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Post by Ludwig Weillschmidt on Oct 16, 2010 11:25:48 GMT -5
Paying no mind to the brush that Gilbert gave his shirt, Ludwig nodded, "That's fine with me." He took a step back as the albino man stooped to pick up first two, and then all three suitcases, his blue eyes widening slightly with mild surprise. He thought Gilbert had just been carelessly bragging when he'd claimed he could still beat Ludwig at arm wrestling, and Ludwig had in turn let the comment slide, but it now appeared that Gilbert did have some substantial strength in that skinny frame. Ludwig mentally smacked himself for doubting the other at all, and rearranged his facial expression back to normal.
"Are you certain you don't need any help?" he asked, glancing at the remaining trunks and bookcase, but no, Gilbert seemed pretty insistent that he return to the shop and finish things up there. "Alright. Don't get lost now." For a brief moment, a horrible seize of fear took over Ludwig's thoughts: his brother would be leaving again. Despite Gilbert's promise to return soon, the blond couldn't help wanting to grab him and hold him still, to do something to prevent him from walking off. And what if something happened on the way to the airship? Gilbert looked unarmed, and he was carrying three heavy suitcases, maybe Ludwig shouldn't have gotten greedy and packed so much--
The German mentally smacked himself again, this time harder. Gilbert wasn't a little kid, and given what he'd been through, and what those multitudes of letters described, he could hold his own well enough. And what sort of stupid person would hold on to luggage during a fight? He was just being overly anxious, and at this rate, if Ludwig tried to stall him more, they'd never be able to leave. Taking a short but deep breath, he replied quietly, "I'll see you soon," and watched until Gilbert's retreating form had turned a corner before getting back to work.
Still, worries about his brother and how successful their "escape" would be hung prominently in the back of his thoughts as Ludwig returned to the apartment building. A brief conversation with the landlords (using the same convenient half-lie as he'd penned in his letter), the exchange of a bit of money, and Ludwig had rid himself of his apartment; after the airship's crew removed all his things, he'd officially have no place to stay. With that in mind, he set off at a brisk pace back to his shop.
He packed up some of his tool chest, then got back to work on the car: the parts Gilbert had worked with earlier had dried perfectly, and everything could be fitted back in place. But Ludwig's focus seemed to be ricocheting around in cadence with his anxiety and, to a small degree, excitement. After restoring a few parts to the car, Ludwig went back to packing, unbolting all of the small machines that he knew he could take with him and packing them into the spare wooden crates he kept in the store closet; everything had soon been stacked tidily near the tool chest, and then Ludwig was back under the car, frantically at work. A few minutes after that and he was bracing a piece of paper against the wall and scratching out a letter to the man he needed to sell the shop to, offering good discounts on the business and remaining machines (too large to travel with), along with instructions on which bank to transfer money to and when he could expect to get the deed if he chose to follow the procedures Ludwig had written down. If he couldn't sell the shop, well... he'd find a way to come back eventually (if he didn't end up arrested) and in the meantime, pray that vandals wouldn't be interested in such a small target.
By the time Gilbert's appointed hour arrived, evening had begun to properly fall, and the shop had turned nearly spotless, with crates of luggage in the corner and Ludwig once again at work on the car, putting the finishing touches on the repairs. Every minute or so, his gaze would flit to the small clock hanging on the wall nearby, as Ludwig listened impatiently for the sound of returning footsteps and perhaps a sharp knock on the door.
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Post by Gilbert Weillschmidt on Oct 16, 2010 19:15:21 GMT -5
The trip back to the ship had been quicker than expected. Much to his pleasure, no one questioned the fact that he was walking down the streets in a cloak while carrying an obviously heavy amount of luggage. It made the entire ordeal easier and eliminated majority of the fears he'd initially had over the move in the first place. This meant that the crew members likely wouldn't be questioned or bothered with either. That meant they'd be able to leave sooner, and the sooner the better.
Walking up the ramp that lead into the ship, the Prussian carefully placed Ludwig's things in a bite and whistled loudly. It wasn't a needed action, but it saved him the trouble of walking around the ship, and right now, he wanted to get in and out. Part of him wanted to visit Roderich and check-in to make sure the brunette was alright, but the sooner he picked up his brother, the sooner he could bring the younger back to the ship, and the sooner the could both start their new lives of travel together.
"Alright, I want you three to go to this address," he began, handing a sheet of paper to three of the eight crew members that had summoned themselves to the Prussian's whistle. "Pick up the bookcase and trunks. The rest of you, come with me. We're getting my brother's things. I want them brought to the ship and taken care of. He's getting the room down the hall from mind. If I find out anything was damaged, you're going to learn how to skydive without parachutes." Hiding his smirk the Prussian quickly turned away from the other ship-members and started back down the ramp. He really did take too much pleasure in scaring them.
