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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. ]

Comments

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[wintershepherd]

Pepper...

[manofiron]

It's possible it's a theatrical way to tell me she quits, but...

[ He shrugs. ]

JARVIS can't find her.

[angermanaging]

[Bruce hasn't seen Pepper much for a few months now, so he's not terribly affected by the loss himself. It does raise those questions again of what happens to someone when they disappear, which are deeply unsettling; but Bruce excels at remaining untouched despite loss, and he employs that here.

He doesn't bother to ask how Tony's doing. He's sure even if he did decide to tell him, he wouldn't want to discuss it, not given this business like attitude. Instead he opts for sarcastic.]

Should I be worried about my pension? [A beat. Then, honestly,] I'm glad it's yours again. I still have twenty percent if you want it. [He's fully expecting to be refused, but hey, he has to offer.]

[manofiron]

Worried about it rising? Probably.

[ He doesn't want to run this thing again. He's still not terribly convinced he should be, given that it belonged to some other Tony Stark. But it's been foisted off on him and he has to deal with it.

Luckily, he doesn't have to do it alone. ]

It's your lucky day, Doctor Banner. You're getting promoted. Make up whatever title you want. Chief researcher. Head of whatever. Comes with more money, a bigger lab, and dealing with me on a daily basis.

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[parallels]

[Ah.

That's rough. Everyone seems to be leaving this time of year. Everyone is losing someone. Of course, Tony is like her, not the type to talk about it. So she won't poke at feelings and will offer what she can.]

Need any help, Mr. Stark?

[manofiron]

That depends. Need a job?

[ Job is sort of a misnomer. Stark Industries employees make Google employees look like they have the most laborious, torturous jobs in the world. ]

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[knewtoomuch]

[Hey look! It's his drinking buddy from earlier on. Looks like he is certainly moving up in the world.]

Admittedly I am not the corporate sort, so employing me would be something of a letdown. I have to say that I am looking forward to these changes you speak of.

[manofiron]

That's all right. I'm not really the corporate sort either. Did it once, don't play on playing the game again.

[ The corner of his lip quirks upward. ]

I hope you like what you see.

[bacondivination]

Oh, oh! You should hire me to do things. I've the most excellent of credentials when it comes to helping along regime changes, I assure you.

[manofiron]

Done. You're hired. Head of Mischief and Fun.

[ And oh, if only he was joking. ]

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[constants]

[ The Archive is sad to hear that Pepper is gone, she was incredibly kind. But, she's hardly a feelings person and work calls, so she responds with her standard stoicism. ]

Hello, Mr. Stark. I am the Archive and I am currently working as Bruce Banner's assistant. I mainly perform functions such as the management and organization of data, and fact checking. As the Archive I am a repository of five thousand years of written information which makes me well suited to such tasks.

[manofiron]

[ He blinks, runs that through his mind again, and blinks a second time. ]

Repository...

[ Suddenly, he's all interest. ]

Are you an android or some kind of special knowledge alien? You look human.

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[unfettered]

[Holy crap, it's Iron Man. Erica heard he was there from Stiles but it's crazy seeing the living, breathing man making a video on her console.

And he's hiring?]

I could use a job. What kind of openings have you got?

[manofiron]

[ For an attractive woman? He will make an opening. ]

Depends what kind of credentials you got. I'm an inventor. I invent things. Like positions that fit the employee, not the other way around.

[alphatar]

Pepper's gone?

[Just like that? Korra was fond of the redhead and usually tried to find good employees for SI.]

I don't work for Stark Industries, but I'm sorry to hear that.

[manofiron]

Seems like it.

[ He lifts a shoulder in an uncertain shrug. ]

I'm sorry too. Doing the old nine to five really puts a cramp in my style. But hey, what can you do?

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[langsyne]

[Aha. It's the other Tony he hasn't spoken to yet and has only seen around. He should.....probably check in, huh.]

Hi Mr. Stark.

[God, it feels weird to be calling Tony something other than Tony, but this Tony isn't his Tony (in the loosest sense of the word) and so it's probably better he acts at least a little formal instead of like the total schmooze he used to be back when he was working for his Tony.]

I'm Scott Lang. Miss Potts and Dr. Banner hired me a few months ago to help with more technical aspects. [By way of explanation:] I'm an engineer by trade.

