random loose threads

[driftsintobuffetline]

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2016
January 29 - Returning from Submarining
February 13 - What are you thoughts on MARRIAGE?
February 16 - Day 1, Soviet Occupied Import Cities
March 12 - They were supposed to talk about Miles and Greg, but talked about themselves instead
April 14th - Kinks, Tatts, and Power Suppression
June - Admiring the Ring
July 27 - Hermann's New Car
After the Kaiju Test - Need a New Apartment

Comments

[driftsintobuffetline]

Hermann's excitement was so palpable, Newt wasn't even sure what to make of it. A date was exciting, and it was nice to be welcomed back, but he really didn't think his absence of 5 days was enough to warrant this weird, giddy, beautiful vibe Hermann was giving off.

It made Newt antsy to be away from him for the time it took for Hermann to arrange whatever it was he was working on--FOREVER--it must have been big and important, because it was Hermann who was most worried about being separated. Our ride is here sounded promising. Newt took the stairs, straightened himself at the bottom of the flight, and met him outside the apartment complex.

"Holy--!" He came around the car, eyeing it in awe, running gentle fingers just over the top of one edge, then with a huff of condensation from his breath, buffed out the finger prints left with the soft fabric of his tie. Newt crouched and examined the under-carriage, admired the curves and angles of the body, circled around the car and then peered in at the interior behind the semi tinted windows. "Sweet."

Hermann had outdone himself. She was absolutely gorgeous, like a newly commissioned Jaeger, back when they were rolling out of the assembly with sleek bodies, new paint, and actual funding. Stunning. The Bond car that was Hermann, deep down inside.

He came to a stop on the opposite side of the car from Hermann and grinned at him over the top of the hood. Newt didn't really fancy himself a car buff--and maybe this was a bit of Hermann's personality and interest rubbing off on him--but the car was hot.

"I am having some really inappropriate thoughts right now. Just thought you should know."

[mathemagier]

Hermann laughed, reveling in Newton's awe and admiration. She was lovely, but his date was an entirely different type of wonderful.

"Of course you are." He smiled over the hood and opened the door to slide into the driver's seat. His cane went into a custom slot built into the door and fit neatly as he pulled it closed.

His fingers ran over the steering wheel again and he spun it just to feel the tires shift smoothly with the movement. Mechanical perfection.

"There are a few small things that aren't completed. Mainly some interface functions and damage proofing, but she's perfectly road worthy now. She's even got legal plates and fully insured."

He pat the dash, then turned to Newton. "Anywhere particular you wanted to go for dinner?"

[driftsintobuffetline]

Newt followed suit and slid into the passenger seat, buckling in. His fingers traced the dash and the gearshift, then wandered over to Hermann's knee to rest comfortably there.

The list of additions Hermann still intended to make caused Newt to laugh. What a NERD. It was nice, though, to be back in a car where they could actually feel the ground underneath when the wheel turned.

"How about that nice Italian place, the really intimate one with the waitress who thinks you're cute?"

[mathemagier]

The hand on his knee was an old thrill in a new, if possibly distracting way. So long as it didn't get up to too much, he wouldn't have to ban it. Though he did fluster a bit as he fumbled with his seatbelt.

"I swear you think anyone that so much as glances in my direction is attracted to me. But yes, alright, Italian it is."

He put the car in gear and checked the mirrors just in case, then pulled out along the driveway, steering with care around the bends. For all he effectively test drove her before, he still enjoyed the responses to slight shifts of the wheel and presses to the gas and brake.

"Of course, she is hover-capable for any off-road parking or small obstacles we may encounter, and fully functioning."

[driftsintobuffetline]

"Please. She was, like, super attentive." The waitress so did have a crush on Hermann, Newt was convinced of it. And it wasn't just because of the attentiveness. She kept looking at him, like she secretly wanted him to insult her. Newt knew that feeling well. Also, he was pretty sure she took a picture of them he spotted later on a Geislieb fansite.

Of course the car was capable of all that. Was there nothing Hermann didn't think of?

"But what sort of gas mileage does she get?" he teased. "And zero-to-what in how many seconds? How many cup holders, man? You're not answering the important stuff."

[mathemagier]

"She's a fuel-efficient model with 103 combined mileage per gallon, and capable of accelerating 0-60 in 2.5 seconds. Six beverage holders if you must know, and two trays. Of course, the trays with two extra holders only fold out as necessary."

He hit a button on his door at a light, and a black flat surface emerged from above the glove compartment, complete with a small circular indent for a can or bottle.

"I'll have to remember to store a wealth of napkins and cleaner somewhere, as I rather imagine we'll be eating fast food a bit more often now."

