fade rift. inbox.

[propulsion]

"You have reached the life model decoy of Tony Stark."

sending crystal
written correspondence
private scenes

Comments

crystal / why wait to bang down the project office door

[heorte]

Did they come to you first about their latest work?

[propulsion]

Nah.

[heorte]

You plan to leave them to it now that you know of their intentions?

[propulsion]

Also nah. But far be it from me to stand in the way of progress.

[heorte]

What does that mean?

[propulsion]

Well, let's back up. You're asking 'cause you disapprove?

[heorte]

I'm asking because I am not sure they are giving the risk it's due weight.

[ so like, yes. ]

[propulsion]

[ Uh huh. ]

What makes you say that?

[heorte]

Tony.

[ to the tune of come on. ]

[propulsion]

Ellis.

They're rifters. Poppell's already gone through hell and back before losing a hand, and Riftwatch isn't gonna do anything for us that we don't get done ourselves. I'm not exactly best buds with Dickerson, but I trust Wysteria to grok the stakes.

[heorte]

They have their blind spots.

[ is very measured, all things considered. ]

Caution would be better received from you than it would be from me.

[propulsion]

[ Down the line comes an immediate Sensible Chuckle. ]

You think?

[ He wants to say: they don't have time. For caution, for manners. There's a rare pause while he thinks of what to say instead. ]

They'll be cautious. They want results. But I'll be there, I've talked to Poppell.

[heorte]

You'll stop them, if it comes to that?

[ Just need to hear that out loud. ]

[propulsion]

[ There's a conflicted pause. It'd be easy to say yeah, but gremlin instincts slam the brakes. ]

You're worried about them or everyone?

[heorte]

Can it be both?

[ But let's be real, Ellis has a narrow set of priorities. ]

[propulsion]

Can it?

[ A small flare of impatience. Answer a question. ]

[heorte]

[ Why answer a question when you can sidestep it forever. ]

Yes.

[ But, relenting— ]

I am worried about them.

[propulsion]

Okay.

[ Okay. ]

Then yes. If they're putting themselves in danger, if they're endangering other people, if they start something they can't finish on their own, I'll pull the plug.

[heorte]

How will you know?

[propulsion]

'Cause I'll let myself into their secret treehouse.

[ He doesn't, actually, want to fight Ellis about this, but the barely contained impatience continues to nip at the edges of his words. ]

Either you think I can control this situation or you don't. That one you gotta pick too.

[heorte]

[ Does Ellis want to fight about this?

Maybe. ]

I think your idea of controlling it is different than mine.

[propulsion]

Okay, thrill me. What's that look like?

[heorte]

Mine or yours?

[propulsion]

Both.

[heorte]

[ Both. ]

You see a warning sign, and you wait for it to catch fire before considering you might reach for a water bucket. It is the same with them.

[ And by extension, not for Ellis. Maybe. ]