Indictment

[in_extremis]

WHO: Absolutely everyone.
WHERE: The diner.
WHAT: A decision has to made about threats to the community.
WHEN: After an attempted murder, a chaotic rescue, and an awkward reunion. Now.
WARNINGS: Nothing yet. Mark it if something comes up because...
NOTES: Structurally, this is a mingle, so you can decide what part of this is actually important to you. What you talk about in here doesn't have to be directly Beck-related, but for details about the incident, further organizing, and if you want to determine what your characters might have done/seen/heard in the meantime, this post is still good!

[NETWORK//text @ everyone]

Come to the diner. We have to talk.
If you don't show up, I'll assume you agree with me because you're incredibly intelligent and graceful. The city of Temba thanks you for your contribution to our justice system.

This was the last thing Tony wanted to do. The diner at least felt familiar, neutral--somewhere he could be in control, without having all of the attention on him. Being able to bask in the attention would have been so much easier. As it was, that felt like he would be inviting everyone to really examine the cracks in the armor. They were here because he had already lost control.

As if that didn't already feel enough like an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, Tony found himself standing in a circle of seats that he had arranged, the tables pushed up against the walls, and couldn't honestly say how much that had been intentional. He raised a lip, and looked to Felwinter as though he would have any illuminating insight about productive interior design. He seemed like he wanted to be here even less than Tony did. Beck was his charge for the time being, though, and as awkward as it was to stand in his stupid chair-circle with the pair of them, Tony did appreciate having Felwinter there to keep an eye on their...problem. Even if having witnesses to his restless energy made it all the more humiliating. Felwinter couldn't sit on Beck forever just to make sure he didn't lure anyone else off the edge of a cliff, so they were all going to have to survive a little humiliation.

"I think the coffee's done," Tony declared, with absolutely no idea what state the coffee was actually in and readily moving toward the kitchen regardless. "Do you want one? I'll get you one. Do you do that sort of...?" He was still talking, and what Felwinter did or didn't eat and drink might have otherwise been something Tony pushed him about, but he was already mentally in the kitchen and trailed off as he went, flapping a hand to wave off any refusal of his offer or explanation about Felwinter's digestive situation. Maybe he would just stay in the kitchen and listen, let Beck hang himself.

Tony took a deep breath, pushing his sunglasses up his nose and squaring his shoulders, readying himself for a performance.

Comments

[tyrants_son]

Felwinter was not used to being around this many people, even if currently they were yet represented only by an array of empty seats. The thought of them actually being filled made him anxious, and for how little of it showed on the Exo's face, Tony would probably notice by the tiny readjustments he'd make to a seat, a table, as though they were off by the smallest of degrees in some invisible layout on the floor. The only reason he was here was because of the situation with Beck, the man never quite forgotten where he'd been sat, the Exo turning his burning gaze every now and then, unhidden by his normal helmet, to fix him with a look that suggested Beck try to breathe as quietly as possible.

This could have all been avoided, he couldn't help but think. But in hindsight were he able to go through with his initial plans without Peter's timely intervention, the warlord wondered it would have made the right impression. Only so many would know of the danger that Quentin Beck was, but their view of Felwinter might change drastically. Still, this was all rather frustrating.

His head jerked up abruptly at Tony's sudden declaration about coffee, the concept of refreshments completely lost upon him. Those eyes despite their intensity against the darkness of the Exo's metal features looked in that moment confused as Tony rambled, and before he could even cobble together some sort of response the man was off. Suddenly left to an invisible audience with the sole exception of their detainee, Felwinter stopped himself short of following, reminded of why he was here. He turned and stepped over to the side to take his position by Beck, folding his arms.

[in_extremis]

"Okay." It appeared Tony had made an executive decision about Felwinter's beverage situation, and returned with only one mug and a hastily constructed determination. He sauntered his way back toward the Exo, the image of cool confidence behind his glasses except for the tension in his jaw that make his familiar smirk hard around the edges as he poured himself into a seat across from Felwinter, legs crossed to hold his coffee against his knee and free arm draped over the back of the seat. "Okay. Here we go. Time to get into gear," he repeated, mostly to convince himself.

