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Kristoff Vernard, aka Kristoff Von Doom ([info]discardedheir) wrote,
@ 2009-08-09 22:12:00


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Flashback: Just Haven't Earned it Yet.
It was a perfectly pleasant morning, and twenty-year-old Kristoff Vernard sat going through things on his desk. First, the finished paperwork for the publication of his third -- and probably final, he supposed -- doctoral dissertation. He'd enjoyed mathematics the most of any of them. It was odd; Doom had never taken much interest in abstract topological dynamics, but Kristoff found it....fun.

Second, the check for those latest safety-equipment designs. He made a note to invest it appropriately. Some of it would have to go to shopping for Vincent; the boy was outgrowing clothes and shoes already.

Third, the newspaper, which he looked over with mild interest -- until he got to page A22. It wasn't a page he tended to study thoroughly, but there was a picture. The subjects were...not apparently in mortal peril or under duress. The cut-line merely read 'Iron Lad and Stature: Heroically giving us something to talk about.'

Kristoff stared at it for exactly twelve minutes before putting the paper down, and walking to his lab.

Fortunately, none of his works-in-progress at the time were important.


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[info]staturity
2009-08-10 06:59 am UTC (link)
Considering how well last night had gone this morning was turning out to be a nightmare.

Her father had stopped by her apartment brandishing a newspaper and when he saw Cassie's over night guest... well, it hadn't been pretty.

It took about an hour to calm down both her dad and her latest paramour. By then she could only hope that Kristoff hadn't seen that stupid article, complete with a photograph, in the newspaper. With her luck today, she figured it was a vain hope.

When she tracked Kristoff down to his lab she paused.

Should she really go talk to him? Maybe he'd rather be alone. Did she really need to-

CRASH

Yes, she did.

Cassie pounded on the door. "Kristoff?"

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[info]discardedheir
2009-08-10 07:12 am UTC (link)
Kristoff opened the door a few moments later. There certainly hadn't been sufficient time to do anything about the table he'd overturned, its previous contents strewn across the floor.

"Cassandra," he said, his expression forcibly blank. "Hello. Please excuse the mess. I was not expecting anyone."

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[info]staturity
2009-08-10 07:32 am UTC (link)
Oh dear God, that was her fault.

"...I take it you saw the newspaper." Moron! She was such a moron! Of course she couldn't wait until they were back inside to kiss Nate. She couldn't believe- she was such an idiot.

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[info]discardedheir
2009-08-10 07:49 am UTC (link)
He nodded. "I did, yes." He tried to straighten from already-perfect posture, tried for all the world to look like someone who didn't have neuroses about being Replaced. It wasn't as if they'd currently had an Arrangement. "I am ...not asking for an explanation."

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[info]staturity
2009-08-10 08:02 am UTC (link)
However much he tried to hide his hurt, Cassie knew better, and not just because the lab looked like a war zone.

"I think you deserve one."

I met this guy and I'm totally crazy about him.

I met this guy and I'm totally crazy about him and I really should have taken things slower.

I met this guy and I'm totally crazy about him and I really should have taken things slower and he's going to grow up to be Kang the Conqueror unless we can find out how to keep the timeline from exploding.


...Yeah, maybe she shouldn't give him an explanation.

"I was- I'm sorry that you had to see that. I didn't want you to find out that way."

No denials. No excuses of mind control. It was exactly what it looked like.

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[info]discardedheir
2009-08-10 08:19 am UTC (link)
Not even a little mind control? Why couldn't there be mind control? Please?

But he meets her eyes as best he can. "I appreciate that, Cassandra," he says, quietly and sincerely.

And I hope he does not hurt you
But I hope it does not last
This may be very wrong of me
'Iron Lad'? Seriously?

"You could not have foreseen its happening this way."

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[info]staturity
2009-08-10 08:34 am UTC (link)
Why was it that Kristoff could never let himself he get angry in front of her? Cassie felt like she was kicking a puppy.

She felt horrible.

Damn it, she never wanted to do this to Kristoff. She loved liked him. She liked him a lot but sometimes he could be so...

And then she met Nate and she'd never really felt quite like that about Kristoff. She had no idea what was so different it was the lust but there was something.

"I'm sorry." Cassie repeated. "I didn't mean to- it just happened." What was she supposed to say? "This isn't going to- we're still friends, right?"

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[info]discardedheir
2009-08-10 08:48 am UTC (link)
"Devel, I hope so," he says automatically.

"I mean... I mean that I would not wish you to think that I," his eyes dart to the state of the room. "That we cannot handle these matters like adults."

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[info]staturity
2009-08-10 08:59 am UTC (link)
"Kristoff," I still love you. "You're still really important to me. Nothing will change that."

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[info]discardedheir
2009-08-10 09:17 am UTC (link)

"I am glad. You are --" More to me than I know how to say. "Very important to me, too. Always."

Beat. "I have to admit," he says, with a somewhat wry expression, mouth just a little tight. "I doubt I will be able to have a pleasant conversation about micro-circuitry with the individual in question any time soon."

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[info]staturity
2009-08-10 09:27 am UTC (link)
"His name is Nate." And he probably wasn't interested in talking about micro-circuitry with Kristoff either. He had been really good at reading between the lines when she mentioned Kristoff.

