Perhaps many of them can afford to be. [ naive. after all, not everyone gets a spy's initiation into doubting the human condition. and even then, peggy tries to see the best in another person. even if she doesn't vocalize it.
And who, specifically, would you label as a danger, Agent Fitz?
[ now, this is curious. there's no doubt in the way she watches him -- intent. and eager, almost, to hear his perspective on any possible villains hiding within the crowd. she's not about to start a witch-hunt, but it never hurts to gather a diversity of perspectives. ]
The vampires are caustic. Able to turn off the parts of them that makes them human. They seem to be adequate at self-policing, but they present a united front when challenged. The Hydra presence might be gone now, but there's no way to know if he was able to recruit anyone while he was here. We can be fairly dangerous when events drive us out of our minds. And then there's the trouble with the powered people...
[ excuse you. it seems that no one has seen fit to mention this to her before this very moment. fitz makes a great many points -- from the bizarre (vampires!) to the rational (event interference), and as much as she'd like to broach the topic of powered people...
peggy pushes her mug aside. ]
I didn't know HYDRA had anyone here. Was this before I arrived?
... I mentioned the mole to you a few times. He was here for at least a few weeks. He visited us all in turns. But he's either gone deep into hiding since then, or left entirely. We have no way to be sure.
[ Klaus verified. But things have been tense with Klaus lately. He keeps too many secrets for Fitz to be sure about anything. ]
Agent Fitz. [ now, her pretense sloughs away. what's left beneath is an expression with a sternness that's neither constructed nor schooled. what little she'd heard of the mole had troubled her deeply, and to think he was here?
could still be?
she finds her appetite abandons her. ]
I'd like his name. And any other information you might deem relevant to the situation. In case he has, indeed, gone into hiding.
Grant Ward. Six foot two, old Hollywood looks. I've never known him to go by an alias. His who is too bloody big to convince him that he needs one. I can prepare an extended report if you'd like a full dossier.
[ grant ward. six foot two. although peggy suspects that 'old hollywood looks' are likely nearer to 'current hollywood looks' when it comes to her own personal point of reference. and she's about to tell him so when he offers her a full dossier.
oh, fitz, you champion. ]
Yes. Please. I'd appreciate it. [ and peggy's not one to say please lightly. although-- ] Consider it a touch more pressing than the kettle.
I can work on one while taking breaks from the other. [ Breaks, ha. That's the joke. ]
I admit that I don't know as much as some from my team, but I know enough to give you a proper but bit of reading. Ward has become another one of the director's special projects in the weeks before I left. We've all had to do a bit of extra research into his biography.
[ and not just because of the trauma inflicted upon members of the team, some of it already described by fitz the last time they spoke. peggy tries to avoid treading too close to that topic; after all, they'd already voiced their intention to stay well clear of that discussion. ]
Your information will do just fine. If I need more, I'll come asking for it. [ and so... ] I should add that you shouldn't feel obligated. [ simply because of who she is, of what she might be, of a legacy unearned. ] I'm not interested in taking anything you're not willing to give.
[ it's an offer that doesn't hold true for just anyone in wonderland. rather, it's the approach she's chosen to take with those future shield agents -- a nod to their service, perhaps. ]
I'm a professional, ma'am. [ he gives her a knowing look at that. ] I'm quite aware of what belongs in a report of this sort.
[ It means he knows how to write around the messy parts. Fieldwork usually ends in something unflattering, or someone making an unpopular call. There's no need to acknowledge the questionable bits in a formal document. ]
[ there are things she doesn't need to know -- and as much as that riles her, peggy knows she'll break more ground focusing on the useful bits. the bits that pertain to the mole, that is, and not the ugly ways in which his betrayal must have played out for the rest of the team. ]
But it's not merely your professionalism to which I'm referring. [ oh, this is awkward. ] Agent Fitz, I'm not interested in benefiting from an undue...let's call it regard.
[ -- well, that deserves a snort of laughter. genuine, if brittle. peggy at long last reaches for her mug of tea once more and hides a smirk behind a sip.
after: ] Don't I know it. Sometimes, it behooves us all to colour outside bureaucracy's lines. But in this instance my intent is to work with you. And the others, if they'll have me. No bureaucracy necessary.
[ not for this, at any rate. ]
But on the subject of working together, it occurs to me we might revisit the subject of your earlier work. The portal that went awry.
[ and peggy, for her part, feels confident that this gentle fork in the conversational path is an organic one -- although she suspects it will still land with a sour note. she's prepared for it. ]
[ she doesn't begrudge him the look on his face. she'd expected it, hadn't she? it doesn't bother her -- and, indeed, she's ploughed through in the face of darker expressions.
after a moment's hesitation, peggy settles on the truth. ]
Last time we talked about it, I wasn't in a good position to take a proper interest. Newly arrived, and -- if I may be so candid -- rather failing to come to terms with a great many other revelations. Few of which had anything to do with Wonderland.
