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[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

[driftsintobuffetline]

[He scowled down at the cane.]

Motivations? It's not murder, Herms, to buy a guy a coat when he clearly needs one because he's fucking skinnier than shit. Is there anything wrong with the coat? No? Because if there's nothing wrong with it, why not just accept it and move on, without worrying about showing gratitude? People who need gratitude usually leave notes, right? They don't make you play Sherlock.

[mathemagier]

[Well that's practically an admission, even if he hadn't really needed one. Still, it's no less confusing, because beating around the bush isn't how Newton does anything. Had he simply been to embarrassed to hand him a coat? Or perhaps he'd only wanted to avoid an interrogation about his thoughtful gesture]

I've heard it's the polite thing to do. Unlike stealing into people's closets, I might add.

[Hermann dropped his cane from the gap, content enough to leave it at that if Newton wasn't inclined to discuss it further]

[driftsintobuffetline]

[His expression was unimpressed, but he pulled the door open a little further. Okay, maybe the gratitude wasn't as bad as he feared. It wasn't too weird so long as they bickered. And Hermann liked the parka, right? Of course he liked the parka. It was fairly close to his back home.]

Please. I'm in your head. By comparison your closet is far less sacred grounds. But, what, want in mine to make it even?

[mathemagier]

[Hermann relaxed, more comfortable with this]

I shudder to think of the state of your closet, Newton. But should you ever find yourself possessed of another considerate shopping impulse, you can at least do so in person.

[driftsintobuffetline]

[[Almost Narnia referenced and then thought of Lucy]]

[Newt leaned on the door frame.] Hey, my closet is awesome. You could totally make it inside without tripping on shoes now. But fine. I get it. You don't like magic house elves bringing you jackets. Don't worry--it was a one time thing. The thing was on sale, that's all. It's just really weird to have cash to burn.

[mathemagier]

[Ah yes, their frankly overpaid positions- the ones they'd been shooting for in college, then never quite landed when they decided to sign on with the PPDC and fight a war for twelve years.

Unlike Newton though, Hermann knew precisely what he was spending the next few months worth of paychecks on]

Yes, I suppose it is. Well, I do appreciate it. I'm sure it will pull me through the winter admirably.

[He'd originally bought his to endure Alaskan winters, after all]

[driftsintobuffetline]

Yeah? [He gave a little, hopeful, pleased smile, feeling like the puffed-up, fluffy, self-important bird that Hermann always LOOKED LIKE in his ridiculous parka. Then, with a toss of his head, he added, far more grounded again] Well, yeah. It better. And, for tge reccord, it got great reviews online, totally like military spec, and it has a 100% satisfaction guarantee, which with you means more like 75% but still, demand a refund if it fails its most basic duty there. Can't have you bitching about the cold more than usual.

[mathemagier]

[Hermann nodded, unable to suppress the twitch of his lips as Newton fluffed up. Just on sale, hm?]

Well it looks rather large for me, but I suppose you went for replication accuracy. It'll suit me just fine in any case, thank you.

[driftsintobuffetline]

I figured you just like drowning in your clothes. I know mirrors are foreign concepts, Herms, but check yourself in one sometime. ALL your clothes are rather large for you. [He pushed the door a little so it swung back and forth, kind of fidgety, unsure what to say, but not ready to kill the conversation yet. Which was ridiculous. They talked all day, everyday, but it wasn't everyday Hermann sought him out and initiated the conversation, even if it was to inquire about the origin of mysterious parkas.]

Speaking of clothes, actually, you figured out a costume for the masquerade? Or asked our dear Mr. Rogers yet?

[mathemagier]

I do not. Though I'll admit the parka was ill-sized, it served its purpose.

[His clothes fit just fine, thanks. If his pants run a little loose, well there's a reason for that. Belts are wonderous inventions.

It felt like he should turn to go, but Newton wouldn't be swinging the door on its hinges if they were done.]

Mister- [Quietly thankful Newton's music drowns out that particular association. Hermann shifts his weight to his right leg]

You're still on about that, Newton? For heaven's sake, I'm not asking him, Ms. Dearing, or anyone else to the event. As far as I'm aware, all that's required is a mask, not a date or costume.

[driftsintobuffetline]

[He stops the door mid-swing and glares.]

Yeah I'm still on about it. Is it wrong to want you--us--to have a little fun? I mean yeah, we did Oktoberfest, but otherwise the only actual party we've been to since saving the world was that shitty swear-in and that was more science shindig than anything. We deserve this, dude, and we deserve to have dates and to eat, drink and be merry.

