[ A workaholic. It's an accurate word but wow does it sound weird when applied to her life. SHIELD never really feels like work — it's her life, plain and simple. It's what she was meant to do and she's never been sure that someone outside the agency would be able to understand that. Taking a sip of her drink, she decides now's as good a time as any to find out if she was right. ]
An EMT? That's impressive. It's a hard life. [ She means it; first responders never seem to get the appreciation they truly deserve. ] I'm a field agent with SHIELD.
[ Just casually admitting to a date that she's a spy feels so weird. SHIELD has been back in the public eye for a while now but she'll never really be over the years they literally had to hide underground. ]
[ He gives Daisy a bit of a half-smile when she acknowledges that being an EMT is a hard life. It actually isn't, not compared to all the crap he'd been through beforehand. He needed something more visceral and there than hospice work after all that world-saving (and near world-ending).
But then she mentions SHIELD and his eyes widen. His expression is blank for a moment. Then he lets out a noise somewhere between a sigh and a chuckle and shakes his head. ]
Guess I owe you an apology on behalf of my brother, then. Nathan Petrelli was so critical of SHIELD as a 'secret operation', and then he tried to run one himself.
[ He shakes his head, annoyed with his family. The drink he takes from his beer is less of a sip and more of a gulp. The whole Building 26 debacle was mostly kept quiet, but he's sure parts of SHIELD probably heard of it. Intelligence is kind of their thing. ]
That sounds a like a hard life, too. Field agent, even? Sounds tough. Sorry if Nathan made it tougher.
[ There's something about that smile he gives her. Maybe she recognizes something of herself in it, some sense of how he sees the world and his place in it. Brushing aside praise, shrugging off compliments that mean a hell of a lot more than a nervous commentary on his appearance. It's familiar in a way that isn't easy to face.
And then he says a name that makes her frown, a tension returning to her shoulders. If she didn't have such hard-won control over her power, the room might be shaking right now. ]
I was away when all that went down, but from what I've heard, he certainly didn't make it easier.
[ The man was lucky she'd been off-planet during that time. Someone hunting powered people? That's personal, and she doesn't handle personal well. Taking a deep breath, she lets it out slowly before taking a large sip of her drink, resisting the temptation to down half of it in one go. Her next words are rough around the edges and just a little bitter. ]
But trust me, your brother was nothing compared to some of the things we've dealt with. [ It doesn't get much worse than HYDRA, after all. ] You don't have to apologize, though. Those decisions are on him.
[ If she blamed everyone for the misdeeds of their family, she'd have to take a good long look in the mirror at the damage wrought by her own family. ]
[ He's not surprised that his confession makes her mood turn- it did the same for him. But at least they're both annoyed at the right person. Peter's been trying his best to forgive his brother, look at the things he did to try and put things right, but- damn it, Nathan. ]
Yeah, they sure are. Especially when he knew I wouldn't be on board, so he brought me in for a talk and then tased me halfway through a hug. Guess he considered that 'agreeing to disagree'.
[ And the bitterness has really amped up in the past sentence or two, so that even Peter notices it. He sighs and rubs at his eyes. ]
Sorry, just- he helped me shut it down later, and he is trying to be better. But it's kinda hard to get past the rest, you know? Glad you weren't around for it, at least. It was a mess. Do you, uh, know what it was about?
[ She looks pissed off enough that she might, he realizes. ]
[ Wow, if she'd had a poor opinion of Nathan Petrelli before, it's downright abysmal now. Treating his own brother like that... Looks like the workaholic life isn't all they have in common, now they can add family issues to the list too. ]
I know he was hunting powered people. [ Which is all she really needs to know to form an opinion. ] It's something SHIELD used to do but we don't anymore, not since HYDRA. Not since everyone realized just how badly that could end.
[ Which has put them at odds with world leaders more than once, thanks to the Sokovia Accords that have done nothing but make their lives more complicated. Thankfully, the SHIELD director being married to an Inhuman has just cemented his stance of being against the registration and tracking of enhanced individuals. ]
[ He looks mildly surprised. He really hadn't closely followed any of that, the SHIELD activity or the Sokovia Accords, even if he probably should've. If the government found out about the secret 'companies' his family had been running, they were all screwed regardless. ]
Glad I missed out on SHIELD doing it, then. Just keeping it in the family has been plenty for me.
