meadowlarklogs | (no subject)

[Sniper looks around with the polite interest of anyone entering someone else's home for the first time. Noting the quality and the size, indicating Fitz had roommates. It seems most of the displaced did. Sniper had pulled the short straw on that, but given their work hours and the number of weapons they were accumulating in their "cozy micro studio", that was probably for the best.

They're in workout clothes, sweaty, carrying a bag that doesn't seem to have much more than the mask in it when they open it up to place it on the worktable.]

Sure. There was another thing I wanted to talk to you about anyway, I just couldn't figure out a good euphemism for "bullets."

[ He glances up, gaze skimming over Sniper and the bag. ]

We tend to go with cryptonyms.

[ designated codenames over euphemisms. difficult to memorise short-term, but invaluable in the long run. ]

Shoot.

[ get it? with the bullets and all... just pitch the idea... ]

[Ha, ha. The corner of Sniper's mouth quirks at the ""joke"".]

You don't have one for the blue stuff in our chests, do you? I was telling Loki, we really need a snappier name for it.

[But that's not important right now. Sniper draws one more item out of the bag: a rifle round, which they set next to the mask. If Fitz pays a lot of attention to bullets he'll note it's not the same as what the UNA uses in their guns. Sniper's own rifle had appeared out of their chest, loaded with this single round.]

I'm out of them, and I can't get these on the market. Do you think anyone on your team could make more?

[So bullet smelting was a bit more low-tech than Fitz's other projects, but Sniper was really hoping someone on the ~~nerd squad~~ R&D department had a power cheat.]

Scientifically speaking, it's quantum energy. [ incoherent gesturing. ] The Hotta theory, if you will, though Bennett had the idea first. [ lifting his hands, as if to say amiright. wow so snappy... such common knowledge... everyone knows the quantum energy teleportation theory!! with a sigh, ] Daisy calls it the glowcube.

[ so they'll workshop something better. ]

I nicked heavy artillery of theirs during the raids. [ offhand, with one corner of his mouth hooking upward. ] Armour-piercing. [ and he's already working on replicating them, so more rifle rounds is absolutely in his wheelhouse. He runs a hand over the round. ] Meaning yes, we can.

[ he doesn't have a team yet, exactly, but he will soon. got his eyes on key recruits already, after all. He motions for Sniper to help themselves to anything in the kitchen and take a seat. ]

So, tell me about the masks. [ openly curious, that. ]

[ In his mind, the displaced need a something as bold and brilliant as their powers (distracting), anonymity to act, but the look and feel of a greater cause. ]

[Sniper uses a lifetime of acting to look thoughtful and attentive at this information, rather than counting down the seconds until he's done. Having to listen to a sibling babble theory as a preferred method of communication had worn Sniper's indifference to the subject of science near to antipathy. Recent events had proved science a thin crutch for navigating reality, anyway.

The good news is worth the patience. They still appreciate the practical applications, which is why they're intent on getting a lot of money to throw at this fledgling R&D division.]

Excellent. I need some for the UNA rifle, too. [The specs of which they will recite aloud for Fitz, down to the metallic composition.

With that taken care of, they do help themselves to whatever's convenient to drink before settling in to satisfy Fitz's curiosity.]

It's only a matter of time before we need to act publicly again. My money's on another monster. [Though the UNA would be looking at them, now. Waiting for them to show themselves.] And I think that when we do, we need to distinguish ourselves from Morningstar. People are recognizing us as our own phenomenon, and that's to both of our benefits.

[ As Sniper talks, Fitz takes rapid notes on his implant. Consider him impressed, both by the idea and the ointent behind it. ]

Mine, too. [ Fitz has his theories about the quakes and power outages that predated their arrival by almost a year. That's a pattern of escalation. ] And I agree. Recognition without exposing the whole of us is essential. [ There are noncombatants and individuals trying to live semi-normal lives among them. And for a spy, preserving one's identity is important for protecting your loved ones, as much as for doing your duty. Moving swiftly onward — ] That's freedom to choose. [ to act for a cause, not as an individual. ] And the mobility for us to act without compromising our intelligence gathering operations.

[ He leans forward on his elbows, brows arched. Fitz would prefer the vigilantes put on domino masks, so to speak, but he knows that's not his call to make. All he can do is ensure others have options. ]

I've a mind to see if Gaby would be willing to assist. With NA Morningstar cut off from the other branches, we may have more freedom to play with their cache of tech and weaponry.

[ and he's an agent of Morningstar, besides. Even if trust there is slow to bloom, he's well-positioned to make the ask. ]

That weapons cache is at least half ours, too.

[Favors were never free, not even the fun ones. Sniper idly swipes at the condensation on their glass, and presses a cold hand to the back of their neck.]

It's only a matter of time before the UNA realizes that blue glowing people are only in New Amsterdam—if that's the case. If we're vulnerable disorganized when they decide to crack down, so is Morningstar. And I know Gaby doesn't want to cut and run.

Or perhaps we're finally even, [ paying for their initial rescue and safeguarding. ] but Morningstar doesn't traffic in debts.

[ they asked for volunteers, not recruits. he won't treat gaby like she owes them anything. if he asks, it's an open question. ]

No, Gaby wouldn't. [ but she's cut off, so they have to rebuild. he doesn't mention he and carter's plan to sniper, as it's still in its infancy, when they speak. ] But the UNA passed us over during the attacks this time. I've been turning that over every night.

[ They're not ready to crack down on them, not yet. Why? ]

We didn't go through all that trouble for Gaby to sit on it.

[Morningstar was a credit to itself, if Gaby was anything to go by, but having to work around their scrupulous precautions was frustrating. Sniper had their own timetable.]

I don't think they knew about us. If they did, they would have had orders to secure us.

We didn't go through that trouble with a deal for goods on the table, [ a sharp look — this conversation tells him Sniper intends to put the displaced above the locals, including Morningstar. That information won't prevent a working partnership, but it does mean Fitz will keep a close eye on them, when he can. ] but I'm still keen to explore our options there.

[ one step at a time. first the masks, then the rest. Fitz shakes his head. ]

Or they were ordered not to secure us, or their source was a third party, [ the third party. ] who intended for us to go unharmed, as valuable assets.

[ Gaby seems to think they were passed over intentionally, not due to an oversight, and Fitz agrees. ]

No, but they're not in a position to take advantage of it, and we are. Advantages are slim on the ground for both of us. Whatever we learn will be good for them, too.

[The displaced and Morningstar weren't separable issues, not when it came to surviving in New Amsterdam.

Sniper shrugs.]

"Asset for what" is the big question. If they want to use us, letting us hang out with a rebel organization is a pretty bad idea. They had us for months; they could have scrambled our brains or put us on whatever those soldiers are on if they wanted us compliant.

I don't see the advantage for the UN. They already control this world; super powered glowing soldiers are overkill.

Edited 2019-03-21 13:28 (UTC)