I imagine that wasn’t a very comforting experience. I’m glad you came out of it in one piece.
[That whole day was one of Markus’ most trying. Easily delegated to the second worst day of his life, and he can only imagine how pockets of conflict played out for others around him.]
Actually, that was another reason why I wanted to text you. I wanted to thank you again for helping me — wrestling down that man and aiding me through the curing process both. It would have been much harder without you lending a hand.
[ ah, such sincerity. it's a bit overwhelming, to be honest. he finds himself grateful that this chat is occurring over text, as it takes him a moment to construct a reply. ]
Of course. We have to stick together. Wouldn't have gone half so well if you hadn't been there with me.
[ clever, steady, reassuring — he'd be hard-pressed to find someone better suited to help others. ]
Have you done anything like that before?
[ interventions into physical altercations, vigilante heroics.... he leaves it vague on purpose. ]
Not specifically like that. Pinning someone down to keep them calm was a new experience. When I go instigating trouble ["trouble" he mentally types in the wryest way possible; fighting for his own people shouldn't really fall under that category, but it does, sadly enough] I try to be more delicate about it.
[UNTIL YOU LEAP FROM THE TOP OF A BUILDING, MARKUS]
[ he thinks back to their first conversation. markus discussed loss as a motivator for change and only relying on his fellow androids. sounds a bit like trouble, of some description. and there was an element of recklessness to his heroics — evident in the disregard for his own wellbeing, if it meant helping others.
as for fitz's own situation, loki's blabbed to everyone, and thor mentioned his agency by name on the public bloody network, so. ]
I've been a field agent, so more than you'd think.
[Even if Markus has heard tell of it, there's a difference between prying into everyone's (admittedly public) network conversations, and hearing it straight from the source. One possesses a mote of consideration and conscientiousness, the other does not.]
And what sort of work did you do as a field agent? What did you specialize in?
[With Fitz's scientific and analytical mind on display, and given their previous conversations, he can at least hazard a guess. But, again, he wants to hear it explained personally.]
[ The thing is: SHIELD is more FBI than CIA. They flash their badges at any crime scene half as mad as this one, but the matter of his fellow, more covert agents being here made him reluctant to identify himself regularly.
He appreciates Markus' restraint. ]
My specialty's engineering and technology, with physics underpinning them both, but my partner and I took a field assignment early on, so I've picked up other competencies along the way. Together, we're the forensic investigators for our team, but I mainly equip field agents with personalised equipment and handle any technological obstacles on operations. If I'm needed on site, I'm trained for combat and other eventualities. So, the work depends on the day.
Yes. And he’s my roommate. We’re from the same world.
[The circumstances regarding their, ah, relationship to each other back home is another matter entirely, but Markus doesn’t dip his proverbial toes in that deep end of the pool.]
He worked with law enforcement. Something of an investigator — I’m sure forensics is in his wheelhouse, too.
[ ah, the two androids made human. same world, same flat. it all tracks. ]
And we've no shortage of crimes to investigate, so I'll be sure to follow-up with him. Though I got the impression there'd be no "takebacks" on befriending him, anyway.
[ he's so... keen... ]
Does that make him the person who fusses over you?
[That is, in fact, a little misleading. Connor hovers, while Markus feels crushing responsibility for him. It’s a two-way street of different types of fussing.]
But you’re right about that, too; once a friend, it’s a permanent position. I guess I don’t have to introduce you at all.
I'm flattered you considered me worth introducing at all.
[ he'd dodged the earlier compliment, but it should be acknowledged. Sharing ones friends isn't a given. ]
Reckon you've met my friends from home already. Katelin's from my uni days. Daisy's a friend from work. And Daisy will come around, if she had a bit of trouble with you at the start.
[ her exact message regarding Markus had been "I ran into things like it here," so he thinks it fair to assume their first encounter was tainted by team SHIELD's prior android issues. ]
[A bit of trouble. He remembers that first meeting, a snide remark regarding what he was — On a scale of, like, one-to-ten, how much do you want to murder the entire human race? — that has his brow cinching at the recollection, the tension at the time so utterly tangible.
A slight delay, a few seconds of consideration. Thinking.]
Right. Okay. That makes it sound worse than it was. Not that it wasn't bad. It was. But it was my fingerprints all over it, okay? Me and another of the programmers. We were the problem, not the androids.
[After their talk of Ophelia, that day they walked under the dappled light of the sky park, Markus had been grateful to gain what information he could from Fitz. There was a faraway solidarity to be had in discussion about AI sentience, and how it might adjust to the newness of a human body. It ran parallel, he thought, to his own circumstances. And that was comforting at the time.
Now, he’s realizing how much context he might have actually lacked. How there might have been great holes of omission that he was oblivious to, strolling right past them in a haze of ignorance.]
When we spoke before, you mentioned an inability to deviate from core tenants without outside assistance. Are you choosing to shoulder the blame as a result?
