Caught in the Undertow

Agent Kristi Weimaer, SHIELD Science and Bio Division . Hydromancer.  Omega-level mutant with water-focused powers. Code name: Undertow

[sitting-on-me-bum]

Tasselled wobbegong (Eucrossorhinus dasypogon)

Galice Hoarau

Shark Photographer of the Year

[agentkristiweimaer]

A short, handwritten note was delivered to the Science department desk, waiting for Kristi. It was signed by Nick Fury. Compromised.

Nothing else beyond the signature and a detention cell number. It came along with an old ID, named 'Erebus', but very clearly a 20-something year old Marco. His old HYDRA ID, with trigger words written on the back.

-fieldagentellis

She got the message on her department chat that something had been dropped off while she was delivering a report to R&D, so she stopped at the main desk when she returned. The note made her stop physically and mentally for a long moment, perhaps her heart as well.

Compromised?

She turned the note over for more context. Nothing. Then she looked at the worn badge and the blood rushed again. She turned back and jogged out into the corridor, gaining speed as she headed to the detention level with a sick feeling in her gut. Most just got out of her way when they heard the footfalls coming up fast or saw the look on her face

Compromised. Fuck. Marco, sweetheart, what happened?!

The guard station attendant looked over the note she'd offered and told her to wait there. When he turned his back and opened the detention block door, she shifted form to a dissipated shimmer of water vapor and followed him silently, reforming behind him at arm's length when he called out the Director's name at the noted cell.

They could write her up later.

[fieldagentellis]

That was true. A power-blocked, disarmed former assassin who was light sensitive was pretty low on the threat list for SHIELD. Should anything go wrong, all they'd need to do is turn up the lighting to disorient him long enough for the guards to charge in.

"Mm. I'm sure they've had more exciting guests in here before," He knew they had. Bancroft would have been in one of these cells before being transferred to the Raft.

Marco let out a sigh of relief, some of the tension relaxing from his posture as the lighting lowered. Sure, he couldn't see as great in it as he could with his powers, but it helped all the same. It had the added bonus of making any sudden lighting change more harsh if he lost control and they needed to stop Erebus.

Still, he couldn't help the brief look of concern that crossed his face as Kristi sat within easy reach.

She's right there.

Marco found himself reaching out and paused. Slowly, he drew his hand back and sat with both arms wrapped around his knees instead to keep them both still and visible.

"I don't-" he started, frowning. Not entirely true, he knew what happened to him, but not the why. So he started again, speaking slowly as he tried to concentrate.

"There was a call, for potentially dangerous new powers. We - myself, Hartell and a few others - were asked specifically because Training and Integration is my department..." it still felt weird saying that. "...and because it was time sensitive. The report was for fire powers, in Australian bush. Which Hartell was rather concerned about once he got the intel."

Marco didn't know a lot about the area, so he'd just taken his friend's word for it. "It seemed a little... coincidental that it was so close to where he'd grown up, but it's not something impossible," he shrugged. He hesitated then, closing his eyes as he tried to focus. "It took some time to locate the person. He didn't respond when I called out, so I went closer. What bothered me was that he was SHIELD. In uniform. The report mentioned no such thing. He was also an old friend of Hartell's..."

He grew tense again as he recalled the scene. "I went closer to check the ID the guy was wearing, but it wasn't his own. It was- It had-" He wasn't going to repeat the words on the back of the ID, too worried it would make fighting Erebus harder.

Marco shook his head, trying to clear his mind of unwanted scenes; memories Ray had helped start to uncover.

"...it felt set up," he muttered, reaching up to brush greying hair back. "I told Fury as much."

[agentkristiweimaer]

Kristi wasn't afraid. Concerned, but not fearful, and she wanted to keep his trust more than anything. That he hesitated to touch her, oh that hurt, but none of this was about her right now.

So she sat still, and she listened.

She frowned quite a lot, to be sure, as he described the mission and how things had started to connect in his mind and yeah, he should have been bothered by all of it. It made sense that his team was called to respond but she'd have a word with Fury (and with Marco when all this was well past) about her sense of offense that a fire power was the subject and they hadn't called her in.

