Victor Von Doom (i_am_doom) wrote,
@ 2011-04-09 22:00:00

Change
Doom sits at his dining room table, awaiting the arrival of his heir, Kristoff Vernard. He enjoys a small goblet of red wine as he reviews the invitations to several dinners and ceremonies to honor is "generous donations" to various charities around the world. His enemies had seen fit to donate the largess of his funding to all and sundry when they brought his latest plan to ruin, but he had not known the depths to which they'd sink, heaping insult upon injury.

Their plan, however, had worked far too well.

In addition to having no evidence of Doom's acts against Wakanda to provide to the United Nations, the donations had cast him in a benevolent light. While he could not repay his enemies directly for their acts against him, he could capitalize on his new reputation to renew his infrastructure and make Latveria into the country that Wakanda had once been, spitting in T'Challa's face yet again. However, this was not a development Doom himself could make the most of.

"Enter, Kristoff. We have much to discuss." Doom says, bidding the younger man to enter and seat himself.

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	latverianregent 2011-04-10 02:59 am UTC (link)
	Kristoff entered and sat with a small bow. He and the only father who had ever acknowledged him had had their disagreements in his early adolescence, which was why Kristoff had been in Doomstadt very little in the past few years. But those little disagreements could easily be put aside for a deeper loyalty, and for the good of Latveria. "Where to begin, Sir?" (Reply to this)(Thread)

i_am_doom
2011-04-10 03:33 am UTC (link)

"I will not mince words. Latveria must change if we are to weather the oncoming storm, Kristoff. My calculations predict economic issues across the world that can and will lead to a downturn in the global economy. I trust you are aware of the fall of Wakanda.

I am not so proud as to believe Latveria invincible without making preparations to keep us prosperous." Doom says, sliding each of the invitations in the young man's direction. He allows Kristoff to review these items, saying nothing to allow him to process what needs to be done.

"I am calling upon you to take a more active role in only preserving our country, but making Latveria stable for future generations. We shall move Latveria into the position vacated by Wakanda.

It is time to expand our infrastructure. Are you equal to the task?" Doom asks.

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	latverianregent 2011-04-10 03:46 am UTC (link)
	Kristoff hesitated barely half a second before he started speaking. "May I begin by expanding the power grids, Master?" Doom had previously preferred to confine higher technology to the castle complex and the Doomstadt hospital. If they were going to start with things not working the old way anymore, they may as well start at the top. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

i_am_doom
2011-04-10 03:56 am UTC (link)

Doom considers the request. He did not like putting the technology where it could be easily seen, but he called Kristoff here to discuss change. He could not speak of it in one breath and deny it the next.

"This is acceptable. Also...one of the foundations in those letters is seeking access to upgraded technology for their research materials. We will part with a small amount in order to aid them, so long as we are credited with any advancements they make." Doom says.

"Kristoff, your new duties will require public appearances and speaking. Will you be able to do this?" he asks.

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latverianregent
2011-04-10 04:14 am UTC (link)

Kristoff quickly pinpoints the letter and folds it differently. "Yes, Sir. With the obvious omissions of anything easily weaponized or too closely connected to systems of national security, of course." Of course they're paranoid. They live in the Balkans, for one thing. A few seemingly innocuous things that could easily be reinterpreted as a threat to national security would be checked for.

He nods to the discussion of speechmaking. "Of course, Sir." How fortunate for the recent growth spurt. People would finally take him seriously when he gave speeches without his having to put elevations in the armor. He pauses. There's something else he's about to add, but he doesn't want to run on too long before letting his ~~Father~~ Master speak.

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i_am_doom
2011-04-10 04:51 am UTC (link)

"You must be watchful, Kristoff. Our enemies would love nothing more than to see Latveria fall, and while you are working to bring Latveria further greatness, I will be doing the same, but through a different agenda.

I will be departing Latveria for a time very soon, and I am uncertain as to when I will return. I seek the means to unify the world beneath my banner, for such is the /only/ way to avoid its destruction." Doom tells him, setting down his goblet now and steepling his fingers as he speaks.

"I was so close, before. I had beaten T'Challa at every turn and forced him to play catch-up. I dictated the terms of our engagement and forced him to adjust. I did not know that he would eviscerate his country and drive his people to brink in order to stop me. I did not consider that he had the fortitude to make such a sacrifice.

I also would not put it past him, or Richards or any of their allies to attempt to visit the same fate upon Latveria if they had the ability. I look now at the world and see many things I once did not expect. Mutantkind nearly brought to extinction and hiding away on an island in the Pacific as the rest of the world prepares to scavenge their corpses.

The heroes themselves fighting each other over the right to keep up their pretenses of privacy by fighting a war over masks." Doom says, with no small amount of disdain in his tone. He has worn a mask for so long that he almost does not remember a time without it, but it is not the mask that makes Doom who he is. It is Doom that made the mask.

It amused him how the likes of Stark and others based so much of their self-worth on something that should be no more than an item of apparel.

"The death of Captain America and Norman Osborn's damn-fool attempt to bring a god under his heel. The /attempt/ merits a minuscule amount of admiration, but the execution was flawed. The results of a small-minded man attempting to live above his station. I would not be surprised if Osborn someday decides that he blames me for his failures.

Small men often blame great men for their failures, rather than looking inward for the source of their weakness.

I look to my left and my enemies remain stagnant and enamored with mediocrity. I look to my right and those I previously called allies have stumbled, fallen and do not rise. Therefore, I must look forward, walking alone, to grasp destiny by the throat and demand to the elevation of myself and Latveria where we belong. And I will drag the world into unity collectively kicking and screaming if I must.

And all shall be better for it, united in a world under Doom."

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latverianregent
2011-04-10 05:00 am UTC (link)

And, as he has ever since he was a child, Kristoff listens attentively. He knows how passionately Doom means every word, and Kristoff loves him for it. Always will, even if they should disagree.

But they musn't. That way lies chaos. And Latveria must never be in chaos again. Kristoff must trust that in his other affairs, Doom will not...lower himself. Trust, because he isn't going to ask. He's going to give the greatest man he's ever known, the constant savior of their country, the benefit of the doubt, the respect he deserves, and smile and say "Yes, Sir," with calm sincerity.

"The frequency-circulating channels will of course be available to you at any time you need to contact the castle during your travels."

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i_am_doom
2011-04-10 07:27 pm UTC (link)

"I will keep in contact, Kristoff, although I cannot be certain how frequent I will do so. My task is a dangerous undertaking and will require all of my faculties to be successful." Doom says, his eyes looking upon the younger man.

"I am entrusting you with this responsibility, Kristoff, because I know you of your ability to achieve results. I have trusted others before and been disappointed...but I know you will not disappoint me.

You have vexed me and you have opposed me. You have enlightened and confounded me. You have angered and overjoyed me, my good man.

In all of these things, I have /always/ been proud of you. That is how I know you will not fail." Doom says quietly.

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latverianregent
2011-04-10 07:34 pm UTC (link)

Kristoff listens, and his eyes drop. This is the kind of conversation one packs up and saves for later. To take out again sometime in a torture chamber or some other desperate moment, just to soothe one's soul from pain or fear or anything.

So, just in case you needed him to toil unceasingly and die for you without blinking, Sir, that definitely worked, and it's obvious in his tone no matter how steady he keeps his voice. "I will not, Master. Good luck."

"I will not, Master. Good luck."

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