[Newt looked momentarily unsure.]. You ARE going, right? Because I'm going and I'll throw a royal fit if I've got to go alone. Going stag's really only awesome if you're loaded like Stark or you have your posse and you're my posse.

[mathemagier]

Oktoberfest certainly had plenty of that. [The whole event had been more entertaining while drunk, at least] But yes, against my better judgement, I will be attending, if only to-

[keep you safe] Well, keep you out of trouble.

[Ahem] There's also the drift to consider, of course. I'd be distracted all night anyway.

[driftsintobuffetline]

Can't live without me for a few hours, huh? You miss me when I'm away? And here I thought I was the only one plagued with separation anxiety.

[Teasing aside, he eyed Hermann. Obviously the drift went both ways, but how badly did it distract Hermann? His trip to the scrap yard and to Germany had seemed to affect Newt worse, but EVERYTHING seemed to affect Newt worse. Hermann was impressively good at hiding his emotions, except anger, sometimes.]

[mathemagier]

[Hermann winced, not overfond of their new vulnerability. It sounded too much like dependency, and maybe it was, but still served as an unpleasant reminder. His fingers played over the handle of his cane in a nervous flex]

You know very well you're not. [They seemed to express it differently, and he largely suspected Newton's fear of abandonment exacerbates that particular problem]

To answer your previous question, I have not yet picked out an outfit for the masquerade.

[driftsintobuffetline]

[Nice change if subject, dude.]

Oh, okay. Well, you don't have to worry about separation issues. Like I said, you can totally come with me. We'll go together like Best Friends do and it'll be awesome.

And as for outfits, how about something that fits, for once. Not like you don't have the money and resources now. There's totally shopping to be found outside of thift store desperation, Macklemore. And tailors. Tailors exist.

[mathemagier]

[Hermann nodded, having already assumed as much, but there was something to be said for confirmation. Not that he'd intrude if Newton found an actual date between now and then.

And much as it galled him to spend a lot of money on clothing, Newton did have a point]

I suppose we could do with a visit to a proper tailor.

[driftsintobuffetline]

We? Okay, yeah, I guess me too. Oh man, I'm going to go Gothic Punk as fuck. It'll awesome. Or maybe something to match with my tatts. You think I could find a kaiju mask?

[mathemagier]

[Yep, there's a grimace there, and the general disapproval that's just an automatic response to Newton's preferred dress. With luck, they'll find a self-respecting tailor that won't indulge him too much]

Not an actual kaiju perhaps, but I'm sure you could find something suitably tasteless.

[driftsintobuffetline]

TASTELESS?! Frightening creatures are EXACTLY what Halloween is about. You're probably just going to go all posh and old-fashioned and put on a eyemask and look like some dour old vampire and I'm going to be like some Anne Ricean sex-god--Lestat, maybe, the rock star.

[mathemagier]

[A sigh, because Newton's having an American moment again. Really, the holiday was not all it was cracked up to be]

I believe the term you're looking for is respectable. But at least your disastrous taste will be disguised by the spirit of the holiday this time.

[driftsintobuffetline]

[Shut it, Hermann. It's an awesome holiday.]

I'm tempted to take back that parka and get something for you more befitting my disastrous taste.

[mathemagier]

[He might have moved to London and spent some time in Alaska and Hong Kong, but Hermann's still very European, sorry]

You'll do no such thing.

[driftsintobuffetline]

...Alright, no, I won't, but ONLY because I'm a great guy, okay, and an awesome best friend and that's a sweet parka.

[More fidgeting]

ANYWAY! Uh,since my cereal's probably dead by now, you wanna go out and pick up something with me?

[mathemagier]

[To anyone else, that would probably sound like a date request. Even for Hermann, it sounds a bit strange. He gives Newton an appraising look and steps back from the door]

Clean up, and then we'll go.

[driftsintobuffetline]

Yes, mom. [He rolled his eyes but went to work tidying up and finding himself a clean shirt to wear.

It wasn't a date--it sounded perfectly normal to Newt, who wasn't trying to think of this as anything more than a natural evolutionary process, a hopeful step in a new direction. They no longer had to think of themselves as coworkers, as lab partners. They were Best Friends. He had known Hermann, in some manner, for a third of his lifetime. By now, war over, they could socialize outside. In public. Like normal people did. He could ask Hermann to coffee, Newt thought, hoped, and not have to feel like he was trying too hard, being too friendly, being too much and too desperate, that he'd scare this new friend away. Or he wanted to think that way. Anxiety wasn't quite letting him, but he wanted to think he could be a friend while still being himself.

Dammit, he just wanted to hang out with Hermann.]