fatemarked | enter Sir Grumpus McWhinelord, King of the Pissbabies [audio; filtered from Gene]

[It's been a week, and Tony has done everything short of throwing himself on the floor of a Governor's office and literally kicking and screaming. And despite all his arguments and protests and even a few veiled threats, he is still stuck with Gene. They take this 'link' pretty seriously here. Tony thinks it sounds like a bunch of faux-mystical nonsense, but apparently he's not going to get the Governors to budge on it.

That means the only people he has left to turn to are the Fatemarked and his fellow Sentinels. He has absolutely no faith that the Governors are telling him everything. Maybe the other recruits will give him some straight talk.

The post is audio - he's not disguising his identity, but he's not going out of his way to make it obvious, either. He has locked the post from Gene, though. Gene already knows that he is extremely unhappy with the situation, and Tony really doesn't care about offending him, but he wants to minimize Gene's opportunities to needle him with snarky comments.

He makes a cursory attempt to hide the post from the bigwigs, too, but he's aware that it probably won't be effective. Fine. If they see him going behind their backs to get this fixed, maybe they'll start taking him seriously.]

So, these 'links' that some people have - what's the deal? The Governors can't really think we'll believe them when they say they don't know anything about them, right? Somebody's got to know how they work. And how to break them. Who else has one? Are they permanent? Does anyone have any idea why they happen? [...HE'S ASKING FOR A FRIEND.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Stuck with someone you don't like? [Assignments were one thing; being somehow intertwined at a cosmic level does sound ridiculous to Jack's ears. But if it's true, just like if the rest of this is all true, well...] You're smart. If anyone does figure it out, you will.

[Both the link and whoever his new partner is.]

Yeah, you could say that. [You can hear the glower in his voice: it's amazing it isn't burning a hole in his laptop screen.] I'm smart with engineering, [Tony complains bitterly.] Physics. Science. Not... stupid magic bullshit. Whatever this is.

From home? [Given the amount of hatred in Tony's tone, Jack sincerely doubts whoever he was linked with is a new acquaintance. That much enmity takes time or trauma.] Some people would call physics stupid magic bullshit. And exactly how long did it take you to figure that subject out?

From home, [Tony agrees.] He only caused, oh, about all of my problems.

[He makes an annoyed huff at the comment about physics.] No it isn't. Physics follows rules. [Okay, so does magic, but they're stupid rules.] I don't even know where to start with this.

[But he seems slightly mollified by the compliment. He's dealt with more than his fair share of weird, baffling, and occasionally supernatural problems. Maybe he can figure this one out, too.]

Kidnappings from airplanes kinds of problems? [If so, that's a genuinely miserable setup he's got going.

Jack's tone and expression are sympathetic, but there's a hard edge to it - Tony strikes him as the kind of kid who needs direction. If he sits on his hands he'll end up going crazy.]

Well, start at the beginning. How do they figure out who the Fatemarked are in the first place? Figure out those rules, and some of them are bound to hint at the rest of the ones that don't make sense.

No, I hate him because he stole my prom date. [And that withering sarcasm means... ding ding ding! We have a winner! Yes, Jack, exactly those kinds of problems.

Interestingly, Tony's switched the conversation to private: he doesn't mind everybody knowing that he doesn't like Gene, but apparently he's keeping the why a little quieter. Maybe the environment isn't putting him in a trusting mood. Maybe he's just embarrassed that he's stuck with Gene and can't do anything about it. Maybe it's a little of both.

He's quiet for a few seconds as he considers Jack's suggestion.] I think the first question is what the Fatemarked are. Why does anybody think they're important? What does the Trust want them for? Why are the Governors protecting them?

That's rough. [Right off the bat, Jack wants to know how and why but now is not the time.] Have you hit him yet?

[Because most people would. Jack might; Daniel definitely would have by now.]

I'd like to know the answers to those questions myself. I might be able to help, if you want.

[By which he means help with his linked Fatemarked as well as his research.]

Yeah. The first time I saw him. Right after he kicked me in the nuts. [Gene Khan: all-around stand-up guy!

There's a thoughtful pause.] I should probably go punch him a few more times.

Wow. Sounds like you're both fighters.

[Jack shakes his head and gives a low chuckle, like he's trying to contain it, and then imposes seriousness back into his demeanor.]

Hitting him isn't going to improve things, Tony. You might feel better for a little while, but then you're just going to want to hit him again when that goes away and you solve nothing for yourself, [he offers in a neutral tone. There's no criticism there, and no judgement, but he is trying to give Tony some advice.]

Ha ha. [It's not funny, jack! IT REALLY HURT.]

I'm not trying to solve anything, [Tony snaps.] The only thing that would improve things is if he faced justice for what he did. But I guess that's not going to happen. [And that makes him so angry he wants to puke.]

The one upside is, he can't pull his old tricks here. [Not without the rings. He can lie and manipulate and torment people all on his own, but at least he can't take over the world or alter reality itself.] And once my year is done, I can go home and I never have to see him again.

So you're going to spend the next year beating up the person you've been assigned to protect?

[Kid has a lot to learn about duty. Then again, given what Tony's told him this kid did... his anger is certainly justified. It's a tough situation, and more than a little unfair. He gives the teen a sympathetic look.]

Tony, if you're linked with someone, I'm not sure you can go home.

[You say that like it's a bad idea, Jack.

But at the moment, Tony's a little more concerned by the other thing Jack just said.]

...What?! [Tony's voice slides up in pitch - if he wasn't agitated and upset before, he sure is now.] No. They said we can go home after a year. Nobody said anything about the Links. They can't keep us here forever. I— everything I care about is back home. My family. My friends. All my work. I'm not staying here. I can't.

I don't know what the rules are on that one. If these Links are permanent and have unknown consequences for separation...

[Jack looks at him sympathetically; he had very few attachments as a clandestine agent, and the most important person to him was here anyway. That doesn't mean he can't see how painful it would be for someone like Tony to be cut off from all that and Linked with someone who put you through hell.]

Then that's one more reason to find a way out of this, [Tony snarls. He's furious all over again. it's one thing having to deal with Gene for a whole year - but being stuck with him for the rest of their lives? Never being able to go home again? Never seeing Rhodey, or Pepper, or his dad again?

And all for some shady secret organization with goals they can't even bother to properly explain?

He just can't handle it. It's not just unfair, it's wrong. He will figure this out. Or break the multiverse trying. ]

[At least Tony has a chance at that, even a vanishing one. Jack keeps his mouth shut, but even if he's not missing family he's still bitter about his situation. He just shakes his head.]

I won't disagree with you there. But how about next time you feel like beating him up, you come to the training room and box with me instead? You'll hardly be able to work on this problem if you get put in the penalty box by the higher-ups.

[Now Tony just feels like he's being patronized.

It feels like Justin trying to buy SI out from under him with slimy promises of being "business partners." Or Basil luring him into helping AIM with flattery. Tony knows when someone's throwing him a bone to keep him complacent and distracted.

His voice tight, Tony says,] I never needed anyone's help dealing with him before. [Except Rhodey and Pepper, but they're not here.] I don't need anyone's help now. Thanks but no thanks.

[And because he's in a sour enough mood to be petty about it, he disconnects.]

enter Sir Grumpus McWhinelord, King of the Pissbabies [audio; filtered from Gene]

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