But, again this wasn't about her even if that was a logical point. And from what he was saying, she wouldn't have been welcome, she would have gotten in the way of the goal: Re-awakening Erebus. Damn them.

She nodded as he straightened his hair. "I gotta say, I agree. That all…all of it…sounds a little too weird and coincidental, and I don't think any of you did anything wrong." She sighed, gesturing just a little with one hand. "It seems to me that you were intentionally put in the wrong place at the wrong time for a very wrong reason, and what could you possibly have done? You followed procedure, you went in good faith to help someone and try to prevent a situation. You were doing what you're supposed to do, and that makes it even more shitty."

She looked over his face again, not unkindly. "But hey. You're here now. Everyone is okay. You're you. You're safe as can be, and no one is going to mess with you unless they absolutely have to. …what can I do for you? The lights can stay down. I can get you anything you want to eat or drink. I can set the bed back up, could probably get you towels for a shower. Clean clothes. But only when you're ready. There is no rush to do anything, sweetheart."

[agentkristiweimaer]

She watched the bubble form with a surprised smile, holding her breath for a moment. She leaned forward a little, looking it over carefully. "Amazing. And...it's beautiful too, Father."

The fairy started doing the old 'mime against a glass wall' routine inside the ball of light.

Kristi looked to him again, still smiling. "So...what exactly does this light do? Is it just a light source that you can create? Or are there other effects?"

[apostolicattilan]

There was a small smile, the priest chuckling gently as he watched the fairy. After a moment, he gestured with his hand and dissolved the bubble. "The fact it functions as a light was an added bonus I discovered," he explained.

With another gesture, the light reformed as a thin barrier between himself and Kristi. Despite its appearance, she would find it quite solid if touched. "I can choose who -or what- passes through. Ray here has helped me work it out better. It can block certain people, as well as powers."

"-useful that one," Ray said, having carefully adjusted his wording to avoid habitual swearing. "All his skills are."

[agentkristiweimaer]

She did, of course, reach her hand out to find the barrier. It was a silly gesture really. When he put it up she had immediately realised that it was blocking her sonar, her sense of where all the water was on the other side of it, and so on...and it was both fascinating and personally disconcerting on a very small level.

"Useful. Yeah, it would be," she admitted with a little nod. "Light. Protection." She glanced to Ray and again to the priest. "And more? How much energy are you putting up when you do this? I mean, how fast does it tire you out?"

[agentkristiweimaer]

A short, handwritten note was delivered to the Science department desk, waiting for Kristi. It was signed by Nick Fury. Compromised.

Nothing else beyond the signature and a detention cell number. It came along with an old ID, named 'Erebus', but very clearly a 20-something year old Marco. His old HYDRA ID, with trigger words written on the back.

-fieldagentellis

She got the message on her department chat that something had been dropped off while she was delivering a report to R&D, so she stopped at the main desk when she returned. The note made her stop physically and mentally for a long moment, perhaps her heart as well.

Compromised?

She turned the note over for more context. Nothing. Then she looked at the worn badge and the blood rushed again. She turned back and jogged out into the corridor, gaining speed as she headed to the detention level with a sick feeling in her gut. Most just got out of her way when they heard the footfalls coming up fast or saw the look on her face

Compromised. Fuck. Marco, sweetheart, what happened?!

The guard station attendant looked over the note she'd offered and told her to wait there. When he turned his back and opened the detention block door, she shifted form to a dissipated shimmer of water vapor and followed him silently, reforming behind him at arm's length when he called out the Director's name at the noted cell.

They could write her up later.

[agentkristiweimaer]

She looked again into the room, the hand holding the badge and note dropping to her side. "I know he didn't want to hurt Ray. And frustrating as you can be, he doesn't want to hurt you. Although it sounds like you're off the hook for the moment." But she was a SHIELD agent. That kind of conditioning wasn't going to be forgiving for anyone who wore the title, whether he wanted to avoid it or not. There's the real danger.

"Listen. I'm going to go in there, and I don't want or need anyone in there with me. If you can please have Hazel send down something light for him. Pot of tea, some fruit, whatever she'd send to the medical ward." She took a breath and eyed the former Director.

