[SEMI-OPEN] December Catchall

[bijective]

i.) Ritterlichkeit und das Schwert : Training Room

[With Sam currently out of commission, Hermann does not have it within him to stop the momentum of his sword training. He finds it paramount to continue practicing all he has learned so far. Even if it is basic sword strikes against a dummy.

Despite the physical daunting tasks, he continues to press on. Out of breath. Sweating. As long as Hermann can perfect at least one technique, he is making progress.
It’s not until he attempts at another forward strike that he accidentally trips and falls right on his face.]

…Gott verdammt!

ii.) Kuchen für Zwei : Kitchen

[Since the Braccia mission, Hermann had taken to baking as a new hobby. It started very small, at first, experimenting with a simple batch of cookies now evolving into more complex pastry recipes.
Today was no different as he carefully put the final touches on his carrot cake. He’s no idea how it tastes or how others might think of it. It’d be an awful shame if it went to waste.

He can’t help but look at his final creation, scratching underneath his chin out of nervousness. If you happen to be in talking proximity, he will most likely solicit your opinion:]

Please, be honest. Would you eat this?

iii.) Moon’s Reaching Stars: Laboratory


[Hermann promised himself that it won’t another late night. And yet he’s succumbed to listening to the quiet hums of the station as he continues to work at his station. In all fairness, this is all for the sake of future missions and so the timing on his workload is very sensitive. Hermann can’t waste even a second to back down on his current line of calculations.

A small yawn escapes him with his eyes also starting to feel bleary, yet he can’t help but shake the slight pain he feels in the back of his head.

Maybe if he tries resting his head on top of his workstation then…]

iv.) Fall Silent into the Night: Infirmary: [ CLOSED to Close CR - Dec 15-31st ]

[Another migraine. This time it’s more hideous than Hermann’s previous ones. Like a knife jammed deep into his cortex, it feels as though no amount of drugs can ease the pain. All Hermann can remember is trying to walk down the halls in one moment and then hearing young Shinjiro’s voice call out for him as everything soon turned black.

He’s in pain. And he is exhausted.

Minutes become hours as hours soon turn into days and then, eventually, weeks…

Had it been Christmas already? He can’t tell. Eyes far too heavy and sedated to be doing anything.

When Hermann finally cracks an eye open, he is met with a wave of nausea like no other. No matter how much he tries, there is no way for him to get out of bed.

Tired, sick, and alone.

Once more, Hermann closes his eyes, hoping that he will find some light at the end of this dreary tunnel.]

Comments

ii.

[droide]

[ Elthree isn't usually found in the kitchen, but there was a gallon of bantha milk in the latest food supply drop, and she's determined to figure out (on her own) how to make Finn a bantha milkshake.

When Hermann turns to her to ask about the cake he's just finished icing, she regards it with her optic for a moment, before turning her gaze on him. ]

No. [ She says bluntly. ] But I'm probably not the best person to ask.

i

[callada]

[So often, this is Rosinante's training room experience - he's there the same time someone else is, and while he often leaves an open invitation to help if anyone wants it, there are others who seem to take the lead in doing the training of the less-experienced, leaving him to his target practice at the far end of the room. He too often trains adjacent to people, rather than with them.

He's reloading a few rounds when he hears the clang of metal on the floor, the thump and swearing in a language that's vaguely familiar from the mix they have in the North Blue, that creole formed from so many ancient pre-Void tongues, and every time that happens here it catches his attention (and it happens more often than he'd expect). His gaze snaps over to the source of the sound, where he knew Hermann had been, and where Hermann is still now, but. On the floor.]

You all right?

[He calls over, but he holsters his weapon as he goes ahead and starts to walk over.

Maybe he can train with someone this time.]

iv.

[winscenario]

[ It's not hard for Jim to spot Hermann at the infirmary, as he tends to come and go somewhat regularly, if only to say hi to Bones when he's buried head deep in work. He hasn't quite gotten him for long enough to just sit around and chat, and Hermann doesn't look to be in any condition to do so either, but eventually his worrying gets the better of him and he decides to pay him a proper visit.

