Kristoff Vernard, aka Kristoff Von Doom (discardedheir) wrote in marvel_nextgen,
@ 2010-04-04 19:17:00

Entry tags:

kristoff vernard, plot-"what if", vincent vernard

Pawn to e4.

"I hope you have been well," Kristoff politely says to Vincent von Doom, looking t him from across the board in the park.

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	quitethecharmer 2010-04-04 10:41 pm UTC (link)
	Vincent counters with a knight. "Well enough. He recalled me briefly to handle a border skirmish." (Reply to this)(Thread)

	discardedheir 2010-04-04 10:45 pm UTC (link)
	Kristoff continues the most defensive-yet-efficient method for getting his queen and bishops out quickly with a proper vanguard. "I am sorry to hear there was trouble," he says quite sincerely. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	quitethecharmer 2010-04-04 10:49 pm UTC (link)
	Vincent holds most of his back line, save for his knights and queen, taking an offensive style. "Some trouble with Symkaria. The situation was resolved... adequately." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

discardedheir
2010-04-04 11:03 pm UTC (link)

"Unfortunate all the same, to conflict with a country with which w- Latveria normally has such good relations." His eyes return to the board to avoid meeting his.

The trap Kristoff begins laying is subtle. Should Vincent underestimate him and miss it, he will gain a piece or two and put him into his first check without any true holes in Kristoff's own defense. Should he spot it and avoid it, Kristoff should still manage to take a piece. It is always good to create a win-fail-to-lose situation

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

quitethecharmer
2010-04-04 11:07 pm UTC (link)

Vincent moves a piece, but recants the move before taking his finger from it. He settles for leaving a bishop vulnerable in order to take a rook of Kristoff's.

"The word from Symkaria was that the contingent I dealt with did not represent the policies of the current head of state."

There's a brief change in his tone, and his gaze is more focused on the board.

"The Latverian border was kept secure. Perhaps moreso than was truly wished."

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discardedheir
2010-04-04 11:20 pm UTC (link)

Kristoff's eyes dart briefly to Vincent's shifting sleeve "I hope you at least put a comfrey poultice or equivalent on that wrist."

Kristoff listens to the last part, processes, and slowly closes his eyes. After a moment, there's a nealry inaudible murmur, in Romany, of "Master, you magnificent bastard, how could that be worth it?"

He looks away as he safely takes the bishop. It's a good position for his queen, but not as good as it might have been.

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quitethecharmer
2010-04-04 11:31 pm UTC (link)

Vincent turns a gaze on Kristoff for a moment as he harshly readjusts the sleeve. "An unfortunate mistake during one of my lessons in spellcraft. It heals slowly, that's all."

Unlike his father, Vincent is not so hesitant to lie outright. It was more a mistake of statecraft than of spellcraft that had lead to the injury.

He moves a pawn, pausing his offensive rush for the moment as the Romany catches his ear. "It would be... interesting. To see him as you still seem to."

He stands to stretch his legs for a moment, pouring himself a glass of mead from the decanter he had already set aside. There is one of a Latverian vintage as well, left nearer to Kristoff.

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discardedheir
2010-04-04 11:41 pm UTC (link)

Kristoff raises an eyebrow at that hardly-an-answer to his observation about proper care, but his eyes lower to the board as he castles.

Kristoff will pour himself a little. He speaks deadpan. "No matter his occasional ...mistakes," Even that word is hard, so hard, to get out. "He is still the greatest and best sovereign Latveria has ever had." And still the only real father Kristoff ever had.

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quitethecharmer
2010-04-04 11:52 pm UTC (link)

Vincent sits back down abruptly, advancing a bishop of his own, placing Kristoff's queen in check. It's a gambit, but with potential for a very high return.

"I will trust your opinion on that matter. Historical records within Latveria are subject to being taken with a grain of salt."

