franklen_four (franklen_four) wrote in marvel_nextgen,
@ 2010-01-28 23:49:00

Current music:	(Piano) Lullaby of Deserted Hell [3] - ZUN
Entry tags:	"return of the departed", black widow, fantastic four, franklin richards, james romanov-rogers, kristoff vernard, sif, stature, thor, valeria richards, vincent vernard

Dearly Beloved

Franklin stood in a sea black suits and dresses with his head down and a steady flow of tears rolling down his cheeks. He couldn't watch as the two coffins were reeled down into the hole in the ground. The choir sang their song, and the pastor spoke some final words. Franklin had chosen not to give a speech.

'If only I was with them,' he thought. He could have saved them.

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	nextgen_parent 2010-01-29 04:59 am UTC (link)
	He doesn't speak. That is still a thing for mortals. But even the gods are in attendance today. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	nextgen_parent 2010-01-29 06:10 am UTC (link)
	Sif is next to Thor. She too is quiet out of respect for fallen warriors. (Reply to this)(Parent)

discardedheir
2010-01-29 06:08 am UTC (link)

The Master Didn't Do It. Kristoff had many conflicting feelings and doubts and a lot of frustrating ignorance right now, but was certain of this.

Doom wouldn't have disabled the advanced security systems of the Richards' private home in order to murder them. Of even if he was going to be stoop so low as to attack them this way... he would have left the cameras on. Killing Dr. Richards -- always Dr. Richards to Kristoff, no matter the blood or the time working together -- would never be something Doom would have hidden.

Which left finding out what did happen. And he would. Oh, Devel, he certainly would.

At the appropriate time, he stood to speak.
He starts with a few of the obvious things he feels must be said about Dr. Richards scientific achievements and personal ideals and heroism. It's all accurate and sincere, but he'll let someone with a better right to it reflect on the taste for Tom Lehrer songs, the tendency for hoarding mementos, and the other little things that the truly close sometimes discuss at these times.

Then...

"As most are aware, I first met Dr. and Mrs. Richards under unusual circumstances when I was just short of six years old. But I wish to talk about getting to know Mrs. Richards years later, in even more unusual circumstances. Some of the most seasoned professionals were in over their heads and seriously confused, and Mrs. Richards acknowledged readily that she was among them, yet had to remain on top of the situation. And she did, without ever once disconnecting from her genuine emotional responses. Some people would have to stay cold during the choices she was facing, to at least pretend they did not care. She was making calculated decisions weighing the fate of the world, and it never ceased to be apparent for a moment that she was someone's mother."

He says a few more things, then takes his seat beside Scotty and Cassandra.

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	nextgen_adult 2010-01-29 09:34 am UTC (link)
	Cassie's eyes were red and puffy from crying so much. Scotty sat on her lap and her arms stayed around him, holding him close. When Kristoff sat down, she took his hand with one of hers. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	discardedheir 2010-01-29 10:00 am UTC (link)
	Kristoff held her hand tightly. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

quitethecharmer
2010-01-29 06:21 pm UTC (link)

Vincent nodded sympathetically to Kristoff and Cassandra, then braced himself as he approached the podium.

He didn't want to be here. He was terrified. It sickened him to realize it, but he wanted to be barricaded in the most secure sub-basements of the Baxter Building right now.

He's going to come. He's going to come. He won't let them pass without saying something. Doing something. He's going to come. He's going to come.

He shoved the scared child back in the box as he cleared his throat.

"Reed and Susan Richards are exemplars of the goodness in people. My brother and I could not have found better people to take us in, and that would be saying the same even if they were some unknown civilian couple from the middle of nowhere. They raised us alongside their own children, and not once were we ever allowed to think that it was any less our home than theirs.

You've all heard the testimonials and interviews and praise of how Susan Richards was the heart of the original Fantastic Four, but I'll attest to it anyway. She made the world a better place without even trying, and when she did try, she made it extraordinary. To have known her is..." He stops, clearing his throat. "Excuse me. To have know her is to have been made a better person by her." He composes himself again.

"As for Reed.. he changed the world as well. He was the consummate explorer, always looking for more ways to better the world, and more to know; but I don't feel that was what made Reed Richards extraordinary. Reed Richards was not the amazing person he was because of how much he had to tell others, but because of how much he would listen. There was nothing that I, his children, or anyone else in his life could not come to him with. He believed in the importance of the future, and gave those he entrusted it with his absolute attention.

Reed Richards, if he could look back from beyond the grave, would not want to be the greatest scientific mind of all time. His greatest wish, I believe, would be to have paved the way for even greater ones."

He thanked the assembly and then moved to sit by Andrea again.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

awesome_andrea
2010-01-29 11:21 pm UTC (link)

Andrea gave Vincent's had a reassuring squeeze. She owed her very life to Doctor Richards, and a portion of her upbringing to Mrs. Richards. They had well and truly been a part of her family. Given that Doctor Richard's prototype had enabled the Thinker to create her father, they could even have been considered her great-grandparents.

Water, used to help cool certain internal components, flowed from her eyes in tear drops.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

nextgen_parent
2010-01-29 11:24 pm UTC (link)

A regal figure approached the podium and for once, the great Namor seemed at a loss for words, finally finding the nobility and courage to speak.

"I loved Susan Richards. From the first moment I awoke from my years of amnesia, I loved her. Even when I found happiness elsewhere, a part of me always loved her. And always will.

I did not always like Reed Richards. I thought him weak, small, not at all worthy of the attentions and power he commanded. But time and time again, he proved me wrong. I have fought beside many greater heroes and against nearly as many, but there will never be another I respected the way I did him.

