"Hello, Doctor Schiller, nice to see you again."
Looking somewhat wearied from his travels, Howard walked forward to shake hands with Schiller, smiling, "Originally, I was on the main star of the Sulfur Dwarves, upgrading the security robots I had designed for Tony. But when I heard you were here, I came back fast … "
Schiller chuckled, asking: "Hopefully, it didn't disrupt anything significant?"
Howard shook his head, following Schiller's lead to the sofa next to the office. After sitting down, Schiller walked to the side cabinet and asked, "Tea, coffee, or wine?"
"Anything but alcohol." Howard undid his suit buttons, leaning back comfortably on the sofa, and said, "I've promised Maria I would stop drinking."
Nevertheless, Schiller brought over two delicate champagne glasses, placing them before Howard. He said, "I wouldn't recommend patients with addiction to quit cold turkey. It might increase the likelihood of a psychological relapse. Unless it becomes life-threatening, try to quit gradually."
Howard looked hesitant. He reached out to touch the glass, but withdrew as if he had been electrocuted. He shook his head and said, "No, I need to remain sober. I can't handle work if I drink myself into a stupor."
Schiller did not take away the glasses, nor did he pour himself any wine. Instead, he fetched a pot of water and poured it into the champagne glasses.
Before Schiller could speak, Howard explained, as if compensating, "Of course, work isn't hard. It doesn't require too much focus, just some repetitive tasks …"
"I've heard from Tony that you're the founder of Stark Industries. I am more than happy to chat with such an esteemed scientist." Schiller took a sip of water from the champagne glass, then said.
"I understand, many people feel anxious in front of a psychiatrist, thinking that as soon as they step into this office, they become a mental patient. Oh dear, can't I have an identity other than being a doctor?"
Schiller raised a hand, showing a helpless smile, and said, "I actually prefer moments of friendship over doctor-patient relationships. Even though I'm Tony's friend, wouldn't you say you and I are actually from the same era?"
"I've heard rumors, it's truly amazing," said Howard, looking at Schiller's grey eyes. "I know that there are many capable and peculiar people in this world who possess powers that ordinary people cannot understand, but this is my first time befriending a long-lifer."
"Oh, you're really modest. Both Captain America and Natasha are also long-lifers, just not immortal like me," Schiller shook his head.
"I think a longer life experience should have provided a fair amount of assistance in your professional career, right?" Howard began discussing professional topics with Schiller.
Schiller could feel that this senior Stark was much better at conversation than his son. It wasn't surprising, Tony Stark was more of a scientist, but Howard Stark was, after all, a businessman.
Although in that era, Stark Industries had not yet developed into the behemoth it is today, it's undeniable that the founder possessed a more comprehensive ability than Tony.
In fact, like Natasha, I'm not someone who fell asleep and suddenly woke up after many years, but rather someone who witnessed the changes of times with my own eyes."
Schiller put down the glass in his hand, wiped the corner of his mouth lightly, and then said, "This is both good and bad. A life experience richer than others' provides me with more professional experience, but it also dulls my sensitivity and inspiration."
"For a psychiatrist, inspiration isn't particularly important. We primarily adhere to logical analysis. However, for a scientist, the inspiration for invention and creation is integral. Therefore, younger psychological age can actually be beneficial, can't it?" Schiller looked at Howard and said.
A muscle twitched at the corner of Howard's eye. The change was very slight, but Schiller noticed it.
Unlike Tony Stark, who wears his emotions on his face, Howard is quite adept at hiding his feelings. He made no superfluous movement and just smiled, saying,
"Indeed, seeing the creations of Tony and his young peers, I deeply feel that every era has its geniuses, every era has its own glamor. This makes me both happy and saddened ... "
"I'm listening." Schiller spoke.
He already realized that Howard was the type of patient psychologists liked; he knew the value of both his and the doctor's time. They disdained idle chatter, didn't like beating around the bush nor feel the need to hide their ailments.
They sought efficiency and clarity, disliked wasting time on meaningless words.
If they came to a psychiatrist's office, they were there to heal. They would try their best to explain their conditions and hoped the doctor understood their situation even more than they themselves did.
People like Peter and Clark preferred expressing their emotions when facing a psychiatrist. "Feeling happy lately" or "Feeling sad lately." Occasionally, they explained why they were happy or why they were sad at most.
