mathemagier | IC Contact Post

[And somehow he was here, seriously considering allowing Newton to rig an electrical charge to shock him in the name of science.

Hermann glanced over, the outpouring of concern unexpected. He rubbed at his eyes again]

Yes, yes, I'm fine. I was simply.. overwhelmed. There's no need to apologize. Our lives and families are far from perfect, and I suspect it won't be the last time it's unintentionally showcased through our connection.

And much as it pains me, the shock does sound promising. Unfortunately, I doubt we'd respond to an auditory alarm.

I promise to be gentle, Herms. [He couldn't believe Hermann was agreeing to this. Newt expected to be shot down. Granted, he didn't think Hermann had a better idea, but when had that EVER stopped him from shooting down one of Newt's?

He was quiet a bit, staring up at Hermann's ceiling, making patterns out of nothing.]

Speaking of our imperfect families... Funny story. Monica wanted to meet the "illustrious Dr. Gottlieb," once, when you were both in Sydney. [A sly smile.] I never did forward her request.

[Hermann blinked, because that's news to him. He almost felt bad for a moment, because there was a time he would've liked to meet her- up until all of ten minutes ago. Except that wasn't quite true, because he wanted to meet her now if only to tell her in no uncertain terms just how terrible of a mother she is. Not the meeting she'd be hoping for, he's sure]

She doesn't deserve you, Newton. Should that meeting ever take place, I'd be sure to inform her as such.

I'm tempted to hug you for that, Herm. [That defense of him was embarrassingly meaningful and Newt couldn't even look at him. It kind of hurt to think he had needed to be told that, and hurt, too, to reveal this aspect of himself to Hermann in the first place.]

But, don't...yell at her, I mean. She's my mom, she's not a great one, but she's the one I've got. I love her. Just let me be an awful, stingy son and not share my friends and crap.

So long as you don't use it as a ploy to drag me into your memories.

[And while it was very tempting to make no such promise, Hermann nodded all the same.]

Fair enough. For your sake, I'll contain myself should any chance meeting occur.

[He'd certainly told his father what he'd thought of him in their argument about the coastal wall, but then Newton was a more forgiving soul than he'd ever be.]

[He had meant it, but said it somewhat flippantly and expected it to be taken as such. Newt was still not used to the current state of their relationship as Best Friends where hugs were a thing that conceivably happened and where he had a somewhat open invitation to Hermann's apartment.]

Wait, wait. You're actually agreeing to let me hug you? [He edged over a little to Hermann's side of the sofa.] Wonders will never cease.

[He hadn't meant for Newton to read into his tacit acquiescence. And while he truly was not opposed to the contact, it suddenly felt like an awkward, weighty subject he shouldn't have mentioned for the sake of conversation.

Had he misread something somewhere? Weeks later and their boundaries were still shifting. If only their relationship would conform to a readable graph.

Hermann eyed Newton with sudden apprehension, like his approach signified something more than a casual exchange of contact]

I wasn't aware you needed explicit permission.

Consent, Hermann, is a wonderful thing. But I'm...taking that as consent. [Frown.] I guess. Sorry. Am I making this weird? I'm making this weird. I'm. Just. Going to...Go ahead and. Hug you before you change your mind.

[With some awkwardness in part because they were both sitting, and because now he had effectively made this weird, Newt scooted out to get a better angle and reached over, putting his arms around Hermann, giving him a firm squeeze and a pat on the back and before releasing him.] Thanks.

[It was strange; stilted, unnecessarily awkward. They'd embraced half a dozen times more comfortably than this. Still, he managed a brief return pat before Newton withdrew]

Of course. That's what friends are meant to do. [Support and the odd awkward embrace apparently] ..I believe it also means you don't need to stand on formality any longer.

[Newt gave a small laugh. Hermann! Forfeiting formalities! For him! Not that Newt had ever regularly or consistently followed that, but it still caught himhim a little by surprise when this Best Friendship went both ways.]

You're right, you're totally right--I mean now, about that, not all the time, you know what, let's just say forget that. Point is, that was a crappy hug. You definitely deserved better.

[He leaned in for another hug, a proper best friend hug.]

[Truthfully, he'd dropped the formalities around Newton little by little over the years, but it was only now that he acknowledged it and dropped the last, previously unspoken barrier. The man was closer than his own family had been for years.

This time, he has time to return the embrace and though the position is still a bit awkward, he managed to get both arms around Newton properly this time and pat him on the back. And yes, it was-- nice. He let him go with a smile.]

Well if that's the only admission I'll ever get out of you, then I suppose I'll have to savor it.

IC Contact Post

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject