tushanshu | 06 § video (backdated to Feb 10)

Well someone here has completely dropped the ball. I know there are at least a few people around who are rich and Earth-savvy enough to get everyone presents for the month. Maybe celebrate the break from so much cold or the coming of good fortune or something like that. We could use a celebration right about now.

At the very least, I'll try to do my part. [Tony gives the network a winning smile and holds up a small, strange-looking flower playfully. It almost makes the next part sound more like a joke than any real offer.] I've got a few too many of these, so if anyone would like to take them off my hands, I'll be happy to give you a discount.

And if you're available, Miss Frost, I'd love to spend some quality time with you. If your schedule will allow it, of course.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm personally missing my chocolate.

[He even winks at the feed before disconnecting.]

[Private messages to Arthur Curry, Shockwave, and Kyle Rayner]

[...Or just to switch directions.]

Afternoon. I've got a proposal for you. Give me five minutes when you've got them.

[End Messages]

[Private message to Annabeth]

So. I've been saving up my pennies--so to speak. I wonder if I could buy some of your thoughts?

[End Message]

[Private message to Bucky Barnes (616)]

I. [Cap. Forgive him.] I need you to do me a favor.

[end transmission]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Tony recognizes on some level that Arthur is willing to do things that are less than savory, but he still sees him as a noble leader. He's a king, and one deserving of the title as far as Tony has seen. His assertion about getting things done only proves that point.]

I'll meet you there.

[And he's true to his word. Tony is even happier because he got to give away some of the flowers he has too many of. He shows up in normal looking clothes and carrying a nice bouquet for Arthur to give to Mera.]

I'm glad you could make it.

[Arthur smiles slightly at his approach with a bouquet of flowers. He had been sitting on the edge of the fountain with his legs in the water, little fish swimming around his feet, but he gently extracts himself when Tony comes up, reaching out to take the flowers from him.] Of course I made it. And thank you for the flowers, I'm sure Mera will love them.

What did you want to talk about?

[Tony hands over the flowers with a half-grin at the way Arthur plays with the fish in the fountain. There's something almost innocent about that. It makes him feel guilty for calling him out there, but it's too late to regret that now.]

Give her my regards.

I... [Well, here goes nothing.] Honestly? I wanted to ask you how you felt about coordinating a defense team. Most of us are heroes. We've done this before. Yet most of us are also holding back. Maybe because we don't want to pick up that role again when we just got out of it. That's good for us, not so great for Keeliai or Asti.

Maybe if we start with smaller numbers, it'll be easier to keep focused. I want to keep this discreet. Away from the network and public ears. But I need someone who can and will fight.

[He sets the bouquet on the edge of the fountain, fingers trailing over the petals briefly. Mera should like them, he thinks. He just offers Tony a slight smile at that and a brief nod, but then his expression turns more serious as he starts to talk. Arthur listens thoughtfully, taking it in, not offering comment just yet, not until he's done. And even then he takes a few moments to think over an answer.]

A small, discreet defense team. I can't say I disagree with your point about our reluctance to take charge not being good for the city or Asti. [The idea has some merit.] Who else are you asking for this? The idea is a sound one, small and discreet should mean less opportunity for infiltration by the creature, but I don't think I need to tell you that trust is going to be an important factor in making something like that work.

[Tony keeps his expression mild, but the quick, quiet glances he gives Arthur hint at the attention he's putting into the man's reactions. He's far more invested in the king's answer than he wants to let on, and if Arthur pays attention, that investment shows. Tony isn't always great at asking for help. Particularly when he knows that his suggestion has a good chance of hitting the wrong key with his friend.]

It's a short list. You, a few others that I know can keep a secret. People we can trust. There are a few that we just won't be able to keep it from, but I'm taking care of it.

[He takes a breath, choosing his answer carefully.]

Trust is... something we'll have to work on. That's one of the reasons I came to you.

Mind if I ask for a sampling of who else is on this short list? [He's not making judgements just yet. He wants all the information first. The idea is definitely sound, but he has a few reservations until he learns more, enough to form a more solid opinion.]

If this could help, I do want to be a part of it. Tell me more about what you have in mind.

[Tony hesitates, and his discomfort is visible. Handing over names is not what he wants to do, but he needs to have Arthur on his side. It takes compromise, and Tony can't afford to let that stop him.]

Yes. But-but not yet. They're good people, and I want to make sure they're all on board before we start trading personal information. We're all on the same level here.

[He's not entirely sure of that, but Tony's going to do his best to maintain it. And he's going to be more careful this time.]

We have the ability to fight back if we work together. I just want us to talk, to try to figure out what we need to beat the enemy and save the world. Pretty normal stuff. But we need to be able to trust each other, and the best way to do that is with a smaller group. If we can trust each other, then we can fight together. We just need to figure out how our enemy is getting power and what we can do to stop it.

[He takes in the discomfort Tony is showing with some slight curiosity. Okay, he clearly doesn't want to offer up names yet, and maybe there's some merit in it. He'd prefer to know ahead of time, just in case someone is on the short list that Arthur thinks shouldn't be there, but like he said, trust is important.]

Understandable. I won't ask for names until you're ready to give them to all of us, then. I'll trust you.

I agree, collaboration in a small group is a good idea. I assume we'll be able to decide as a group what information we get that should be made public, if any. [Because he has no doubt that some things will come up that everyone should know, not just a privileged few. As long as the option is there and this isn't about power and knowledge for just themselves.]

You've shown me in the past that you can be trusted, so yes, I'll throw my lot in with this group.

[He doesn't want to get on Arthur's bad side. Not when things have been going so well, and when he's got an idea--a good idea--on the line. They can make it work. But only if he can convince Arthur that it's worth trusting him.

So Arthur is going to have to forgive Tony for looking relieved and a little bit excited to hear those important three words. It's not that he isn't trustworthy, probably, but he's been holding his breath.]

Good. Yes, we'll decide together. I just want to keep us all on the same page from the get-go.

[Just ignore how contradictory that statement is. Tony's trying. He really is, even though he has some issues getting himself straight.]

Thanks. I... you don't know what this means to me.

[It feels good sometimes to have his opinion being seen as important and valid. He tends to get brushed off a lot, especially when a problem or mission has little to do with the ocean, so the respect eats away at his suspicion. He can trust Tony, he's proven himself trustworthy so far. Their past interactions have been enough give and take to warrant it, he thinks.]

Understandable. You have my support, then. Let me know when you've arranged a get together. [Right now they're not exactly all on the same page, they're all on Tony's page, but that's technically speaking. Everything has to start somewhere.]

I'll be up front with you though, Tony, because a sense of trust is important - the only thing I can't promise you is to keep this a secret from my wife. She understands discretion as much as I do, though.

06 § video (backdated to Feb 10)

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