hypoxic | IC Inbox (entranceway)

[ As much as Darcy might've liked to get everything out in time, Wonderland had a weird way of screwing up her plans. So, after a solid day's sleep, she starts making her rounds - dropping off gifts on each floor while using a little red wagon. In front of Fitz's door, he'll find a basket that contains:

• a blanket
• a festive mug
• a few different flavors of tea
• honey
• another mug of hot chocolate supplies with a note to just add hot milk
• a chocolate dipped stirring spoon
• ridiculous fuzzy socks
• a tiny stuffed animal
• assorted candy
• really dumb looking headband with reindeer antlers and a red nose
• an empty journal
• and an ornament

There's a note dangling from one of the handles that reads:

Hope Wonderland's attempts at holiday cheer didn't go too poorly for you. Here are a few supplies to help get back into the swing of things. Happy Holidays!

- Darcy, the best intern in the universe ]

[ after these several long months, well, leo certainly deserves something. perhaps klaus would like to honor their friendship with a gift as well, and so he does. christmas brings a present to fitz's door, wrapped plainly and tied with a green ribbon. there is a note:

For our next match,
Klaus

inside the box is a hand-crafted wooden chess set with drawers for pieces. ]

[There has been something Cisco has wanted to ask for a bit now, but Wonderland and its events and a few arrivals of late had...distracted him. But time is a thing now.]

» Hey.
» Busy?

Generally.

But I can make time.

» Fair enough.

» So, remember back around Christmas when no one was sleeping and we were all running around in bizzaro-Wonderland?
» I don't...think I mentioned it before, but I found the you there in one of my dreams?
» Anyway, he had these gauntlets that worked as power suppressors.

» Do you have or have you ever worked on anything like that?

[Because it could be super handy right about now. Particularly for Caitlin.]

We do similar work for the powered people at home, to help while they're transitioning and learning to control their abilities.

[And also for containment purposes. But that's less positive.]

I might need to know a bit more about the application you'd need. Converting technology from my world to another's might require more data.

[Don't worry, Fitz, Cisco wouldn't judge you for thinking that way. He does it, too.]

» I want something to help Caitlin.

[It really is as simple and important as that, honestly.]

» The more she uses her powers, the worse things will get for her, so...we need something.
» She's been running tests and got all kinds of data collected, I'm sure she'd share it with you.

[Yeah. He...hasn't talked to her yet. He wanted to know the realms of possibility of this sort of thing existing before he got her hopes up, okay?]

I can try.

Supervised visits. We keep someone on hand who can subdue her if necessary.

» Thanks, Fitz.

» Okay. I'll talk to her and figure it out. [The idea of having to subdue her makes his stomach twist, because it's just not her, that's not the Caitlin he knows, she would never. But this isn't her, it's something in her controlling her and he has to accept this just like he had accepted it on his own to have a way to subdue Barry before they knew anything about him. It's the same thing.

Except he actually didn't know Barry back then and he's known Caitlin for years and she's literally one of the best friends he's ever had. But you know. Besides that.]

It might be best if she doesn't know about the secondary plan. She might find it offensive.

[Instinct has him wanting to argue that. To insist how totally okay and fine with it she would be because she's a reasonable and understanding and logical person. But all of this... it seems to mess with her emotions a lot, in ways he doesn't really understand and certainly can't predict, so... maybe Fitz is right about that. No matter how much Cisco wants him to be wrong.]

» Right. Point. Okay...do you have anyone you'd prefer to be hanging around or... I've got a buddy I can ask.

[He'd prefer Klaus. But he'd never presume to monopolize Klaus' time. Klaus is a "break in case of emergency" case in human form.]

If your friend is mutual to Dr. Snow, it might be more natural to have them present.

» Yeah, he is.
» I'll talk to Caitlin about the data and let you know something on the rest asap.