"You find out who did this, Nick. I want to know, and I'll be sure to recite their sins to them before I rip them apart," she growled. "I mean it. Fucking cowards, not even getting their own hands dirty. No one messes with him, or any of us like this." She opened the door to the inner room and walked through, letting it shut behind her as she slowly approached the figure on the bed.

[fieldagentellis]

"I'm sure he didn't," Fury said evenly. He was very aware that if Marco wasn't actively fighting the conditioning, either himself, Hartell or the other unfortunate agent wouldn't still be around. "Just a heads up, Agent Sterling has been appointed as Ellis' handler until we're able to clear him."

He had no idea how well the two knew each other, but thought it was better to give some sort of warning so it wasn't a surprise, should they cross paths (which was likely to happen at some point).

He sighed. "I'm not going to stop you," we both know I can't anyway. "Perhaps you want to start by helping question the 'bait' agent later? He's a fire hazard and might need a little cooling down-" he called after Kristi.

Marco knew who was there. He knew the voice, the footsteps. He didn't immediately turn though, instead remaining facing the wall as he listened.

Part of him wanted to, wanting the familiar comfort. The other part was scared Erebus would push him to lash out and harm her. She was an agent after all.

No guards? He certainly didn't hear any follow her footsteps in, at least.

Marco shifted, being careful not to make any sudden movements as he turned and sat facing Kristi, back leaning against the wall. No need to spook whoever was likely outside watching.

"...bit risky, isn't that?" he asked. There was a hint of a smirk to show he was still Marco, friendly teasing and all. Although clearly exhausted, but that was hardly new when he was focused on work.

Technically, they were at work. At least in the building. However, Marco himself was not on the clock. There was a brief moment of guilt when he realised Kristi had probably just left her work to come down to see him, but he quickly put it aside.

Don't focus on that part.

Instead, Marco chose to put aside his usual, distant work personality. It was both to show Kristi he was currently still the Marco she knew and because it felt easier to focus on their personal relationship when Erebus was a running commentary in the back of his mind, trying to remind him of the old orders.

"It doesn't feel right," he admitted quietly, glancing down at the inhibitor bracelet on his wrist. "I've spent... so long with the shadows, it just feels... wrong. Too bright."

Not that the lights were at their full intensity, but after decades of being used to lower lighting he could change at will, it was.

[agentkristiweimaer]

She had stopped just inside the doorway, watching him as he held steady and then moved cautiously. It could be Erebus, remember. Oh, hush up. If that entity dared to show out, she'd deal with it somehow. The familiar grin, the light teasing, all of it let her relax just a fraction after a moment. "Oh you know me, love. Risky is just a part of the day around here, right?" She smiled and approached, noting the one table sitting upright with an untouched tray, the rest of the room in disarray. She knelt down and rested back on her heels, watching his face and glancing to the bracelet with ...a very bitter understanding. A watery hand formed at the light switch by the door, turning the overhead lights off. Let those outside dare to argue with her about it. The softer light panel over the spot where the bed should be was dimmable at least. "Yeah. When you're used to living with it. Living in it. It's part of you, it's stressful to be cut off from it."

She eased into a cross-legged full sit, slightly closer to him. He could touch her if he reached out, she was fully aware. The watery hand went to the other controls and turned the light there down to a lower glow, the room much darker. "So tell me what's going on, sweetheart. What happened, mm?"

[agentkristiweimaer]

She signed to Ray, close the door?

She waited for Ray to shut the door to the hallway before she spoke. Although, this place being what it was, someone or something was always listening. But Owen didn't need to know that. "Father...I know we've gently danced around it in the couple of talks we've had. ...Yes, I work here. I'm a researcher in the Biology and Science department. My research specialty...that I used to get my PhD...is genetics of differently-abled or 'superpowered' people." She shrugged slightly. "Being one myself, it fascinates me. And I personally want to help people like...me...to understand how their gifts work, how to test them, to use them and be in control. To not be afraid. And maybe someday answer the question of why we got them in the first place." She wiggled the fingers of her free hand in the air and a small misty form coalesced between them, of a tiny winged fairy. It hovered in the air, and waved cheekily at the priest. "Father Owen, I can tell you that my studies and my abilities are complicated, but I can control water. From this little bit of water vapor that I can animate, to...an insane amount of liquid like it's nothing. And for whatever reasons, I can feel where water is, I can swim as deep as I want, I can see in the dark like I have sonar, the cold doesn't bother me and I can breathe just fine down there. I'm pretty strong, and some of the SHIELD higher-ups had...have...serious concerns about me. But I only want to help people, whether they have gifts or not."

