Flashback: Therapy.
12 Years ago:
"I fail to see how any of these questions relate to analyzing the conditioning, Doctor. My apologies for your being called in needlessly; I should obviously be speaking to a neurologist."
"There's a lot more to 'conditioning' than having a lot of wires stuck in your brain, Kristoff."
"That is the only part I need to discuss with anyone, thank you, since there could be unknown safety concerns. The rest is --"
"Is worrying Sue quite a bit at the moment. Did you argue with her about this? Or...let me guess....A Von Doom Does Not pick fights with his hostess?"
"I do not need any claim to the name to have standards of appropriate behavior, Dr. Samson."
"Very true."
"If I did not have Standards, I would not be in this country again."
"I believe you."
"...Good."
"Do you consider this just a temporary imposition on the Four? Like when you were younger?"
"He was
missing then; he did not..." Kristoff, unable to finish the sentence, simply scowled. "I am aware of the consequences of my actions, if that is what you are asking! I do not expect him to promptly forgive me."
"Good. Because it's not going to happen."
A pause.
"I believe the half-hour I agreed to speak with you is up."
"I believe it is. But I'll see you Thursday, Kristoff."
11 years, 11 months ago:
"So...Latveria has a new potential-future-Master."
"Yes. I have a... little brother, after a fashion. I doubt I will ever meet him again."
"How did you feel when you did meet him?"
"There was a lot to deal with at the time."
"Yes, definitely, but what did you think of that part?"
Kristoff paused for a moment. "He had the cape. With the royal insignia at the clasp. Otherwise, it was some of the same things I always wore."
...To be entirely honest, Leonard had assumed they'd be talking about the getting-shot part. How silly of him.
"Do you think this kid'll end up in all the same situations you did?"
"Do not be absurd!" Kristoff responded automatically, "The Master of Latveria never just duplicates a failure." A pause. "Never repeats a failed plan, I mean."
"I think I know exactly what you meant, Kristoff."
11 years, 10 months, 12 days ago.
"Speaking of the potential threat to the Fantastic Four...and Doom's intentions...and why you're here...can we talk about what impression you may have gotten about Ben and Johnny's opinions?"
"Subtlety is not among their gifts," the boy said drily.
"Everything short of humming 'My Heart Belongs to Daddy,' then? How do you feel about that."
"Contemptuous. Which I am sure you have been informed is the usual default."
"It must be a bit difficult, not only considering that you've worked with them, but that you got yourself disowned for them."
"It was not
about them!" Kristoff snapped.
"All right. It wasn't. You just couldn't let him lower himself to doing that. ...It also wasn't the only time you'd disrupted his plans a bit, yes? There'd been a few cases, mostly out of your control, but..."
"Yes, there were a few instances in which I got in the way, caused him difficulties. During...a certain occasion, I even attacked him physically. He always forgave me."
"But not this time."
"No, not this time."
"Why not this time, do you suppose?"
Kristoff shrugged slightly. "Because it was too willful? Because of the accusation to his honor?...Because he has a son now?"
"I'm pretty sure he's had a son for ten years. But you think he might have forgiven you again if the new model wasn't available?"
A long pause. "...I do not know."
Eight years, four months ago.
"It's been a while since we last touched base."
"Yes."
"Got a brother living with you now."
"Yes. Before you ask anything, Dr. Samson, or get any ideas, let me state that I am quite aware that caring for Vincent will in no way encourage His Father to forgive me."
"I wasn't going to say it."
"...Good."
"Can't be easy, though. Living with someone who
could go back and doesn't
want to."
Kristoff was silent.
"I
have heard what happened, by the way. Telling Doom No again probably wasn't easy either."
"Not particularly. The injuries were relatively mild, however."
"Yeah, sure. No regrets, though?"
"...That my country will need another eventual backup plan, I suppose, is regrettable, but he was too young to be of real use to Latveria at this point anyway."
"Way out of my field there."
Seven years ago.
"So...'Iron Lad,' huh?"
"It is a fairly stupid name, yes."
"Armored supergenius."
"Yes."
"Sounds a bit familiar."
"That isn't funny."
"No, it isn't. Your relationship was pretty off and on to begin with? Same could happen here. Not like she's told you to leave New York and never come back..."
"Still not amused, Doctor Samson."
"Don't expect you to be." Beat. "I'm also no expert on deities, but if it helps, I really doubt a shiny new big brother will be swooping in to take your place in
that department any time soon."
"...Hmph. A valid point."
