latverianregent (latverianregent) wrote in marvel_legends,
@ 2011-05-02 15:01:00

Entry tags:

Today Our Fragile Flesh and Steel....
It was a time of indulgence. Kristoff was playing one of his Leslie Fish albums while he worked on blueprints for the changes in irrigation systems. The nationwide effort for expanding the innovative and inexpensive power grid was going well; and looked to improve quality of life as well as economic production possibilities. But always cleanly. There could be no turning of the country into one of the many filthy, polluted places in other parts of Eastern Europe. This was Latveria.

So he's happily working, and humming along to the music.

"Young -- I mean, Dr. Vernard?" One of the staff asks.
"Yes, Hans?"
"There's an official screen-call for you."
He won't get excited. He knows who it's not -- Doom would have used the private connection set up for him, most likely. "Thank you, Hans. Have them put it on screen here."
Kristoff turns the music down and straightens his ever-formal posture even more.

(Post a new comment)

	black_prince 2011-05-02 06:31 pm UTC (link)
	"Malik Jericho" is back at his corporate office in Ghudaza, deciding that he needed to tie up a loose end. Considering Doom's history with his father, making sure the man didn't become an enemy would be prudent. However, Doom wasn't an easy man to find, but his "son" was. "Good evening Regent, I trust you are well." (Reply to this)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-05-02 06:35 pm UTC (link)
	"Quite well, thank you," he says with mild politeness as he stands. "I presume you are Malik Jericho? Was there some way I can help you?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	black_prince 2011-05-02 06:40 pm UTC (link)
	"Indeed I am." Blackheart remains sitting for the moment. "Yes, I have an important matter that I wish to discuss. I assume this line is secure?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-05-02 06:43 pm UTC (link)
	Kristoff nods. "The line is quite secure. I would not any assume any confidences I have not confirmed, of course." Translation: Only a moron would think I don't repeat everything to Him, so I hope you're not one. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	black_prince 2011-05-02 06:49 pm UTC (link)
	"Indeed, then I won't waste your time." Malik leans forward toward the screen. "I need to speak to Dr Doom. You are the only means from which I can relay a message to him." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-05-02 07:02 pm UTC (link)
	"And what might I relay, to indicate that you would not be wasting his time?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	black_prince 2011-05-02 07:06 pm UTC (link)
	Malik smiles and for a brief instant, a flicker of black energy goes across his eyes. "Because He and I both have far-reaching designs that will alter the landscapes of the lands of our ambitions. However, I have no desire for us to act at cross-purposes." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-05-02 07:20 pm UTC (link)
	Kristoff observes. There's something a little cold in his stomach. There are several possibilities, and he doesn't much like any of them. "Latveria is not looking for a fight, and inefficency is certainly a shame," he says, forcing his voice to stay even. "If you would contact me in two weeks, we can discuss this further." Giving the Master time to call. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	black_prince 2011-05-02 07:25 pm UTC (link)
	'Doom certainly has his son on a leash. That could just as easily had been my fate. A pity.' "Yes, I agree completely. Give his Majesty my regards. Be well, Regent." Malik cuts off the connection. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-05-02 07:42 pm UTC (link)
	And, that over, Kristoff tries to shack off the disturbance it has given him by turning up his music. And turning it down again when Hans announces another call. "On the screen, please." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	shield_topdog 2011-05-02 07:54 pm UTC (link)
	Nick Fury's face appears on the screen. A lit cigar is in his mouth. "Mr. Vernard." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-05-02 07:59 pm UTC (link)
	"Director Fury." Pause. "I defended my dissertation four months ago," he adds evenly. The real challenge had been getting four people into a room who knew what he was talking about and didn't have strong feelings about Latveria. "How can I help you?" He asks, although after what just happened, he's got a bit of an agenda for this call himself. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	shield_topdog 2011-05-02 08:06 pm UTC (link)
	Nick fully knows he's a doctor, but Nick was just being, well, Nick. "You can help me by makin' sure that lil' country o' yers isn't someplace I need t' worry 'bout and makin' sure I don't need t' worry about you." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-05-02 08:12 pm UTC (link)
	"As I have told ambassadors, advisors, and an impudent Ghudazan businessman -- " he purposely drops that in; Jericho may have no quarrel with the Master, but Kristoff refused to believe he was a friend, either. "Latveria is not looking for a fight. We are expanding our power grid, renovating irrigation systems, and generally making a few changes." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	shield_topdog 2011-05-02 08:25 pm UTC (link)
	"Do you know how many times I get the 'we're not lookin' for a fight' line?" Nick grumbled. He did take note of the Ghudazan businessman mention. Nick had his own people looking into that. "Problem is Doom made a lot o' enemies. Now they could be lookin' for a lil' payback. SHIELD will lend assistance if one o' them come lookin' for a fight." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-05-02 08:32 pm UTC (link)
	"...If the necessity comes, we will not refuse SHIELDS assistance out of hand, but I would much prefer to avoid their overt presence in Latveria." Yes. He said overt, Nick. Because you're Nick Fury, and while he's just a kid, he's not a dumb kid. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	shield_topdog 2011-05-02 08:56 pm UTC (link)
	"We ain't comin' in unless ya ask," Nick said. Or decided to cause trouble, but that was better left unsaid. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-05-02 11:57 pm UTC (link)
	As much as Kristoff wants to be diplomatic, he has to clarify something. "I trust defending ourselves within our own borders if attacked will not itself constitute asking unless there are extenuating circumstances?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	shield_topdog 2011-05-03 01:19 am UTC (link)
	"SHIELD's only comin' in if ya ask," Nick said. Latveria has always been a thorn in his side and now he was hoping it would have some stability and not be a hot spot. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-05-03 01:21 am UTC (link)
	"Excellent. Thank you, Director Fury." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	shield_topdog 2011-05-03 01:23 am UTC (link)
	Nick nodded. "Just keep things quiet there," he said. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-05-03 02:35 am UTC (link)
	"I have every hope of doing so." (Reply to this)(Parent)

