[ He makes a noise of frustration, searching for the words to explain himself. Markus conducts himself well, precisely the sort of personality that Fitz responds to, instinctively following another's lead, even with the ground uneasy beneath them. He tries very hard, then, to avoid hearing Daisy's analysis of his conversations with Markus and Strange. You want him to tell you it's not your fault. What a thing to want from a stranger. ]

It was just — too much. You were so nice. [ a potentially clinical talk had turned intimate, just like that. he looks skyward, mouth twisting. ] I thought you might take it badly, yeah. As someone recently changed. [ ophelia's case study wouldn't have been reassuring. ] As a good person. [ a belief further solidified by Markus' demeanor during the outbreak. ] So, I prioritised my interests and left out the rest.

[ he pauses then, a flicker of uncertainty before he clarifies. ]

Priority one, what made you and Connor human — and was it via the same process that I perfected for Ophelia? Most likely not, but it would appear to be close. [ consciousnesses being lifted and dropped into new bodies. ] And priority two, were you coping with the alterations to your person?

[ Markus might remember that his only comment on how Ophelia coped was, You're handling it better. An inequality of information. ]