Yongye raised his teacup to his lips, blew at the leaves floating on the surface, leisurely took a sip, then set it back on the table.
He tipped his chin slightly toward Lois, his tone so steeped in unhurried nonchalance it was like a freshly opened bottle of aged vinegar.
"Discuss it and decide among yourselves."
"As I said, for now, the Eye Society will only supervise."
With that, he really did shut his mouth.
He leaned back in his chair on the dais, both hands behind his head and both legs propped on the edge of the table. Tilting his head to watch the superheroes below, he wore an utterly languid smile, every inch the spectator enjoying the show.
The floor erupted.
The fat Black woman, Amanda, was the first to challenge Superman.
"What's wrong with voting? Superman, you say the public is irrational, but what about you? You pound your chest and declare, 'We absolutely cannot blow up the other Earth.' You think that makes you rational?"
Superman started to speak, then stopped.
Beside him, Thor lifted Mjolnir from his lap. Arcs of electricity flashed across its head under the lights as he forcefully backed Superman up:
"Blow up an entire Earth? That's billions of lives! You fat Black woman, your heart really is black!"
"Then what do you suggest?" Amanda abruptly turned to look at him.
Thor opened his mouth, but the word "I" stuck in his throat, and for a long moment, nothing followed.
Amanda curled her lip in disdain.
T'Chaka rose from the second row, his Leopard-Print Cloak swaying slightly behind him, his Dark-Gold Claw Blades gleaming coldly under the lights.
"Wakanda will not participate in the vote."
"Nor will Wakanda participate in any operation to blow up the other Earth."
His voice was low