As expected, there were more than a few puzzled looks as the group cluster around the blueprint drawing, but hecklers it would seem are universal no matter what realm Tony's in.
"Surely, you jest? Tis nothing but a wood plank with wheels."
It doesn't take a genius to know where that comment came from. It was one thing to stay and not pay for the show, it was quite another to undermine the event altogether. Tony's new resolve from two days ago threw no objections when he chose not to mince words either, "Would those who's allergic to creativity please leave? I don't want you to strain anything important."
One thing Tony has learned and enjoyed about Alfheim is that the elves he'd encountered so far gets with the program fast. There were a few giggles (politely of course) when as a whole the group turn their gaze at the duo Tony was clearly referring to. Instead of driving the twin away though, they visibly bristles at the gibe and bulldoze their way right through the dirty dozen to Tony's drawing, gesture at it to return tit for tat.
"If you would pardon Rhys and my own lack of imagination, your Highness. Such a design would undoubtedly be of little use; tis too small to load and not wide nor deep enough to cart with. What could one possible use such a simple apparatus for?"
Yeah, no disrespect there. As much as Tony relish the thought of having Tanna send for armed guards to boot them offstage, he was more curious to see what the groups' reaction to their comments were. The ones that were nodding in agreement he has no use for them. Rather, to Tony's delight, it was the same handful of elves that he'd spoken to last night that has his attention.
Needless to say, in spite of the twins' intention they just unwittingly help Tony out. Not that he would be thanking them, more like knocking them down a peg or three for challenging him outright.
With an air of a practice showman, Tony slow claps before enunciating dryly, "Thank you for that wonderfully simplistic assessment. Now, if you would look at the drawings beneath the 'wood plank' if you please? Can any elf tell me what they see?"
That taunt manage to get the larger twin to puff up in embarrassment, so the scrawnier version tags in to the verbal match, "Nothing but a pair of axles attached to two small wheels."
As far as comebacks go, that was weak. Tony did roll his eyes then, "Thank you, Mister Obvious. Anyone else?"
He was greeted by utter silence. That was a miscalculation on his part. Tony didn't mean to scare them off with his own remarks. Thankfully the session isn't dead in the waters when a discordant voice pipes up from young Kip no less, albeit in the form of a question, "it can pivot, sir?"
Excited by the prospect of actually getting somewhere with this group, Tony broke out into a wide smile and exclaims, "Yes! That's five points for Gryffindor."
Promptly ignoring the elves immediate confusion over that non sequitur, Tony looks over his shoulder to Tanna (who has taken her usual position behind him) and calls out offhandedly, "Keep score won't you? Thanks."
Then brought his attention back to the young elf, "Now Kip, what cause you to make that observation if you don't mind sharing with the rest of the class?"
The boy seem flustered by all the attention he was getting and hesitantly stumbles along while pointing at the poster for reference, "The drawing… erm, this small joint here… this locks the front axle to that piece there… beneath the plank?"
Kip pause and eyes Tony nervously as if he's waiting for confirmation. So he nods for the boy to continue. With the boost of confidence, the young elf even gestures what the axle would do, "depending on how tight the joint is attach, it will turn left or right, my Lord."
"Very good, Kip! That's another five points," Tony enthuses and beams at the boy even as Pip gave her brother a proud smile for receiving such praise. Not wanting to chance any derogatory comments to the boy's small victory, Tony hastily prod things along.
"If you look here, this front part of the skateboard is called the nose and this back portion is called the tail. It's the nose section that the truck, this piece here, allows the axle to move on the two bushings there and that pivot point. The key to how wide an angle you want the turn depends on how much you tighten the kingpin nut here. So, any elf wants to make an educated guess as to the skateboard's use?"
Whether the group is bolster by the success of a small boy or just humoring the Midgardian Prince, one of the elves he'd spoken to last night finally joins in on the discussion. Tony recognizes him immediately as the meticulous elf with the side braid and a wide knowledge of textiles.
