Hermann Gottlieb (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
mathemagier) wrote2025-08-03 01:28 pm
mathemagier) wrote2025-08-03 01:28 pm
IC Contact Post
[Screened calls go straight to voicemail, where an impatient recording answers]
You've reached Dr. Hermann Gottlieb. Leave your name, number, and business if you expect a return call. Thank you.
PAPERS SLID UNDER HERMANN'S DOOR
August 17th, perhaps
Dr. Hermann Gottlieb—
Apologies in advance for this being handwritten, but of course I lack a computer and printer and, to be quite honest, wasn't feeling up to going to the library to print this out. But in the interest of nostalgia, it really only made sense to hand it in to you in a physical form so, that said, you'll have to excuse my handwriting. I promise future correspondence will be conducted in a more professional, type-written manner.
Returning to our earlier conversation, however, I rebut your assertion that our shared connection, our neural bridge, does not qualify as a "power." I contend that your choice of word for us, "awareness," implies a state of being: a consciousness, knowledge, and observation. Power, however, implies action: either the ability to do or act, or the possession of control or authority. Our connection could be considered awareness but the definition is far too limiting. What we have is a cognitive power.
(Unscientific Aside: The fact that our ability could easily be some sort of comic book power clearly says, Hermann: it's a power. And if you are choosing what you consider to be a "power" as actually a "superpower," superpower simply means it exceeds natural or known ability. Even in the case of our post-Drift society, our neural connection cannot be considered within the bounds of normal human function. You and I are superhuman. It's a power, buddy. It is a comic-book superpower.)
For the purposes of discussion, our connection will be defined by its known abilities: radar (proximity detection and general "compass" sensing), empathy (transmission of emotional state), and shared thoughts/memories (what it says on the proverbial tin). Speculated abilities--that we may someday read each other's minds, etc--will be left out.
(Note: I reserve the option to discuss with you any speculated abilities at some point, however.)
Power suggests an ability, an action. Without the ability to turn it off-and-on our connection is more of a passive ability, like an open radio channel, but it is not a one-way broadcast. I am not just transmitting and you are not just receiving; projecting into the void between us is not the extent of our interactions.
As we established in our previous experiments(??), your emotions have a power over me--and vice versa. On multiple occasions, we have triggered each other; a few times we have pulled each other back. I wasn't merely conscious of your feelings and able to choose to react. Instead, with our connection, feelings exert a force: your fear, happiness, sadness, etc directly affects my mood and colors my perception of reality, maybe without me always realizing it, as though suddenly looking through the world with Hermann-Goggles on. Or blinders. Or perhaps more a blindfold with you leading me by the hands. More research under less duress is required.
The ability is passive only in the sense that it is constantly running in the background, but the effects are not passive when applied to us. Your pains--because mind and body are connected--become my own. I suspect my neuroses affect you, or can/will. Our connection is not just an awareness of the other's state. If it was, it wouldn't bother you so much. It would be the usual Newton chatter in the background: an always-on mental radio. (We lived with each other nearly 24/7. Even mental chatter wouldn't be that distracting).
Our connection is a discussion requiring active participating. It is a cause and effect, Newton's First Law put into mental practice: two forces, two objects acting upon each other and when one is unbalanced, the unbalanced force causes the other to respond.
It is also a shared experience. You are not on the outside looking in. You are on the inside--in the same boat, so to say.
In the first instance, you are the observer. You are aware of my condition, but it doesn't actively affect you and you can leave if you want. You could ignore it. In the second, you're part of this, whether you want to be or not.
But all of that? That's all largely an argument of semantics. The classification above is playing fast and loose with words that have no actual meaning to either of us as scientists. We're not linguists, Hermann, and the two words are largely unrelated in the actual scheme of things. Besides, I don't have your definitions of the terms or why you label it awareness, so I feel there are unknown variables.
I will, in the interest of not wasting paper back and forth on the subject, concede that the term awareness in psychology deals largely with cognitive abilities and how we perceive and react to the world. Point for you. That doesn't make this thing between us not a power. We're well into para-psychological territory here, though, so I don't think science will be a good backup in our arguments. But power and awareness do not have to be mutually exclusive. We have the power of enhanced awareness? Still a power--a superpower, no less.
The truth is, where do you define the end of awareness and the beginning of power?
