| AU: Tried to be Perfect |
[22 Feb 2010|03:40am] |
Kristoff was up late with the blueprints of the new water treatment plant. Then he can get back to work on his renovations of the public irrigation system in the northern hills.
The Master has been completely supportive of all Kristoff's little pet projects. It kept him from having to worry about dealing with any such rather petty matters himself, or delegating them to fools. Improvements in the national infrastructure are certainly sped up when those put in charge of such things weren't too terrified to try something new. Or, well, just terrified in general, really. Kristoff could probably still be considered the one man in Latveria who actually loves Doom more than he fears him. But then, a son should. And Kristoff is certainly respected for it. Perhaps a great deal of people feared Kristoff a little, too, but respect was something of which he had plenty.
He goes to a particular spot on the outskirts of the city every Saturday, and, under a particular tree, talks about his week: the various civil engineering projects, the minor political nonsense, the renovations he hopes to suggest to the local university curriculum, and his mathematical research. He knows that even if his mother is somehow listening at her grave, she wouldn't know what the Fields Medal actually is, but he feels she'd be proud anyway (the Master finds it amusing, and generally treats the matter as if Kristoff had been given a shiny toy by a passel of schoolchildren).
There are some things he realizes he's missing. He's never seemed to meet the right girl, for one thing. He's gotten a little better at handling new people in terms of business and politics, but things are still awkward socially. His status certainly doesn't help encourage any sort of casual comfort, or help to cultivate feelings Kristoff refuses to settle for less than. Considering that at 28, he has not been kissed since the age of 12, Kristoff has to admit that a normal family life is not likely. Perhaps he, in turn, will adopt, eventually. But he smiles, as he reflects on the fact that in Latveria, orphans are so very hard to come by. As well they should be.
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| AU: Who's coming to dinner |
[22 Feb 2010|04:48am] |
"And how's Vincent?"
"Also fine, thank you, albeit complaining incessantly about the seventh grade."
"How's everyone else at the Baxter Building."
"Quite well, thank you. Mrs. Richards in particular sends her regards and hopes the two of you bring the baby soon."
Cassandra smiles beautifully and says that of course they will. Then, at last, he speaks up.
"I read your paper on abstract topological dynamics in the MSRI journal. Nice work."
Kristoff manages a polite thank you. Normally any mention of abstract topological dynamics could get him animated and alive as nothing but Latveria or Cassandra normally could. But he can't. Somehow, Nate would manage to take the beauty of mathematics away from him, too.
The most pathetic thing of all was that he, Kristoff Vernard, had helped them figure out the way to avoid the timeline/predestination problem. He could deny her nothing. Not even Nate.
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