It's close to Christmas. It might even be Christmas Eve? He's not really sure, and he doesn't really care. But it's late at night and it's quiet in the infirmary, and Jim is wearing an appropriately red sweater and a silly elf hat. He's also brought a couple of things to hopefully cheer Hermann up, like a tiny tree ornament to set up on his bedside table, a wrapped gift that he sneaks under the bed so Hermann can't see it, and a little twig of mistletoe that he's holding by the wrapped stem, just to play it safe.

When Hermann finally opens his eyes, Jim smiles at him. ]

I was going to say you owe me a dance, but...

[ Well, evidently not the time for it. ]

What happened?

ii.)

[spacedisaster]

Oh, I sure would. [ It's not so strange to find Peter in the kitchen, either because he's there cooking himself, or just because. Back in his world, the Benatar's kitchen was one of the places the guardians gathered the most, and Peter's come to associate the space with socializing. ]

Then again, if it has sugar, I would eat just about anything. But it really does look good.

iv

[coordination]

[ Can things CALM DOWN, FOR ONE GOD DAMNED MINUTE HERE????

If it's not one, it's the other. First Newton, and now Hermann? And Hermann ... he had been acting a little off recently, hadn't he? Of course just like Newton, he insisted he was ok, and now...

Ugh.

During the time he's spent out of commission, Yzak's dropped in some. A bit. A few times. Okay fine constantly to see how he was doing, if he's woken up yet. The more time that passes, the more worried he gets.

Until finally, the day comes that he does wake. ]

Hey.

[ That's all Yzak will offer him in greeting. Not to overwhelm. ]

iii;

[kovach]

[ in any other scenario, kovacs wouldn't be caught dead in the laborartory, not out of any sort of dismissal for the work that goes on there, but for the fact that messing around with science is far from his area. he's an action man, build for going out and getting his hands dirty; being cooped up in a lab, for all that he tries to improvise with experimentation if he's on his own, is far from his thing.

his reasons for stepping inside is less for its intended activity for more for ... a particular substance he'd gotten a sample of from newton during one of his early day on the station. and right about now, he's kind of hoping for another taste.

what he doesn't expect at this hour is someone actually inside or, rather, sleeping as it apparently looks like with his head on top of one of the stations.

deciding he'd rather not wake him, he's quiet on his toes as he attempts to move across the room, stealthy for his size, hoping not to wake the man — ]

[bijective]

Ah… [He looks down at the cake. There has been a vital miscalculation on his end.] Yes. I suppose you’re right. My apologies.

[He gives Elthree a polite head nod before setting his confectionary off to the side to cool.]

I suppose then that beverage is for someone else.

[bijective]

["Just a small tumble…" He tries justifying to himself, though it doesn’t do very much to erase the soon-to-be bruise forming on his right thigh.

Incidents like this are par for the course. The only thing missing from the equation is having Sam's words of encouragement as Hermann fumbles for the umpteenth time. Any remnants of self-consciousness are left at the front door.

Using the wall as a clutch, he slowly picks himself up from the floor.]

Yes, I — [He lets out several heavy breaths.] I’m quite alright. It appears I severely misjudged my footwork….

[callada]

That's all right, it happens. You've been taking the self-defense courses a few people here have been holding, right? How's that going?

[Because look, one misstep doesn't mean he's going to assume the rest is all bad. It really does happen to everyone, especially him, and he got top marks in most of his combat training if one were to overlook the notes about his lack of balance and regular toppling over.

By the time he's near, Hermann has pretty well got himself upright, and Rosinante meanwhile counts himself lucky he didn't fall himself on the way there.]

[bijective]

[In all honesty, Hermann didn’t expect to have many visitors. His current condition doesn’t exactly make him suitable to have company around. That and the mathematician has gone awfully pallid as a result of not soaking up a smidge of artificial sunlight.

But the sight of seeing Jim at his bedside tugs a small grin on his face.

Before Hermann speaks, he takes in a slow breath.]

This…? [He groans quietly to himself.] You’re…You’re bearing witness to the result of a three-way neural handshake between human... and kaiju.

[He tightens his eyes shut as he inhales.]

I’m experiencing a ghost drift.

