definingfuture | IC inbox for duplicity

Tony Stark. This is Howard Anthony Stark. Coincidence?

I guess that depends of whether you believe in coincidences.

Not often enough to think that this is one.

[Well, that does make two of them. He wasn't sure how to answer, but it seems like they both already have some idea about how this connects them.]

I did know a Howard Stark. He was well known, actually.

Point me in the right direction, pal. Brother. Father. Cousin.

[Howard was curious how he was well known but one thing at a time.]

[He's almost afraid to answer. He doesn't want to admit this and end up chasing the rabbit down this hole, but he has to. Part of him needs to.

His life is a mess.]

Howard Stark was my father. My name is Anthony.

Time distortion then? It's the only way it'd make any sense. They take my son from the future or myself from the past.

[He's really into the idea of time travel and wormholes, all that jazz. He hasn't let it sink in that this is a son or a version of a son of his.]

Yeah. Yeah, it's- they can pull us in from different points in time. Different worlds. We're universe refugees.

[Tony is surprised by how he is managing to connect to Howard in this conversation. Maybe it shouldn't be so strange, but he was never able to talk to his father before.]

Universe refugees. How extraordinary. There’s an entire lifetime between us and you have me at a disadvantage. I might be your father but I’m not. I’d like to get to know you, young man.

[A father. Him. He’d hoped for it in the future but not yet.]

It sounds better than victims of inter-dimensional kidnapping. But I'm sure a lot of people won't want to be that optimistic about this.

Well, I'm not exactly young either. But... I'd like that. You seem to be taking all of this pretty well.

How old are you? I'll be twenty-seven soon.

I'm taking it as well as I can. What's the point in getting hung up on something that can't be changed?

[Oh, no. Not-Dad is younger than him. This is crushing Tony's ego. Just crushing it.]

I'm turning thirty-four.

[Ouch, that hurt.]

That's an interesting way to look at things. Some people might say we can change anything. And that it's our responsibility to change it.

[But look at that fine mustache, Tony. Almost as nice as Howard's.]

What about our circumstances, yours and mine as a unit, do you think I should try to change?

[Almost? He has the best facial hair.]

As a unit? I don't know what you mean.
What would you change?

Father. Son. I thought that's what you meant.
Not a thing, I'm sure.
But I don't have the advantage of knowing you the way you might know me.

I guess I just... We were never really a unit.
You and I didn't- I wasn't good at living up to what my dad expected from me.

I don't know you. I mean, I have an idea, but that doesn't mean I know any more than you do. Well, I mean, I know a little more. Comes with the times.

IC inbox for duplicity

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