IC Contact Post

[mathemagier]

[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.

Comments

[mathemagier]

Particularly in your case, they're very expressive.

[And he might have gained a weakness for green eyes in particular.

But external. Hm.]

Well, I do love the way military uniforms accent the shoulder line. I suppose that would be my next choice.

[driftsintobuffetline]

Shoulders. Okay. Okay, I can work with shoulders.

And I'll have you know, dude, should PADS do like...70% of the heavy lifting there. 80, maybe. They can't all be that board, right?

[mathemagier]

Yes, yes.

[No. Pentecost, Captain Rogers, Joaquin. They probably are that well defined.

Sigh.]

Now are you going to tell me what you're up to?

[driftsintobuffetline]

...um. maybe? Later. After I've done the thing.

[mathemagier]

Well do inform me whenever that is. I don't lightly offer data you know.

[driftsintobuffetline]

Oh yeah, really had to twist your arm for this data, right.

For the record, there's no way you won't know, once I do it.

[mathemagier]

And when do you anticipate that will be precisely?

[driftsintobuffetline]

Uhhh.
It depends on the options available. I haven't inquired...yet. But I will!

Look, if you're worried, I promise there's nothing to worry about. Probably.

[mathemagier]

Wonderful. If you manage to hurt yourself in the process, I promise to be less charmed.

[driftsintobuffetline]

It might hurt a little, Hermann.

No, I guarantee it will hurt. But that's the nature of the beast.

[mathemagier]

Yes, which you're being deliberately vague about, so you'll forgive me if I'm concerned.

So long as you don't hospitalize yourself, I suppose.

[driftsintobuffetline]

God, Hermann! It's a tattoo, okay? I want to get another tattoo!

Seriously, you're the worst. [Affectionately]

[mathemagier]

[He suspected as much, except for one thing]

Isn't that difficult.. for you?

[driftsintobuffetline]

...Yeah.

[mathemagier]

So how are you managing that exactly?

[driftsintobuffetline]

Well, that's what I don't know yet. I mean, I got to thinking, after our talk the other day, about power suppressors. And I don't know if I could make a targeted one, but either way, it'd be like...a month...3-4 weeks for a tattoo to heal and I KNOW you don't want to do that to our Drift, but maybe if I keep the tattoo small and it heals quickly...?

[mathemagier]

[Ah.

Well.

Hm.]

..About how long do you expect a small one to take to fully heal? Assuming of course, we could manage it.

[driftsintobuffetline]

Probably still anywhere from 10 days to 4 weeks. It depends. The whole thing is--and not to be gross, because I know you're not into this kind of discussion--it kind of has to scab over. It has to heal and I'd want it to heal completely so that there's nothing left to really actively heal? once I go back to being powered.

[mathemagier]

Lovely.

[Gross]

Is it so important to you?

[driftsintobuffetline]

[Yes.


A long silence and a deep breath.]

Well, you see, I--

[Pause.] Ah.

Is it going to bother you if I don't tell you, because if I tell you it kind of ruins the surprise, but if the surprise is going to make you anxious then I guess I'd RATHER tell you what it is so you can understand maybe WHY I was thinking about doing this--and it's not really romantic per se, but it's kind of...idk...traditional and is it too early? It's too early, isn't it? Forget I said it. I can wait. Or I can not. I can totally not because god, yeah, that's kind of intense and...this is only like the four-month anniversary, huh. Why do I keep doing this?

But it was your name. Or your initials. I hadn't decided yet. And I'm glad you didn't say 'ass' because I was not ready to commit to a tramp-stamp even for you or some other kind of ass tattoo or whatever. I was thinking, like, nape of neck or behind the ear or inside of wrist, so shoulder is good.


...Yeah.

[mathemagier]

Newton.

[He's a whirl of sudden and complex emotions.

That's.. it is kind of intense, yeah. He's a bit stunned, flattered, and concerned all at once. Tattoos are semi-permanant, with removal being painful at the least, costly and generally more trouble than they're worth.

But then they've already sort of agreed to be married, so it's not. It's just. It's a ring in another form, essentially, and one that spells out a deeper level of belonging in ink.

Newton dedicated his body to the Kaiju, and now there's a part of him that he wants dedicated to him. He's honored, in a strange sort of way and doesn't have any clear thoughts on the matter other than yes, he can see why that's important]

Well, ah.. I figured that was included in 'the obvious'. And no, I'd rather not have my name or initials there regardless.

That's.. something you really want then?

[driftsintobuffetline]

Hermann, you've been part of my life for as long as the Kaiju--not if you count Godzilla, admittedly, but basically...since the Kaiju themselves. I think it would have happened regardless. The tattoo, I mean. Though if we were home and had not... I would have probably just put it on my neck or somewhere associated with the brain and never told you, because--it's complicated.

The tattoos? This is me. This is my body of work, my passions. These are the things I have stood toe-to-toe with and respected and feared and loved. Things that have gotten under my skin and into my blood--now, pretty literally--the things I've tried to understand and wanted to know better, because I saw some of myself in them.

This is me. This is, like, the things that are part of me--that belong to me and that I've given part of myself to. So, what I'm saying is, while it's a four-month thing, this isn't really a four-month thing. It's not romantic or a wedding ring or anything. This is a thing that's been building since 2013; it's a long time coming. It's traditional, not just in the way people tattoo their lovers and children's names on their skin, but in something maybe even more ritualistic, you know? A rite of passage. These are the things that make me get up in the morning and work. My victories, but not my conquests. My...experiences.

[mathemagier]

Newton...

[There's definitely an emotional softness to his voice now, touched by the depth of thought and consideration that Newton's put into this-- into them.

To have had such a great impact on Newton's life and vice-versa, only he won't have a tattoo to show it. He could get one, but it's not how he works and would hold far less meaning.

Marrying him will have to be enough, because he's certainly feeling that well of love and affection now]

I love you, Newton.

If that's what you want to do, then we'll look into it. It might even be good for us. The only thing we'll want to be sure of is that it's not terribly difficult to remove in case of emergency.

[driftsintobuffetline]

And. Uh.

...you've got to be careful complimenting a guy's eyes, Herm. He might have to come kiss you for it.

[mathemagier]

Oh yes, how awful. Not sure I could possibly survive.