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[How many days has this been going on, again? He isn't even sure any more. He sleeps, but it's not restful because he wakes up in another version of Wonderland every time and he's awake the whole time there and-- ay dios mio, everything's a mess. He's exhausted and has taken to mainlining coffee when he's awake just to attempt to function.

And misery loves company, right?]

Does anybody else feel like time and sleep have both lost all meaning by now? Because I'm not sure I know what either of them are any more. This has to end sometime, doesn't it? Come be miserably awake with me, Wonderland. At least if we're talking, we aren't sleeping and at least it's on our own terms. Or something. I don't know, I'm tired, come keep me virtual company.

[ooc; just so y'all know, if I make public posts, everyone feel free to threadjack everywhere to everyone all the time. I love that shit. Blow it up. I welcome it.]

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[He nods.] It's how we met.

There was an event -- some time before you arrived. One of the types that rewrites our identities. I'm sure you've seen how those can wreck one's perspective from time to time.

Oh. [Yikes. Now the best meet-and-greet. He wrinkles his nose a little and nods.] Yeah, I've noticed.

[But since they're on the subject and Fitz actually knows what could happen... words just sort of tumble out of his mouth without thought.] I gotta find something to help her with this. I-- she can't...be her. [Her. Killer Frost. Caitlin can't be synonymous with someone like that. It's just a fundamental thing to him. Caitlin is a good person, through and through, and he refuses to let some meta-power ruin that and change her into something she's not. Because she's not. She's just not.]

I'd be inclined to agree with you, given that I most likely wouldn't enjoy her company quite so much a second time round.

[He shouldn't be saying as much either. He's too tired to hold things back.]

I've had quite enough of friends betraying me. I don't intend to let it become a habit here. Why don't you just build her a set of power suppressants?

[Both brows arch at that. What an odd set of words, there.] Enjoy...?

[He lets out a soft huff and nods his agreement.] Yeah, me too. [Shrug.] I probably will, but it feels a lot more like a bandaid than a fix, yanno? If something happens and they break or Wonderland decides the tech should all be faulty or something, then what? Back to square one.

I just... [He presses his lips in a line and shakes his head.] If some piece of tech is the only thing that's keeping her from losing grip, it's not secure. I wanna figure out why it changes her like this. I don't have that, and I can't think of any other metas that just completely flipped on their personality because of their powers like that. There's gotta be something different about hers somehow and if I can find out what it is, then maybe we can find a way for her to be able to use her powers without totally losing herself.

[Yeah, in all of his outpouring of words, he doesn't realize he just admitted to being a meta to Fitz. He doesn't broadcast it, he kind of hates it.]

We were an item. It's... Not a life I remember with full clarity, but I don't believe the relationship was entirely consensual. Neither of is particularly proud of the choices our alternate selves made. [It's like his mouth is moving without permission from the rest of him. He hasn't even talked to Jemma about this.]

It could be part of the transitional process. There's most likely variance between our worlds, but in my experience, powered people undergo a drastic shift in DNA when their abilities are triggered. It isn't unrealistic to imagine that brain chemistry may be altered, particularly given a dramatic swing in temperature.

[Yikes, that sounds....awkward, to say the least.] The way this place just rewrites everything about us like that is just disturbing.

Huh, you know what, you're right. It would totally make sense. [And gives him something to look into. Why hadn't he considered it before? Oh, right. Genetics is Caitlin's thing.]

It's never quite everything though, is it?

[ he rubs a hand down his face, then sinks further down in his seat. Despite his best efforts, his eyes are starting to lose focus, words rambling with less of a point.]

Even when she does horrible things, it's out of... something else. She's afraid of being left alone, I think.

Close enough.

We'll figure this out. We'll help her. [His voice is quiet, but determined.

He drops his chin in one hand and tries to think awake thoughts...or something.] I should probably head your way, before I fall asleep at the desk. [He's so tired. It'd be nice. Except that it won't because he'll still be awake on the other side in the weird Wonderland. Weirder anyway.]

Don't focus so much on helping her that you forget to help yourself. You know what she's capable of doing to people if her behavior worsens.

[He makes a vague noise of assent when Cisco announces his intention to move; Fitz isn't sure he'd be able to move effectively enough to make a similar claim. He blinks rapidly, struggling to keep focused.]

I'm fine, Fitz. [Is it true? Who's to say. No one in the whole of the mansion is legitimately fine right now, probably, but technicalities!

Without much more than that, he cuts the feed off and makes his way to him. They have number crunching to do...assuming they don't just pass out in giant heaps before they get anything done.]

[The lab is a place of science, with a series of hardworking individuals all pulling together to find a solution for this event. But now, it's silent and still. A number of them are slumped over their desks, claimed by the deathlike sleep that signifies passage into that other place.

Fitz is tending to the brunette at the desk beside his. He combs her hair away from her face, and lifts her gingerly to set a pillow beneath her. She ought to be comfortable, he thinks, so she doesn't wake up with cramps.]

Thanks for coming. The company will probably benefit us both.

[Cisco walks in to find people passed out at their desks and he feels for them. He does not at all envy them right now.

