revivalproject | Indictment

Entry tags:

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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."

Jon's eyes narrow at the newcomer. Apparently one of those kids that are too cool for regular chairs and will be a pain in his ass eventually.

He crosses his arms, his tone sharp. "If this stupid thing is beneath you, you're welcome to leave."

Look, he just wants to be able to see over everyone's head without sitting in the kumbaya circle, alright? Especially when that seat can be filled with someone that knows what's going on.

York makes a face and then digs out the device. "This stupid thing. I should've clarified it, not whatever is going on." There's a long pause, eyes shifting to the other, away, and back to him. "...Sorry." He shifts where he sits, crossing his arms to mostly cover that now yellow LED.

'Don't be a dick to people trying to help damnit', he scolds himself.

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."

From where he stands, the Exo's eyes flick towards the newcomer. For someone armored it might be strange to see that he wears clothing over it, topped with a worn yet serviceable greatcoat.

"One of our number has decided to make trouble for another. Or perhaps 'trouble' is too soft a word," he speaks, light spilling from his throat every time he opens his mouth to speak. No...that's not armor after all. "As Jonathan Sims has explained, the man known as Quentin Beck-" here he gestures towards the fellow he's been keeping an eye on, "-took advantage of the weaknesses the recent storm inflicted upon the city, its people and the network itself. He deceived Tony Stark and dropped him down the large hole on the northeastern side of the city with intent to kill.

"After the storm had broken, I witnessed him receiving the data point for communications. It was not long after that I noticed an unusual piece of code had been introduced into the network's structure, and around that time that it was brought to our attention that all traces of Tony Stark had mysteriously disappeared from the network."

"Bold of you, to assume I don't already have nightmares." Is the first thing that comes out of Peter's mouth as he sits up rolls his shoulders to stretch them and then takes the coffee mug.

"Thanks." It's not pure black as death coffee so Peter takes a curious sip. It's passable and not too bitter so he takes another careful sip.

"I don't know, I feel like I should be here." He knows what Beck did was bad and he's pissed beyond belief over it but he still doesn't think he deserves death and will vote it down if it get purposed.

He lets out a yawn and leans back in is seat. "How are you not exhausted?"

"Oh, that," Tony replied casually with a shrug of one shoulder, and he slipped into the seat next to Peter as he continued, "Genetic defect. Actually don't feel 'tired'. It's possible I don't need to sleep." He frowned then, gritting his teeth apologetically with a small shake of his head because he clearly hadn't learned his lesson from the screaming moon thing, and he couldn't be starting more problems before he had even properly apologized for that one. The coffee was a start, but he'd have to work on a real apology. In the meantime, he sat primly with his legs crossed, only to slouch over with his elbow on the back of the seat to prop his head up, finger tapping against his temple.

"Felwinter won't let Beck do anything else...weird," he tried, guessing at what Peter felt like he had to keep watch over. "Or normal, really, very strict situation going on there, very boarding school housemaster."

Honestly, Peter's halfway convinced that might actually be a true fact. How else did Iron Man suit keep getting upgrades so fast? Not only that but Tony also made Peter's suit. Where does he find the time?

As the subject shifted back to Beck Peter bit down on the inside of his cheek, recalling the last few months and letting out a sigh. "...I talked to him about my parents. How messed up is that? And I just keep thinking I should have known better." He bites his lip again and shakes is head.

"But I still don't think.. they're not gonna wanna kill him, are they?"

Tony had been in that same position enough times himself (far too many times, honestly, not a lesson he was good at internalizing) that he knew intimately how screwed up, hollow and frustrated with himself that Peter might be feeling. The coffee might not be nearly strong enough, he realized. He gave a slow nod of understanding, but left his idle fussing at his mug on the table to rub anxiously at his chest with a protective, flat palm as he tried to skirt around, "It's--that--it happens." When he didn't feel like he deserved the blame in those situations, maybe he'd know better how to be supportive. "I only--I mean, listen, he was nice enough to be, too, except for the part with the hole, if I didn't know a Quentin Beck from a whole other universe..." He tipped his head, waving a hand briefly for Peter to fill in how much more Beck might have gotten away with for himself.

What they did now was far easier to talk about, and a lot more productive, so Tony much more readily replied, "No. I don't know. If we were back home, this would be cut and dry, he'd be shipped off to the Raft for another stint until the next big jailbreak and we'd get to do it all over again. I don't know--We've been lucky, so far, no one's been--dangerous. We're all from different dimensions, though, and I couldn't say what anyone else thinks is--intuitive."