» Thanks, again. [Truthfully, he could build something himself, but he'd rather it be a more time sensitive project and he can sort it all out faster with Fitz's help, so he appreciates this a lot.]

[ he knows he will not do this if he waits. he knows also that waiting will only prolong needless anguish and agony, anguish and agony that has already been suffered, and not only for him. he's of one, terrible mind stalking leo out and luckily he's easily found: he can hear fitz from behind the door to his quarters, ruffling papers and books, clearly recently returned from his interview of camille.

klaus pauses for only a moment, terror hard in his throat, and then moves forward with purpose to knock on the door. ]

[It's been a productive day indeed, and the shuffling of papers is mostly from Fitz's attempts to re-evaluate his principles based on Cami's experiences. Memory control was one trait that could be monitored and restrained, but full control required more exhaustive study. Is it something close to what the Kree did to Mack? Something harmful, like HYDRA's methods? There are too many forms it could take.

When there's a knock at his door, he replies without rising from his desk.]

It's open.

[He hadn't intended to stick around in his room, but it's best to get ideas down when they come instead of relying on them to stick around for a more convenient time. The knocking is probably Peter coming to retrieve him after Jemma's noticed he'd been gone for longer than planned. He can't imagine that anyone else would be looking for him here.]

[ klaus does not hesitate to enter after he's been permitted entrance in so many words. the door opens without pause and klaus' frenetic energy only seems to settle and collect fully once he's caught sight of his friend in front of his desk.

he steps halt and the door closes soundly behind him. it's a familiar tableau: leo thought-tousled and engrossed in what consumes him. that genuine blow of affection clenches something dear in him and klaus swallows thickly, suddenly stunned into momentary hopelessness. what else is there then, other to state the obvious? ] You've spoken to Camille.

[Fitz's eyes brighten at the surprise guest. Klaus. Did he lose track of time? Was there tea today?]

Oh yes, we had the most interesting chat about what she knows from an outsider's perspective. She's got quite a lot of opinions about the compulsion issue -- shame about what was done to her, though.

[ shame what was done to her. the sentiment and all its weight lays heaviness on klaus' shoulders; it's not the first twisted and warped justification he's heard from leo's lips but he knows now with dread it will be the last. his lips pull back and curl up into a grimace at what this and he has dealt them both: it is a shame. it's a shame what he did to camille, just as it's a monstrous shame he's done leo.

klaus moves forward and wordlessly takes the seat beside the desk, his fingers reaching to take his friend's wrist to draw his eyes. his pupils dilate and he says the words that will release him. ] My compulsions will have effect on you no longer. [ fear and relief and uncertainty grip him; his voice wavering, he adds, ] You are free.

[The touch is familiar, and for a moment Fitz's fingers ghost against the skin of Klaus' forearm. But then there's something that's snapped back in place, a part of him he hadn't realized was even stretched. And then he pulls his arm away and out of reach, hand balling into a trembling fist.

There's a sensation that he's come to associate with waking up the day after an event. After a life is overwritten, there's a moment of disorientation. Memories conflict and compete, until the false impulses recede and leave naked understanding in their wake.

He maintains eye contact, though. He stares at Klaus, as he remembers the first time. He'd been so relieved that he finally had a friend who saw him as something more than mere utility, only for Klaus to reveal himself to be just as selfish as the others. Klaus hadn't wanted a friend. He wanted a happy worker. And then again, when Fitz was struggling to understand the violence inherent in Klaus' nature, again the decision was made for him.

He maintains the eye contact that had been so warm and inviting before, staring deeply into pupils that no longer welcome him. Sorrow speaks plainly in his expression. His mouth trembles, eyes welling enough to whine wetly without spilling over.

But there's no anger, even though there ought to be. There isn't any shouting or accusations strewn about. He doesn't vow vengeance or try to fight. Perhaps worst of all, he wonders if perhaps he shouldn't have prepared for this. This is what friends do. It's certainly what Daisy's done, just a few days ago.

