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video;
[ Clark appears on screen wearing a recently acquired pair of glasses from the marketplace. He looks like a buff nerd irritated and uncertain. ]
I think something was delivered to me by mistake. [ He angles the camera so the fuzzy little bonsai tree in front of him is clearly visible. The leaves are covered in fur, it's actually sort of cute but... That tiny meowing sound? That's coming from the tree.
More specifically, from the little seed pods that contain live kittens. ]
If it belongs to anyone, I'll be happy to return it. [ Said mildly. He doesn't know yet if this is an alien species or something more deliberate, but he's trying very hard to give it the benefit of a doubt here. ]
In the meantime... Does anyone know what this is, exactly? Or how to take care of it?
I think something was delivered to me by mistake. [ He angles the camera so the fuzzy little bonsai tree in front of him is clearly visible. The leaves are covered in fur, it's actually sort of cute but... That tiny meowing sound? That's coming from the tree.
More specifically, from the little seed pods that contain live kittens. ]
If it belongs to anyone, I'll be happy to return it. [ Said mildly. He doesn't know yet if this is an alien species or something more deliberate, but he's trying very hard to give it the benefit of a doubt here. ]
In the meantime... Does anyone know what this is, exactly? Or how to take care of it?
(Don't be sorry, it's great!!)
So maybe he's wrong about Tony, and under that bluster and ego, he's someone with morals that Clark thinks he can respect. He nods, but his expression is still pensive. ]
I don't know that it's any more plausible to keep all of that potential locked up. You want to help people - that much is obvious. [ He drops his gaze briefly. ] Keeping it contained to people you trust sounds good on paper, but how long could you keep a secret that could save lives?
[ And isn't that a question he's come back to over and over?
He shakes his head at the question. ]
I have. A while back, aliens tried to terraform the Earth. It was our first contact with them, mostly. They had pretty unique ships - but all I could tell you is that the Moira isn't Kryptonian.
no subject
You have to look at it like this: handing it over could save a few lives, but in the long run, when it eventually is used for terrorism, it will take more than it's ever saved. I have a design back home, something I use to save lives but it's incredibly powerful. Devastatingly so in the wrong hands. The government has tried everything short of taking it from me by force--and believe me, they've considered that option too--do I regret making it? No. I've saved countless lives with it. Do I feel guilty knowing it could help our troops on the front lines if I handed over the specs? No. You know why? Because I've seen first-hand what damage it can do in someone else's hands. The lives I can save with it alone outweighs the guilt. More than once, I've seen things I've made to protect our troops turned against them, or others. It's not happening again.
[Clark, you touched on a sensitive subject there, buddy. Tony's quite passionate about this.
He's so wrapped up in that little gospel that the name almost slips past him. Almost.]
Wait... Kryptonian? [He sits up slowly, looking intently at Clark's face. A beat and he flips over to a private video.] Next you're gonna tell me you know Superman.
no subject
[ He exhales softly and leans back, his expression pensive as he thinks over everything Tony has said. ]
Things you made to protect the troops - you were weapons manufacturer? Why the change of heart?
[ The last question catches Clark entirely off guard - as far as he knows, Tony isn't from his world. His expression sobers quickly, and Clark frowns, uncertain. ]
...Is that what they're calling him? [ Lois had suggested it first and really it's not bad, just - a little ostentatious. ] How do you know about any of that?
[Locked Video]
Yep. Stark Industries was the leading weapons manufacturer for the United States troops. A business my father built and I carried on. What changed? Like I said, I've seen my tech used against our own people and innocent civilians. I should've seen it before, but I was blind and arrogant. A good colleague of mine was double-dealing behind my back. It took one of my own missiles blowing up in my face to realise it. To hear from a first hand witness that my weapons were being used by the enemy against innocents. I'd be dead if my captors hadn't gotten greedy and wanted me to build them my newest project. I escaped, wrecked the place, and shut down the weapons division of my business. You don't give a genius a workshop, tools, and an arsenal then try backing him into a corner. It doesn't end well for you.
[Tony was all fired up now, but his curiosity was just as strong as his passion for the other subject. He narrows his eyes on Clark.]
He's... something of a legend. Comic hero. Wears a blue and red suit with a cape. I never really read many of his comics, but I guess there's a little truth in every comic. I should've figured that after seeing there were Captain America comics, and I know the guy personally. I knew the name Clark Kent rang a bell. So I guess you don't actually call yourself Superman? [Nice try, Clark. You should've never mentioned Kryptonians.]
[Locked Video]
The kind of person you become after something like that is what's most important. But it can be dangerous, too, to be accountable to no one but yourself.
[ What Tony says next is a lot to take in at once, but there had been comics around when he was younger too - people in colorful capes and cartoons about Captain America. As much as he'd related to them as an outcast with strange abilities himself, they'd been fictions about people who didn't exist, as real as any long-dead pantheon.
Then again, in Ivan's world, America itself didn't exist. Compared to that, a little bit of fiction about him shouldn't be a surprise. It would certainly be easier for people to accept than the fact of his existence. Not that Tony seems to be having any trouble with that.
He could deny it, he supposes, but it isn't really in his nature to be deceptive. Clark tugs off his glasses. ]
Well, look at it this way. [ He considers the name, the affiliation. ] Did you name yourself Iron Man?
[ He gives Tony a wry smile. ]
If it's all the same to you, I'd rather people not hear about what I can do. It's a diverse group, but knowing someone here could rip the ship in half with their bare hands is the kind of thing that puts people on edge.
[Locked Video]
Yes, thank you Cap 2.0. I solemnly swear not to suddenly go Supervillain. I've learned my lesson. I have the rest of the team to answer to if I screw up again. Cap's "I told you so" face is the worst.
[But then he's smirking.]
Nope. It's catchy though, even if it's inaccurate. The suit's a gold-titanium alloy. Much stronger than iron, but it had a nice ring to it so I kept it. So, Man of Steel meets Man of Iron, huh?
As long as you don't actually try to break the ship in half, I think that's a secret I can keep. People get edgy. They get that way around my buddy, Hulk. He's a big, green, smashing machine, but he's a good guy. Little bit of a temper. Nothing dropping a building on him doesn't fix. [Is he seriou--yes. He's serious. More like smashing him through a building, but you know. Details.]
no subject
[ Clark actually looks a little self-conscious at that. Sometimes it just gets away from him. ]
Well, it does sound better than "man of gold-titanium alloy meets invulnerable alien."
[ It seems like Tony understands pretty well, and Clark nods at him. He appreciates it more than Tony might realize. It's not like he could stop Tony from telling everyone if he'd decided that he wanted to. ] You... dropped a building on your friend? How did he end up being able to withstand something like that?
[ He might recognize Tony, but it's been a long time since he read comic books. ]