Reaching the ground, Gilbert noticed how close to sunset it already was and started off at a sprint. He was already running late and if he didn't get back soon, Ludwig might start to doubt him. The German's trust meant everything to the Prussian, and he wouldn't dare risk it over something as ridiculous as being late. Behind him, the crew members followed at a quick job, glancing at one another as they tried to figure out what was going on. They knew that Gilbert's brother was being picked up, but 'pack-mule' hadn't been in the job description when they landed.
It was dark by the time the albino reached the shop again and he wasted no time in giving the door a sharp rap before forcing his way inside (though given he was being waited for, it wasn't so much forcing as simply entering without waiting.) "Sorry I'm late, bruder..." he said quietly. "I ship was farther away than expected and I had to send the other group to your apartment." Grinning, he crossed the length of the room and gestured for the crew members behind him to begin moving the pile of things Ludwig had packed. "You ready to head to the ship?" he asked, gesturing to the door. "Your stuff should get there a little after we do." ----------------------------- Sorry the post was rushed. I'm trying to move them to the ship so Roddy can finally join.
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Post by Ludwig Weillschmidt on Oct 20, 2010 9:47:53 GMT -5
By the time night had fallen, a man had come with a thick envelope full of money in exchange for the fixed car; the shop now looked strangely empty without any machines to fix and with most of Ludwig's possessions stacked tidily by the door. The blond stood up quickly from a step he'd been resting on upon his brother's sudden return, and although the anxious lines vanished quickly from his forehead, the worried look in his eyes was less easily abandoned. He hesitated for a moment, then folded his arms in a stern kind of way.
"At least you're sorry," Ludwig replied, although clearly his anger stemmed more from concern than from care about the time. "But ja, I'm all ready. I sent a letter to my acquaintence about the shop, and the car's on its way back to its owner." For a little while, he kept a careful eye on the men moving his things, but it quickly became apparent to Ludwig that all of them were taking great care - and that more than a few of them were casting worried looks at Gilbert. Shaking his head, he took a step closer to his brother.
"No point in waiting, I guess," he announced and, when everything had been moved to outside the shop, Ludwig shut and locked the entire place securely. After adjusting a small sign he'd hung on the door ("Closed Indefinitely Due to Family Emergency"), Ludwig turned to his brother with a small nod, "Lead the way."
The trip to the airship at least proved Gilbert's excuse for being late: the two proceeded on a rather convoluted path through the city. Once, Ludwig attempted to speak up, relaying with a bit of pride that he knew a few quicker routes - only to realize that he had no actual idea of where the airship rested (nor would he ask Gilbert to give up such a secret in public) and that after this, he wouldn't be making a second trek back to his shop or apartment for a long time.
After that event, Ludwig fell into contemplative silence, looking around quietly at the businesses and houses they passed and almost feeling a little guilty about not getting to know the city better before leaving it. But, he reminded himself, things could easily get better from here. They could easily get worse, too... but he'd already gone over those options thoroughly enough.
"Is it much further?" he eventually asked in a subdued voice, looking at their surroundings anxiously; the crowded city had given way to suburbs, and then to a few larger estates perched haughtily on the very edges of the town - huge mansions surrounded by expansive lands and even more expansive fences to keep strangers out. Ludwig certainly didn't feel tired, and his heart still launched into a excited hammering now and then. But the heightened atmosphere of the quiet walk and the sharp glances that Gilbert kept shooting down alleyways and roads were beginning to unnerve the younger man; for the first time, he was getting a real taste of what kind of danger they were trying to outrun.
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No worries! I moved things along too, I hope that's alright. Now Roderich can jump in soon!
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Post by Gilbert Weillschmidt on Oct 20, 2010 12:14:07 GMT -5
Glancing back at his brother, an apologetic smile graced Gilbert's features as he realised how tense the journey had been. He'd barely spoken more than a few times, speaking only when spoken to, and even then, saying only the words that were necessary. It was very unlike himself, and he couldn't blame the other for being uneasy. "Ja, we're almost there," he replied in a quiet tone. "Just behind that manor up there. The light blue one."
The Prussian slowed his pace, reaching out from under his cloak to place an arm around his brother's shoulders. They were close enough to the ship and far away from society to assume they wouldn't suddenly be jumped, but he was still careful with his words. Crimson eyes sparkled happily as he explained about each different room in the ship and tried his best to give instructions of where things would be. As far as the albino knew, they didn't have a set destination after this and it would give Ludwig time to explore to his heart's content, but it didn't stop Gilbert form enthusiastically explaining about all the hidden passages he'd found. "I think you'll like this ship, Ludo. Lots of shit for you to screw around with--just try not to take anything attached to the ship apart while we're in the air. We don't need and extra landings."
As the glorious ship finally came into view, the silverette couldn't help but grin. The cloaking device had been lowered until his return and the ship itself was a beautiful sight to behold. However, despite it's beauty, a ship hiding behind manors of rich folk wasn't exactly the most inconspicuous. They would have to leave soon. "And there she is," he nodded toward the ship. "Awesome, huh?"
