Regards

Date/Timing: 27 February 2006
Setting: Hermann's bedroom, Gottlieb house; Berlin, Germany
.
Bastien glowers at the monitor from his perch on Hermann's desk chair. „This's so /stupid.“
„Just get it over with,“ hisses Hermann, sitting on his bed, fingers pausing on the keys of his laptop.
Bastien grumps, but resumes typing.
Hermann looks at his screen and resolutely does. not. sigh.
„It's almost like /we're dating her.“
„You probably don't want Father to overhear you complaining.“
„He won't come out of his office for at /least another hour.“
„You hope.“
„I /know. He's like a machine.“
Hermann /does sigh, taps his finger lightly on the 'H'.
„What do we have in common with this kid anyway?“
„His doesn't have a mother,“ murmurs Hermann.
Bastien stills, blinks.
Hermann frowns, shifts against the headboard to resettle his wings under his pajamas.
„Well, hopefully /his father loves him. Unlike /some people's.“
„Just write the damn letter.“
„Why should I?“
„Because Father's more likely to let you visit Dee or go to the library if you do.“
Bastien huffs, „This's /so stupid.“
„Look at it this way: Father's allowing you on the internet for something other than homework /and he's not looking over your shoulder as you type.“
„He's going to read this /and check the history.“
„It's a step in the direction you want, though.“ 
„A teensy-/tiny step.“
Hermann shrugs. 
„But I /guess I'll take what I can get.“
„Sensible of you.“
Bastien grumbles wordlessly, types with force.
Hermann skims over his own letter.
- 
/From: Hermann Gottlieb (HG_CP1919@gmail.com)
/To: Newton Geiszler (ng2505@columbia.edu)
/Subject: Greetings from Berlin
Mr Geiszler,
Please excuse the suddenness of this missive. My father and your mother feel the two of us may have much in common.
Like yourself, I am a university student. More accurately, I will be a student Technische Universität Berlin beginning at the start of the second term in April after having completed a semester at the University of Manchester.
I understand you attend Columbia and have already been offered graduate courses. Your mother was unclear on whether you have undertaken a formal programme, though she did mention your studies focus on biology. -
He grimaces anew at the mention of his mother's pursuits.
- The life sciences fall outside my interests, as I much prefer physics and mathematics. Even so, perhaps our paths will cross in academia sometime in the future.
I must admit I am curious as to what life in the United States is like, having never been farther from Berlin than Manchester, England.
My life here is resolutely boring as I spend the time before the start of lectures with independent studies of the Russian, French, and Japanese languages. The antics of my younger brother, Bastien (who shall also be writing you), are my major source of entertainment, along with the occasional video game.
With that I will close, as you are surely busy with your studies.
I look forward to receiving your reply.
With regards,
Hermann Gottlieb
Berlin, Germany -
Hermann grunts, satisfied, taps 'save draft', and stretches his arms over his head.
„You're done /already?“ whines Bastien.
Hermann shrugs.
„This's so /stupid.“
Hermann rolls his eyes. „Stupid or not, just finish it so I can go to sleep.“
„Stupid stupid stupid.“
„Just—“
„I'm going, I'm going.“ Bastien clatters through more words.
Hermann rests his head against the wall and stares at the ceiling, wishing it was an English sky.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Berlin (setting)
Category:Hermann
Category:Hermann's POV
Category:Hermann (ficlet)
Category:Hermann has wings
Category:Bastien
Category:Bastien (ficlet)
Category:Lars (mention)
Category:Monica (mention)
Category:Newt (mention)
Category:Dietrich (mention)
Category:Ficlets with images
2006 02 27
Category:Celestial Mechanics