The fairy settled on the tray that hovered over the bed, sitting on the edge and swinging her feet. Kristi leaned forward just a little, her voice soft. "Let me help you, please? You said it's difficult to stay awake after. After just what, exactly? Please, father. Let me try to figure out what's going on with you?"

[apostolicattilan]

Ray nodded, quietly stepping back to close the door. He stayed over there, both to sense if anyone might be lingering and as a break from being too close to Owen.

Genetic research? The priest went to speak, but then stopped, choosing to listen patiently instead. He was glad he did, when she explained. She was gifted too and wanted to help.

He shrugged his own shoulders. "God has his reasons for why," he simply said. He didn't feel the need to question that, but he understood some didn't think the same way and some even felt comfort in working to understand such things.

"Oh," was about all he managed as he watched the little fairy, both caught up watching it and processing the information she was giving him. He suddenly found himself wondering exactly what it was she had come to talk about the first time they'd met in the church, knowing SHIELD and abilities were involved in Kristi's life.

It didn't matter right now though.

"...it's beautiful," he said quietly, smiling softly at the fairy.

He was quiet for a moment before he refocused on Kristi, looking over at her. "After... passing out."

He took a slow breath, focusing on the water fairy. He extended a hand towards it, palm facing it. After a moment, a small, transparent bubble formed around the fairy, seeming to be made up of a white light.

Owen nodded then. "You've probably got a better chance of working it out than those clinic doctors did."

[agentkristiweimaer]

She watched the bubble form with a surprised smile, holding her breath for a moment. She leaned forward a little, looking it over carefully. "Amazing. And...it's beautiful too, Father."

The fairy started doing the old 'mime against a glass wall' routine inside the ball of light.

Kristi looked to him again, still smiling. "So...what exactly does this light do? Is it just a light source that you can create? Or are there other effects?"

[agentkristiweimaer]

Kristi had to smile sadly.  She knew what it was like to lose a close family member with no warning and the road out of that hell was never easy.  His asking her was very kind and a way of deflecting a bit, she was sure.  

“Me?  I’m doing well enough.  I wanted to call and check in on you and Gruber.  I promised Clay I’d do a couple things for him and I’m trying to keep my promises.  I wanted to ask…do you think it’d be possible for me to come down and visit you both for a little while on Halloween?  I know it’s short notice but I won’t stay long, I just need to do this for him.”

That was possibly the most non-creepy and true way to get this whole thing accomplished.  And if not, she’d just try on her own, sans pupper.

[theghostofagentweiss]

Roman paused for what felt like a full minute after hearing her vague description. She wanted to stop by their place. For something Clay asked her to do for him. His dead brother. On Halloween?

“Ok, I will allow a séance but I draw the line at raising him from the dead as a zombie or a ritualistic sacrifice of any kind. I just had the carpets shampooed and I’m not dealing with goat blood again this year.”

And just like that, it was clear that Roman was Clay’s brother.

[agentkristiweimaer]

Yeah, this was definitely Clay's brother. And wow, it hurt a little even as it comforted, knowing that the snarky humor would go on without her friend.

"I promise," she chuckled, "no sacrifices. No raising, no voodoo. I just want to do this for him. It'd be nice to meet you, too. "

She shifted and made a note on a pad of paper. "I'll get my arrangements made, and I should be free that day so...whenever you're available. And Roman...thank you. It means a lot to me."

[thcartierrug]

[agentkristiweimaer]

He was as good and forgiving as any priest should be in her mind. Bless him, and gods save the medical staff from a thorough berating if she ever got to them. Shame on them.

