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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

[definingfuture]

[Apologies are like his soldering iron. There's little by way of prevention when it comes to his mistakes, so he uses apologies to seal up breaks where he can and make little reparations. Having Tony wave off the gesture is fine. It makes things easier. If he's comfortable with forgetting everything, then they can move on and hopefully not have to look back. It's an ideal solution in his book.

The answer he gets to the question is weird. He should probably have expected that. After all, he's talking to himself, which is, by definition, metaphysically weird. Still, he raises his eyebrows and sits back slightly at the blunt refusal calling him out on that implied resignation. So much for closure.]

No offense, but I don't think you could make me do anything I didn't feel like doing. I'm sure you're good, but you're not that good.

[Which of course doesn't assert whether or not he does feel like walking out. What he said before was true. He likes the escape. But being told he can't do something defeats the whole point of that. And then there's the completely valid point Tony made earlier.]

What happened to "you aren't him"? Isn't that a little too close for comfort?

[It feels a little like an excuse. Maybe it is. He believes it right up to the point that he hears himself say it, and then Tony frowns. Running away and starting over is his go to when things fall apart, but here there isn't that far to run. Eventually he's going to have to suck it up and share space with this guy, even if it isn't work space. And work space might be the one area they can actually agree on, so throwing that back in his face might be getting too far ahead of himself.

Why did life have to go and get complicated again? Why can't doing the right thing ever be easy? Rescuing dogs from being run over or helping old ladies across the street. Something that doesn't involve struggling with the ethics of working in a company started and then run by alternate versions of himself without committing some kind of identity theft.]

Am I always this much of a headache, or is this just your thing?

[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.

[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.]

[manofiron]

[ Of course he’s not sure. For all he knows, his name is Bob and he works for Pizza Hut. Or maybe he doesn’t have a name and history at all. Maybe this Stark guy’s mind was picked at random to be uploaded into his otherwise empty body fresh off the factory line. Whatever the case, he isn’t figuring it out sitting on his hands.

For the moment, being Tony Stark’s all he’s got.

The response he gets about his counterpart’s continued employment isn’t very helpful at determining whether he’s still going to come in to work or if he’s going to need to be ferreted out of wherever it is he’s staying. But Tony knows his own reactions. He knows how fast and how deeply he can dig in when someone’s trying to make him do something. ]

Don’t take forever with it.

[ That’s all the goading on that front he’ll do. Anything else, he believes, will be counterproductive. ]

We don’t have as much time as it might look like we do.

[definingfuture]

[They are who they are. And the cloning doesn't change that in his mind. Maybe if they have to meet the original versions of themselves, but otherwise, he's still Tony Stark. It meant a lot to the guy to be him, and he's going to follow that lead.

Tony doesn't try to corner him, which is smart. Pushing him harder would have gotten a flat out refusal, and probably worse if he tried to make him show up. The offhand comment at least appeals to his curiosity. That's much more effective than anything else he could have tried.]

Right. There's never enough time to do what we want to.

[He doesn't confirm any intention to show up, but if he's going to do anything, he'd probably prefer to see what his alternate self has going on. The truth is that he does want to know what SI will do now. He just doesn't want to say as much. Tony gives the man a slight sneer--just enough to tease--before gesturing with a lazy salute and disconnecting.]