revivalproject | Indictment

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Is it? I know how overwhelmed you can get, Peter. I've talked you down, remember? You weren't in the state to have a rational conversation," Beck presses.

Peter frowns heavily at that. Yes, he does tend to get overwhelmed easily-this conversation is even starting to feel a little overwhelming because Beck is still treating him like he's the one with the problem.

"You tried to kill someone I look up to!" He snapped. "Who wouldn't be emotional?"

"...you'd never even spoken to him in person before this" Beck countered cooly, as though that negated any of Peter's concerns.

"So?" Peter demanded, his temper flaring just a little. "That doesn't make it not murder." Or attempted murder as the case may be. He should get up and go back to his corner to sulk or rethink his entire life.

"I don't get it, what did he do to you that was so bad you want kill him?"

"He's fine," Beck countered pointedly, smiling softly, but his head lilted softly to acknowledge the point.

"...He ruined my life."

"You still tried! Just because someone survives doesn't negate the fact you tried to kill them. That's not how it works." Peter points out, his tone raising an octave and squeaking slightly. He frowns at Beck's admission that Tony ruined his life because when the heck did that happen?

"I-I really don't think he did. I mean-not this Mr Star-not the one here. The one I know.. has a kind of reputation but he wouldn't do anything like that on purpose."

"Mm, well I didn't exactly have the chance to have things out with the real one," Beck excused.

"If he hadn't gone and gotten himself killed maybe things would have ended differently and I would have gotten it out of my system all ready." Oops. Beck accidently-on-purpose let slip the tidbit he'd been holding back from the kid.

Whatever argument Peter would have made is lost on his tongue as it suddenly feels like the ground beneath him just shattered. What the hell? The world around him blurs and all he can do is sit with a horrified look stuck on his face as he processes what Beck just told him.

No. Nonononono.

"Y-you're lying!" Peter forced out, shoving himself back and out of his chair. Beck was a liar, he'd proven that.

It wasn't true, was it? Tony wouldn't die. ...would he? He hates to admit it but it would kind of explain why Nick Fury brought him in on something.

Oh god.

"Th-that's not true!"

"Perhaps I should reconsider my earlier decision."

Felwinter stepped over, hauling up Beck by his shirt as though hefting a bag of groceries. "Or perhaps we should keep you from speaking. You continue to prove your lies by causing this boy distress." He glanced at Peter, unsure of anything he might be able to say to reassure him. He wasn't exactly good at such things.

"I think I agree with the librarian," he said as he turned his attention back towards Beck. "We will fish you out after the matter has been settled, where you cannot poison minds."

Was it a lie?

Beck arched a brow, but before he had much time to play Felwinter had hauled him up with a grunt of distress.

"Nnn- you wouldn't-" he all but challenged.

Tony couldn't die. He just couldn't. Wasn't his whole brand that he was invincible? Beck had to be lying. He snaps back to the present the moment Felwinter steps in. Part of him wants to agree-if he's down in that hole when he can't spread lies.

"No." Peter cuts in. "don't hurt him. It's.. it's not worth it." Peter insists although his voice isn't as determined as it might have been otherwise.

Felwinter looked quietly at Peter, not exactly convinced. He still held Beck, although for the moment did not address him.

"Do not interact any more with this man, Peter. This I strongly advise."

Beck was honestly a bit surprised Peter was still defending him. He'd done his best to make sure the kid would be on his side, but once the jig was up...

It confused him.

Not that he wasn't happy to take advantage of it.

"...I wasn't lying, Peter."

He's not on Beck's side. He's just a much better person than maybe he really should be in this situation. Peter's about to agree with Felwinter and Beck opens his mouth again.

"Y-" He starts to open his mouth to argue, to call him a liar again and but words die in his mouth. He doesn't get the feeling that Beck is lying but he's also been tricked before.

"Don't talk to me." He says, not looking at the man. "Just leave me alone."

"Walk away," Felwinter suggested to the boy. Then he turned his optics towards Beck, his grip tightening.

"Should we also take a walk?"

"Do I really have a choice?" Beck wheezed.

Indictment

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