But she cleared the vitriol away and listened, her senses picking up on his pulse again (slight struggle of tiredness perhaps) and she didn't need to use anything special to detect Ray's energy.

"A roof, huh? What sort of a roof, Father, and what in the world were you doing up there? City version of the sermon on the mount?" she teased gently with a smile. "Do you know how long you were unconscious?"

[apostolicattilan]

There was a small smile as Owen picked up on the friendly teasing. It faded though after a moment. He did not answer immediately, instead playing with the ID band around his wrist, where his black cassock sleeve would normally sit if he were in his own clothing.

"I was trying to understand..." the priest said quietly, wearing a solemn expression. "It was apartment building a ...former parishioner lived in. Apparently, he was struggling. I was trying to understand why..." he trailed off and shook his head, too tired to focus on such a heavy topic.

He sighed and ran a hand over his tired face.

Ray frowned as he listened, looking away as he focused on not accidentally picking up on Owen's emotions.

"...as for how long I was out; a few minutes, I believe? Not a terribly long time. But staying awake afterwards is difficult. I just feel... drained. Too tired and sore to stay awake. So, I was sort of in and out as Mr Ueda brought me to the clinic and then here."

[agentkristiweimaer]

She signed to Ray, close the door?

She waited for Ray to shut the door to the hallway before she spoke. Although, this place being what it was, someone or something was always listening. But Owen didn't need to know that. "Father...I know we've gently danced around it in the couple of talks we've had. ...Yes, I work here. I'm a researcher in the Biology and Science department. My research specialty...that I used to get my PhD...is genetics of differently-abled or 'superpowered' people." She shrugged slightly. "Being one myself, it fascinates me. And I personally want to help people like...me...to understand how their gifts work, how to test them, to use them and be in control. To not be afraid. And maybe someday answer the question of why we got them in the first place." She wiggled the fingers of her free hand in the air and a small misty form coalesced between them, of a tiny winged fairy. It hovered in the air, and waved cheekily at the priest. "Father Owen, I can tell you that my studies and my abilities are complicated, but I can control water. From this little bit of water vapor that I can animate, to...an insane amount of liquid like it's nothing. And for whatever reasons, I can feel where water is, I can swim as deep as I want, I can see in the dark like I have sonar, the cold doesn't bother me and I can breathe just fine down there. I'm pretty strong, and some of the SHIELD higher-ups had...have...serious concerns about me. But I only want to help people, whether they have gifts or not."

The fairy settled on the tray that hovered over the bed, sitting on the edge and swinging her feet. Kristi leaned forward just a little, her voice soft. "Let me help you, please? You said it's difficult to stay awake after. After just what, exactly? Please, father. Let me try to figure out what's going on with you?"

[agentkristiweimaer]

A short, handwritten note was delivered to the Science department desk, waiting for Kristi. It was signed by Nick Fury. Compromised.

Nothing else beyond the signature and a detention cell number. It came along with an old ID, named 'Erebus', but very clearly a 20-something year old Marco. His old HYDRA ID, with trigger words written on the back.

-fieldagentellis

She got the message on her department chat that something had been dropped off while she was delivering a report to R&D, so she stopped at the main desk when she returned. The note made her stop physically and mentally for a long moment, perhaps her heart as well.

Compromised?

She turned the note over for more context. Nothing. Then she looked at the worn badge and the blood rushed again. She turned back and jogged out into the corridor, gaining speed as she headed to the detention level with a sick feeling in her gut. Most just got out of her way when they heard the footfalls coming up fast or saw the look on her face

Compromised. Fuck. Marco, sweetheart, what happened?!

The guard station attendant looked over the note she'd offered and told her to wait there. When he turned his back and opened the detention block door, she shifted form to a dissipated shimmer of water vapor and followed him silently, reforming behind him at arm's length when he called out the Director's name at the noted cell.

They could write her up later.

[agentkristiweimaer]

She caught that look from over the guard's shoulder. Once the poor guy had cleared the hallway she stepped in and nodded slightly as Fury spoke, crossing her arms with her eyes focused on the man in the cell.

