capeandcowl | 24 ⊗ video ⊗ might've liked to know this earlier

[Hank is huddled over his worktable, playing with a small camera.]

I've always been something of a tinker, even since I was a child. [He gives the lens a momentary smirk.] But you'll know this already, you've seen it.

Even with having some sort of block this past month, wondering if I was doing something wrong when all the pieces seemed like they were in place. I know that because I checked, double-checked, ran diagnostics, tried alternatives. Took the every prototype apart and rebuilt it numerous times, trying my best to isolate and work out any kinks.

And even then, we never detected a single Skrull until they revealed themselves. But see, there was still one thing I'd never gotten to tinkering with. Funnily enough, the first thing I noticed when I returned.

[He points to the camera.] I keep this remote camera for Network interface when I prefer to work hands-free. It shorted out while I was gone, and I hadn't had time to repair it. Doing so would require familiarizing myself with the circuitry of the new communicators, in order to copy it.

So, tell me. How many of you had your communicators in Times Square last night? [He holds up a small silicone tube to the camera, almost buried in his large fingers.] And who can tell me what this is?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I suppose you're right. Assuming all of the agents Vulcanus has deployed are Skrulls, at least.

Amanda would've known how to approach this situation far more effectively than I could.

[ D'aw. He can't really... Find anything to say that would alleviate that thought. ]

Perhaps.

All we can do is everything that we can. These things usually work out, somehow.

Yes, but they require own own diligence to ensure they make it to that point.

[He finally picks up Kurt's communicator and started going to work on it.]

And diligent we try to be. However... We are not perfect. Most things do not happen conveniently, no matter how hard one works.

[ So try not to feel bad, buddy! ]

If the handling of this situation could be described in any one way, "inconvenient" would be the most kind.

[ Shrug. ]

I try.

[Hank lets out a sigh.]

None of this should have gone the way it did.

You are right, I think. It is difficult to reach a consensus on how these things should go, however.

[ Turning on one another so soon? Bad. But you cannot help fear. This was a frightening thing. ]

The community is too large... People will form their own opinions and do what they will. To control that would be difficult.

And, of course, the only way for a witchhunt to end is with a slaughter once the undesirable element is isolated.

[ Kurt can't think of things like this without also thinking of Winzeldorf and how utterly scared and helpless he'd been. Not to mention all the other attempts at genocide that the X-men are familiar with... ]

Yes. To say it got out of hand would be... Again, speaking far too lightly of the situation. I do not know what more can be said and done for it, however. What do we always do, even, in these situations? Simply... Pick up the pieces and move onwards?

I seem to forget every time.

Largely, I imagine, because it gets harder to do so as we add each new case to the pile. We're not just moving past this one, but the lingering effects of every single one that's preceded it, as well.

Ach. When is enough enough, then?

[ He presses his lips into a frown, eyes wandering to the floor. ]

I worry, not just for this place, that it will simply never cease. Perhaps it is a foolish thing to hope for, in the first place.

I could repeat what I told Clint when he made a similar statement, but it wouldn't be reassuring.

I suspect there is not much to say that could be, really.

[ So he'll just... Tuck that away to let it gnaw at him forever. Now there's just an awkward pause while he tries to think, but... ]

I cannot think of a suitable change of subject. I know this whole thing must be tiring to you.

[He snaps Kurt's comm back together, the invading element having been removed, then sits back in his chair.]

Not only for me, I don't think. We've all been thrown through the ringer on this one.

24 ⊗ video ⊗ might've liked to know this earlier

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