[driftsintobuffetline]

He was not a car person and definitely not into them THAT way, but there was something kind of sexy about all the little add ons Hermann had installed and the way the tray seamlessly disappeared into the dash. It was sleek in the way the Jaegers were, their wartime equipment wasn't, and Newt loved it.

He was getting bothered over a car--Hermann's car, but a car. How dumb.

"I rather imagine you'll need cleaning supplies for more than just that," he murmured, retracting the tray back to its hidden position. Then, he reached for the middle console of the dash to explore the radio options, changes stations obnoxiously until he found something loud, regardless of genre.

[mathemagier]

Hermann rolled his eyes but was still smiling when he turned at the next light. Up until his eardrums reminded him that yes, his car was also equipped with a powerful stereo system.

He glared and sighed under the awful music, then reached over a moment to turn the volume down considerably.

"If you please, I was going to tell you about how the front seats can fold down and provide more room in the back of the car. And I'm sure you've noticed the windows are tinted."

[driftsintobuffetline]

"...You kinky bastard," he grinned and strained his shoulder-strap out so that he could stretch around to look behind at the seats and the amount of space potentially available. "I'm beginning to think I shouldn't have ever gotten in this car with you, Dr. Gottlieb. You've had an agenda from the start, clearly. Only thing you're missing is a shag carpet and then you'd totally have a love-mobile."

Newt settled back into his seat and let out a low whistle and a breathy laugh. "Wow, dude. Confession: I almost feel out of my league here. Like I'm dating the millionaire playboy. I'm supposed to be the rockstar taking you in overpriced cars to dine in nice restaurants. Or fast food joints. Whatever. This is hilarious. Fantastic, but hilarious."

[mathemagier]

"Millionaire playboy," Hermann half-laughed, smiling out at traffic and waiting for the light to change. "Really now. Just because I can anticipate requiring more room in the back at some point in the future." Though really, why else would they ever need the front seats down?

The light changed and he focused on making it through the intersection unscathed.

"While I'm certainly not either of those things, it's well enough that I can both surprise and delight you at points. About as close to 'rockstar' as I'm likely to get."

[driftsintobuffetline]

He laughed with Hermann. Must you roll those r's so wickedly, dude?

Newt reached over initially to flick Hermann's ear or something equally obnoxious and changed his mind before completing the gesture, instead, skimming the back of his fingers against the side of Hermann's cheek and over his ear, almost as if tucking hair behind it. The cool metal of his ring brushed Hermann's skin before Newt settled his hand against the top edge of the driver's seat backrest, just behind Hermann's head.

Hermann looked gorgeous in the reflection of streetlights on the clean glass of his car, with the gentle glow of the dash in front of him--all angles and yet with a softness...like a performer on stage--and if Newt was staring a little too long, well too fucking bad.

Finally, he broke the spell and shrugged. "...If you let me put you in leather pants, that'd be a little more rockstar."

[mathemagier]

He wished he didn't have to keep his eyes on the road. All he could manage was a quick smile in response to the sweetness of Newton's touch. Really, once they were parked he'd have to kiss him for it.

"Unfortunately, I highly doubt leather pants would look particularly flattering on me. I'm much too thin." Not to mention they'd probably be uncomfortable but he'd let Newton entertain the notion.

"There, look on the GPS to make sure I have the correct address, I'm not wearing my glasses and I haven't programmed any speech capabilities yet."

[driftsintobuffetline]

As PPDC scientists, they had rarely gone anywhere, let alone drove themselves, and for the entirety of their stay here, Newt and Hermann had used taxis to get around. It was a big change to now not be able to safely distract Hermann with all sorts of annoying and playful ideas.

Hermann's words gave Newt pause and made Newt think of a suggestion, kind of, that Greg had once made while discussing Miles and Hermann's insecurities.

He squinted at the digital screen on the GPS and nodded. "There should be a place to park around the back."

Newt waited until Hermann had secured the emergency brake before trailing his fingers along the nape of the man's neck. "You know... I like your skinny bod--and I'm not saying it to get you to test out the fold-able chairs--I think you'd look fucking amazing in leather pants."

[mathemagier]

Hermann drove around to park, pleased once again at the smoothness of the stop. Not that terrible jerking the hover systems often troubled with given their lack of traction.

He folded his hand over Newton's and gave the man a quizzical smile, equal parts fond and disbelieving.

"I doubt that, but perhaps we could try sometime." Hermann leaned in for a kiss, then switched the car off and opened his door to retrieve his cane. "For now let's enjoy dinner."