Yes. You were still Fitz the absolutely ordinary engineer when Tony and I first discussed it with Thor and Loki, and then I stopped thinking about it in the context of something that might have needed to be shared.
[ tl;dr: he forgot. sort of - mostly that it might be anyone’s problem other than his own. Fitz is in the past, even when they’re once again present, and there’s only so much meddling with the natural order that he’s able to think about while also facing down an apocalypse he can’t get back to prevent. ]
When you want the information, you’re welcome to it.
He's always open to sound arguments. The lad's clever as anything. That's not down to my intervention. Heart's the problem, not the head, with him.
[ he did an okay job... maybe... ]
We hit a wall. There are personal factors impacting his judgment. Though there's always personal drama with those brothers. Loki's got one on his arm, as you were told.
I was told he had someone on his arm. This is certainly news.
[ does it still count as stealing something from him if Stephen was given the info by Fitz rather than plucked it straight out of Loki's head? ... technically he didn't ask, so if Loki wants to fight him over it he can feel free. ]
[ wow. we're just firing off the votes of confidence today, huh. ]
I'm glad to hear it. Though you don't happen to know how attached he is to making sure Connor's appeased, do you?
[ should probably. prepare himself accordingly. Stephen's got his fingers crossed it's going to be reason over pals, and it looks that way so far, but you never know. ]
Once we've talked out the basics, we'll open a public forum for debate. If there's anything you want to suggest for the initial plan before it gets to that stage, you're welcome.
[ he imagines Fitz has a work-related eye for necessity, and the public discussion itself is bound to be another shit show. early access option. ]
[ a long pause. both markus and connor are dear friends, and speaking about them with strange means treating them like the rest the displaced: as sources of intel and pieces on the board. is it just doing his job, if this information is inherently personal, cultivated in private moments?
very attached is the truth of it, but not in the way that concerns stephen, at present. ]
Markus will have his own convictions that are informed, not unfairly swayed, by Connor's opinions. At least in this instance. In my estimation, he’s unlikely to agree with any suggestion that puts the new arrivals on unequal footing with ourselves, even for a brief period.
[ all good men have nuance, but markus is a very good man. too forgiving in his dealings, inclined to mercy and martyrdom. fitz trims those details away from this conversation. as it happens, he also thinks that if it were connor or markus in that precinct, there wouldn't be time for conversation with either man. ]
If it were me, I'd keep the safehouse as just that: A safe place to go, for old or new among us displaced. No lab tech, no lush equipment, nothing that could suggest we're up to more than hiding away. It also removes the need for segmentation, if there's very little in the way of hazards at this location. We still encourage people to move out, as they find their feet. Too many lingering in a single place makes us easy to wipe out in one go. Maybe the older of us can remain on hand for drop-offs in shifts (always in pairs or more), fielding questions and trained for key crises, including what the rebel alliance just encountered. You spin it as preparedness, in the event of harm against the freshly displaced, not as offense against threats.
[ he doesn't think grander designs for the safehouse were suggested on this post, in particular, but it's been discussed at other junctures. ]
There can be a separate location for the rest, if it's desired. And discussion surrounding it could be delayed, with the need for a safe place our priority. Potentially tables other logistical and practical issues, like those of trust and access.
[ those are his only "big picture" thoughts, as an individual more inclined to minutiae. he thinks of issues like outfitting the building with necessities — and occupancy limits, passcodes that change every other week, miscellaneous security measures. ]
Yeah, okay, you know how to reach me if anything else comes up.
[ what stephen strange sounds like is a leader, a superior officer, a little (just a smidge a touch a wee bit) like phil coulson, at least to someone more inclined to take on a supporting role in the team. fitz can be the right-hand gathering intel, the guy in your ear on the go, and the problem-solver turning dilemmas round and round until he finds a crack to pry open.
all you need is the cheatcode to working with him, which should've been obvious all along: tell him he did a good job, or at least that he's being listened to, even if he's not quite right (or dead wrong). ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ tl;dr: he forgot. sort of - mostly that it might be anyone’s problem other than his own. Fitz is in the past, even when they’re once again present, and there’s only so much meddling with the natural order that he’s able to think about while also facing down an apocalypse he can’t get back to prevent. ]
When you want the information, you’re welcome to it.
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a long pause. ]
Alright.
Any other updates?
[ kind of joking kind of not. ]
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as for that question, he laughs ("laughs", huffs a vaguely heavy breath) to nobody. ]
With impending universal genocide as a benchmark I'm going to go ahead and say nothing pressing.
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We can refocus on the local news.
I see you're one of our chosen leaders for the exodus.
[ strange and markus. pretty good picks. ]
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On a related note, how was your chat with Hafid?
[ he wasn't the only one whose conversation disappeared into the ether at a seemingly odd point. ]
I only ask because he's being incredibly reasonable.
