[video] pull point plot - aged-down Newt & Hermann

[driftsintobuffetline]

[His hair still looks like he's just woken up from being passed out on someone else's sofa, but it's shorter, spikier. Instead of his usual perpetual five-o'clock-shadow, Newt now sports a beard with mustache, scruffy, not terribly well-groomed, like he's a college student. This younger version of Newton Geiszler is anywhere from 5-10 years younger by appearances. He's in better shape--if only because a body in its mid-twenties deals with a poor diet of too much caffeine and sugar differently than a body in its mid-thirties--and though his tattoo sleeves are complete, most of the rest of his tattoos have not yet even been conceived.

He holds the phone. Judging from the slight wobble of the camera, his foot is probably jiggling off screen, tapping with uncontained energy. Behind him are chalk-board walls with the remnants of what had once been a drawing/erasing war.]

Hey, so whoever did the rooming assignments? ...Can suck it. Anyone out there looking for a place to stay? --Because I'm about to kick out my roommate and so I've got an extra bedroom--

[The butt of a cane comes into view suddenly, cutting across the feed like it's capable of physically cancelling out the offer. A familiar British growl is audible moments before a much younger-looking Hermann Gottlieb (or is it Miles?) edges into view]

You most certainly do not. Obviously this apartment has been modified to my own specifications. Therefore, if either of us is getting kicked out, it's going to be you.

[He reclaims his cane and stands straighter, sniffing] Best of luck finding anyone else to put up with your awful habits.

Your speci- Just because there's obnoxiously dusty walls doesn't mean you get to call dibs. We've already established: that was MY handwriting.

[With a flip of the wrist, Newt raises his hand at Hermann but does not look at him. Talk to the hand. Then, to the camera:] So please forward any and all applications to Newt Geiszler-- [Pause, then with exaggerated saccharine and a mocking expression:] Hermann, be a dear and go find out what address we're at, hmmmm?

Sod off.

[Hermann looks at the camera, does a double-take and jerks back] You're recording this drivel? Unbelievable-

[He leans in, abruptly snatching the device] I am absolutely not going anywhere.

Like hell I'm living with yo-WHAT THE!!! [The feed ends.]

Comments

audio;

[matadorable]

[....What.]

Dr. Gottlieb? ...[No one can see, but Manolo is squinting at the video] Newt? Is that really you?

audio;

[mathemagier]

What? Who is this? Don't tell me you're actually responding to him. As I mentioned, I have no intention of going anywhere--

audio;

[driftsintobuffetline]

...Should I know you, dude?

video;

[garrick]

[ In terms of this place, it's not the strangest thing seen on the network. Still, Jay can't help but respond to it, expression somewhat wary.]

Can you two maybe work together long enough to fix your problem?

video (He's not, but I'm actually sorry)

[driftsintobuffetline]

I'm sorry and why do you care?

video;

[mathemagier]

I believe that is the problem.

video

[smallscott]

[Now that he's started to recover from the 'sudden 85 years in the future' shock, Emmett is attempting to learn how to use this strange all in one telegraph. It's a public device, as far as he can figure, so he expects the messages broadcast to be fairly professional.

This one is clearly not. Once he fumbles for the response button, he frowns.]

You'll resolve this much more quickly and civilly by using all that energy to find the housing authority, won't you?

video

[mathemagier]

Once he does, you mean. This is very clearly my apartment.

video

[driftsintobuffetline]

There's a housing authority? That sounds like too much work, too many forms in triplicate and all that, especially since our housing is through the government or some shit, right?

video

[dendarii]

[ The resemblance isn't quite so obvious at this age, alas. But Miles is still the world's bittiest eight-year old. ]

Whoa! You live on your own? Where are you? How come you're kicking out your roommate? Do you not like him any more?

video

[mathemagier]

[Well hello strange-looking kid]

It's because he's an idiot, really. Nothing more to it than that.

video

[liverletdie]

Do you two ever stop?

Just wondering, because all this fighting really does you no favors, if you two quieted down for more than ten minutes, you might actually come up with a solution.

video

[mathemagier]

Wonderful advice. Unfortunately, even if I were not to argue, Dr. Geiszler would still insist on pitching a temper tantrum in my general direction. And as I refuse to be thrown out of my own apartment, I'm afraid you're going to simply have to look elsewhere for the time being.

video

[driftsintobuffetline]

Like he would ever actually agree to compromise with me for a minute, let alone ten.

[resipiscent]

[He'd come to see if there was anything on this phone he found in his pocket that he could use to get himself out of here.

Instead he found a couple of bickering nerds.]

Pipe down.

[mathemagier]

No one's asked you.

[driftsintobuffetline]

How about no. You shut it.

text; cw ableism

[pillz]

hey u look kind of like a motherfucker who i texted from this phone
teh one with glasses
the whole adhd shortbus thing lines up 2
did i by any chance give u a dragon

private text;

[mathemagier]

And you are?

text;

[driftsintobuffetline]

oh excellent
go straight for the short bus
v original
asshole

fuck off

if i HAVE a dragon
its mine now

video;

[medalsome]

[Oh no. Oh no. They look so young!

.... It's adorable. It probably takes a good five minutes for Joaquin to compose his features before he starts up the video and offers them a grin, albeit a confused one. But they aren't the only ones that seem to have had this strange phenomenon happen to them, so the shock of it has partially faded in light of Joaquin's amusement.]

Well now, you both look different. Smaller than I remember. [Not actually true but their faces are so young and fresh and wow-]

Look at you, Newt! You can grow a decent amount of facial hair if you put your mind to it. And Hermann, charming as ever. [A gentle, fond chuckle.]

But I guess... you two are having some trouble remembering this place. I imagine that means I also happened to be forgotten, hmm?

video

[driftsintobuffetline]

a. Fuck you, of course I can grow a beard.
b. who the hell are you?
c. Hermann is an asshole; don't even joke about him being charming. If anyone in this apartment is charming, it's me.

video

[knifecollecting]

[Something was definitely going on at this point.

Something, somewhere had happened. Hell if she knew what, but she flips the video on and stares for a moment.]

Newt?

[driftsintobuffetline]

Heeeyyy.

[He grins. She's cute. Blond, pretty, probably just a couple years younger than Newt is right now. He has the feeling she can kick his ass, which is not a bad thing.]

Who are you?

video

[divaricate]

[Hey, Wanda has met these two! Well. Their older versions.]

Uhhh... hi? Are you guys okay?

[She is more than slightly concerned here.]

video you're lucky #300

[driftsintobuffetline]

[He's just struck out with Jo, so he's not asking the 'are we dating?' thing again.]

Oh, I'd be fine if Hermann would just...leave.

video;

[superposition]

[And here Qubit was all set to be entertained. Any post involving Newt or Hermann is bound to be a treat on some level. But this... what even is this. It's their comm tags, it's their voices, their faces, their bickering, and yet something's wrong. It takes him a few seconds to realize how much younger they look.]

Newt? Hermann? What on Earth is the matter with you?

video;

[mathemagier]

Doctor Gottlieb, if you don't mind. [Snapped like he better not mind or else]

As for what is wrong, well try working with Dr. Geizsler for a start.