Newton was the one to suggest they upgrade from letters to emails all those months ago. Not because he didnât love the medium, he assured Hermannâit makes me feel like Iâm some sort of romantic hero, he explained once, and Hermann wasnât quite sure how to take thatâbut because he was tired of waiting over a week for a response. Their correspondence was not time-sensitive back then, not by any means, and itâs not now, but Hermann understood his impatience. The days between sending a letter off and receiving one in return were exciting, and they gave Hermann something to look forward to whenâexhausted, tenseâheâd return home from working at the university or alongside his father. But they were also long, and often Newton would be delayed in responding, or Hermann would be delayed in responding, or the postal service would be delayed in delivering, andâonceâthey went nearly an entire month without hearing from each other when Newton moved house.
That was the tipping point, actually. In Newtonâs letter after that month, he finally signed off with both his (personal đ, he made a point to clarify) email and phone number. Text anytime, he said.
Hermann did not text, but he emailed, and he continued to not text until Newton emailed his phone number once more with dude seriously just text me itâs so much easier.
heheâŚâŚyesâŚ.also hermann seeing newt as some sort of Hunky Genius is SO funny and one of my favorite things ever. i also maybe wrote this a LOTTT sappier and more Romantic than i intended LOL feel free to send in another request for a much sillier redo (ie: hermann pining over newt doing something dumbass)
It was always hard explaining Newton to colleagues, back in the day. No, Newton was not a research partner, technically, nothing that officialâthey were not paid to write each other, nor thrown together against their will. Newton was not a boyfriend, either, nor some long-lost love or overseas fiance, nothing so romantic, even if Hermann grinned like a fool when each new letter came in, even if the very mention of Newton made his heart flutter, even if Hermann kept photographs Newton sent of himself tacked up his walls and above his desk. They were friends. They were colleagues. Hermann thought Newton was brilliant and admired him, and Newton admired Hermann in return.
Of all the universes they could have had, this was theirs: A Newton Geiszler shaped thing trussed up in a cell, and Hermann Gottlieb desperate and unable to give up hope. . To save Newtonâs life, Hermann is driven to tinker with the very handwriting of god.
Chapter 24/25: Written In the Code of Time and Space
The fight continues
If youâre looking for something to surreptitiously read under the table to tune out your family this Thanksgiving, might I recommend a dark, comically meta, character-driven, dimension slider about the aching inevitability of human frailty even in the face of dire consequences and the promise of love? Featuring a healthy dose of humor to balance it out? Look no further! Iâve been working on this monster for most of this year, and itâs been a journey. Iâd be delighted if you would join me for this final lap.
AlmostâŚ. doneâŚ..one lastâŚ. chapter. Iâm aiming for Friday. Monday at the absolute latest, if only so I can have the pleasure of writing in a leisurely manner on Sunday.
Of all the universes they could have had, this was theirs: A Newton Geiszler shaped thing trussed up in a cell, and Hermann Gottlieb desperate and unable to give up hope. . To save Newtonâs life, Hermann is driven to tinker with the very handwriting of god.
Chapter 22: Little One
In two worlds, a plan unfolds in the depths of the earth.
This chapter is the beginning of the end! From now until chapter 25, I will be posting every two to three days. If youâve been waiting to read this until the end, well, the end is nigh, and this is a great time to begin.
ALWAYS TAKING PROMPTS BABEYâŚim terrible at catching up with them (i definitely have some from june and august buried in my inbox i havent thought of inspo for yet) but..! (also this prompt is SO cute and i borrowed a passing comment from a ficlet i posted last week where hermann tries to flirt by sending a single heart emoji lmfao)
This isnât the first time that Newtâs caught Hermann staring at him (Hermann, sometimes, likes to go the passive-aggressive route when Newtâs fucked up and glare at him from afar until Newt notices and comments), but itâs the first time that Newt can remember Hermann being soâŚblatant about it. And in a not-pissed way. Heâs not even pretending to hide it. Heâs just standing at his chalkboard, chalk poised, watching Newtâs every move: carrying specimens back and forth from the lab fridge, cutting open organs, tapping his scalpel against his workbench in time with the music playing over his earbuds. Itâs enough that Newt thinks he mustâve spilled something on himself, or something. He pulls one earbud out. âDude,â he says, âwhat gives?â
Of all the universes they could have had, this was theirs: A Newton Geiszler shaped thing trussed up in a cell, and Hermann Gottlieb desperate and unable to give up hope. . To save Newtonâs life, Hermann is driven to tinker with the very handwriting of god.
Chapter 21: Pet Project
Newt reveals what he knows of the Precursorâs âPlan Bâ
Of all the universes they could have had, this was theirs: A Newton Geiszler shaped thing trussed up in a cell, and Hermann Gottlieb desperate and unable to give up hope.
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To save Newtonâs life, Hermann is driven to tinker with the very handwriting of god.
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Much of the subterfuge depends on Professor Hermann Gottlieb. A step forward, and a step back.
Aesthetic: Newt/Hermann + Freeing Newt from the Precursors
A moodboard for the first few chapters of my new Pacific Rim fic Only Human (After All), which follows the process of freeing Newt from Precursor control, Hermann badgering a variety of governmental officials into not giving up on Newt, and the new co-Marshalls Jake and Nate trying to keep their remaining scientist sane while they save a manâs soul and plan a war.
Avelera 