But still he stares, mute. What is there to say? There aren't any words left.

Confessions are for friends. There are no safe spaces here.]

[ klaus is accustomed to anger. he knows it like an old friend; like an old poison that's taken deep roots inside of him, burning and becoming a part in his veins. he speaks it in violence and terrors and deals it in spades. his anger is unending, but it is not quiet. it is not in the silent horror in his friend's eyes, as gentle and unsteady as the touch of his fingertips as he pulled away.

(lucifer punished him with blows. he made what treachery and betrayal there was between them hurt; he made it a reminder.

leo's silence chokes him.)

there are no words to say but in the reticence of them, klaus knows he owes more. he swallows and shifts, the round and terrified vulnerability of his eyes dropping to the floor. ] I have a daughter, [ he starts, and there are tears welling in his eyes, his empty hands wringing. there's a fierceness, thick and pleading in his voice. ] A child no older than two who has inherited my enemies and with them the consequences of my sins. [ he wants fitz to understand. he needs him to, but he knows just how undeserved that is. ] In my desperation to return, to protect her... [ his lashes flutter and he seeks leo's gaze, his own open with this truth: ] to hold you as a friend... I violated your trust, and for that I am sorry.

Edited 2017-02-01 21:36 (UTC)

[He ought to acknowledge the confession, or at least express surprise to learn that Klaus is a father. He had been under the impression that those like him are sterile somehow. But perhaps that's a story for another time.

He breaks his gaze and pushes his chair away from his desk enough to allow room for him to pull a trinket from the topmost drawer. He slides it across the desk, assuming Klaus will catch it once it reaches him properly. It's obvious identification of sorts, with a brass eagle embedded into the lowermost half.]

Agent Leopold Fitz of the United States Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. [He pauses, bitterly.] Thought it fair, given that we're sharing secrets today.

[ he does catch it, despite the wordless reaction he could not expect. his hand lifts to stop the badge a moment before it tumbles off the edge. it's weighty in his hands, a heavier burden and promise than he might have thought his friend would take on: a blind and loyal to allegiance to country. his thumb traces the side of the brass eagle with some contemplation. there is no way he could have known this well-hidden secret, though he can't help but wince with ironic humor, chastising himself for never suspecting. ] Well, I can't say I'm surprised.

[ he shouldn't be. klaus looks to fitz in new light. all there is between them now is new light, illuminating what was once dark between them. ]

You have always been selfless.

[Klaus is half right. While he is indeed loyal beyond all earthly reason, he suffers no blindness. He's seen entirely too much already. He's seen this very thing happen.]

We work to help people like yourself, who are different and persecuted for those differences. But at the same time, Klaus, we work to protect those who would be harmed by people like yourself.

[He turns his head to regard Klaus with a stare that reaches a thousand miles farther.]

Who else have you hurt, Klaus? How many people are you putting in danger?

If you mean to threaten me, I can assure you it won't end well for you. [ the response is leveled evenly rather than with threat. no matter how devoid of menace it is, it is a sure and unmistakable warning. those that stand against him and his family do not have pleasant fates. it's not a promise he could enjoy giving, not anymore.

and not to fitz; that "you" rends at his insides.

but he'll answer. ] I've hurt more people than you could possibly conceive. [ there is a thousand years of blood on his hands, but he will not answer for that blood to a friend nor to any authority he places above him. klaus glances away and back to leo. ] But no one here. [ no one but him. ]

[He accepts the threat without comment, though it sends his heart sinking down past his knees. It's happening again. It always happens like this.]

Then why bother apologizing at all? You could erase every bit of this conversation if you wanted. What's changed?

[Aside from everything.]

Edited 2017-02-02 01:48 (UTC)

IC Inbox (entranceway)

Backdated to 12/26

faithful friends who are dear to us, gather near to us once more

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action (backdated to january)

I thought I was ready but I'm so not ready

i'll never be ready

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