[Tony's fingers tap restlessly on the table in front of him. It's weird, none of this is ever anything he really talks about. Everyone either knows it by proxy the way that most people know about his life, or were along for the ride with him. No one's ever just sat down and asked.

And okay, maybe that's because he's never exactly made himself approachable for it. None of it is anything he's felt a particular need or want to dig back up. But all of it's right there in the forefront of his mind at the moment anyway, so why not?

He lets out a long breath, slumps back in his chair and tries to put his thoughts in order.]

That's a more complicated question. I could say I learned that anyone could turn on you, but honestly I already knew that.

[He'd been in the business world since his early twenties. Backstabbing was nothing new. Maybe not on Stane's scale, but still.]

Better to say the whole situation taught me what's really important. Near-death experiences kind of have a tendency to do that.