[ shield, steve rogers, a grand-niece. ]
But an associate recently reminded me that what happened, what you did, is worth a deeper dive. [ a beat. ] If you'll permit it.
[ she's here, now. she's in wonderland and she realizes that her attention can't be caught up with problems back home -- things she can't solve, or change, or affect. it's time to fix her focus on the here and the now.
[ she nods -- without surprise and without resentment. in fact, she reaches for yet another biscuit. this time, she's less quick to dunk it and soak it. for now peggy only snaps it in two and taps one half against her mug's lip. ]
And there's nothing committed to memory. [ it's not a question. rather, it's a wry acknowledgement of what they both know as the likely truth -- as well as acknowledgement that she won't make him admit it. ] What a pity.
[ she'd meant what she'd implied: she's not looking to take information from him that he's not willing to give. if he wants to pretend as though there's nothing to tell, she'll allow him that fiction. this conversation isn't about getting results; this conversation is about getting a rapport. ]
now, she dunks the biscuit. ] Perhaps it's just as well.
[ peggy's not yet convinced by said associate's enthusiasm for this particular well of data. what she is convinced by, however, is her own instinct to place herself as the middleman between the two.
besides, she'd warned mister hunter not to set his hopes too high. quite apart from the work itself, peggy wasn't certain fitz would even be fit for it. the look in his eye makes her think that uncertainty was well-harboured. ]
We're sharing notes, observations, theories. That's all. [ at least, that's all that peggy needs it to be right now. describing her weekly appointments with this associate as anything else would only prove too complicated. ] Your work came up in his. I mentioned our -- [ connection? tether? ] -- shared world.
[ then, almost kindly: ] And I wanted to make certain I was the one who spoke to you.
What people know of my work has very little to do with the actual work that
was done.
[ is it supposed to be a comfort to know that people are still
bringing it up? Probably derisively, with a nod to last failed attempts.
]
The reporter wasn't particularly keen to follow up for accuracy after the
immediate danger had passed. And I can't say that I would have spoken to
her even if she did return.
Considering I've got no point of reference, [ peggy doesn't smile, although she's tempted to, when she alludes to the 'lost' date, ] I can't say one way or another whether Mister Hunter's notes on the matter are at all accurate.
[ despite the casual veneer, the mention is anything but. let fitz lodge his complaints now or thereafter hold his peace. peggy doesn't mind a bit of lying and deceit, but she won't risk burning bridges with the shield agents (here) just to make the digging easier for herself. ]
[ "Mister Hunter" doesn't immediately cause a reaction in him. It's been months since the last time Fitz spoke to that Londoner -- over a year, if of time spent at home is taken into consideration. It's the sort of abstract recollection that might require a face to trigger an association.]
If you want a referral to someone who considers himself an expert in the field, you might want to reach out to Doctor Ford Pines. His attempt ended in whimsy instead of full-scale murder.
[ peggy's not so certain she'd call the entire scope of that mishap whimsy, given some of its personal fallout for herself. but she can suss out why fitz draws the distinction. ]
Well, that rather depends on the referral. Doesn't it? [ ... ] In your opinion, does his attempt merit another look?
[ she's not interested in mere deflection -- so why not tie fitz's professional verdict to the question? ]
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even if she doesn't trust it. ]
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[ now, this is curious. there's no doubt in the way she watches him -- intent. and eager, almost, to hear his perspective on any possible villains hiding within the crowd. she's not about to start a witch-hunt, but it never hurts to gather a diversity of perspectives. ]
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[ excuse you. it seems that no one has seen fit to mention this to her before this very moment. fitz makes a great many points -- from the bizarre (vampires!) to the rational (event interference), and as much as she'd like to broach the topic of powered people...
peggy pushes her mug aside. ]
I didn't know HYDRA had anyone here. Was this before I arrived?
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[ Klaus verified. But things have been tense with Klaus lately. He keeps too many secrets for Fitz to be sure about anything. ]
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could still be?
she finds her appetite abandons her. ]
I'd like his name. And any other information you might deem relevant to the situation. In case he has, indeed, gone into hiding.
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oh, fitz, you champion. ]
Yes. Please. I'd appreciate it. [ and peggy's not one to say please lightly. although-- ] Consider it a touch more pressing than the kettle.
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I admit that I don't know as much as some from my team, but I know enough to give you a proper but bit of reading. Ward has become another one of the director's special projects in the weeks before I left. We've all had to do a bit of extra research into his biography.
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[ and not just because of the trauma inflicted upon members of the team, some of it already described by fitz the last time they spoke. peggy tries to avoid treading too close to that topic; after all, they'd already voiced their intention to stay well clear of that discussion. ]
Your information will do just fine. If I need more, I'll come asking for it. [ and so... ] I should add that you shouldn't feel obligated. [ simply because of who she is, of what she might be, of a legacy unearned. ] I'm not interested in taking anything you're not willing to give.
