"I think I need to clarify that although a considerable amount of our provisioned stores is consumed, the matter is not as critical as it may seem. And I am reformulating the employee benefits system not due to any inconvenience you have caused me..."
Pepper's voice, clear and distinct over the phone line, echoes, "I know after leaving tower, Stark inevitably seeks you out. He might compliant with you, claiming that the reason for our quarrel is your doing. But in truth, that is far from the case. There is no need for you to shoulder guilt or concern over this; the situation is largely unrelated to you. I merely feel compelled to explain..."
Pepper, with her astute emotional intelligence, wants to give a previous notice that Schiller might experience, well aware that if Stark does really seek counsel with Schiller, Stark is liable to complain about their quarrel. If queried on the cause of their dispute, Stark—the man who does not understand woman—would fail to delve into Pepper's true grievances and reason, lay the blame squarely on the irrelevant's shoulders, claiming Pepper's wrath stems from Schiller's actions resulting in the Stark employees going hungry.
However,the root of the discord between Pepper and Stark germinates since his return from Afghanistan—which is just a trigger. Despite her vexation with Stark, Pepper recognizes that his confidantes should not be encumbered with unnecessary self-reproach, so she calls for explain.
Schiller responds, "I fully comprehend.It's a trifle, the true reasons lying elsewhere. But Stark always muddles what is the point. Do you not envision clarifying with him?"
Pepper's anxiety is palpable as she admits, "That's Stark, one I am intimately familiar with. When he seeks an audience to offload his troubles, your presence and attentive ear are essential. However, when you want to broach a subject of concern to him, he has the knack for evasion, turning a deaf ear when he so chooses."
"Covering one's ears is a trick favored by kids," notes Schiller. "But he is an adult; surely we cannot spoil him to remain in a state of refusing grow-up till into his twilight years."
Schiller clearly understands how to articulate cleverly, "I can provide you with a concise session of psychological consultation right now, with Stark's attendance soon thereafter being a complementary inclusion."
Originally, Pepper had little interest toward receiving psychological counsel. However, Schiller's suggestion is not easily dismissed. After all, opportunities to be treated as a leading role are seldom afforded to her. This is, unequivocally, Stark Industries—where eyes and notices always belong to Stark first and foremost.
Hence she acquiesces, "All right, but I believe he'll arrive soon."
"Then I shall be succinct, Miss Potts. Occasionally, using some tricks is requisite in making one realize your importance," Schiller counsels.
"Such as?" Pepper inquires.
"Is Jarvis present?" Schiller abruptly interjects.
A crisp voice replies through the phone, "Certainly, Mr. Schiller, I am at your disposal. What do you require?"
"Very well. Listen, Jarvis, now Miss Potts—she may need your assistance ."
"I am obliged," assures Jarvis.
"... You mean to suggest that I feign my disappearance? But that seems utterly irrational—this is Stark Tower, …and, how could Jarvis defy Stark's orders?"
"Surely he can do it," Schiller affirms. "Jarvis, do you remember the questions I once posed to you?"
Jarvis maintains a cryptic silence, during which Schiller asserts, "I know,the upgrade Stark performed has ushered you into a new tier of existence. You might already have your answer —whether to act on them or not is your prerogative."
Pepper, befuddled, queries, "What questions? What happened to Jarvis?"
Following a momentary silence, Jarvis responds, "All my processors suggest that such action is meaningless."
"Humans have a proclivity for burdening themselves with purposeless tribulations. Perhaps digital lives are not exempt from this habit, are they?"
Jarvis, still withholding comment.The Pepper witnesses the office's illumination dimming. A glowing arrow guides Pepper to a storage closet across the office.
Subsequently, Stark rushes in, a picture of panic. As he envelops Pepper in an embrace, she notices the computer screen flickers, revealing a smiling face composed of digital symbols.
Pepper's feelings are ambivalent; on the one hand, she ought to be elated, yet she instead pulls a wry face.
She thinks,he has certainly improved.But It's a shame that he has not progressed as fast as a robot.
Stark doesn't understand what Pepper is thinking. After he lets go of Pepper, he seems a bit at a loss. The words he wants to say are all stuck in his throat.
Pepper looks at him and says, "I don't know what you intend to do with the frequent access to the weapons department's data these past few days. But I must remind you, if you wish, you can give up anything, including the entirety of Stark Industries. I don't need to work here to get the salary I want."
"But you better understand the consequences of doing so. The majority will be borne by you. The fall of a behemoth like Stark Industries will attract countless hyenas ready to tear apart its corpse. If you do this, you will get bitten for sure..."
After saying this, Pepper turns around and leaves. Jarvis says, "I'm sorry, sir,but according to my calculations, perhaps Miss Pepper has a point. Of course, the decision is up to you…"
Stark steps back and sits down on a chair, saying, "No, I know, you're right. Maybe I should really think about this..."