Leading Ludwig up the ramp, Gilbert escorted the German down several different hallways, pointing to rooms at random and saying which ones they were from his earlier rant and speeches. "And here is the captain's room. I'm next door to this one, and you're on the other side of me. Feel free to enter my room whenever you please. Knocking be damned. We're brothers, make yourself at home there if you need me." Approaching the captain's door, Gilbert knocked once and said something in French before opening the door and walking inside, gesturing for Ludwig to follow. "Roddy~ We're back!"
Without waiting for a response, the Prussian crossed the length of the room and bent down, pressing a brief kiss to the brunette's lips. "Sorry it took so long, but I had to help him out..." Straightening himself, Gilbert gestured to Ludwig with a wide and proud grin. "Roddy, I'd like you to meet my little brother--the one who I sent all the letters to--Ludwig Weillschmidt. Ludo, this is Roderich Edelstein, captain of the ship."
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Post by Roderich Edelstein on Oct 20, 2010 12:52:10 GMT -5
As the night drew around him like a curtain, and Roderich had several lanterns lit around his room. He had a certain fear of being alone in the dark after the attack on his home and found himself jumping at his own shadow; it didn't help that he was planning on going back to Vienna so soon after he'd nearly been killed. Gilbert still hadn't returned and he had yet to leave his room, so he was unaware of the crew's activities. The Austrian hated sending his bodyguard out; the albino was far more noticeable than he would have been, but given the fact that he was practically a sitting duck being wheelchair-bound allowed Gilbert to convince him that he should be the one to go out.
Just as he'd been preparing to send one of his crew out to try and find the Prussian, he returned. Roderich heard the man's voice outside his room and barely had enough time to turn himself around in the wheelchair before the silverette crossed the space between them and kissed him briefly. Still unused to such open affection, especially in the company of someone else, the brunette coloured slightly as Gilbert pulled away, clearing his throat softly.
Turning his gaze to the blonde standing behind the Prussian, Roderich quickly assessed the German; the noble never would have guessed he was the younger of the two Weillschmidts. He had a serious, almost stern look about him, though Roderich could tell by the way Ludwig looked at his brother that he cared about the silverette deeply. He was taller and broader in comparison to Gilbert, who was just an inch or two taller than himself and quite thin.
Roderich sat in silence for a few moments before nodding in acknowledgment of Ludwig's presence. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you; your brother talks about you quite often. Forgive me for not standing to greet you properly, but I am under rather strict orders to remain seated," the brunette said in a welcoming tone, his gaze turning to Gilbert at the mention of his "strict orders" to stay in the wheelchair.
Studying the two brothers in silence for a minute, Roderich sighed and turned to his desk. "I know you two have not seen each other for years and have some catching up to do, but I'm afraid I don't have the luxury to afford you very much time." It went against every bit of his upbringing to deny Ludwig the chance to relax before delving into the serious subject at hand, but they had very little time; it would be best for everyone if he told them about his plans right now instead of waiting. Although, he was quite sure Gilbert would not take the news well.
Holding up the most recent letter from Elizaveta, the Austrian turned back around to face the brothers, a serious look on his face. "The doctor we currently have on the ship is a novice, and while his help is appreciated, we need an expert. It has been impossible to find a good doctor willing to leave their life behind and follow a group of runaways... but I have found one such person," pausing to let his words sink in, Roderich exhaled softly before speaking again, hoping that Gilbert would realize how important this trip would be and would not fight him on it. "Her name is Elizaveta; I have known her for years, but have not seen her since my father died. She is the very best we will be able to find who is willing to come with us. I have informed her we will be arriving to pick her up within the next 36 hours; after the crew makes sure we have all that we need, we set sail for Vienna."
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Post by Ludwig Weillschmidt on Oct 21, 2010 9:07:06 GMT -5
The arm around his shoulders did worlds when it came to comforting Ludwig down: he visibly relaxed a little, and from that point on listened with more eagerness as Gilbert described the layout and places inside the ship. Of course, he was already impatient to explore things for himself. And he even gave a quiet, dry laugh when the other man teased him, "I'm not that stupid... I'd never work on something vital like that while the ship was flying." Of course, that cloaking ability was another story. Ludwig had made it his goal to figure out how it worked as quick as he possibly could so that if, God forbidding, the thing should malfunction, he'd be able to fix it before anyone fell into serious risk.
As they turned the final corner and the airship finally appeared, Ludwig stalled, surprised by both the size and grandeur of the craft. Her design was sleek and modern, and he couldn't resist a low, impressed "Wow." Unfortunately, he had little time to marvel; Gilbert was already steering him towards the ramp up to the door. Somewhat reluctantly, he picked his feet back up and followed, equally as taken aback by the pristine interiors. He had only been on a few airships in his lifetime, all outdated crafts meant for public use with creaking wooden floors and drafts of cold air gusting through the leaky windows. This, though... this almost seemed at home with one of the mansions it sat moored next to, Ludwig thought. He barely had time to absorb all the directions (save for where his and Gilbert's rooms were) before he found himself being ushered into the captain's quarters.
