ataraxion | 002 ⇒ video

[Tony is sitting in a chair, feet propped up against a table with a drink in one hand. He's still avoiding those dreadful jumpsuits so he's dressed in one of his fancy suits instead although it's a little rumpled as he has no idea how to iron. Looking at him, you wouldn't be able to tell that he's barely keeping himself together.]

You know what I miss?

Good alcohol. Scotch, whiskey, a martini. This stuff is good enough to get drunk on, but still disappointing.

So let's barter. I'm sure some of you out there have something decent in your possession. I can build you a personalised nanite fleet, portable teleporter and/or force field, dimensional gate, super-soldier exo-suit, Thor's hammer-- actually scratch the hammer, weather manipulation in an enclosed space is just stupid, for the really good stuff and in large quantities.

For the lesser stuff you can choose between a weapon of your choice provided it's not something like a nuke, your very own pet Wall-E or some other small trinket, coffee machine, whatever.

Everything is negotiable and if you have something specific in mind feel free to ask. I also reserve the right to not do business with you for whatever reason.

[It means anyone wanting something that could be used as a weapon beyond a simple gun or sword will be scrutinised heavily. Also any of the big stuff will have built in safety mechanisms so he can shut it down remotely if the need arises. He doesn't really see anyone actually fulfilling his criteria for the big stuff, but he's crossing his fingers.]

The offer is open indefinitely and I'll probably have something up on that noticeboard.

[filtered to the Ultimates; encrypted 100%]

And just as an addition. I realise with the whole different timelines and all, not all of you would know about this. Clint knows already, but I'm sure you've all wondered at one point or another why someone like me is in this business.

I'm dying. [He looks incredibly relaxed as he says this and taps the side of his head.] Brain tumour, inoperable. Blah blah blah. I figured I'd go out with a bang. It's gone into remission a couple of times which is the only reason I'm still around, but it's back right now.

This isn't the important part.

[Speaking off camera.] Come over here.

[A young boy walks into view dressed in a suit just like Tony, basically imagine Tony as a child. The important thing to note here is that he is rather ghostly.]

This is Anthony, he's my tumour. Say hi, this is my team.

[Anthony smiles and waves at the camera.]

He's also a technopath. So any questions?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Azari's not certain he should say anything, or if he even wants to be talking to Tony at all. He's not exactly his Tony, but... well.

Close enough.

So he looks a little apprehensive, though you wouldn't be able to read how nervous he is if you didn't know him. ]

Are you really sure it's a good idea to get drunk on a spaceship where people have gotten killed recently?

[Sorry Azari, this Tony saves the world while completely sloshed on a regular basis. He sees nothing wrong with this. But he's still one of the greatest minds of his time drunk or not and now he's dead certain that Azari is supposed to know him. Let's hope he's not with James and Francis.

Hah.]

Why not? I don't consider this any different from any other moment of my life.

[He can't even remember the last time he was completely sober.]

[ Your luck sucks, Tony. James is Azari's brother.

And Azari is looking distinctly weirded out by that, even though he's trying to cover it. ]

It's probably not my place to say it, but... man, that's a lot of time spent being drunk.

[You should tell him you're also the Black Panther and Storm's son. That'll blow his mind.

He smiles widely.]

It's the best way to live. Piloting becomes so much more exhilarating that way.

[Doing brainy stuff is a lot harder, but he doesn't find it as fun as being Iron Man.]

[ If Tony ever asked, he'd tell. Probably. Maybe.

This is Azari's horrified face, by the way, Tony. ]

Oh my-- seriously? That is so irresponsible, what happens if you can't react quick enough and crash? I have read about inebriation, I know that your reflexes get affected, that is just... just...

[ ...Hey, Tony, I think you broke it. ]

[Rolling his eyes. He's heard this so many times, although Azari is the youngest.]

It's no different to piloting while injured. Besides, my nanites can take care of any problems that might come up.

But if Ultr---

[ Wait.

No.

Stop.

Wrong Tony, and Ultron is dead. For about half a second there, it was like the past couple years hadn't happened, and Tony was just being... really really unlike himself. Ultron still at large, certain kinds of tech still extremely dangerous. It's the timbre of his voice, the faint familiarity of his eyes, and it's screwing Azari up something fierce right now.

But it's not then anymore. He's not a 14-year-old, Tony's dead, and Ultron is long gone. He takes a metaphorical step back, breathes deeply, and nods. ]

Right. Well, you're an adult, but I still think it's a bad idea.

[...Well that gives it away. He sighs heavily, this is yet another person who looks up to him or a version of him as a role model.]

You were about to say Ultron.

[Tony doesn't want to completely let down the man that raised his friends kids without screwing up too badly, but at the same time he's heavily aware that he's just not capable of raising children. Too many problems that he refuses to deal with.]

You're with James and Francis.

[ Azari lifts his chin a bit, his eyes flashing, as if silently asking if Tony has a problem with that. ] Yes, sir. James is my brother.

[ On the upside, Tony, Azari is at least somewhat more practical in that he doesn't want you to be a role model, even subconsciously. He is far too aware that you are Not His Dad, ergo he's not sure he even wants anything to do with you.

But he also figures that being a recluse and avoiding Tonys because they're not his dad is stupid. Also he's pretty sure Tony is stupid right now, because of the booze thing. ]

[Of course he's James' brother because his luck is terrible in personal matters.]

Okay, let me guess your parents then. [His list is very short and consists of one name only.] T'Challa? [His T'Challa left the team for Hollywood, perhaps he met someone there.

...probably for the best that Azari doesn't keep seeing his Tony in this one like James does. But it does mean he'll probably miss out if Tony ever gets his hand on chocolate again.]

[ Hey, everything else aside, Azari is NOT above being as pitiful as possible to get chocolate. It's... it's chocolate.]

[ nod ] And Ororo Munroe. Storm. She was one of the X-men before she and my father got married.

[ Okay, he might be a little proud of that. His siblings all have a parent or parents who were in the Avengers, but his mom was an X-man. ]

[What.]

Storm. Of the X-Men.

[They've never even met as far as he knows. And they're unlikely to now considering how mutants are wanted.]

Didn't see that coming.

[ Azari shrugs. He doesn't really know all that much about how his parents met and got together. ]

As far as I know, they met while my father was with the Avengers, before he went back to Wakanda.

For me T'Challa left the team for Hollywood and last I heard he was making a name for himself there. Not sure about your mother though.

002 ⇒ video

video;

video;

Re: video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;