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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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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