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Post by Captain America on May 4, 2006 12:44:42 GMT -5
Cap continued to study Spider-Man. He was clearly in no mood for a prolonged argument. Besides, Tony would be back soon. Cap would save his strength to aruge with him. "OK, my friend." he said after a moment. "But know this. If Tony continues along this line- if this "act" ever makes it to law, it will lead to conflict. To war. And if that happens, Spider-Man- whose side are you on?"
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Post by Spider-man on May 4, 2006 13:18:17 GMT -5
"Do you really believe it will come to blows?"Peter asked on his turn."But what I really want to know, will you go as far as battle against your fellow Avengers, your fellow heroes...."He replioed seriously.
"I honestly can't see it come that far, a war between the superpowered beings, something like that would only destroy everything we hold precious. "
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Post by Iron Man on May 6, 2006 6:48:13 GMT -5
Tony stalked through the corridors of Stark Tower, his gleaming shoes pumping against carpeted floor as he did so. He reached up and loosened his immaculate it, tossing his jacket behind him as he made his way towards the meeting room.
"Littering, Master Tony?" a familiar, amused voice teased from behind him.
Tony allowed a crooked grin to touch his lips and turned to see his butler and friend retrieving his jacket. "You're a lifesaver, Jarvis. Where are the others?"
"The common room, I believe," Jarvis replied, his tone a little troubled. "But they may be discussing a slighty...sensitive topic."
The Registration Act.
Tony nodded in response and turned away, rounding a corner and slipping through a doorway into the common room. His grave expression was replaced by a feigned pleasant mood that didn't reach his eyes. "Hey, guys. What're you all looking so serious for?"
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Post by Captain America on May 6, 2006 9:27:53 GMT -5
Cap stood. Wolverine had not spoken since Peter entered. Peter himself looked uncertain what to do. Cap walked over and stood facing Tony. For a moment, there was a silence and there seemed to be no-one else in the room as he stared deep into his old friend's eyes. Tony Stark. His greatest friend.
"You know something we don't, Tony." he said. His eyes seemed to be boring holes into Iron Man. "Is the Registration Act going to be passed? And if it is..." He looked away for a moment. "If it is... do you plan to just... take it?"
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Post by Iron Man on May 6, 2006 11:10:42 GMT -5
Tony let out a pained sigh and slumped back onto the sofa running a hand through his slicked-back hair and then massaging his temples in slight despair. He knew that they would have to discuss this soon, but he hadn't realised how soon it would crop up. Then again, he also hadn't realised how big of a problem it seemed to be with Captain America.
"Wrong, Steve," he stated simply. "I know as much as you do at this point. If it is passed, I intend to support it with all my strength."
He might as well get his feelings out straight away. It was blunt, but necessary. This wasn't a time for indecisiveness or hesitation. This was a time for action, a time to take a stand and make yourself known. With this in mind, Tony prepared himself to ask yet another difficult question.
"Will you stand with me?"
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Post by Captain America on May 6, 2006 12:07:49 GMT -5
"You intend to support..." whispered Steve. "My God..." He looked up at Tony with a half gasp. "Will I stand with you? You're actually ASKING if I'm going to not only tolerate you accepting ALL our civil liberties being ignored, but to help you?"
Cap shook his head. "I don't believe what I'm hearing. Tell me you're joking Tony. You can't... The government can't serious expect me, or any other self-respecting Super-Hero to just LET them take our rights piece by piece." He had raised his voice now. "What happens if they don't want to reveal their identities, Tony? What then? We hunt them down? We kill them?" He shook his head again in disgust.
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Post by Iron Man on May 6, 2006 12:16:30 GMT -5
Tony was taken aback by Cap's sudden outburst. Come on, Steve, snap out of it! This isn't you! he shrieked inside, a hint of desperation and despair lacing his mental tone. He reached out and gripped his friend's shoulder, and when he spoke, his voice was placid and reserved.
''Calm down, Steve," he advised. "The Registration Act won't take away our rights. It's to protect the innocents out there. All heroes want to do what's better for the greater good, without a shadow of a doubt. This is better. We won't be above the law anymore. We make a mistake, we pay for it, no matter who we are. Our actions won't be opposed by the government unless highly questionable. All heroes will be united."
He paused for a moment before continuing.
"I haven't even mentioned the possibilities of how easy defeating villains will be with files on them all..." he muttered. "If you are truly a hero at heart, you'll realise how beneficial it is, not only for us, but for the world."
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Post by Captain America on May 6, 2006 13:21:17 GMT -5
Steve calmed down slightly. "Tony..." he said. "A lot of people think I'm the government's show boy. But my loyalty... my loyalty is not to the American Government." He continued to look beseechingly into Tony's eyes. "It is to the ideals America should be pledged to. And America is BUILT AROUND the concept that people have freedoms and liberties!"
