[OPEN]

[spelleton]

Who: Ekkehardt and anyone who wants to yell at him for being stupid open
When: September 3rd onwards
Where: Around campus
What: Ekkehardt returns from his post-mission two week break and settles back into being a fixture of the school.
Warnings: Uh, cigarettes in one prompt? Otherwise, shouldn't be any.


A. the doctor is in

[ Ekkehardt can be found at his usual desk in the infirmary, going through all the work that's piled up in his absence. Early on in the month, if he's not busy at his computer or shuffling files, he's meticulously picking glitter and confetti off his uniform.

No matter who catches his attention, his initial greeting is always the same: ]

Hello. Is there something I can help you with?

B. musical aptitude

[ Ekkehardt doesn't seem to really have visible hobbies in the way other people do. He spends much of his time at the infirmary, involved in paperwork, or otherwise preoccupied with something or other - always on his way to something, or from something.

This month, however, is different. Anyone passing by Daybreak's non-denominational chapel on certain days might be able to catch the sound of an organ being played with some proficiency. (It's impossible to play quietly on an organ. He doesn't try.)

There are stops and starts, but as Ekkehardt warms to the instrument again, those become less frequent. He runs through his memorised repertoire at first, and then picks up the sheet music.

It's a nice accompaniment to the cooling weather, at least if you like the sound of hymns. And if you want to step inside to listen - or even request something - he doesn't seem to mind. ]

C. old, bad habits

[ Very rarely, you can catch Ekkehardt at much higher parts of the school. Usually on a rooftop, but sometimes on an unoccupied balcony. The reason he's chosen such high, out of the way spots becomes clear if he's watched for any length of time - he's smoking cigarettes. He doesn't go through them very quickly, but by his distant expression, he appears to have something on his mind. ]

D. wildcard

[ Anything you want! Hit me up! ]

Comments

C

[improbablenotimpossible]

[The rooftops were good places to watch, and observe without being noticed, he was surprised to see another figure as he pulls out a pack of cigarettes, approaching - ah, Ekkehardt, another TA - the man with the natural quietness of his kind, before lighting up]

I would ask if you'd mind, but I think that answers my question.

[He gestures to the cigarette the man was holding]

[spelleton]

[ He glances at him without so much as a flinch. If he's bothered by how quiet the other man is, he doesn't show it at all. ]

As one of the school's healers, I should be cautioning you against smoking.

[ He blows out a long stream of smoke. He doesn't need to breathe, so it's all for show, but the repetitive motions are something he finds soothing. ]

But I can hardly do that without being a hypocrite, so no. I don't mind.

[improbablenotimpossible]

A little late to be concerned about the state of my lungs.

[He quips, smiling in a toothy fashion, exhaling a ring of smoke]

The motion at least helps with settling a mind that wants to wander or dwell too much on certain topics... least that's how it works for me.

[spelleton]

[ That gets a sharp little laugh. ]

Well, it's not as if I have to worry about mine, so I suppose we're in similar situations.

[ Inhale, exhale. The motions are routine, something that's easy from long practice. ]

It's been a long time since I felt I needed to.

C

[fireindreams]

[There are a number of things Grimm could say or do when he finds Ekkehardt on a rooftop. A teleportation-fueled hug and/or drop-kick comes to mind. But he doesn't choose either, for the moment.

Instead he raises his hands to frame Ekkehardt and the sky, watching them both with a critical eye.]

Penny for your thoughts, my friend?

[The other man looks like he's thinking hard about something.]

[spelleton]

[ He glances back to look at him and can't help but huff a little. What is Grimm doing? He doesn't know. ]

I'm afraid I haven't got much for you. [ He takes the cigarette away from his mouth to talk; it's only polite. ] Just doing a little bit of self reflection.

[fireindreams]

[Many things, most of which will remain with Grimm alone. But he's smiling.]

You would be surprised, my friend.

