001; Video

[maipokerface]

[Console, whatever. Sure she got the run down on the thing but Mai's pretty much been ignoring it for the past day. She hasn't even bothered to really look on the network itself even if she has no intention of making an entry to it.

Now she's bothering though, mainly because she just wants to ask:]

So explain this war business to me again. Or at least try to convince me why I should care. Because right now? I really can't find much inside to say I should.

Comments

[maipokerface]

Glad I have your approval then, I guess. So that's not a common sentiment, hm?

[Not that she thought it would be, of course. Most people seemed to be all for war.]

[manofiron]

From what I've seen, it's like Stockholm syndrome central here. I mean, sure, propaganda says there's some big bad monster out there ready to eat the universe or whatever, but other than a few calls of heavy breathing, it hasn't done much.

[maipokerface]

So it's mostly people saying you should all be afraid of him or that he's going to devour the world.

[manofiron]

Just like they're saying we should like the people who've abducted us. Because that's a perfectly reasonable demand to make.

[maipokerface]

Perfectly.

[She sighs out.]

I can't say I'm surprised. People will buy into anything if they want to believe it enough.

[manofiron]

So why are you so sensible? Statistically speaking, there had to be someone else out there, but I was starting to give up hope.

[ Only Tony would consider himself sensible. ]

[maipokerface]

[She huffs an amused breath.]

You're supposed to call me a pessimist. Or that's what most people think being sensible is.

[manofiron]

Pessimist? I prefer the term realist.

[maipokerface]

Sounds better to me anyhow. I'm not exactly pessimistic after all.

[A beat.]

Just not all that hopeful. Mostly when it comes to other people.

[manofiron]

Not many people really deserve that hope, you know?

[ Most people just end up being a huge disappointment. Or homicidal maniacs. But then, Tony's had a weird life. ]

I'm Tony, by the way. Tony Stark.

[maipokerface]

Mai.

[manofiron]

I'd go through the "pleasure to meet you" routine, but I'll do you one better. You need anything, come to Stark Industries. I'll hook you up.

[maipokerface]

Anything. [A beat.] Like what exactly.

[manofiron]

Tech. Some money until you get yourself settled. A job. Recommendations for shops and restaurants. You know, whatever a person might need when they wake up on a giant turtle.

[maipokerface]

What, are you the guy with all the know how around here then?

[Said in a completely amused tone, of course.]

[manofiron]

I'm more like the guy with some of the know how.

[ He smiles as he says it, like it's all just part of the joke. Which part, even he doesn't know. ]

I don't think anyone's managed to figure it all out yet.

[maipokerface]

I guess not. Particularly if whatever this war is has gone on a thousand years.

[manofiron]

Doesn't lend much confidence to this notion that we're the magic group that'll figure it out this time, does it?

[maipokerface]

I'd call it 'wishful thinking'.

[manofiron]

[ He nods agreement. ]

And we all know how that kind of thing turns out.

[maipokerface]

Poorly?