[ a flicker of uncertainty passes over his face as he considers withholding his name. he had an alias all sorted for space, with the requisite nebulous and fearsome backstory at the ready, but he already exposed himself as a first-time-participant and long-time-fan of the whole space thing. no point to being reticent now, when they're sat side-by-side, ostensibly in the same whirring boat.

god knows he'll need someone to chat with, so he doesn't go mad. john's spot of humour, however self-deprecating, may prove necessary.

despite the awkward angle, fitz returns the gesture. a proper, firm shake. ]

Fitz. [ he retracts his hand to scratch at the back of his neck. ] Well, Leopold but — Fitz. [ nailed it. ] I'm in engineering back on [ searching for the word, searching, searching, and ] the ground. Earth. In the States, if you can believe that.

[ why did he ever leave scotland, huh. ]