tushanshu | 03 § video

[When the video feed comes on, Tony is selling the image of being personable. Nice suit, nice hair, and a smile that is inviting someone to start telling jokes.]

Current events seem kind of hairy lately. At least these come in a small package. After some of the other issues we've had, these guys are pretty manageable.

That's not what I wanted to talk about. Anyone else notice that we've got a problem with that? Talking. I mean, it makes sense. We're from different places, some of us are newer than others, and it's a lot to take in. I know some people have already been getting people together, so I figured it's time I stepped up too.

So, hi. My name's Tony Stark. Some of you know me. A lot of you probably know of the other Stark, but for those of you who managed by amazing misfortune to miss both of us, I'm an engineer. Used to run a company. I'm good at building machines. Also one of the guys with a second name and a few extra perks, but that's not important. The point is, we all have different talents to offer and we'll get a lot further if we work together. Just to be clear: I'm not recruiting for anything. If you're interested, we can talk. If not, there's no pressure.

[And with that he ends the transmission.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Asti? Do you think they could be good port of call for this sort of situation?

[He didn't know how much he could bank on magic but it was work it for a viable outcome.]

I'd need to gather some well know 'magical people' then, wouldn't I? If that's what it takes to pull together a portable network device. Do you think I could put out posters to attract some attention? Get a few magicians... do they like to be call magicians? Or is there another term? -- Magically enabled?

We can try. I don't see why it wouldn't work, but I'm not a magic expert either. Things here are a little touch and go. Still, it can't hurt to try.

[Optimism! That's a good solution, right? He's banking on it, anyway.]

If you can find us some "magically enabled" volunteers, I'd be impressed. There are people with magic on the turtle. It's whether or not they'd be willing to help that I'm not so sure about. I'm getting the feeling that working together is kind of a commodity in itself.

Magic is really not my area but hey, always worth learning new things. Especially if it's focal to existence here.

[He had no idea 'magic' was even really at play here. He was assuming science. A lot of the time people used magic to describe science they couldn't understand so it was still likely that he was right.]

Really? I would of thought in situations like this that people would be more open to volunteering and pitching in together. Whatever happened to 'nobody gets left behind'?

It's essential. Trust me, if it weren't I wouldn't bother with it.

[He's not sure either. And he'd be comfortable not knowing more about it, except that is exactly what they need to know to make sure they all stay alive and well. The trials of being a realist in a magic-friendly world.]

I'm pretty sure our "no man left behind" policy was left behind when they brought us here. But I'm open to reinstating it myself. It would make things easier.

Well, looks like I'm learning more on the subject of magic then.

[This was going to be fantastic. He was going to have to research something he was sceptical one, learn as much on it as he can then try to flog down some magical people to come play with him and maybe make a device to transport the network.]

I won't be forgetting the policy any time soon. Some things are important and even if I find a way out, I'm not leaving without everyone else.

We all are if that's what it takes. I can't say I ever planned on taking a course in magical studies, but this is what we've got. We help Asti, and Asti apparently helps us.

[At least someone is excited. Tony is apprehensive about the whole magic deal, but he'll support the Doctor in learning as much as he can so they can make sense of it. Finding that happy medium between technology and magic is, he thinks, the whole key to solving their problem. They just need to actually do that.]

It's nice to know there are some people who still feel that way. Being from different worlds makes it harder to remind everyone of that.

Perhaps someone should set up some kind of adult learning course on magic? Because all I know is card tricks and finding a penny behind someone's ear. Occasionally the rabbit in the hat as well but it depends on the rabbit.

[Some just wouldn't disappear into the hat. And hey, whatever made sense was important to him. That was how these things worked. And if learning more about magic was his only way out then he'd do it.]

Sometimes you just have to be the one to set the example. Others learn and follow in time.

Well, we do have people who study magic, but I don't know if that's something they can teach us. I'll settle for having them explain what we can do about it when we encounter it.

[But what are the chances of that happening, exactly? The Emperor doesn't want to explain, and no one else really seems to know what's going on. Still, he can hold out hope.]

Yeah. I guess that's true. So much for getting a vacation?

I like that plan, I think I'll adopt it too. Magic seems to be a whole tin of worms that I'm not sure I want to open.

[Magic was a new realm, some sort of science he couldn't grasp? He was going to need to learn more.]

I don't know, it's not too bad here. The turtle head is nice!

[Sometimes. That has been Tony's experience. Sometimes it is science that is outside of their experience (but not level, because they could always learn it), and sometimes it was just plain magic. Dungeons and Dragons levels of magic. And when it was the latter, Tony was a strong supporter of "let's just not touch that."]

Okay, it's not a desert, but still. Mandatory turtle-cations are not something I think everyone should be taking. Unless they start handing out free snacks.

[Lets not touch that is a great policy... if you're not someone that's always touching everything. He wasn't entirely capable of helping himself, actually.] The free snacks would probably make things much easier, you know?

[It's one of those policies that are better on paper than in practice. It always sounds good, but things happen. Tony tries his best to avoid magic, but that didn't stop him from ending up in dragon battles outside of Camelot either.

...Which is probably why he's such a supporter of the plan now.]

So would explanations. But I guess food is a reasonable compensation.

03 § video

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