lunatic_laugh (lunatic_laugh) wrote in marvel_legends,
@ 2011-04-24 14:50:00

Entry tags:

My Big Break| or |How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Interview the Regent
Well, things had moved a little faster than he'd expected, but here he was. Jet-setting across the Atlantic and into the heart of old-world Europe to interview the new face in charge of Latveria, Kristoff Vernard. Phil understood all too well that he wasn't getting this assignment because he'd earned it or because he was the best guy qualified for it.

He was getting this assignment because he was the only reporter at the Bugle still young and crazy enough to go into the capital city of the nation with the highest number of death rays per capita in the world and interview the possibly crazy guy that the probably crazier guy just put in almost-charge.

But hey, at least the flight attendants (or was he supposed to call them stewardesses now?) on the way over were cute, and friendly. Apparently being a journalist on foreign assignment ranked somewhere better than 'photography student', but was an expected far cry from the automatic appeal of 'fireman' or 'chocolate factory owner'.

A bus ride to JFK, the red-eye to Heathrow and then to Symkaria, a cab ride to the Latverian border, and he arrived at the checkpoint. Several vigorous searches of himself and his equipment that absolutely would not make it into print later, he stepped across. A carriage, an honest-to-goodness horse-drawn carriage, was waiting to take him to Doomstadt.

"Uh... hey there. Phil Urich, reporter for the Daily Bugle, out of New York City. Here to interview Regent Vernard."

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	latverianregent 2011-04-24 10:09 pm UTC (link)
	"...Could you clarify what you mean. Are you referring to traditional administration or to the changes we are in the process of making?" He may not have understood your phrasing, Phil, but her heard your punctuation. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	lunatic_laugh 2011-04-24 10:11 pm UTC (link)
	"How would you describe the government? To what degree does Doom, or yourself, micro-manage or delegate? Is it closer to a provincial military state, or some other form of rule?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

latverianregent
2011-04-25 12:44 am UTC (link)

"The military's chief concern is, above all, national security. Latveria is, after all, one of the few stable and secure nations in the Balkans. The majority of the military is composed of automata and other artificial security systems, and the sovereign of course serves as Commander-in-Chief. In the countryside, while of course the sovereign can always be petitioned as a court of last resort, the traditional tribal and village leaders are given a certain amount of discretion in day-to-day administration provided they keep order evenhandedly. However, they serve at the pleasure of the sovereign and are immediately replaced if there is any sign of ethnic strife or other conflict or corruption. In Doomstadt, the city alderman have more access to the sovereign for immediate consultation, of course."
Kristoff sipped his tea.
"Of course, we are in a time of transition."

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lunatic_laugh
2011-04-25 01:01 am UTC (link)

Phil takes very detailed notes about this part. "Of course. I can relate." He smiles. "Just finished my second round of college. Didn't expect to get thrown into the deep end of journalism this quickly." He drinks some of his tea, nodding in approval at the taste, before continuing.

"Now comes time for the elephant in the room... how do you feel your time with the Fantastic Four influences your personal investment in your position?"

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latverianregent
2011-04-25 01:45 am UTC (link)

A reasonably courteous nod. "Yes, there is much to do. We are currently expanding the power grid beyond it's previous uses for exclusively the castle and the hospital to becoming available to all of Doomstadt and much of the nation as a whole. Doing so in an orderly fashion while ensuring no essential ecological impact is a fascinating challenge."

He's sipping his tea at the next question, so it's hard to judge what the expression is on his face.
"I still bear respect and gratitude to the Fantastic Four for their well-intentioned attempt to care for me for several months when I was eight, and for their assistance for several months when I was twelve, but my first loyalty is always to my country."

Another sip. "We in Latveria are, however, very happy to welcome the Future Foundation to the struggle to bring the true rewards of science and technology to the people of the world. Latveria has every intention of continuing what began with the allocation of Latverian resources towards progress in critical points, and I am confident that, all differences aside, Dr. Richards has clearly taken on this interest as well."

Every word was technically true.
There, Master. For you, and for the touch of good it might do our people. Dr. Richards rhetorically placed at your coattails for once.

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lunatic_laugh
2011-04-26 12:59 am UTC (link)

"Mhm." Phil takes more notes. "The Foundation is the hot topic among you top twenty smart guys right now, after all."

There are some token questions that will be talking-heads fodder, and some color commentary, before going on to something a bit more relevant.

"Given it's... checkered public image, what nations are counted foremost as Latveria's allies at this time? I could tell just from the checkpoint there's no love lost with Symkaria."

