Merchant of Death

Tony living up to the Merchant of Death namesake, holding a skull and champagne glass (can’t draw bubbly champagne for nothin’), while wrapped in thorny vines.
Inspired by a tumblr post I saw a while ago about the Merchant of Death aesthetic Tony Stark was sporting at the casino. I was combing through posts, trying to find the original, but couldn’t. If anyone can find it, please let me know and/or add it to this post.
Ink on printer paper.

(See the end of the work for more notes and other works inspired by this one.)

Chapter 1 Chapter Text

Tony Stark as the Merchant of Death.

Chapter 2: Colored Version

Notes:

Experimenting with windows surface paint program. Trying to get used to layering is a pain, but I’m hoping it’ll get easier as I go.
I usually (loosely) base my version of Tony Stark off of MCU/RDJ Tony Stark, but instead of typical brown eyes, I gave him glowing brown/honey golden eyes to add an "unsettling, otherworldly" effect. The background ended up flatter than I wanted, but -shrug- it does the job. Hopefully it doesn’t look too odd.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Tony Stark as the Merchant of Death, colored version.

Notes:

I'm on tumblr. Feel free to come say hi: https://novarain01.tumblr.com/

Notes:

I'm on tumblr. Feel free to come say hi: https://novarain01.tumblr.com/

Works inspired by this one:

The Merchant of Death by STARSdidathing

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Comments

STARSdidathing on Chapter 1 Sat 05 Aug 2017 11:15AM UTC

HOLY FREAKIN' CRAPOLA THIS IS FABULOUS. IF I COULD COLOUR DECENTLY I WOULD COLOUR THIS. HNNGH. SO. DARN. GORGEOUS. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. And the "champagne" looks like something bubbling and poisonous to me. Which only adds to the aesthetic in my book.
--
The branches wrapped around him like old friends, the thorns scrapped his skin with possessive protection and Tony felt at home for the first time in a long while. The liquor bubbled in his glass, hissing and whispering and daring people to drink. Daring them to try. Tony chuckled and tipped the first sip into his mouth. Relishing the burn, indulging in the poison that fell so easily on his tongue.
That had killed so easily in the past.
He moved around his work shop with absent motions. Picking up a skull and tossing it in his hand, enjoying the sound of bone hitting bone as the teeth clacked together and the jaw came close to unhinging.
"Sir," Jarvis - his invisible eye, his deadly right hand called him, "The Avengers are asking for you."
Tony's teeth clenched and he stared at the skull. Slowly, he let his fingers dig into bone, relishing the way the branches moved on silent command, wrapping the skull in thorns and impossibe strength until he heard bone crush and felt powder and broken pieces fall on his hand.
He let out a laugh and took another sip of the drink. He felt it scream all the way down. (The sound of a thousand victims all dying by his hand. The sound of explosions. A deep mechanical voice. I am Iron Man.) He left the drink on his bench and let the fragments of skull full to the floor.
He crushed them under his shoes as he walked away. The branches and the thorns sliding back under his skin, back into his workshop and leaving him unscathed, unseen but never alone. "Tell them I'll be right up."
A smile and a flash. A small trick, a cheesy one liner. A lie and a truth.
I am the Merchant of Death.)
--
Ahem. Because I kinda had to. DON'T MIND ME.

Last Edited Sat 05 Aug 2017 11:16AM UTC

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1. NovaRain on Chapter 1 Sat 05 Aug 2017 04:10PM UTC
  
  o_o! ... O_O!!!
  Omfg! I love the snippet! Hot damn, Tony is so deliciously evil and the supernatural element, omg! I love it! I will so totally mind because this deserves attention.
  You. Are. The. Best. <3 <3 <3
  
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2. 1. STARSdidathing on Chapter 1 Sat 05 Aug 2017 09:41PM UTC
    
    Hehehehe. I'm so glad you like it! It was a lot of fun to write. I don't tend to pen "evil!Tony" because I sort of find it hard to picture him being actually evil. But this, this was fun.
    I might post it to my account, but I'm not sure. We'll see :D
    
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  2. 1. NovaRain on Chapter 1 Sat 05 Aug 2017 10:20PM UTC
      
      Yeah, I find it hard to see him full on evil. Ruthless might be cutting it close, but pulling off the evil look...-happy sigh- =^_^= Tony would look handsome in anything (or nothing lol)
      
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    2. 1. STARSdidathing on Chapter 1 Sat 05 Aug 2017 10:27PM UTC
        
        The only way I see him evil is a complete change to his personality, which I don't like to do. Prefer him as a good guy, much like Loki. Good guys who are out for themselves, ruthless and assholes who are more than up for some vengeance but still inherently good for Tony and chaotic-neutral for Loki.
        ... Still writing one or both of them evil can be fun sometimes. And if A03 would just let me post. I'd be able to update with some fic >.<
        
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      2. NovaRain on Chapter 1 Sat 05 Aug 2017 10:29PM UTC
        
        D:< -takes a baseball bat to imagined AO3'S face- DO. NOT. DENY. ME. UPDATE. FROM. STARS!!!
        