[ He smirks and takes another gulp of beer. ]
Okay, so new introduction, then. Hi, I'm Peter Petrelli. My family's basically half-evil and I can copy powers, since you know about that. It's made my life interesting, if nothing else.
[ It's always better for everyone involved in shady activity that it remains out of the public eye. The things HYDRA had done while buried inside SHIELD would shock even the coldest heart, and Daisy couldn't be more glad that the agency had finally stopped indexing human beings for being different. Keeping an eye on dangerous people who did dangerous things was one thing, but just tracking them for the way they were born put them at risk — the dozens of Inhumans who had been killed because someone accessed that list was a testament to just how bad things could get.
Peter's new 'introduction' catches takes her by surprise and she stares at him for a moment, not fully comprehending what he's said. ]
You can copy... How does that work?
[ It's curiosity and concern that makes her ask, a dozen thoughts ricocheting around her mind as she wonders at the cosmic joke the universe seems to be playing on her. Had Jemma known? The half-evil family thing isn't something she'll hold against him, just look at what her own family was capable of, but with a power like that... Is it even safe for them to be sitting together like this? ]
[ He catches the concern more than the curiosity. And of course he's fairly used to having been a cause of concern. So he's quick to explain. ]
I have to touch someone, and I can only do one at a time. It didn't used to be that way, but I- I lost my original power.
[ -to his dad, also through a hug. That seems a little too self-pitying to get into right now, though. ]
But basically, as long as I'm careful- and we don't have any powered people come through at work- [ He tilts his head to the side, acknowledging that's kind of a big 'if'. ] then there shouldn't be any problems.
[ Daisy takes it all in, weighing the different variables and analyzing the situation. Suddenly, a simple blind date is a whole lot more complicated. She'd actually kind of liked the guy, too, despite the things he'd revealed about his family. (Maybe because of that honesty.) ]
I guess it's a good thing we didn't shake hands when we introduced ourselves... [ The commend is an offhanded one and she shakes her head, filtering through a dozen more questions in her mind. ] But you just copy them, right? You don't take them from the other person.
[ There's a thread of anxiety in her voice that she can't hide, and tension in her expression. If this is his ability, then he's nothing like Malick, but she can't help that's where her thoughts go. The man still haunted her worst nightmares and likely always would. ]
[ Yeah, she's worried. He completely understands, knowing just how terrifying losing such an integral part of yourself is. So as he answers her, he looks her in the eye. Maybe it'll get across how seriously he's taking this. ]
Just copy them. Taking them's my Dad's thing. [ He catches himself and corrects. ] Was my Dad's thing.
Also- I can keep myself from doing it if I know in advance. But that doesn't exactly come up all that often. So yeah, good thing.
[ He smiles a little at her, his expression apologetic. ]
[ It's a huge relief to hear that he can control his ability to an extent. That means she doesn't have to leave right this second — which is a good thing because, surprisingly, she doesn't want to. His honesty is refreshing, as is hearing about a family just as fucked up as hers. So she meets his gaze and shakes her head with her own small smile. ]
It's okay. I just— I've had someone copy my power before. It'd be bad enough with someone who didn't know how to control it but in the wrong hands...
[ She looks away with a grim expression, trying and failing to force the memory of Nathaniel Malick from her mind. The HYDRA reject might be dead but that hasn't stopped him from tormenting her day and night. ]
[ Peter would like to reach out and put a hand over hers, give her some support. But after the discussion they just had, it probably wouldn't be the reassurance he'd be hoping for. He sighs quietly. ]
Trust me, I know what you mean. Some people can make things a lot more dangerous than they need to be.
[ He drinks more beer, letting that moment sit. ]
Well, I'm starting to understand why you're married to your job. Sounds like you've been through at least as much bullshit as I have, when it comes to things you mostly can't talk about. And if SHIELD's okay with special abilities, then I'd probably spend most of my time there, too.
[ It depends on if they're doing the right thing, as well, of course. But it sounds like they're at least trying. ]
[ There's so much of her job that she can't talk about. Before she'd joined SHIELD, their secrecy had made her furious when she'd made it her personal mission to share any and all information with the world. But it became pretty clear after joining the agency that some secrets need to be kept. The world isn't ready for all the shit they deal with on a daily basis. ]
The director's married to someone with superspeed; he kind of has to be okay with it.
