[network] @IAmLegend; video; Day 182 [open]

[definingfuture]

In case anyone hasn't spoken to a friend for obvious reasons, we seem to have all cooled off. I know now might not seem like the best time, but after what happened it's more important to keep in contact with each other and stay with people.

[Tony really wishes Steve were here. It should be him making this kind of announcement.]

What happened the day before wasn't an accident. It was something, the town maybe, trying to reach out and assert its influence over all of us. And if we react by dropping the work everyone has done so far? It wins. It gets exactly what it wants, because all of us break apart, making us easier to pick off. Or we give up. What we should be doing is pushing back and finding out who the prophet really is. We need to try to figure out what they intend to do for our own safety.

If there's anything I can do to help the rest of you, I still intend to do that. I'm not going to stop. I want everyone to be safe. And the best way to help each other is communication. Like the man said yesterday, don't shut down. He's a good guy.

So, on that note, my name is Tony Stark. I'm considered a superhero on the Earth I come from. We handle organizations that want to endanger the world, the occasional intergalactic threat, and... Things like this when they happen. Some of you might consider that a police force, but we're more of a general emergency response solution. I just want to give you a fair idea of who I am.

[He's holding the tablet up so he can address them properly, and raises his off-hand to gesture.]

Also, I have questions. First, how are your eyes? If you are still showing signs of change, I'd like to know. Do you feel different? Secondly, if you are alone right now and weren't with someone when this started, please check in. Let us know everyone is still here and no one is stranded without help. And if you have questions, today I'm going to be completely open.

Comments

[heroproceeding]

[ He doesn't miss that look. Doesn't miss it. But doesn't say anything about it either. Of course, it's hard to focus on the rest of the conversation at hand when he hears that question straight up front and center and Zack freezes up before he can stop himself.

But then he's never had much of a poker face to begin with. He's not about to get that lucky now. He doesn't say anything at first as he looks away. Then, he just kinda weakly shrugs, voice quiet. ]

Well, I guess that cat's out of the bag.

[ He glances back, biting his lip briefly before releasing it. ]

But no. I don't think I do. So, if there's anyone that's gonna have to bite the bullet, I'd want it to be me. I want them to have a future beyond here that I might not ever be able to have.

[definingfuture]

[Tony doesn't respond right away. He stays quiet, with a pained, serious expression as he adjusts to what Zack is telling him. That he doesn't have a future like his friends do.]

No.

[It's soft, but determined.] No, you are not going to have to do that. The future isn't decided for us. It's living, changing with us. We don't know who will or won't have a future when all of this ends. We're changing the course of events right now.

[heroproceeding]

No... The future isn't decided for us. But I did decide my future back there. So, I don't know if my ticket still applies after this or what.

[ Sure, one can hope what this all means. Maybe there's something beyond this for him. Maybe these resurrections break cardinal rules across all these worlds. Maybe he'll have a chance.

Or maybe he won't.

Zack still can't deny the tinge of something in him as he watches Tony's face. He nods faintly to himself. Once, twice before he steps off and now he's pacing with his tablet in hand, belatedly going over to the far door and closing it. Leaning into it before pushing off. ]

Listen, you may be right. This may very well be changing everything and maybe I'll be that lucky. Believe me. I'd rather be. I've got people who wouldn't be happy to hear me talk like this. [ He's pretty sure Al would be running in here and socking him in the face right about now otherwise. ]

So, don't take it like I've given up. I haven't. I'm just... not taking it off the the table either just yet. You get me?

[definingfuture]

[Tony can't deny what Zack says is sound. They might be able to escape and they might even be able to change things back in their own worlds when all of this is over, but there is no guarantee that they can. And whatever has happened before they came probably still applies. If Zack lost a fight or was stuck with some unfortunately turn of luck before he got picked up in Norfinbury, then returning him home would return him right back to the conditions he left.]

Yeah. I... I understand. We can do everything in our power in the meantime, though, right? We can help people here.