He pauses, turning a somewhat more relaxed gaze to his opponent. "I heard about the situation with the Mole Man. Well handled."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	discardedheir 2010-04-04 11:57 pm UTC (link)
	"It is very good, in my opinion, that none your age have more reliable, firsthand evidence of the previous line." The gambit is hardly opaque, and Kristoff extricates himself from it as best he can. "Thank you. My colleagues are invaluable, or of course it would never have worked." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	quitethecharmer 2010-04-05 12:14 am UTC (link)
	"It must be.. comforting, to have such individuals around you." Vincent presses the offensive, abandoning his defenses almost entirely. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	discardedheir 2010-04-05 12:17 am UTC (link)
	The pawn Kristoff moves serves, whatever else it might be eventually for, to back up his defenses in the immediate situation. "Yes." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	quitethecharmer 2010-04-05 12:26 am UTC (link)
	Vincent moves a piece almost reflexively, and there's the faintest twitch in his finger after he releases it. "What is your opinion on the use of summoned and bound entities as a clean-running power source?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	discardedheir 2010-04-05 12:28 am UTC (link)
	Kristoff reacts to that move, his eyes not going near the pawn for the moment.... and then he blinks. "Immeasurably ill-advised. A tragedy begging to happen." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

quitethecharmer
2010-04-05 12:34 am UTC (link)

Vincent's hands don't go near the board.

"I agree..." There are faint traces of resignation and anxiety in his manner. However, it's not as if he can ever just approach a topic directly.

"There's been a certain measure of.. frustration, in him. Doctor Richards' passing of the torch to you and your comrades has lessened his celebrity. He's still known, but he's seen less."

He lifts his gaze to meet Kristoff's.

"Surpassing Doctor Richards in the world's eyes may not mean as much anymore, should it ever come to pass."

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	discardedheir 2010-04-05 12:42 am UTC (link)
	Kristoff's don't either. His eyes meet Vincent's with a blank look of pain. "What has happened? Please." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	quitethecharmer 2010-04-05 12:49 am UTC (link)
	"Nothing... yet." Vincent replies with measured calm, eyes surveying their surroundings very cautiously. "He's been placing an.. undue amount of interest in summonings." Another pause. "And the effectiveness of my blood as a component in such techniques." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	discardedheir 2010-04-05 12:58 am UTC (link)
	Kristoff continues staring blankly. "No. Devel, no. He knows better. Almost every time he has met with near disaster, it has been because of a stupid power source he got carried away with; he has to have learned that." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	quitethecharmer 2010-04-05 01:20 am UTC (link)
	"There's nothing in this world that would bring him the glory he wants anymore... he feels Doctor Richards cheated him of his 'true' victory by retiring from the more public aspect." Vincent looks at the older man. "And so... there are other worlds to draw victory from." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

discardedheir
2010-04-05 01:33 am UTC (link)

"There are dozens of ways he could still hope to get Dr. Richards to acknowledge his superiority. Countless ways to achieve his goals. Surely he just needs a little help getting his thoughts back on a sane track. Generally, if one can him away from whatever he is about to kill himself with --" Kristoff winces a little, remembering an incident when he was 12. That had hurt, but the Master was safe in the end. "He is more himself afterward."

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quitethecharmer
2010-04-05 01:42 am UTC (link)

Vincent re-examines the board at Kristoff's words, a glint in his eyes having sparked at the notion of his father's death.

He leans back in his seat. "I understand the principle behind, and the merits of, diverting his focus, but he has displayed... a particularly intense focus upon not letting me do so."

Vincent respects Kristoff enough not to come out and say 'He wants to make sure I'm not you', but it is something of the proverbial elephant in the living room.

"I've taken great pains that our conversations take place with a measure of privacy, but there are others, magically powerful others, that I do not have the same freedom to reach. At this point, I believe the best case scenario is that he brings only himself down." He focuses on Kristoff. "At which point a new leader, not ruler, could be installed."

He advances a knight. The same one he opened the game with.

"Your king is in check."

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	discardedheir 2010-04-05 01:53 am UTC (link)
	The castled king is moved further into his protected perimeter. And Kristoff's voice is cold. He saw that glint, and he's picking up on what Vincent is asking for. "Zorba, as the Americans say, 'talked a good game,' too. You will forgive me if I am not quick to trust your capabilities." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

quitethecharmer
2010-04-05 02:06 am UTC (link)

Vincent doesn't strike further yet, but he's clearly preparing an offensive with multiple points.

