latverianregent (latverianregent) wrote in marvel_legends,
@ 2011-08-15 12:08:00

Entry tags:

Progress was considerable on all of Kristoff's current projects, both technical and diplomatic. He'd worked hard to do his job to the fullest, to help fulfill his family's and his country's agreements, to make his Master/Father proud.

But there was something he had not attended to in a while. A personal ritual of sorts. And so, although he wore his armor with the built-in communication line, in case he was needed at the Castle, Kristoff left that towering structure and went to the outskirts of Doomstadt. To the gypsy funeral grounds.

He knelt beside a particular tree, and he told her what he'd done, and he told her that he loved her and missed her. More than a dozen years hadn't changed that.

He stayed a little longer than usual, trying first to keep, then to regain, his composure. A Von Doom does not cry where anyone could possibly see.

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	legends_baddie 2011-08-15 02:54 pm UTC (link)
	It's then that a voice is heard from Kristoff's communicator. "Pardon me, Dr. Vernard, but do you have a moment?" (Reply to this)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-08-15 03:02 pm UTC (link)
	Kristoff clears his throat. "What is it?" he asks, voice still a little thick with emotion. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	legends_baddie 2011-08-15 03:04 pm UTC (link)
	The voice pauses for a moment. "Are you well, Dr. Vernard?" It's a flat question with little in the way of empathy. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-08-15 03:08 pm UTC (link)
	Kristoff straightens, even though posture is not that relevant on audio. "...I am quite well, Quasimodo. If you require clarification, I am visiting the place where I burned my mother." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	legends_baddie 2011-08-15 03:12 pm UTC (link)
	"It wasn't, but the gesture is appreciated I assume you're referring to the unfortunate events of the Zorba uprising?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-08-15 03:18 pm UTC (link)
	"Yes. At the funeral grounds, of course, not the place of her death." A pause, and one can hear the satisfied smile in the boy-lord's voice. "Or Zorba's." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	legends_baddie 2011-08-15 03:24 pm UTC (link)
	"I can imagine, one of the advantages of being a LIVING computer is that I can think outside my database. I often contemplate the feeling of satisfaction I will have once I end the Mad Thinker's life. I envy you in that you have experienced that type of retribution." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-08-15 08:15 pm UTC (link)
	"Understandable. While the sting of justice left undone can of course be a great motivating factor in life, I much prefer it this way." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	legends_baddie 2011-08-15 08:36 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh? And just what is it that motivates you, Doctor?" Quasimodo asked, curious. He has his own files on Kristoff certainly, but that didn't destroy the desire to learn firsthand. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-08-15 08:47 pm UTC (link)
	"Being of help to my country and my father -- by which I mean Doctor Doom, of course, not the cur who seduced and abandoned my mother." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	legends_baddie 2011-08-15 08:55 pm UTC (link)
	"I see," Quasimodo said with a hint of amusement. "I imagine Dr. Doom considered it a pleasant fringe benefit in raising a child with your..unique parentage." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-08-15 08:57 pm UTC (link)
	"In what way?" Mother had been a wonderful person, but unique was not a word he would have used. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	legends_baddie 2011-08-15 09:12 pm UTC (link)
	There was a pause on the other end. He may have miscalculated. "In truth I was referring to..your birth father. Perhaps we should move onto something else, perhaps the state of my body?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-08-15 09:15 pm UTC (link)
	"Your body is coming along fine, and I will resume nerve conduction studies as soon as I get back to the castle. Now: what about my birth father?" Why would Quasimodo know anything about some random foreign traveller with no sense of commitment or gratitude? (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

legends_baddie
2011-08-15 09:20 pm UTC (link)

Another pause. Well he certainly blundered into this one. He had been certain Doom would relish in raising a member of his enemy's family. Now he realized he miscalculated. In fact he likely kept it secret in order to cement Kristoff's loyalties. He would have to find a way out of this.

"It is a..sensitive matter, Dr. Vernard. Perhaps it'd be best not to reveal such things. Certain individuals may be most put out if I did." By individuals he meant "Doom".

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-08-15 09:32 pm UTC (link)
	Kristoff is silent for a few moments. "...Generally, Quasimodo, I would not let a conversation end like this. But I will not infringe on his prerogative to tell me himself." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	legends_baddie 2011-08-15 09:52 pm UTC (link)
	"That is perhaps for the best. You mentioned something about nerve connections earlier?" Quasimodo asked. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-08-15 10:00 pm UTC (link)
	"Indeed. We have been running a few safety tests to make sure the nerves are as fine-tuned as possible without risking accident" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	legends_baddie 2011-08-16 12:17 am UTC (link)
	"Excellent. You and your father are truly brilliant individuals. It's a pity that most in the world can't appreciate real genius." His tone turned inquisitive. "So how are you working the procedure? Science, magic, a bit of both? I hear mention that alchemy may perhaps be involved." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-08-16 12:20 am UTC (link)
	"A combination, though I have kept focus on the scientific aspects. I have a strong grasp of magic in theory, but quite inelegant in practice." And he wasn't interested in doing anything clumsily. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

legends_baddie
2011-08-16 12:28 am UTC (link)