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latverianregent
2011-04-26 01:12 am UTC (link)

"Actually, there is," Kristoff says coldly. "Symkaria, whose relations Latveria has always valued, has been through tragic times recently." It's not political platitudes. Kristoff seriously finds it tragic and thinks Phil's a moron for dismissing the problem as traditionally bad relations with Latveria when that's not what it is.

Kristoff sips his tea. "The Atlanteans have problems of their own. What common goals Latveria once shared with Ruritania have been... diminished. It is further evidence of Latveria's need for a new direction that our former allies cannot be what they once were."

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	lunatic_laugh 2011-04-26 01:28 am UTC (link)
	Phil doesn't quite get how much he messed up, but he does sense the tension spike. Unfortunately, it may be about to get worse. "And your plans, if any, regarding diplomatic relations with the United States? Trade, extradition, tourism, etc." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-04-26 01:37 am UTC (link)
	"...Urich, are you following a checklist of questions instead of gauging the subject's reaction to each and seeing what direction to take the interview?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	lunatic_laugh 2011-04-26 01:39 am UTC (link)
	Phil tilts his head cautiously. "A list, for the most part. Mr Jameson had some particular curiosities." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

latverianregent
2011-04-26 01:49 am UTC (link)

"J. Jonah Jameson did not teach you to interview in a sequential order like that," the boy says with sudden sternness. "He has his absurd eccentricities, but the man knows his craft. He doesn't ignore clarifying questions unless they come from Spider-Man, and he would be able to gauge a subject's need to deal further with one subject before exacerbating it with another. Yes, you laid the original out in a well-segued order, but the only interviews whose best order survives the first question are done with entertainers by magazines for young ladies, not of a regent by a journalist. For pity's sake, you could at least have distracted me from your ignorance of Symkaria by asking about the changes in Ruritanian relations before charging into American extradition."

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lunatic_laugh
2011-04-26 08:34 am UTC (link)

"J. Jonah Jameson didn't teach me anything." Phil replies, keeping his temper in check. The kid has some valid points.

"Look, Doctor Vernard, I'm not going to mislead either of us here. I'm not here because I was the best man for the job. I'm here because I was the only one willing to take the assignment that wasn't considered irreplaceable on the staff. I'm an investigator and a photographer; this is my first interview ever for a piece like this. I appreciate you not blasting me into next week if I've already stepped in something."

He takes a breath.

"What do you want the world to hear about Latveria? You, specifically. Doctor Kristoff Vernard, not the Regent of Latveria."

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latverianregent
2011-04-26 04:19 pm UTC (link)

Dr. Kristoff Venard hates talking to strangers, unfortunately, but he takes a long drink of his tea with his eyes closed. And when he opens them, he pretends he's not talking to some random American ... but to Cassandra.

His expression, though still formal, is more open and boyish than it was. "There comes a point where one must change or die. Latveria would prefer to change. Are we going to easily transform into a pseudo-Western country? Of course not. We don't even want to; we're Latverians. But we're willing to do business, even with places we don't fully understand. We are not under any United Nations sanctions; we are open to new opportunities. Latveria is a beautiful country, and it's going to stay that way, so anyone looking for a place without environmental restrictions would be sorely mistaken. But we hope that some of these new efforts will provide a better example for the world, anyway."

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lunatic_laugh
2011-04-26 09:59 pm UTC (link)

Phil nods, seemingly reassured. "Thank you, Doctor Vernard."

He allows the younger man to lead the remainder of the interview, managing to work in his remaining particular questions much more smoothly.

"I think that should be everything I need. I'll review my notes and recording tonight, and I should be able to let you know if I need anything else tomorrow, along with dealing with principal photography."

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	latverianregent 2011-04-26 10:40 pm UTC (link)
	"That is satisfactory, thank you. Hans!" Kristoff calls, and from the door the staff had disappeared into after bringing the tea, there comes a huge, strapping young man of about Phil's age much greater size. "Please escort Mr. Urich and his belongings to the inn." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	lunatic_laugh 2011-04-26 10:55 pm UTC (link)
	Phil looks the man over. Don't ask if there's a Franz. Don't ask if there's a Franz. Don't ask if there's a Franz... "So... where's a guy get some peach brandy?" He smiles weakly as the wall of human (most likely human) approaches. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

latverianregent
2011-04-26 11:30 pm UTC (link)

Hans is utterly human, just also a tall-blond-and-brawny Central European stereotype. "Right near the inn. I'd be happy to show you."

"Have some sent up for me as well, Hans," Kristoff says as they leave. It had been a long day.

And so Phil's eating and drinking needs will be seen to and he'll be set up in a nice little room at the inn near the central fountain of Doomstadt.

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