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Past Prologue [For jadgiantess]
Aug. 3rd, 2020 08:45 pmThe circumstances of his arrival in the future had been...strange, to say the least. Strangely common for others, like Captain America - but still strange, to him. An experiment by someone named Anthony Stark had drawn him here, through some kind of portal. A man out of time. It was a different world, but, he felt, a better one overall. It was strangest of all to come in at the end of one sort of history, and into another one entirely.
He had returned to Germany, home to Bavaria. Like between the wars, he had retreated to Castle Von Hammer. But then he had done it because he could not understand society, and in turn was ostracized by it as the new regime had risen and his opposition had become public knowledge. Now he did it because he couldn't see any reason the world would wish to know of him again. The ancestral home was a museum now - used for weddings, like today. He didn't disapprove of this - far from it - but it was strange. He looked from one of the towers, seeing a happy couple taking pictures in a garden he had once learned to fence in. The tower was his now. He lived in four rooms in the tower, leaving the rest of the castle to its new purpose. He was an unseen presence, a sort of unofficial caretaker. It had been the elegant solution to the question of ownership, upon his return. He had never needed all the space, anyways.
He puffed at his cigarette, stubbing it out as he finished it. He seldom ventured out to meet the people who came, these days. With one exception. Every time it was a Jewish wedding, Bar or Bat Mitzvah - he was there to at least greet the family, were they willing. They sometimes weren't, given his service in World War II. But in recent years, knowledge of how he had spent the family fortune to arrange visas out of Germany had spread much further.
He watched the happy couple for a long moment, but in the distance saw the vehicle coming up the drive way. So, it was actually coming to pass. He rolled down his sleeves, and started to adjust his tie. He would at least greet the mysterious woman as he ought to. He moved to the arm chair, lifting his suit jacket from the back and slinging it over his shoulders. He again regarded the short note.
He didn't know who this Jennifer Walters was. And only the vaguest notions of this SHIELD organization that was sending her. Above all, he couldn't fathom why. He didn't matter anymore, did he? Best to let him molder away.
Ah well. He made his way down the turret, unlocking the heavy door. He would wait for the knock, of course.
He had returned to Germany, home to Bavaria. Like between the wars, he had retreated to Castle Von Hammer. But then he had done it because he could not understand society, and in turn was ostracized by it as the new regime had risen and his opposition had become public knowledge. Now he did it because he couldn't see any reason the world would wish to know of him again. The ancestral home was a museum now - used for weddings, like today. He didn't disapprove of this - far from it - but it was strange. He looked from one of the towers, seeing a happy couple taking pictures in a garden he had once learned to fence in. The tower was his now. He lived in four rooms in the tower, leaving the rest of the castle to its new purpose. He was an unseen presence, a sort of unofficial caretaker. It had been the elegant solution to the question of ownership, upon his return. He had never needed all the space, anyways.
He puffed at his cigarette, stubbing it out as he finished it. He seldom ventured out to meet the people who came, these days. With one exception. Every time it was a Jewish wedding, Bar or Bat Mitzvah - he was there to at least greet the family, were they willing. They sometimes weren't, given his service in World War II. But in recent years, knowledge of how he had spent the family fortune to arrange visas out of Germany had spread much further.
He watched the happy couple for a long moment, but in the distance saw the vehicle coming up the drive way. So, it was actually coming to pass. He rolled down his sleeves, and started to adjust his tie. He would at least greet the mysterious woman as he ought to. He moved to the arm chair, lifting his suit jacket from the back and slinging it over his shoulders. He again regarded the short note.
He didn't know who this Jennifer Walters was. And only the vaguest notions of this SHIELD organization that was sending her. Above all, he couldn't fathom why. He didn't matter anymore, did he? Best to let him molder away.
Ah well. He made his way down the turret, unlocking the heavy door. He would wait for the knock, of course.
