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[manofiron]

[ Finding out that Pepper's stocks in Stark Industries have been transferred to him - and because she'd been running it, he can only assume that it's the lion's share - and that that means she's presumably gone is not the way he wants to start the day. But it is what it is and there's nothing he can do about it.

He's wearing the suit, though the helmet's off, and the expression on his face is as professionally detached as the matter-of-fact tone of his voice when he speaks. ]

It's come to my attention that Pepper Potts may no longer be in residence in the city.

[ That covers that and he's not lingering on it. If he does, he'll wonder what that means, if some piece of her has gone back to the world she remembers or if she's dead and her body is being recycled or whatever it is they do with clones when they're gone. It isn't something he needs to worry about right now. Not in front of an audience. So he moves right along to business. ]

I've been informed that per her request, her interests in Stark Industries have been transferred to me. For those of you don't know, I'm Tony Stark, and if you work for SI, it means you're working for me.

[ May whatever aliens people consider gods help them all. ]

If you do, I want to know who you are and what you do for the company. If you don't, and you want to, talk to me.

And be prepared for change. It's coming.

[ What that change is, he doesn't know yet. But once he finds out what the company's been doing, he'll figure out the right path for it to take under his leadership. And this time, it's going to be a damn sight better than the last time he was at the helm. ]

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[manofiron]

[ The way she says it makes the corner of his mouth twitch. It's not really a smile, it never gets fully formed, but there's the ghost of one there even if it isn't the most humorous.

The world doesn't need him all the time. Some days, he would argue that the world doesn't need him at all. This one certainly doesn't. But he is the Iron Man, and just because he can take the armor off doesn't mean he can ever leave the suit. ]

I can imagine that a little better than you might think. Way I found around it is to carve out a little time for you so you don't get lost in it. It'll happen if you're not careful. And I'm thinking the Avatar won't be as effective without you giving it life.

[manofiron]

[ That would have to be a mighty big tree. Certainly not something he would ever want to decorate. It makes him think of that old Norse myth. Yggdrasil. Maybe Balthazar's the kind of angel that goes on top of Odin's tree. ]

That depends. How does the vessel give permission if he doesn't know what he's giving permission for? I mean, it's not like you can manifest in all of your Willis Tower glory and say "hey, you wanna be touched by an angel" right?

[manofiron]

[ That's the thing. He doesn't have friends. Not really. Not outside his teeny tiny circle of five: Rhodey, Happy, Pepper, JARVIS, and Bruce. Who is, coincidentally, the subject of this whole not-quite argument.

He can't imagine why this is important to her. Though just because he can't understand it doesn't mean that he's able to stop being a contrary pain in the ass about it. ]

I'm fine. See? Right as rain. Even got the old ball and chain back. It's just like the good old days.

[agentx13]

All right, all right. Fine. You're fine.

So your friend Bruce. He a social guy?

[ I.e., will he mind when Sharon tracks him down and questions him about Tony's health and disposition? ]

70% encrypted

[guiltapalooza]

[It's not pity, exactly, but sympathy has always been her downfall. Willow feels sympathy at the drop of a pin, from any slight similarity to her own situation, and she just wants to reach out and help. And, more importantly, be appreciated for it.

Though it's somewhat off-putting to be so smoothly deflected into ridiculousness, Willow has had her friends do that to her many times. She recognizes it. She knows what it is. It's a signal to back off, that she can't always help, that they want their space to make their mistakes themselves, in peace.

She can't say she doesn't identify with that feeling, too. So she lets it go.]

Guacamole, [she says helpfully.] It's avocado. Though it's just a... a name, really. I don't know if anyone knows.

[Willow doesn't even try to hide that she's not just talking about guacamole.]

[angermanaging]

[Unaware of the change that this would be, Bruce is ignorant of any underlying message here. He merely accepts the decision, as he would a decision to the contrary. He'd never infringe on someone else's ability to choose for themselves, especially not someone he actually respected.

He also doesn't question that Tony would talk it over with JARVIS instead of imposing a unilateral direction.]

He wouldn't scare me, [he says mildly.] A firewall's a good idea. I've been keeping anything sensitive on the... laptop you upgraded from home. It can't connect to the network so it's-- as long as I know where it is, it's safe.

But if you're coming back to the company then we'll need a firewall. [So they can share files, obviously, since they'll be working on projects together.]

[manofiron]

I don't either. I'm allergic to it.

[ And he's also impossible to work with, but he leaves that little tidbit out of it. ]

[manofiron]

Maybe he's a vanished guy. People come and go here all the time.

[ Her continued interest in the Bruce mystery is throwing up warning signs left and right. ]

[alphatar]

Hey, I’m working on it. [She says with a chuckle. This is unfamiliar territory, not too many people had advice for her from experience, especially on a world-saving level.]

But for right now, I’m just trying to make things work with me and boyfriend. [Because it simple, or it should be simple, compared to all the responsibilities and duties she had.] Which means I need to make sure I don’t have to tell him I just lost his job.

[manofiron]

Now you're trying to manipulate me.

[ There's no anger when he says it, no censure or irritation that she's trying to wrangle him into the response of her choosing. It's mildly stated. An observation more than anything else. ]

But all you gotta do is tell the guy to put together his resume.

