angermanaging | IC contact (TuShanshu)

[The simplicity and shortness of Bruce's sentence is faintly unnerving, if only because Scott, by now, has gotten quite used to noise and raucous and lots of people talking a lot. But he continues on, more than equipped to fill the silence.

Scott's always been a chatterer by nature in any case.]

Hi, my name is Scott Lang. I was told to talk to either you or Annabeth Chase about possibly working for Wayne Enterprises? [Wryly:] My current job's pretty easy but not exactly stimulating.

[That's Bruce, unnerving people right and left. Though he's far less unnerving when he answers this time, after a beat, and promptly turns awkward.]

Uh, well, I guess I... partially own Stark Industries now. I don't have a lot to do with-- Wayne. [He's never even met him.] Annabeth and I run a hydroponic garden project together.

[Might as well clear up all the connections here.]

What kind of work were you looking for?

[Oh. Own. Thanks, Dick, for not mentioning that tiny detail. In the long run though, Scott supposes it doesn't matter. Work's work, and Bruce doesn't seem all too fussed about it.]

Something that doesn't involve trimming hedges and slapping paint on walls? [The smile on his face face suggests he's only half-kidding.] Anything, really, as long as it's not mind-numbing. I used to work with Stark Industries, if that means anything to you.

[Bruce really doesn't want to own 20% of anything, much less a huge corporation. If he sounds reluctant to fess up to it, it's because he is. He's more relieved to move onto the nitty gritty of what he's actually looking for in a job, although this in itself is new.

Mentally he's wondering who thought it was a good idea to put him in charge of anything, much less something that came along with hiring people. He'd hired a couple lab assistants up until now, but it hadn't been nearly as formal as this.

Oh yeah. Tony Stark thought it was a good idea. That explained everything.]

We definitely don't do a lot of trimming or painting, [he says wryly, and maybe a little more naturally.] What did you used to do for them?

[Tony has a bad habit of believing that many of his ideas are actually fabulous and flawless instead of...y'know, a really bad idea.]

I worked in the design department primarily. I maintained and upgraded a lot of machinery, designed a few security systems, helped Mr. Stark with a few plans. Routine stuff.

[Technically more than routine if the Fantastic Four had trusted him with all their gadgets but Scott's never really been one to brag. Good as he might be in his field he's still nothing compared to the likes of Tony Stark and Reed Richards and all the other big names out there. It doesn't really matter though; he's comfortable being mostly unknown, both as an engineer as well as a superhero.]

I also ran my own business for awhile but [and there's a faint wince here] start-up companies are hard.

[Bruce tries to point out what a bad idea they are, but so far there's been no listening.

And that's more than Bruce was expecting to hear, which maybe comes through in faint, momentary surprise, before he nods in concession.] Especially here, [he agrees.] We could probably find something for you. That's not insignificant experience. If you can put up with Tony in designing, then-- [A half shrug. Far be it from him to discount that level of aptitude.]

Uh, usually Pepper deals with... personnel. But I don't think that'll be a problem.

You say that like it's a bad thing.

[Admittedly, Scott hasn't had quite as much experience with Tony as Bruce has and the experience he has had has been with a different Tony in a different capacity, both of which he's not fully aware of.]

But yeah, I think I can handle that. And I can go talk to Pepper if that'll make things easier.

[Not that he necessarily likes being shunted from person to person but hey, he's used to it.]

Tony while he's in a work phase? [A hint of tolerant amusement.] Maybe yours is different. But he's a little, focused. [And that tends to make him somewhat impatient and rude to others, something Bruce deals with well but other people, he knows, not so much.]

Just stop in and say hi, [he decides.] I can't see her minding. She just likes to keep track of everyone.

[The use of 'yours' is a little surprising but not enough to throw Scott off orbit. He guesses he'll just keep that tidbit in mind in case he meets the Tony here.]

Actually, he's about the same. Or was, last time I saw him.

[Which, admittedly, was years ago. Plenty of time for a person to change, if they were so inclined. Or if things forced them to change.]

But can do and will do. Thanks for [erm] being so helpful. I appreciate it.

[The miscommunication stands, because Bruce isn't one to gossip about other people and their alternates. Especially not when the Tony from his world is apparently so sensitive about being compared to the other one.]

If that counts as helpful, [he pokes fun at himself lightly.] Nice to meet you... [he has to recall his name,] Scott.

IC contact (TuShanshu)

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