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        STARSdidathing on Chapter 1 Sat 05 Aug 2017 10:45PM UTC
        
        *LAUGHS* Well. Hopefully that terrifies them into submission... Alas, still not letting me post >.< FIX THE DAMN BUG, AO3!!
        
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        NovaRain on Chapter 1 Sat 05 Aug 2017 11:37PM UTC
        
        -offers cupcake- no be angry :/
        
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        STARSdidathing on Chapter 1 Sat 05 Aug 2017 11:46PM UTC
        
        I figured out what was messing it up. It seemed to be glitching because I was trying to gift it, mark it as inspired by and add it to a series. So I only did two and added the other after it was posted and ta-dah! :D
        
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        NovaRain on Chapter 1 Sun 06 Aug 2017 12:41AM UTC
        
        You are the embodiment of magnificence! That is all!
        
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        STARSdidathing on Chapter 1 Sun 06 Aug 2017 03:32AM UTC
        
        Awwh. *flushes and bats at you*
        
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3. IsabelleAo3 on Chapter 1 Sun 08 Aug 2021 02:38PM UTC
  
  I wish I could kudo comments like this!!
  But then everyone will be copying comments and saying "just passed by this guys, thank you for the kudos" and the comment section will lose its originality
  *shudders*
  So I am just going to comment here, god I LOVE your take on this(albeit 3 years later)
  I didn't know about Ao3 back then(focusing on studies) ><
  Time to skim through your fics too *giggles*
  Byee!! ^^
  -love, Isabelle ❤️
  
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4. 1. STARSdidathing on Chapter 1 Mon 09 Aug 2021 09:57AM UTC
    
    Lol. Yes, that would lose it's originality but I thank you for the sentiment!
    And thank you! I'm so glad you liked the take. I hope your studies went well. I hope you enjoy my other works. Thank you again!
    
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PunkPlaidKitty on Chapter 1 Sun 06 Aug 2017 12:05AM UTC

OMFG THIS IS SO COOL!!!!! DUDE. I'M FOREVER JELLY! I have nothing but mad respek for your drawing!! This is so legit!!

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1. NovaRain on Chapter 1 Sun 06 Aug 2017 12:43AM UTC
  
  Thank you :D I appreciate the praise and hope to continue improving =^_^=
  
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chrisgraver on Chapter 1 Sun 06 Aug 2017 12:34AM UTC

I like the skull.

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1. NovaRain on Chapter 1 Sun 06 Aug 2017 12:42AM UTC
  
  Thank you :D
  
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Mamitadolls on Chapter 1 Sun 06 Aug 2017 12:37AM UTC

This is so hot.

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1. NovaRain on Chapter 1 Sun 06 Aug 2017 12:42AM UTC
  
  Indeed :3 Thank you for enjoying :D
  
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ayamabuki on Chapter 1 Mon 07 Aug 2017 11:32AM UTC

Ah, this is wonderful~ I love it. <3

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1. NovaRain on Chapter 1 Mon 07 Aug 2017 04:23PM UTC
  
  Thank you :) I'm rather pleased with how this drawing came out :D Since I'm not good with background, I was trying to think up different ways to complete the picture so it's not a sudden cut off. Then I figured why not keep going with the evil motif and added thorny vines :3
  
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zoop_doop on Chapter 1 Fri 27 Oct 2017 10:39AM UTC

I came over from STARSdidathing story 'The Merchant of Death', and WOW! I can definitely see why they would be inspired by your art work, it's amazing.

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1. NovaRain on Chapter 1 Sat 28 Oct 2017 01:47AM UTC
  
  Glad you could make your way here! :D And thank you very much for checking out the drawing! :3
  
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tmarauder101 on Chapter 1 Sun 09 Feb 2020 02:54PM UTC

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL

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1. NovaRain on Chapter 1 Tue 31 Mar 2020 07:26AM UTC
  
  I’m glad you thought so! Thank you for the positive comment!
  
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hlecter77 on Chapter 1 Wed 24 Nov 2021 01:47PM UTC

They are both stunning!!

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notg_s on Chapter 1 Wed 02 Nov 2022 05:31PM UTC

oh yeah he's sexyy

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Fanfics_is_my_true_religion on Chapter 1 Fri 06 Jun 2025 06:04PM UTC

THAT ART IS AMAZING

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PunkPlaidKitty on Chapter 2 Fri 01 Sep 2017 01:03AM UTC

:O Lovely!! You did a good job with placing the shadows, and the hair texture is great! You did this in the skull which is awesome, when you change the color selection for shadows (and even highlights) move the hue a little bit too and it can help add some dimension, in general towards red/purple for shadows and the opposite way for highlights. I think a little bit towards yellow in the highlights of the vine and a little towards red in the shadows would help give it more volume and push it a bit more. I Love the glass too!

Last Edited Fri 01 Sep 2017 01:08AM UTC

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1. NovaRain on Chapter 2 Fri 01 Sep 2017 02:34AM UTC
  
  Thank you so much for the helpful tips! I'll definitely be putting them to good use the next time I'm dabbling with the paint program :D I very much appreciate the kind comments and valuable feedback! :3
  
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rightsidethru on Chapter 2 Fri 01 Sep 2017 01:12AM UTC

*giant stamp of approval*
*____*

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1. NovaRain on Chapter 2 Fri 01 Sep 2017 02:34AM UTC
  
  ^///^ <3!
  