[bijective]

[There is no sugarcoating the amount of pain Hermann had been experiencing the moment he collapsed. All he can do is lie there and hopefully have the medication run its proper course.

Even though he’s in no condition to sit upright and properly greet Yzak, he offers the young man the softest of smiles.]

Ah…There you are, Major. How…[A beat for a deep, shaky breath.] How have you been fairing?

[bijective]

I see…

[Good to know that Hermann’s little hobby can produce some value on the station.]

Well, that is reassuring. It’d be a dreadful waste of perfectly good food if no one bothered to try it.

[coordination]

[ Yzak doesn't smile back, but his expression softens some as he gives a nod back to him in response. ]

I hope you're not expecting any other answer but 'better than you've been'.

But I'm glad to see you finally awake.

How are you feeling?

[winscenario]

[ Jim wasn't exactly expecting Hermann to be the most joyful and energetic company right now, but that's not why he's here visiting him.

At the explanation he nods, not looking particularly surprised to hear it. ]

I had wondered about that, [ He mutters at first, looking him over with concern. ] With Newt's condition, I mean. He told me you two drifted together with the Kaiju, so I worried you might feel those side effects too, at some point.

[bijective]

Ah, well... Thank you finally checking in.

[He stifles a dry cough.]

As you can see, Mr. Kirk that is... [A pause to clear his throat.] very much the case. Are you satisfied?

[winscenario]

I'm sorry I didn't earlier.

[ He means it; he wishes he had sooner, maybe he could've helped Hermann before it got to this point. He lets out a small sigh, pressing his lips in, gently resting a hand on Hermann's forearm. ]

Thought we were on a first name basis by now, [ He points out softly. ] Anyway, I came here for a bit of company. If you'd have me.

[bijective]

Mmngh…Suit yourself.

[It’s not as though Hermann can do anything else. Buried underneath the bedcovers with nothing else to think about but the seething pang in his head.]

[bijective]

Miserable…

[Is all he can muster, but that about sums it all up. There is not enough morphine in the universe to quell this throbbing pain in his head.]

I feel like shit.

[winscenario]

[ Jim beams with Hermann's agreement, taking a seat by the edge of his bed. Nope, not getting rid of him now. ]

I brought you a Christmas gift. But you can open it later, it's alright.

[bijective]

Thank you, but that isn’t necessary.

[He inhales while pulling up the covers further up his torso.]

We are millions of light-years away from Earth. I think we can forgo the holiday pleasantries.

[winscenario]

I know it's not necessary. And it's not a pleasantry, [ He counters, maybe just a hint defensive about it. He lets out a sigh, shrugging at Hermann. ]

I've never even celebrated Christmas before, and I'm not religious. I just got you a gift because we're friends, and I wanted to do something nice for you. Show you I appreciate you, and to cheer you up a little too. Is that not okay?

[bijective]

If it is out of helpless pity then keep it.

[He says flatly.]

It's clear that...Both our priorities are mutually exclusive from each other.

[winscenario]

[ Jim’s expression flattens into hurt disappointment, looking away from Hermann. ]

Guess I’m the idiot for thinking there was more to this, huh.

[ He abandons the little twig of mistletoe on the bedside table (he feels so stupid now, having even brought it with him to begin with), then reaches under the bed to take the gift back. ]

I wish you a speedy recovery, doctor. And don’t worry, you won’t have to deal with me annoying you anymore.

[bijective]

More to what, exactly?!

[The weight of his head pain is tremendous. Hermann uses an elbow to lever himself to sit upright.]

Is that all to your little approach? Sweeten me with gifts and a snog twig? Forget that you had prior knowledge of Newton’s condition without so much as a nudge?!

[A beat.]

Or is the knowledge too intimate between you two that I should be left out of the loop?

[bijective]

Mnnngh… Oh! Bugger me!

[Too late, Kovacs. You really thought you can out silent step this little mouse of a scientist.]

That’s the third time today I’ve nodded off like that! There isn’t enough caffeine in the bloody world for daddy to get back on the saddle—

[And then Hermann spots the gentlemen standing not too far away from where he’s sitting.

Oh dear...]

Oh! Um… [He swallows.] Apologies. May I help you?