entranceway | [ video ] nor any drop to drink

[It's a softspoken man on the network tonight, one presently struggling to cope with a world of disappointment and anxiety. There's some stammering at the start of the message, but as he collects himself enough to share information, his cadence relaxes and grows more confident. This isn't about him right now. It's about everyone else.]

Pardon me -- if I could have everyone's attention for a moment? I'm sure we've all gotten a glimpse of what's gone on. I've some reason to believe that this might be a particular incident related to -- well -- that's not important. But I'd like to urge everyone to be mindful of the level of air presently available to you. As long as the number of available rooms continues to be infinite, it ought to be possible to make it through without incident as long as we stay in motion as necessary, provided that the doors continue to resist the rules of water pressure upon opening. I've done some calculations using what we know of the average unclaimed room. I believe that humans ought to be able to sustain themselves without incident for about eight hours without incident, though this is most likely variable for those of you with alternative physiologies. With that in mind, we may wish to consider that longterm planning might be an element to our survival. We may have to make efforts to organize our activities and movements to ensure we can all stay prepared for the week ahead of us.

[He pauses to take a breath, squeezing his fingers into his palm before continuing.]

Please be aware that since the oxygen-to-square-footage ratio provided is a rough estimate that may be impacted by people collecting together in groups, vigilance will also be important when it comes to recognizing the early signs of oxygen deprivation. If you notice an increase in heart rate or shortness of breath, please consider setting yourself into motion sooner rather than later. The same applies if you're with others and notice dilation of the pupils, or that they've started to display visible motor impairment.

I also hope that we can utilize the network to communicate distress when needed. I'll be in touch with a few of you soon with regards to some plans for relief and rescue.

Let's see if we can't all make it out of this in one piece, yeah?

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Text to Peter Parker

Your webbing is water-insoluble. How much do you have on hand?

Please tell me that the answer is "a lot".

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Text to Philip

I hope it isn't gauche to contact you this suddenly, but I believe there might be some need of you soon.

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Text to Steve Rogers

Can I count on you?

[It's a highly loaded question.]

===============================================

[OOC: I think I'm also going to use this as Fitz's catch-all for the event this time around, so feel free to throw action-sized stuff in here too if we've discussed anything that ought to take place later on.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The sudden rush of water is enough to prompt a reaction at last. It's instinctive and terrified, as he clings to the spider-suit with a white-knuckled grip.

He manages to hold his scant breath until they burst back into a dryer space. Only then does his grip loosen, if only from his sudden gasping and coughing as his body clamors for the air that suddenly seems so much more available than before.]

[It's impossible to miss that reaction. Peter rests a hand against his arm as Fitz struggles to catch his breath. He reaches up to pull the mask off his head.

His hair sticks up every which way, wet and-- Well. It's not until Fitz seems to be breathing properly again that he speaks.]

Are you okay?

[How embarrassing! It's one thing for Jemma to be with him during water transport, but he'd been trying to stay professional in front of Peter. When his pulse has returned to a normal place, he grimaces.]

I'm fine -- I. ...Sorry. I don't -- I.

[He pauses, takes a deep breath, and tries again.]

I'm not great with water.

[Peter twists his mask out to release some of the water from it if only to give Fitz the space to work out how he's feeling, to work through it. His hand still sort of rests on the other man's shoulder though despite himself. Everyone has something that scares them. Everyone's been through their own hells. He tries never to forget that anymore.]

This has happened to you before, hasn't it?

Or something like it at least. I doubt anyone's ever experienced this exact situation before. [A whole mansion flooding with water in the middle of Wonderland's a unique situation]

[He gives Peter a long look, debating how much ought to be shared. But doesn't Peter share himself openly? He's been a trustworthy companion for weeks now. But since when has being a companion prevented betrayals from happening?

After Klaus, Fitz is sure he shouldn't.

But he does it anyway.]

We've all had our share of near-death experiences. Everything heals in time.

Not everything. [The words come out softly, a quiet concern. Peter doesn't know if there's been enough time regardless, but he doesn't press the matter at all. They've got limited time, and he-

They both have a job to do. He wants to ask him more about it after, but trying to heal from a wound like that while in the middle of the living embodiment of that past experience is going to be nearly impossible. He drops his hand back down, holding the network device out to Fitz again.]

Listen, I'm going to keep checking in on you.

I'm not going to let you drown. Or suffocate.

[He accepts the device with a quiet smile that doesn't quite meet his eyes.]

If you have to choose, then always take care of Jemma. She's more important. I'll at least know what to expect if something goes wrong.

[Peter freezes abruptly. Peter's someone who believes any person that ends up dead- that he's responsible for it, for not getting there fast enough, for not being there when he should have been. The very idea that there might be a time when he's supposed to choose (who to save and who to let die) leaves him feeling so violently ill in this moment that he almost feels like he's going to be sick.

How high is that possibility now? And why does Fitz think so low of himself that he'd not- not think himself important in comparison to another person? To actually verbalize that feeling?]

You're both incredibly important. Every life is important, and you are too. You're important, and I care about you, and-

I'm not going to choose. I'm just going to save whoever needs saving.

[He says it as if it's easy, shoving the mask on his head again and trying to swallow past what feels like a knife in his throat from the strength of the emotion lodged there. And then he's gone back through the door so he won't have to wonder or think about it or-]

[ video ] nor any drop to drink

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