It is not a cure-all, it's not a strength skill, it's not even your techno-fixer. But it is a power. It is an ability, one with many uses--and if usefulness if what makes it a power and not just an awareness, then so be it. This is a useful skill. If we can transfer memories, as we saw that we could with the telescope, it isn't entirely unlike uploading data wirelessly from computer to another. There are a multitude of highly useful applications for that.
In retrospect, I take back what I said earlier: I want to discuss speculative abilities here, now. It is not a far leap of the imagination to assume we could go from sharing present-emotions and past-memories to sharing thoughts in the moment. With a power like that, we could do a number of things.
Consider the following:
(a) co-process data like a network of super-computers, because two minds are better than one and our minds are superb
(b) transfer information wirelessly, including abilities (imagine, Hermann, sitting down to a piano and playing Brahms' Hungarian Dance, no. 5 flawlessly with the aid of downloaded memory of mine)
(c) real-time status updates on each other (peace of mind that someone always knows where and how you are…just in case)
(d) out-of-body experience (the ability to perceive the world through each others' senses, as if your mind is in the others body--at the very least provide visual)
(e) mind control (you might be able to control me, and I, you)
We could solve highly complex problems without vocalizing (although this is not an invitation to not talk). We could relay information without speaking (this has spy applications written all over it, not that I'm suggesting we play spy, although we would make killer spies), but it also makes us adaptive in the moment and useful as eyes and ears when mechanical instruments are unavailable. It makes us potentially able to tap into each other's databases of knowledge without the other being present. Even if we cannot send words back and forth, if we can only send fragments of impressions, think about how useful that would be! We are extensions of each other. We could be, essentially, our own two-man hive-mind.
This really comes down to one thing. I would argue, Hermann, that you would prefer it was awareness--that you would rather that definition over "power." It is cleaner, more controlled, to believe you are only observing my emotions and I yours; it is easier to not be involved. I think our argument the other day successfully detailed to us both that it does not seem to matter: there is no going back. The tape has been ripped up. Otachi Jr aside, our lab was our Jaeger.
We cannot just be aware. I'm not Saturn, Hermann, and you're not an astronomer looking from a safe distance. We are, if you prefer it in your language, a binary system, something like particles in quantum entanglement, two parts that act in response to each other. The fact remains that we are irrevocably combined, synchronized, push and pull, two halves of the same piece.
If it's not a power, it at the very least certainly warrants something more than awareness.
I haven't written a letter in so long, I think I'm rusty. Nine/ten years feels like forever. Haven't even written a paper in a long time. I don't even have a proper envelope for you! Next time, promise. But I feel like we should celebrate.
You know, I don't know about you, but I've thought about donating our letters to a museum. The Geiszler-Gottlieb Correspondence was pretty historic. Someday we'll have biographers and I honestly don't know how I feel about that. Maybe I'll keep the letters, leave them guessing. It's more fun if they're left to guess, right?
Those letters were epic, though.
-- Newt Geiszler
no subject
While I resent your insipid assertion in relation to the inelegant nature of superhuman capabilities, I'm forced to concede the dynamic properties of our empathetic exchange. I'd argue that the Drift is not a superhuman capability however, and as our connection closely resembles it, you'll forgive my hesitance in referencing it otherwise.
I won't waste time rehashing the technical minutiae of a phenomena you're already intimately familiar with, but suffice to say the Drift is a mutual exchange of information and feeling, both past and present. The Ghost Drift is what lingers after a connection is severed, typically lasting only hours and fading, whereas our continues to be an active exchange. Whether or not the Ghost Drift itself classifies as a 'superpower' is ultimately the discussion here, and serves as my frame of reference.
In addition, I'd like to point out that it may be wise to understate the extent of our link to others.
Given the subjective definition at hand however, I'd like to remind you that I am a physicist. To my mind, 'superpower' refers to any ability that does not conform to the physical laws. In essence, where phenomena ceases to be understood to the point that it becomes the widely hated umbrella of 'magic'. Certainly, your apparent regenerative capabilities fall under this category.
As we've come to realize however, an alternate dimension suggests new criteria and differing variations of those laws-- something I've yet to be able to study in any level of respectable depth. In time, I will remedy this, but in the moment, it makes for greater obfuscation in defining the ambiguous line between human capability and 'superpowers'. Naturally, this presents something of a dilemma. Do I categorize our abilities by the laws I'm familiar with, or withhold a stated opinion until I've charted the extent of this world's definitions- an endeavour that would take a lifetime and yet still remain incomplete?
