Pancakes, layers, low contrast, and leashes

Chapter 31: Pancakes, layers, low contrast, and leashes
==Text==
===AN 31.1===
Hermann startles awake and fumbles at the bedside table for his chirping phone. Thumbing blindly, he manages to silence it while scrabbling with his other hand for his glasses.
rise n shine
bring a sampling kit from my lab to the dock?
tryin to beat the rain
early birds you kno
Hermann stretches his back and wings, each pop evidence of the hours hunched over a keyboard the day before.
He types—
I will be there shortly.
—and hurriedly pulls on his binding, a clean t-shirt ('暴風赤紅' in 'gold' on 'red'), and his trousers.
*chirrup*
thats my line
Hermann snorts and opts for the elevator on his way to the door, grabbing his leather coat for protection against the cool morning air. He makes his way, limping only slightly, down the winding path to the shore.
Newt, in protective gear, including thick gloves, waves from hip-deep water. "Thanks a million, dude!" He wades closer.
"How on earth did you text me wearing those?" Hermann picks his way across the shingle, testing each step for loose pebbles.
Newt grins as he splashes ashore. "Voice command. Join the twenty-first century, my old-fashioned nerdling."
Hermann holds out the sampling kit.
"Thanks. Needed this to finish up. The rain," Newt glance to the darkening clouds overhead, "would blow my accuracy. For all the goo, though, this area seems pretty clean. Should be able to fix it with some standard neutralizer. We might be able to swim soon. Which will rock." He frowns at the mud stirred up by his footsteps. "Well, if the bottom is as clean as the water. The toxins may have just settled."
Hermann examines the wavelets breaking against the stones at his feet. "Will you be finished in time to share breakfast with me?"
"Yeah. Yeah! I'd love that! I'll probably finish this before you make it to the house."
===AN 31.2===
Hermann works on pancakes and hums softly under his breath. As he finishes the second round, he hears Newt rustling about in the lab, then water running in the downstairs shower. When the water quiets, Newt's 'singing' drifts down the hall.
Hermann groans.
The rain slams down as Hermann finishes the pancakes, thankfully drowning out Newt's musical efforts.
"Thank god there's no thunder. Would totally crimp my plans for the day." Newt freezes on the dining room threshold. "Dude … ," he whispers.
Hermann raises an eyebrow.
"Dude … Hermann, dude. You're awake and wearing two layers."
Hermann takes in his outfit. "Ah, yes. I was in a bit of a rush dressing this morning. Although, technically, the apron makes it three layers."
Newt waves off the final comment. "You have arms, dude, not just stuffing for sleeves. I haven't seen your arms in daylight since that time the Shatterdome A/C broke. I'm so waking you with early texts more often."
"Do and you'll be making your own breakfast." Hermann waves the spatula at him as threateningly as possible.
Newt laughs until he starts coughing.
Hermann hands him a glass of water.
After swallowing several mouthfuls, Newt croaks "Got coffee?"
"On the table, prepared as you like it."
"Awesome." Newt nearly dives across the room for the steaming mug. He looks at the swirls of cream on the surface. "How's Tim this morning?"
"Tang Mĭn." Hermann shakes his head. "I have yet to check my messages." He pauses. "You didn't open my mail to see for yourself?"
"Wanted to let you keep some privacy," Newt calls as he jogs away, returning a minute or so later with Hermann's tablet. "Could you find out while we munch?"
===AN 31.3===
They load plates with food and Newt digs in while Hermann opens his email.
"Her temperature has returned to normal. At least, normal for someone suffering from a bad cold. There is likely no permanent damage."
Newt slouches in his chair. "That's great. What about Shaolin?"
"She is still 'sleeping off' yesterday's excitement."
"Kinda like her dad."
Hermann sets the tablet aside and hides behind his mug. "You can hardly blame her. She is effectively a newborn." He smiles.
