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[ 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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I keep myself busy enough.

[Which isn't exactly a no, and therefore isn't a lie. Still, the smile he's been wearing falters some.]

Would you rather play rock-paper-scissors over who gets to keep it? I know there's not enough room up there for both of us.

I'm keeping it.

[ He doesn't want it, but he'll be damned if he's giving it away to another version of himself. But it isn't really out of a petty sense of spite that keeps him clinging to it. It's because he needs it, needs the distraction from the memories of having been murdered. ]

I'm just asking if you want to do a little something more than twiddle your thumbs in the basement.

I figured as much.

[Wait, was that actually a challenge? He didn't think- okay, he didn't think. But there's still a slight frown at that answer. He thought he was being nice to his double. Well, whatever. It doesn't matter.]

What did you have in mind, boss?

[There. He's being generous.]

You not calling me boss for one thing. That's just... weird.

[ Whatever his feelings of inadequacy and superfluousness, he's still dealing with himself. And if there's one thing he's always hated, it's not being able to live up to his full brilliant potential. ]

Too many people seem content with the status quo. I want to change it. Figured you might want to help me do it.

[Wouldn't he like to just be out of the game? Normal. Unknown. He's spent some time trying to convince himself that he would. But at the end of the day, he just can't settle. The urge to buck off what his double is saying is proof enough of that. What Tony is saying is the truth, and the fact he's ready to throw that right back in his face just makes it more obvious.

He could still throw it back at him. Just for kicks. But that would take resisting temptation, and his track record for that isn't stellar. And, to be honest, the payout is much higher this way. A few minutes of personal satisfaction and perhaps integrity versus a chance to actually do things again.]

So what do I call you?

[ That's a good question. Unfortunately, he doesn't have an answer for it. ]

I don't know. Usually when I talk to myself, it's a little less literal than it is right now.

[ Hadn't they done this before? This man and the other other Tony? Not that he wants to be confused with that guy again, but there's already a precedent. ]

What do you want me to call you?

[It's hard to look at someone wearing your face like that. Not just for him, and Tony does realize that much. He manages a half grin of wry amusement at the situation. There's nothing like talking to yourself to really make you feel awkward about who you are. It's like facing a mirror only worse.

So he might as well roll with it. In a strange way, it's kind of fun.]

Go with whatever you've got, pal. It's guaranteed to have been used before.

What are you cooking up? [This is the more important question when they get right down to it.]

[ That's a sentiment he understands. There hasn't been a name he hasn't been called, at least with respect to the things people don't actually name their children. ]

A way to improve our position as foreigners. Maybe there's a way back and maybe there's no back to get back to. But I'm not content to play house like a good little soldier.

[Ah. So he's going to push back. Tony isn't surprised, but hearing the statement out loud was different from thinking about it. He would have been all right with letting everyone do what they were doing. He would have been able to do that. Maybe. Or eventually he might have broken down and started making bad calls on his own. But that answer changes his carefree posture to one that's more alert.

Hell, yes, he wants to see this.]

Yeah, I want in.

[This time he actually speaks with conviction.]

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