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buying_the_space_farm on Chapter 2 Fri 01 Sep 2017 01:13AM UTC

!!!!! Im!!! In love with this??????? I love it so much????? its fucking amazing, its beautiful, i have actual tears in my eyes, holy shit asdkhfk

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1. NovaRain on Chapter 2 Fri 01 Sep 2017 02:35AM UTC
  
  Oh wow! Thank you so much! I'm glad you like this colored version. -offers you an Iron Man hanky- Hopefully those are tears of joy! :3
  
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STARSdidathing on Chapter 2 Fri 01 Sep 2017 06:45AM UTC

OOOOOOOH. I LIKE MUCHLY. IT'S SO VERY STUNNING AND GORGEOUS X3333 BRILLIANT JOB!

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1. NovaRain on Chapter 2 Fri 01 Sep 2017 10:17PM UTC
  
  Thank you very much :D I like how it came out!
  
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SecurityBreach on Chapter 2 Fri 01 Sep 2017 12:42PM UTC

Please consider this extra kudos!

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1. NovaRain on Chapter 2 Fri 01 Sep 2017 10:17PM UTC
  
  Thank you! :D
  
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AgentWinters on Chapter 2 Fri 10 May 2019 06:16AM UTC

Badass

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1. NovaRain on Chapter 2 Tue 21 May 2019 04:53AM UTC
  
  Thank you! I was thinking about one day re-doing this drawing, but only time will tell. I appreciate the comment :3
  
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Fanfics_is_my_true_religion on Chapter 2 Fri 06 Jun 2025 06:05PM UTC

IT WITH MAKE OT EVEN BETTER!!! HE IS SO SEXY!!!!! AND AMAZING LOOKING

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Work Header

Merchant of Death

NovaRain

Notes:

Chapter 1

Chapter Text

Chapter 2: Colored Version

Notes:

Chapter Text

Notes:

Notes:

Works inspired by this one:

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STARSdidathing on Chapter 1 Sat 05 Aug 2017 11:15AM UTC

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NovaRain on Chapter 1 Sat 05 Aug 2017 04:10PM UTC

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STARSdidathing on Chapter 1 Sat 05 Aug 2017 09:41PM UTC

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NovaRain on Chapter 1 Sat 05 Aug 2017 10:20PM UTC

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STARSdidathing on Chapter 1 Sat 05 Aug 2017 10:27PM UTC

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NovaRain on Chapter 1 Sat 05 Aug 2017 10:29PM UTC

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STARSdidathing on Chapter 1 Sat 05 Aug 2017 10:45PM UTC

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NovaRain on Chapter 1 Sat 05 Aug 2017 11:37PM UTC

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STARSdidathing on Chapter 1 Sat 05 Aug 2017 11:46PM UTC

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NovaRain on Chapter 1 Sun 06 Aug 2017 12:41AM UTC

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STARSdidathing on Chapter 1 Sun 06 Aug 2017 03:32AM UTC

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IsabelleAo3 on Chapter 1 Sun 08 Aug 2021 02:38PM UTC

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STARSdidathing on Chapter 1 Mon 09 Aug 2021 09:57AM UTC

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PunkPlaidKitty on Chapter 1 Sun 06 Aug 2017 12:05AM UTC

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NovaRain on Chapter 1 Sun 06 Aug 2017 12:43AM UTC

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chrisgraver on Chapter 1 Sun 06 Aug 2017 12:34AM UTC

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NovaRain on Chapter 1 Sun 06 Aug 2017 12:42AM UTC

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Mamitadolls on Chapter 1 Sun 06 Aug 2017 12:37AM UTC

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NovaRain on Chapter 1 Sun 06 Aug 2017 12:42AM UTC

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ayamabuki on Chapter 1 Mon 07 Aug 2017 11:32AM UTC

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NovaRain on Chapter 1 Mon 07 Aug 2017 04:23PM UTC

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zoop_doop on Chapter 1 Fri 27 Oct 2017 10:39AM UTC

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NovaRain on Chapter 1 Sat 28 Oct 2017 01:47AM UTC

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tmarauder101 on Chapter 1 Sun 09 Feb 2020 02:54PM UTC

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NovaRain on Chapter 1 Tue 31 Mar 2020 07:26AM UTC

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hlecter77 on Chapter 1 Wed 24 Nov 2021 01:47PM UTC

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notg_s on Chapter 1 Wed 02 Nov 2022 05:31PM UTC

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Fanfics_is_my_true_religion on Chapter 1 Fri 06 Jun 2025 06:04PM UTC

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PunkPlaidKitty on Chapter 2 Fri 01 Sep 2017 01:03AM UTC

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NovaRain on Chapter 2 Fri 01 Sep 2017 02:34AM UTC

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rightsidethru on Chapter 2 Fri 01 Sep 2017 01:12AM UTC

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NovaRain on Chapter 2 Fri 01 Sep 2017 02:34AM UTC

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