capeandcowl | 2.0.5

What you're seeing is what I'm seeing.

[ And yes! The video is an aerial view of LA. Sure, there were camera crews, and all that, but Tony decided to stay behind. Every now and again the screen flashes with a red redicule or target zeroing in on something or the rather. The text flashes across the screen, but much of it crosses and leaves the feed in the blink of an eye. Essentially, this is a bird's-eye view of the destruction, and there are spots of fire every now and again still dying down. ]

I've ordered similar destruction before. I know the cost it leaves on a man's conscience. Whatever reason, I don't think he would have ordered something that would leave this kind of devastation without weighning the consequences.

That doesn't make this right. [ Doo de doo, still a slow, leisurely flight around the HIVE territory. It's really like video with voiceover. ] Those of us who came, we swore we'd do our best for LA, and we did. We should all be proud of the lives we've saved. We did our best, and there are camps everywhere filled with people who now realize why they were being woken from their beds at 3 in the morning to load up what they could of their posessions, and leave.

That's the worst of it, is that these people don't have a home to go back to. In the City, the people left are used to what happens, the supervillains, the conflicts, the people here were just trying to get on with their daily lives, and look what's left for them. I've already seen enough people on the network touch on the tragedy of the dead, but--

[ He trails off, head swerving as if he saw something, and as he zooms in, it reveals a small squad of military soldiers, and the view zooms back out, and to the landscape. ]

There's another tragedy here, and that's for the people who're left. I hope many of you will join me in ensuring that we continue to protect the people we saved.

The job isn't over yet.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Just got a message from her.

Then what were you talking about?

Black Mask. He's back. And Pepper's been working for me on... a project. Similar to what he blew up in Gotham.

Oh shit.

I don't know if he'll dig that deep. But she could stand some extra security.

There are back up suits at StarkTech and my place. I'm going to make sure she's staying there for the time being.

Good.

...Were you actually talking about killing the father?

I thought you would!

I just don't want him to get away with hurting Pep.

I thought it was you when she first told me.

What? No. Pepper and I have never--

Would never do that.

I respect her and Happy too much.

Happy?

[ Crap. Here's an awkward pause, and when he does speak, his voice is slightly raw. He didn't want to think about Happy today, but it slipped out. ]

Someone I was close to back home.