âWas it a month ago?â Roderich feigned innocence, but really, he didnât think it was a month. A few weeks, yes, but not a month. Or had it really been a month, and he had just lost track of time again? Being as old as he was, and living as long as he had, days seemed to go by like seconds sometimes. One day blended into another until eventually one week would pass by all together like a single afternoon.
Nonetheless, Roderich nodded, the corners of his lips weighed down slightly by the otherâs nearly exasperated or perhaps tired tone. âDonât get short with me, young man. I partially raised you.â âJa, these are the papers you left on my desk last time you visited. I apologize for arriving a little later than planned. I hope I did not keep you waiting for long.âÂ
Truthfully, the time in which Roderich had left his home, had he been a normal person with a normal sense of direction, he would have made it exactly on time -- give or take a few minutes. Unfortunately, his sense of direction was... nonexistent at times, though he figured Ludwig had known him long enough to know Roderich would lose his way.
âYes, danke. That would be lovely.â âSince I was kind enough to make this trip.â It would have been much easier if Ludwig had come to him, but Roderich figured that since Ludwig had made the journey to his place first, then Roderich should return the favor. Verdammt his propriety at times. Even so, he followed after Ludwig, making sure to avoid his dog as he came in. It wouldnât do to get dog hair on his blue coat. It would stick out like a sore thumb, and be quite a nuisance to get rid of.
Inside, deft fingers made quick work of the buttons of his coat as he slipped it off, and hung it by the door. He then made his way over to Ludwigâs kitchen with papers at hand, and sat down at the table. He knew Ludwigâs home very well, surprisingly. Sometimes he knew it better than his own for reasons behind him, but he wouldnât dwell upon the subject for long. He set the stack of papers on the table, and glanced up at the German with an almost critical look.Â
âYou seem tired. I hope youâve been getting enough sleep lately.â He knew Europe was rather in a crisis with all, if not most countries looking to Germany for help. The stress must be near unbearable, but even so, Ludwig could not get sick now. As soon as he had as much as a stuffy nose, Roderich would be bed ridden for a week with a high fever and chills.Â