[Social] Have No Fear, Even Though It's Hard to Hear

[Katarina Karkov]

"Lord Doom's forces are amassing on our northern border, awaiting for an answer from me about an alliance and a proposal. Three of the Council of 12 are making noises about succession; one has already attempted to close their internal borders. I have an e-mail from Reed Richards, again, that I have not responded to.

And I am currently afraid someone is lurking around every corner while hiding in a foreign country."

[Wanda Johansson]

"Doom proposed to you?" She blinked, though to her credit, she didn't miss a step.

[Katarina Karkov]

"A political maneuver," Katarina said. "I am sure that is all. I simply have not been able to dig in and figure out why, other than the obvious."

[Wanda Johansson]

"Well, I can't see Doom marrying to affection, at least not if the news reports about him are to be believed."

[Katarina Karkov]

"Some of them are," Katarina nodded. "Victor..." she paused.

"Victor is complex. And dangerous. And if you believe he is one step ahead, he is actually twelve. Dealing with him is...a great deal of stress, at the best of times. And now is not the best of times."

[Wanda Johansson]

"So what does he want you to do?"

[Katarina Karkov]

"He says that his attentions will be required elsewhere. And that someone must be there to rule in his stead," Katarina deadpanned.

"And if you believe that, I can get you a great deal on the Charles Bridge."

[Wanda Johansson]

"So is he actually proposing marriage or just appointing you regent or what?"

[Katarina Karkov]

"The word 'queen' was bandied about, and I do not believe that Doom uses such terminology loosely."

[Wanda Johansson]

"That certainly has a baseline level of implication," Wanda frowns, "And obviously not a particularly acceptable proposal given the source."

[Katarina Karkov]

"And, on the other hand, saying no to Doom does tend to lead to...less fortunate outcomes for people. He is not someone who is used to receiving any pushback; such is the Will of Doom."

[Wanda Johansson]

"You wouldn't be the first to say no to him and survive though. I'm sure the X-Men would see to that."

[Katarina Karkov]

"It is not necessarily my safety that I am worried about. In that case, at least; current circumstances excepted."

[Wanda Johansson]

"What advantage would there be to invading? It's one more thing he'd have to deal with before his attention has to turn elsewhere. But then, that's trying to fathom the mind of Doom."

[Katarina Karkov]

"Symkaria has always been..." Katarina said, looking for words. "A thorn, I suppose. In the side of Latveria. Puternicstan has been claimed by both countries, though it is currently, and rightfully, Symkarian. Symkarian mercenaries and arms have helped support Latverian might to keep us independent from incursion -- the Transylvanians, the Austro-Hungarians, the Nazis, the Soviets. Our histories are intertwined, and some believe our lands should be, as well.

This was all before Doom conquered the land, mind you. Victor overthrew the Fortunovs; terrible people, oppressive and cruel for the sake of being cruel. Victor is not that; his people are taken care of and safe, fed and educated, without discrimination as to origin or persuasion. In some ways, he leads a more welcoming and glorious regime than my familys, assuming you do not count freedom as one of your primary goals.

Victor...Lord Doom believes that the world will only see peace once he is in charge of it. That there is only one way for mankind to unite and flouish. An end to conflict, an end to hunger, an end to disease, an end to hate. And that is to submit to the will of Doom. And for Symkaria to not only continue to exist, but to thrive without the comforting hand of Doom is...an affront, I believe he would say.

The advantage to invading would be conquest. Doom would not do so unless he was certain he could win. And I believe the only reason he has not done so in the past was the threat of international opinion; the threat of Latveria losing it's place as a world superpower. But if chaos reigns in my country; if civil war were to break out, he could come and claim that the Symkarian people will greet him as a liberator. To bring order where the Karkovs have let chaos reign."

[Wanda Johansson]

"Imposed order at the expense of all," Wanda says, wrinkling her nose in distaste.

[Katarina Karkov]

"The Latverians are happy enough with it," Katarina said, mildly. "Victor may not be altruistic, but he can be...effective."