Illustrating with his dangling hand, he said, "We haven't had to do this yet. Not that I know of. As far as I can tell, everyone else here has weighed the options if they've gotten something up their ass, and came to the conclusion that general survival took precedence. It is possible that we have to use that same calculation to deal with this."

[hashtagparkerluck]

Off to the side, curled up with his head resting on the table. He hadn't meant to fall asleep and was really only here out of curiosity and to make sure that nothing like capital punishment gets suggested. No matter what happened, Peter's still against that option.

He knows what he's been told about what happened and he knows that it's the truth but he's still having a hard time wrapping his head around the fact that Beck could have tried to kill Tony especially since he'd said himself he barely knew him. Then again, Beck had apparently been lying since the beginning so what did he know?

Beck claimed they worked together and had been taking care of Peter. Peter wanted to go so far as to say he'd been taking good care of him but with new evidence that had come to light he's really starting to doubt that. Except there was a long stretch of time Peter's fairly certain he did feel at least a little safe with Beck so maybe, for a little bit at least, Beck was taking good care of him?

Either way, it made for some very conflicting and exhausting emotions which is ultimately while Peter's napping in a corner before people start showing up. If someone ventures too close though, he'll jerk awake, somehow managing not to fall over.

"I'm awake!" He insists.

[in_extremis]

The sudden movement didn't startle Tony, only made him pause briefly at the side of the table with an impatient pout for Peter to collect himself. A familiar performance. There was a lot about him that felt familiar, like it was Tony's memory that was too hazy when some details weren't exactly what he expected. Maybe he wasn't 'remembering' properly how Peter took his coffee, either. He pushed one of the mugs he carried in front of the kid, and tried to look incredibly nonchalant as he took a sip from his own cup and stared intently over the rim at Peter for his reaction.

"You don't have to stick around, you know, if you need some sleep. The energy in here is literal nightmare fuel," he suggested, flicking a finger toward the door. It did occur to Tony then that the problem was perhaps that Peter didn't know where to go, with his whole housing situation being somewhat compromised as it was. Jon did say he had spent some time at the library, though. "There's that couch, in the library. No one ever goes there, it'll just be you and the cats."

[usedtobesmoller]

Steve had come back from the weird, cloudy place he'd apparently been in for months and found that, in all that time, Tony had apparently been murdered? Or attempted to be, since he was clearly still here. Steve was still trying to piece it all together and was sitting, just listening in the hopes that this would make sense soon. But before any of it could, he saw Peter starting to drift off before loudly declaring the opposite.

Steve smiled at him and moved closer.

"Hey, if you wanna just take a quick catnap, I can wake you up when things get goin'? You look like you're running low on gas..."

Someone has to talk, right?

[beholding_archivist]

Jon is present. Of course Jon is present.

Though unlike Tony, Jon has fewer qualms about actually bringing up the matter of this meeting Tony has called. So when Tony excuses himself to... Make coffee, the Archivist steps into the circle, his expression stern as he casts a glance at Beck.

"Alright. During the most recent storm, Mr. Quentin Beck here tried to murder Tony by luring him to the large hole that leads down to the mines and subsequently pushing him inside, making use of the fact that neither the network nor anyone's powers were working properly. He then tried to erase Tony from the network to make us believe him to being gone."

"This gathering has been called to discuss and decide how we handle this matter, what we do with Mr. Beck." He may not say it out loud, but Jon's tone at least makes it clear that he wouldn't mind feeding the man to Beholding.

[buildingitsir]

York, to say the least, has no idea what's going on. He's been here a day, maybe two and there's a lot he's gotta get caught up on. So when the text comes through the device - so weird that he gets it on what probably equivocates to a cell phone instead of in his head - the android debates on even going. But it's who the text seems to be from is what gets his attention.

So his now dried hoodie is gathered up and the young looking android heads out to the diner. And he has to keep referencing the map to get a good idea of where it is. It's not like he needs to use what they offer.

Slipping in, York takes in the seating arrangements. Promptly ignores them. His chest LED turning yellow for a good fifteen seconds before it fades back into teal. A dude looks like he's asleep on a table. A man with glasses. Someone wearing armor. And a seemingly normal human. And here York thought he'd be the odd one out here.