"First of all, that guard didn't know I followed, don't be too mean. I thought there were supposed to be two on the desk at all times," she said quietly. "And of course I'm not gonna wait, you knew that when you sent these."

She held up the note and ID card as she made note of Marco's pulse, feeling the rush of the blood through his system. "Compromised. By who? And is Hartell okay? What the hell happened, Nick? I thought his conditioning had been countered."

She sighed and turned to face the Director, worry and a shade of anger on her face. "Where did this badge come from? Who do I need to take care of?"

[fieldagentellis]

Fury simply shrugged off the comments on the guards. The most he'd give is a stern reminder because -as Kristi correctly pointed out- it was understaffed and the guard was unaware of her following.

"Of course. After last time, I figured it was better to get you in sooner."

As in, before she stormed in telling him off for the 'abandoned' HYDRA base mission Fury had approved and gotten involved in. That and he wasn't entirely sure just how serious the situation was.

He sighed.

"That's what we need to find out. They only got back a few hours ago."

Fury paused and glanced over at Marco 'sleeping'. "Hartell was certain Ellis was still fighting it when he was hit. He escaped with bruising and a blood lip," Fury reassured her. "We thought we'd found all the triggers. Ellis volunteered arrest because he didn't want to risk us being wrong." Again.

"...under interrogation, he stated the trigger words were an order to specifically 'kill the SHIELD agents and Director Fury'," meaning their friend Ray had been the target because of the technicality of Fury not actually being Director, just working in the background.

[agentkristiweimaer]

She looked again into the room, the hand holding the badge and note dropping to her side. "I know he didn't want to hurt Ray. And frustrating as you can be, he doesn't want to hurt you. Although it sounds like you're off the hook for the moment." But she was a SHIELD agent. That kind of conditioning wasn't going to be forgiving for anyone who wore the title, whether he wanted to avoid it or not. There's the real danger.

"Listen. I'm going to go in there, and I don't want or need anyone in there with me. If you can please have Hazel send down something light for him. Pot of tea, some fruit, whatever she'd send to the medical ward." She took a breath and eyed the former Director.

"You find out who did this, Nick. I want to know, and I'll be sure to recite their sins to them before I rip them apart," she growled. "I mean it. Fucking cowards, not even getting their own hands dirty. No one messes with him, or any of us like this." She opened the door to the inner room and walked through, letting it shut behind her as she slowly approached the figure on the bed.

[animentality]

[teaboot]

Officespeak is just roleplaying a sassy Vulcan. Change my mind

[elierlick]

Yet another new study debunked the basis for the anti-trans sports bans. It was never about sports but for creating legal avenues for exclusion and abjection. This is one of the largest analyses ever conducted, involving 52 studies and 6,485 trans people. Read the study here.

[lucieslucidity]

post so nice had to reblog it twice and force it down everyone's throats

[fleshengine]

At minimum about 4.5 thousand people liked this without reblogging it.

We gotta fix that.

[lamignonette]

[dragon-in-a-fez]

me: the word "octopus" comes from Greek, not Latin, so the correct plural is "octopodes" (pronounced to rhyme with "Herakles") and any other variant should be shunned

also me: the past tense of "troubleshoot" is "troubleshat"

[gmailconstruct]

primordial soup

[animentality]

[poppyseed-art]

[segamascott]

[biggest-gaudiest-poltergeist]

Decorator Crabs are multiple species of crabs who use corals, sponges, urchins, anemones, sea fans, and other marine organisms as self-decoration. This (glamorous) camouflage allows them to blend in with their environments and avoid predators.

(Lesser known fact, it also gives them the self-confidence to pursue their dream careers as professional salsa dancers.)

[biggest-gaudiest-poltergeist]

Even better, they use tiny bristled hooks to attach marine life to their bodies– that’s right, these majestic bastards come with built-in velcro!

And that’s not all! some of these dapper fucks have learned to use camouflage as weaponry, draping themselves in glamorous green boas toxic foul-tasting seaweeds, or arming themselves with stylish anemones, urchins and even jellyfish that give predators a nasty ZAP! Some species have even figured out how to hunt this way.

in conclusion, this delightful little dandy is wearing a sea sponge as a sombrero!