[ did you do a good job, Fitz? ]
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He's always open to sound arguments. The lad's clever as anything. That's not down to my intervention.
Heart's the problem, not the head, with him.
[ he did an okay job... maybe... ]
We hit a wall. There are personal factors impacting his judgment.
Though there's always personal drama with those brothers.
Loki's got one on his arm, as you were told.
[ by Clarke. full stalker confessional time. ]
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well, that finally clears that up. ]
I was told he had someone on his arm. This is certainly news.
[ does it still count as stealing something from him if Stephen was given the info by Fitz rather than plucked it straight out of Loki's head? ... technically he didn't ask, so if Loki wants to fight him over it he can feel free. ]
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[ so you didn't hear it from him who heard it from Bobbi who regularly sees the other pair in the Asgardian household etc etc. ]
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Loki bit my head off over something I could've read on the network?
surprise 2/2
[ surely that's fake
says Dr. Strange. ]
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[ the youths are everywhere and loud and and and
welcome back, you magnificent and ancient hypocrite. ]
Maybe they're going steady.
[ huh, that's actually of interest. he wonders if loki's personal investment or stephen's bedside manner led to a negative reaction. ]
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Next time you see me wading in to involve myself in anything, remind me of this day.
[ Loki's love life is going to have to wait
he's exhausted. ]
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You can count on that.
What’s the verdict?
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I managed to make it out without making any enemies. So far. Cross your fingers.
Markus and I are going to meet to discuss.
You're right about Hafid. He just needs to be spoken to rather than argued at.
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Crossed.
Markus is the best man to lead us anywhere new.
[ like stephen's pretty solid, but markus is 💯]
I'm glad it's you two meeting.
There aren't many people who can see the bigger picture here.
[ a vague... compliment...]
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I'm glad to hear it. Though you don't happen to know how attached he is to making sure Connor's appeased, do you?
[ should probably. prepare himself accordingly. Stephen's got his fingers crossed it's going to be reason over pals, and it looks that way so far, but you never know. ]
Once we've talked out the basics, we'll open a public forum for debate. If there's anything you want to suggest for the initial plan before it gets to that stage, you're welcome.
[ he imagines Fitz has a work-related eye for necessity, and the public discussion itself is bound to be another shit show. early access option. ]
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very attached is the truth of it, but not in the way that concerns stephen, at present. ]
Markus will have his own convictions that are informed, not unfairly swayed, by Connor's opinions.
At least in this instance.
In my estimation, he’s unlikely to agree with any suggestion that puts the new arrivals on unequal footing with ourselves, even for a brief period.
[ all good men have nuance, but markus is a very good man. too forgiving in his dealings, inclined to mercy and martyrdom. fitz trims those details away from this conversation. as it happens, he also thinks that if it were connor or markus in that precinct, there wouldn't be time for conversation with either man. ]
If it were me, I'd keep the safehouse as just that: A safe place to go, for old or new among us displaced. No lab tech, no lush equipment, nothing that could suggest we're up to more than hiding away. It also removes the need for segmentation, if there's very little in the way of hazards at this location.
We still encourage people to move out, as they find their feet. Too many lingering in a single place makes us easy to wipe out in one go. Maybe the older of us can remain on hand for drop-offs in shifts (always in pairs or more), fielding questions and trained for key crises, including what the rebel alliance just encountered. You spin it as preparedness, in the event of harm against the freshly displaced, not as offense against threats.
[ he doesn't think grander designs for the safehouse were suggested on this post, in particular, but it's been discussed at other junctures. ]
There can be a separate location for the rest, if it's desired. And discussion surrounding it could be delayed, with the need for a safe place our priority. Potentially tables other logistical and practical issues, like those of trust and access.
[ those are his only "big picture" thoughts, as an individual more inclined to minutiae. he thinks of issues like outfitting the building with necessities — and occupancy limits, passcodes that change every other week, miscellaneous security measures. ]
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it's all good, all considered and useful. may well allow for them to appease both the connors and the hafids of the group. ]
Thank you, Fitz. For the insight and suggestions both.
[ ... oh, god. he doesn't know quite what he sounds like, but he already hates it. ]
I'm heading to the safehouse now. Anything to add, let me know.
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Yeah, okay, you know how to reach me if anything else comes up.
[ what stephen strange sounds like is a leader, a superior officer, a little (just a smidge a touch a wee bit) like phil coulson, at least to someone more inclined to take on a supporting role in the team. fitz can be the right-hand gathering intel, the guy in your ear on the go, and the problem-solver turning dilemmas round and round until he finds a crack to pry open.
all you need is the cheatcode to working with him, which should've been obvious all along: tell him he did a good job, or at least that he's being listened to, even if he's not quite right (or dead wrong). ]
Good luck.
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[ and with that, off he goes to try and quell another network shitstorm before it can begin. ]