Logic dictates that these abilities, granted to us through the Porter in some nebulous fashion (and thus 'magic' in itself), are defined by this world as powers we never possessed in our own. As such, they should be scrutinized through the veil of this world. Our drift makes for a complex exception, however. Ostensibly an ability we were already in possession of, yet enhanced in a fashion. The matter is endlessly vexing and has no clear answer.
I don't refute your assessment of my desire for something more controllable in nature. Certainly, I never held any aspirations for becoming superhuman to begin with, and in the wake of all that's happened, still don't possess any particular inclination toward it. It's pointless to wish otherwise of course, and I can admit there are some benefits to this exchange, if not perhaps on the level of your own speculations. While it's true our connection appears to be strengthening for indeterminable reasons, I doubt the extent that it may develop.
In similar order, I will address them.
(a) Inherently flawed comparison, as minds do not process data in the same vein as a computer. But the underlying concept seems sound enough, if our minds are data feeds processing sensory input on separate channels and convening to reach more informed and educated conclusions.
(b) Unlikely. Even with your technical knowledge and my passing familiarity with the instrument itself, I highly doubt either of us will be playing masterpieces anytime soon. Perhaps it would be somewhat easier to achieve, but by no means simple. This goes for any other such combination of abilities. You will not understand my mathematics overnight, but perhaps you may pick it up faster. Extensive testing would be required in any case.
(c) By far the most reasonable of these suggestions, if only because we're able to do this to a limited extent as it is. We can already detect distress and other strong emotions in one another on a psychological level, if without real intent.
(d) This sounds like something out of your science fiction films, and rather alarming to even consider. Neither of us have experienced anything even suggesting this is a possibility, and I'd rather hate to wonder what might happen to whomever's having the experience.
(e) no.
(f) You mentioned telepathy earlier on, so I'm going to quickly include it here. It seems like a progressive step from (c) and (b) respectively, although I can't say I'm entirely partial to the idea myself. It appears as though we may experience flashes of it at times, but I can't be certain. Conceptually, at least.
That said, I suppose I can see the application of our neural ability, even if we have absolutely no intention of becoming anything remotely similar to spies. Good god, Newton. Whether or not that makes it a power is still wholly up for debate, but if your opinion of it is defined by action, then I suppose that's fair enough.
All in all, I can't really say that I regret any of it, even if that single impulsive action does seem to have bound us more closely than we could have imagined.
I must confess I look forward to being a part of history in texts. Suffice to say Lars Gottlieb will be only a passing mention in comparison. And while I believe our letters are worth preserving, I'm of the opinion they could settle for copies if we were pressed to release them.
-- Dr. Hermann Gottlieb
PS. What sort of celebration did you have in mind?
no subject
I did you the service of using your preferred title. I ask you do the same for me. Drop the Doctor on me or I will continue to refer to you as I please rather than how most pleases you. I will allow for the Newton because I think it might break you to shorten it to Newt.
I don't see why I have to understate our link to others. I like the link and as you well know, I like to talk about cool things, which we are. I do not boast my own accomplishments, ergo, I am not boasting about the link, so there is nothing improper about me discussing my powers and I don't see why I have to understate it. They are nice powers.
Ghost Drift qualifies as superhuman or at the very least "enhanced" human abilities. It transcends even the notion of augmented, because there is no longer a Drift apparatus attached. I maintain it still is a superpower by my definition.
But under your definition, neither of my abilities are superpowers. Neither qualify as magic unless your brain fails to comprehend things like starfish regenerating limbs. Axolotls (wiki them, Hermann, if you are unfamiliar with them--if for nothing else than that they are cute little buggers) possess an ability to regenerate limbs. They're very often studied in biological fields for this ability. Toxicity as a defense mechanism in animals is definitely not without precedence. Mammalian though I may be, it is not outside the realm of possibility that a complex organism such as myself might both be regenerative and toxic. There are stranger things in heaven and Earth, Hermann... As I assume your own abilities are within the realm of your scientific understanding, neither of us are superhuman by your definition.
I'll admit that yes, alternate dimensions mean new laws and criteria, but I am not measuring us against the same yardstick as everyone here. I'm not entirely convinced sometimes that Qubit isn't alien, for one. I prefer to have us measure ourselves against our own world's definitions, but I see your point with the porters. But by that standing, I am pretty sure by virtue of simply being imPorts we are superhuman. ImPorts have powers and abilities that the regular residents of this world do not, correct? Thereby rendering us all superhuman alien visitors like Goku or something and rendering the question of whether Qubit is alien moot (still curious).