Ludwig's first impression of Roderich Edelstein was one of absolute propriety. Everything about the man, from his tidy clothes to his solemn face to the upright but not entirely rigid way he held himself seemed to smack of a higher class; he looked right at home in the airship. And then Gilbert crossed the room to kiss the wheelchair-bound man, and Ludwig turned his gaze hurriedly away, not wanting to intrude on what seemed like such a private moment. Only when Roderich spoke to him did he chance looking back, the faint pink of a nervous blush coloring his cheeks.
"It's an honor to meet you too," he managed to reply, going slightly rigid with anxiety. Was he supposed to do something special when greeting a nobleman? A bow or a salute or something? Ludwig didn't honestly know and sincerely hoped he wasn't offending his new employer. "Bruder spoke highly of you in his letters. And please, don't trouble yourself -- your health is important." Oh, well, now he sounded like he was giving orders, lovely. Mentally smacking himself, Ludwig took a few cautious steps into the room, snapping again to attention when Roderich spoke again.
The faintest look of surprise passed through Ludwig's eyes as the brunette spoke about their current predicament; he hadn't guessed when Gilbert had arrived this afternoon to explain his offer, that the airship would be so woefully understaffed. The news that he wouldn't be able to sit and talk with Gilbert much made him a little heart-sore. But, Ludwig reminded himself, he'd waited nearly all his life to speak with his brother face-to-face; if he couldn't wait another day-and-a-half or so, that would be pretty pitiful of him.
"I understand," he replied quietly. After a moment or so, something about Roderich's dialogue sank deeper into his thoughts, and he recalled one of Gilbert's more recent letters, filled with a daring description of an attack and subsequent flight. "Wait -- isn't Vienna your hometown?"
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Post by Gilbert Weillschmidt on Oct 21, 2010 10:49:05 GMT -5
The feeling of elation that had come with Gilbert's arrival to the ship with his brother was short-lived as he listened to Roderich speak. An icy-cold chill shot down his spine at the mentioned of Vienna, and almost immediately he stepped forward, ready to protest. The anger was evident in his eyes, and despite the unending amount of trust the albino harboured for the Austrian, he could not think of a single good reason for returning to the brunette's hometown. They could have easily picked whoever this person was somewhere--anywhere--else. It was ridiculous, and the way the Prussian held himself was enough to scream his protest.
"Vienna?" he began in an angry tone. "Are you stupid, Roderich!? I don't care if she's the best doctor in the world! As the captain of this ship, you have an obligation to everyone on it and risking not only your own life by returning, but theirs as well, is completely irresponsible! Dammit. You're supposed to be smart! Think this stuff through!" A fist connected with the wood of Roderich's desk as he glared at the noble in question, eyes flashing. "Sure, I don't know any of them, but as your bodyguard, it's my job to make sure you don't get yourself killed, especially now, and you seem to be making it a point to do everything you can to make that job a hell of a lot more difficult than it should be--and I'll be damned before I let you throw my little brother in the direct line of fire. This is stupid, and you know it! I... ngh..."
Gilbert's fists clenched at his sides as the protests finally started to die down. Despite his close position to Roderich, the brunette was the captain, and, technically, his employer as well... He had a double obligation to follow the Austrian's orders and loyalty was one thing the albino would always have to offer. His mouth continued to move wordlessly, anger radiating around him as he struggled to come up with more arguments against the current schedule of events, but his word meant nothing over the captain's, and he knew that, even if he tried, the crew would likely still listen to Roderich instead. None of them knew Vienna was the worst possible place to be. "...Whatever," he finally muttered. "Run to your fucking death and see if I care. You wanna risk your life over some doctor? Fine. But she'll be worth a bucket of shit if you get yourself captured or killed in the process."
Turning on his heel, the Prussian stormed toward the door, his gaze lingering briefly on Ludwig as an apologetic expression graced his features before the anger was back and he slammed the door behind him with much more force than was required. As he glanced down the hallway, the silverette sighed harshly and started toward the front of the ship, barking orders at anyone he passed to make sure everything was ready. If they were going to return to Vienna, the albino at least wanted to make sure that not a single thing was out of place.
Sure enough, within the hour, the ship was ready to go and sailing through the air. Much to Gilbert's displeasure, the crew had been preparing to leave since his departure to get Ludwig. He didn't like that at all. That meant Roderich knew he was going to get angry and had taken the chance to get things done to avoid his protests. ...Gotta give him credit there, though. He knew what to do to stop be from avoiding Vienna.
When he finally reached the front of the ship, the Prussian stepped out a small side door onto a balcony that looked out over the skies as they soared. The wind was harsh, but as long as one kept low to the ground or held onto the small barred gate that kept people from falling off the ship, they were safe. It was his favourite spot to go to sit and thing, and that was well-known to almost everyone in the crew. It could only fit three people comfortably at most, but Gilbert had never had the chance to enjoy it with anyone else. "Dammit," he murmured, leaning against the wall of the ship as he slide into a sitting position, bracing his foot on part of the gate to keep himself from sliding around. "...This is stupid." ---------------------------------- So... yeah. Gilbert kinda exploded. Oops. Ah, well. Anyone can go after him if they want. It'd be pretty easy~ Poor guy needs a hug right now. Hopefully, I didn't God-Mod here, just trying to speed things up. When we hit Vienna, Elizabeta is welcome to join this thread.
