Old Saint Nick (old_saint_nick) wrote in marvel_nextgen,
@ 2009-12-23 18:07:00

Entry tags:

argo, aridis, asleif, griffen o'niell, halbjorn, holiday, inactive - ohu amane, npc - wonder man, plot-"scion", svalin, sydney ashcroft, team - defenders, vincent vernard, zoey ashcroft

Defenders
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.

Christmas Day is a Christian holiday, it's true, but it also has become increasingly secular. It is an opportunity for love, charity, and goodwill, even in Los Angeles, arguably the most superficial city in the country.

There is some debate within mystical circles if there is indeed such a creature as the embodiment of Christmas Giving known as Santa Claus. But whether or not there is such a being, the spirit of giving itself is very real, be it incarnated in a fat man in a red suit or not.

Throughout this small blue planet of Earth, people have brought trees into their homes, decorated them with lights and ornaments, and placed them in locations of honor. Stockings have been placed on the chimneys. And gifts have been placed under the tree.

Some are looking forward more to the receiving than the giving. But for many, it is the act of giving which warms them, which fills them with the holiday spirit.

Each person, in their own way, becomes a part of this spirit of giving. Each person, in their own way, becomes Santa Claus.

The Defenders Manor has been decked out with lights, as has most of the grounds. Ohu has made hanging lighting a top priority, and every tree on the grounds -- including the palm trees -- is well lit with multi-colored lights. Despite the warm location, Ohu has made sure that there's plenty of snow on the grounds, too, with a bit of magic. As for the gods themselves, and their mortal keepers...

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	nextgen_parent 2009-12-24 06:27 am UTC (link)
	"Simon, tis good to see thee, old friend! Tis good to meet thee as well, Lady Sydney. We wilt not be staying long, but I do fear that before we leave, I must speak business with both of thee. I hath a great favor I must request, but for't, thou wilt both be well compensated." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

son_of_hercules
2009-12-25 03:55 am UTC (link)

Argo had spent a portion of the day sleeping, having returned the compound early in the morning after spending a very merry holiday with a woman he was reasonable certain had been named Mary.

But now he was awake, and headed into the kitchen. "Joyous Saturnalia to ye all!" he boomed, then took notice of their esteemed guest. "What ho, good Thunder God! It doth do the son of Hercules well to see thee again!"

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	nextgen_parent 2009-12-25 04:04 am UTC (link)
	"And a Gud Yule to you as well, Olympian. I have only just returned e'en from business with thy father. He wishes thee well this holiday and wilt be about before too long, but it mayst yet be some days. At least until the wine runs out." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	pop_trash_hero 2009-12-25 05:25 am UTC (link)
	Simon did not miss the fact this was less than a social call. He takes Syd's arm. "Let's head for the office then," he remarks. "That way we can get this over with and whatever time you have left you can lavish on the kids, okay?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	sydney_ashcroft 2009-12-25 05:26 am UTC (link)
	Syd felt like she was being manipulated and she didn't like it. "Fine," she said. Get this over with and then she could play in the snow with Zoey. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

nextgen_parent
2009-12-25 05:31 am UTC (link)

Thor follows them to the office and shuts the door, looking most serious now.
"I wilt be entirely honest with both of thee, but nought that ist said here mayst leave this office until the time hast come. After learning most disturbing news, I hath been in league with the Mighty Herakles. But it ties in with mortal business, and this ist not a place where we can tarry long. We need mortal agents, one a businessman to hold the majority shareholder's seat in a powerful mortal corporation, there to follow /very/ specific instructions, and otherwise to meddle very little in its affairs... and another person to act as advisor and historian to that businessman. As I said, both of thee wouldst be very well compensated for thine efforts."

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	pop_trash_hero 2009-12-25 05:36 am UTC (link)
	He looks to Syd. He has no clue what to say to that. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	sydney_ashcroft 2009-12-25 05:37 am UTC (link)
	"Don't look at me," she said when she saw the look. "I'm just a passenger on this roller coaster ride. I don't know anything about business. I'm a historian and a linguist." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_parent 2009-12-25 05:39 am UTC (link)
	"But thou art a historian with extensive knowledge of Stark Industries, and Simon trusts thee. Thou'rt essential." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

pop_trash_hero
2009-12-25 06:14 am UTC (link)

"Why me?" Simon asks. "Sure, I can run trusts and foundations, but Stark?" He runs a hand through his hair and paces. "I mean, I was such a screw-up I let Zemo and enchantress turn me into this after I ran my own company into the ground. Tony Stark at least gave the whole thing a merciful death." He looks up to the ceiling because he can't look at them. "I sold out the whole Avengers, and then died and I even screwed up death! Thor, I'm not the idiot 22 year old anymore, I know, but my record is my record. I'm not sure I can do this."