He gives Fitz a slight nod.] No problem. Yeah, man, that's the hope.

[His fingers linger a moment too long at Jemma's shoulders. He ought to find her a blanket. What if she's chilly where she is?

After a bit of hesitation, he pulls away, returning to his desk and passing a stack of papers to Cisco.]

This is what we've taken from the volunteers who'd let us collect data. We've not been able to determine any common elements between data just yet -- but it's neither of our specialty. We're working a bit blindly, when we're able to work at all.

[Cisco pulls a vacant chair along with him toward his desk, dropping down into it as he accepts the stack of papers from Fitz.]

Yeah, it's not really my paygrade either, but... [There's no real end to that sentence, he's too busy pouring over everything they'd managed to collect so far.]

I've some familiarity with the shape of brain scans, but what's happening is so subtle... The most pertinent attribute that we've been able to note is that there's a full lack of REM in their sleep. We've no evidence that their consciousness is at work at all, but we know the opposite to be true. It's as if they've truly vacated this version of Wonderland.

[And he frowns, because that makes everything so much worse if it turns out to be true.]

Vacated... [He squints and looks up sharply at Fitz.] Wait. Maybe we can test this. Better than we thought. [He sets the papers down on the desk and spins his chair to face the other man. He'd already mentioned it to him, and the guy had something incredibly similar in his world. He didn't seem too judgmental about it, either, so...]

Look, I mentioned earlier...that-- that I'm a meta, right? Well, one of the things that I can do is this thing called a vibe. It's...like-- precognition, but it happens in this weird bubble between time and space and other dimensions. [He's suddenly a lot more awake than he was moments ago, his brain kicking into gear with an idea to run with.] So, if you take readings on me when I'm in a vibe-- It's not perfect, but...you'd have something...reasonably similar to compare it to?

[His excitement sobers as he really starts considering all this though and reality has a harsh way of reminding him just how terrible his powers can be sometimes.] I can control when I vibe, sort of-- mostly, I have these goggles [There's a vague wave of his hand towards his face with that.] that help with that, but I can't control what I pick up on. Could be something that already happened or a potential future thing. It...could get really personal, I-I don't know if...anyone would wanna risk that. It's pretty invasive, actually.

[As Cisco perks, Fitz does as well, exhausted mind scrambling to keep pace with the sudden flow of possibilities this presents.]

An ability like that means a lot more than short term. I think a bit of potential sacrifice is fully warranted in the greater scheme of things. We do what we have to do in service of the greater good, yeah?

[He's already reaching into the closest drawer and unwrapping a fresh set of sensors for their monitoring equipment.]

[He can't hate the way Fitz thinks, so after a quick realization, he holds up a finger.] Hold that thought. I need go grab the goggles, I'll be right back.

[He doesn't waste any time making a quick run back to his room and heading back to the lab. He drops back down into the chair next to Fitz.] You're being guinea pig for the vibe, I take it. [He says, adjusting the goggles on his face.]

[By the time he returns, Fitz has several machines humming. He doesn't look up from a display panel before replying.]

I'll be monitoring both of our statuses. If anything goes wrong, you'll be able to read these on your own, correct?

[He nods.] Yeah, I can read 'em.

Good. Then have a seat.

[ he takes a moment to affix Cisco's neck and wrists with a series of sensors, then does the same for himself. ]

Is there anything else I ought to expect before you begin?

[There's a sort of nervous energy running through him as Fitz sets the sensors in place.] I don't actually physically go anywhere, so you might hear me talking about whatever I see. [He shrugs a little.] Kinda hard to keep reactions contained sometimes. Otherwise, we should be set.

I'll do my best not to judge. [ That's a lie. He'll be absolutely bursting with silent judgment. ]

Do you just need skin to skin contact, then?

[ he extends an arm and rolls up his sleeve, tensing slightly in anticipation. ]

Doesn't have to be, but it helps. But I've vibed off of people's personal belongings before, too. [Intentionally vibing people is still weird. He doesn't waste any more time, though, they've covered everything Fitz needs to know, so he reaches over and outs a hand on the other man's arm, focusing and letting the goggles and his powers do their thing.

It doesn't take long before Cisco feels the familiar sensation of being tugged into that weird between-space of a vibe, surrounded by a dark, blue of distorted images until one finally comes into focus.]

[The image is a ripple into one of the alternative spaces Wonderland occasionally constructs for itself. There's a lovely, well-furnished sitting room, though it's empty apart from two people. Caitlin is there, though it's the blonde, blue-lipped, ice princess version he best knows by a different name. Fitz is there as well, settled on the floor beside her with his head nestled against her thigh.

At first, their conversation is soft and muffled, but eventually, Cisco will be able to make out bits and pieces of a conversation between lovers. It would be almost romantic, if not for the obvious power imbalance. They talk of humans as "pets" and plot to enslave others. She strokes his head like a dog's and he hangs on her every syllable with a vapid, glassy-eyed reverence wholly incongruent to the hyperintelligent man of science who'd set the experiment in order.

They'd just been discussing the ordeal; it's been on Fitz's mind since then.]

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