[He said as much before during the dance regarding Ekkehardt's nightmares. It meant more then simple words as Grimm was then unknown as the vessel of the God of Nightmares. Perhaps it means something else now, since the cat is out of the bag regarding the entity in Grimm's mind and heart.]

Is it helpful? But more pressingly, are you well?

[Since you went and blew yourself up, and all.]

[spelleton]

It's sufficient. And I'm well as I can be.

[ Still a little bit achy; there's a stiffness to his movements still that isn't born of his desire for proper posture. But it will fade; it won't take longer than a few days. It's a small price to pay, inconveniences instead of death.

Inhale, exhale. He takes another drag on the cigarette, twirls it in his fingers as he exhales and takes it away again. ]

Are you?

B

[unlogic]

[One of the things that Desidera has taken to doing on her free time is basically just wandering around. One might wonder why she seems to prefer such a simple activity over most anything else she could do to pass the time, but it would probably make a lot of sense that she would enjoy just getting out and and walking around for awhile, if anyone was particularly aware of how her home life had been.

It's on one of the days that Ekkehardt is at the organ that she passes by the chapel. The song is an unfamiliar one, and she prefers heavy synths over most things, but she does enjoy music in general with very few exceptions, and so she steps inside and finds herself a seat.

There will be no interruptions from her if he wants to simply keep going, but if he chooses to pause and address her, she will respond.]

[spelleton]

[ He knows he has an audience, but he finishes his current song with a flourish before he lets the organ fall silent. ]

Ah. Miss Desidera, isn't it? [ He remembers processing her records, at least. If she's come into the infirmary, it was probably while he was uh

out. ]

Interested in the organ, are you? Or perhaps you simply like music? [ They're not questions that require particularly urgent answers, but he is curious. ]

[unlogic]

Ah, yes, that's correct. [The fact that he recognizes her despite their not meeting before now tells her a couple things.] I'm afraid I've not met you before, so you have me at a little bit of a disadvantage.

[At his questioning, she looks from him to the organ itself, then back.]

Mm, I'm here for the music, if that's alright with you. I may not be good at it myself, but I don't let that stop me from enjoying it.

[spelleton]

I try to memorize most of the students, with varying success. It helps for records.

I'm Ekkehardt Gehring - one of the infirmary staff. You'll probably see me more when it comes time for school to start again.

[ He plays a few chords on the organ, idly. ]

Well, you don't have to play to appreciate a tune.

Do you have any requests?

A...ish?

[hattersgonnahat]

Ekke...

[He was back. This was really happening.]

[She wanted to be happy, and yet...]

[She simply gives Ekkehardt the biggest hug possible. She should be happy about all of this, but there's tears. There were tears.]

[spelleton]

[ Oh dear.

Rather than say anything, he just picks her up and holds her close, letting her cry as much as she needs to.

He can wait. ]

[hattersgonnahat]

[He may need to wait for awhile then. There was a lot of feelings to get out.]

[Even if she was snuggled this close. That usually does the trick fairly quick.]

...You're finally back. [Eventually she speaks up again. But she still isn't going to let go any time soon.]

[spelleton]

I am indeed.

[ He wraps his arms around her a little more comfortably, gently smoothing her hair back. Like her, he's not willing to let go any time soon.

The last time he'd seen her, she was half-frozen, after all. But she looks to be in good health. ]

My apologies for taking so long.

B

[unpocoloco]

[If he had the ability to hover by Ekkehardt's casket, without leaving his corpse prone there in the day, he would have. But he doesn't know when the man's going to wake with the time he often misses himself. It spares Ekkehardt. For a little while.

But music calls him in every instance. A church organ is no exception, reminding of dull Sundays with too many kids who'd be gone in a month if he too wasn't passed off to a new foster unprepared for him. Still, he'd liked the music and with a guitar on his back he goes to it.

Reaching the altar to spot Ekkehardt there is a surprise however, one that twists his heart.]

