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

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

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Not so bad, hah!

You know you want to. [And he grins, but then it turns a little sad.] Well, maybe you should consider taking that up, then. I'm not going to say you should just be friends if you don't want to be, but can you really say you don't care about his well-being?

Considering some of the things he's said to me? No, no I don't. He can walk into the deep end of the Pacific and be eaten by a Kaiju for all I care.

[And now his brows are drawn down, truly troubled.] I'm sorry to hear that. I hope the two of you can make-up some day, but hey, I guess that's none of my business if you do...

[Was this really how they used to be, before they were boyfriends and best friends, before they were even lab partners? Joaquin can't quite get his head around it. It was kinda funny at first but now it's just... kinda sad.]

I'd prefer to never see him again, but you're right: it's none of your business.

But hey, if you're taking him on a date and you decide you like what you see, keep him. Let me know. I'll pack up the crap in his closet. You can just swing by and pick it up. We both win.

... You are making taking him out on a date very easy for me right now. You realize this, right? You're not going to get mad at me about this later, right?

[Part of him is already angry and hurt about it NOW, Joaquin. You barely meet the guy and Hermann's stumbling all over himself to get to know you and Newt had years of letters and it just...fell apart. He's so bitter and salty over this. Please, just take this awful skinny nerd off his hands because he's so upset with him.]

Take him, dude. Take him far away.

.... Fine.

Just so you know, I'm keeping this archived. Just in case you get back to being older and decide you want him back. [NO TAKE BACKS! HE'S JOAQUIN'S NERD NOW!]

Even if I 'wanted him back,' he's not-- Yeah, fine, archive it. Enjoy for years to come.

[He's split between wanting to say "you don't mean that" and "thank you, I will" but he really can't bring himself to say either. As much as he cares for Newt and Hermann, he's a selfish man at heart. He wants them to be happy, he wants to be friends with them. He also doesn't want to be lonely, and he doesn't want Hermann and Newt stuck with each other when they can't stand each other, either.

A sigh.]

Well, we are going on that date sometime soon. At least you'll have a few hours of time to yourself to maybe... cool down.

Hey, I am cool, okay.
But if you like cool, you should have LOADS of fun with Mr. Frigid Gottlieb there.

[At this point Joaquin realizes there isn't a thing he can say in Hermann's defense that won't get immediately shot down. It's troubling, but then... what can he do?]

Really, you both should be kinder with your words. Things would be looking a lot better for the both of you that way.

Just take him off my hands and spare me the lecture.

... You're a much better listener when you're older. And you seem to genuinely care about people then too, rather than insisting on being ambivalent and bitter like you are right now.

[Eye roll]

[Private]

Let's see how well your lecture on ambivalence and bitterness goes after Hermann disappoints you, too.

I have, under very good authority, that he's quite delightful when you get him on the right subjects and, hey, don't try to antagonize him needlessly.

Seriously, I have no idea how you two got to this point, you both never told me the details as to why you weren't friends before. But believe me, you are both a lot closer when you get older and have each other's backs, even though you still quarrel from time to time. Time changes people, you just have to be willing to let things run their course.

You wanna KNOW how we got to this point? Because I'll tell you. I have no problem telling you in detail why my relationship with Hermann Gottlieb is shit.

You can tell me or not, it's up to you. But understand, it's your business and not mine, but if you make it my business you can't take it back. Just some friendly advice.

You're taking him on a date, why the fuck not tell you? Might as well know what you're getting into, huh?

About two and a half years ago, I saw his writing on Breach theories published in a scientific journal and I wrote to him. He wrote back. We shared ideas, theories, helped develop new ones together--we should have authored a paper together... Anyway.

[And here, Newt, unable to commit to exposing himself that much, fudges over the most important parts. Namely how close they became, how much he started to like the man he was communicating with--not romantically, but he enjoyed his company.] I thought he was quite possibly the smartest, cleverest, most scientifically amazing man I had ever had the pleasure of communicating with. [He still is.] Two and a half years and a ton of letters later, and then I meet him.

And he is the most stick-up-his-ass, judgmental, pretentious, stuffy, son of a bitch I've ever met. It was so clear he had pinned me for a Type of person from out of the gate. We had nothing but arguments. He was such a disappointment. Such a fucking disappointment.

[Joaquin listens because, hey, fresh deets. But in the end he can only wonder...]

So... Are you trying to say you hadn't also pegged him for a specific type of person? And why didn't you write a paper together?

We just...never got to it. He proofed some of mine, and vice versa, but beyond that, it just didn't happen.

And yeah, I had expectations, but if he hadn't been so uptight...! Look, I was not the problem, he was.

That's a shame. Your work is very important, you know. The both of you need to learn to work together despite your feelings, for the better of all.

Sure, sure. I'm pretty sure you both have the same issue here; you wanted one thing to go just right, and when it didn't you both gave up before you even gave each other a chance.

Of course my work's important. Not like you'd have any appreciation for it here, given the lack of Kaiju, but it's going to win us the war.

..Hey, he started it.

It is. [He says this very matter-of-factly.]

Really, that's your comeback? 'He started it'?

Damn right. And I'm going to shove it in Hermann's face when I win.

And yes. Yes it is.

What do you mean, 'when you win'? You're not playing some game!

Clever.

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

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