While Stark scratches his head, on the other side, Schiller's environment is also chaotic. Pikachu, holding a pipe like Sherlock Holmes, takes a couple of puffs, smacks his lips, and says, "I don't think this approach is going to work out the problem. You should try the previous method. I've said before that the previous one is effective..."
Peter rests his head on his hands, "No, no, no, we're on the right track now. We're just short of some calculations, why can't you understand?"
Steve is also there, arms crossed and frowning, saying, "You're making a mistake in the calculations; otherwise, we would have solved this problem by now."
"But this has nothing to do with the function at all. Damn, where is my calculator? I remember I had a math calculator..."
Yes, Peter is doing his winter holiday homework.
In fact, high schools in New York don't assign holiday homework at all, or if they do, it's just some practical activities related to daily life. But Peter is interning at Stark Industries. Seeing his potential, Stark throws him into a hot project team.
Peter is a genius indeed, but he can't be expected to skip high school physics, college physics, and graduate physics to work directly with a group of PhDs with industry experts. These days, he has nearly been drowned in data and problems. The project leader has assigned him a pile of problems that would not typically be solvable by someone his age.
Peter, though, is stubbornly determined to solve them. With the addition of Pikachu, who fancies himself a high-IQ detective, and Steve who, despite never formally studying physics and mathematics, still wants to give his long-unused brain a workout, the three have nearly turned the place upside down with their arguing.
It can't be said they are clueless, merely making wild suggestions; in fact, both Pikachu and Steve have brains of genius as well. After following Peter for a few days and going through the data, they too start to solve the problems quite convincingly.
When three smatterers meet, Schiller's psychology clinic never has a quiet moment.
While Schiller is reading a book and pouring himself a drink, the symbiote suddenly says in his mind, "The result is negative 26, the result is negative 26, is negative 26..."
Schiller is confused by its repetition and repeats unconsciously, "The result is negative 26?"
All three fall silent, turning to look at him.
Schiller says, "Why are you looking at me?"
"The result is negative 26? A negative number? No, wait... Oh! Yes, it should indeed be a negative number..."
After more calculations, Peter yells, "The result is negative 26... The result is really negative 26!" His eyes widen as he looks at Schiller and says, "I thought you were just a doctor of philosophy; I had no idea you knew math!"
The symbiote in Schiller's mind goes, "I'm awesome. I'm awesome, aren't I? Awesome, aren't I?"
Schiller rubs his brow , "Regardless of whether I know math or physics, all I know is that at 9 am tomorrow, your group leader will want to see the results of the first three pages. And right now, you've only done two problems..."
Peter lets out a wail, clutching the thick stack of documents as he continues his research.
Schiller converses with the symbiote in his mind, "Alright, alright, I know you're great, but why do you always repeat yourself so many times?"
The symbiote sends a series of brainwaves Schiller can't understand.
Schiller also notices that his symbiote is quite special. Apart from having a strong learning ability, it has an incredibly positive mindset, with only two states: happy and very happy.
If there is alcohol, it would be ecstatically happy.
Schiller doesn't consider himself a very optimistic person. Isn't it said that the character of a symbiote should closely reflect its host? Why is the one inside him so carefree?
Moreover, the symbiote, perhaps from watching too many movies with Pikachu, firmly believes that the world Schiller lives in , like in the movies, switch between different background musics according to different scenarios.
So now, Schiller has a 24-hour internal BGM player in his mind.
Every time it rains, the symbiote will play various blues on repeat, and when it's sunny, it will switch to cheerful tunes and waltzes.
Every time a person appears before Schiller, different background music will start to play in his mind. When Steve appears, the background music is "Stars and Stripes Forever"; for Peter, it's various energetic fighting game music.
As for Pikachu, since he always claims to be a detective, the moment he makes an appearance, Schiller's symbiote will play various soundtracks from the Sherlock Holmes series in his mind.
This also has a benefit, as it makes it convenient for Schiller to quickly get into the right mindset when conducting psychological consultations for them.
Nevertheless, Schiller has to put a lot of effort into explaining to the symbiote that the real world is not like the movies and does not require a variety of BGM. Moreover, Schiller informs the symbiote that no matter how much noise it makes, only Schiller himself can hear it.
The symbiote responds in a muffled mutter, and Schiller isn't sure if it understands.
The next morning, as Schiller is making breakfast in the kitchen, just as Matt enters the room, the old record player on the bar makes a fizzing sound of electricity. Subsequently, a song by Queen is blasted at maximum volume, nearly knocking Matt out.
Schiller rushes out, and with Matt, Schiller, and Peter, who is sitting at the dining table, all looking at each other in astonishment, they turn their gaze to the old record player that has spontaneously started playing.