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

[Oh really.]

No offense, but I'm not that bad at finding my way around energy. I might not have as long of a record as you do, but what I've come up with works.

[Then again, he's still a terrible cook.]

Anyway, there's still something I want to ask you.

[He hesitates since it's hard to approach the topic without sounding like a creep. Who knew that keeping secrets would sound sketchy?]

Not about dinner.

It was never my intention to slight your abilities. Just to impress upon you the difficulty of creating it in the first place, let alone getting it stable enough for consumption.

( That gets an eyebrow raise. )

Alright.

( Do go on, Tony. )

Edited 2014-03-06 23:07 (UTC)

I know. [Does he though?] I'm not saying it's easy. Just-

[Thankfully, though, the more important question diverts his attention away from whether or not he could create a substitute for energon.]

I've been thinking. We're all worried about what will happen when Big M finally decides to start his assault, but as it stands we're not really ready to do anything about it. Everyone's too scattered, and I don't know if we trust each other enough to really pull together on the spot.

[He looks away, his gaze attracted by some random object or another.]

And the thing is we need to pull together. So I think... maybe we should start that now.

( Shockwave will let you try, provided you don't blow them all up. It's that or realize one way to get decent energon is by turning organic material into it.

There's silence for a moment or two, and Shockwave's smile turns into a thin line. With an noticeable absent curve of disapproval. )

What do you propose?

( Because there has to be more than that - Shockwave knows there has to be. One doesn't simply start with an idea when talking to people, or at least Shockwave wouldn't - not with something like this. )

[Tony would rather not resort to a mass conversion of life into energy. Maybe that's just a point of pride, but he'd like to think he cares.

Shockwave's look of disapproval isn't a great sign. Tony expected it, but that doesn't mean he has to like it.]

Talk. I think we need to talk. If our fears come true and we lose the consoles, we'll need to be able to work together without them. And in a worst case scenario, we'll need to be ready for surprises. We can't reach everyone. That's just too dangerous. But with a small group, we can come up with a plan. We won't be as vulnerable if we're working together.

We'll lose the consoles. ( A beat, because Shockwave has a lot of secrets. ) I have reason to believe that the technology installed after the satellite crash was already... contaminated, for a better word.

( And then Shockwave nods, hands folding together. It's doing something, at least, and Tony's right - that's what they need. )

Alright. ( Working out of sight, planning - that's something Shockwave has experience in. ) Can I ask who else you've approached about this?

That settles it, then. We don't have any better options.

[He's holding his breath before Shockwave agrees. For a few minutes, he's not even sure there will be an agreement, but luckily the gamble pays off.

Now if only he can keep them together.]

Only a few people. No one has anyone else's names. It's a short roster, and I won't go into too many specifics yet. I need to know if you're with me on this.

( Once the idea has settled, the holoform visibly relaxes, even if the expression is still grim. )

Of course. ( Another nod of agreement. ) I am.

[Tony relaxes slightly too. He's apparently been bracing himself, because once he gets the answer his expression changes to visible relief.]

Thank you. I know this isn't easy, but if we keep avoiding each other because we're worried about being exposed, we'll be on our own against however many kedan he's been gathering to his side. And who knows what else.

[Which means Tony should really take the next step.]

No one from my world, so we're all coming into this on the same level. We're getting to know each other from stage one... you can give as much as you feel comfortable with. Whatever you want to tell them is fine. But the goal is teamwork, so we've all got to try to be honest.

And you trust them?

( Shockwave trusts by extension, if Tony thinks they're alright then Shockwave isn't opposed to giving them a large benefit of the doubt. )

I do. I chose you because I trust you.

[That's a partial truth. He does trust them, but he also chose them for other reasons.]

We have to start somewhere.

Then I trust them. Perhaps not with all of my secrets, but in time.

( Which is something, at any rate. )

You don't need to give them your secrets. We can start from here. For the record, nobody knows everyone else's history. Including me.

I'm hoping the even playing field will keep us on track. We'll make it work.

Do we have another choice?

( They're all in this together now, after all. )

Not really.

But it's not that bad either. We could be in worse condition. If we work together now, I'd say we have a decent shot.

Then that's what we'll do. If you require anything else to make this happen you need only ask.

Thanks, Senator. I know this isn't exactly your typical committee, but I think we can make it work. After all, we're a smart group in general. Most of us.

I've had experience with more ragtag groups. And politicians, I suppose.

Politicians are the most difficult to handle. Especially when they're smart.

You haven't been doing too badly, Tony.

( There's a flash of a smile at that, mostly because Shockwave can't help it. )

I'm glad to hear that. I've had some experience working with government officials before, but their intelligence tended to run a lot lower.

This time I guess I got lucky.

Flattery may just get you everywhere you need to be.

( have a winning smile, tony. )

[Better not encourage him, Shockwave.]

Oh, I hope so. I've got plenty to give if that will get me even closer.

06 § video (backdated to Feb 10)

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