Take Care

Date/Timing: 20 December 2005
Setting: Gottlieb house; Berlin, Germany
Revised "Heartbreaker"
.
== Second try ==
Dietrich settles himself cross-legged on the guest room bed, while Karla and Bastien watch from the chair and the floor, respectively. He takes a deep breath and pokes Manny's mobile to reconnect to the last caller.
It barely completes a single ring.
""Oh, thank /god, Hermann! It's been /four /days, mate!"" yelps a young voice.
At least, that's what Dietrich /thinks he said. 
""Is everything alright?""
"Edan, this is Hermann's brother Dietrich," he says, enunciating each word.
""Diet ... what? Where's Hermann? Did something happen to him?"" There's rising panic in his voice.
"He's alright now, but he was badly hurt the night he arrived."
Edan squeaks. "I-i-is he okay?"
"He'll heal fully in time."
""What happened?""
"It was an accident and he lost a lot of blood. He'll be fine once he gets his strength back up."
""Jesus."" A deep, shaky breath. ""I guess that's ... good?""
"As good as we can hope for." Dietrich steels himself. "But he won't be returning to England after the holiday."
""What?! Why not?!""
"Our father has already withdrawn him from Manchester and enrolled him in a Berlin college." Grits his teeth. "He feels it is in Hermann's best interest to make this transfer."
""Of all the fucking /stu-pid—"" 
The rest of Edan's commentary vanishes in a flood of gibberish that's probably Scottish invective, the mildest bit of which sounds like 'absolute fucking doughnut'.
Dietrich chuckles despite himself.
Karla and Bastien raise eyebrows.
He waves, 'later'.
""Is Hermann alright with this?""
"No, he's not. He and our father had quite a fight about it and my sister and I tried to convince Father otherwise, but he won't be persuaded."
""Why ...?"" A pained beat. ""Is this about ... is this because ... did he tell you about me? And him?""
"He did. My sister and brother and I were overjoyed you found each other."
Thumbs up from Karla and Bastien.
""But not your dad, yea?"" sighs Edan.
"Not our father, no," agrees Dietrich. "He's very conservative with regards to relationships—"
""Like you and your girlfriend, yea? Hermann, uh, mentioned it.""
"Exactly like that, but this decision is about keeping Hermann close to home. Father is—" Fights down the contempt in his voice. "—he's very protective of Hermann."
""He doesn't need to protect Hermann! He was doing a fine job on his own!""
Dietrich sighs, "I know."
""He didn't get hurt 'til after he got back there! He was safer with us!""
"Edan, I know. Our father, though, is not a reasonable man where Hermann is concerned."
More colourful cursing.
"I'm sorry, Edan. I truly am."
""So ...."" A beat. ""So what happens now?""
"Now—" Dietrich grins. "—because our Father is monitoring Hermann's email and mobile—you court each other the /really old-fashioned way."
""Wha?""
"I'm afraid the only safe way for you to communicate is through the post. Honest-to-goodness letters."
A beat.
""Is this a joke?""
"No, it really is the only way you two can have contact until Hermann's eighteenth birthday without getting yourselves in trouble."
""Right, then."" Something shuffles. ""Where do I send 'em?""
Dietrich gives the address, adds, "Address them to 'Hermione Bachar'."
Karla guffaws; Bastien /shushes her.
Edan snorts. ""He pick that /nom de guerre?""
"It's my contribution."
A laugh, a /skreeek, more shuffling, and a mild insult of some sort. 
"What's that sound?"
""I'm trying to put on my coat without hanging up. I'm heading to the stationer's /right /now.""
Dietrich laughs.
""You want my details?""
Dietrich makes grabby hands for the pen and paper on the table. "Just a moment."
Bastien hands them over.
"Go."
Edan rattles off addresses in Glasgow and Manchester.
"Got them."
""Brilliant."" A puff. ""Now, I need to run—/literally run—if I want to make it, so you take care of Hermann for me until I see him again and tell him I love him, yea?""
"I will."
""Thanks, mate.""
The call disconnects.
Dietrich tucks the mobile in one trouser pocket, the note in the other, beams at Karla and Bastien.
„Sounds like that went well?“
„Better than I had any right to hope. He's off to buy paper right now.“
„Perfect,“ smiles Karla.
„Why were you laughing?“ asks Bastien.
„Well, the second time was because he was trying to talk and dress for the shop at the same time; the first time because he called Father some names I'm not sure I understood.“
„Like what?“
„When you're older, Bunny.“
„Awww ....“
„I'm going to put this—“ Pats his pocket. „—back where I found it, then I'll tell Manny the plan.“
„What about us?“
Dietrich pushes to his feet, ruffles Bastien's hair. „I dunno, fly casual.“
„„Dork,““ teases Karla.
Dietrich waves over his shoulder, tiptoes down the stairs and into Father's office, returns Manny's mobile to its 'hiding' place on the bookshelf.
He pads quickly to the back bedroom, raps on the doorframe, calls, „Manny?“
Manny, face-down in his pillow, wings drooping off the edge of his mattress, grunts.
Dietrich slips inside, closes the door behind, pulls the chair over to bedside, and sits.
„„What do you want.““
„I have some good news for you.“
„„Unless Father's changed his mind, fuck off.““
Dietrich asks the ceiling for patience. „We figured out a way you and Edan can keep talking.“
Manny scoffs.
„Seriously, Manny, this'll work.“
Manny drags his head around to face Dietrich, sighs, „Father's watching /everything.“
„Bunny found a loophole.“
„Really.“
„Really,“ assures Dietrich. „You'll write letters.“
Manny objects—blinks. „That /will work.“
„I know. Bunny's a genius.“
„Wait. How will I /get letters? Father's—“
„He's sending them to Sabine and she or I will bring them to campus. She'll hold them for you until you move out of here, too. Like Bunny said, Father will /never look for them there.“
Manny blinks tearing eyes, croaks, „Thank you so much.“
„Thank Bunny for the idea.“
„I'll do that.“ 
.