[Wanda Johansson]

"A bulldozer can be an effective tool for removing trees, but that doesn't mean it's the right one or even desirable."

[Katarina Karkov]

"Doom is a...very much end justifies the means sort of person. And he can see an end far further than most of us can..."

[Wanda Johansson]

"So you're seriously considering his offer?"

[Katarina Karkov]

"It is not an ideal solution," Katarina deadpanned.

[Wanda Johansson]

"What would be an ideal solution?"

[Katarina Karkov]

"Averting civil war, reinforcing my family's rule over the land, arresting the conspirators, redesigning our system of government to prevent this from happening again, keeping Latverian tanks on their side of the border, and doing it all without offending the most powerful ruler in the world.

So, no pressure on me at all, then."

[Wanda Johansson]

"Not that you're asking for my advice, but don't do it alone. Find people you trust and let them help you."

[Katarina Karkov]

"And we are back to the square one. Because the woman I trusted with my life betrayed me, and that is why I can not cross the quad without help."

[Wanda Johansson]

"Why would she do that?"

[Katarina Karkov]

"I am, in her eyes, not suited to lead the country," Katarina said, dryly. "I have been infected by Western values, and need to be cured if I am to be a symbol for our nation."

[Wanda Johansson]

"Well, that certainly sounds pretty damning," Wanda says, "I take it you'd rather those 'western values' become a bit more common place."

[Katarina Karkov]

Katarina sighed. "Oh, I do not know. You see how much trouble has happened because a few people found out.

Symkaria does not have gay people in it. Their future queen must uphold certain...standards."

[Wanda Johansson]

"I'm sure Symkaria has gay people, pan people, nonbinary people, all sorts of people in it. The refusal to acknowledge them does not mean they do not exist."

[Katarina Karkov]

Katarina gave a thin-lipped smile; a smile you might give a small child; humoring someone who means well but does not know better.

"Yes, I'm sure you're quite right," she said, diplomatically.

[Wanda Johansson]

Wanda seemed to note the smile and her frown deepened, the light breeze that had been following them briefly picking up speed and chill before it dropped back to a pleasant breeze again. "Refusal to acknowledge is just a variant form of oppression. It leads to its own harms and frequently is just a 'polite' way to say 'I won't personally hurt you as long as you outwardly conform to my expectations'. And honestly, fuck people like that."

[Katarina Karkov]

"Our country has a different history to yours," Katarina said, diplomatically. "And one should be careful about imposing outside standards on other cultures."

[Wanda Johansson]

"Ah, the 'you can't question our prejudices' defense. It's true, our history is a little different. Our monarch's been largely ceremonial for some time. But hiding behind your culture when it is doing something that actively harms others is... well, kind of garbage."

[Katarina Karkov]

"So, I should assume the mantle of queen, and ordain that my people think differently? Perhaps I would make a good Countess Doom, after all."

[Wanda Johansson]

"Those are obviously the only options," Wanda says, voice drenched in sarcasm. "You could lead by example, move things forward, and leave the bigots no legs to stand on. Let them decide whether they're coming with you or consigning themselves to the derision of the outside world. I can't imagine they handle derision particularly well."

[Katarina Karkov]

"The bigots with no legs to stand on are attempting to divide my country in two because I placed a woman in my heart," Katarina said, dryly. "One kidnapped me; two more plotted my murder, and the assassin is recuperating in your infirmary."

She sighed. "I hear you, I understand what you are saying, but..."

[Wanda Johansson]

"I'm not trying to downplay your trauma here," Wanda says, softening her tone if not her posture. "But sometimes you have to seize the opportunity to do the right thing, because you never know when circumstances might be right again."

[Katarina Karkov]

"I told them I would rather lose my country than give up Jezabelle," Katarina sighed.

"But I'd much rather do neither."

[Wanda Johansson]

"It may not be easy, but you shouldn't have to do either. If the nobles won't listen, maybe take it to the people."