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Post by Roderich Edelstein on Oct 21, 2010 18:56:21 GMT -5
Roderich didn't miss the blond's look of anxiety and had the situation not been so dire, he probably would have smiled and told him not to worry so much. But, unfortunately, there was no time for that. As his words sank in, he saw Ludwig's expression change; he felt guilty for stealing the brother's time from each other, but as soon as they got Elizaveta, they could have all the time they wanted while they were sailing.
Briefly glancing at the albino, Roderich knew all he needed to know about Gilbert's stance on returning to Vienna. In all honesty, he had not expected the Prussian to take the news well; he'd had some of his crew already begin preparing to leave, giving them their orders before the silverette could stop them. The Austrian knew well that he would be risking everyone's life on the ship, and he told all of them where they were going and why it was dangerous. The majority of his crew were former pirates who had tried to live a legitimate life but could never find work due to their pasts; they were happy to have a job again, a steady income, food, and a life of adventure they'd missed since giving up their illegal lifestyle. They had no problem heading back into Roderich's hometown, and for that he was grateful.
What the young noble did NOT expect, however, was Gilbert's rather loud and somewhat violent outburst. Had he not been so well-trained, he would have flinched when the silverette's fist connected with the solid wood of his desk. Normally, he would have kept eye contact despite everything, but this time he looked away. His heart was racing in his chest, fear making his arms feel like they were tingling. Logically, Roderich knew he had nothing to fear from his bodyguard; the Prussian would never try to harm him. But, being that he was already on edge about going back to Vienna and still skittish since the attempt on his life, Gilbert's words and actions scared him.
Instead of allowing it to show, however, the brunette had taken a deep breath to calm himself before allowing his gaze to return to the crimson one that felt like it was burning him. Even after he finished speaking and was doing nothing but mouthing protests, Roderich couldn't bring himself to speak, not quite trusting how level he'd be able to keep his voice for the moment. When Gilbert spoke again, his words made the Austrian's chest clench. Run to your fucking death and see if I care.[/i] Again, the brunette averted his gaze, breath caught in his throat. That was hardly something he ever expected to hear from the silverette...
Before he could look up again, he heard the door to his room slam shut and he was left alone with Ludwig. Swallowing heavily and clearing his throat, Roderich attempted to speak and was angry with how fragile he sounded. "I did not expect him to react well; I am sorry to have put you in the middle like this. I have taken precautions, though, if you have any concerns. Of course, it is still dangerous, and I would not hold it against you for sharing the same sentiments as your brother." His tone was at least even, for all the good that did him. His conviction had wavered at Gilbert's words, but the last thing his crew needed was a Captain who could not stick to his own plans.
Pushing himself back over to his desk, he sighed, voice still uncharacteristically soft as he addressed the German a second time. "You may want to go after him; you two deserve to have time together after you have been apart for so long, and I... have a letter to write, if you will excuse me."
Roderich waited for Ludwig to leave, trying to be as polite as possible in his still-shaken state. As soon as the door closed, though, his shoulders slumped and he let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Bringing his hands up to study them, he noticed his palms were an angry red from where his fingernails had dug into them; he hadn't even realized he'd clenched his fists in the first place. They were both shaking pretty badly, especially his right hand; though, he'd been getting tremors in that hand thanks to the nerve damage from being stabbed and shot in the same arm, so that wasn't entirely surprising.
Running a hand through his hair, he summoned the strength to write a letter to Elizaveta; it took him several tries and he barely finished and sent a messenger on his way before the airship lifted off the ground and began making it's way back toward Vienna; he could only hope the man would be quick and that the shuttle would take him there in time. If the Hungarian was not waiting for them when they arrived, the danger of their mission would increase infinitely; they could not afford to wait.
Taking some time to calm himself, Roderich then left his room for the first time that night and went in search of Gilbert. It still made him feel awful for willingly keeping the brother's from each other, but he had to talk to the Prussian; he couldn't stand the idea of Gilbert being angry with him. That, and he owed the silverette an explanation at the very least; everyone else on the ship had gotten one, it was the least he could do for the person who meant the most to him.
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Post by Ludwig Weillschmidt on Oct 22, 2010 10:42:52 GMT -5
For the duration of Gilbert's outburst, Ludwig had remained frozen in place, unsure of how to react. His brother's angry words had filled him in on all the details about why travelling to Vienna was the absolute worst idea right now, and Ludwig had to admit that it probably would have been a better idea to get this doctor to travel some kilometers away, at least. But he could also (rather horribly vividly) picture what kind of poor shape they might end up in without a qualified doctor, and one that was willing to join a group of people already on the run at that. It was a rare chance, and a dangerous one.
