Kristoff Vernard, aka Kristoff Von Doom (discardedheir) wrote,
@ 2009-07-21 23:39:00

Alternate Universe Flashback: 12 years ago, differently.
It had frustrated Doom, letting them walk away like that. But in these particular circumstances, any other action would be beneath him. Doom could wait for another time. That was the kind of Great Man he was. Kristoff loved him so much.

Kristoff, as usual, was as much of service as he could be in all the minor matters that needed attending to in the aftermath. Once it was all done, it was explained that there was something important he needed to be told, someone he needed to meet. That there would be a few changes and that Doom was confident Kristoff would deal with them in a satisfactory manner. High praise from the Master of Latveria.

Kristoff dressed for dinner and arrived early...to find more place settings than usual, and his own usual chair...occupied.

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discardedheir
2009-07-23 06:44 pm UTC (link)

Kristoff nods a little. "You are entitled to a difference of perspective, I suppose."

"He is going to take some interest in your studies. He is going to occasionally want you to observe some of his work, both scientific and political. I...would really recommend never, even in private, giving a suggestion unless he specifically asks you for your perspective. He is...very busy and prefers not to be irritated that way. I would especially recommend not invoking any foreign events and individuals you may be reading about. And even if you're not making a suggestion, just...try not to be around Your Father when the topic of Dr. Reed Richards and his family comes up."
Kristoff says it all very earnestly and quietly.

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	quitethecharmer 2009-07-23 06:48 pm UTC (link)
	Vincent furrows his brow almost immediately. "But what if he's wrong? Why shouldn't I tell him so? Mother's much more powerful than him, and even she still had lots and lots of teachings and corrections." A pause, then an addition. "And she's a goddess, remember." He raises his chin slightly, leaving it to Kristoff to read the unspoken bit there. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

discardedheir
2009-07-23 06:54 pm UTC (link)

"Yes, I gathered that, but Vincent, the chances or your noticing a serious mistake on Your Father's part at any point in the near future are not particularly likely. Of course, the best course of action might be different in an actual emergency depending on the circumstances available. But what I am trying to advise against are the kinds of idle suggestions that...well, that I used to make at your age."

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	quitethecharmer 2009-07-23 06:55 pm UTC (link)
	Vincent arches an eyebrow cautiously. "What happened when... thou erred?" More old world, spurred by uncertainty this time. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

discardedheir
2009-07-23 07:31 pm UTC (link)

Kristoff gives a small, quick shake of his head. "He was just upset. The ...we really will have to discuss the difficulties in compensating for the strength of an armored grip at some point, actually. No serious harm. The pain was only a little; I was always for the most part just frightened. And sorry that I had upset him. Your Father is not a monster," he adds earnestly. "It is just best for everyone to exercise a little caution and avoid problems."

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	quitethecharmer 2009-07-25 08:05 pm UTC (link)
	Vincent raises an eyebrow cautiously, then shrugs and waves an hand dismissively. "So... what is it you think you're going to teach me today?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

discardedheir
2009-07-25 08:16 pm UTC (link)

Kristoff looks a little relieved to let the matter drop for now.

"That depends on the matter of with what mathematics you are already familiar," Kristoff says. He then rattles off a brief series of questions ranging from the very simple to matters of algebraic geometry. All are things he knew before the machine when he was eight, but Kristoff had of course had a rather accelerated education even then, and aside from his friendship with Cassandra, has very little basis for how other children learn.

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	quitethecharmer 2009-07-25 08:21 pm UTC (link)
	Vincent blinks, then says nothing, before answering the simple arithmetic questions. He hesitates then, pursing his lips. A minute later, there may as well have been steam blowing out his ears. "I.... that is...." He outright SCOWLS. "Such things are not known in Asgard." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

discardedheir
2009-07-25 08:26 pm UTC (link)

Kristoff simply nods. "Such is the difference of worlds. Few on ...Midgard would, for instance, know anything about -- " he describes a few basic to intermediate mystic principles.

"So I shall start explaining now. And you must tell me if I have have failed to explain it well." That, Kristoff believes, is a much better injunction for a Von Doom than 'if you do not understand.'

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	quitethecharmer 2009-07-25 08:37 pm UTC (link)
	He raises an eyebrow. "You do... admirably, for a mortal, in recognizing those tenets of spellwork." He peers at him. "But I do not feel magic on you as I should..." Vincent claps a gauntlet onto the table. "You will bring me whatever texts on the math subject deemed suitable as well." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

discardedheir
2009-07-25 08:50 pm UTC (link)

Kristoff smiles slightly. "Thank you, Vincent. Your Father is the second-greatest sorcerer in this world. And I know fully one-third of what he knows about the mystic arts. But my skill at putting the knowledge into practice is absolutely meager. And I would prefer to do something not at all than do it so very poorly. I am sure I shall not be asked to handle that part of your education."

Kristoff smiles again as he steps over to get a book off of the shelf. "This is one of the better ones. At any point where you see black print written over with green ink, the green is correct."

He pauses for further comment from Vincent before they get into the subject thoroughly.

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	quitethecharmer 2009-07-25 10:48 pm UTC (link)
	Vincent rifles through the book from the first page, appearing to consume the material with voracious speed. He does not look up until he is shutting it after the last page. He then proceeds to answer the questions Kristoff posed to him before. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

discardedheir
2009-07-25 11:16 pm UTC (link)

Kristoff at first stands there with his own arms crossed, but once it's clear that Vincent's going to read the entire book, he sits down to wait it out. The patience so short with most strangers is already working towards infinity. Kristoff asks a few more questions when the previous ones are answered, ones not explicitly dealt with in the book but which can be extrapolated with enough thought from that information.

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	quitethecharmer 2009-07-25 11:37 pm UTC (link)
	Vincent pauses, then gives the answers. "What is the practical use of these learnings?" He inquires bluntly. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

discardedheir
2009-07-25 11:49 pm UTC (link)

"Enough mathematics allows one to understand chemistry and physics. And with enough knowledge of physics..." Kristoff smiles. "I have returned myself and others home from being flung across space and time, and created weapons that could reduce men to dust, all without the slightest use of magic. Only science. And Your Father often combines the two to accomplish things neither could easily do alone."

A pause. "I shall make sure you have enough available materials tomorrow. I believe I still have an errand scheduled for tomorrow." Pause. "Unless that would now insult them more than he intended when he asked me to go."

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	quitethecharmer 2009-07-25 11:52 pm UTC (link)
	The boy cocks his head. "What sort of errand? What does he have you run about doing, when not attending to me?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

discardedheir
2009-07-26 12:12 am UTC (link)

"Various things. I have always managed to be of some use. But the issue in question is attending political or business occasions to which he has been invited that he does not wish to attend, when he wants to make a particular sort of point. They must deal with a fitting critique of the situation they thought Doom would find of such interest not from the Master of Latveria himself but from his 15-year-old hei-- from a fifteen-year-old."

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	quitethecharmer 2009-07-26 12:33 am UTC (link)
	Vincent raised an eyebrow, tilting his head as well. "If he thinks so poorly of them, why does he not simply wipe them out? Is that not how he conducts himself?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	discardedheir 2009-07-26 12:42 am UTC (link)
	"These are generally a caliber of people whose elimination would be extremely inconvenient, and not truly in his interests or those of the country. Your Father does not actually find it necessary to use lethal force terribly often." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	quitethecharmer 2009-07-26 12:57 am UTC (link)
	Vincent scratched his head. "There is still much I need learn of him... I suppose." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	discardedheir 2009-07-26 01:01 am UTC (link)
	"There will be time." (Reply to this)(Parent)

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