Despite himself, Arthur chuckled softly. "I was... Nearly thirty the winter it happened. Just shy of my birthday, actually." And he thought about that every year but he never celebrated.

"It has advantages, of course. I can devote myself fully to my job and so long as I avoid direct and prolonged sun exposure there is little to stop me from wholly putting myself into dream shares. The downsides are many though. Including losing what friends I might allow myself to make. I don't often let myself find friends."

He stepped closer to Eames. "One of the advantages is what I did for you today. It means I can save people I care about. The downside is that if you die with the blood still in you, then you become like me. So try and stay alive, won't you?"