"Tis a wild guess, your Highness," he said before looking at his friend with the darker coloring for confirmation. Tony remembers him as well. These two were never far from each other. The dark one has a penchant for sweets and savory foods like Tony and was also in trades. After that brief exchange between what he dubbed as Ebony and Ivory, the fairer of the two continues, "Is it some type of propelled transport?"
With much relief, Tony pumps his hand in the air and points at the pair with excitement, "Yes! Ten points for Hufflepuff."
"Ah, I see!"
With a sigh, Tony is on his way to forming an aversion to the twins' voices as he differentiate between the two.
That was Lars, the leader of the two who likes to start the sentence, "If one were to tie a rope around the front axle, one can pull a child—"
"Or a small animal. Aye. We stand corrected, my Lord. Tis not useless at all," And that was Rhys, the smaller, scrawnier brother equally pock-faced who follows.
Wonders never cease. It has been a long time since one of Tony's inventions (even though this was not his own) was laughed at. From experience though, hecklers don't stop heckling until their balls are handed to them. And Tony is very tempted to do literally that. It took a recital of pi to the tenth decimal place for him to cool his temper somewhat.
Though he needn't bother. A cool and detach voice rose crisp and clear from beyond the crowd to rejoinder, "Tis a self-propelled apparatus. Judging by the purposeful curved design of the wood plank and the hints given, one needs only to stand on this skateboard to manipulate its movements. Obviously, the maneuverability and speed depends on the skill of the rider."
With all attention diverted from Tony's little project, his dirty dozen began whispering excitedly amongst themselves as they part like the Red Sea for the newcomer.
Tony has never seen her before. She was shorter than most elves, though long and lean, much darker too, with midnight hair tied in a high ponytail and muted blue skin that makes her jade eyes seems brighter against those classical cheekbones and thin press lips. She was dressed in the same regalia as the castle guards, yet her ensemble resembles more of Lady Sif's chest plate and pauldron combo. Beyond that, the changes was vastly different. Her light armor consists more of leather than metal, although the silver looks warn and the shade of forest green pants and muslin tunic was darker than the ones he'd seen the other guards wore. Even the short rapier-like scimitar strapped to her right hip pose a difference in her rank.
Her steps towards Tony were unhurried and has a distinct prowl to it. He might have made a mental gulp as she nears. At a respectful distance of a yard, she stops then place a vambrace covered arm over her chest and bows swiftly.
"Greetings Prince Anthony Stark of Midgard. I am Captain T'Pol of the Northern Rangers. My King has received word from Mortan the foreman of the Royal Forge that your commission is complete and is ready for inspection. His Majesty has granted his permission to depart with a royal escort upon your order. My pack mates and I are at your disposal."
Yes! Tony has been anxiously waiting to hear from Mortan ever since the two weeks deadline had come and gone. The downside is, Thor and his pack had kept him so busy that he has yet to experiment on the materials the old cat elf gave him. So how can he face his mentor without doing his homework first?
Reluctant to wait yet apprehensive to go, he was tongue-tied to make a decision. As far as distraction goes, the odd silence that ensue has his eyes scanning the crowd before he notice with some alarm, his group was giving the Ranger a very wide berth. Her stance remain relaxed however, though her right hand rests on the pommel of her sword as she kept her gaze steady on Tony, awaiting his orders.
What was it about this particular elf? She didn't give him the same bad vibes as Lars and Rhys did, yet the whole group especially the children seem to be wary. Or was it racial prejudice? Tony couldn't fathom it when cat elves is an actual thing.
"My Lord, perhaps we should wait until Prince Thor's return? He may wish to join you on your sojourn."
That it was Tanna of all the elves to raise an objection cause Tony to go from feeling annoyed to indignant. Even Ebony and Ivory was nodding in agreement with her advice to him. And he was equally flummox when the twins spoke up in actual defense, albeit in a condescending way.
"Come now, Tanna. You should not encourage the young Prince to follow your example and rarely leave the castle. I am sure the Ranger will do an adequate job. Rhys and I have traveled the roads to Ports Mouth thousands of times, tis safe."
