maskormenace | [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

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.

Wars have been won thanks to well-cultivated and bitter rivalries. Don't underestimate us.

.... I suppose it's true you both do your best work with the other pushing you to try harder. I'm all good with rivalries but...

Look, just... you're both living together because of reasons I can't properly explain right now, so just try to not kill each other until things get sorted out, alright?

Please, I wasn't going to kill him. Maybe some nice arsenic in his tea--
Come on. I'm teasing. We're not THAT. I hate him, but I don't--I mean, it's a relief to know he makes it through the war, alright? I'll admit that. I will give you that.

No, but the two of you are strangely... vicious in how you've been sniping back and forth today. It's not like this usually, you're much more... playful? I guess? [He doesn't like mean Newt. Hermann being mean isn't nice either, but he seems to wear it a little more... naturally, which isn't a good, really.]

Yeah well... I guess at this point I can't convince you to think better of him.

Playful. Yeah. Sure. I wish.

No, you really can't. [A you truly can't. Because he thinks the world of Hermann and hates him at the same time.]

It's true, okay! I'm not lying!

... Fine then. Be stubborn about it.

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

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