ᴏᴏ1 : ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏ

[privatizes]

Who: Tony Stark [privatizes and YOU.
Broadcast: Fleetwide.
Action: S.S. Pathstone.
When: Now!

[ tony has spoken to some folks on the fleet already, and has figured out a number of things.

1. this is not the first time he has been here. apparently, there have been multiple versions of him here, and therefore a good number of people aboard the fleet knows who he is. whether or not that's a good thing is yet to be determined.

2. there are alternate dimensions, universes, and worlds. which he knew already, thanks to loki and his fucking magical mystery tour of hell a few years ago, but it's a lot different here. memory mismanagement, different versions of different people... hawkeye is a chick now? sure, whatever. okay.

3. he has no suit. he has no lab. he has no money. he has literally nothing that he usually brings to the table when he does this whole 'good guy' thing, and so he has to make do with the weapons he does have.

4. the reality tv thing is probably bullshit, but you know what? let's do this thing.

so when tony finally turns on the camera to greet the fleet properly, he's sitting at the communications station on the pathstone, fiddling with a screwdriver in his hands. ]

So.

[ smooth beginning ]

What's a guy gotta do for a decent latte around here?

[ that's it. that's the post. time to feel out how many people actually recognize him around here. but first: ]

[ encrypted; filtered to steve rogers, wanda maximoff, peggy carter, and the vision ]

Hey, gang. Avengers Assemble or whatever.

[ he really just wanted to say it once. but after that joke, tony grows a little more serious. ]

I set up an encrypted feed. You're all on the list. I'm the only one who can add people on and off it, so don't bother trying, 'cause I'll both notice and be pissed that you tried. The Atroma can probably read and listen to every single word, but I'm still not convinced the rest of the Fleet is as trustworthy or welcoming as they claim to be. Best we keep anything superhero related to ourselves.

[ and he pauses ]

They put me on the Pathstone. It has no shields and no weaponry, but it has a jacuzzi.

[ said in the world's most dry tone ]

And on a totally hypothetical note, what happens when you apply to be captain on the computer?

Comments

Encrypted; Text

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[He's got Wanda in a bit of a box on this one. As much as there is that lingering feeling of distrust towards the Stark name, Wanda certainly is a bit touched by Tony's words. While she does not know how she feels about the idea of "being adopted," the sentiment does not go unnoticed. She cracks slightly, a small sliver of a smile on her face, hidden behind the screen. It disappears just as quickly as it comes, however, as she still has something she wants to tell Tony Stark.]

New day, new age, huh?

[A pause.]

I still have not forgiven you. Not completely. For the part you played in my family's death, for what happened to my home.

But I am not completely free of responsibility either. Regardless of what you say, I know the role I played in Sokovia's fall.

If it means preventing anything like that from ever happening again, I am willing to be a part of this "cool club" of yours.

Encrypted; Text

[privatizes]

[ he doesn't really deserve the forgiveness, truth be told, and he hadn't been expecting it. so many people died (men, women, children) -- innocents that are on tony's hands. and he's going to have to come to terms with that, one day. when he can think about it without the giant weight in his chest and the trembling in his fingers.

this first. business first. focus. the avengers are here, and this gives him something to do. organize. get people on the same page. figure things out. negotiate. micro-manage. tony can do that. he's good at all of that. and so -- ]

What happened to Sokovia was everyone trying to help, but nobody really working out what was really needed. I wanted to help. Miserable failure. I'm never going to be able to fix it. Or make up for it. Or do anything in my life to wipe that from my record. I don't know why I still have a job. But the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Etc.

The Point:

I never want that to happen again. I'll do whatever it takes to make sure it doesn't. And if this place is as peaceful as everybody is making it out to be, great -- but I don't trust quiet. Or the people who brought us here. Eventually, we're going to have to do something to protect ourselves, and the people on this Fleet to nowhere from whatever's keeping us trapped here. I don't want more innocent people dying. Which means we're going to have to work together.

Consider yourself initiated.

Encrypted; Text

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[A few seconds pass before Wanda responds.]

If it means keeping innocent people safe, I will stand by you. I do not trust the puppet masters of this place either. As long as we are keeping everyone here safe together, I will be your ally.

Keep secrets from me--I will know if you are--and we are done.

Encrypted; Text

[privatizes]

[ the thought of anyone inside his head for any reason makes his skin crawl, but telling wanda to stay out of his mind will just inspire suspicion. besides, tony is fairly certain the vision would be on his side when it came down to it, if wanda steps over her boundaries with her powers.

not that she would. she's a kid. all tony has to do is not lie to her. or keep secrets from her. whatever that's supposed to mean. ]

Welcome to the Avengers.

[ steve, surely, is better at this. but steve isn't the one that stamped all over wanda's life. so tony it is. ]

Encrypted; Video

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[With that, the video feed clicks on showing Wanda's face. She looks as stern and nonchalant as ever, though, a closer look might detect the slightest signs of a smile.]

Does this mean I need to be fitted for a uniform?

Encrypted; Video

[privatizes]

[ tony himself isn't smiling at first -- but his expression definitely lightens at wanda's, and he holds up a hand. ]

Uh, no. We don't do uniforms. Everybody picks their own.

[ tony's just happens to be flashier than the others. ]

You do get a room in the tower, though, so that's something? I guess. Not that it's here. But you know, when we get out of here, you get that. [ god he is bad at this ] Free cable. Food. Thor cheats at UNO, you can have that experience.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda cocks an eyebrow, the faint hint of a smile solidifying into a more obvious grin.]

Really? My own room? Do I get to pick it, or will I have to make do with whatever you find "appropriate?"

[Flashes of memory, her cell in the Hydra base. The tests and constant observations.]

I expect a mind-reader will not be allowed to participate much during game night.

[privatizes]

Yeah, do whatever you want. No teenage ragers or anything.

[ is this what parenting feels like ]

And you can participate in game night but the minute we catch you cheating, we're hanging you out to dry.

[ is that literal or a metaphor

we just don't know ]

[notmutantbutmiracle]

So it is not so much that cheating is unallowed, it is just how good you are at not being caught.