What they had wasn’t exactly a friendship. They were cordial with one another, not because of any particular fondness, but because they saw benefits in maintaining a good accord. What benefits Clockwork saw in him, he didn’t know, but there were moments when Vlad felt like there was an angle being pushed somewhere. It seemed like the ghost should have a million other things to occupy himself with than affiliate with Vlad and his comparatively run-of-the-mill abilities. He wasn’t about to complain though.
Vlad didn’t have the means to control or intimidate Clockwork, it was only through the ghost’s will that they even continued to see each other after all. Instead, he hoped that he might gain insight on the ghost, so that he could later press an advantage, or that through enough interactions, he might win a favor or two. It was a long shot, he knew. Clockwork had made it clear that he wouldn't alter the timeline in Vlad's favor, but he reasoned that there were exceptions to all things and opinions might very well change.
It wasn't so bad of a chore really. The spirit visited, but never too frequently or overlong, which he was grateful for. As much as he hated feeling isolated, he was in fact, used to it. The process that had started during his hospital stays, where he grew to loathe the presence of doctors and nurses, and how they were the only visitors he had, had carried over even after his release. It usually didn't take much before he became tired of company.
Clockwork was far better than the average person however, at least in terms of interest.
At times, Clockwork would visit just to converse or engage in some trivial activities, but often enough had escorted Vlad to ancient civilizations and lands for distant observation. In all but one messy occasion, that had quickly been rectified, Vlad had minded the spirit’s warnings about meddling with the past. He decided that it was better to observe without change, than to not observe at all.
Vlad came to take joy whenever he spotted the cloaked spirit, if only for what he represented: Opportunity.
-
Clockwork made it a point to visit periodically. He hadn't originally intended to befriend Vlad Masters. It wasn't a necessary thing. With some tweaking, he could direct history into a similarly desirable path, but it was hardly more trouble to go this route.
And what was a little trouble for Danny? He had grown more fond for the boy than he expected. What had started with short lessons in general spectral knowledge had expanded into frequent tutoring, and from there he was struggling to stay reasonably objective. He wouldn’t be so far removed as the Observants, but there was wisdom in keeping some distance.
The thing was, Danny was a good kid. Clockwork wanted to help and he couldn't come up with good enough reason to fight that urge.
Vlad Masters was a start among other plans for the teenager. The man, without some guiding force, would be a source of a great deal more grief for Danny.
Clockwork could spare him that. He wouldn’t transform Vlad’s past, but he could nudge the present here and there for a better outcome.
There were many issues that needed to be addressed between the two, but the immediate action that Clockwork took was to keep them separated so that they didn’t keep deliberately antagonizing each other. Neither of them realized it, but they were effectively in time-out and not a second of their time went by without Clockwork’s approval. In fact, he had subverted many unfavorable clashes between the hybrids and distracted Vlad with other pursuits in order to keep the man occupied.
So far, Clockwork had introduced a highly contagious, spectral virus to Vlad’s laboratory. While it was typically benign, it sullied most of the ectoplasmic samples and experiments Vlad had been working on. Vlad had to scrap much of his work to be rid of it and had to complete the long decontamination procedure himself since no one could be trusted with his private work. It took weeks.
The Fentons had won a sweepstakes for a long cruise in the Bahamas, making it quite hard for Vlad to make a surprise visit. Danny's parents had been delighted to find that the ship's route put right in range of the Bermuda triangle, and simply couldn't let the chance slip by.
A mix-up at a big charity event had occurred. Volunteers had been auctioned off to the highest bidder for a one-time date and someone had submitted all the necessary paperwork for Vlad’s candidacy. In a room full of hundreds of expectant and influential individuals, he couldn't decline without losing face, and went on a date with the lovely Ms. Turner. She had later discovered Vlad's contact information in her purse, despite it never leaving her side, and had yet to stop hounding him.
Clockwork didn't particularly expect that last endeavor to go anywhere, Vlad was far too obsessed with his current goals, but it certainly kept the man busy.
All these things were what Clockwork had set in motion through hidden mechanizations. The butterfly effect was a hell of a thing and one he often utilized in order to get results with the least amount of effort.
Sometimes though, he took the direct approach. Unhindered, Vlad would open his laptop to see a bit of breaking news in Amityville and decide to involve himself in the matter, but today, Clockwork brought a deck of cards and settled himself in Vlad's study just as the man walked in. In a couple of hours, the news would turn old and substantially lose its shine.
Despite Vlad's obvious issues and Clockwork's presence having an underlying reason, visiting wasn't a chore. The man was intelligent and not yet incapable of change, and Clockwork did get enjoyment from casual conversation.
Other than Danny, it had been a while since he had talked with anyone new. And while Danny was engaging in his own right, it was something else entirely to be among those who had long since overcome the hurdle of puberty.
Clockwork shuffled his cards with no small flourish, eager to start the round.
