maskormenace

Recent events have me thinking.

[ Stark says, taking a sip from his cup, before he focuses back on a camera. It's a lot more HD than your usual import camera -- then again, nothing but the best for Tony Stark. ]

In recent months, we've had people showing up, different times, completely different people, and now there's word of people sticking around. That's different, it's never happened before. [ A pause, a sip. ] But who knows, it could be a fluke, right? Or maybe I don't have complete data. Anyone else heard of anything like that happening?

I mean, that's as an aside. I've... I've seen a lot of people hold themselves responsible -- myself included -- for things that someone who isn't them did. Either a person they become, a person they were and aren't anymore -- or a completely different person.

Would you hold them responsible? After my...unfortunate incident I found people were holding me responsible for things that this -- different version of me had done. Is that a constant? Should people be held accountable for things that they weren't necessarily guilty of? If I'm ported out tomorrow, would the Tony Stark that replaces me be held accountable for anything I did over my time here?

[ Another pause then. His finger drums against the glass. ] Anyone have any thoughts?

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Then, statistically speaking, that would render it as something entirely different.

Why do you have your suspicions? Quite clearly you're noticing a pattern with data aside from Crane.

Not yet, sadly.

[ A beat. ] But it could happen. I've been an import for long enough to see what happens when small things change. It starts to snowball, and I've got a nagging feeling that it's going to again, if we don't get ahead of the trouble.

Hah. See something, say something. That's the mantra, isn't it?

Precisely. How else are we supposed to notice trends?

Last time we scrambled blindly, we were blindsided by the apocalypse. I'd prefer to avoid that this time.

Acknowledging that another apocalypse is unlikely, I think this is more to the fact that you dislike being blindsided.

Probably because of your control issues.

I don't know if I'd call them issues.

A preference, certainly.

"A control preference" might actually sound worse.

Why did you do that? Why did you have to make this a sex thing?

[ A pause. Who are we kidding. This is Tony Stark. ]

Is this what psychiatrists do? Have I been avoiding them for a long time for no reason?

I thought you had been avoiding psychiatrists for self-preservation reasons, but I see your point.

Oh, you think a little psychology would be enough to do me in?

Come on, Doctor. I'm better than that.

Would Doctor Sofen have agreed?

[ A soft note. ]

Who knows? She'd probably think I was easily manipulated by it.

And that doesn't upset you?

What, that I was possibly easily manipulated by a very, very attractive psychiatrist?

Not at all.

Edited 2016-07-04 23:46 (UTC)

This is why psychiatrists imply sexual motivation for you, Mr. Stark.

What, because I can appreciate a beautiful woman?

So sue me.

I'd let Mr. Winger handle that.

No, no, because you do not seem to respect the boundaries inherent. I'm not here to disagree with Karla's loveliness -- I did bed her, and often, if you recall -- but she was a doctor. That needed to be respected.

[ A pause. ]

Yeah, so you're keen on reminding me.

And you're right, she was. I respected her a hell of a lot. For more than just her PhD.

If only that respect would extend to others of her discipline.

[ His eyebrows draw together, and his tone is just a touch aghast. ]

Doctor! At what point did I ever give you the impression that I didn't respect you?

Should I deliver to you an annotated list?

Is it that long, if you don't consider the time that I wasn't myself?

Yes. Immensely. There is a lot of overlap.

Really? Now I'm curious.

It would be unprofessional of me to list them so blatantly. Just know it is two pages, single-spaced.

(no subject)

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