[ Daisy smiles as she says it, though it hadn't always been true. She remembers those months when Mack had been firmly against everything Inhuman. He'd changed, though, just like they all had. Being partners had helped; meeting Yo-Yo had helped more. ]
[ That makes Peter laugh, just a mild chuckle at the idea. ]
I suppose he does, then. I'm glad- that sounds pretty...stable, all things considered.
[ He looks around the bar, briefly. As he suspected, everyone's off in their own world. No one's paying them a second glance for their fairly odd conversation. Good. ]
So I know my friend doesn't know about the abilities, but maybe yours does? I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if I've been clocked by a few organizations by now.
[ Stable is a good way to put it. Mack and Yo-Yo have been through a lot but they're solid. Next to FitzSimmons, they're the most solid couple she knows.
Considering his question, Daisy takes another drink of her beer, savoring the familiar taste before giving the answer that hadn't really taken much thought at all. ]
I think Jemma would have told me if she knew about you. She knows about my abilities, all of SHIELD knows, but the only thing she really told me after running a background check was that you're not a serial killer. [ She rolls her eyes and offers a little self-deprecating chuckle. ] Yeah, that's where the bar is for me.
[ That makes Peter laugh, too. He shakes his head. ]
Really glad I made the cut, in that case. I mean, it's important to have standards, right?
[ He's amused, but he isn't judging. He suspects she's had to tangle with at least one serial killer in her line of work. He's just glad he finally shook the one that had been hanging around his family (or so he thinks). ]
So okay, we've got a couple options now. We can head to an actual restaurant and I'll treat you to a good dinner- or we can stay and have more beer and gorge ourselves on greasy wings. What're you feeling like?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
An EMT? That's impressive. It's a hard life. [ She means it; first responders never seem to get the appreciation they truly deserve. ] I'm a field agent with SHIELD.
[ Just casually admitting to a date that she's a spy feels so weird. SHIELD has been back in the public eye for a while now but she'll never really be over the years they literally had to hide underground. ]
no subject
But then she mentions SHIELD and his eyes widen. His expression is blank for a moment. Then he lets out a noise somewhere between a sigh and a chuckle and shakes his head. ]
Guess I owe you an apology on behalf of my brother, then. Nathan Petrelli was so critical of SHIELD as a 'secret operation', and then he tried to run one himself.
[ He shakes his head, annoyed with his family. The drink he takes from his beer is less of a sip and more of a gulp. The whole Building 26 debacle was mostly kept quiet, but he's sure parts of SHIELD probably heard of it. Intelligence is kind of their thing. ]
That sounds a like a hard life, too. Field agent, even? Sounds tough. Sorry if Nathan made it tougher.
no subject
And then he says a name that makes her frown, a tension returning to her shoulders. If she didn't have such hard-won control over her power, the room might be shaking right now. ]
I was away when all that went down, but from what I've heard, he certainly didn't make it easier.
[ The man was lucky she'd been off-planet during that time. Someone hunting powered people? That's personal, and she doesn't handle personal well. Taking a deep breath, she lets it out slowly before taking a large sip of her drink, resisting the temptation to down half of it in one go. Her next words are rough around the edges and just a little bitter. ]
But trust me, your brother was nothing compared to some of the things we've dealt with. [ It doesn't get much worse than HYDRA, after all. ] You don't have to apologize, though. Those decisions are on him.
[ If she blamed everyone for the misdeeds of their family, she'd have to take a good long look in the mirror at the damage wrought by her own family. ]
no subject
Yeah, they sure are. Especially when he knew I wouldn't be on board, so he brought me in for a talk and then tased me halfway through a hug. Guess he considered that 'agreeing to disagree'.
[ And the bitterness has really amped up in the past sentence or two, so that even Peter notices it. He sighs and rubs at his eyes. ]
Sorry, just- he helped me shut it down later, and he is trying to be better. But it's kinda hard to get past the rest, you know? Glad you weren't around for it, at least. It was a mess. Do you, uh, know what it was about?
[ She looks pissed off enough that she might, he realizes. ]
no subject
I know he was hunting powered people. [ Which is all she really needs to know to form an opinion. ] It's something SHIELD used to do but we don't anymore, not since HYDRA. Not since everyone realized just how badly that could end.
[ Which has put them at odds with world leaders more than once, thanks to the Sokovia Accords that have done nothing but make their lives more complicated. Thankfully, the SHIELD director being married to an Inhuman has just cemented his stance of being against the registration and tracking of enhanced individuals. ]
no subject
[ He looks mildly surprised. He really hadn't closely followed any of that, the SHIELD activity or the Sokovia Accords, even if he probably should've. If the government found out about the secret 'companies' his family had been running, they were all screwed regardless. ]
Glad I missed out on SHIELD doing it, then. Just keeping it in the family has been plenty for me.