Ludwig had become familiar with Gilbert's angry outbursts; whenever he'd done something foolish or been in some kind of bad situation, he'd written to Gilbert about it, and the return letter would be full of sharp catscratch paragraphs, dirtied with sprays of ink from the hasty furious writing. It was a bit of a shock to experience such anger in person. But as with the letters, Gilbert's real fury lay in how a person he cared about was being put at great risk. It had taken Ludwig a while to learn this; now, he could see it clearly.
"Oh--" Roderich had begun speaking to him again. "No - it's fine." Ludwig gave a quick shrug, "I know why he's upset, anyways. I don't know much about Vienna or bodyguarding people but I'll help any way that I can." As Roderich asked to be excused, Ludwig startled, then nodded hastily and bowed himself from the room, shutting the door quietly behind him. Well... he didn't much feel like exploring or trying to settle in, not until he'd found Gilbert.
Of course, he ended up exploring anyways; having to open every single door in order to search for his brother got old rather quickly. Far from giving up, Ludwig shut the door to a closet and moved on with a sigh. Maybe Gilbert had hidden himself so thoroughly away because he didn't want to be bothered... but as if that was going to convince Ludwig to stop. A few more doors afterwards, he opened one that sent the freezing winds from outside the ship blasting into the hallways. Struggling immediately to close it, Ludwig paused when a flash of silver caught his eye, and hesitantly stepped out onto the narrow platform instead, shutting the door with a clank behind him.
Eyes watering from the cold winds, he glanced quickly down at the man tucked between the hull of the ship and the grate, "I'll leave you alone if you want me to. I just wanted to make sure you were alright." Receiving no immediate answer, he lowered himself to sit in front of the door, pulling his jacket a little more tightly around his frame.
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Post by Gilbert Weillschmidt on Oct 22, 2010 13:59:22 GMT -5
Not bothering to glance up as he heard the door, Gilbert sighed softly and pulled his knees up to his chest. Goosebumps had formed and covered the majority of his skin and a light shiver would run down his spine every few minutes. The cold was hardly anything new, after being trapped in Russia and several days of spending his time on the small deck whenever his emotions would get the better of him, he'd long-since adjusted himself to the bitter winds. "It takes a few times to get used to it," he muttered quietly, glancing at Ludwig out of the corner of his eye. "You'll get used to it after a few minutes."
Smiling faintly, the albino shifted closer to his brother and wrapped an arm around the blond's shoulder in hopes of warming him up quicker. "Sorry for exploding back there," the Prussian sighed. "I must... have looked really unawesome. Roddy is only... trying to do what's best for the ship in the long run. Dammit..." A pale hand ran through silver locks as the albino sighed quietly.
Guilt was tugging fiercely at the pit his stomach to the point it was making him sick. Not a single excuse would surface itself in his mind, and the feeling only grew worse. Yelling at his employer was one thing, but to lose his temper at the person he held closest to him, let alone the man he loved, was completely uncalled for. It wasn't as if Roderich was actually trying to hurt anyone, and without a good doctor, especially a loyal one, if anything went wrong it wouldn't have been long before they were caught.
"The first day I went to work for Roderich... it was by complete chance that I managed to get there in time. He... would have been killed if I'd gotten to the house even a minute later." There was a pause as Gilbert shifted closer to Ludwig once more, taking comfort in his brother's presence. He'd never told the full story in his letters; he could never find the right words to say. "He's a complete wimp with a huge stick up his ass... but Roddy... is a good person. Sure, I'd tease him all the time, but that's because he'd get riled up like a cat thrown in the bath. But.. he was still a good person, without a doubt.
"When I first met him, I really only saw protecting him as a job, good person or not. The old man had asked me to do it, and I was still getting paid, so I didn't care, but... The more I got to know him, the less I started seeing the job and it became the genuine want to protect him. I... trained myself more than normal... because I never wanted to see him get hurt, but recently... I fucked up pretty bad. He lost his family... and because I wasn't... strong enough... he lost his home. He's on the run because I couldn't... protect him against the people coming after him, and not all the people on this ship are dragged into it because I... was weak. I've always been able to protect him, but now... I've slipped up, and look at him. He's in a fucking wheelchair! And now he wants... to go back to where all this happened." Gilbert choked, glaring at his hands as he clenched them into fists. "What... if I can't protect him this time? What if I fuck up again and this time..."
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Post by Roderich Edelstein on Oct 23, 2010 1:11:05 GMT -5
Pushing himself through the halls, Roderich had an uncharacteristic frown set on his face; normally, no emotion would show, especially not a negative one. But, he was too distracted with the task at hand to worry about proper decorum. Instead, he kept pushing through the halls until he reached the door he knew Gilbert would be behind. Normally, he would have sent one of the crew members to get him; he still disliked going out while the airship was flying, but this was a situation that needed him to be there.
When he reached the door, though, he heard voices from the other side and frowned slightly; it seemed Ludwig had found his brother before he'd had the chance. The fact that the brothers had just been reunited almost made him leave so that they could talk, but... this was important. He was still quite unsettled by the silverette's outburst, and the fact that he was so effected by it made him realize just how much he cared about the Prussian and how his bodyguard felt about him. The idea of Gilbert being genuinely angry with him was nerve-wracking. He needed to apologize and explain himself as best as he was able.
