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Yeah. Come on by.
[ the fact that fitz is the last of the modern shield trio to visit is something. the fact that daisy was the first, and that the beer is courtesy of her on that first visit, is another something
well, may as well use it to commiserate. that was always what it was for. ]
[ the fact that fitz is the last of the modern shield trio to visit is something. the fact that daisy was the first, and that the beer is courtesy of her on that first visit, is another something
well, may as well use it to commiserate. that was always what it was for. ]
[ a surreal experience on the whole, to be sure, but then again, they're in a hell dimension, so... ]
Thanks.
Be there shortly.
[ and he will, buzzing up to Strange's flat in his typical business casual attire (blazer folded over his arm, sleeves rolled to the elbow, and rucksack over his shoulders). evening for them is when the light first starts peaking through the sky. just add the upside down schedule to the list of bizarre happenings, eh. ]
Thanks.
Be there shortly.
[ and he will, buzzing up to Strange's flat in his typical business casual attire (blazer folded over his arm, sleeves rolled to the elbow, and rucksack over his shoulders). evening for them is when the light first starts peaking through the sky. just add the upside down schedule to the list of bizarre happenings, eh. ]
[ better had. at least a list brings a little meaningless order to the chaos.
speaking of lists, Fitz's I.D goes added to the small and soon to be defunct list of implants with access to his place, and he'll find the man of the house sloping around in the sort of wizard slob getup he favors at "home" - all soft fabrics and no sharp angles. he'll also find two ready-poured beers sitting on the everything-but-coffee table in the sparse front room. idle hands hadn't been able to help themselves.
the place itself is fairly open plan as far as its social areas, kitchen visible from the lounge and lounge itself peppered with the bare minimum. functional furniture, little in the way of decor, but the far wall's a window and the panes have yet to darken against the oncoming day. it's nice to be able to watch the dawn pool in around the buildings packed in close. he'll black the glass out once it's done.
he's slightly distracted by it as he welcomes Fitz in. ]
Here goes the end of another day in paradise.
[ ha ha ha ]
speaking of lists, Fitz's I.D goes added to the small and soon to be defunct list of implants with access to his place, and he'll find the man of the house sloping around in the sort of wizard slob getup he favors at "home" - all soft fabrics and no sharp angles. he'll also find two ready-poured beers sitting on the everything-but-coffee table in the sparse front room. idle hands hadn't been able to help themselves.
the place itself is fairly open plan as far as its social areas, kitchen visible from the lounge and lounge itself peppered with the bare minimum. functional furniture, little in the way of decor, but the far wall's a window and the panes have yet to darken against the oncoming day. it's nice to be able to watch the dawn pool in around the buildings packed in close. he'll black the glass out once it's done.
he's slightly distracted by it as he welcomes Fitz in. ]
Here goes the end of another day in paradise.
[ ha ha ha ]
[ even if they don't intend to stay, many of displaced have settled into this world (Connor and Markus' house feels like a home, for instance, with traces of the both of them on every surface). team SHIELD's flat feels like their own, as much a headquarters as a place of rest, like every base before it. not so, however, with Stephen Strange's soon-to-be-vacated apartment.
Fitz pauses by the door (a little awkward, a little out of place), at first watching the light and then glancing around the room, too still. not much to take in, besides the friend (?) and beer waiting for him, so he recalibrates quickly enough. just a startled and short laugh at the quip, loosening him up. he discards his bag and blazer (folded neatly over the arm of a chair 'cause Fitz is fussy in all things). ]
Never a dull moment. [ said as he drops in opposite Stephen, a haphazard sort of collapse that warrants a wince. stupid, to forget his bruised insides; that's all. otherwise, he's all tired lines, with most of the minor damage smoothed over. ]
[ dryly, ] You sure you want to leave all this [ a sweeping gesture. ] to become the on-site landlord for our lot?
Fitz pauses by the door (a little awkward, a little out of place), at first watching the light and then glancing around the room, too still. not much to take in, besides the friend (?) and beer waiting for him, so he recalibrates quickly enough. just a startled and short laugh at the quip, loosening him up. he discards his bag and blazer (folded neatly over the arm of a chair 'cause Fitz is fussy in all things). ]
Never a dull moment. [ said as he drops in opposite Stephen, a haphazard sort of collapse that warrants a wince. stupid, to forget his bruised insides; that's all. otherwise, he's all tired lines, with most of the minor damage smoothed over. ]
[ dryly, ] You sure you want to leave all this [ a sweeping gesture. ] to become the on-site landlord for our lot?
[ a huff of a laugh. oh, his kingdom? ]
It's a sacrifice, sure. [ joking, flippant, and followed by a shrug. ] But who doesn't want to live rent free?
[ it's an inside joke mostly with himself, he of penthouse apartment and Greenwich Village magic mansion fame. he self-indulgently laughs at it too (smiles at it really, the laugh one vaguely-there note and a brief jerk of the chest like a cough) because it's one of those days, then reaches for a beer to help him swallow it down. because it's not funny for about as many reasons as it is. most of them the same reasons. ]
It's a sacrifice, sure. [ joking, flippant, and followed by a shrug. ] But who doesn't want to live rent free?