May they both find peace."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

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invisigirl, 2010-01-30 02:40 am UTC

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franklen_four, 2010-01-30 03:43 am UTC

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redheadspy, 2010-01-30 05:59 am UTC

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next_avenger, 2010-01-31 06:58 am UTC

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nextgen_parent, 2010-01-31 08:25 pm UTC

franklen_four
2010-02-02 03:32 pm UTC (link)

The funeral ended, leaving Franklin to his thoughts. He didn't want to talk about it. Each time somebody had come up to him to try and say something, he had just turned around and walked away. 'They can't say anything to make this better.' It wasn't that kind of situation for Franklin. It /was not/ their time to die, and Franklin was beginning to weight his options.

He was alone on the opposite end of the graveyard and sat down on a patch of grass (not on a grave, though!).

(Reply to this)(Thread)

	nextgen_baddie 2010-02-03 02:33 pm UTC (link)
	Mephisto was always one to take advantage of opportunities when they presented themselves. Right now a very big one was presenting itself. A dark circle appeared in the air not far from Franklin. A face appeared in it. "Poor boy. Lost your mommy and daddy, have you? I can help you get them back." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	franklen_four 2010-02-04 03:37 am UTC (link)
	Franklin shot his look up and glared at Mephisto. His hand curled into a ball, and the hatred from years passed returned. But... "What do you mean?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_baddie 2010-02-04 02:27 pm UTC (link)
	"You can have them back," he said. "I bring them back for you, you do something for me. Quid pro quo." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	franklen_four 2010-02-04 03:16 pm UTC (link)
	Under normal circumstances, Franklin would have turned away the moment Mephisto appeared. He may have even thought about starting a fight. But he was not under the normal circumstances. He was also fairly sure what Mephisto wanted. "And what would you want /if/ I agreed?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_baddie 2010-02-04 09:09 pm UTC (link)
	"A favor," he said. "Not right now. Down the line when I need something done. It won't be anything big." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

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franklen_four, 2010-02-04 09:28 pm UTC

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nextgen_baddie, 2010-02-04 09:31 pm UTC

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franklen_four, 2010-02-04 09:34 pm UTC

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nextgen_baddie, 2010-02-04 09:49 pm UTC

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franklen_four, 2010-02-04 09:59 pm UTC

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nextgen_baddie, 2010-02-04 10:02 pm UTC

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franklen_four, 2010-02-04 10:11 pm UTC

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nextgen_baddie, 2010-02-04 10:27 pm UTC

	franklen_four 2010-02-04 10:37 pm UTC (link)
	Franklin ignored the laughter and concentrated. He focused and trained his thoughts to bring back to life his parents. His powers were put to work, and the ripple effect occurred. Reed and Sue Richards would find themselves standing on top of their graves. What Franklin didn't realize, was that he had done more than just bring back to life his parents. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	nextgen_parent 2010-02-04 11:00 pm UTC (link)
	"How..." Sue is disoriented, as she looked down at the headstone. She remembered dying, as vividly as anything. She looked to her husband, as if she's hoping that he had some explanation as to why they weren't, well, not dead. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_parent 2010-02-04 11:21 pm UTC (link)
	Reed is disoriented by the... process, as well, but it fades quickly; he can't help but have it give way to curiosity. "Fascinating." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	franklen_four 2010-02-04 11:57 pm UTC (link)
	It wasn't long after that Franklin came running to them. His first order of business was to pull them together and give them both a hug. He was like a little kid, and he was elated to see his parents. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_parent 2010-02-06 12:15 am UTC (link)
	Sue wrapped her arms around her son. "Franklin..." She's still a little disoriented. "What's going on?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_parent 2010-02-06 10:34 pm UTC (link)
	Reed placed a hand on Franklin's back, his other one operating a device. "It would appear we're supposed to be dead, Susan." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

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franklen_four, 2010-02-07 08:20 pm UTC

Back at the Baxter Building

awesome_andrea
2010-02-05 01:10 am UTC (link)

Andrea had been heading down the hall when... something had knocked her off-line.

But when she woke up, she immediately became aware that something was wrong. Her vision and her hearing had been considerably dimmed. There was no of the data input from her wi-fi connection; it had gone silent. In fact, her entire heads-up display... no... her entire access to her CPU appeared to be gone.

"What...?" she asked, as she got to her feet, slowly.

(Reply to this)(Thread)

Re: Back at the Baxter Building

quitethecharmer
2010-02-05 01:15 am UTC (link)

Vincent helped her up, stunned that she seemingly fell for no reason. "Andrea? Are you alright?" The worry on his face was obvious as he squeezed her hand.

That was odd, her hand felt considerably light. Her latest upgrades were one thing, but this...

It was warm as well.

"Andrea... you..." He fumbled for his communicator, hurriedly trying to confirm the theory forming in his mind.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Back at the Baxter Building awesome_andrea 2010-02-05 01:37 am UTC (link)
	"I... I do not know," Andrea said, quietly. "It is... quiet. Too quiet..." Andrea often appeared to breathe, as part of a basic cooling cycle for some of her systems, but it was always controlled and regulated. Except for now. Breaths came quick and shallow. "There is something... pounding in my chest..." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Back at the Baxter Building quitethecharmer 2010-02-05 01:52 am UTC (link)
	Vincent placed his hand against her skin, operating the communicator's rudimentary scanning functions with his free one. "Andrea..." His voice was hushed. "...it would appear we have something in common at the moment." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Back at the Baxter Building awesome_andrea 2010-02-05 02:01 am UTC (link)
	Andrea shook her head, trying to send the commands for a self-diagnostic. "I do not understand..." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)