deleons | hooray, a tfln meme that won't hit captcha!

[Reposting my tfln thread from over yonder! I added a couple of new ones for some extra ~*spice*~ in addition to a couple responses I need to add!]

i.) The same idiot bubble. This time it is bigger and louder.

ii.) Once more, the fruit that you bought in bulk has gone rotten.

iii.) Death, taxes, and you sending me inebriated texts are three certainties in life.

iv.) I am no disposition to offer you advice on your collection of succulents.

v.) I have followed up with the noise complaint on several occasions. The closest thing I have for a response is a wink emoticon.

vi.) There is approximately nine pounds worth of birdseed on my desk. I am certainly not in a Friday mood.

vii.) {wild card: text this nerd}

[Continued from this thread.]

[There is not enough time for Hermann to blurt out a rebuttal by the time Newton storms off. These so-called fruits of his labor would be appropriate if this entire kitchen area isn’t in such disarray. Packets of high-sodium crisps and rotten fruit are splayed on top of their small countertops.

Hermann huffs. Yet another mess he must clean up after Newton! The stress leaves a twinge of pain in his leg. Not much he can do in that regard but tightly squeeze the handle of his cane.

He saunters over to discard rotten apples, oranges, bananas into the rubbish bin. As much as he hates to admit it, it was a damn shame he didn’t partake in a few slices of oranges. Now they sit there molded and deflated, loss of the opportunity to be paired with tea.

Next is… the junk food. A simple task to toss the rest of the biscuits and crisps into the bin.

But he doesn’t. He opens the cupboard to deposit the tin of Pringles Sour Cream but notices--]

…?

[‘Honestly! Must he overdo it?!’ Ten entire boxes of Lemon-Up biscuits. He remembers when Newton first brought them into the pantry. It was one of those weeks where he felt peckish. Two biscuits turned into four, then four into eight. Not his proudest moment in dietary decisions, but they were lovely to have.

A bitter aftertaste is left in the back of his throat. Hermann can easily chide Newton once more for being reckless with his food purchase. Now, however, he can’t find it in him to file another report. He continues to clean the rest of the mess.]

[Hours later, Hermann returns to the lab clad in his oversized parka and carrying a plastic bag.]

Dr. Geis—Newton.

[He hobbles closer towards his side of the lab and places the bag on top of the desk.]

I took the liberty and brought my dinner in for tonight. Though I’m afraid the portion-sizes are far too big for my tastes. You’re free to partake if you’d like.

[If Newton is sharp enough he will probably notice it’s from his favorite Chinese spots. Hermann noticed how the biologist likes to nosh on more of the appetizers than the actual entrees.]

Edited 2021-03-25 01:38 (UTC)

[He is sulking, Hermann. Let him sulk. Can't a guy around here sulk?

He picks up a pile of unappetizing blue gunk out of his current specimen, and looks over at Hermann with the slightest defensive posture. Okay, he's using his first name; that means he's trying to get him to stop the sulking, which is just ridiculous, because it's well-deserved.

... But that smells like Chinese food.

Like, really good Chinese food.

But he can't just cave instantly; that's not very rock and roll of him. Besides, Hermann hurt his feelings. He has feelings, you know. He's a sensitive soul, who sometimes — despite what Hermann thinks — really does try!!!

Trying what, exactly, is heatedly debated.]

I don't know, Dr. Gottlieb. I'd have to cross the yellow line.

[Now, now… None of that, Newton. If there is anyone who excels at sulking, even at the tiniest inconvenience, that would be Hermann’s department.

Hermann doesn’t pay mind to the way Newton is eyeing him, already occupied with removing the cartons of food out of the bag. Ninety-five perfect of these containers are filled to the brim in high-salt and fat. Enough to put any person to sleep in less than three hours.

But he is conscious enough to make an executive decision to have his usual steamed chicken and veg. Even within the fray of this nutritional chaos, Hermann will always follow through with his duller palate.]

Certainly, we can make an exception for that.

[He turns to look in Newton’s direction.]

It appears I have broken my end of our truce. I believe it is only fair that I double-down on that breach and say to hell with the bloody yellow line.

[... He's always been really bad at lengthy sulking. Hermann's the pro at that, but Newt, he's got some kinda manic energy that just can't be contained. It's too hard to be quiet the same way Herm is; that motormouth syndrome, they call it, right? He bites his lip, and then begrudgingly starts to peel off his gloves when his stomach growls at him.

Betrayer.]