== First try ==
Dietrich hunches over his mobile in the guest room, ears tuned for the chime of the second mobile waiting silent beside him on the bed.
/dee_gee: I dont want to do this
/bee_na_bee: <3
/bee_na_bee: Its better u than him wondering forever
/dee_gee: Yr right but ...
/dee_gee: I dont wnt to break his heaert
/bee_na_bee: Its not yr fault
/dee_gee: Damn father for making me do this
The second mobile chimes.
Dietrich takes a deep breath.
/dee_gee: Hes calling
/bee_na_bee: U can do this
/bee_na_bee: <3
He sighs, drops his mobile, picks up Manny's and accepts the connection.
""Oh, thank /god, Hermann! It's been /four /days, mate!"" 
Dietrich /thinks he understood that through the accent. 
""Is everything alright?""
"Edan, this is Hermann's brother Dietrich," he says, enunciating each word.
""Diet ... what? Where's Hermann? Did something happen to him?"" There's rising panic in his voice.
"He's alright now, but he was badly hurt the night he returned."
Edan gasps.
"The injury was very serious, but he'll heal fully in time."
""What happened?""
"It was an accident and he lost a lot of blood. He'll be fine when he gets his strength back up."
""Jesus."" A deep, shaky breath. ""I guess that's ... good?""
"As good as we can hope for." Dietrich steels himself. "But he won't be returning to England after the holiday."
""What?! Why not?!""
"Our father has already withdrawn him from Manchester and enrolled him in a Berlin college." Grits his teeth. "He feels it is in Hermann's best interest to make this transfer."
""Of all the fucking /stu-pid—"" 
The rest of Edan's commentary vanishes in a flood of gibberish that's probably Scottish invective, the mildest bit of which sounds like 'absolute fucking doughnut'.
Dietrich chuckles despite himself.
""Is Hermann alright with this?""
"No, he's not. He and our father had quite a fight about it and my sister and I tried to convince Father otherwise, but he won't be persuaded."
""Why ...?"" A pained beat. ""Is this about ... is this because ... did he tell you about me? And him?""
"He did. My sister and I were overjoyed you found each other."
""But not your dad, yea?"" sighs Edan.
"Not our father, no," agrees Dietrich. "He's very old-fashioned with regards to relationships, but his decision is about keeping Hermann closer to home, not his friendships. Father is—" Strains to keep his voice neutral. "—he's very protective of Hermann."
""He doesn't need to protect Hermann! He was doing a fine job on his own!""
Dietrich sighs. "I know."
""He didn't get hurt 'til /after he got back there! He was safer with us!""
"Edan, I know. Our father, though, is not a reasonable man where Hermann is concerned."
More colourful cursing.
"I'm sorry, Edan. I truly am."
""So ...."" A beat. ""So what happens now?""
"Father gave Hermann two choices, but they both mean the same thing for you: Hermann must break off all contact with you and his other university friends and stay here, in Berlin."
""That's mad! What sorta man can /do that?! To his own /son?!""
"A man who thinks he's doing the right thing."
Edan scoffs.
"I'm sorry."
A deep breath. ""How can he do this?""
"Hermann's a minor. Our father controls him until he turns eighteen. There's nothing we can do to fight him. I've done what I can and I'll keep trying, but ...."
""I-I don't ...."" Edan's voice goes thick. ""I don't understand how a dad can ....""
"He's not reasonable. There's nothing to understand: we can only accept."
""So this is 'get lost Gingersnap lose this number', yea?""
"I'm truly sorry. Hermann really /does love you and he's never been happier than since he met you. This isn't his choice; not what he wants for himself and for you."
""Tell him—"" A gasp. ""Tell him I'm sorry I didn't talk to him sooner and that I won't ever forget him.""
"I will, Edan, I will."
""Thanks for that, at least. T-take care and ... take care of Hermann for me.""
"I will."
A soft sound as the call disconnects.
Dietrich tucks the mobile in his pocket, drags both hands over his face. Another deep breath and he drags himself to his feet, trudges to Father's office, returns Manny's phone to its 'hiding' place on the bookshelf, then quickly retraces his steps to the guest room and collapses on the bed.
His own mobile in hand, he texts Sabine.
/dee_gee: Its done
/dee_gee: I broke that boys heart
/bee_na_bee: Its for the best
/dee_gee: They desrve better
/bee_na_bee: I know
/bee_na_bee: But what can we do?
Dietrich drums his fingers against the sides of his mobile.
Asks the ceiling for guidance.
A slow, wicked grin crawls across his face.
/dee_gee: !!!
/bee_na_bee: ???
/dee_gee: I KNOW WHAT TO DO
/bee_na_bee: !!!
/dee_gee: I can let them say goodbye w my mobile
He checks his forwarded messages, confirms his memory, pokes in the new contact, then heads to Manny's room, quickly and quietly.
Category:Pages with comments
Category:Celestial Mechanics
2005 12 20
Category:Prompt
Category:CM: Eclipse
Category:Ficlet
Category:Berlin (setting)
Category:Dietrich
Category:Dietrich's POV
Category:Dietrich (ficlet)
Category:Edan
Category:Edan (ficlet)
Category:Lars (mention)
Category:Ficlets with images
Category:Conversations on phones
Category:Karla
Category:Karla (ficlet)
Category:Bastien
Category:Bastien (ficlet)
Category:Hermann
Category:Hermann (ficlet)
Category:Hermann has wings
Category:Sabine (mention)