Picking Up The Pieces

[vincent_amora]

So... that was it. He wasn't an Avenger anymore. Vincent felt very uncertain, about almost everything. He'd already spoken to Bruce, and consulted with his academic advisor about temporarily scaling back his course-load. He had an appointment with Stark at the end of the week to discuss his position there. Audhild was going to be well-educated and provided for. He'd even worked out a grocery list for the next few weeks and fully cleaned the apartment.

He'd done everything he could think of, he'd been so intent on putting this off.

He picks up the phone and dials a number that he'd resolved not to for some time.

"Hello... Roxanne."

Comments

[ngm_adults]

"Why did you kill your father?" Kristoff asks him abruptly. "Yes, I know, unsuccessfully, but in your mind, you did."

[vincent_amora]

Vincent lifts his head, surprised by that question, but he finds no reason not to answer. He largely considers all that far behind him.

"I had decided that he was wrong. He kept talking about 'when' we would return to Earth. I decided the planet was similar enough to Earth, for my purposes anyway."

He pauses, and gives a flat gaze. "And yes, I realize now how foolish thoughts of ruling the world are.

He'd grown old. I thought he had let the planet domesticate him. I had decided to be true to my nature, such as it was, and I knew he'd be the biggest obstruction to that.

So he had to die.

I had simply... done the math."

[ngm_adults]

"Interesting." More tea. "Being true to one's nature is an... interesting topic."

[vincent_amora]

More tea is good.

"I don't even know what my nature is anymore."

[ngm_adults]

"So you've said," Kristoff says, and something in his voice is ... off. Not his usual even-ness, but not showing what most people would call emotion either.

[vincent_amora]

"I'm sorry to put this on you. I'm not your responsibility. I just... I didn't think anything good would come of me being left to my own devices after that meeting.

I won't tie up your time for too long."

[ngm_adults]

"Time is not the issue which concerns me."

[vincent_amora]

He looks up. "Audhild is perfectly safe with me."

[ngm_adults]

"Audhild's safety is the highest priority, not the only priority."

[vincent_amora]

Vincent drinks his tea, the gears in his head slowly turning, until they click into place.

"...why do you worry about me?"

[ngm_adults]

Kristoff raises an eyebrow slightly. "Where to begin?"

[vincent_amora]

Vincent slouches and rolls his eyes. "Well, yes, I suppose I did walk right into that one.

But I think you know what I meant. It can't be easy for you to deal with me. My opinions on your master alone I imagine are enough source of conflict."

[ngm_adults]

"Oh, most certainly. It helps, of course, that I assure myself you don't know the first thing about him. Different facets of reality and all. But on the whole: Audhild is my sister. This I declare. You are her brother. Some transitive property applies."

[vincent_amora]

Vincent mumbles something regarding transitive properties and some anthropological content, but more of his attention falls on the 'different facets of reality' part.

"...So tell me about him." He says simply. "Has he ever hurt you?"

He's not trying to be combative with his first question, he just knows that his version of Victor von Doom had a... complicated relationship with his ward.

[ngm_adults]

"It has happened," he admits calmly, being an honest man. "But it was never his intention."

[vincent_amora]

"I mainly remember him always being angry... Over Richards being killed in the crossfire between Galactus andd the Beyonder, over being kept from Earth, over... Mother, and Mr Odinson. He rarely struck me; I suppose he felt he didn't need to. Doom's disapproval over failures should be torment enough, I suppose was his logic.

He would occasionally recognize that gaps in Klaw or Ultron's knowledge bases were the reason for failures in my lessons. He'd adjust them

He never showed his face... and disliked if I showed mine. Severely disliked." For a brief moment, Vincent's lips curl into a tight frown, his brow furrowing.

"How would you describe him to Audhild? I know it's not my right to keep her from him fully, but you can understand my cause for concern." He steels himself, preparing for the olive branch he's about to extend. He doesn't want to, but Kristoff has been there for him, without him asking, and against all logic

"If he wishes to meet her... and she wills it... I will not impede it. I will be present, however."

[ngm_adults]

He looks up at the never-showed-his-face. "...Never?" The man was quite different. Or at least it was a very different relationship.

He'll get to the rest momentarily.

[vincent_amora]

"Not to me, at least; not that I can remember. He made a few comments that once we returned to Earth he would show me, but that obviously never came to fruition."

[ngm_adults]

""...I was the only human being for whom he willingly removed his mask. It was ... important, a little bit."

"As for what to tell Audhild, he is her father; he is much occupied as Master of Latveria, but very interested in her reamining well and happy. I believe these are facts we can all agree on. At such time as she is ready, you can be present."

[vincent_amora]

"I can imagine. You-- rather, another you, --must have been very important to him. He didn't like talking about you; much the same way he didn't like talking about Grandmother, or Boris."

Vincent stirs his tea needlessly, nodding to the discourse. "Is there anything else I should know?"

[ngm_adults]

"About Doom, or in general?"