Though the Ranger had been stone face at that personal jab, she actually raise a brow at the word 'safe' before going back to her stone face impression. Tony didn't want to admit it at first but his suspicions became more concrete the more he observed the crowds enjoyment of the twins' remark.
Yup, definitely a steaming pile of racial crap.
Deciding to not even poke that with a ten foot pole, Tony went with his gut and projects his voice firmly, "Give me a moment to change and grab a few things, Captain. I will meet you at the stables within an hour."
Despite being calm and collected as she helps him carry all the rolls of drawing on their quiet walk back to Tony's quarters, Tanna is anything but after she place them down on the table and quite vocally make another attempt to dissuade him.
"Prince Anthony, I beg you to reconsider. Captain T'Pol and her pack mates are hired mercenaries. Their loyalty has yet to be tested."
Oh ho. Tony knows when an elephant is being ignored in the room. That was not even a valid argument in his book.
"I understand your concerns, Tanna. But look at it this way, King Frey himself recommended them. Wouldn't he be the best judge of their loyalty?"
Instead of capitulating, Tanna seems more agitated as she began pacing the floors and wringing her fingers. Eventually she mutters something under her breath, "Tis what I am afraid of."
Tony was definitely missing something here. He doesn't have time for this.
"Excuse me?"
Inhaling a sharp gasp, Tanna nearly stumbles on her feet when she realizes what she had said. She turns sharply to face Tony, fear clearly in her eyes and prostrates on the floor.
Her voice was ripe with tension as she begs hastily, "Forgive me, your Highness. I had not meant to question the King."
Tony is having none of that as he crouch down awkwardly to quickly console her, "Hey now. Don't even go there. No kneeling, ever! You hear me?"
She seem hesitant to move still, so Tony sat down instead and try coaxing some more, "Penny for your thoughts?"
This time Tanna raises her upper body to give him a puzzle look.
With a smile, Tony falls back into their usual exchange, "It means that I can't read your thoughts, so do you mind sharing them? I promise I won't judge."
"Oh," whisper Tanna before taking a deep breath and began, albeit haltingly at first, "I would have to start… at the beginning… I think. 'Twas over 5000 years ago when King Borr fought the Dokkalfar in Svartalheim and won. However, 'twas a hollow victory for the dark elves themselves were the ones to annihilate their own kinfolks to the point of near extinction. The ones who managed to escape are few and far in-between. They scattered across the eight realms, living in the cover of darkness. Though they were granted asylum by King Borr soon after the war, many were persecuted still for inane reasons. They adapted to the other realms eventually. Most kept to themselves, living in the most inhospitable and isolated of places, wherein some became hired mercenaries known for their ruthlessness… Tis this reason I fear for you, my Lord. King Frey may be using this opportunity to test their loyalty. I cannot vouch for your safety."
Wow. She said quite a mouthful. It was a lot to take in considering all the social commentary he had to put aside. There was so many things wrong with that story.
First things first, Tony's got a plan.
"It'll be fine. I'm a big boy and can handle myself," he smirks.
"But—"
"However," Tony cuts in before she worried herself to death, "To be on the safe side, I'm going to gear up while you go fetch your own merry band of escorts, 'kay? Then we'll be there and back before lunchtime."
That should have alleviated the frown on Tanna's face but it seem to deepen it instead. Thankfully he didn't have to cajole it out of her this time.
"Very well, but you are mistaken, my Lord. Both your journey with Prince Thor were on Asgardian creatures that were bred for speedy travel. Only the royal family members are known to handle such creatures. The journey on steeds from Alfheim will not be as swift. It will take most of the day to complete the task."
"Huh."
Well that explains it. Not. Talk about special privileges. Thor made it seem so safe and effortless to travel anywhere. It was utter bullshit.
"Shall I send word to the Captain to postpone our outing?"
Damn. She looks hopeful, yet Tony has made up his mind.
"Nah. As Sun-Tzu once said, 'know thy enemy, know thyself.' I rather give people the benefit of the doubt but that doesn't mean I don't have a plan B just in case the shit hits the fan."
And now she looks disturbed.
"The image you painted tis rather disgusting, sir."
"Yeah, so is betrayal."