Since you mentioned the benefits of 'this exchange'--care to elaborate, Doctor?
(a) Flawed comparison, but close enough analogy to make the point.
(b) Shame. I was really looking forward to downloading knowledge like the Matrix. I am always up for testing, extensive or otherwise.
(c) We can cultivate this ability to use it on demand, I believe.
(d) Science-fiction becomes science-fact eventually, Hermann.
(e) yes.
(f) I'd like to experiment, if you are up for it.
Impulsive actions have the best results. Life is about experiences. And apparently those are supposed to be better with other people.
Lars Gottlieb will the a footnote at best. "Gottlieb" will instead be the name of the man who closed the Breach, who pioneered the Jaeger coding, who drifted with a Kaiju. Lars should be so lucky as to ride your coattails into the history books and I'm certain that if not for your obvious inclusion, he would be forgotten. The UN is not going to want to remember who voted yes on that damn Wall and for that he should be grateful.
I'm going to buy every book that comes out and have you sign it. And when you publish about the Breach, I'm going to buy out the local bookstore and have you sign them and send copies to those assholes back at MIT and Cambridge. And everywhere else. And my dad and uncle, even though neither will understand a word you're saying, you pompous ass. Would it kill you to write a layman-readable book? They did both manage to read A Brief History of Time and you don't have to explain all of time--just a gap in the ocean to another dimension. You can do it.
-- Newt Geiszler
PS. What are you feeling up to? More letters reveling in our brilliance? Confetti? Promise of drinks later? Or coffee now? Kind of new and different to have a penpal across the hall instead of across the pond.
PPS. How are you? Okay, that question feels dumb considering the discussion of our empathic powers, but--How are you?
no subject
You are impossible.
And the reason I suggest discretion isn't out of propriety, but rather caution. Just as the Drift has the potential for abuse, so too is our connection exploitable. You should well understand this.
While you may have been granted the abilities of a starfish, you can't contest that such levels of regeneration are humanly impossible. This is what makes them incomprehensible. It is nothing that could be replicated. Although I accept that as imPorts we are now inherently superhuman, perhaps some allowance should be made for our 'powers'. After all, the civilians of this world are supposed to be widely ordinary by comparison.
In regards to the benefits of our neural link, I'm essentially referring to the potential for data transfer. There are entire swaths of information that could be exchanged in such a fashion, more easily than any technology or instructional method we've developed to date.
(b)+(f) Amenable, though I wonder if we'll ever run out of experiments for this.
As far as my hypothetical books go, I should hope I won't be writing most of them. Those I do however, will not be reduced to such a gross oversimplification. However, I will make a concentrated effort to be as concise as possible. It wouldn't do for all my work to go unappreciated by means of a steep learning curve, after all. I must say your ardor is entirely unnecessary, however. I suppose it's petty vengeance, but he will not talk his way out of this one.
-- Dr. Hermann Gottlieb
PS. As if we need letters for that. I'm not sure alcohol is wise or foolish in the wake of what we've experienced. Perhaps a rain check on that.
PPS. Marginally better, as you surely know. It's still not a good day, but these letters have helped redirect my focus, so I appreciate them. I anticipate a return to baseline mobility tomorrow, and gradual improvement over the course of the week. You seem to be doing much better.
no subject
Superhumanly impossible?
Point taken. I will do my best to keep our connection relatively private, but as I'm sure you can understand it is difficult sometimes to think in terms of I instead of We. That's probably pretty telling even when we're just talking to benign simpletons.
I thought you might have had other ideas in mind. Okay. Rest assured, we will never be out of experiments for anything, Hermann. We'll be busy for the next century.
It wasn't ardor. But, for the record, one of us has to express the enthusiasm for our successes that you won't.
-- Newt Geiszler
PS. Rain check it is, then.
PPS. The letters help. If mobility is back up and running tomorrow and you care to mobilize and meander down the hall, my door can be open. If not, fine too. I understand need for space.
no subject
Yes, superhumanly impossible. There's no possible way a human could adopt the regenerative properties of a starfish. For the record, I never had a problem admitting we are superhuman- teleportation isn't what anyone would consider subtle, after all. Superpowers however, I take umbrage with.
