(no subject)
Edward Crane stood by his cousin's side outside the laboratory door. Young Jonathan - well, he wasn't terribly young anymore, but old habits were hard to break - watched through the glass. "I think," Jonathan said, in his calm, collected voice, "that it all seems to be coming along nicely."
The girl in the room, Jonathan's intended as well as his daughter, was hooked up to a number of machines. "I suppose," Edward replied, not wishing to argue.
"No chromosomal abnormalities, and exceptionally rapid brain activity in the region where meta-gene-positive individuals show unusual developments. Yes, quite promising." As Jonathan turned, Edward felt vaguely discomfited. There was something unsettling in his American cousin's manner, and Edward Crane usually prided himself on his composure.
Yet, he had his duties as the nominative head of the family, and part of that meant understanding each member's potential. Jonathan's brilliance was such that one could only stand back and admire it. "And what of the mother, Jonathan?"
"Oh, my Duela is more than capable. This is only an unexpected bonus - and one that is entirely of her own making. It was her idea, after all." Jonathan's eyes stayed fixed on the young woman in the room. "It was she who made the choice to - the choice that made marrying her to Franz or Connor unthinkable. And despite my obvious prejudices, Edward, I think you'll find her more fitting a successor than either Greta or Connor."
Now Jonathan was overstepping his boundaries. However, Edward had to admit that Greta often seemed to have her own agenda, and that Connor was too often unpredictable - a pity, since Greta had long been Edward's choice, and Connor was Edward's own grandson. If Duela Crane proved more capable than either of the other young Cranes, Edward was prepared to accept that fact. He'd have to be utterly convinced, though. "We shall see. Once you come to Oxford, we'll see how she deals with Connor."
"Of course, of course," Jonathan murmured, his attention elsewhere. "I assure you that my Duela is up to the task." One thin hand rested on the glass. "I am seldomly wrong in these matters, you know. I'm sure you'll come to share my opinion of her."
The girl in the room, Jonathan's intended as well as his daughter, was hooked up to a number of machines. "I suppose," Edward replied, not wishing to argue.
"No chromosomal abnormalities, and exceptionally rapid brain activity in the region where meta-gene-positive individuals show unusual developments. Yes, quite promising." As Jonathan turned, Edward felt vaguely discomfited. There was something unsettling in his American cousin's manner, and Edward Crane usually prided himself on his composure.
Yet, he had his duties as the nominative head of the family, and part of that meant understanding each member's potential. Jonathan's brilliance was such that one could only stand back and admire it. "And what of the mother, Jonathan?"
"Oh, my Duela is more than capable. This is only an unexpected bonus - and one that is entirely of her own making. It was her idea, after all." Jonathan's eyes stayed fixed on the young woman in the room. "It was she who made the choice to - the choice that made marrying her to Franz or Connor unthinkable. And despite my obvious prejudices, Edward, I think you'll find her more fitting a successor than either Greta or Connor."
Now Jonathan was overstepping his boundaries. However, Edward had to admit that Greta often seemed to have her own agenda, and that Connor was too often unpredictable - a pity, since Greta had long been Edward's choice, and Connor was Edward's own grandson. If Duela Crane proved more capable than either of the other young Cranes, Edward was prepared to accept that fact. He'd have to be utterly convinced, though. "We shall see. Once you come to Oxford, we'll see how she deals with Connor."
"Of course, of course," Jonathan murmured, his attention elsewhere. "I assure you that my Duela is up to the task." One thin hand rested on the glass. "I am seldomly wrong in these matters, you know. I'm sure you'll come to share my opinion of her."