"And you're definitely high on new father endorphins." Newt studies Hermann from across the table. "So … I'm dying to know. Why don't you want an onboard link to an AI and everything it could do?" he asks around a syrupy bite.
"I prefer to rely on my own faculties. If I need a AI's help, I need only send a text message. The small delay is worth having peace and quiet in my mind."
"People have dreamed of onboard intelligent agents forever and you've got your pick of the litter! You know these guys inside and out! You'd be unstoppable."
"I continue to find the role of supervillain unattractive."
"Man, I'd jump at the chance."
"Spoken like the Slytherin you clearly are," Hermann murmurs.
"What are you mumbling about?"
"I said, perhaps you should ask if any of them are willing to bond with you."
"Really? You think someone'd be game?"
"It's a possibility." Newt hesitates. "It could be like having Jiminy Cricket in my brain."
"That is also a distinct possibility."
"You know what? Maybe I'll pass after all. Stick to texting."
Hermann smiles into his coffee. "That is likely a wise choice."
"Myeah … Hey, lemme clean up. You go do whatever it is environmental modelers do first thing in the morning."
Hermann's brow furrows, but he pushes to his feet and picks up his cane. "Thank you. I'll be in my office."
"You may want to lose the apron first." Newt chuckles.
Blushing, Hermann tosses the garment at Newt's head. "Perhaps I should collect Hardship in case the rain escalates to thunder," he teases.
"Don't bother. I'll tacklehug you if I need comfort." Newt waves a soapy hand. "Metaphorically speaking, of course."
Hermann ducks his head and smiles as he turns away.
===AN 31.4===
The initial test of his customized modeling software is proceeding smoothly after Hermann finishes checking on his family, both human and digital, when Newt pokes his head into Hermann's space.
"Got a moment? I have something to show you."
"Can it wait?"
"It's kinda important. Health and safety issue."
"Oh alright," Hermann sighs, puts his computer into standby mode, and shuffles into Newt's lab.
"Okay. This," Newt brandishes one of two bowls filled with algae, "is the normal stuff. This is safe to touch." He points to the other, which is covered with a tightly sealed lid. "And this is bad news. It's actually worse than the stuff we had in Lima. This'll eat down to the bone before you can unscrew the cap on the neutralizer."
"Which means I will see a lot of this," Hermann says as he points to the contaminated sample, "around the lab."
"Yup. And I'll be wearing the thickest gear I have whenever I get near it. Go work for a few minutes and I'll set up a test for you."
Hermann replies to email inquiries until Newt calls to him.
"Twelve dishes. Some are clean, some are nasty. Sort 'em." Newt gestures to the table with a flourish.
Hermann cocks his head and examines the samples in their identical sealed bowls. He quickly sorts them into two groups, one of four—contaminated—and another of eight—clean.
"Seriously, dude? How did you do that? I had interns who couldn't after a semester of trying. One of 'em almost lost a hand. You nailed it in one try."
"I see contrast very, very well. For instance, I knew immediately upon entering our room that you purchased a Kaiju-print duvet for the bed."
"Dammit. I was hoping you wouldn't notice."
"You were afraid I would disapprove?"
"Well, yeah. You're not a big fan of Kaiju."
"If I don't approve, what will you do?"
"Uh, replace it?"
"You really think I'd raise a fuss over a fabric pattern?"
"Maybe? I have no idea what'll set you off. You're a freakin' puzzle box."
"I have no problem with your fabric choice or any of your other decorating decisions thus far."
"Heh. Thanks, I think." Newt pauses. "Mind if I wallpaper the library with your Jaeger posters and my monster movie ones?"
"When we have some free time, I'll even help you hang them."
Newt blinks. "Really? That would rock."
Hermann shakes his head fondly and strides back to his coding, which consumes the afternoon and the after-dinner hours.
===AN 31.5===
As Hermann dresses for bed, Newt perches on the edge of bed next to him. "Hermann? You feeling okay? The thing with Tim and Shaolin still have you shaken up?"
