The World is Watching (Press conference RP)
*OOC: Tony gets up to speak at the joint press conference.
On the way to the podium, Tony brushed past Lorna, touched her arm, and whispered in her ear, "Way to go, Magnet Girl."
He reached the microphone, lowered his head, and waited for a moment. A noise rose over the crowd, then settled. Finally, he began to speak.
"The world," said Tony, raising his eyes, "is watching. What the group of us do today. This week. What we say. It's like one of our great presidents, Mr. Lincoln, said -- We cannot escape history. We will be remembered in spite of ourselves."
"Some people --" And now he paused for a moment, letting his eyes travel over the crowd. "-- Some of you are here to watch me. Trying to figure out what that lunatic Stark is up to now. A few weeks ago, as most of you know, I expressed some opinions. That surprised a few people. God knows why anybody would be surprised that I have opinions. But that's the way it goes. Some people --"
He looked up at the sky for a moment, then back at the audience.
"Some people have been waiting for me to apologize. To apologize for the suggestion that a gang of ignorant rednecks have the God-given right to abduct and beat a defenseless teenage girl, because she could -- as it turns out -- reproduce every note on the musical scale with her vocal cords. In a sane world, we'd call that a gift. We'd make her a star. Instead --" He shook his head.
"I'm not going to apologize for my belief in the fundamental equality -- and please take note that I say equality, while some here --" He cast an obligatory, not-exactly-subtle, look at Magneto " -- prefer to talk about superiority. I believe in the equality of our mutant brothers and sisters, before the law. That's why, instead of groveling for approval points on the late night talk circuit, instead of apologizing for my so-called gaffe,to all of the bigots I might have offended. Instead --"
He stopped, looked around the dais. "Instead I stand here, sharing the stage with key members of the mutant community, because I believe this dialogue is important. And if any of the powers that be have a problem with that -- well, I was just enjoying one of this resort's lovely golf courses this afternoon, with Dr. Richards. And there were a few holes where for a minute, almost, it looked like I wasn't going to beat him. If I'm not running SHIELD --" His eyes travelled to find Reed in the crowd. "I'll have time to work on my short game, friend, and then you're in some trouble."
Here Tony stepped back from the podium, was almost in the act of moving toward his chair. This was the end of his prepared remarks, the ones he had discussed with Jean and shared with Lorna. This might really be the smartest thing, to leave it here, save the substance of the conference for behind closed doors. But no. He had thought this through. It was the best thing.
Sorry, Jeannie. He dashed the thought off toward her, but didn't listen to her returned, What are you doing?.
He stepped back toward the microphone. "Contrary to what some would have you believe, my support for the Super Human Registration Act has everything to do with equality. After the senseless, tragic loss of life that occurred at Stamford, I could have held myself above the law. I could have held my friends up there with me, said that the carelessness of a few untrained, unsupervised powers had nothing to do with the might and professionalism of the Avengers. I could have stood against the duly-passed and ajudicated laws of this country. But as Chief Justice John Marshall once wrote: ours is a government of laws, and not of men. Any one of us wielding and using powers that pose a danger to ourselves and others -- whatever those powers might be, however they were acquired -- has a duty to be public and accountable. Charles Xavier and Jean Grey understood this when, years ago, they created X-Corporation and brought the X-men into the public eye. That was a good idea then. It is a good idea now. We are, perhaps more than we have been willing to acknowledge, on the same side." Biting off each word, he said, "This -- I -- believe."
Drawing a deep breath, Tony looked away for the podium for a moment, then turned back. "However," he said. "However. If all of us are equal, then all of us are flawed. SHIELD's actions in regard to the Registration Act have not been without misjudgments and mistakes. We are, as I alluded, a government of laws, but the law is only as good as the men who interpret and enforce it. Super Human Registration was never meant to be mutant registration; it was never intended to require certain citizens to receive a license merely to live. That proposal has been rejected by lawmakers, again and again. Even the late Senator Kelly, longtime sponsor of the mutant registration bill, recanted his support shortly before his unfortunate passing. It is, and should be, quite literally, a dead letter."
And now for the homestretch. He cast a quick glance over at Jean, who was still half-smiling. She had caught his apology but hadn't quite figured it out yet. You'll like the next part, he promised her. And she would, in a way. She had more or less written it. "Therefore, -- I am calling, right now, for the executive branch to form a joint task force, composed of legislators, SHIELD officers, the military, the Office of National Emergency, and representatives of the Xavier institute. This group will conduct a thorough review of SHIELD policies regarding registration, as applied to mutants. The task force will establish a uniform, transparent process, establishing clear standards for whether individuals with powers are considered to be 'dangerous.' The task force will also conduct a thorough audit of SHIELD's information security processes, to ensure that sensitive and confidential information regarding registrants does not, and cannot fall into the wrong hands. We at SHIELD are very good at what we do -- but as I learned over nearly two decades in the private sector, by listening to and respecting the views of those affected by our policies, we can always make a good job better. Now, in conclusion --"
Tony looked over the crowd. "In conclusion, I can't help thinking -- I can't help thinking of a man I knew who can't be with us today. This man was my friend. This man was a soldier. He fought the wars his conscience told him he had to fight. But what he really believed in -- the world that he always fought for --" Here he stopped, again. Breathed. He had yet to speak Steve's name in public, since his apparent assassination. And while these words didn't mean what most of the audience thought they meant, they weren't any less sincere. "I wish that Steve Rogers could be here to witness this meeting. The group of us sitting down. Working out peaceful solutions. I hope that his spirit can provide an inspiration to everyone here, and so -- Steve, this one's for you."