[That being said, a far more important follow up—]
[ he's a goddamn rocket scientist. it shouldn't be this hard, either. ]
In the first instance, it was the programming. My mentor changed the code, built duplicates of people without telling me, and set them against myself and my team. I checked the internal logs. I know that's what happened. Human intervention, not deviation.
[ a pause, then. the first instance had been exempted entirely from their talk, irrelevant compared to the latter — but he omitted a great deal from the former, too. ]
In the second instance, Ophelia knew what she was doing. I don't know for how long. Much longer than I'd thought, when we first spoke.
[ precisely because of what they spoke about, even. ]
Can we talk in person? Please, I'll answer any questions that you have.
[Two instances, two entirely differently results. But the second is confirmation of Ophelia acting of her own accord — sentience, and something hard to take the blame for if she possessed her own free will.
But he’s still missing context. Fitz didn’t exactly answer the question of “what happened”.
Markus is tired, sore, and mentally wrung through. But he wants to know.]
[And there's really not much more to be said than that. Markus wills his body to move with its usual expediency (that comes with a little more difficulty given how sore he still feels after Hell Day), and true to his word, he makes his way to the sky park.
It's the same bench he'll be found seated upon whenever Fitz arrives, looking about as well as the last time they saw each other -- like he's been in a fight, bruises along his jawline starting to change color. At least the swelling around his lip has gone down.]
[ Fitz rocks up after Markus, the same as the first time. After they went their separate ways on the day of the outbreak, his injuries escalated. Bandages cover his right hand and criss-cross around his neck, with visible bruises up and down his arms, exposed by the short-sleeve button down. It's too hot to bother with anything else, least of all when he's on sick leave.
His mouth quirks downward, the tell that he isn't looking forward to this, despite asking Markus to talk in person. He skims over his friend (*pending approval), taking in his state of injury and recovery, brows creased with worry. ]
Hey. [ Fitz doesn't sit, looking down at his feet even as he makes a vague gesture with his bandaged hand. ] I didn't realise it went that badly — with Daisy, I mean. I should've said something sooner.
[ which is still not what this is about, but he's stalling. ]
Funny, how despite the discomfort that their burgeoning conversation promises, the first thing that flits across Markus’ tired face is concern. Tired concern that's tainted with the shadow of a difficult discussion to come, granted — but never does he want to see the other man in such a state. Bandages around the hand and the neck, bruises adorning his arm.
Markus swallows, straightening. He wears a plain maroon t-shirt and dark jeans, and even the latter might be proving too warm for this weather.]
...Her knee-jerk impression of me wasn’t a kind one, but we left it as a misunderstanding. Still, it’s hard to forget her exact words when the implication of murder is so clear.
[That being said, he moves to stand. They can walk, just like last time, along the same path — with unfortunate experiences under their belts that they couldn’t hope to have guessed at before.]
What happened to you after we split up?
[Where did you get all those injuries, Fitz. This is the first question he’ll ask.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[That whole day was one of Markus’ most trying. Easily delegated to the second worst day of his life, and he can only imagine how pockets of conflict played out for others around him.]
Actually, that was another reason why I wanted to text you. I wanted to thank you again for helping me — wrestling down that man and aiding me through the curing process both. It would have been much harder without you lending a hand.
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Of course. We have to stick together.
Wouldn't have gone half so well if you hadn't been there with me.
[ clever, steady, reassuring — he'd be hard-pressed to find someone better suited to help others. ]
Have you done anything like that before?
[ interventions into physical altercations, vigilante heroics.... he leaves it vague on purpose. ]
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Not specifically like that. Pinning someone down to keep them calm was a new experience. When I go instigating trouble ["trouble" he mentally types in the wryest way possible; fighting for his own people shouldn't really fall under that category, but it does, sadly enough] I try to be more delicate about it.
[UNTIL YOU LEAP FROM THE TOP OF A BUILDING, MARKUS]
You?
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[ he thinks back to their first conversation. markus discussed loss as a motivator for change and only relying on his fellow androids. sounds a bit like trouble, of some description. and there was an element of recklessness to his heroics — evident in the disregard for his own wellbeing, if it meant helping others.
as for fitz's own situation, loki's blabbed to everyone, and thor mentioned his agency by name on the public bloody network, so. ]
I've been a field agent, so more than you'd think.
[ for a nerd... ]
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And what sort of work did you do as a field agent? What did you specialize in?
[With Fitz's scientific and analytical mind on display, and given their previous conversations, he can at least hazard a guess. But, again, he wants to hear it explained personally.]
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He appreciates Markus' restraint. ]
My specialty's engineering and technology, with physics underpinning them both, but my partner and I took a field assignment early on, so I've picked up other competencies along the way.
Together, we're the forensic investigators for our team, but I mainly equip field agents with personalised equipment and handle any technological obstacles on operations. If I'm needed on site, I'm trained for combat and other eventualities.
So, the work depends on the day.
[ throws up hands ]
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[And he does mean that. Fitz has proven himself more than capable, and with a background like what he’s reading? Even more so than he realized.]
