Succor

Date/Timing: 18 September 2005
Setting: Hermann's dorm room, University of Manchester; Manchester, England, United Kingdom
.
Hermann slides into his desk chair, /tries to read syllabi, but gives in to staring out the window at pavements full of people.
His mobile chirps an alert.
He glances at the screen, sighs.
His gaze drifts—
Someone knocks at the door.
Hermann grumbles to his feet, limps over, takes a deep breath, straightens his jumper, opens up.
A dark-haired, dark-eyed young man waves, greets, "I'm Justin. DASS's assigned me as your Practical Support Assistant. May I—"
"I won't be needing your 'assistance'," growls Hermann, shutting—
Justin gestures for calm. "I'm not—think of me like a valet—"
—the door. 
Another knock.
Hermann rolls his eyes, reconsiders.
Silence.
Hermann twitches open the door.
"Hi, again. All I do is work doors, carry bags—you know—the stuff that can be a pain when you've only got one free hand." Justin bobs his chin toward Hermann's cane. "Every student with less-than-perfect mobility can have someone like me around."
Hermann steps aside, tilts his head, 'come in'.
Justin hovers in the middle of the room until Hermann sits at his desk, then drops cross-legged to the floor.
"I don't recall requesting your services."
"Uh ...." Justin checks something on his mobile. "I think I was in the small print of your acceptance letter. The admins like to sneak things into that. The small print."
Hermann snorts in agreement.
Justin smiles. "So ... like I said, I'm here to make getting around easier for you. Off-campus, too, if you want."
"You're a combination service dog and pack mule, then."
"Pretty much."
"How'd you earn this 'honour'?"
"I'm on work study and there's enough overlap in our schedules the support folks thought I'd be a good fit for you."
Hermann's heart picks up speed. "You're in the astrophysics programme?"
"Plain physics for me—sorry—but I'll be close enough to at least meet you after every lecture and for meals. Live right down the hall, too."
"Ah."
Justin rubs the back of his neck. "Do you, um, want to stroll over to the building for your first lecture? So we can get a handle on the time we need tomorrow?"
"Fine." Hermann heaves himself to his feet. "Let me grab my jacket."
"No problem." Justin unfolds, ambles to the door. "I can hold your—"
Hermann passes over his cane, slides into his coat, reclaims it.
Justin opens the door, closes it after them; Hermann locks up and they set out.
"I plan to dismiss you as soon as it is practical to do so."
"Whatever floats your boat, mate." Justin shrugs, smiles over. "Just give me a good reference, ay?"
Hermann's lips twitch up in answer. "I can probably do that."
Category:Ficlet
Category:Manchester (setting)
Category:University of Manchester (setting)
Category:Hermann
Category:Hermann's POV
Category:Hermann (ficlet)
Category:Justin
Category:Justin (ficlet)
Category:Ficlets with images
Category:Pages with comments
Category:Celestial Mechanics