And he stepped away from the podium.
On the way to the podium, Tony brushed past Lorna, touched her arm, and whispered in her ear, "Way to go, Magnet Girl."
He reached the microphone, lowered his head, and waited for a moment. A noise rose over the crowd, then settled. Finally, he began to speak.
"The world," said Tony, raising his eyes, "is watching. What the group of us do today. This week. What we say. It's like one of our great presidents, Mr. Lincoln, said -- We cannot escape history. We will be remembered in spite of ourselves."
"Some people --" And now he paused for a moment, letting his eyes travel over the crowd. "-- Some of you are here to watch me. Trying to figure out what that lunatic Stark is up to now. A few weeks ago, as most of you know, I expressed some opinions. That surprised a few people. God knows why anybody would be surprised that I have opinions. But that's the way it goes. Some people --"
He looked up at the sky for a moment, then back at the audience.
"Some people have been waiting for me to apologize. To apologize for the suggestion that a gang of ignorant rednecks have the God-given right to abduct and beat a defenseless teenage girl, because she could -- as it turns out -- reproduce every note on the musical scale with her vocal cords. In a sane world, we'd call that a gift. We'd make her a star. Instead --" He shook his head.
"I'm not going to apologize for my belief in the fundamental equality -- and please take note that I say equality, while some here --" He cast an obligatory, not-exactly-subtle, look at Magneto " -- prefer to talk about superiority. I believe in the equality of our mutant brothers and sisters, before the law. That's why, instead of groveling for approval points on the late night talk circuit, instead of apologizing for my so-called gaffe,to all of the bigots I might have offended. Instead --"
He stopped, looked around the dais. "Instead I stand here, sharing the stage with key members of the mutant community, because I believe this dialogue is important. And if any of the powers that be have a problem with that -- well, I was just enjoying one of this resort's lovely golf courses this afternoon, with Dr. Richards. And there were a few holes where for a minute, almost, it looked like I wasn't going to beat him. If I'm not running SHIELD --" His eyes travelled to find Reed in the crowd. "I'll have time to work on my short game, friend, and then you're in some trouble."
Here Tony stepped back from the podium, was almost in the act of moving toward his chair. This was the end of his prepared remarks, the ones he had discussed with Jean and shared with Lorna. This might really be the smartest thing, to leave it here, save the substance of the conference for behind closed doors. But no. He had thought this through. It was the best thing.
Sorry, Jeannie. He dashed the thought off toward her, but didn't listen to her returned, What are you doing?.
He stepped back toward the microphone. "Contrary to what some would have you believe, my support for the Super Human Registration Act has everything to do with equality. After the senseless, tragic loss of life that occurred at Stamford, I could have held myself above the law. I could have held my friends up there with me, said that the carelessness of a few untrained, unsupervised powers had nothing to do with the might and professionalism of the Avengers. I could have stood against the duly-passed and ajudicated laws of this country. But as Chief Justice John Marshall once wrote: ours is a government of laws, and not of men. Any one of us wielding and using powers that pose a danger to ourselves and others -- whatever those powers might be, however they were acquired -- has a duty to be public and accountable. Charles Xavier and Jean Grey understood this when, years ago, they created X-Corporation and brought the X-men into the public eye. That was a good idea then. It is a good idea now. We are, perhaps more than we have been willing to acknowledge, on the same side." Biting off each word, he said, "This -- I -- believe."
Drawing a deep breath, Tony looked away for the podium for a moment, then turned back. "However," he said. "However. If all of us are equal, then all of us are flawed. SHIELD's actions in regard to the Registration Act have not been without misjudgments and mistakes. We are, as I alluded, a government of laws, but the law is only as good as the men who interpret and enforce it. Super Human Registration was never meant to be mutant registration; it was never intended to require certain citizens to receive a license merely to live. That proposal has been rejected by lawmakers, again and again. Even the late Senator Kelly, longtime sponsor of the mutant registration bill, recanted his support shortly before his unfortunate passing. It is, and should be, quite literally, a dead letter."
And now for the homestretch. He cast a quick glance over at Jean, who was still half-smiling. She had caught his apology but hadn't quite figured it out yet. You'll like the next part, he promised her. And she would, in a way. She had more or less written it. "Therefore, -- I am calling, right now, for the executive branch to form a joint task force, composed of legislators, SHIELD officers, the military, the Office of National Emergency, and representatives of the Xavier institute. This group will conduct a thorough review of SHIELD policies regarding registration, as applied to mutants. The task force will establish a uniform, transparent process, establishing clear standards for whether individuals with powers are considered to be 'dangerous.' The task force will also conduct a thorough audit of SHIELD's information security processes, to ensure that sensitive and confidential information regarding registrants does not, and cannot fall into the wrong hands. We at SHIELD are very good at what we do -- but as I learned over nearly two decades in the private sector, by listening to and respecting the views of those affected by our policies, we can always make a good job better. Now, in conclusion --"
Tony looked over the crowd. "In conclusion, I can't help thinking -- I can't help thinking of a man I knew who can't be with us today. This man was my friend. This man was a soldier. He fought the wars his conscience told him he had to fight. But what he really believed in -- the world that he always fought for --" Here he stopped, again. Breathed. He had yet to speak Steve's name in public, since his apparent assassination. And while these words didn't mean what most of the audience thought they meant, they weren't any less sincere. "I wish that Steve Rogers could be here to witness this meeting. The group of us sitting down. Working out peaceful solutions. I hope that his spirit can provide an inspiration to everyone here, and so -- Steve, this one's for you."
And he stepped away from the podium.