Teal eyes linger on Tony way too long. 'It's eerie,' he thinks. 'How much he looks like my fucking dad.' The android doesn't say it out loud. It's not what any of them are here for apparently.

...York doesn't know what they're here for.

He goes to the tables on the other side of the room - away from the sleeping guy - and sits on one instead of a chair. It gives him some height since that's not his strong suit. It's when the guy in the specs pipes up does York hone his attention in on someone other than Tony. "Yeah, is there a recap or something on what happened? I got a text on this stupid thing and I've no idea what the fuck is going on."

[kree_soldieress]

This was not what Lauri was expecting when the call came to gather. Not to see Tony leaving as she entered, or a man bound, or Mister Felwinter monitoring him. What she definitely wasn't expecting was to hear Jon's words.

Yet there she was, just inside the entrance, standing in her full accuser armor with her Universal Weapon in hand, faced with... Well, with what would well be duty back home. Should she stay silent? Should she seek the truth? Had she not sworn many a time to not apply Alliance law or Kree ideals upon this place as it was not part of the Empire?

And yet...

"And these accusations have been verified? The guilt of this man truly determined? There are witnesses and evidence? Has Tony spoken this crime before all gathered? We are certain it was not one of the illusions in the storm which tricked him?"

That, she realizes, might seem too much like disbelief, so she raised a hand to halt any potential interruption.

"I ask merely to be certain. I suffered a false accusing once, and I have sworn to serve the truth and justice."

[tempredmental]

"Those storms can make you see some weird stuff," Keith said. "I don't know Beck at all, and only a little about Tony. So, for those of us not in the inner circle here, is there like a... I don't know... something that's less of a he-said-he-said?" Keith had been through more than his fair share of illusions, trickery, lies, and visions, even before Temba and the storms. He was skeptical of the whole thing, honestly, and was hoping for a third opinion or something corroborate one side of the story or the other.

The Accused

[itsamysterio]

Beck sat in his chair, keeping quiet when under the watchful eye of Felwinter. Despite the dark bruise on his cheek he attempted to hold himself with a dignified air. Like he had no idea why he was here.

"Are we really going to decide a man's fate at an HOA meeting?" he asked, "Do I not even get a defense?"

[tyrants_son]

Felwinter just turned his head to look over at him. "You are fortunate that they insist upon a deliberation at all."

[hashtagparkerluck]

He knows he shouldn't, he knows it's asking for trouble but can't quite resist the urge to venture over to Beck. His movements are a little stiff and doubt is written all over his face but it's more doubt about what he's doing more so than anything else.

"You lied to me." Peter points out the obvious, standing a few feet away. "You made me feel like I was the crazy one. Why? What the hell do you get out of messing with my head?" He's aware that's not the main issue here but to be honest, despite that he knows the truth now, he's still having difficulty fully comprehending it. It all just seems so insane it's making his head hurt a little.

[doubled_speed]

He stands there for a while, looking at Beck. Stands there and looks at him, silently. This wasn't easy for Tommy. He'd been worried about Beck before this, after all. And then here he was, turning it all around, proving to be the horrible person Tommy had thought he was at first. Dammit.

"Do you even have a son?"

[mrsklover]

Richie pretty much felt like he'd come back to a whole new planet after whatever the fuck had happened to him. Walking into this meeting and seeing Beck in a chair, apparently on trial? Yeah. Sure. Why not?

"Dude, have you actually been to an HOA meeting? Those things are bloodbaths. Bring up new fencing restrictions or street parking? Yeah. This is pretty much trial by combat, my friend."

He did, however, look around.

"Did we get any lawyers around here while I was on vacation? Otherwise you're probably fucked, my man."

[kree_soldieress]

With her conversation with Jon completed, Lauri moved closer to Beck, her hammer in hand.

"Quentin Beck, you stand accused of the attempted killing of Tony Stark outside of a time of war. While it is not my belief that Kree law and customs should be exerted without invitation, I believe the only way to prove truth in your favor is to have you relent to examination by an Accuser."

She raises her hammer, and a pulsing green energy forms around it.

"This will cause you no harm."