	i_am_doom 2011-05-04 12:41 am UTC (link)
	The private communications frequency blinks sometime later. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-05-04 12:44 am UTC (link)
	Kristoff presses the button eagerly to bring the call up. "Sir?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	i_am_doom 2011-05-04 12:48 am UTC (link)
	"Kristoff, report. What is our status?" Doom asks without preamble. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

latverianregent
2011-05-04 01:02 am UTC (link)

And Kristoff begins to rattle the information off progressively. "The borders are stable. The power grid expansion proceeds as I planned. Irrigation renovation is scheduled to begin next week. The researches we are aiding have made respectable progress, but their local regulations will clearly keep them in the testing phase for years. We've received trade discussion with Ruritania, 'courtesy calls' from SHIELD, and an intriguing but unusual offer from Malik Jericho of the Diabolus Corporation."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	i_am_doom 2011-05-04 01:04 am UTC (link)
	Nick Fury checking upon them was not unexpected; those who did not know Doom's whereabouts often worried what he was planning, as well they should. He would let them wander in ignorance. He trusted Kristoff to handle Ruritania and said no more. Malik Jericho's name coming up was surprising, and now caught his interest. "What did he ask of you?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

latverianregent
2011-05-04 01:16 am UTC (link)

"Only to relay that he wishes to speak with you, Sir. His cited only that you 'both have far-reaching designs that will alter the landscapes of the lands of your ambitions.' He claims, however to, 'have no desire to act at cross-purposes.' Sire, he was using a minor fast-fade spell wrapped into his line security, and his eyes for had an iridescent flicker that was most definitely not ionic or psionic energy."

Kristoff's professionalism falls just enough to betray a hint of dislike. There are some distinct possibilities here, and Kristoff was not brought up to like demons.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

i_am_doom
2011-05-04 02:21 pm UTC (link)

Doom absorbs the information as Kristoff provides it, letting his mind turn over the words used as well as Kristoff's own observations. Doom had already decided to look further into Malik Jericho and Diabolus once he had the time and inclination, but this altered things. If Jericho was reaching out to him, it meant that Jericho knew that Doom could thwart whatever plans he had in mind and soughtto ally wit him...or remove him from the board.

And if Jericho knew Doom, then Doom knew him, likely in some other identity. Several candidates were compiled mentally and discarded, leaving Victor with only three possible identities for Malik Jericho, all of which required direct confirmation.

"I will deal with Jericho myself, Krisoff. Did you discern his location?" he asks.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-05-04 04:18 pm UTC (link)
	"Diabolus's Ghudaza offices." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	i_am_doom 2011-05-04 07:59 pm UTC (link)
	"Ghudaza neighbors Wakanda. They've elected a new president recently, a minor politician who is suddenly popular with the locals. Ghudaza also has issues with Wakanda. Seek more information on this and report again, Kristoff. I will attend to Malik Jericho." he says, and signs off. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	latverianregent 2011-05-04 09:16 pm UTC (link)
	Kristoff begins working on that and personally hopes that Doom chooses not to become too...entangled with this person. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	black_prince 2011-06-06 01:42 pm UTC (link)
	END (Reply to this)

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