[ it's an inside joke mostly with himself, he of penthouse apartment and Greenwich Village magic mansion fame. he self-indulgently laughs at it too (smiles at it really, the laugh one vaguely-there note and a brief jerk of the chest like a cough) because it's one of those days, then reaches for a beer to help him swallow it down. because it's not funny for about as many reasons as it is. most of them the same reasons. ]
Edited (bracket went off on an adventure all of its own) 2019-02-24 23:48 (UTC)
[ that's a - good question, actually. it takes a moment to come up with an answer. ]
I'm not entirely certain. Looking back, it was likely sometime during the attack on the city by the giant creature whose offspring are still peppering the black market. It was after that that I first started to notice it.
Is yours coming in?
I'm not entirely certain. Looking back, it was likely sometime during the attack on the city by the giant creature whose offspring are still peppering the black market. It was after that that I first started to notice it.
Is yours coming in?
Yes. I noticed it whilst tending to those that had been most recently brought to the safehouse. That has been the only time.
[ he snorts at that, even without the context. a year ago, he'd been so fussy over the rent while flat-hunting with jemma. seems a million parsecs away now. probably 'cause it is.
a generous swig of his beer. ]
For the low price of responsibility. [ great responsibility, as some might say. for the displaced, for the site, the new arrivals. fitz doesn't envy him, being generally unsuited for leadership (backseat driving, however). ] Is that all — going okay?
a generous swig of his beer. ]
For the low price of responsibility. [ great responsibility, as some might say. for the displaced, for the site, the new arrivals. fitz doesn't envy him, being generally unsuited for leadership (backseat driving, however). ] Is that all — going okay?
[ a hum - of the affirmative? sort of. more acknowledgement than anything. the whole thing had taken a back seat after their recent interaction with the UNA, but - ]
Markus'll be consulting the class soon. Hold that thought and ask me again in a week.
[ group-wide conversation of recent weeks has had a decent amount to show them, and he's not expecting a smooth ride. but mostly it's a joke. that's the next hurdle, for now everything's smooth sailing. ]
It's going fine. We're working well together, Gaby's on side. Once we've got a plan drafted she'll pass it on to Morningstar and we'll have a better sense of what kind of support we can expect. It's all a little more bureaucratic than I was expecting my life to be, but we'll get there. [ a path paved with headaches, sure, but a certain path all the same. it'll happen because it has to happen. they don't have any other options outside of leaving new arrivals to burn and spreading the newer intakes across the couches of whoever has one to spare when their welcome at (or the existence of) the current safehouse expires. ] —How about you? How's work?
[ what do you actually do that'd give you enough money to help a guy out. ]
Markus'll be consulting the class soon. Hold that thought and ask me again in a week.
[ group-wide conversation of recent weeks has had a decent amount to show them, and he's not expecting a smooth ride. but mostly it's a joke. that's the next hurdle, for now everything's smooth sailing. ]
It's going fine. We're working well together, Gaby's on side. Once we've got a plan drafted she'll pass it on to Morningstar and we'll have a better sense of what kind of support we can expect. It's all a little more bureaucratic than I was expecting my life to be, but we'll get there. [ a path paved with headaches, sure, but a certain path all the same. it'll happen because it has to happen. they don't have any other options outside of leaving new arrivals to burn and spreading the newer intakes across the couches of whoever has one to spare when their welcome at (or the existence of) the current safehouse expires. ] —How about you? How's work?
[ what do you actually do that'd give you enough money to help a guy out. ]
Glad to hear it, then. [ looking down at his beer, thoughtful. ] Proper collaboration can only help us going forward.
[ group input, a successful partnership with Morningstar (and Gaby), it all sets a good example. hopefully they can keep walking that path together. another drink, and he glances back to Strange. ]
S'good, actually. [ like he's surprised. maybe he is. the corners of his mouth quirk. ] Moved from generic engineering with Vyonation to aerospace with Pulsar at the start of the month. Still elementary stuff, but it's a lot more interesting, y'know.
[ for the kid who might've worked for NASA or the like, if he hadn't been recruited by SHIELD at 16, with artwork of the stars on his bedroom walls even now. after a beat. ]
And the Hi-Jacks just want good work, so. [ biting the inside of his cheek. ] No problems yet. [ lilted wryly. ]
[ 'cause he's already gotten a lecture or two on playing with the gangs. it's the right move, strategically, and he stands by it. wouldn't have access to the facilities he needs to build gear under the radar without them. (it helps that he likes them,
overall, fitz has settled in well (when one ignores the chasms left in the absence of his partner, his team, and now daisy, specifically). ]
[ group input, a successful partnership with Morningstar (and Gaby), it all sets a good example. hopefully they can keep walking that path together. another drink, and he glances back to Strange. ]
S'good, actually. [ like he's surprised. maybe he is. the corners of his mouth quirk. ] Moved from generic engineering with Vyonation to aerospace with Pulsar at the start of the month. Still elementary stuff, but it's a lot more interesting, y'know.
