maskormenace | Ver. 5.1

So, how about our friends with the government, huh? Asking us to do a few favors?

[ He doesn't sound all that insulted by the proposition, really. ]

Here's my blanket offer, if anyone would like to take the time, and wants a little company, I'd be happy to take you out with me when I fly around the City -- or, if heroing isn't your thing, and you're interested in something that sounds a little bit more like R&D, give me a ring, and we'll work something out.

[ And then there's a lengthy pause. Like this was really just a way to get things started. ]

I think it's important for you new people to understand that setting a foundation now will help you later. As a whole, being away from home is never preferable, but sometimes...well, it can take some time. You might be here for a few weeks, you might be here for months, or years. Hell, look at me. Up until two months ago, we'd been in the City for ages, me for almost five years, and now I'm here, and here's the five year mark.

Mind, the scenery's changed, but it's still about the same, at its heart. We're still a long way from home, and I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm not going to let this little drawback stop me from doing what I do best -- which is making sure that we aren't a threat -- but instead a tool to help build a better, and brighter future. Which is why, if you're not careful, you'll find yourself stepping into something bigger than just being disliked by the locals. These things build up, and have distinct ripple effects on the rest of the world as a whole.

So just remember that, if you don't register. They've been kind to us so far, even with the tattoos. Let's not blow it, huh?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ No ID printed.

But the feed opens to a familiar costume, its wearer also donning a none too pleased expression, bordering sour.

"Threat", huh? She wants to say something about that, but it looks like some good folk have got it covered. ]

Or you'll imprison us in another dimension, is that it?

Power Girl.

[ A little stiffly. Who has been talking? ]

42 was a way to remove dangerous elements from places where they may cause more trouble. Right before the crisis at Stamford -- the one that prompted the entire thing -- we'd had a contingent of supervillains break out of Riker's Island, and lay waste to the area.

We needed something secure, where there would be no casualties if something were to happen.

Iron Man.

[ It's the first she's used his mantle, but cold and empty. Appropriate, she thinks.

And one adorable little child has been talking. Peej likes her and at the same time worries for her if Tony's the one watching her back. ]

Was it only supervillains?

Or did you lock away your allies because they resisted registration, too?

They broke the law.

[ He won't back down from that one. ]

They made their choice to break the law, so that's what happened to superhumans who went to prison. I couldn't show preference to the people who fought with me, as opposed to against me before this. That's a preference that gets everyone in trouble. Not just me, but everyone who's signed on with me.

Did I want to? Of course not, but it was something that had to be done. I still kept their identities secret, which considering the fact that I knew all of them personally, was a stretch of my personal interest.

[Kate would step in, but it seems like that woman, whoever she is, is handling this well enough.

But she's definitely watching. Does Tony track what IPs access what? Because Kate definitely is keeping an eye on this.]

[ It riles her. Valeria's right; he's so far up his own mechanical ass he doesn't see his own faults. While she may not have been there, Valeria's little lesson and Tony's attitude following tells her enough. ]

What led to that decision? Were they ever consulted prior to passing that law?

Since when does a man with a fancy suit get to decide how to deal with those with superpowers? I swear, it's always the non-powered ones with issues.

[ It's an offhand remark, her eyes rolling back for a second. ]

[ WOW PEEJ THAT'S SO RUDE ]

There was plenty of time to fight the law, if they so chose. They could have protested, or acted in the millions of different ways to show that they weren't going to play along that's legal.

Instead, they went underground and waged a war against a law they didn't agree with. This wasn't a resistance, it was war. I tried, believe me, I damn well tried to work together with them. To make it right. I had the visibility and the position --

You know what happened? They shut me down and attacked.

So yeah, they had the opportunities both before, and after it was passed, and they didn't take them.

[ YOU'RE RUDE. ]

When you get backed into a corner, you come back out of it swinging.

[ She might not always agree, but it's obvious Tony's not going to admit he made a mistake. ]

But you shouldn't have had that right. Not when you're public. Not when you're not one of us.

Maybe there were better ways to approach the problem, but get your head out of your tin ass, Stark. You need to stop enforcing the idea registration is the only way to go here, before what went down in your world somehow repeats itself. They gave us a choice.

If they can respect it, so should you.

They did, yes.

Which is why I'm wondering why so many people are complaining that they choice is there.

Have you considered maybe they don't want anything to do with this?

[ Or is this the problem with Tony Stark? Does he have to walk a mile in someone else's shoes before he gets it?

She's disappointed and it's conveyed in her tone, as hostile as it is. She likes him or wanted to. She can tell he wants to do the right thing. ]

And you've now implied we're a threat.

Do you disagree that the potential isn't there? That I couldn't, with my technopathy, take down the entire technological world, if I wanted to? I'm one man, imagine what other people could do, and how much easier it would be for them to do it.

I absolutely will not discount the possibility.

[ That's the crux of registration, anyway. Some regulation for powers that could so easily go wrong. ]

Of course I don't. However, you can't disagree non-powered folk have the capacity to commit evil, too.

The difference between you and I is I choose to believe in the good of others, powers or not. I'm not Batman; I don't do distrustful and paranoid.

[ A light scoff. ]

I almost feel sorry for you. I wonder how many friends and allies you've lost because you think there isn't some flawed thinking there.

[ She disconnects there, not caring where she's struck. ]

[ She hits him hard, that's for sure. There's no way he can convince her, that's for sure. She doesn't get it, it seems, that it's not about mistrust, but that some things should just be regulated.

But then again, that's how many people think. He's cut from a different cloth, the difference was that he'd actually been up front about it, unlike others -- who may have kept everyone in the dark. ~~Nick Fury!!!!!!!~~

But there's nothing to it. If she's not going to listen, is there? She's right about one thing -- that he's lost a lot of friends and allies. ]

Ver. 5.1 | Voice

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