[He hesitates for a moment, unsure of whether or not he should mention working for a version of SI in his world. Eventually he decides against it. This is probably good enough for now. If this Tony needs more credentials, he'll give them then.]

[manofiron]

[ Ew, no. That's not going to do at all. Mr. Stark sounds like he's ninety. Or his father. And that is a fate potentially worse than death. ]

Okay, one? It's Tony. If I'm going to call you Scott, and I am, then you're going to call me Tony. Otherwise there's this power imbalance thing that I'm really not interested in encouraging among my engineers.

Two? [ He pauses, trying to remember if he had a two. ]

...Okay, two, what kind of technical aspects are you working on exactly? Pretend I have no idea what's going on with the place and fill me in.

Voice; Encrypted

[purpledaggers]

[So he knows you don't really remember him, and your guys are from different universes but. Well you're still Tony. And you guys are egg-buddies so.]

... You have my apologies, Stark. [He somewhat knew Pepper from his world. But they never really spoke much.]

[manofiron]

Thanks, man. Normal people working is tough, but I've done it before. I can probably do it again without losing my hair.

[ He knows that the sympathy isn't directed toward his having to actually do work for a living, but considering that that's a travesty to him, he's interpreting it that way anyway. ]

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[agentx13]

Are you all right?

[ Two Tony Starks and no Pepper Potts? Not good. ]

If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to take a look around for her.

[manofiron]

[ Not at all. ]

Of course. Why wouldn't I be?

[ He should probably win an award for how puzzled he manages to sound over the question. ]

And yeah, sure. Go ahead. Knock yourself out.

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[corage]

[Not from SI but still--]

Sorry to hear about that.

[From one bro to another.]

[manofiron]

Thanks, man. We should meet up, have a few drinks to say a fond farewell to my free time. You know, after I get done with work.

And since I'm the boss, that can technically be any time.

[hasthreefingers]

Hiya. Probably not the best time, but, uh, first, sorry for your loss. And does this whole "change" thing mean that you're hiring? Because I can type one hundred words a minute. Practically super temp.

Unless, you know, you aren't hiring, in which case, I've worked for you for ages.

If you need help looking for her, though, I'm here. Donna Noble. At your service.

[manofiron]

Hundred words per minute? Really?

[ And the question with the magic answer is... ]

How're your organizational skills?

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[definingfuture]

You could just check yourself. I'm sure there are notes somewhere.

["There are" is a fantastic way to avoid pronouns and mentions of who arranged said notes. It's something he is thankful to have in this case. But what to do? He almost leaves it there, because it would be easier and it might take Tony a while to notice. Still, he'd have to do this sooner or later anyway.]

I work in your labs. [Just by the way. See how neatly he skated around the first issue so fast that he managed to hop over the second one? That at least has to earn him some credit.]

[manofiron]

Or I could just get somebody else to do it.

[ Paperwork isn't a thing he does. It's a thing his personal assistants do, and right now, he's kind of between them at the moment. He makes a mental note to have Donna look into it tomorrow.

And as for the rest of that, it isn't much of a surprise. The beans were spilled a while ago, and he's been avoiding the subject ever since. ]

I heard. Kind of surprised that's all you do.

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[everylittlegirl]

Thanks, for before.

I'm sorry Pepper's gone.

[manofiron]

Yeah. Let's never mention it again.

[ Or until he can think about it without having a panic attack. That would be good too. ]

And eh, don't worry about it. I've run the company before, I can do it again.

[browbeater]

[wait what. He stares at the console for a minute. That was a lot of information and a lot of change in one very short video.]

I'm Mako, Sir. I've been working as Tony Stark's-- uh, the other Tony Stark- assistant.

[manofiron]

Ah, the boyfriend.

[ He's heard so much about him already, though not, of course, what it is Mako can actually do that makes him employable. ]

I've heard a lot about you, Mako. It's good to finally talk to you myself. Can you tell me what your area of expertise is?

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[wrathfulkhan]

[Gene looks a little more lost at the news than one might expect.]

I--

She what?

[manofiron]

[ Because he's aware that Gene knows some other versions of himself and Pepper, he isn't entirely sure what prompts the surprise. The fact that Pepper's gone or that she handed the company over to him. For the sake of pretending not not to have feelings, he prefers assuming the latter. ]

You know, I did run the place for like, twenty years. I think I can handle it.