[ for the kid who might've worked for NASA or the like, if he hadn't been recruited by SHIELD at 16, with artwork of the stars on his bedroom walls even now. after a beat. ]
And the Hi-Jacks just want good work, so. [ biting the inside of his cheek. ] No problems yet. [ lilted wryly. ]
[ 'cause he's already gotten a lecture or two on playing with the gangs. it's the right move, strategically, and he stands by it. wouldn't have access to the facilities he needs to build gear under the radar without them. (it helps that he likes them,
overall, fitz has settled in well (when one ignores the chasms left in the absence of his partner, his team, and now daisy, specifically). ]
I confess that I would not mind if I could not access it again.
[ all told, the complete picture amounts to a man who has his shit together as much as one can here. Stephen's glad it can be said of one of them, even if they keep knocking into setback after setback. Fitz seems well enough able to adapt. this latest blow will hit hard, but he's built himself an infrastructure here. he'll be okay.
and if that infrastructure involves a little of the underground, better to be part of it than have it cave out from under them later down the line. this isn't Stephen's wheelhouse. he'll spare Fitz the lecture, especially today. ]
"Yet" works fine for now. Heard any whispers from them on anything else?
[ shitstorms, shrines, etc. does the gang work tree bear fruit beyond its most immediate perks? ]
and if that infrastructure involves a little of the underground, better to be part of it than have it cave out from under them later down the line. this isn't Stephen's wheelhouse. he'll spare Fitz the lecture, especially today. ]
"Yet" works fine for now. Heard any whispers from them on anything else?
[ shitstorms, shrines, etc. does the gang work tree bear fruit beyond its most immediate perks? ]
[ that's Fitz, reliant on the routine to keep him together, for want of the internal infrastructure to do so. it mostly works.
he starts picking at the label on he bottle, not paper but a thicker compound. must be better for recycling. ]
There are three things the gangs want no part in. Not just the Hi-Jacks, but all the rest, too. The 66s, the Warlocks and the Kings.
[ supplied in the event Stephen should ever need to judge a situation where the names arise. given the displaced's myriad ties to the underground, it's an eventuality that could plague their new safehouse. ]
[ he holds up a finger. ] First, the UNA. They won't speak of them, won't raid their transports, won't trade their tech. That's for arms-dealers and the higher-ups in organised crime, working with the Petrov Family and the Riverside Mob. [ and another, ] Second, Morningstar. [ wryly, ] Morningstar has a PR problem across the city, as you've noticed, but the gangs fear their war with the UNA, specifically. It's become clear to them that Morningstar agents were in their midst, after several of their own disappeared following the raids, so they're on the defensive. [ which means he needs to be even more careful, playing double-agent. he flashes his hand one more time, three fingers held up. ]
Lastly, they don't want to be associated with any of the mad happenings in the city. [ sighing, ] They're pretty irritated that the news outlets try to link them to things like the outbreak, y'know. Reckon if there's more to be learned, it's higher up the food chain, with the crime families.
he starts picking at the label on he bottle, not paper but a thicker compound. must be better for recycling. ]
There are three things the gangs want no part in. Not just the Hi-Jacks, but all the rest, too. The 66s, the Warlocks and the Kings.
[ supplied in the event Stephen should ever need to judge a situation where the names arise. given the displaced's myriad ties to the underground, it's an eventuality that could plague their new safehouse. ]
[ he holds up a finger. ] First, the UNA. They won't speak of them, won't raid their transports, won't trade their tech. That's for arms-dealers and the higher-ups in organised crime, working with the Petrov Family and the Riverside Mob. [ and another, ] Second, Morningstar. [ wryly, ] Morningstar has a PR problem across the city, as you've noticed, but the gangs fear their war with the UNA, specifically. It's become clear to them that Morningstar agents were in their midst, after several of their own disappeared following the raids, so they're on the defensive. [ which means he needs to be even more careful, playing double-agent. he flashes his hand one more time, three fingers held up. ]
Lastly, they don't want to be associated with any of the mad happenings in the city. [ sighing, ] They're pretty irritated that the news outlets try to link them to things like the outbreak, y'know. Reckon if there's more to be learned, it's higher up the food chain, with the crime families.
I appreciate your offer.
I found that I was able to ease the suffering of those that I had been speaking with. Their pain became my own.
I found that I was able to ease the suffering of those that I had been speaking with. Their pain became my own.
[ dear god
on the one hand, he's the most neutral positive force Stephen's met here, able to make progress while never inspiring conflict. accepting ideas, spending his time with them, politely passing on his concerns. a positive relationship with Gaby and El, which has proved invaluable in recent weeks.
but. ]
He's a good fit. But this is a big job.
[ and if Markus is asked, he'll step up, without doubt and without necessarily spending that long thinking it over. and there's no telling exactly how big it'll become. ]
on the one hand, he's the most neutral positive force Stephen's met here, able to make progress while never inspiring conflict. accepting ideas, spending his time with them, politely passing on his concerns. a positive relationship with Gaby and El, which has proved invaluable in recent weeks.
but. ]
He's a good fit. But this is a big job.
[ and if Markus is asked, he'll step up, without doubt and without necessarily spending that long thinking it over. and there's no telling exactly how big it'll become. ]
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