A forensic investigator. I know someone here who might take a liking to you.
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"Might"
You flatter me and then throw in a conditional. Hot and cold, Markus.
Who's that now?
[ they could use more forensics... ]
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Connor. Have you met him?
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[ but connor!! what a pleasant suggestion. ]
And I have. Thought he seemed too competent to be an amateur in the field.
Are you two friends?
[ their conversations on the network indicate they're in semi-regular contact, but it's best to ask. ]
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[The circumstances regarding their, ah, relationship to each other back home is another matter entirely, but Markus doesn’t dip his proverbial toes in that deep end of the pool.]
He worked with law enforcement. Something of an investigator — I’m sure forensics is in his wheelhouse, too.
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And we've no shortage of crimes to investigate, so I'll be sure to follow-up with him.
Though I got the impression there'd be no "takebacks" on befriending him, anyway.
[ he's so... keen... ]
Does that make him the person who fusses over you?
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[That is, in fact, a little misleading. Connor hovers, while Markus feels crushing responsibility for him. It’s a two-way street of different types of fussing.]
But you’re right about that, too; once a friend, it’s a permanent position. I guess I don’t have to introduce you at all.
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I'm flattered you considered me worth introducing at all.
[ he'd dodged the earlier compliment, but it should be acknowledged. Sharing ones friends isn't a given. ]
Reckon you've met my friends from home already. Katelin's from my uni days. Daisy's a friend from work.
And Daisy will come around, if she had a bit of trouble with you at the start.
[ her exact message regarding Markus had been "I ran into things like it here," so he thinks it fair to assume their first encounter was tainted by team SHIELD's prior android issues. ]
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A slight delay, a few seconds of consideration. Thinking.]
Why would she have trouble?
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There were unfortunate incidents — related to what we spoke about when I first introduced myself.
[ hedging his bets, when he doesn't know how much Daisy disclosed with her stereotypical... frankness. ]
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How unfortunate?
She asked how eager I was to murder the entire human race, for reference.
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Right.
Okay.
That makes it sound worse than it was.
Not that it wasn't bad.
It was.
But it was my fingerprints all over it, okay? Me and another of the programmers. We were the problem, not the androids.
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Now, he’s realizing how much context he might have actually lacked. How there might have been great holes of omission that he was oblivious to, strolling right past them in a haze of ignorance.]
When we spoke before, you mentioned an inability to deviate from core tenants without outside assistance. Are you choosing to shoulder the blame as a result?
[That being said, a far more important follow up—]
What actually happened?
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[ he's a goddamn rocket scientist. it shouldn't be this hard, either. ]
In the first instance, it was the programming. My mentor changed the code, built duplicates of people without telling me, and set them against myself and my team. I checked the internal logs. I know that's what happened. Human intervention, not deviation.
[ a pause, then. the first instance had been exempted entirely from their talk, irrelevant compared to the latter — but he omitted a great deal from the former, too. ]
In the second instance, Ophelia knew what she was doing. I don't know for how long. Much longer than I'd thought, when we first spoke.
[ precisely because of what they spoke about, even. ]
Can we talk in person?
Please, I'll answer any questions that you have.
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But he’s still missing context. Fitz didn’t exactly answer the question of “what happened”.
Markus is tired, sore, and mentally wrung through. But he wants to know.]
Where?
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Same place as last time.
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[And there's really not much more to be said than that. Markus wills his body to move with its usual expediency (that comes with a little more difficulty given how sore he still feels after Hell Day), and true to his word, he makes his way to the sky park.
It's the same bench he'll be found seated upon whenever Fitz arrives, looking about as well as the last time they saw each other -- like he's been in a fight, bruises along his jawline starting to change color. At least the swelling around his lip has gone down.]
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His mouth quirks downward, the tell that he isn't looking forward to this, despite asking Markus to talk in person. He skims over his friend (*pending approval), taking in his state of injury and recovery, brows creased with worry. ]
Hey. [ Fitz doesn't sit, looking down at his feet even as he makes a vague gesture with his bandaged hand. ] I didn't realise it went that badly — with Daisy, I mean. I should've said something sooner.
[ which is still not what this is about, but he's stalling. ]
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Funny, how despite the discomfort that their burgeoning conversation promises, the first thing that flits across Markus’ tired face is concern. Tired concern that's tainted with the shadow of a difficult discussion to come, granted — but never does he want to see the other man in such a state. Bandages around the hand and the neck, bruises adorning his arm.
Markus swallows, straightening. He wears a plain maroon t-shirt and dark jeans, and even the latter might be proving too warm for this weather.]
...Her knee-jerk impression of me wasn’t a kind one, but we left it as a misunderstanding. Still, it’s hard to forget her exact words when the implication of murder is so clear.
[That being said, he moves to stand. They can walk, just like last time, along the same path — with unfortunate experiences under their belts that they couldn’t hope to have guessed at before.]
What happened to you after we split up?
[Where did you get all those injuries, Fitz. This is the first question he’ll ask.]
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