[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

[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.

[resipiscent]

No, they haven't. But you know, you show up in an unfamiliar place and you try to find some answers and all you get is a couple of babies going on about rooming situations? Why don't you just both clear out of there, then no one has to live with anybody.

[mathemagier]

Oh wonderful. We'll just up and live on the street; what a brilliant solution.

As far as I see it, you're the one wasting your time by bothering with it.

[resipiscent]

There's worse places to be.

[Hanging out with Maleficent. Staring down your best friend with the knowledge that you may have to remove them.]

Am I? So what am I supposed to do, exactly? This is the only clue I've got, so far.

[mathemagier]

Go bother some government officials or some such. That's what they're there for. We likely don't know much more than you.

[resipiscent]

There's gotta be somebody who does.

[driftsintobuffetline]

How about no. You shut it.

[resipiscent]

I wasn't planning on having to watch somebody have a married-couple argument over having to live together, so no, I'm not going to shut it. It's not like you have to sleep in the same bed.

[driftsintobuffetline]

MARRIED? Oh hell no. It'd almost be better if we slept in the same bed. I could put a pillow over his face when he pissed me off.

You can turn your damn phone off if you don't want to hear it.

[resipiscent]

Okay, first, nobody else wants to hear it either. Second, how else am I supposed to figure anything out about this stupid place? I'm not gonna wander around town for hours when I can figure things out with this thing.

[driftsintobuffetline]

Do I look like someone who cares if other people want to hear me or not?

[resipiscent]

Not necessarily. But then, why bother at all?

[driftsintobuffetline]

I want a new roommate. I didn't PLAN for Hermann to interrupt my broadcast!

[resipiscent]

So move out.

[driftsintobuffetline]

How about No.

[resipiscent]

Why not? Honestly, if we get technical about it, you guys both arrived in this world at around the same time, right? So neither of you have a stronger claim to that place than the other.

[driftsintobuffetline]

But I want it because I don't want him to win, okay? What's the struggle to understand here?

[resipiscent]

... You want me to answer that?

[driftsintobuffetline]

Sure, why not, go ahead.

[resipiscent]

The struggle to understand here is that -- it's real easy to just walk away. It's a stupid thing to fight about.

[There are much more pressing things to fight about.]

... Honestly, if you want to, I'm not going to my own assigned space. So one of you guys can have it if you want.

[He's gonna avoid that house if it kills him.]

[driftsintobuffetline]

Bad roommates too?

[resipiscent]

Something like that.

[In this case, he's the bad roommate.]

[driftsintobuffetline]

[Nooo Mr. Riku D=]

Right, ok.

[resipiscent]

Just somebody I'd rather -- if he doesn't know I'm here, I'd like to keep it that way.