[closed]

[vns]

WHO: Gaby, Doctor Strange, Carol Danvers
WHERE: Black Bliss (a dive bar)
WHEN: Mumbles time before the event kicked off.
WHAT: Meeting. Making arrangements.
NOTES OR WARNINGS: Imbibing alcohol.

[ for the sake of this meeting, Gaby gets off early. in these parts, people know her as Cee. once Riko enters someone's life, there's a solid chance they'd know that anyway.

as it is, Gaby's finishing up a few things at the bar when the door opens at about the right time. she motions for Stephen and Carol to come over. ]

My company's here, Jake. I'm getting us some drinks and then it's all yours.

[ he calls back a response of affirmation. ]

So, what'll you two be having?

Comments

[flyfightwin]

It sounds like maybe those others were a little short-sighted. Whatever the reason we were brought here, whoever's responsible, I feel it's just as important that we help your cause while we unravel everything.

[in the grand scheme, she doesn't care who was involved or what they did. what she does care about is innocent people getting caught in the crossfire and the repercussions of those actions coming back to bite them all in the ass. as far as she's concerned the only way to prevent both of those things is to take this leap of faith and trust that what she's stepping into isn't going to doom them all.]

That's going to take a level of careful planning that I may not be the best at. That said, I can think of someone who would be.

If you'll trust my judgement and let me read someone else in, that is. Someone else that Stephen knows, actually.

[keeping secrets from strangers isn't that hard, but keeping them from someone she knows is, and carol can already envision it being difficult to lie to steve rogers.]

He's a mostly level head and already has the requisite physical conditioning down pat.

[actually, steve's a bit of a bulldog who won't quit, but he's good people and she trusts him. even if they haven't actually known each other that long.]

And I'm sure he's just as eager to know more about the mysterious party with enough connections to spring us from custody.

[rehandle]

[ Someone else that Stephen knows, actually.

He knows who she's talking about before she clarifies with details, and immediately there are warning flags. He doesn't have that solid a read on Rogers yet. His history is scattered: he's a hero through and through, has proved himself time and again to be a force of good... but whose good? Heroism in and of itself isn't always a reliable trait. He's erred on the side of personal interest at least once, and has been willing to break allegiance in favor of belief. Headstrong. Often reckless, though in the past he could afford to be. A solider.

Carol, too, is a soldier of a kind. But her history isn't quite so checkered. He hopes that she at least is able to understand that they aren't the same here as they were once, that one needs to be adaptable and appreciate limitations, work with the world in a different way.

It's risky. Ultimately, he's more willing to place his faith in her than he is in Captain America. Both are a calculated risk, but her equation seems more likely to fall in their favour. There are too many unknown values in his to be sure.

Gaby will be waiting on him for this, he knows. Carol he's vouched for. Steve hasn't been discussed.

Focus moves back to Carol. ]

I'll be honest, I have my reservations.

[ Most of all, he doesn't want to risk this turning into the Avengers 2.0 in all but name. Steve Rogers has a talent for leadership but the unfortunate truth, he realises, is that he doesn't trust that reading in Steve won't create more problems than it solves. He doesn't trust him yet, and this is all far too delicate to let a bull into the china shop, no matter how calm he might seem now.

But he has placed his faith in Carol. And if that's to work, he needs to believe in her judgement, too. This isn't the Stephen Strange show.. ]

You know him better than I do. If you're willing to vouch for him, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. His skillset would certainly be of help.

[ And back to Gaby: ] If we do read him in, I'd advise we bring in someone or someones not from my world. People who have been here a little longer. Nepotism isn't a good look in a multiversal community when we all have the same things at stake.

[vns]

I'm starting to think that people from your world all have a similar philosophy when it comes to what we do with my group. What you just said –

[ she nods to Carol. ]

– I've heard that before.

[ Peggy. Fitz. Stephen. now Carol. all of them come equipped. Daisy is an exception to the rule. (Katelin, too? hard for her to say, to know for sure.)

she proceeds to consider Stephen's advice in light of that. not bringing too many people in. having the right eyes on the situation. they could have someone in the force and someone outside of it. covering their bases. ]

I agree with your assessment overall, Stephen. And if you trust Carol, then I trust her judgment by extension. If your reservations are stronger than just bringing in outsiders, let me know. I'll shut things down before we move to the next step.

[ this type of operation is something that Gaby trained for, but never expected to pull off. she was never asked to do it, having volunteered for projects that were nearer and dearer to her heart. ]

I think whoever we bring in, they can't be joining the force. I think it won't hurt to go beyond that, show that your ... oddities aren't just infiltrating places when it comes to knowing about what came before. In figuring all of that out. Unless you have a better suggestion. As it is, I'm gonna leave that up to you. The people I knew best, who showed discretion – they've vanished. You're one of the only ones left that I know.

[ "you" being Stephen. she looks at him pointedly. and: "know." Loki and Jason are on the list, but she would never in a million years trust them with this. Damian, too. Rey's proven herself, but discretion isn't her strong suit, either.

so, time to branch out. ]