"I have a practical understanding of it, though like yourself I have little ability, mostly due to my mechanical existence. I find alchemy more easy to understand. Among my archives were notes and journals belonging to such practitioners as Diablo and the oft-forgotten Crucible. Though to be fair I'm not certain if it was Maris Morlak or Wladyslav Shinski who knew sais skills," Quasimodo almost seemed to be thinking out loud, if a computer could do that.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-08-16 12:35 am UTC (link)
	Kristoff near-snarls, though it isn't loud. "Morlak was quite talented in taking things to which he was not entitled, the murdering swine." It was the nature of the murders that angered Kristoff. Certain victims of Crucible may have been Tibetan, but they were still Latverian subjects as far as Kristoff was concerned. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	legends_baddie 2011-08-16 12:39 am UTC (link)
	"So you believe it was Morlak who committed said offenses rather than Shinski? It was a most curious episode in my files on the members of the Enclave. Some clarification would be splendid." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-08-16 12:43 am UTC (link)
	"Shinski may have been the dominant intellectual partner, but I believe the bulk of the crimes were Morlak's, yes, though I admit my knowledge of the Enclave is not rigorous." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

legends_baddie
2011-08-16 12:50 am UTC (link)

"An interesting group with a solid plan and structure, but when such brilliant minds and such massive egos collide, well..it just imploded. Though strangely enough even I couldn't discover where their former partner Carlo Zota went off to. Oh well, it's not important now.

"Ah," Quasimodo said as if suddenly remembering something. "Were you still interested in the whereabouts of the Intelligencia?"

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-08-16 12:51 am UTC (link)
	"While it cannot be the strongest priority right now, I am still quite interested, yes." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

legends_baddie
2011-08-16 01:01 am UTC (link)

"I may no longer be Osborn's data collector, but I still like to keep abreast of things. One such interesting tidbit was that Arnim Zola has reputedly been spotted in Russia. What you may find interesting is that that he is believed to be a new member of the Intelligencia, supposedly replacing the Leader or MODOK. While I realize he was not a member of the original group, he may lead us to them. And as evidence of his possible presence, supposedly an unknown team of superhumans kidnapped a prominent Russian colonel not long after this sighting was announced. Intrigued?"

(Reply to this)(Parent)

	latverianregent 2011-08-15 11:43 pm UTC (link)
	The Master of Latveria was home, however briefly. Kristoff entered his study and knelt. This was serious. "Sire, I need to ask you something." (Reply to this)(Thread)

	i_am_doom 2011-08-16 12:10 am UTC (link)
	Doom is reading Machiavelli's The Prince and considering several of it's points when Kristoff arrives. "Rise and speak, Kristoff." Doom says, still reading. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-08-16 12:15 am UTC (link)
	Kristoff rose. "Father, do you know the name of the cur who abandoned my mother?" He takes a breath. "Because Quasimodo apparently does, and --" he bites back a comment about the creature's cryptic remarks. There is no need to make Doom angry about it. He takes a breath. "And I wished to ask, even if you thought it best not to disclose." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	i_am_doom 2011-08-16 01:02 am UTC (link)
	Doom stiffens slightly, barely perceptible to all but one who knows him well, such as Kristoff. He knew this day would come, but he'd hoped Kristoff might forget or simply decide not to ask. He would have words with Quasimodo for this. "I do." Doom says simply. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-08-16 01:11 am UTC (link)
	Kristoff notices. His eyes lower. "Am I permitted to know, Sir?" He asks, obviously prepared to accept a refusal but wanting the truth. Doom was the only family he needed, but Kristoff hated the idea that the fact might be known, whispered behind his back. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	i_am_doom 2011-08-16 02:01 am UTC (link)
	"Are you certain you wish to know, Kristoff? Many men seek knowledge that later, they wish they had not found." Doom says. He knows that Kristoff will press forward, because he was raised by Doom. There is no such thing as unwelcome knowledge. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-08-16 02:06 am UTC (link)
	And indeed. "I am quite certain, Sir," he says, straightening and looking his sovereign master and beloved parent in the eyes. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	i_am_doom 2011-08-16 02:16 am UTC (link)
	Doom would rather cut out his tongue and feast upon it than utter his next words, but Kristoff asked for the truth. Doom is known for telling the truth. "Your father, miserable excuse for a man that he is...is Nathaniel Richards." Doom says. "It is little more than a genetic anomaly, Kristoff. It does not define you." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

latverianregent
2011-08-16 02:31 am UTC (link)

There's moment of uncomfortable shock in Kristoff's eyes, which his quickly stifles.

Nathaniel... he knew the man. They'd worked together when Doom was presumed dead. He'd never said, never hinted. Not to Kristoff. Apparently, others knew.

Kristoff was a Richards. An unacknowledged bastard Richards. Despite his respect for Mrs. Richards, and relative respect for Dr. Richards in comparison to the Master's opinion of the man, the thought of being Richards's half-brother is very, very painful.

But Doom is right. Of course. He can't let it define him. That Doom insists that it doesn't, that Doom has cared for him for so long knowing such a horrible thing, means more to the boy than he could ever possibly express.

He nods stiffly. "Yes, Master. You are the only father I have ever needed."

A pause, and then, wryly. "It appears my incompetence with mystical practices truly is in my blood."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

i_am_doom
2011-08-16 02:38 am UTC (link)

"My boy, that anomaly will not always be present. Someday, I hope to purge it from you and make you as you were meant to be.

For now, however, do not let this vex you. You are a doctor by your own merits and work. You are a brilliant and keen mind.

Above all, you are my son...and I am proud of you." Doom says, returning to his book.

Victor von Doom does not wax sentimental often, but he also does not bask in it, either.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-08-16 02:45 am UTC (link)
	Of course not. Basking is something Kristoff privately when he leaves the room, which he does now with a bow and a "Thank You, Sir." (Reply to this)(Parent)

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