"Tang Mĭn. I feel fine, perhaps slightly better than usual. Why do you ask?"
"You've been nice to me all day. You've never gone this long without insulting me before. You've barely snarked. What's up with that?"
Hermann stops working on the buckles of his binding. "You're clearly trying to be kind to me. I-I felt I should try to do the same." He glances over at Newt. "It's only fair I do my share. We are partners now, after all."
Newt's grin could light a small city. "Dude! That is so … awesome." He wraps Hermann in a tight hug.
Hermann leans in and gently returns the embrace. When Newt finally lets go, he opens the final buckles and immediately works his fingers deep into his wings.
"Still itchy and shedding?"
Rolling his eyes, Hermann scratches at the joint of the other wing. "Obviously." More feathers settle on the floor.
"Onto the chair! Let me try another of these combs on you."
Hermann goes without complaint.
"Whoa. Check this out! You lost a primary!" Newt holds the enormous feather inches from Hermann's nose.
"Of course I did. That's a part of the process."
"This thing is huge! Can I make it into a quill pen?"
"No. We'll destroy it with the rest of them."
"Awwww … " Newt whines. He tucks it behind his ear. "Just for now."
Hermann sighs, presses his wing more firmly against the comb, and closes his eyes.
"You know, you haven't said anything about your new glasses yet."
"I've had other matters on my mind. Thank you for preparing a spare pair for me."
"You're welcome. I stocked up before I left. Didn't want either of us to be blind while we waited for resupply. Though I did figure I would've been the first to break a lens. You chuck 'em around often?" Newt pauses. "The new frames look good on you, by the way, not that you'd ever compliment my taste. More suitable to your new look and your actual age."
"I don't suppose you know to where the chain disappeared?"
Newt pulls a poor imitation of an innocent expression. "No clue, dude."
"Of course not," Hermann sighs as he settles under the covers. "I suppose you'll be using it as a leash for your inevitable pet giant cricket." He lifts his wing to give Newt space beside him.
"They're weta. I hadn't thought of that, but it's a great idea. It'll look much better on Hillary than it did on you. Maybe I'll make him a matching collar, too." Newt nestles against Hermann's side.
"You've already named you hypothetical pet?"
"Well, yeah." Newt shrugs. "I name all my imaginary and hypothetical pets. Old habit."
"I'm not sure which is more bizarre: that you continue to have imaginary pets in your thirties or that you have apparently stolen the chain from my glasses."
Newt pouts. "I have an active imagination, okay? It's not like I had pets growing up, either. No money, no space. I had to improvise." He blinks a moment. "You didn't, either, did you? Is that why your brother is 'bunny?' Trying to turn him into the family pet?"
A silent beat passes.
"Don't you dare say it, Hermann. I know exactly what you're about to say and it's not fucking true! C'mon, you're not even the one with the animal nickname! You siblings are kids! Kids are assholes! They coulda given you some crap bird nickname, but they didn't! Hermann mark two got that honor. And he still lets you call him that even though he's, what, twenty?"
"Bastien turns thirty next month."
"Thirty? I thought he was a college student?"
"He's a graduate student. He took a few years after he finished his undergraduate studies to work."
"Really? He's such a-a … "
"'Playful individual?'" Hermann smiles. "Says the thirty-five-year-old with imaginary pets."
Newt sticks out his tongue and pulls off his glasses.
"Goodnight, Newt." Hermann leans over and brushes his lips against Newt's cheek, then quickly turns away and buries his face in his pillow.
For once, Newt is speechless.
==Meta==
Hermann's t-shirt celebrates Crimson Typhoon.
The Shatterdome A/C broke back in "Greyhound."
Part of checking up on his family includes a conversation with Shaolin, which you can read in chapter 1 of "Good Morning, Shaolin."
'Hillary' is a reference to Sir Edmund Hillary, the first European to climb Mount Everest. He would likely be an Auckland Tree Weta.
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