Jotunheim

[ngm_miscellaneous]

The portal from Vincent's magic opened on one of the middle levels of the Norse universe. Snow crunched under boots and bare feet as the Avengers assembled in the realm of giants. The sharp, craggy land was as welcoming as an ice pick between the shoulder blades. But out there in the cold and blowing landscape was a young girl waiting to be rescued.

Comments

[ngm_adults]

"That's good. Perhaps it will be good for something then. But we need to talk. At length. Once she's home and secure."

[vincent_amora]

"Very well... Bruce, I will return when I can. Kristoff, excuse me, but I'm a bit too low on energy for teleportation right now..." The three children of Doom begin to rise into the air, before Vincent has them flying across town to the apartment Roxanne left to him and Audhild. The skylight opens for them and they gently alight into the living room.

Vincent takes Audhild to her bedroom. "I need to speak with Kristoff for a little bit. You just lay down and rest. I'm right here if you need me." He carefully puts her on her bed, before stepping back out.

He had every intention of standing coolly in front of Kristoff and delivering a 'Well?' or 'So?' or something equally impassive; but the day is just too much. He puts his back to a wall and crumples to the floor, shaking in relief and exhaustion. He looks up at Kristoff. "I... I wasn't sure we'd find her."

[ngm_adults]

Kristoff nods politely to Bruce and any other available Avengers as they part. He'll thank them for his sister later. Thank tham with cclear impication of how much he hopes for his family to have nothing to do with them in future.

"I hope it goes without saying that I am glad you did. And now, I can only address what I aw peripherally before you even left, but Vincent, it is time to stop this charade."

[vincent_amora]

Vincent rubs his eyes, before running his hands through his hair. "What are you talking about?"

[ngm_adults]

"Some of it was quite hard to miss. A band of New York superheroes does not operate that way; frankly, if you're going to use those kind of tactics with sentient allies, they had best already call you 'Master.' You really should stop trying to be all things to all people, step back, an figure out what on earth you are doing and how it will affect people. Starting, of course, with the Family, but I am obviously biased"

[vincent_amora]

Vincent blinks, bleary-eyed, before some of his ire stats to rise. "Now see here, I've learned to deal with a certain amount of criticism from you since taking on care of Audhild, but it's not up to you to decide whether or not I'm an Avenger. Today wasn't our best outing, but I--"

He falters, still frustrated.

Today had been a disaster. "I can... I can handle it." He says, clearly trying to convince himself. "I need to work to provide for Audhild, I need to go to school to ever advance there, and... the Avengers..."

He wants to say the Avengers need him, rather than admit how much he feels he 'needs' to be one, but he can't force the words out.

[ngm_adults]

"Of course it is not up to me. Firing you is Jones's job, an I would leave it as his right, but I don't know the man well enough to know if he has the stomach, so I'm trying to get you to see reason and quit, because the safety of this family is far too important to be left to chance."

Kristoff watches him falter. "Identity crises are not a legitimate reason for grasping at a tertiary vocation, Vincent. Not when the primary vocation is our sister."

[vincent_amora]

Vincent puts his hands behind his head. "I just don't understand it... everything was so much simpler back home. I had everything under control. What am I doing wrong now?"

Caring about people is often more difficult than just deciding to subjugate them, for one thing.

[ngm_adults]

See, if there were actual subjugating, Kristoff could work with that better than dealing with this. If he had a brother who actually functioned as a normal American superhero, he could, however perplexed, work with that. It's doing things be halves that gets to him. It's very clear that somewhere, somehow, Father's alternate went horribly wrong as a parent.

"May I ask why you left?"

[vincent_amora]

"My father had me bound to a wall in a pocket dimension after I failed to kill him. He claimed my attempt to take over Battleworld had failed as well, but the fight was not over yet. I found a way out after a while, started dimension jumping. This was the first place anyone took me in."

He mutters under his breath. "'I do not tolerate assassination attempts. Especially from my family.'"

[ngm_adults]

"Well, he and Father have that in common, at least. Well, in general. There is no basis for comparison for family, as neither Auhild nor I have ever posed a threat. Family, I would presume, is the reason you were imprisoned rather than executed. at any rate, shall I lay out the conditions under which I may not use every tactical and legal recourse I can bring to bear in ensuring that Audhild is kept safely in Latveria?"

[vincent_amora]

"I have no way to stop you that would not be in exceedingly poor taste and stupid besides, so proceed." Vincent looks up at Kristoff.

[ngm_adults]

"Firt report to Jones as expected. Judging even on the little I saw, an on the expressions of the Avengers as they departed the scene, he will have a lot to say to you." Kristoff looks at him intently. "If you attempt to argue with him about the matter, you had best be preparing to begin a process of bending the man completely to your will and do so successfully. If you want to be in control, you have to be prepared to go all the way. Do not hide behind American ethics unless you actually possess them. Do not expect to get the emotional benefits of being 'better' than an autocrat simultaneous to the tactical benefit of being an autocrat. Once he has said his piece, you will take the 'leave of absence' that I hope Jones will insist upon, but you will take it regardless. Second, get your house in order. Secure your income however you like. I am quite willing to provide financial support for Audhild if necessary, so do not become too embroiled unnecessarily in financial details to the point where it could become a detriment. The focus is Audhild. Secure your residence through every means available. Make sure she's feeling secure, and that she has a brother capable of realizing that some things are Not About Him."

[vincent_amora]

Vincent chews all that over, finding it tough and bitter, but swallowing it nonetheless.

"I understand... Kristoff. Audhild is the only thing that matters."

[ngm_adults]

"Excellent. I will stay with her right now while you go face your consequences."

[vincent_amora]

"I'm going..." Vincent lurches to his feet and then rises out the skylight. Rather than his usual path of flight, he walks across the sky back to Avengers Mansion to give himself time to think. He descends on the inside of the fence as if going down a staircase, before walking up to the front door and knocking.