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[sciencesquid]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, OCTAVIUS. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 015.03.020.15 *** OCTAVIUS has joined 015.03.020.15 <OCTAVIUS> You've reached Dr. Otto Octavius. Please leave a message.

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[sciencesquid]

Because Beck blames Stark for his own poor decisions, correct? If they got into a fight right now, which of the two do you think would win?

Purely hypothetical. From what I've heard, Stark is very formidable and Beck is... Beck. I'm curious whether monsterhood would tilt the odds in Beck's favor.

[Obviously they can't be allowed to fight for real. That'd be- No. No, no, Otto would step in if he saw it happening. For Peter's sake, at least.]

[heyunderoos]

Beck blames Stark for anything in his life going wrong tbh. He's still hung up on his tech being named BARF. I dunno how to even tell him without it becoming a whole thing.

I'm not sure since both of them can be... um, bitey I guess. Quentin more than Mr. Stark.

Probably? He's stronger now by a lot. Mr. Stark is also kind of unhinged right now for different reasons. Last time he saw me, I died, so he's... struggling.

[sciencesquid]

[Don't smile at BARF, don't smile at BARF-]

So they're both wild cards, and neither of them would come out the victor. I see. Unfortunately, they can't stay ignorant of each other forever. If the network doesn't raise attention to either's presence, it'll be another incident where all monsters are forced together in a smaller space.

[heyunderoos]

Well, its more likely Mr. Stark won't even know who Quentin is, so we kind of have that as a positive...?

I doubt Quentin could even try to pull anything on Mr. Stark either. He'll automatically just kind of scream at him and stomp off.

[sciencesquid]

Depending on the circumstances, screaming and stomping may just be damning for everyone else around them. And if Stark doesn't know who Beck is, the screaming and stomping is likely to intensify.

Trouble is, I have no idea how to minimize it beyond hoping one of us happens to be there too.

[heyunderoos]

I didn't think my life would involve babysitting so many grown men and trying to manage their feelings.

Is this better or worse than being stabbed?

[sciencesquid]

That's comparing apples to durians, dear boy. And it isn't your job to be managing their feelings. At most, you can try to keep them from ripping each other apart.

[heyunderoos]

At least you know what you get with one of them. The other just stinks and is full of surprises.

If it becomes too much, I'll like... bail. I can't always help either of them.

[sciencesquid]

That would be for the best. They're grown men. If they haven't learned how to fight their battles with civil words by now, they may need to learn the hard way.

Though I suppose in Beck's case, it would be learning the hard way for the fourth(?) time.

[heyunderoos]

The problem is, learning the hard way usually means a fist fight or enough of a fight, someone has to clean up after them.

I thought Quentin actually being in a serious enough relationship that the two might get married would like... temper some of this? Is that dumb to think?

[sciencesquid]

No. No one has to clean up after them. If they choose to get into a fist fight, it's their responsibility to clean up. That's another lesson to learn.

Marriage isn't a fix for a stubborn nature, I'm sorry to say. If anything, a spouse's loving support is validation for the idea that one's on the right course and nothing needs to be changed.

[Is he thinking of Rosie? Yes. Absolutely.]

[heyunderoos]

Mr. Stark might need to learn that a little more. I'm just worried about him. Quentin too, but not on the same level.

I thought marriage is supposed to support and challenge you? Like, you can't be your best self without someone pushing you to grow right...?

[sciencesquid]

I'm sure he'll be fine. How many times has Iron Man saved the world and narrowly avoided death, again?

I'm sure it depends on the marriage, but I don't believe there's any push for growth in most of them. Instead, it's settling into a routine both are comfortable with.

[heyunderoos]

Yeah, true. Right now he's from a point in time where we lost so... he's having a rough time. I need to stop worrying about him as much, but idk.

I guess that's fair. May always said she and Ben were challenging each other every day, so I just kind of assumed.

[sciencesquid]

No, I understand. It's alright to worry, and to offer a helping hand, but don't get too carried away.

It's possible that the challenge was the routine they're comfortable with. And even then, there's different sorts of challenges, from intellectual to emotional.

[heyunderoos]

Getting carried away is kind of Mr. Stark's whole M.O, Otto. Its... a thing.

I'm trying to remember specifics, but, my head feels so scrambled lately. Doesn't help I've died twice semi-recently. Not sure what I've forgotten yet.

[sciencesquid]

It's alright. I don't need the specifics. Ultimately, each marriage is a little different. As long as it works, it works.

The main takeaway is that Beck getting married has the potential to change him, but not the guarantee.

[heyunderoos]

Yeah, I figured. I'm just thinking I guess.

I'll hope for change. Steven is a good influence on him.

[sciencesquid]

[There's a long moment where Otto just stares blankly at the screen, fingers tapping against the surface of the desk.]

Are you sure you'll be alright, yourself? After what happened with that altered life of yours a few months ago, I mean.

[heyunderoos]

I dunno.

He's not living with us, or that close, but... I'm the only person he knows and is less inclined to lash out at.

I don't want him to feel alone.

[sciencesquid]

[He'd argue that a grown man can find his own company, but that'd be hypocritical. He had Norman and Peter here when he first arrived, and he stuck with them.]

There's nothing stopping you from visiting him. Check up on him every other day, maybe.

[heyunderoos]

I'll see if and when he's available. I don't think he really gets how serious this is yet...?

He's naturally pretty flippant, so, I get it. Might be coping still. He remembers me dying in his arms and losing to Thanos, being lost in space- so this has to feel like a surreal nightmare.

[sciencesquid]

Yes, I understand. Give it time, it'll sink in. The next big 'incident' is sure to cement it for him, if not his monster changes.

[heyunderoos]

Mr. Stark is pretty stubborn, but you're right. Everything should click in place soon enough.

Thanks, dad.

[sciencesquid]

No thanks necessary. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help the situation, alright?