[ it's an offer that doesn't hold true for just anyone in wonderland. rather, it's the approach she's chosen to take with those future shield agents -- a nod to their service, perhaps. ]
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[ It means he knows how to write around the messy parts. Fieldwork usually ends in something unflattering, or someone making an unpopular call. There's no need to acknowledge the questionable bits in a formal document. ]
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[ there are things she doesn't need to know -- and as much as that riles her, peggy knows she'll break more ground focusing on the useful bits. the bits that pertain to the mole, that is, and not the ugly ways in which his betrayal must have played out for the rest of the team. ]
But it's not merely your professionalism to which I'm referring. [ oh, this is awkward. ] Agent Fitz, I'm not interested in benefiting from an undue...let's call it regard.
[ but what she really means is obedience. ]
This is a request. Not an order.
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[ his eyebrows raise. Does she really think she's done nothing to earn th sorts of things he's offering? ]
Bureaucracy can move so slowly when staff is improperly motivated.
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after: ] Don't I know it. Sometimes, it behooves us all to colour outside bureaucracy's lines. But in this instance my intent is to work with you. And the others, if they'll have me. No bureaucracy necessary.
[ not for this, at any rate. ]
But on the subject of working together, it occurs to me we might revisit the subject of your earlier work. The portal that went awry.
[ and peggy, for her part, feels confident that this gentle fork in the conversational path is an organic one -- although she suspects it will still land with a sour note. she's prepared for it. ]
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[ he trails off when her topic shifts, eyes growing hard. ]
And what sort of revisiting would you have in mind?
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after a moment's hesitation, peggy settles on the truth. ]
Last time we talked about it, I wasn't in a good position to take a proper interest. Newly arrived, and -- if I may be so candid -- rather failing to come to terms with a great many other revelations. Few of which had anything to do with Wonderland.
[ shield, steve rogers, a grand-niece. ]
But an associate recently reminded me that what happened, what you did, is worth a deeper dive. [ a beat. ] If you'll permit it.
[ she's here, now. she's in wonderland and she realizes that her attention can't be caught up with problems back home -- things she can't solve, or change, or affect. it's time to fix her focus on the here and the now.
it's time to go to work. ]
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Data was lost in a lab accident. There's nothing to dive into.
[ the accident wasn't an accident, but that's not something people know. Data like that is best kept exclusively in his head. ]
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And there's nothing committed to memory. [ it's not a question. rather, it's a wry acknowledgement of what they both know as the likely truth -- as well as acknowledgement that she won't make him admit it. ] What a pity.
[ she'd meant what she'd implied: she's not looking to take information from him that he's not willing to give. if he wants to pretend as though there's nothing to tell, she'll allow him that fiction. this conversation isn't about getting results; this conversation is about getting a rapport. ]
now, she dunks the biscuit. ] Perhaps it's just as well.
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[ Good, then. She knows that he knows, and he knows she knows he knows. At least they've been clear about it. ]
Sorry to disappoint your associate. [ no he isn't. If it was someone worth mentioning, Peggy would have come forward with a familiar name. ]
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[ peggy's not yet convinced by said associate's enthusiasm for this particular well of data. what she is convinced by, however, is her own instinct to place herself as the middleman between the two.
besides, she'd warned mister hunter not to set his hopes too high. quite apart from the work itself, peggy wasn't certain fitz would even be fit for it. the look in his eye makes her think that uncertainty was well-harboured. ]
We're sharing notes, observations, theories. That's all. [ at least, that's all that peggy needs it to be right now. describing her weekly appointments with this associate as anything else would only prove too complicated. ] Your work came up in his. I mentioned our -- [ connection? tether? ] -- shared world.
[ then, almost kindly: ] And I wanted to make certain I was the one who spoke to you.
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What people know of my work has very little to do with the actual work that was done.
[ is it supposed to be a comfort to know that people are still bringing it up? Probably derisively, with a nod to last failed attempts. ]
The reporter wasn't particularly keen to follow up for accuracy after the immediate danger had passed. And I can't say that I would have spoken to her even if she did return.
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[ despite the casual veneer, the mention is anything but. let fitz lodge his complaints now or thereafter hold his peace. peggy doesn't mind a bit of lying and deceit, but she won't risk burning bridges with the shield agents (here) just to make the digging easier for herself. ]
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If you want a referral to someone who considers himself an expert in the field, you might want to reach out to Doctor Ford Pines. His attempt ended in whimsy instead of full-scale murder.
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Well, that rather depends on the referral. Doesn't it? [ ... ] In your opinion, does his attempt merit another look?
[ she's not interested in mere deflection -- so why not tie fitz's professional verdict to the question? ]
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