I guess we could — make an exception. Like American Thanksgiving, or something, before colonizers messed up the Native Americans. [Crass as always, but it's the first image that comes into his mind. Hermann would totally be That Guy who wears a beltbuckle hat, fashion nightmare as he is. He wanders a bit closer, and his stomach growls again. All that huffing and puffing, and he never bothered eating any snacks from the whole affair.] ... Smells good.

[... He's being overtaken by the Chinese food spell.]

[Hermann levels an eye roll at Newton. More out of habit than from annoyance. Even with Newton’s highly decorated CV, his way with words is as clunky as the soles on Hermann’s dress shoes.]

Not quite the analogy I had in mind but yes let’s… set our troubles aside. Please—

[He steps aside from his desk for Newton to have, as they say, “dibs” on it.]

Help yourself. I made sure to pick out your usual order.

[You've never seen someone pick up a pair of chopsticks with more suspicion. Hermann is clearly trying to extend an olive branch here, but is it because he filed another complaint? Is Newt gonna be reprimanded by a tired paper-pusher at a desk? Is Hermann feeling guilty about it, and is trying to compensate?

Or maybe he's just trying to make amends for their squabble. But then, is this something he's gonna be able to hold over his head for future kitchen incidents?

... Oh, fuck it, he's thinking too much on it, and he's so hungry.

He starts going in on some eggrolls as if he's a feral dog dropping its guard to chomp up everything in a food bowl. He's three eggrolls deep and is currently poking at chow mein in a carton when he finally speaks more than just casual, dwindled small-talk—]

You know, it's not like I'm trying to piss you off all the time.

Sometimes I even make a concentrated effort not to. It just backfires half the time.

[Half? If he only knew the margin of—?!

No. No, Gottlieb. Not now. This isn’t the time or the place. Of course, there is some pent-up frustration locked up behind his lips. All-day long, he’s been feeling cross with almost about everything. The pain in his leg only supercharged his dour mood.

His mind was stricken with every account of offense Newton has committed within these walls. From getting Kaiju glands all over his chalkboard to playing those high-paced anime soundtracks. Form after form and not a lick of change to the status quo.

But…

Those feelings soon become pacified the moment he swallows a mouthful of broccoli and carrots. Alas, sanctuary.]

Like that time you decided our office needed to have low-lights and scented candles to, and I quote, “keep the vibes in check”?

[He gives Hermann a little scowl, because that totally is unfair to bring up that horrible fiasco. It may or may not ended with fire alarms getting set off and them getting drenched by the sprinkler system. Ooooh, yeah. That was an event.]

You'd been bitching all day that the lab smelled like innards.

[He's just playing with the chow mein at this point, pardon him.]

I was just trying to make it more palatable, or whatever.

You just don't respect that I have to get my hands a little dirty for the good of humanity, dude.

[That was a gross misrepresentation of Hermann’s grievance. Of course, the damn place smelled of foul innards. But the room needed to be above a ridiculously high temperature that made the entire place a sauna. Never had he felt so sticky, wet, and sweaty all in one go.]

Perhaps…I may have gone overboard in some instances. But I could also say the same for you.

[Gingerly, he cuts a piece of crab rangoon with his cutlery into four even bite sizes. Yet another guilty pleasure brought on by Newton.]

The way you brush off my practical theorems to be illusory. I hardly get anything done around this space and yet, you feel it necessary to take it all.

[He stops prodding at the food, glancing up at the other with a tiny frown.]

... Hermann, c'mon. I know I rib you a lot and we get into it, and — yeah, we fight.

But you know that I know you're one of the smartest people in this whole place.

[Hermann settles himself into the pause, settling his cutlery on the side of the plate.]

At no point was there any doubt of that, Newton. You and I have been in correspondence with our research for years. Some of your actions, however, speak otherwise.

...But I too should admit my faults. Perhaps I may have overreacted to a few mishaps that were not warranted. I let my emotions get the better of me and, for that, I apologize.

Hey, your actions don't always make me feel very bright, either. Mostly, you just make me sound like I'm some kinda nutjob.

[Hermann may have had a lifetime of people thinking he's a huge geek, but at least he's always been the 'sane' one. Newt's biggest hurdles in life were trying to convince other people he was a stable, functioning human being. Which... alright, throwing out someone's food isn't really endearing anyone to the idea of him being sane...

But he's not crazy. He's not.

He sighs through his nose, though, because Hermann apologized.

Which is almost as apocalyptic as the actual apocalypse.]

... I'm sorry, too. I was... a little emotional, too. And maybe I've just been cooped up too much lately. I don't know.

hooray, a tfln meme that won't hit captcha!

hermann gottlieb | pacific rim

for newton | {groupiedrifter}

SWINGS IN DRAMATICALLY ON A VINE

pls be less rambunctious when swinging from vine kthnks :|

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