[Gene doesn't look up. He's still staring at the ring with a spacey, crazy-eyed expression that is frankly kind of unsettling. The way he whispers, "it's mine" isn't filling Tony with confidence, either. Whoah there, Gollum, dial it back.]

Um, maybe because last time you had all ten rings you tried to take over the world and started the apocalypse? No offense, but I don't think we need two Big Bads of Real Ultimate Evil to deal with on this turtle.

[Tony takes a step closer, keeping the repulsor aimed at Gene. If he's going to use it, now would be the time, while Gene's still distracted, before he puts on the tenth ring and becomes unstoppable. He should do it... but he can't.

Tony really wants to believe that Gene has changed -- he'd almost started to believe that he actually had. If Gene's not sorry for the things he's done, he's certainly been putting on a good act. Things between them have been tense, but surprisingly lacking in attempted murder and/or world-taking-over.

And, every now and then, it's almost like it used to be.

Tony desperately hopes that all that hasn't been just another elaborate manipulation.

(...Also, no matter the situation, blasting someone who isn't armored and isn't actively hostile is... pretty fucked up.)]

Hand it over, Gene. I don't want to have to do this the hard way.