[ Oh, so the Bobbi Paradox exactly. Fascinating that it's occurring to other universes and timelines. Perhaps he'll pursue the spacetime angle with his fellow captives, although theorising explanations requires a bit of groundwork — and his conclusion could be disheartening, particularly for his dearest friends. ]

You are experiencing a time travel paradox first-hand. [ a beat, for considering if he's allowed to mention Bobbi, even anonymously. ] And so am I.

[ He sips his drink. This, at least, isn't overly taboo conversation. His research into spacetime and interuniversal travel has revealed it as a topic of interest on the neural networks. Though theoretical, some corporations have fringe research projects in progress. Naturally, Fitz aims to join one such project in future, as soon as he gains credibility in the field. ]

If you accept that the past can be changed through time travel, [ "if", seeing as he's uncertain. ] inconsistencies emerge in any given timeline. Colloquially, we call it the grandfather paradox. If you travel back in time and kill your grandfather, preventing the conception of your father or mother, you no longer exist — only if you no longer exist, how did you travel back in time and kill your grandfather in the first place? [ he pauses, letting that settle. ] And yet, we're confronted with potential evidence of inconsistencies in our lives now.

[ How did their friends travel here and return, seemingly unaffected, never mentioning this to anyone? How did the future remain unaltered? Amnesia's a possibility, but Fitz thinks it unlikely. ]