[Open] Opinions from Tommy

[doubled_speed]

I. Actually Espresso For You - Closed to Tony
Sorry about trying to go into the kitchen for coffee, Tony. Because, of course, there was Tommy. There was Tommy sitting on the floor of the kitchen. Sure, the whole percolator he'd built over time to make coffee was definitely going and done, but Tommy didn't have a cup from that. Instead there he was on the floor, hands wrapped around a small cup.

The scent in it is stronger than coffee would be. An espresso. One he was considering rather than drinking.

But when he saw Tony come in he sighed and held the cup up.

"From what little I hear, you need this more than I do."


II. Opinions Shared Publicly - Open
"Exile."

It's the thing that ends up on Tommy's mind after he's heard about it all. He'd suggested it jokingly before. Thing was, he'd been preparing for it too. A bit of cleaning up the island off the beach, making sure there was shelter there. Not that he'd intended it to be, well, a place for an exiling. No, he'd been preparing for the day that maybe Billy was gone too, and he just wanted to be away from people for a while. A place where he could let his anger dominate and try and blow stuff up for stress relief and not hurt anyone else in the process.

Now he's offering it for real.

"He tried to kill one of us. Here we are in this fucking apocalypse, the weather hates us, the Atroma hate us, the Agrii can be fucking idiots sometimes, and he tried to kill one of us. If the Agrii aren't punishing him for that, we have to. And we can't trust him."

And that? Tommy was angry over that.

espresso 🥺

[in_extremis]

Finding his secure retreat already occupied made Tony wince, teeth clenched and ready to back right out if Tommy would do him the kindness of throwing him out of the kitchen before he defiled it, so he didn't have to look like he was running away. Any other day, Tony suspected Tommy still might, after the whole fake-Christmas incident, but any other day Tony didn't think he'd find Tommy on the floor. He hurriedly constructed a cool, impatient tilt of his head, rolling his shoulders back subtly with a hand planted on his hip, only for the project to be interrupted by Tommy's unexpected offering. Tony's cool facade was cracked with a surprised lift of his eyebrows, and he had to slink closer to confirm what Tommy was actually holding out to him.

"I'm going to go out on a limb and say you never need that much caffeine," he said, hand on his hip slipping into his pocket where it flexed restlessly, turning something over in his palm, and the other out flat to illustrate and not quite taking the cup from Tommy yet. "If you do need something, though, sweetheart, you know you can just ask. I know you've had a..." While Tony's voice had softened, he didn't really want to trick Tommy into thinking he was a viable resource for emotional support, that would have been cruel, so he quickly diverted, "I know it's rough on you, when your powers bug out."

[out_of_order]

This was not the sort of meeting anyone probably wanted to ever find themselves invited to. By then Cal at least had an idea of what had happened, which didn't make things any better. It was a relief that Tony was found alive and as well as could be, and he only wished he'd been able to have been of better assistance.

The young Jedi took one of the back seats of those arranged, arms folded as he listened to what was had to be said. He could sense the tension, as well as the underlying anger, and not just from a single party. There was confusion, there was uncertainty, and it was all quite understandable. To attempt to kill someone was a serious offense, and that it was someone he'd grown close to just prompted past aches of similar losses. He wasn't sure what his choice would be on the matter, and that realization also bothered him.

It would be an easier decision to make if it were a battle, where life and death depended on the choices of those involved, and even then it was no simple thing, knowing you were taking a life in order to preserve your own or that of a comrade. But didn't it also make it worse that what had happened here wasn't in battle? To what he'd heard, it had happened unprovoked. Cal closed his eyes, taking in a slow breath as he calmed himself, trying to distance himself from the swirl of emotions in the room.

[thestaremaster]

"You all right?"

Bucky's voice interrupted, the usual mask of grumpiness replaced with a look of mild concern.

This was inevitable as far as he was concerned. Get a group of strangers together long enough and eventually someone was going to try something.

He wondered though if it was something that should have been handled privately, rather than expose more people to the nature of man?

[ Awkwardly Open ]

[iseegoblins]

It was awkward, the entire thing, for a lot of reasons that Jean couldn't quite put a finger on. Maybe it all came down to her not really wanting to be here. Should she feel bad for that? Probably. Yet here she was, off in a corner on her own trying to avoid making eye contact for too long with anyone else here. Though, occasionally, she did make prolonged glances at this version of Tony. Version. Yeah, that was still weird to think about. Wasn't the first time she'd encountered other versions, alternate realities, that whole thing, but it was still weird.

