Since his introduction, and the relatively telling silence that followed, Jarvis had been quiet as he observed and absorbed what was taking place around the table. Nerves were obvious, as was tension that only mounted as each took their turn outlining what seemed to be disparate plans for how best to proceed, making their priorities clear in a way that demonstrated how different they all were. That was always going to be the challenge, though, and it was something that had to be addressed now. If they couldn't agree on these steps, the rest of the obstacles wouldn't matter in the least- not Stane, not resources, not weapons or contacts or support from the districts. They'd fall apart before anything was begun, and most of the people sitting at the table would die knowing nothing would change at all.
Depressing didn't cover it. Hopeless... That might be close.
Uneasy, Jarvis cleared his throat and lifted his chin. He hadn't spoken to this many people in so long, it seemed terribly intimidating. Then again, in comparison to everything else they'd been bandying around, a little public speaking was nothing at all. At least he could be reasonably assured his voice wouldn't shake.
"First, allow me to apologize to those who weren't expecting my presence at the table this evening. I understand that it puts most of you at a disadvantage, essentially including a stranger." His lips twitched, something wry in the tilt of his smile (that wasn't really a smile at all). "Worse yet, I'm not at the same disadvantage. I have seen some of you for years. I've heard words exchanged and observed more than people realize, and... and it troubles me to see that even in trying to come together to agree on a plan, we are already disagreeing over fundamental issues."
There was a fine tremor in his hands. He folded them behind his back, gaze carefully moving from face to face. Much as he'd like to keep not making eye contact, or to watch Tony for familiar cues, that would be cowardly. "We aren't alone. None of us have to do this independently. I understand, perhaps better than most, how difficult it is to trust someone else, to rely on them for what feels like everything, but that's what has to happen here and now. We have to stop thinking like individuals, with individual priorities, and function as a team with one united goal."
He hesitated, staring blankly at one of the untouched plates on the table. "That being said, what is our goal? Is it survival or revolution? The latter may preclude the former, and not only for us, but for a great number of people in the districts that we're making decisions for right now. Our window of opportunity, as this group is assembled now, is very small. Resources and allies must be swiftly arranged. We cannot afford to hold anything back from one another, or to waste time arguing about who is the most or least expendable. We are eight people trying to change the way the whole of our world works, and that means impactful decisions and supporting one another as we progress. For good or ill, we're in this together."