50 Shades of Tony
By Rey
Author's notes: This update came about by mist_shadow's encouragement – thank you! And, by their request, there's more "Lolo" for you. Enjoy! And I'd be grateful if you'd suggest more single-worded or single-phrased prompts for me, since I'm running out of those. Thank you! - Rey
Chapter 29
Tony Stark and The Adventures of Co-Ruling a Planet
Warning for: Piece 716: Teens: Reference to Capital Punishment
Ýmirheim, Beginning-Middle of April 2016 (Ctd.)
702. Claustrophobic
Fié apparently still thinks that sleeping in a small cave with only a small opening and nobody around for miles and miles could be a nice treat for Tony, after a hellish day he's had, impotently "brooding" over multiple problems. Well, now they know for sure how claustrophobic Tony is.
703. Cloister
Tony cloisters himself with various forces tasked to restore Ýmirheim, wishing to solve at least one single problem that he should be able to solve. But, in the back of his mind, a plan – bold and mad, maybe – is forming, to take back the "Casket of Ancient Winters" from Asgard.
704. Blink
"Why doesn't Amma just ask Ýto Ðinyé to fetch the Anchor?" Lasla pipes up at the end of Tony's presentation on what he's going to do to fetch the Anchor, during their prescribed "family time" in the nest. And Tony can… just… blink. `Why didn't I think of it before?`
705. Mug
There's a mug of ever-warm spiced chocolate on the table by the door when Tony wakes up. There's a plate of warm, lumpy choco-chip biscuits beside it. And there are a pair of reserved, subdued, timid midgets standing nervously by the table, not staring at him. "You made those, Lolo?"
706. Cherish
"Hmmmm." Tony exaggeratedly relishes the chocolate, in-between nibbling at the biscuits. And he does cherish them, knowing that this is the first time ever Lolo willingly reach out, together, and they're even semi-willingly gathered on his lap, now. Considering that both were separately and severely abused just two years ago….
707. Swear
Tony swears in his new Ýmirheimi advisory board in the Capital's meeting field with all solemnity. How not? This past month, Fié – the damn Leaf – has continuously drilled him about how sacred oaths are in Ýmirheim and for its people. And it took that long to write this oath, too.
708. Whirl
Fié's way of assuring the milaðen that Tony means no harm to the realm, its citizens and its ruler by having his own advisory board for everything is to whirl him in an impromptu dance fest right after the oath-taking, which is reported live to everywhere for everyone to see.
709. Pin
Ýmirheim doesn't recognise pins and medals as badges of honour. It does have certain rare colours and non-metal decorations to denote rank, though, as those are… well, rare, and expensive, but wearable, thus prestigious. Rather primitive, in Tony's opinion, but he's learnt to keep his mouth shut, yes he has!
710. Riddle
Fié claims that Tony's on the verge of a stress-induced breakdown again, working so long and so much with the new board of advisors. They hustle him away to be "cured." And the medicine is… exchanging riddles? "Seriously, Leaf? Riddles? Can you get any dorkier?" He's called "Riddle," for that….
711. Clink
Counting money and other treasures in the treasury is so very amusing. "S'a real treasure cave! Neat!" Tony exclaims while wading happily among the variously coloured, sized, shaped and formed coins that clink together on the disturbance. Then he goes further by swimming among them…. "I'm Tony McDuck today!"
712. Fork
Tony takes particular delight in banning fork usage from the dining hall, after somebody tried to assassinate Lolo using one. He doesn't relish it, though, when Fié sets him up to teach everyone the use of chopsticks as replacement. "You can do it too. Why don't we do it together?"
713. Swirl
There's less time for relaxation but more need for one, as Fié's rooting out the conspiracy that birthed the assassination attempt. Remembering the many archived sketches, Tony proposes drawing as stress management. He regrets watching Fié make seemingly random swirls with paint on a piece of paper, though. So dizzying!
714. Defunct
"Fié… what'd happen if Lolo died. And the babies, too?" – "I would likely go berserk." – "Other than that?" – "My line would end." – "And?" – "The high monarchy would likely go defunct, as it was my ancestors who unified Ýmirheim through all the separate tribes." – "Oh. Umm. Is that… a bad thing?"
715. Indecipherable
Fié's look at that question is indecipherable. Tony winces. "Aside from the bloodshed, really," he hastily continues. But Fié makes a slashing gesture across their throat, and his mouth clicks shut. And then, he remembers that, in his so-called past life as Farbauti, he was accused of leading a coup.
*716. Gloat
The prisoners that Týo and their team netted are… talkative. They gloat despite their failure, and boast despite their literal impending doom. It doesn't matter to Tony. Except that they claim Farbauti will lead them through another coup. He counter-attacks by proclaiming that he's most content with the status quo.
717. For
The information and Tony's proclamation leaked. The public demands that "Farbauti" prove their claim. Tony makes his first public speech, then, pointing out all that he has done for them and his spouse. But he does it not for those ungrateful sheeple. No, he does it for the distressed Fié.
718. Cornered
Away without visible guards in an effort to calm down, Tony's instead cornered by so-called "Farbauti's people." They want him as the monarch, naturally. Equally naturally, he tells them – sarcastically but in no uncertain way – that he has no thought whatsoever of being tied down to rule such ungrateful people.
719. Combine
"They are afraid of your combined power, Úti. You and Fié are quite a force, when you are united, and so they seek to separate you… in any way possible," Anga says softly when they saw how Tony tries so hard not to explode before the children, in their nest-time.
720. Takeover
Tony corners Fié when the children – including the babies – are fast asleep and Anga plus family have given them room to talk. "We need to stage a takeover," he says, inspired by Anga's insight. "We need to shock them all, put them on the wrong foot, turn them upside-down, whatever."
721. King
Fié gives Tony an unreadable stare for the longest time. "Are you going to rest the rule from me?" And Tony stares back, huffing, disbelieving. "I did it all, and you're still asking if I'd like to be king or something? Of course not. It's too much work. Boring, besides."