"My capabilities are not sufficient to resolve this situation, that much I admit. However, I am not so wary--" he would never bring himself to say 'afraid' "--of the man that I will sit back and simply be content to wait until the day he decides to use my blood in a mad attempt to cage and treadmill that which would raze a nation, if not all of Europe, for the offense of it."

He takes his hand off the piece, having been considering his move.

"There is no-one else smart enough who also cares enough." He relaxes his gaze, but keeps eye contact. "If not you, then who? I am his blood. If I am to abolish a decree of banishment by a dead monarch and cede the throne, that would be my right."

He strokes his fingers over the bridge of his nose.

"At the very least, I, as well as common sense, would ask that you move this information along to those I am too conspicuous to contact."

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discardedheir
2010-04-05 04:18 am UTC (link)

Kristoff's eyes narrow further at the 'all of Europe' part. "Exaggeration is not the best technique to convince me this isn't some kind of trick, boy. Surely you realize how convenient this looks."

The wheels are turning despite this. Not trusting doesn't mean not thinking.
"You want the message relayed, I presume, to Dr. Strange, Ms. Kale... I believe Mrs. Szardos currently is on one of her more benign Turns...."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

quitethecharmer
2010-04-05 04:03 pm UTC (link)

Vincent rubs his forehead more.

"Kristoff, I won't lie to you. I have no love for him, but I want my freedom, not his death. The path he is on right now, I cannot see it culminating in an outcome that does not include his own demise." A pause. "Although I have calculated a small number of outcomes in which a vast number of other fatalities replace his own."

At the comment about exaggeration, Vincent clarifies. "Ah... that. I don't mean to imply that the sole entity, a primordial elemental, he means to summon would be that damaging, but that the procedure would leave a door best left shut wide open."

He clears his throat, nodding as Kristoff names magically proficient individuals. "Better benign than belligerent at least..." He mutters to himself in Romany, before speaking up again. "My affection for this world is genuine, as is my affection for Latveria, even if your own dwarfs it. I'm not a monster, Kristoff. I don't want to see his ambitions harm anyone, least of all using myself as a component."

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discardedheir
2010-04-06 01:16 am UTC (link)

Kristoff listens. He found his suspicions quite reasonable, of course; if Vincent wanted his father dead for its own sake, telling a presumably gullible castoff to spread the word he was diastrously dangerously insane was plausible.

...It was also easier to suspect he was being used than to face that the Master may have gone that mad.

"I am not saying I believe you for certain. But I will talk to them."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	quitethecharmer 2010-04-06 01:45 am UTC (link)
	"I don't expect you to believe me, but the situation pleads for a bit more immediate attention than waiting for proof allows." Vincent replies quietly. "Thank you for your consideration." He gestures to the table. "I believe it is your move, Kristoff." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

discardedheir
2010-04-06 01:51 am UTC (link)

"The matter will receive attention as soon as the principal parties discussed are available."

"So it is." As he moves a pawn to the seventh row, it should be impossible for any attention from Vincent to miss what he's doing now. But Kristoff already has various other pieces positioned to make the last few moves of the promotion process very difficult for interference. There will be no way to take the pawn before he can move the queen it will become.

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	quitethecharmer 2010-04-06 01:58 am UTC (link)
	Vincent sees the inevitable, and chooses to try to outrun it. He makes an aggressive move with a rook, trying to herd Kristoff's king towards two other potential attackers. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	discardedheir 2010-04-06 02:09 am UTC (link)
	Kristoff sees that he can't take the rook because of the backup Vincent has arranged, so he simply moves where his own rook can shield. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	quitethecharmer 2010-04-06 02:22 am UTC (link)
	Vincent reaches for a piece when a signal on his watch goes off. A red light flashes intently. His eyes widen slightly, and he punches in a response. "Kristoff, I believe I must cut our engagement short." He swallows hard. "He wishes for my presence." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	discardedheir 2010-04-06 02:31 am UTC (link)
	"I see. Good luck. I apparently have some calls to make." (Reply to this)(Parent)

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