Video;

[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

[angermanaging]

I'm implying you might want to foist them off on me, [he shoots back, but with easy camaraderie.

Then he gives him his own dubious look. Bruce Wayne actually owns 8% still, not that Bruce Banner has ever met the man.] It doesn't count as a shareholders meeting if we don't talk about the company's interests. But... alright. You'll technically be at work with me. The deal still holds.

[manofiron]

Well, the way I see it, the company's interests are my interests. And my interests are things that require your presence. So by keeping our weekly appointment, we are, in fact, furthering the company's interests.

[ The problem with people disappearing while Tony isn't watching is that he becomes determined to start watching those who are left. Lucky for Bruce, that means him. ]

[angermanaging]

[Look, he likes you, but he needs his personal space. We'll see how long this lasts before there's friction. For now, he can tolerate it. He's pretty sure Tony has to be feeling shaky right now, and this is how he's dealing.]

What else should I be expecting that's... in your interest? [Just so he has some warning, here.]

[manofiron]

[ That is a very good question. He mulls it over for a moment. ]

What are you thoughts on wings? The barbeque kind, not the feathery flappy ones.

[angermanaging]

[Nonplussed,] Uh. I've eaten them?

[manofiron]

Do you like them? See, there's a theme here. It's kind of subtle and tricky though, so I can understand if you're missing it.

[angermanaging]

I'm not missing it, I just don't have a lot of strong feelings about food anymore.

[manofiron]

Pretend.

[angermanaging]

... Right. Okay. They're fine.

[Why is he in this conversation?]

[manofiron]

What's more than fine? This is extremely important. Probably the most important thing we'll discuss all day.

[ He's the Head of Whatever. It's part of his job description: humor Tony Stark's nonsense. ]

[angermanaging]

[Can he have Pepper back? Wait, or they can hire someone just to humor his nonsense. Bruce would support that.]

Curry, I guess. Spicy vegetarian food. They have some of that here.

[manofiron]

[ Sorry, the position has very strict requirements. Namely, the perfect candidate must be a security Hulk. ]

Great. Okay. So lunch, you and me, curry. I'm buying. Noon, in the lobby, don't be late or I'll come to your lab and carry you out. The embarrassing princess way, don't think I won't. I'll still be in the suit, I'll do it. I mean it.

[angermanaging]

[Curse you for playing the only other Hulk in game. She's even a hot woman, it fits all of his requirements.]

I won't be late, [he sighs, already mentally replanning his experiments for the day. There was one he'd have to check at 12:30 that he's obviously not going to make.]

But I think you can leave the suit behind for lunch. [Bruce is going to be there, after all.]

[manofiron]

[ He would piss Red She-Hulk off though, and she would smash everything all the time. ]

Deal. No suit at lunch.

[ And because Bruce will be there, and he agreed to it without digging his feet in and refusing, Tony decides he can compromise. ]

And tell you what, I'll go out and get it. We can have lunch in your lab. Your new whole floor lab.

[angermanaging]

[Oh. True. Bruce still isn't sure why Tony doesn't piss him off.

He's getting some leeway right now due to all the crap he's been through lately, and now with Pepper leaving... Bruce won't gripe too much about being forced into socializing he hadn't intended to do. For now.]

Alright. That works. Don't knock too many walls down, [he adds cautiously.] I want some rooms left. [So he can kick his employees out into their own area when he wants space, mostly.]

[manofiron]

[ Ew. Limitations. Tony and limitations are mutually exclusive. ]

How many's too many? Ballpark it for me.

[ Otherwise he's going to end up replacing walls he knocks down, and that's just way too counterproductive for him to deal with right now. ]

[angermanaging]

Leave me... at least five rooms.

[He's thinking it over.]

I'd like to at least separate the bio from the mechanical. And I need a couple for, uh, employees. [Why does he have employees again?]

[manofiron]

How about an office? You want one of those, too?

[ And Tony's office away from office. But he'll tell Bruce about that later. No sense in ruining the surprise now. ]

[angermanaging]

... Not really. Wouldn't that encourage people to come talk to me?

[It's mostly a joke. Sort of.]

I've been doing everything in the lab. It's fine. The Archive might want one, though.

[manofiron]

What that kid needs is a name, not an office. Any suggestions? You know her.

[angermanaging]

[Bruce blanks out for a few moments.]

You want to give her a name? She seems like she likes the Archive.

[manofiron]

[ That gets a stare. ]

Should I start calling you the Physicist every time I refer to you, the Physicist?

[angermanaging]

[Utterly dryly,] No one seems to have a problem with 'the Hulk'.

[manofiron]

.....Do you really think I call him the Hulk when I'm talking to him?

[angermanaging]

Am I supposed to have some way of knowing that?