And yes, I understand the pluralization of ourselves could be telling. However in most cases, I believe it will be interpreted differently. Perhaps not flattering, but inaccurate nevertheless.
I suppose I can appreciate your enthusiasm at points.
-- Dr. Hermann Gottlieb
PS. Alternatively, it is entirely possible you could walk across the hall yourself.
no subject
I stopped talking about the super-powers. I just wanted to know if my level of "impossible" was superhuman, since I get told that a lot. Flatter me. Tell me it is.
You mean that our pluralization will be interpreted as crazy? Let me let you in on a secret here, Hermann, one I'm sure is not a secret to you or will not long be a secret to you if it was before: I am used to being called crazy. You get that a lot, when word gets out that you see a therapist and require drugs to level out your brain chemicals, and when your neuroses are evident in your mannerisms. I can kind of handle that. Can you, though? And don't take this as a challenge. Just don't. It is not a fun way to go through life, especially in dealing with your peers. "Ten years experience..."--you've fought hard for that recognition, but trust me, it goes out the window and means very little when they think you're cuckoo for chocopuffs. It might be easier to let them know.
You're making me preen.
-- Newt Geiszler
PS. Oh, so that's an option.
no subject
I have no intention of doing so when you manage that perfectly fine without anyone's assistance.
Nothing quite so extreme as that. I'm referring to the type of relationship it may imply to those unfamiliar with either of us. Certainly, that has already been misinterpreted at least once while we've been here.
We've both fought for recognition, Newton. And we'll get it- in our world if not here.
-- Dr. Hermann Gottlieb
PS. I never stated it wasn't.
no subject
Fine then. Rude.
Okay, I'm apparently not following you. You could stand to be less vague.
Exactly. We're rock stars. (It's not just about recognition, though. As long as you know what you're getting into, Hermann.)
-- Newt Geiszler
PS. You never stated it was.
no subject
If I must be blunt, I'm sure you remember when Hiro asked if we were married. That sort of misinterpretation.
I'm well aware of how to handle such things, if you'll recall.
-- Dr. Hermann Gottlieb
PS. It figures you would observe the invisible boundaries but not the physical ones. Newton, short of contracting a terminal illness, I'll never forbid you from visiting. Even then, I doubt I'd be able to stop you.
no subject
Oh! That! But we got that before the Drift. I mean, I'm pretty such some of the jtech are still convinced we're married, but then again, I'm not entirely sure Tendo ever tried to correct them either.
White-knighting for me is different than defending yourself.
--Newt
PS. Technically it is a physical boundary. You do have a door.
no subject
Ridiculous, even so.
Yes Newton, I was a pathetic child in my youth, I'm well aware, thank you. You should know very well I don't tolerate disrespect any longer. After all, I've certainly lectured you enough.
-- Dr. Hermann Gottlieb
PS. I can't very well leave it open for just anyone to walk in.
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March 31, late evening, after dinner - pull point plot
How is life across the hall?
I enjoyed your newest theory on the Pacific Wormhole (yes, I read it, even after professing that I hated your guts and would never speak to you again--congrats on the publication. Well-deserved) and would like to discuss it with you sometime. By letter, if you prefer, or in person. As I told you back in 2014, I binge-read and continue to read everything you've written that I can find, even going back to your 2007 co-publication on the Kepler Conjecture...which was inspired...by which I mean I am arrogantly trying to cover for the fact that I understood nothing and spent the better part of that night rereading my old math textbooks. At the risk of being too revealing, I am going to admit I read that publication again a week ago for no reason other than because I wanted to.
That's why, despite the advice that I tell you I'm sorry and reassure you that it had nothing to do with the cane, I'm only going to do the former. I think the latter is a given. After all, consider this, Hermann: Why would a cane have any bearing on my interest in talking to a man whose work inspires me, a biologist, to read (multiple times!!!) about sphere packing in three-dimensional Euclidean space?
Easy answer: it has no bearing on it at all.
You lose no respect/interest points for walking with a cane.
So here we are.
I'm sorry, Hermann.
I am sorry that our first meeting went badly. I don't make good first impressions--or second, or third--but I refuse to shoulder full responsibility for that meeting. The blame falls evenly distributed. We are both at fault.
What you ordered from overseas was not what you thought advertised, I get that--but I don't think I ever falsely sold myself, so do not accuse me of it as you have. I don't know what you expected. I have been college educated since 14, so if I know nothing else, I know how to read and write well. And I know you get more Academics to write back with a well-written letter on school letterhead than a "hey bro, wanna grab a bite and talk kaiju?"