[ He smirks and takes another gulp of beer. ]
Okay, so new introduction, then. Hi, I'm Peter Petrelli. My family's basically half-evil and I can copy powers, since you know about that. It's made my life interesting, if nothing else.
no subject
Peter's new 'introduction' catches takes her by surprise and she stares at him for a moment, not fully comprehending what he's said. ]
You can copy... How does that work?
[ It's curiosity and concern that makes her ask, a dozen thoughts ricocheting around her mind as she wonders at the cosmic joke the universe seems to be playing on her. Had Jemma known? The half-evil family thing isn't something she'll hold against him, just look at what her own family was capable of, but with a power like that... Is it even safe for them to be sitting together like this? ]
no subject
I have to touch someone, and I can only do one at a time. It didn't used to be that way, but I- I lost my original power.
[ -to his dad, also through a hug. That seems a little too self-pitying to get into right now, though. ]
But basically, as long as I'm careful- and we don't have any powered people come through at work- [ He tilts his head to the side, acknowledging that's kind of a big 'if'. ] then there shouldn't be any problems.
no subject
I guess it's a good thing we didn't shake hands when we introduced ourselves... [ The commend is an offhanded one and she shakes her head, filtering through a dozen more questions in her mind. ] But you just copy them, right? You don't take them from the other person.
[ There's a thread of anxiety in her voice that she can't hide, and tension in her expression. If this is his ability, then he's nothing like Malick, but she can't help that's where her thoughts go. The man still haunted her worst nightmares and likely always would. ]
no subject
Just copy them. Taking them's my Dad's thing. [ He catches himself and corrects. ] Was my Dad's thing.
Also- I can keep myself from doing it if I know in advance. But that doesn't exactly come up all that often. So yeah, good thing.
[ He smiles a little at her, his expression apologetic. ]
Sorry, didn't mean to worry you.
no subject
It's okay. I just— I've had someone copy my power before. It'd be bad enough with someone who didn't know how to control it but in the wrong hands...
[ She looks away with a grim expression, trying and failing to force the memory of Nathaniel Malick from her mind. The HYDRA reject might be dead but that hasn't stopped him from tormenting her day and night. ]
no subject
Trust me, I know what you mean. Some people can make things a lot more dangerous than they need to be.
[ He drinks more beer, letting that moment sit. ]
Well, I'm starting to understand why you're married to your job. Sounds like you've been through at least as much bullshit as I have, when it comes to things you mostly can't talk about. And if SHIELD's okay with special abilities, then I'd probably spend most of my time there, too.
[ It depends on if they're doing the right thing, as well, of course. But it sounds like they're at least trying. ]
no subject
The director's married to someone with superspeed; he kind of has to be okay with it.
[ Daisy smiles as she says it, though it hadn't always been true. She remembers those months when Mack had been firmly against everything Inhuman. He'd changed, though, just like they all had. Being partners had helped; meeting Yo-Yo had helped more. ]
no subject
I suppose he does, then. I'm glad- that sounds pretty...stable, all things considered.
[ He looks around the bar, briefly. As he suspected, everyone's off in their own world. No one's paying them a second glance for their fairly odd conversation. Good. ]
So I know my friend doesn't know about the abilities, but maybe yours does? I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if I've been clocked by a few organizations by now.
no subject
Considering his question, Daisy takes another drink of her beer, savoring the familiar taste before giving the answer that hadn't really taken much thought at all. ]
I think Jemma would have told me if she knew about you. She knows about my abilities, all of SHIELD knows, but the only thing she really told me after running a background check was that you're not a serial killer. [ She rolls her eyes and offers a little self-deprecating chuckle. ] Yeah, that's where the bar is for me.
no subject
Really glad I made the cut, in that case. I mean, it's important to have standards, right?
[ He's amused, but he isn't judging. He suspects she's had to tangle with at least one serial killer in her line of work. He's just glad he finally shook the one that had been hanging around his family (or so he thinks). ]
So okay, we've got a couple options now. We can head to an actual restaurant and I'll treat you to a good dinner- or we can stay and have more beer and gorge ourselves on greasy wings. What're you feeling like?