Manchester

Date/Timing: 16 September 2005
Setting: in and around the University of Manchester; Manchester, England, United Kingdom
.
== Revised text ==
- GOTTLIEB - 
reads the sign held by a tweedy, middle-aged man waiting in the hotel lobby when Karla, Hermann, and the porter with their suitcases emerge.
Karla marches them straight over, announces, "I'm Karla and he's Hermann Gottlieb."
"Wonderful!" The man tucks the sign under his arm. "Good morning, Ms Gottlieb—"
Karla bobs her head.
"—and I'm so pleased to finally meet you, young man! Doctor Don McGuire—"
Hermann starts.
"—high-energy physics." He offers Hermann his hand.
Hermann, heart stuttering, accepts a surprisingly enthusiastic grip. "It—" Clears his throat. "It is an honour to meet you, Doctor, sir. I can only hope to write something as insightful as your latest paper on the current state of neutrino detectors someday."
"You've read my paper?"
"I have read all your papers, sir."
"Of /course he's read your paper," adds Karla—
Doctor McGuire blinks—realizes he still has Hermann's hand, drops it hastily. "Apologies, Mr Gottlieb." 
—"He drinks astrophysics like water."
Doctor McGuire studies Hermann, murmurs, "They said you were a wunderkind, but ...." Shakes himself back into the moment. "Well, we're /so very happy you've thrown in with us, Mr Gottlieb."
"I, uh, hope I live up to your expectations, s-sir."
"You will, you will!" Doctor McGuire shifts toward the door. "We should probably set out if we want to beat the worst of the crowds. I have a car for us. If you'll follow me ...."
They head outside and to the cab waiting on the forecourt.
Karla steers Doctor McGuire into the front seat with one of her Looks.
Beside her, Hermann sighs, but spends the surprisingly short drive chatting with Doctor McGuire about particle accelerators.
"Just here, please," says Doctor McGuire, and the cab pulls up near a pair of security guards with 'UoM CAMPUS' across their vests. 
Hermann and Karla ease themselves out while Doctor McGuire pays the driver; Hermann shifts his sweaty grip on his cane.
The cabbie appears and unlocks the boot as Doctor McGuire joins them, greets Security, then, "Mr Gottlieb, Ms Gottlieb, these are our Heads of Security and Residence Patrol. They'll be helping us to your lodgings."
The security guards tilt their hats. 
Karla says, "Pleased to meet you." 
Hermann meeps. 
"Apologies for the crowds," says Doctor McGuire. "Doctor Gottlieb was so vehemently against any interaction with the press that we thought the standard moving day would make for a lovely smokescreen." 
"Thank you," says Karla.
"P-press?" squeaks Hermann.
"Mhm. Local outlets always cover the incoming cohort and, well, you're the star."
Hermann swallows.
Doctor McGuire smiles, consults a slip of paper from a pocket as the security people attend their bags. "We're headed this way." Gestures. 
"We'll follow you."
"Of course." Doctor McGuire nods to the guards, then cuts a path along the pavement, tossing chatter over his shoulder as they navigate the crowds. 
Hermann responds absently, but mostly tries not to flutter or melt under his armour of layers as he hobbles along. 
Karla matches step, arms crossed and shoulders straight, watching everything with suspicious, narrowed eyes. 
And then Doctor McGuire says, "Here we are!" 
Another man in campus security livery props open the exterior door of this particular residence hall.
Doctor McGuire shows an ID and they're waved through.
An elevator waits almost immediately inside and Doctor McGuire directs them to the second floor. He stops barely three meters later, works a key in a lock, and swings open a door. "This would be your room."
"Thank you, sir," mumbles Hermann, wobbling by.
Smallish, neat, bright with light from two good-sized windows. A bed, desk, ergonomic chair, wardrobe, dresser, mirror, shelves. A door—
"The second door is your private washroom."
Hermann scratches his chest.
The guards set the luggage beside the bed, bob their heads, exit. 
Doctor McGuire shuffles his feet. "Well, before this gets /too awkward, I'll leave you two to get settled in." He offers— 
Hermann takes his business card and the key to the room.
—smiles. "Drop me an email or by my office hours to talk physics—or anything—whenever you'd like."
"Th-thank you, sir. I may do that."
"Don't be shy about it, now. It's an absolute joy to talk to a student like you, Mr Gottlieb." Doctor McGuire smiles reassurance, tips an imaginary hat, and exits, leaving the door wide open.
Hermann looks to Karla.
"What?"
"Th-they-they sent the-the leading researcher on their physics faculty /to /unlock /my /door."
"You're basically a child prodigy, Manny. They want to impress you, so when you're famous someday you donate a lab or something." Karla heaves a suitcase onto the mattress with a huff. "Probably why they assigned you such a big room."
Hermann shakes his head, then motion outside the window catches his eye.
A large crowd of his fellow students(!) and their families schlepping suitcases and boxes along the paths.
""So /you're the lucky duck who got the 'master suite'.""
Hermann controls a flutter, whirls. "E-excuse me?"
Karla attends the door with ... interest?
"Your room," explains the young South Asian man looking at Karla. "It's the biggest on the floor, it's a corner so you've got /two windows, /and an en suite bathroom." Sizes her up. "Who're you related to and what did you get on your exams?" 
Karla sparkles, says, "If I told you, I'd have to kill you." 
He grins. "Forgive the familiarity, Miss ...?"
"Karla," she purrs.
