The loud, energetic music hit him head-on. Sean, dressed in brand-new clothes, frowned. The air was thick with alcohol and expensive perfume. The lighting had been deliberately dimmed, colored lights flashing and shifting to create a feverish atmosphere, like a nightclub.
Tony, clad in Iron Armor, stood at the center of the lights, surrounded by admirers and beautiful, lively girls. He staggered on his feet, a bottle of Budweiser in hand, his tongue seeming to curl as he slurred out Stark's signature dry humor.
"Oh, let's see who this is? Sean, our genius!" Catching sight of the young man entering through the corner of his eye, Tony gripped the microphone and immediately had the lights turned in that direction. As if welcoming a hero onto the stage, he shouted in an exaggerated tone.
Pushing through the encirclement of enthusiastic, fiery girls, Sean came to Tony, who seemed to have returned to his old decadent lifestyle, and lowered his voice. "Is this how you plan to spend your last birthday?"
"Of course!"
The drunken Iron Man swayed his body to the music, seemingly overcome by intense excitement. Rhodey and Pepper watched helplessly from below. At times like this, Tony was like a willful child; no one could stop him from continuing his nonsense.
Sean shook his head. The toxins released by the reactor in his chest were gradually corroding Tony's body. Before long, Iron Man would once again dominate headlines across America—but this time, it would be in the form of an obituary.
In the original timeline, Nick Fury, who had once been quite familiar with Tony's father, sought out the playboy who was nearing the end of his life. Through hints and guidance, Iron Man found inspiration in his father's recordings and ultimately created a more stable, powerful new element,