Eres... un culero... absoluto! ¿Como pudiste? ¿Ay? You just blow yourself up! You just- just leave me to think, there goes another one! And the others- Don't interrupt- The others! Did they know? They better have known because everyone is a mess and I really, really want to punch you, but your bones are way stronger than mine, and I'll probably break, you, you... idiota!

[His mouth presses. He draws a breath. And then he moves forward quick to hug the man tight.]

[spelleton]

[ He stops his playing, half-turning to inspect Héctor with his usual attentiveness. As requested, he doesn't interrupt.

The hug is a surprise, though. He lets it show; the other man deserves that much, at least. ]

I did warn them. [ Though even as he says it, he knows that's not really a good excuse. ] Whether they believed it is another issue that I couldn't do much about. [ Avery certainly hadn't. ]

You look well. That's good. I'd hate for all that work to go to waste.

[ A pause, and then he adds ] I'm not going to argue if you want to punch me, however.

[unpocoloco]

[It's not an excuse, more of a softened blow. But it still hit them all.

He hugs tighter but is soon shooting an unhappy glare to the side of his head.]

I appreciate our continued collective existence, don't mistake, but if you casually refer to that as some no big deal job you did and not the horrifying experience it was for all of us then I'm rescinding this hug and going back to yelling at you.

But since you told the others...

[He pulls back from the hug, just enough to punch Ekkehardt's arm.]

I don't have to hit you as hard, because it's just for me.

Anyway. Yes, I was effectively saved from Avery's ex. Avery had a bit of a meltdown but it was nothing Hieke couldn't fix. Your hermana stopped by and told me you'd be back too. So, that just leaves the question of how you're feeling.

a

[shiritai]

[ Violet's been meaning to stop by the infirmary for a while now, but with the hustle and bustle of settling into a new school and um, the Grimm attack, she's been putting it off a bit. She's not hurt or sick and she's sure there's plenty of people who need the help more than she does. But then September comes around and classes will be starting soon so she figures that it's better to get it over with now than leaving it too late.

So she pops into the infirmary, the very picture of forced casualness, and gives Ekkehardt a polite dip of the head. ]

Well, it's... not anything wrong, exactly, but I was hoping that I might be able to speak with you about something, for my peace of mind more than anything.

[spelleton]

[ He gives her an equally polite nod back. He notes the slight discomfort, but doesn't point it out. It would probably make things more awkward. ]

I'm at your service. What kind of issue happens to be troubling you?

[shiritai]

It's... not precisely an issue yet, but I'm hoping to prevent it becoming one in the future.

[ She picks out a chair and settles herself down, hands folded neatly in her lap. It feels far more awkward to hover there while they're talking and Violet's feeling awkward enough as it is. It helps a little that she knows he's not completely unfamiliar with her prosthetics, but still. ]

It's to do with my arms. [ There's a characteristic clink as her fingers curl in her lap. ] I can manage the day-to-day maintenance of them on my own, but I'm concerned about what might happen in a situation where they end up damaged or worse.

A.

[yokeye]

[After a conversation with Puella, Toki was intent on finding out what happened to Ekkehardt. He didn't get all the details; more of a simplified explanation. He knows Ekkehardt was never alive in the time Toki had known him, had "died" again on that mission, and... somehow had to regenerate or something. When Ekkehardt's finally returned to his usual routine, Toki's come to the infirmary for no reason other than to see that Ekkehardt actually does still exist.]

Not really, I just... wanted to see you. Are you... okay?

[spelleton]

[ Well, it's always a good day when Toki doesn't have anything urgent troubling him. Or, at least, a slightly better day. ]

I'm as well as I can be, given the circumstances.

[ He sounds faintly surprised. ] Why do you ask?

[yokeye]

I talked to Puella, while you were... sleeping. I had a vision about what happened to her and she mentioned you and I knew something went wrong and I... asked around and like... I know. About the... skeleton thing, and that you... were hurt... and I just... wanted to make sure you were really okay...

[It sounds stupid to him now. Maybe Ekkehardt's died a lot and this was normal for him.]

And you are. Okay.