[manofiron]

Do you just want your own dedicated server?

[ Keeping sensitive information on a laptop's great and all, but the hard drive's only so big. And unless he's misremembering details, that thing looks like it's about 10 years old. He can keep fixing it if it breaks, but for the sake of everyone's sanity, he'd really rather just get the guy his own server. ]

I can encrypt it. Put JARVIS on information-minding duty. Nobody'd get into it you didn't want in it. In addition to the firewall, I mean. That's a prerequisite for anything.

[alphatar]

[All she does is shrug. The truth coincided with what she wants, so she doesn't see any harm in being caught]

Consider it done. Hope you can read Chinese.

[manofiron]

Please.

[ Instead of being offended that his other self is casting aspersions on his abilities, Tony just quirks an eyebrow and rolls his eyes. ]

I’m Tony Stark.

[ Fake it until you make it is good advice and he’s applying it here. Plus, his memories tell him that this is the case. That Tony Stark does what he wants. More than that, Tony Stark makes the impossible happen. Maybe he’s not really Tony Stark. Maybe he’s just a fading echo of the guy. The point is, the memories give him an edge. If nothing else, they make him bloody-minded and stubborn as hell. ]

Desensitization is a wonderful thing for taking the discomfort out of tricky situations. Neither of us is him. We know we know that. Problem solved. Except for the headache. I think that’s a universal constant. Hardwired into our metaphysical whatever.

[ He waves his hand, as though the simple gesture can cut through the tangle of emotions surrounding the whole damn mess. ]

Work tomorrow. Be there. I’m not the most punctual person. I’m guessing you’re not either. But if you’re there by, I don’t know, let’s say noon, I’ll show you the plan.

[manofiron]

[ He grins at that. He can't read it. But he's got an incorporeal friend who can. ]

I think I'll manage.

[alphatar]

All right, I'll make sure he hand delivers it.

[manofiron]

Just not too early. After lunch. Otherwise he might get my secretary.

[alphatar]

Sure, I can just go with him after I get up. Morning's aren't a thing for me.

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[bacondivination]

[ Loki's entirely aware that he's putting her off, and he can't find a single reason to regret it. It was safe, and he liked safe in these circumstances. What he didn't expect was for her to keep trying despite his subject change. ]

My thanks.

[ He wasn't sure what the offered gratitude was supposed to be for even as he gave it.

Trying whatever she was going for, maybe, or just shutting him down before he'd done something he shouldn't in the first place. It wasn't reasonable for people to reach out to him and he wanted as far away from such actions as he could be right now, but it seems like the right response from him in this situation. His uncertainty creeps into his voice, not that his expression changes at all. ] Guacamole is such an interesting name. I might go see if there's something similar that grows here. Productive way to spend my time, I think. T-T-Y-L, Willow. Duty calls.

[ It sounded totally mad, but it was an effective way to bolt from the conversation and he was taking it. ]

[manofiron]

Sounds like a plan to me.

[agentx13]

Fine. Don't tell me.

Just... if you need anything, let me know. I know you aren't the same Tony from my world, but you're still Tony, and you still helped Steve. That makes you a friend in my book. I just... I just want you to be okay, okay?

[angermanaging]

[Bruce would never say no to more privacy. Theoretically, he should trust Tony enough to share servers with him unilaterally. In practice, his paranoid habits are too ingrained, and though he has no illusions that Tony won't be able to access whatever he wants to on something he's set up himself, the pretense is nice.]

That's... probably the best option. Thanks, Tony. [It's honest gratitude, for a lot more than just a server.]

[manofiron]

[ Nosy though he admittedly is, he won't just casually peruse the server he sets aside for Bruce. Unless he's asked to check it, or something happens and Bruce is in trouble, he'll steer clear of it and give him the privacy he deserves to have. ]

No problem.

[ The only thing he thinks warrants a thanks is the offer of the personal server, so that's how he takes it. ]

I'll work on it tomorrow. Have it up and running in no time.

[manofiron]

I'm fine. I have run a company before. For years. It isn't that traumatic.

[definingfuture]

[Something about hearing the man assert himself like that strikes a chord in Tony. He's not threatened by it, but his heart rate does speed up a bit and he manages a skeptical look that borders on including a smirk, but doesn't quite get there. Still, it's close enough to get the idea across. He's questioning him. This time with more humor and less bitterness in the look he gives him.

Are you sure? it asks. He's still wondering if any of them know who they are, but the better part of him thinks that it doesn't matter. He just has to manage to convince the rest of himself to agree with that.]

I still think you being a headache is our universal constant. You're one of a kind for that much.

[The offer or order gets noted, digested, and held out for a few long moments before he responds to it.]

I'll think about it.

[People telling him what to do rubs him the wrong way, whether it's just a hang up from some other guy's memories or not. He doesn't like it, and he doesn't think it matters all that much whose issue that really is. The urge to buck off that authority is too great to ignore.

He isn't refusing either. He knows that might be setting himself up for an ultimatum. Then he'll have to give a real answer. But this is his best attempt to satisfy both personal pride and curiosity without starting up another battle. And everything in his gut is trying to maintain both, so that's his compromise on the whole thing.]

[agentx13]

I meant with-

Never mind.

You know how to get in touch with me.