation

Thaddeus  J. Popplefot: Good evening, Mayor Tenk.
Mosseveno Tenk: Mr. Popplefot.
Popplefot: How goes the city?
Tenk: Good of you to keep the chidren employed. there were less bodies to collect this winter.
You are a paragon of social reform.
Popplefot:  Yes, so I understand.  Thank you sir.  I must say, work has slowed a bit what with the festivals and other distractions.
Tenk: Ah yes.
Tenk looks to either side
Popplefot: Hopefully schedules will be better seen to very soon.
Tenk: I fear there is something going on at the opium den.
Popplefot: Such as?
Tenk:  People say they are experiencing a collective dream of sorts there,  like they are transported to a fantastical faire.
Popplefot: Pish-posh! Drug induced hallucinations!
Tenk:  Yes, but to have so many have the same hallucination.
Popplefot: You should consider shutting it down, sir.
Tenk:  It does give one pause to wonder …  shutting it down?
Popplefot: The opium den.
Tenk: mmmm
Tenk:  Perhaps if i could demonstrate that it is harmful to productivity?
Popplefot: Such vices not only make one suggestable, but less inclined to work.
Tenk:  Otherwise, it does seem to keep a certain element occupied and out of sight.
Popplefot: Point, there.  But at least the children, and those assigned us by your office can be prohibited.  The rest? They produce nothing anyway, and better to have them off the streets I suppose.
Tenk: mmm
Tenk: yes, they could be accident prone.  They must be alert around all that machinery.
Popplefot: Perhap it could be moved out to the Fells, out of the city proper.
Popplefot: Have you spoken to Mr. Briggs of late, Mayor? I’ve not seen him about.
Tenk: mm, no.
Tenk: He is very… undemanding.
Popplefot strokes his chin.
Popplefot: Interesting …
Tenk: I was just on my way to get a lm to the mill.
Popplefot: Ah, do not let me keep you sir.  Good day to you.

Dang. A “fantastical faire” you say? Commonly visited in dreams? Professor Valeska and I have an associate, a … well, advisor to the Tesla Society, who specializes in such things. Are there any more details on these shared dreams?