"He's-" This was so not a good time but there was never going to be a good time. there's something else I need to tell you."

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[info]discardedheir
2009-08-10 09:34 am UTC (link)
Was it just Kristoff, or were there too many people named Nathan-or-variants-thereof in the superhuman/adventuring community?

He raised an eyebrow. "Please do, then."

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[info]staturity
2009-08-10 09:37 am UTC (link)
Cassie took a deep breath. "It's... complicated. He's from the future. He came back in time to try and find a way to not become," a brief pause, "the person he's supposed to become in the future. He isn't like that at all now but his future self is a super villain." Please let him not realize who it is just yet.

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[info]discardedheir
2009-08-10 09:59 am UTC (link)
"You are dating a time-traveller?" Kristoff just paused, looking at her, for a moment. Time-travelling potential supervillain with some sort of identity crisis.

Named Nate.... Kristoff quickly told himself that that Nathaniel was never villainous, merely ...rather sleazy.

But there was certainly another candidate.
And he looked at her with a touch of horror as it processed.
"...You are....dating ...Kang the Conqueror...?"
His gaze sunk to her shoes.
How? HOW could she RISK herself like that?
And when he manages to look up, he's just short of sneering.
"Well, Armor, suspicious connections, and with Richards blood, you definitely have a 'Type' do you not?" He belatedly bit his tongue. "Forgive me, but... Cassandra...."

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[info]staturity
2009-08-10 10:15 am UTC (link)
He did not just...

He did not....

Sure, Cassie had seen other boys. There had been two, maybe three dates max, all of them casual and never with the same boy. She hadn't had any boyfriend other than Kristoff (except when she was with Strang in middle school for less than a week).

Even if it was stupid and she was crazy (and she fully knew she was), she thought Kristoff could handle it, in his own words, like an adult.

Cassie said nothing. She didn't need to- the look of hurt and shame on her face spoke volumes.

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[info]discardedheir
2009-08-10 10:24 am UTC (link)
Kristoff will see that shame and raise you both additional shame and an addition to the terror he was already starting to feel.

Yes, wonderful, Kristoff, take the painful opportunity to prove how unworthy of her you really are.

"Cassandra, I am so sorry. That was beyond uncalled for, and you have every right to be angry with me."

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[info]staturity
2009-08-10 10:27 am UTC (link)
"I'll see you later, Kristoff." She turned for the door.

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[info]discardedheir
2009-08-10 10:41 am UTC (link)
"Cassandra, please," he sounded very close to tears, reaching lamely for her shoulder, and silently rather wishing she would hit him. "I did not mean it at all. It just scared me, and I am a fool."

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[info]staturity
2009-08-10 10:47 am UTC (link)
Cassie stopped but she didn't face Kristoff.

"You're not the only one." She said quietly.

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[info]discardedheir
2009-08-10 11:09 am UTC (link)
"The situation must be very difficult. Do not let my irrational stupidity make it too much worse, I beg you." Yes, the stoic dignity was somewhere among the shattered bits on the floor now, and that was certainly no one's fault but his own.
"I hope you can forgive me that eventually. As for, for him, destiny is overrated. If you say he's a good man, he is. The situation is hardly hopeless." Except possibly for certain Latverians who couldn't hold their tongues.

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[info]staturity
2009-08-10 08:02 pm UTC (link)
Cassie still didn't look at him. "I know what you're thinking. You're thinking I've lost my mind. That I don't know what I'm doing." It was hard to keep her voice from cracking but she managed somehow. "I know exactly what I'm doing. And even if you hate what I'm doing it's my life." She took a deep breath. "And I don't care what you think." Yes, she did. "I'm not going to change anything just because you don't want me to."

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[info]discardedheir
2009-08-10 08:12 pm UTC (link)
Kristoff just stood with his head bowed. "I have No Right to ask you to."

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[info]staturity
2009-08-10 08:17 pm UTC (link)
"Good because," And now Cassie did turn to look at him. "We're over, Kristoff." It was a low blow but the things he'd said- he hurt her.

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[info]discardedheir
2009-08-10 08:31 pm UTC (link)
Unable to look up, he knows he deserved to hear that. "Understood, Cassandra."

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[info]staturity
2009-08-10 11:59 pm UTC (link)
She was going to feel guilty for that later but right now? It felt good.

"Is there anything else you want to say?"

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[info]discardedheir
2009-08-11 12:21 am UTC (link)
Kristoff is barely able to keep his feet. It's been five years since he felt this worthless, and this time there is no solace in Standards.

"Only, again, that I am sorry. That you deserve far better than I ever was, and I hope you get it. Goodbye, Cassandra

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[info]staturity
2009-08-11 12:44 am UTC (link)
Cassie had gone over the line, she recognized that, but what more could she say? There was still that sadistic part of her who was glad to have hit a tender point.

She should leave and yet her feet stayed in place.

Kristoff had trashed his lab before she came to talk to him. If she left now he could do worse than that.

"It was never that I deserved better."

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[info]discardedheir
2009-08-11 01:45 am UTC (link)
"I appreciate your saying that," he said, still not looking up.

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[info]staturity
2009-08-11 05:26 am UTC (link)
"...Try not to wreck your lab too much." Cassie said, almost apologetically, before heading for the door.

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