[ a GPS pin of a cafe he likes, POSITIVITEA, all cosy atmosphere with strong aircon, comfy chairs, and herbal teas. Decidedly old-fashion for New Amsterdam, lit by twinkling fairy lights in dark day of their upside down schedules. ]
The schedule's gone topsy turvy, so it'll be dark out. I can escort you, if you like.
[ he settles into a chair nearest the wee coffee table by the window, good for people watching. as he waits, he crosses his legs, bouncing one foot with nervous energy. through the implant, he orders a cup of tea. not scottish blend, but it'll do. ]
( it takes hera little longer to get there than she would have liked, not all too familiar with the place but familiar enough with the area that she doesn't have too much trouble getting there.
she spots him easily, giving him a nod as she approaches )
Mr Fitz. ( her hair is a little longer than the last time he would have seen her, the one thing marking the difference in time from what she remembers and what he's experienced ) It's good to see you.
[ he notices the hair immediately, wondering if that complicates his theory about the individuals snapping in and out of existence. time passed for her. huh. a flicker of confusion passes over his features before his mouth curves, a slight smile.
without fanfare, fitz stands, pulling out her chair and then turning to her. a brief hesitation. then, he catches her arm, touch light. ]
It's good to see you too, Miss Ives. [ softer. ] Your hair's longer.
[ will she acknowledge what that might mean for her lost time first? ]
( there's a light touch on his hands before vanessa's sits, looking across from her at him )
It is.
( and, even though she isn't certain what it might mean, it troubles her. vanessa would be lying if she said she was completely unaware of what it meant. hair grew, time passed. there were periods of her life that she couldn't remember and yet there had always been details that she could notice. this was simply another of them )
You seemed confused by my contact.
( she's not quite ready to theorise on it yet, trying to get a little more from him first )
[ he joins her then, leaning forward in his seat with his hands clasped together between his legs, elbows resting on either leg. despite the way he forces his smile to stay fixed, his brow creases.
since he knows both their orders by heart, he places them with the neural implant, only given away by a flicker of his eyes. ]
I was. I am. [ soft, despite the urgent undercurrent. ] I'm afraid you've been missing for over a month, Miss Ives.
( she frowns now, concerns now evident. it didn't seem possible -- it couldn't be. the last that vanessa remembered was being in the safehouse, exactly where she'd woken before messaging him.
albeit it was a slightly quieter safehouse. but how could she have simply been missing for a month without realising anything? even with the periods that vanessa couldn't remember previously in her life she'd been aware of the gap in time )
That isn't possible.
( and yet she doesn't sound fully confident in her statement )
( vanessa pauses, considering what he's telling her. he believes it, truly so and she trusts him enough to believe that he isn't lying to her even if the truth is difficult.
it's what leads her to nod. she knows that she will have a better understanding of the information with his guidance than trying to read it alone -- there is so much here that is still difficult and past her time )
[ the fact that she says leo makes this moment all the more poignant. ]
[ without hesitation. ] Of course, Vanessa.
[ he'll always help her, to the best of his ability. she touched his heart when they first met, after all. ]
We don't know where you go or how you get there, unfortunately. We do know you're unreachable via implant, return without warning, and feel as if no time has passed, as far as you can recall.
( was that an option? people disappearing was one thing, either wandering away or another kidnapping but the rest of it-- the lack of use of the implant, no time passing. it doesn't entirely mean too much to her, she doesn't understand it, but would he know something? or believe something? )
I'm sorry. [ that he doesn't know, that he only offers her half-formed theories. ] It could just be that what's inside us — the glow — that it's unstable.
( vanessa wants to ask more, to ask how but she truthfully knows that he doesn't have the answer. she rests her hand forward on the table, as close as she'll come to a comforting gesture in these times. the empathy bond is too quick, too strong for her to dare it frequently )
You've told me more than I would otherwise have known.
[ when she outstretches her hand, his own moves, but he still stoppers the instinct to comfort. what she's feeling will be too much — a helplessness he has no right to read and internalise. ]
Of course. [ firm. ] I'll always tell you — as much as I can.
no subject
The schedule's gone topsy turvy, so it'll be dark out.
I can escort you, if you like.
no subject
I will see you presently.
no subject
[ he settles into a chair nearest the wee coffee table by the window, good for people watching. as he waits, he crosses his legs, bouncing one foot with nervous energy. through the implant, he orders a cup of tea. not scottish blend, but it'll do. ]
no subject
she spots him easily, giving him a nod as she approaches )
Mr Fitz. ( her hair is a little longer than the last time he would have seen her, the one thing marking the difference in time from what she remembers and what he's experienced ) It's good to see you.
no subject
without fanfare, fitz stands, pulling out her chair and then turning to her. a brief hesitation. then, he catches her arm, touch light. ]
It's good to see you too, Miss Ives. [ softer. ] Your hair's longer.
[ will she acknowledge what that might mean for her lost time first? ]
no subject
It is.
( and, even though she isn't certain what it might mean, it troubles her. vanessa would be lying if she said she was completely unaware of what it meant. hair grew, time passed. there were periods of her life that she couldn't remember and yet there had always been details that she could notice. this was simply another of them )
You seemed confused by my contact.
( she's not quite ready to theorise on it yet, trying to get a little more from him first )
no subject
since he knows both their orders by heart, he places them with the neural implant, only given away by a flicker of his eyes. ]
I was. I am. [ soft, despite the urgent undercurrent. ] I'm afraid you've been missing for over a month, Miss Ives.
no subject
albeit it was a slightly quieter safehouse. but how could she have simply been missing for a month without realising anything? even with the periods that vanessa couldn't remember previously in her life she'd been aware of the gap in time )
That isn't possible.
( and yet she doesn't sound fully confident in her statement )
no subject
[ he stretches his hand across the table,but doesn't reach her, unsure if contact is wanted with the empathy bond in play. ]
And it's happened to others before you, unfortunately.
[ with a flick of his eyes, he sends her two posts: Thor's on return from his disappearance, and Kara's on return from hers. ]
There's a lot of information there, but I can walk you through it, too. Know that you're safe for now.
[ for now, time-locked. none of them are safe. ]
no subject
it's what leads her to nod. she knows that she will have a better understanding of the information with his guidance than trying to read it alone -- there is so much here that is still difficult and past her time )
Thank you, Leo.
no subject
[ without hesitation. ] Of course, Vanessa.
[ he'll always help her, to the best of his ability. she touched his heart when they first met, after all. ]
We don't know where you go or how you get there, unfortunately. We do know you're unreachable via implant, return without warning, and feel as if no time has passed, as far as you can recall.
no subject
( was that an option? people disappearing was one thing, either wandering away or another kidnapping but the rest of it-- the lack of use of the implant, no time passing. it doesn't entirely mean too much to her, she doesn't understand it, but would he know something? or believe something? )
no subject
I'm sorry. [ that he doesn't know, that he only offers her half-formed theories. ] It could just be that what's inside us — the glow — that it's unstable.
no subject
You've told me more than I would otherwise have known.
( as he always did )
no subject
Of course. [ firm. ] I'll always tell you — as much as I can.
[ for as long as he's here. ]