But I am sorry. I really wanted it to work out. I wanted you to immediately like me and I got mad when you didn't. When you were closed up, instead of being patient and waiting for you to come around, I got mad. I liked that you could go on pages and pages about the night sky, but I couldn't see that in person. I hated when you insisted on titles I thought we had both earned the right to be free of together. I don't want to be Doctor to you; I want to be Newton. I want to call you Hermann, not out of disrespect, but because I want to see you as my equal, be seen as your equal by you and others.
We apparently save the world together, Hermann. We could at least get to be on a first-name basis with each other. I didn't want titles. Did you, really? I just wanted to share thoughts with someone I admired and respected. Ok. There. I said it. Admired and respected you. Or, rather, not past-tense.
I'm sorry, Hermann. Neither of us got a chance to know each other. I had my head too far up my ass to look.
So...let's try again.
My name is Newton Geiszler. I prefer to be called "Newt." I despise being called Doctor even though I have more PhDs than I realize are necessary (I needed to do something with my time; they don't actually let Doogie Howsers hold real jobs, you know). I'm a 5'7" bespectacled man with a loud, shrill voice and a tendency to speak and act before I think. I rile easily. I tease often. I have been called insane before--I don't appreciate it. I am generally considered cute, not handsome, if I am considered at all, and I have Kaiju tattoos I am quite proud of. I intend to get more, until we win this war. And we will win it. I don't have faith in much, but I do believe in science and I believe that once we understand more about the Kaiju, we'll better understand how to handle them.
Anyway, I tell you all that about myself not because I'm setting up some sort of Tinder account here--but because I don't want any false assumptions. If neither of us got to know each other before, we can now. This is who I am. This is what you get if you'd like to talk to me in person.
Or if you prefer, we can keep going on paper.
Or neither, if you prefer.
I started writing you years ago because I wanted to hear your thoughts on the Kaiju; I kept writing you because I enjoyed your letters and wanted to talk to you. At worst, saying this gives you more ammunition against me. At best...we get back what we had? Some of it? The ball is in your proverbial court, Hermann.
You owe me nothing. I owe you for saving my life with a Drift. To be honest, I didn't really believe it. But I found a letter--a series of letters--in my room, that are clearly your half of an exchange with me--I assume you have mine or disposed of mine. I finally got around to reading them. It never gives the details of our Drift, but in one you say: "All in all, I can't really say that I regret any of it, even if that single impulsive action does seem to have bound us more closely than we could have imagined."
I don't know, and may never know, why you did that with me or for me, or how it is that you didn't regret it, even when it ended up permanently saddling you with Newton Geiszler on the brain. But thank you for being that person I refused to see a month ago, even if you'll never let me see that myself.
--Newton Geiszler
PS. hey bro, wanna grab a coffee and talk kaiju?
no subject
Titles indicate respect.
Yes, I understand what you're attempting to convey, but I'd desperately wanted that from you, as you already had mine. On top of your looks and general manner, I'd assumed a lack of it and well, did not react with particular grace. Mistaken impressions contradicting expectations, I suppose. You were nothing I expected, and that certainly compounded the issue. I do apologize for that, as it's rather hypocritical in hindsight.
I'm Hermann Gottlieb, PhD. A computer science engineer with a passion for astronomy and an aptitude for abstract mathematics. My preferred approach to most anything is with a calm rationale and reliable methodology (with several informative books on hand if possible). Social skills are not my forte and I'm not particularly personable. In most all ways, I appear as your polar opposite.
I also confess some research into your academic history. Fascinated as I was by our discourse, I'd wished to understand more of your field in hopes of better comprehending your work and unique point of view. There was a bit too much material to cover of course, given all six of your degrees (a ridiculous number, really) but I was rather impressed all the same.
I don't know that you can owe me for something that has yet to happen. Clearly, with no regrets, I can't demand much of you for that. Unfortunately, I haven't unearthed any material in reference to that happening in the half of the conversation I possess.
The Drift is.. more invasive than I would like, but I'm sure I'm not the only one that's wondered about it in their idle moments. I never imagined we would have been compatible, but perhaps there's something that's worth exploring.
Sincerely,
Hermann Gottlieb
PS. I don't know that I wish to discuss kaiju, but I would be amenable to conversation.
no subject
It is a pleasure to finally, properly, make your acquaintance.