That wasn't even the weirdest part though. The thing that really made her feel awkward was the idea of playing god. From what she understood about the situation it was necessary for them to do. Something had to be done about what had happened, she agreed there. The idea of actually participating in deciding what needed to be done though, that made her kinda uncomfortable. Maybe that came down to the fact that she'd done that recently on a much bigger scale. Funny enough she could remember Thor mentioning something about how different things became when you realized what was actually out there in terms of the cosmic beings of the universe. Making judgements about people's fates just seemed so easy when you had the power to follow through with any judgement you might make. Which was actually kind of a terrifying thought for her to linger on for too long.

So she didn't.

Instead she just listened to other people's opinions with her arms folded over her chest. If the Professor was here he'd offer some opinion, but that'd been one of the problems with how he did things, hadn't it? Keeping to herself unless directly approached seemed like the right play.

"I hope this isn't a common thing here."

[provenforce]

"It's not," Rey replies quietly. Jean isn't the only one who is observing rather than inserting opinions. Nearby Rey sits, similarly with her arms crossed as she listens to the arguments and the situation.

"Most of the time no one tries to kill anyone else, at least not when they're in their rational mind." Is about all Rey has to comment on it. She doesn't know what to do with the situation herself, but she isn't offering up her own expertise. At least not at the moment. If asked she might give her opinion, but deciding on whether someone else lives or dies is usually something handled by people with loftier aspirations than she.

Cayde Cameo

[deal_me_in]

"Hey!" came an all too jovial voice from the window. "Anyone order a pizza?" The Hunter poked his head in, looking a little sheepish as he took in those gathered. Oh. Meeting was already happening, apparently. Erm. This was awkward.

"I'll just um." Cayde held up several boxes of freshly thawed out pizza and with a bit of reangling managed to get them through the window where he left them on the nearest table. His optics skimmed the room from side to side before he abruptly ducked back out, the sound of someone dodge-rolling along the outer wall fading off into retreating steps.

[fatedsacrifice]

Noctis was here and wasn't sure what the hell to do. He kept himself firmly to the wall and tried his damnest to be a 'wall flower'. He didn't see Gladio that morning when he got the message from Tony and wanted to make sure that he followed through on seeing it. Whatever was going on had to be important enough to call on everyone to show up.

And it felt really weird.

But he tried to hide his nervousness and then heard Cayde's voice. The next thing he knew there was pizza being delivered through a window. So Noct made sure the pizza wasn't going to fall on the floor, before he turned and looked for him.

"Where are you going?"

No, but seriously. What the fuck?

[mrsklover]

Richie had been gone for awhile. Where? Good question. All he knew was his vision was still a little blurry and his whole body ached like he got some exercise (ew). Oh, and that this whole place was now suddenly fucking nuts.

He got Tony's message and showed up to the diner mainly to make sure that no one could possibly confuse him for someone smart or graceful. Inside he saw what looked like a weird meeting of the ilk he used to do. But just a lot more serious and with a dude sitting in a chair apparently under trial. Which was something they did, now?

He blinked and scratched his head, baffled.

"So. Uh. Did we get like... a Bill of Rights or something in the last...whatever time? Because if we're still discussing that, I absolutely want to add on 'The Right to Bear Arms'. Not guns. Just like, big hairy bear arms. It would be hilarious."

See? Not intelligent or graceful.

[owneroftheworstroom]

While Richie is still baffled, Bruno simply walks past him, back towards the diner's door, a box of pizza in his hands and chuckling as he picks up the unfamiliar man's words.

"Good one!" Bruno comments without really turning towards Richie or even stopping. He, also, has received the message, but this entire thing isn't really something he feels to be the right person to engage with. But someone dropped off food. And Bruno is not one to turn down free food.

OTA

[thestaremaster]

The important questions:

Bucky took in the various conversations with a creased brow, before finally raising finger to interject with what he thought was something that had been sorely glossed over.

"Maybe I missed this part, but- that hole is super deep. Why isn't Stark dead?" Maybe a little blunt. "That fall should have killed a normal human."

