He's been called a lot of things, either by himself or by others: genius, billionaire, warmonger, and worse besides. But hero? No one's really called him that, and no one wants to call him that, for the most part. He could brag and make claims that he's a hero, but he's really not. But hearing that from someone who still believes in heroes?
That one gets past the armor that he's worked so hard to build. It's not armor like his suits, but something harder to see and even harder to break. Except one word from one person managed to do it. ]
Damn, you really know how to hit a guy right in the arc reactor, don’t you?
[ It's half a joke and half not. Of course he has a heart, despite his efforts to pretend otherwise, but it's almost easier to deflect and just reference the arc reactor, not the real thing. ]
Listen, I’ve been a lot of things. I’ve done a lot of things. Some good. Some... really not good. The kind that people pick apart and question until there's nothing left to question. Hell, I'm not even really a good guy, not if you look at my record. But if I ever needed a reason to keep pushing? Well... I'd say moments like this count as a reason.
[ He nods toward her, as if to say "moments like this, with someone like you." ]
So, Iron Man's your hero, huh? Believe it or not, I didn't start all of this wanting to be a hero. I just- there was a problem that I caused and I had to fix it.
[ He's not sure why he's really telling her this, but it's something to do to fill up the space as he moves around slowly with Mermaid. ]
The thing is, Ariel? And yeah, I know how this sounds, coming from someone who's always front and center, but... It's not always the front and center people who end up being the real heroes. Sometimes it's the ones people don't even notice.
[ He pauses before he adds: ]
I notice you, by the way. And if I had to choose between you and Cinderella, I know who I'd pick every time. Don't get me wrong, I bet she's great. The whole package.
[ He tugs lightly at her hands in a somewhat playful gesture as he eyes her with a suddenly serious but obviously playful look. ]
You've got better hair, though, and a better laugh.
[ It's obviously meant to be funny, as he's never even seen Cinderella, but at the same time, Tony means every word. ]
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He's been called a lot of things, either by himself or by others: genius, billionaire, warmonger, and worse besides. But hero? No one's really called him that, and no one wants to call him that, for the most part. He could brag and make claims that he's a hero, but he's really not. But hearing that from someone who still believes in heroes?
That one gets past the armor that he's worked so hard to build. It's not armor like his suits, but something harder to see and even harder to break. Except one word from one person managed to do it. ]
Damn, you really know how to hit a guy right in the arc reactor, don’t you?
[ It's half a joke and half not. Of course he has a heart, despite his efforts to pretend otherwise, but it's almost easier to deflect and just reference the arc reactor, not the real thing. ]
Listen, I’ve been a lot of things. I’ve done a lot of things. Some good. Some... really not good. The kind that people pick apart and question until there's nothing left to question. Hell, I'm not even really a good guy, not if you look at my record. But if I ever needed a reason to keep pushing? Well... I'd say moments like this count as a reason.
[ He nods toward her, as if to say "moments like this, with someone like you." ]
So, Iron Man's your hero, huh? Believe it or not, I didn't start all of this wanting to be a hero. I just- there was a problem that I caused and I had to fix it.
[ He's not sure why he's really telling her this, but it's something to do to fill up the space as he moves around slowly with Mermaid. ]
The thing is, Ariel? And yeah, I know how this sounds, coming from someone who's always front and center, but... It's not always the front and center people who end up being the real heroes. Sometimes it's the ones people don't even notice.
[ He pauses before he adds: ]
I notice you, by the way. And if I had to choose between you and Cinderella, I know who I'd pick every time. Don't get me wrong, I bet she's great. The whole package.
[ He tugs lightly at her hands in a somewhat playful gesture as he eyes her with a suddenly serious but obviously playful look. ]
You've got better hair, though, and a better laugh.
[ It's obviously meant to be funny, as he's never even seen Cinderella, but at the same time, Tony means every word. ]