(Though what do you mean? You got something against my looks? Should I be offended???) But what DID you expect, out of curiosity? Because you're giving me too much credit--not that I'm against accepting credit, but I'd rather it when due--about being your personable polar opposite. Social skills, as you've seen to great effect, are not my forte either. But whereas you don't speak until you're certain, socially, I fake it until I make it.
My main focus/study prior to the Kaiju, as you're aware, has been artificial tissue replication. If you would ever like a crash course on that to supplement your readings, I would be more than happy to provide. And I promise that isn't an excuse to test my powers. Purely textbook. Nothing gross. I feel that's a necessity to say: nothing gross. Just concepts.
(And I am aware it is a ridiculous number of degrees, Hermann. THANK YOU. As I told you, there weren't many worthwhile jobs for a bio-graduate who couldn't even legally drink.) --Sorry. Right. Thank you. I'm sorry you had to slog through that; when I get bored, I publish.
...So, to be clear, you do have my letters? The other half of the conversation, I mean, here. What sort of impression do they leave you with? What do they say? I'm going to go ahead and address the elephant in the room and ask if they tell you anything about what everyone else seems to assume about our relationship. Because yours implied... Well, I'll tell you what they implied after you tell me what mine said.
As for the Drift, I never thought we'd be compatible either, though clearly we are and clearly this world thinks we are as well. The awareness of your distance is a bit of an annoying side-effect and I could see how that could pose a problem given your power, but maybe that's why we're living together, to avoid the really aggrivating pull of "now where did I put Hermann?" Beyond that, I have yet to have more than a barometer of your feelings and maybe a stray Hermann thought here and there. How about you?
I know you're probably going to be asleep by the time I finish this letter, but I couldn't wait. I've never been good at waiting, especially not with your letters; I've never been more nervous or more excited about mail before or since. Am I rushing things telling you this? Maybe. But you were the person I was most interested in talking to for nearly three years. I am glad to have the chance to talk to you again like we used to, even for a while. Are you?
You don't have to answer that.
Anyway. Good night, Hermann/Dr. Gottlieb.
Or good morning, as you'll be reading this in the morning.
-- Newton Geiszler
PS. Since Kaiju are a no, and abstract mathematics seems a little hard to discuss unabstractly (pro tip: I do not work well in the abstract), what say you to a nice chat about stars? We don't have to talk about them the whole time, or even a lot, but then we have an ice-breaker and a fallback, if things become awkward or we need safe ground, or whatever.
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Admittedly your choice in warddrobe does not lend itself well to credibility or professional standards, and your tattoos don't particularly help your case. What I was expecting was a man I'd thought more similar to myself. Well-dressed, well-mannered, eloquent in his speech and uniquely charming. Not to say I'm charming of course, but I believe you meet that criteria in a fashion.
Yes, I have your letters. Rather than play a back and forth game of trading information, you can have them once you've brought mine. We can piece together the entire conversation then.
Running short of time before work, I'll wrap this up by attempting to emphasize that I don't mean any offense. I'm not accustomed to dealing in platitudes and seeing as we've been earnest through letters before, I'd rather uphold our history of blunt honesty with one another. Granted that was more about science than personal comments, but I'd remind you that you did ask.
I will see you at work today. Provided you're not tempted into celebrating the holiday of sorts, I'd like to try for a cordial afternoon.
Good morning.
--Hermann Gottlieb
PS. Perhaps lunch then?
folded in half, placed on his desk at work
I think you just called me charming in a fashion?
How about we share information tonight, over takeout. The couch is big enough for two, the coffee table should be sufficient for a desk, and we can compile and go over our data, take notes, share resources, etc. I'll treat. What do you like?
Cordial is cool. I'd prefer we uphold blunt honesty, yeah, and I promise no April Fooling.
Good morning. Have a good day at work.
--Newton Geiszler
PS. Lunch sounds great.
Action; April 1st
We'll take lunch in an hour and a half, then. Should give us both time to reach a stopping point.
[He wraps up his own project within an hour and spends the other half tinkering with the small scale Jaeger-- Gipsy Danger, he's found her name is. Remarkable. A future model perhaps?
They go to lunch, and Hermann veers them away from the cafe around the corner to a deli a little further down the road where he seamlessly combines their orders amid a discussion about the utter ludicrousness of aliens having ever been of Mars.