"Well, Miss Karla, I wanted to know if you needed help with your belongings. If you did—" Bows. "—I'm 'help'." 
"Well, you could help me get this—" Nudges a bag with her foot. "—bruiser onto the bed." 
"Sure thing." 
The young man gets the suitcase up beside its fellow, then turns to her. "I'm Bakshish Singh, by the way."
"A pleasure."
Singh preens a bit.
Hermann ....
"Unfortunately, we're already done in here."
"What about the rest of your stuff?" 
"That's the rest of it." Karla sighs.
"You're joking, yea? You don't even have sheets for the bed!"
"Oh, that. Those are coming later."
"Aha! You got a head start on your parents with—" He nods to Hermann. "—the rest of the help. Wise move, there."
"I'm actually moving /him in." 
"Really? You're kinda young for a first year."
Hermann looks at Karla. 
"Boy genius and all that. Hermann, go put your toiletries away." 
Hermann picks up his kit and slinks to the washroom. 
""A freight handler's delivering the less essential essentials.""
""Not your parents?""
""Our father couldn't spare the time, so we're all on our own.""
""Really, now."" A pause. ""Would your father be interested in talking to my mother about letting kids spread their wings?""
Hermann gulps, fiddles with his facecloth. 
""He's not much of a conversationalist,"" Karla drawls.
""'s worth a shot."" 
Silence. 
Hermann peers out.
Singh's smiling at Karla.
Karla's smiling back.
Hermann looks from one to the other, blinks rapidly.
""Bakshish! This box needs ye!"" yells a feminine voice.
Singh rolls his eyes, hollers, "In a moment, Sissy!" To Karla, sheepish, "Sorry. Duty calls."
Karla waves airily. "No need to apologize. Thanks for offering." Takes a step closer. "I don't suppose /you could use a little help with that box?"
Singh grins. "The more the merrier."
"Karla—"
"Have you finished with your toiletries?"
"Yes." 
"Then you can start on your suitcases. I'll just be a moment," she smiles. 
"I promise to bring her back in one piece," adds Singh.
Hermann stifles a face-palm.
""Bakshish!""
"Coming, Sissy! Don't get your knickers in a twist!" 
""My knickers're none a' your business!""
Hermann blushes to the tips of his ears, coughs over a laugh.
Singh sighs, beckons Karla. "Let's go before my baby sister blows a gasket."
Karla, smug, strolls to the door, passing a little too close to him on her way by.
"Hey," calls Singh.
Hermann attends.
"Welcome to Manchester~!"
Hermann mumbles something like 'thank you', sets to unzipping and opening the suitcase as Singh saunters off.
He works his way systematically through its contents, tucking everything away in its proper place, closes the last dresser drawer with a satisfying /thump, turns his attention back to the activity outside.
""I got his number~!""
"Is he your 'type'?" sighs Hermann without turning around.
The mattress creaks under Karla's weight.
""Well, he's /definitely fit. Did you see his arms?""
"I didn't notice." Hermann pries himself away from the window, faces Karla.
"/Really nice arms." She melts a little.
Hermann does not roll his eyes.
"As for his brain, he /does attend the same university as my genius little brother, so he can't be /too dumb."
Hermann face-palms.
.
== Original text ==
Hermann shuts the last drawer of his dresser with a satisfying /thump and basks in being completely unpacked in time for lunch.
He leans against the desk, absently watches his fellow students(!) schlepping boxes along the pavements to their residences.
""You need help with the rest of your stuff?""
Hermann controls a flutter, whirls. "E-excuse me?"
"Your stuff?" repeats the young Asian man in the doorway. "The rest of it?"
Hermann ....
"If you need help, I'm 'help'?"
"Oh, uh, thank you—" Hermann flicks his eyes over the gentleman's nametag. "—Mr Singh—"
Singh preens a bit.
"—but all of my things are already in place."
"You're joking, yea? You don't even have sheets for the bed!"
"Oh! This is only what I brought on the train. The rest will arrive this afternoon."
"Aha! You got a head start on your parents. Wise move, there."
"Actually, a freight handler will deliver them."
"Your parents tagging along?"
"My father couldn't spare the time from his work to accompany me."
Singh cocks his head, considers. "Would your father be interested in talking to my mother about letting kids spread their wings?"
Hermann laughs nervously. "He's, ah ... not much of a conversationalist."
"'s worth a shot." Singh shrugs, smiles. "Since you've got everything under control in here, I'll get outta your hair and find someone less organized to help."
""Bakshish! This box needs ye!"" yells a feminine voice.
Singh rolls his eyes, hollers, "In a moment, Sissy!" To Hermann, sheepish, "Sorry. Duty calls."
"No need to apologize. Thank you for your kind offer of help, Mr Singh."
"You're welcome~! And welcome to Manchester!"
Hermann ducks his head, mumbles something like 'thank you'.
"If you need anything, my baby sister's in your year and you can ask her—"
""Bakshish!""
"Sorry," sighs Singh. He waves, strolls off. ""Coming, Sissy! Keep your panties on!"" 
""My panties're none a' your business!""
Hermann blushes to the tips of his ears, coughs over a laugh.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Manchester (setting)
Category:Hermann
Category:Hermann's POV
Category:Hermann (ficlet)
Category:Bakshish
Category:Bakshish (ficlet)
Category:Vigsai
Category:Vigasi (ficlet)
Category:Lars (mention)
Category:Ficlets with images
Category:Karla
Category:Karla (ficlet)
Category:Celestial Mechanics
Category:University of Manchester (setting)
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