But people like Howard favored stating facts, explaining logic, and discussing reality. Together with the psychiatrist, they analyzed where the conflicts in their inner states originated from. This kind of comprehensive self-assessment is efficient and saves energy.
Still, Schiller did not relax. On the contrary, he sat up straight, even more upright than Howard. He understood all too well that such patients have high demands for a doctor's skills.
Such people have a deep understanding of their own circumstances and even before consulting a medical professional, have already carried out self-analysis, traced the outlines of their predicaments, found key issues, and even have confabulated some conclusions based on their personalities.
If the doctor's skill is not up to their standard, if the consulting process is too slow or the logic too complicated, they would leave immediately, rather than waste their own time.
Any patient who is this rational and clever poses a great challenge to a psychoanalyst's professional skills.
Shiller began to focus his mind, while Howard started his story:
"What delights me is that the future of the human race is looking better than I could have ever imagined."
"You may possibly know, Doctor, during the Cold War era, countless individuals were extremely pessimistic. We were oblivious to when a terrible war would break out, when our tranquil lives would be blown to pieces…"
"But when I awoke, I discovered that humans did not only refrain from going to war for the third or fourth time, they actually united and aspired to venture into the cosmos. And it's not just all talk - many plans have been carried out and impressive progress has been made."
"Not only are humans stepping foot into the Solar System and reaching out to the sun, even looking further into the cosmos, they also are walking the path of magic while technology is booming. Undoubtedly, this has created significant room for human development, with both paths competing healthily, this is the best route to progress."
"I heard that Asgard has built up close relations with us. It is beyond my wildest dreams. The places in our mythologies have become our allies. Their new king has close ties with humans, even experienced life on Earth. This will be the best chip in future diplomatic relations…"
"Without a doubt, this is the best era I have ever seen. I was so excited, I could not sleep for several days…" Howard's fingers began to tremble, along with his narration, he had once again entered into a hyper-excited state.
Then, he picked up his cup gingerly, sipped cool water, and gradually his emotions began to settle.
"But I am also feeling quite melancholy, and that is why I am here, Doctor. I do not know why I feel sad. But I have some ideas. Would you like to hear them?"
Shiller nodded and said: "Of course, apart from hunches, feel free to talk about your feelings and emotions. These can be important factors for reference…"
Howard nodded to indicate that he understood. He felt a bit nervous, so he put the glass down, straightened his posture and begun:
"The first night after resuscitation, Maria and I celebrated. We both felt deeply that we never thought we could have a chance to start our lives all over again. No one would not rejoice at a second chance at life. "
"Over dinner, we both had a bit of wine. Of course, we didn't have much. Maria can't drink much, and she was worried I would drink too much. So we only had half a bottle of champagne. But afterwards, we both got drunk…"
"After an exciting chat, we both felt a bit tired. I lay in bed with Maria, but neither of us could fall asleep. Then she started crying. I knew that she was regretting missing out on Tony's upbringing…"
"But at that time, I found that I could not comfort her, because a kind of indescribable negative emotion rose inside me."
"I guess, it might be guilt. The decision I made back then hurt Maria, and it hurt Tony."
Howard slowly closed his eyes, his face full of pain. He said, "Between family and the world, I didn't choose family. I think I've always been a good person, but not a good husband, nor a good father..."
"How can I enjoy a new life peacefully? Just because I have a second chance at life, can it offset the sins of my past?" Howard asked, as if questioning himself rather than Shiller.
"If you fail to take responsibility when it's needed, can it be compensated by making up for it later?"
Howard leaned back on the couch once again, he looked slightly haggard. He said: "Of course not. There's only one opportunity for each stage in one's life. Once it's gone, it's impossible to get it back."
"Maria and I should have been with Tony. Watching him joyfully head to university, happily finishing his studies, encountering like-minded friends and partners in research…"
"Tony should have learned from me how to conduct himself and interact with old friends and their children, learning about business little by little, progressively shaping his own personality and social style, just like I learned from my father."
Despite Howard's controlled, cautious and polite manner of speaking, it was clear that he was more mature than the current Tony Stark, despite being around the same age when he died.
"Some people say that I'm a jerk, a no-good playboy..." Howard laughed and said, "That's just because it's the social style I chose. I needed it to secure advantages in business."
"But Tony..." Howard shook his head and said, "Looking at it now, he genuinely spent quite some time living in confusion and decadence..."
"And this all stemmed from a lack of family education, a lack of parental love, especially... a lack of fatherly guidance."