It's a nice lunch, if not peppered with disagreements, but thankfully none of them get out of hand and they rejoin in the lab without incident. Not bad for a first date of sorts really. Except he suddenly finds himself marginally more anxious about the evening to come. Newton's side of the letters are rather incriminating and he's not sure their truce will hold.
So by the end of the workday he's feeling fairly frazzled and rechecks all his work before allowing himself to go home. The ride back and up the elevator has surely never been so nerve-wracking previously. He even fumbles a bit with his keys of all things, and the wonderful comfort of being 'home' fails to soothe his nerves.
Hermann retrieves the documents from his room and settles on the couch, attempting not to fidget while Newton locates his half of the conversation.
He's entirely forgotten about dinner.]
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They return to the office and Newt thinks Hermann paid. That was sort of a date.
...That was sort of a date.
He tries NOT to think about that for the rest of the afternoon and instead tries to preoccupy himself with a combination of work and thinking about Joaquin's sexuality questioning.
The taxi ride home is spent with his nose in the phone, looking over this world's web resources for asexuality and sexual identity. He wishes it was more of a distraction, and by the time he's home and has the box of letters in hand, he's full of anxiety that might not even be entirely his own.]
So! I took the liberty of getting Chinese, because who doesn't like Chinese food, right? [And, well, there had been a receipt in his mess of stuff at work. He just...ordered the same thing they'd eaten previously, as older selves. Easy. Couldn't get it wrong (unless Herman didn't like his order...what if Hermann didn't like his food?? They'd been doing so well...)]
[A laugh as he puts the box of letters on the table next to the bag of takeout] There were so many take-out and delivery place numbers in my phone. It was ridic. You think we ever actually made our own food?
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It takes a few minutes, but he's got them ordered together in a single pile before too long.]
So this is your first letter, and here is.. my response then. May as well start, I suppose. Unless you'd rather eat first?
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Mouth full, he shakes his head, then swallows and speaks.] No, dude. I've been waiting all day for this. Do you want to just ...read them, or should we take turns, you know, reading them aloud? [He points with his chopsticks to the first letter, his own.] For added hilarity, you could read as me.
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[He'd rather not read aloud at all actually, but his writing doesn't sound much different from his usual manner of speech. From what he's skimmed so far, he's only a bit more verbose in the future.
Hermann plucks up his container of rice]
So whenever you're ready then.
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It begins simply enough, and Newt reads it as if he was reading his lecture, with interest and variety, but still somewhat lacking the passion of a delivered speech, because he has no idea where this letter was going, or why, really, other than what could be surmised from reading Hermann's replies.]
"I promise future correspondence will be conducted in a more professional, type-written manner." Well, that was a lie, huh?
[Clearly this has been in response to a conversation that is now lost--unless it is on the network somewhere--to forgotten memories. But luckily, he has done a decent enough job of memorializing what it was about. They had obviously argued over calling their Drift a superpower. What a lame argument. How incredibly domestic, while trying too hard to be academic. It is cute, he finds himself thinking. Very cute. Almost like they want to argue. ...If it wasn't himself and Hermann, it would be extremely disgustingly adorable. (I'm seriously disgusting, he told Joaquin earlier. How true that is now).]
We've got to be careful with this thing. I've basically laid out the parameters and possibilities of our Drift, here, dude. [Hermann had, in his half, expressed concern about others knowing about their powers, and Newt can now see why.]
Hermann-goggles. Cute. [He keeps reading.]
...Together nearly 24/7. God. And we lived to tell the tale. [...And, after the room analogy:] ...Shit, do I ever shut up? And after all that, all I say is "Semantics"? Really, jesus. Take the pen away from me. [...He conceded a point to Hermann. Wow.]
...So these are the bulleted alphabetical points your letter discusses.
[Newt looks up, finishes the line, and stares at Hermann, concern and uncertainty tugging his mouth down into a frown.] "...there is no going back. The tape has been ripped up. Otachi Jr aside, our lab was our Jaeger." ...Otachi Jr.?
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[He wonders why it was written to start with, rather than verbally discussed. Perhaps Newton had only wanted to get it all down on paper. Hermann follows along, nodding as points he remembers reading crop up, and eyes the next letter in the stack. Still, that is a curious stopping point and his brows furrow]
Yes.. I wasn't certain what to make of that. Either the kaiju are breeding or you have awful taste in names.
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