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	sydney_ashcroft 2009-12-25 06:16 am UTC (link)
	"I don't have extensive knowledge of Stark Industries. The most I do for them is act as a translator. That's hardly extensive knowledge." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

nextgen_parent
2009-12-25 06:22 am UTC (link)

Thor nods. "Dost thou think I dost not know thy history, Simon? Or thy function, Lady Sydney? The situation ist this - Stark ist mortal, he hast put the Maria Stark Foundation trust, and Stark's backing of the Avengers at risk many times and let his concerns stand before the team. Ne'er again. We hath purchased majority share of Stark stock through Scion holdings. The sole job of that shareholder stock shalt be to ensure that the Avengers art held in good stead and ne'er put after the interests of any Stark. In all other concerns, the shareholder shalt vote with Tony Stark, Anya Stark, or their heirs consistently. But shouldst there e'er be concern that the Avengers, Maria Stark foundation, or their interests art threatened, then and only then shalt the two of thee vote with Scion's voice. Simon shalt be that representative, Lady Sydney, he trusts they advice and ability to handle and understand the needs of a team on this scale. Tis a simple job, but for't, neither of thee wilt need e'er be concerned for thy jobs or money e'er again."

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	pop_trash_hero 2009-12-25 06:52 am UTC (link)
	There is a long pause before another sound erupts in the office. "Tony," he says between moments of laugh. "Is gonna be pissed." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	sydney_ashcroft 2009-12-25 06:53 am UTC (link)
	"Speaking of Mr. Stark, does he even know about all of this? Has he agreed to this?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

nextgen_parent
2009-12-25 06:59 am UTC (link)

"Nay. Tony wast about to lose his company to his half-sister. Twas at our expense that many other investors wert bought out of Stark stock at more than the shares' value, and some few wert convinced to part with it."
No, he does not say how.
"There wilt be times thou wilt need to be prepared to oppose Tony. He shalt be President, and when his daughter graduates from college, she shalt become C.E.O. in turn, but not before. Thou wilt no more be reliant 'pon Tony Stark, the Defenders wilt be fully funded by Scion and run here as needed so that neither Tony nor any who come after shalt hold absolute power o'er thee or the team. Herakles and I shalt deal with informing the Starks. And Simon... tis precisely because of thy background thou wert chosen. Thou knowst better than almost any what happens when one man puts himself before the team. And I am trusting thee to hold thy ground and vote thy conscience e'en when Tony or Anya Stark art dead set against thee."

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	pop_trash_hero 2009-12-25 07:09 am UTC (link)
	Yeah, about that convincing? Simon really doesn't want to know. He rubs the back of his neck. "I learned by hitting every step on the way down." He looks over to Syd. 'When do you need an answer? I think she needs at least five minutes to process this." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	sydney_ashcroft 2009-12-25 07:14 am UTC (link)
	Five minutes? Try five hours? Days? Weeks? Months? Years? Syd didn't like this. At all. Mr. Stark had been kind enough to give her this very well paying job and had allowed her to finally be able to provide well for Zoey. This felt like betrayal. Stabbing the man who had given her a real chance in the back. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

nextgen_parent
2009-12-25 07:19 am UTC (link)

The reservations are certainly noted - and if she didn't have them, Thor would be somewhat disappointed.
"Not tonight. Tis a time for revelry and reflection. I wilt be going to the east coast tomorrow, and wilt be telling Tony then, mayhap. We need be sure of who wilt be sitting on the board, else Scion holdings shalt remain unknown, and Maggie Donovan shalt continue to run Stark until all ist in place. We hath saved the company, but until the reason we hath done so ist assured, we wilt not be meddling in the day to day affairs of Stark."

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	sydney_ashcroft 2009-12-27 10:59 am UTC (link)
	"I'll give you my decision in the morning," Syd said and left the room. It was too much to deal with at the moment. She would think about it later after Zoey was in bed, but now she went to go play with her daughter. (Reply to this)(Parent)

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