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[howdull]

@309_W1C_2DZ

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[definingfuture]

Take control-? Christ.

No. No, it's not- Iron Man isn't a personality, he's just a persona. A job. I have to keep up appearances so I act a little. It's acting.

[He can't lose control of Iron Man. That thought terrifies him.]

[howdull]

Tell me who I was speaking to before.

You. Or your "persona"?

[definingfuture]

Iron Man.

But that's not how it is. That was different.

[howdull]

I'm sure next time will be different as well. And the time after that.

[definingfuture]

No, it won't happen again! I'm not losing control to Iron Man, I am Iron Man! There is no other personality.

[The desperation is creeping in despite his efforts not to let it.]

The Iron Man is a look. An image. A lot of us have those. I'm the one that wears it.

[howdull]

If that were true, you wouldn't be scared now.

If it's any consolation, you won't know when you've been subsumed by your other personality as he seems unaware of your existence.

[How is that a consolation?]

[definingfuture]

I'm not scared! [He's terrified, but not of split personalities per se.] I know what disassociation looks like. I've seen it in action, and that's not what Iron Man is.

[He's biting out the words.]

I'm in control. I know what I'm doing. That was- It was just a loss. It was temporary.

[He's repeating what Natasha told him and hoping that it really was just a temporary loss.]

[howdull]

It is your control that is temporary. Your fear and denial will not alter that, sooner or later you will be subsumed again.

I can't help with this even if I wanted to, I'm not a psychiatrist. Find a doctor.

[definingfuture]

I won't let that happen.

[As disturbed as he is by the response, Tony is still quiet and restrained. He doesn't raise his voice throughout his insistence.]

I know who I am. You wanted to know what happened when I died and that was it. It isn't normal for me. I just- It was a side effect of coming back.

[howdull]

[People don't come back from the dead, not really. All of this is smoke and mirrors, he just has no idea how it's done yet.]

Of course it's not normal for you, that's what makes it a condition that requires treatment.

[definingfuture]

You know what I mean! [Wow, what a complete dick.] I died. That was just a temporary loss. It's not what I'm usually like.

[Well, it is. He still acts like Iron Man sometimes, but Tony feels like he has to affirm that he knows who he is.]

If it was, you were making it worse. Why would you do that?

[howdull]

I was interested to see if the other personality could be contacted.

[He's often conducted experiments with people's mental wellbeing, just ask John.]

[definingfuture]

You could have killed me.

[Probably not. But Tony's response is flat and convinced anyway.]

[howdull]

No, I couldn't. A panic attack is unpleasant but not lethal.

[definingfuture]

What if I was outside? I could have been caught out there.

[He's stretching, yes, but even he knows that.]

[howdull]

Is there a reason you're reaching for any nonsensical reason to make me feel guilty?

[definingfuture]

I wasn't trying to make you feel guilty.

[Just call him an asshole. It helps him, anyway. He can't understand why someone would behave that way.]

[howdull]

Yes you were.

I don't, and I won't, so are we done here?

[definingfuture]

I wasn't, but yeah, we're done. I got my answer.

[It's true. He got the answer he needed. And he hangs up with that.]