Idle chatter:

Bucky frowned at his coffee and took a sip as he eavesdropped on the chatter going on around him while still trying to focus on his actual conversation. The chair was uncomfortable, and he shifted, draping his free arm over the back of it with a sigh.

"Are you as surprised as I am it took this long for one of us to try and kill someone?" he asked.

Idle Chatter

[usedtobesmoller]

Steve, up on his feet again and heading straight for Bucky as he walked in, flopped into the seat beside him. Just in time to hear the question and snort a laugh.

"Ever the optimist, Buck?"

Okay, the chair was uncomfortable. He was happy to be out of bed but maybe not that happy if this was the alternative.

"I dunno. Everyone else seemed to be gettin' along around here. Unless you have some insight on the vendettas here that I don't?"

OTA plus a Tony

[heeeyadora]

For Tony
Catra stalked through the room with a threatening aura considering how small she was, tail and hair poofed up and out. She found Tony and delivered him a hard glare and a punch to the shoulder before hugging him tightly, face screwed up in a glare.

"Idiot," she muttered, "You're not allowed to die."

OTA

"I don't understand what there is to talk about. I mean...he admitted it. Tony's alive to tell it. Why is he still here?" she asked, "There's nothing to debate about. Just get rid of him. Simple."

this abuse

[in_extremis]

This didn't seem like the kind of thing Catra would willingly engage herself in, not when she had her own weird guy messing with her head that she was in recovery from, so as she came thundering in Tony raised his eyebrows and rather expected her to be irritated that their wasn't any food for her to steal at the forge right now. Tony had been, well, distracted. As she effectively collided with him, he was still wincing from the punch, hands up and not sure what to do with them while he was squeezed.

"Of course not, never going to happen. What, did you think I was going to? Please. You're the idiot," he insisted, finally figuring out what they were doing as he spoke and trying not to be too obvious about a still effective reassuring cradle of her head against his shoulder.

SHERIFF STEEB

[usedtobesmoller]

Steve had heard enough to feel like he needed to step in. Walking away from his seat, he stood as tall as he could manage and cleared his throat.

"Everyone: this issue needs to be considered carefully. This right now is the start of our legal system on this planet. It is the standard we will be setting going forward and, honestly, we have far less luxury than we would likely have in our own world to simply lock him away and forget about him."

He looked around the crowd imploringly.

"Right here and now, what are we looking for? Is it vengeance? If so, then fine. Kill him. But if it is securing safety and making this place better, we need to think of some other options..."

EVERYONE BE NICE

[thestaremaster]

Bucky moved as casually as possible to position himself not too far from Steve, delivering stern looks at anyone who looked like they might either say something to discourage his friend, or try to slip away without voicing their option.

"Hear, hear!" he encouraged with a lopsided smirk.

Outside - OTA

[buildingitsir]

It was better outside. York, after his outstanding conversation with Jon, had simply left the diner. But he hadn't gone far. Nope, he had maneuvered to sit near the windows because the least he could do was listen in on what was happening. This Beck dude tried and almost succeeded in murdering a man with the same namesake as his own dad from Detroit.

If it were the same guy, York probably would've told Beck to try again with the android's help this time.

He could hear voices, mostly arguing with what to do now with Beck. York felt like he didn't have a place in saying what to do to a man he didn't know for an event he wasn't here for. It wasn't right. He pulls the hoodie of his beloved hoodie up to cast a shadow over his face, making the teal eyes brighter as he focuses on the fountain to listen. He left in such a huff, it wouldn't be a good look to go waltzing in a second time.

[mrsklover]

Richie was just about done with the arguing and stuff. He didn't really care what happened to Beck. Well. He did a little but not really enough to want to see the whole thing through. Beck seemed like he had a lot of issues, frankly. And if the best way to make sure he didn't go on a rampage was to kill him? Well. Richie would defer that decision to the others.

Outside however, he saw the smaller man with the hoodie over his face. Box of pizza in hand, he walked over and pushed it forward.

"Hey, hungry? I wouldn't blame you if all the hot air in there made you lose your appetite. Some guy is giving a whole speech about morality and crap. Honestly I'd rather get back to shit like visiting new planets instead of watching Law and Order: Agra 10."