retconman | IC contact.

IC contact.

"You've reached Maxwell Lord. Talk to me, and keep it good. I'm a little preoccupied at the moment, but your call is important to me. Leave your name and number and I'll return your call ASAP."

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Not exactly.

Good news or bad, Tony?

Not sure news, to be honest.

They're concerned. [ They're, being the key word here. ]

[ He catches that, he does. ]

I don't suppose there's anything I could say to make them less concerned, is there? I can promise you I haven't done anything, not that my word alone means anything. Maybe my actions speak a little louder.

Please, we've all done things we're not proud of. Actions here should speak louder, in the long run, but maybe a megaphone would be pertinent.

I think they want your story, but I don't know how well they'll listen. Some of them have proven...unsupportive of taking some steps in the past.

[ Max sighs, exhaling slowly. ]

Of course. Believe me, I understand. It's not -- well, I don't know how much you've heard, but --

[ A beat. ]

What if we hired an assistant? Someone to work with me more directly, you know, for -- I wouldn't be insulted. I could even train them as a replacement if it [ Ahem. ] comes to that.

I've heard some, but there was also-- [ Venezuela, it remains unspoken. ]

Let's just say I'd like to avoid seeing it come to that.

Well, consider it a Plan B. An extra pair of eyes and hands might not be a bad idea if trust is going to be an issue.

[ Pause. ]

And of course -- if you had any questions...

The powers they seem to think you have are a hell of a surprise. [ A beat. ]

If they're what everyone seems to think they are, I'm not surprised they're concerned. Anything you can illuminate on that one?

What can I say? With great--

[ NOPE. He sighs. ]

I never wanted them.

I sympathize, and I think a fair amount among the Avengers would do the same. They're certainly biting you in the ass now.

Who would want them in that sort of situation, huh? How strong are we talking?

That's hard to say. I don't think I could use it myself to anything near the strength of what it's been forced to. Possession's its own can of psychic energy worms.

Isn't it just? Possession normally does complicate things just a bit. I'm afraid to admit I've had a brush or two with it in the past, and it's not easy to get over, even when everyone knows you were, let alone if they don't.

Yeah, well. I'm not volunteering to get my neck snapped again to solve the problem here.

I'd like to avoid that if at all possible, honestly. I don't think that should be necessary, either way.

That begs the question of what is. Business as usual?

I should hope. I think they're going to want to talk, once they get things together.

I think, if we get things together, preempt things, trouble could be avoided.

What did you have in mind?

Do you have any idea what they're going to say? If they look elsewhere for information?

If we we have a good idea, we can redirect that. They're pretty upset about the powers thing, but they'll get over that, I think. There's an ace up my sleeve on that front.

Anyone else they ask around here that knows me is going to give them the same story. It's the only one anyone knows, to my great fortune. In terms of questions? I'm sure they want to know if I've mind controlled any of them, which of course I haven't, how on earth would I be able to get away with that?

You might as well share it.

I'm pretty sure that's a concern, but I don't have any doubts about that. At least when it comes to me. [ A beat. ]

Don't worry, I'll pass that one right along.

You're golden, Tony. I knew I liked you for a reason.

I mean the ace up your sleeve. Don't I get to hear it?

Well, you're not the only person whose lied about their powers, Max.

Not that I think they don't know, but if they're going to talk about powers being a secret, you're not the first to keep things quiet.

Ah ha. [ A pause. ] Pretty good.

[ Another pause. ]

For the record, I never actually lied about them.

Fair enough. Withheld information is a bit more accurate, you're right.

Can't blame me though, can you?

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