"And you warned me not to trust him and I still did." Peter admits. "I mean, there times when I thought something was up but I let him just him convince me I was wrong." He takes another drink of coffee and considers the offer to just crash at the library. Maybe he doesn't want to be here for this.

"Too bad there's not a convenient raft here." Another pause. "People can break out of the raft?"

Superpowered prison breaks were routine enough to Tony that he raised his eyebrows to ask if Peter really needed an answer, then frowned, right, of course, very high security, not a chance, the system could be trusted. "Back home--my home," he specified, very different from Peter's where he could trust those walls to be very sturdy, "that's the reason we're even on a team right now. Me'n'...Spider-man. Big prison break. A threat no one hero can handle on his own, that's what the Avengers are for. That, and you needed the money. I think it was mostly the money thing."

That wasn't quite funny enough to ease the tension that still had Tony's spine thrumming tight, but he tried for a wry smile anyway before it slipped out of his control and he had to ask, "Why?" Peter had no real reason to trust Tony, either, that wasn't the problem. "You 'let him', what do you mean by that?" The problem might have been a pattern that Tony had to be more alert for.

The raft is still relatively new where he's from and he's pretty sure the only occupants it's had were.. well, Captain America's team from Germany. And he was pretty sure they broke out.

He did let out a small laugh at the reveal that Other universe him apparently still has money trouble. "Yeah, that I can believe."

at the next question though he just shrugged. "Remember how I said he didn't set of my spider-sense? He started to set it off like.. the day I got my powers back but here's the think-sometimes the spider-sense is super unreliable and sometimes it'll go off and I don't know why? It tells me there's something wrong but it doesn't tell me what's wrong." He explained.

"I guess I just.. convinced myself..." He shook his head. Didn't matter, he won't be making that mistake again.

The spider-sense thing wasn't something Tony had quite figured out and could easily believe that it was difficult to manage and, like most senses, worked a lot better when the threat was a car being thrown at your head. Never mind that everything here was basically designed to give a grown man anxiety. Tony should have intervened sooner.

Staring at his mug on the table, he muttered, "I'm sorry," jaw tight with frustration. "This isn't an excuse--but, so, I didn't want to make it worse for you. I've been here long enough, and I've met all kinds of people who know me, only it's not me..." And every time, they just left Tony's heart hurting, so maybe, a little bit, he also didn't want to do that to himself again, either. Worse still, every conversation brought Peter dangerously closer to figuring out how much worse Tony was at whatever these other Avengers expected him to be. "Don't get me wrong, it's fantastic, being able to talk to--to the multiverse, knowing you're all out there, how massive and wonderful the universe is and how Peter Parker on the other side of the cosmos is still a kid who wants to believe that people are good. That's wonderful. Just makes home feel very far away." Tony wasn't any closer to figuring out how to get any of them back. Instead, he was getting stuck in holes.

While Jon gives a short nod of acceptance towards the apology, he hasn't really much to add to Felwinter's summary of the events. So he remains where he stands, available for further questions.

York stiffens at the sight of the armored person coming towards them. Images swam in his programmed mind of the soldiers that raided Jericho, and he blinked them away quickly. He shifts off of the table actually, moving in a manner of acting like he wasn't scared, but definitely standing so Jon was between them.

This time he actually listened, instead of only half-assed picking up what Jon had been explaining when York showed up.

And that name again. Had to fit that guy over there. Had a resemblance to his own dad but wasn't him thankfully. It's just really weird.

He looks to Felwinter, feeling uneasy. York couldn't quite place what it was. "Uh, thanks. Weird question, this Tony isn't from Detroit on earth...right? I'm gonna guess that I'm the only one that is."

The warlord doesn't step very far from his charge, at least. He falls silent, studying York for a moment. It might be unsettling having those eyes on you, but Felwinter does tend to have that effect on people, not that he means anything by it. He eventually turns away to walk back towards where Beck is, folding his gloved hands behind him.

"That is a question better answered by Stark himself," he says, nodding vaguely in the man's direction.

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?"

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

Beck narrowed his eyes at the Exo, shifting in his seat.

"Do they not do trials where you're from? Just skip straight ahead to the execution?"

"No," the warlord replied. "There is no government. There are no cities or world powers. If you cross the wrong people, your life would most definitely be forfeit."

"...Explains a lot," he muttered, pointedly looking Felwinter over. Would anyone bat an eye if someone took it upon themselves to do away with him without all this discussion?

"...it is not an ideal world, the Earth I know," Felwinter said quietly after a moment, his gaze returning towards the rest of the room. "But I will not stand for those who would jeopardize the safety of others for their own sake."

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Indictment

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Someone has to talk, right?

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The Accused

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