"and because I wasn't... strong enough... he lost his home. He's on the run because I couldn't... protect him against the people coming after him..."[/color]
Hearing those words made the Austrian freeze; Gilbert couldn't really be blaming himself for all that, could he? There was no way he had done anything wrong; so he had gotten injured. But, had Gilbert not been there, Roderich knew he would have been dead many times over. Most likely, he would never have even made it out of his father's study, let alone into the airship and to France. So how could he possibly be blaming himself now? His injuries weren't that severe; the biggest problem had been the blood loss, but that was taken care of and, despite the slight infection that still plagued him, he was healing well.
Sitting in silence for a few minutes, debating on staying or going, Roderich finally steeled his resolve and pushed the door open. Icy air whipped across his face and for a moment he squeezed his eyes shut against the wind. It wasn't so bad if he stayed just to the side of the doorway, though; enough to be seen and heard, but not directly in the wind's path. "...Gilbert?" the Austrian called quietly, gently interrupting the brother's conversation. "Would it be alright if I spoke to you for a moment? I won't keep you from your brother long..." Trailing off, Roderich bit his lip, still irritated with how fragile he sounded. If there was ever a time he needed the silverette on his side, it was now; knowing the other was angry at him did nothing for his nerves.
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Post by Ludwig Weillschmidt on Oct 23, 2010 9:13:07 GMT -5
Ludwig nodded quietly in response to his brother's wisdom, brushing some stray strands of hair away from his own face and waiting for the silver-haired man to make the first move. In cases like this, he knew, it was always best to let Gilbert calm down and more importantly, to let him show that. He didn't have to wait long before the other man scooted closer to him and put an arm around his shoulders; Ludwig returned the comforting gesture as best he could.
"It's alright," he reassured the other man. "It happens to everyone." One of his hands went to work, rubbing his brother's shoulder in a reassuring way as Gilbert spilled the details of some of his time with Roderich, stories Ludwig had never read in his letters. The look on the silver-haired man's face was distraught; obviously, he blamed himself for the misfortune that had befallen Roderich. It pained Ludwig to see Gilbert in such torment - especially when he wasn't entirely to blame.
"Bruder," he said, in a reassuring but still sympathetic voice, "you're only one man. You can't expect yourself to hold off so many forces by yourself." He gave a small shrug, "You and Herr Edelstein escaped with your lives, ja? A normal man would have gotten arrested, at best, and that's just with himself to look out for." Gilbert had spared him few details about their escape from Austria, and Ludwig shuddered to think of what could have happened had they not been as quick on their feet or as clever.
"You're not going to mess up," he reassured his brother. "And even if you made some mistakes last time, you've learned not to make them again. You shouldn't doubt yourself." As a final thought, Ludwig added, "And with a real doctor on board, I'm sure Herr Edelstein will be out of the wheelchair quickly." It wasn't really a great pep talk - Ludwig had always been rather poor with words - but he had tried to get the meaning through Gilbert's skull as best he could. Even if his mistakes had resulted in the injury of others, because he seemed to be taking it so hard, Ludwig felt they were mistakes Gilbert wouldn't be making again. His brother had always impressed him like that; he seldom got things wrong on the second try.
Hearing the door open, Ludwig looked quickly around and spied his new boss waiting patiently on the inside of the ship. Though he hadn't been the one addressed, Ludwig quickly shifted to the side, leaving a small path for Gilbert to use to get to the door if he so chose. The blond couldn't escape the weird feeling that Roderich might have been eavesdropping, and embarrassment crept onto his face, but he shook it off soon enough; Gilbert was his brother, and no matter what happened, he'd be here to listen to his problems and offer help.
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Post by Gilbert Weillschmidt on Oct 23, 2010 12:19:54 GMT -5
A small smile tugged at the corners of Gilbert's lips as he listened to Ludwig speak. While he words came off as overly-formal and somewhat awkward, he couldn't help but be impressed at the blond's willingness to offer him a hand when he was feeling down. The hand on his shoulder almost made him feel childish, but not in in a demeaning way. Sometimes it was just hard for even himself to believe that he was the older of the two. Ludwig was mature in ways that Gilbert couldn't even begin to comprehend, but he was grateful for it.
"...Your seem pretty confident in the guy who left you alone for so long," the albino began quietly, glancing at the blond. "Sometimes I wonder how you can still trust me. Hell, I don't know how you can like me at all. I just... left without a word. Up and ran, and left you alone to deal with the same people I was running from. I once.... wondered what would have happened if I brought you with me, but I look at the awesome you now, and tell myself that I wouldn't want it any other way. I've got a pretty damn awesome brother as it is." Shaking his head at the thought, Gilbert stood as he heard the door open. He didn't need to look over or heard the familiar voice to know who was there. "...Danke, bruder. I'll be back out in a bit."
