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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

70% encrypted

[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. ]

70% encrypted

[guiltapalooza]

[Willow just never knows when to stop trying. It seems to her that everyone, regardless of race or species or dimension of origin, needs someone there for them. She hadn't been kidding with her Streisand references.

She's emotionally in tune enough to hear that uncertainty, but doesn't Loki well enough at all to understand what it means. She just knows he's off balance, and she won't make it worse by calling him out on how awful an excuse that is for abandoning a conversation.

She's been there. She's made worse excuses.

Willow finds a small, reassuring smile for him, and raises one hand to wave her fingers at him before cutting the call.] Don't be a stranger!

[She's here if he decides to talk.]