"The world's too dependent on fossil fuels that we are going to, at this rate of consumption, run out of within this lifetime. But more importantly than that, whole wars have been fought over them. I created the only truly 'clean' energy - energy from almost nothing. No wars needed, no land disputes, no legal battles.

Oil companies are not happy. If I supply everybody with energy for next to nothing, they don't get to bleed the people dry with higher prices on everything."

It's a little bit out of respect. When Tony wants to he can resort to the 'small words, slowly' treatment. Hell, he's done it with his own staff. He doesn't particularly care who he offends with that, if it's striking him as funny at the moment. And yeah, he could outrun this man by a mile in technobabble, but he just doesn't feel right doing it, for once.

Tony watches him back, eyes lingering on the form in front of him, drinking him in. He's never had any shame when it comes to checking people out. It's one of those things he's been doing for so long he doesn't know how to stop.

He likes this, though. This business chatter. It's a lot easier than the emotional wringer of emotions they discussed earlier.