Ruffling the blond's hair affectionately yet again, Gilbert stepped inside and shut the door behind him. The albino's crimson irises moved toward the floor rather than Roderich's face, the guilt of his earlier actions evident in the way he held himself. What right had he had to shout? What right did he have to be angry? With a sigh, he slowly shifted his eyes upward and peered into violet orbs with a small, almost unseen smile. He couldn't blame the other if they were angry. He deserved the anger and whatever punishment had come with it. Even if he hadn't agreed, he could have talked out his frustrations instead of exploding with them.
Shifting his weight from foot to foot, the silverette grunted quietly. Nervous hands fumbled with the cravat around his neck that suddenly felt too tight, but instead of neatening it, he only managed to make the mess of white fabric worse. "...It was pretty unawesome of me to shout at you back there," Gilbert began. "So, if you're gonna punish me, I won't... get pissed or anything. I deserve it, I guess." It was bizarre at best, but it was obvious that the Prussian was at least trying to make a genuine apology.
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Post by Roderich Edelstein on Nov 3, 2010 22:10:08 GMT -5
Staying away from the door as the other entered the hallway, Roderich immediately noticed the almost bashful way the albino held himself. The silverette looked guilty, and seeing that lessened some of the tense, anxious feelings in the Austrian's own chest. The fact that Gilbert was so clearly feeling guilty meant that he wasn't angry anymore, or at least not as angry as he had been. It made breathing easier; Roderich hadn't noticed that he'd been holding his breath almost the entire time. Shifting his hands in his lap, Roderich laced his fingers together, focusing on that action instead of the other's face; he felt guilty too, for putting him in danger. He knew Gilbert was right, he knew now that it would have been far safer to meet somewhere else, but it was too late now.
Watching the Prussian shift nervously, he sighed, shoulders relaxing from their usual rigid position. He didn't immediately respond to Gilbert's words; instead he reached up, lightly pulling the other down to him. "You're only making it look worse," he murmured with a sigh, straightening the cravat. His hands were no longer shaking and instead of immediately pulling back, he allowed his fingers to brush over the silverette's neck and shoulders affectionately, masking the touch by brushing wrinkles out of the cloth. Pulling his hands back, he allowed his hand to brush over Gilbert's chest before they fall back into his lap, trying to calm the other down with the gentle touches. Lacing his fingers together once more, the brunette took a breath and looked up, violet eyes meeting crimson for the first time since the silverette had come back inside.
"I'm not mad at you and there's not reason to punish you," he said evenly, allowing his voice to be softer than normal, emphasizing his words. "I should have talked to you about it or at least thought it over more before I decided, but I didn't want to lose my nerve. It's dangerous either way, but as long as we can get her on the ship quickly, we will be able to manage." Roderich wasn't used to admitting when he was wrong, but Gilbert's reaction had humbled him greatly. What if it went wrong? It'd be no one's fault but his own and he wasn't shut he could deal with losing any of his crew, least of all the Prussian standing before him.
"We're meeting her on the outskirts of the city on the opposite side of the military base. We'll only be there long enough for her to get on board, then we'll leave. I was thinking we should settle in Spain..." Trailing off, Roderich studied Gilbert's face for a reaction, wondering what he thought of the plan. Spain seemed the most obvious choice for him; he was fluent in the language, it was far enough away to be safe... but there was always the worry that what was obvious to him would be obvious to the military and the Underground hunting him as well.
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Post by Ludwig Weillschmidt on Nov 4, 2010 10:25:48 GMT -5
Watching his brother disappear into the ship, Ludwig nodded shortly, not even bothering to attempt to fix his hair that time; the wind had made short work of it anyways. As the door stayed quiet and closed, the blond slid back down along the hull, coming to a seated rest with his feet propped against the grate much in the way Gilbert had been sitting there a moment before. Ludwig knew of course that he was on an airship, but he could suddenly see why Gilbert seemed to have picked this specific spot to hide away: it was a harsh and lonely place, with barely any room for an occupant at all, somehow isolated firmly away from the airship attached to it. Shivering again, Ludwig crossed his arms over his chest and drew his knees in, unable to shake the chill out of his bones.
He felt strangely weary, and for a moment, considered just going back inside to lie down. But he shook his head quickly; at the very least, he couldn't interrupt Gilbert and Roderich's talk. It had seemed important, and Ludwig didn't want to make his brother mess up an apology or anything. And he had to stay awake, he needed to help out when they landed in Vienna. Gilbert would be using all of his energy and attention to watch out for his boss, after all. Glancing down at the ground drifting past beneath them, Ludwig could spy tiny cones of light here and there: light streaming from the windows of houses. Everything seemed so peaceful, and so weirdly at odds with the airship's current purpose and the guarded fear that had settled over everything like a shroud since Herr Edelstein had made the announcement about Vienna.
And speaking of Vienna...
None too far in the distance, the nighttime clouds were lit up with a golden glow, as though a fire were burning beneath them. That had to be the city... they had made remarkable time. With a quiet sigh, Ludwig drew his limbs closer to himself, resting his head on his knees. Just a little bit longer, he told himself.
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