He was almost pleading himself now. "The Registration Act seems fine on principle Tony, but what if ONE super villain finds out the information? Every single super-hero and all their families are at risk. And don't tell me that won't happen- those things happened in the old SHIELD and I trust this new SHIELD under Commander Hill much less."
He clenched his fists. "And when some super heroes don't want to reveal their identity? When Daredevil decides he doesn't want to risk his friends and family on a corrupt SHIELD, what then? He gets hunted down and gutted? The idea seems fine on initial principle, but in practice it's idiotic."
"Stand with me, Tony! Alone I can't do this, but together... if we provide a united front, we can show everyone that this law is a bad idea." He sighed. "We have been opposed to mutant registration for years, Tony. What makes this any different?"
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Post by Iron Man on May 7, 2006 4:15:15 GMT -5
"Why do I want to show people that when it isn't?" Tony shot back, a frown creasing his reddening brow. "You seem to be forgetting that this Act will revolutionise the heroing business throughout the world! The government will be in pefect union with us. It can co-ordinate our attacks, making formerly deadly threats no more than rag dolls! Why do you fail to realise how good this is for the world? Why do you persist on wanting to be above the crowd? We do something, we have to pay. I learnt that the hard way. It's about time you did, Steve."
He threw himself back onto the couch and sighed regretfully. That wasn't the best option available...
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Post by wolverine on May 7, 2006 4:27:25 GMT -5
Logan just looked from one to the other. He had been in this kind of siruaton before, the mutant registration act. He had avoided that he would be able to avoid this one if it came. His eyes then remained on Iron Man. They pierced through his.
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Post by Captain America on May 7, 2006 5:53:12 GMT -5
Cap needed to restrain himself from shouting out loud. "Tony... I'm going to ask again. What happens to people who don't wish to obey this law? What happens if... if Spider-Man over there doesn't want to because he's afraid he'll find Mary-Jane ... impaled on an octopus arm?"He spoke fully with conviction, believing every word he spoke.
"What then? We hunt him down? Kill him, hurt him?" He gave a loud sigh. "You're my oldest friend Tony, but there is no way I could ever support this law. You're going to split us in two, you'll have us at war with..." He broke off. "It won't happen." he said after a moment, calmer now. "I heard what happened in Washington. That'll make them pause."
He shook his head yet again. "As long as nothing... major happens to turn public opinion it won't happen. But if it does, I will fight to oppose it Tony. No matter who I need to fight." He let that sink in.
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Post by Iron Man on May 7, 2006 14:05:00 GMT -5
Tony was tired of this debate already. Cap's menacing tone was grating on his nerves. Once again, Tony snapped to his feet, ready to unleash his anger upon the unsuspecting patriot...but something stopped him. Nostalgia, perhaps? They had been friends for so long...
"Don't threaten me, Steve," Tony murmured. "This will only come to a fight if you want it to. No villain is going to get their hands on those records...unless you try to destroy them."
An unnecessary and sudden jab that shocked even Tony himself, referring to Cap as a villain seemed to contradict reality itself...or at least Tony's perception of it.
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Post by Captain America on May 7, 2006 14:09:42 GMT -5
Cap stared at Tony for a moment. He looked long and hard at him, and then he wordlessly began to walk away. He suddenly stopped, and walked back again to face his old friend. "That wasn't a threat, Tony." he said. "That was a warning."
He clenched his fists. "Damn it, Tony, you really think I'm the only hero who will fight this? You think.... Daredevil or... or... Luke Cage will tolerate this? The Fantastic Four?" He waved a hand around them. "You think the AVENGERS will tolerate this?" He laughed. He noted with irritation as he did so that someone had turned the TV back on.
OOC: Keep this convo going, I want them to be arguing when the Stamford Disaster news breaks tomorrow or Tuesday.
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Post by Iron Man on May 7, 2006 14:14:00 GMT -5
"Darn it, will you turn that blasted TV off?!" Tony barked. Wasn't this all stressful enough without more noise? "You're talking rubbish, Cap!" Referring to him automatically using his rather...impersonal name. "It doesn't matter who fights this, it has got to go ahead for the sake of the world. Stop thinking about yourself and live up to your namesake as a hero. I used to admire you, but right now, I don't see why."
Harsh, but maybe it would get his point across.
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Post by Captain America on May 7, 2006 14:28:45 GMT -5
"My duty as a hero, my DUTY is to the American People!" said Cap. "The American people don't WANT registration and if they DID, it still wouldn't be right because Registration will STILL be against the ideals this country was founded on!"
He raised a finger. "One Super-villain, Tony. That's all it takes. One super-villain and suddenly everything is at risk. I'm going to ask you one last time. What happens to the heroes who DON'T register voluntarily?"
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