video | un: iron.man

[buildsomething]

[The video opens on a very nice view of a warehouse ceiling, at least until there's a muffled curse offscreen and it tilts to reveal one Tony Stark. He's practically vibrating with the kind of manic energy that means he's been working for possibly too long, all hair standing on end and a few dark smudges on his face, but he looks pleased at least. Just behind him is a glowing blue hologram picking out the lines of something circular, spinning lazily like it was hurriedly abandoned.]

So hey, you all know those power plants out there in yonder abandoned wasteland? Sure you do. I know there's one working, but I've got some ideas for how to give the other ones a good kick. Thing is, I could use an extra hand.

[The metal arm that's been slowly rolling along behind him suddenly straightens and twists in Tony's direction, claw at the front contracting. Without looking back, Tony just snorts.] Not you. [The arm droops, somehow giving the impression of looking disappointed, but continues his trek to wherever he thinks he's going.]

Anyway, yes. Manpower needed. Preferably the kind that knows it's way around a welding iron, but I'll take what I can get. Oh, and a metric shitload of palladium. So if anybody's got a spare catalytic converter or twenty, let me know.

[He reaches for the phone, then pauses, something slightly sardonic flicking across his mouth.]

Or if one of you magic types wants to straw-into-gold me up some, I'll take that too.

Thanks in advance.

[Looking much more satisfied, he reaches the rest of the way to cut the feed.]

Comments

[buildsomething]

Huh, that's not a bad idea, actually. I could build most of it here and then cart it over.

[He huffs out a laugh himself.]

I'm worried about working with something that has the potential to overclock and take most of us with it if it goes wrong. It's nothing personal.

[thisisamazing]

Depends on how big it's going to be, probably. It might be easier than carting out materials and tools and doing everything on the site. [He's not entirely sure what Tony is building but damned if he's not on board with it.]

Haha, that's fair! What is it, exactly, anyway?

[buildsomething]

Huh, okay. Do you know what exactly his carry weight is?

[The kid is Tony's kind of nerd, it's not outside the realm of possibility that he'll have measured it.]

Put shortly, it's a power source.

[thisisamazing]

Well, if we're really pushing, maybe about... [Old timey vikings don't exactly have the same units of measurement, but he seems to be digging out a scrap of paper to work out the conversions, while the dragon himself huffs and almost seems to roll his eyes. Hiccup's definitely been trying to get caught up to modern science but Toothless isn't as much of a fan.] Twenty-two hundred kilograms? Plus a rider, and possibly one other passenger. That's only if a slower flight isn't an issue, though.

So, like a generator? Only to power something a lot bigger. [He's taking classes, okay.]

[buildsomething]

Essentially a generator, yeah. Only it's self-sustaining, so no fuel consumption.

[He pauses for a moment to do some quick calculations of his own, eyes going slightly faraway before his attention snaps back.]

That might be pushing it, on the weight. But there are other options, based on how much your buddy there feels like being used as a pack mule.

[thisisamazing]

Wow, that sounds amazing! It doesn't need fuel at all? [He's fascinated by this whole project, and excited to be a part of it. To see how it goes and how it works and what it does.]

Right, yeah. [A self-sustaining generator probably would have to be bigger than a Monstrous Nightmare.] We'll help out however we can, right, bud? [The rumbling noise Toothless makes in the background isn't speech but it sounds agreeable enough.] He's helped me carrying construction materials before, so it shouldn't be a problem.

[buildsomething]

Nope. That's kind of the point of it. Green energy and all.

[Is that a reference the kid will even get? Who knows. Moving on.]

Alright, cool. Hey, how hot can he breathe?

[thisisamazing]

[He does not get the reference at all, but he also doesn't want to look clueless. The thought is there that the energy is green in color, though. Thanks Tony.]

He can control the intensity depending on the situation, but I would have to take some more specific measurements. We could give you a demonstration sometime.

[buildsomething]

Might be good, yeah. I wouldn't mind having some specific numbers.

[He pauses for a moment, then seems to realize it would be helpful if he actually explains things.]

Trying to see if he can melt down the palladium so I can literally build everything on site.

[thisisamazing]

What's the melting point of palladium, compared to like, iron or steel? [He seems thoughtful for a moment, sideways glancing over at Toothless's face off-screen.] Should we come by sometime and test it out, maybe?

[buildsomething]

Little bit higher than iron. So fairly comparable, if he can do that. And yeah, sounds like a plan. As soon as I get some.

[thisisamazing]

We could probably work with that, then. Most dragons can melt iron, with a little work. Toothless' plasma blasts are something else, even for a dragon.

But yeah! Just let me know and we'll be right there. I'm looking forward to helping.