A Place to Lay Your Head

[the-enemy-ace.livejournal.com]

WHO: Aaron Grey and Hans Von Hammer
WHERE: Von Hammer's hangar/residence
WHEN: Backdated to just after Aaron Grey's return to the city
WARNINGS: None.
SUMMARY: Mr.Grey requires a place to stay. Von Hammer is willing to oblige.
FORMAT: Whatever.



He sat back in his chair, sipping tea. It was, he thought, a rather good blend. Indian, according to the package, imported. He would never quite get tired of that. The taste of the world brought to him. It was much like when he first arrived, when Agatha had offered him real coffee. Living in a world without blockade was truly irreplaceable.

In shirtsleeves and vest, which to him qualified as casual wear, he sat listening to the record player. A rescue, he had found it thrown away, in working order. The Mahler that was playing was exquisite. That, too, he had missed. Music, art - culture. It was good being here, it really was.

He sat up when there was a knock at the hangar door. Part of it he had partitioned off into living spaces, the rest was where his aircraft were kept. A bit drafty on occasion, but it meant he was close to his work. Nothing was worse than the helpless lost seconds of needing to get airborne and not being able to.

He opened the door, only mildly surprised at the newcomer.

"Ah, Herr Grey, welcome."

Comments

[grey1911.livejournal.com]

"Von Hammer." Aaron had his coat over an arm, and even in the dim light, he had his glasses on, though he looked to be a bit more pale than he has in the past. "I apologize for the visit, I assure you, of course, it's nothing of an official capacity. I simply...was recalling our earlier conversation upon my return, and I was hoping I might have a chance to discuss an offer you made during that time."

[the-enemy-ace.livejournal.com]

"Ah, of course."

He stepped aside from the door.

"Do come in. A cup of tea, perhaps?"

He closed the door behind him, locking it securely.

[grey1911.livejournal.com]

"Please, thank you." He wasn't opposed to the locked door in the least as he walked in, but was reluctant to make himself at home or relax just yet. He stood rigidly Jin the room, though for him it wasn't an abnormal pose, neither was it uncomfortable.

[the-enemy-ace.livejournal.com]

He had to be careful enough to lock the door. One never knew when enemies would come, sometimes. He moved into the small kitchen, pouring another cup of the still-hot tea.

"Please, make yourself comfortable." He said it without looking, nor did he need to, really. It was simple manners to him.

He brought the cup out, handed it to him, then sank back into his armchair.

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

[grey1911.livejournal.com]

Aaron took the tea, only sitting down as Von Hammer did. He sipped at it quietly a moment before answering.

"It appears that the lease on my former apartment had been dissolved, due to my lack of residence. Unfortunately, it is not safe for myself, or the other tenants of the MAC for me to stay in a public location while the Major is still active in the city."

[the-enemy-ace.livejournal.com]

He folded his hands in his lap, crossing his legs. He nodded, slowly.

"Understandably so. It would be an easy target."

He reached over to turn off the music.

[grey1911.livejournal.com]

Aaron holds up a hand as Von Hammer moves to turn off the music.

"No need to turn it off on my account." If he's going to be spending any amount of time in this place, he might as well show some acceptance of the man's tastes. Not that Aaron has anything against Mahler, in fact, he likes it. "But yes, it would be an easy target, and I don't wish to risk the events of last fall." He sighed quietly, and noted that scent of airplane fuel he'd mentioned. It stung a little to his sensitive senses, but it wasn't something he couldn't ignore. "I'm sorry to impose, but I have very few belongings, even what little remains of them from my apartment, I don't require much space." And it was far less awkward to ask for a space to live with Von Hammer, than it would have been to ask it of Seras.

[the-enemy-ace.livejournal.com]

He put his hand down, nodding. Good, he liked music. One of few pleasures he still had the time and money to indulge.

"Of course," he says, with a nod. "It is no imposition, sir."

He picked up his own tea, taking a lengthy sip. He'd hate being stuck in an apartment block with enemies around. So many entrances, so many methods of attack. Every corner could have a waiting knife, an assassin's bullet.

"I have some spare sheet metal, we can cordon off a room for you, tomorrow. Until then, a spare cot will have to suffice, I am sorry to say. Furniture can be acquired thereafter."

[grey1911.livejournal.com]

Aaron had slept on far more uncomfortable beds than a cot. He nods, sipping at his tea a moment.

"I would be indebted, thank you. And a cot is more than sufficient." He tries an uncertain smile, Von Hammer is very accommodating, and willing to put up a new wall for a room. It certainly goes a long way to ease Aaron's nerves. He trusts Von Hammer, and would equally put his life on the line for the man in duty, but he is still staying with a former German soldier. As much as he tries to deny himself, at the very darkest corners of memory Aaron can't help but have a small level of wariness in the situation.

[the-enemy-ace.livejournal.com]

That might grow to be a problem over the next few days, though there are no signs of that other than his First World War uniform, with its police badge, and that isn't being worn. The rest is merely some books in German, recently purchased. Poetry, stories, histories - and not of the recent past. He was there for most of that, and refuses to read past 1945. It would be...cheating, in a way.

"Well, my understanding is that these apartments come basically furnished. Surely we could...scrounge the requisite pieces with relative ease."

[grey1911.livejournal.com]

"Certainly." Scrounging was nothing Aaron considered 'below' him. "But it's nothing of a pressing matter." Honestly, he'd like to have his own place, he was used to living alone, that even without being a soldier, Aaron's not certain how various habits of his will be tolerated. "I only have a small box of belongings saved from my former apartment. A bed and a small dresser should be all that I need."

[the-enemy-ace.livejournal.com]

Neither him. To keep his planes flying, towards the end, had taken everything that could be begged, borrowed or stolen to keep them flying. Even then, maintenance eventually became near-impossible.

"That can easily be arranged. I believe there is a spare one on the other side."

He got up, opening the partition into the space where the planes were kept. Most of what he possessed in the way of furniture had been found pieces, picked up here and there. His way of avoiding costs.

"Here somewhere," he said, pushing aside a box with pieces of wood in it.

[grey1911.livejournal.com]

Aaron sets his finished cup of tea down, and follows Von Hammer. He looks at the planes, and feels a strange nostalgia sweep over him, one he's not certain he likes, and turns his focus back to the search, looking for a dresser. At least, that's what he assumes Von Hammer is searching for.

"It's not something we need to find immediately. Perhaps after we've partitioned the space?"

[the-enemy-ace.livejournal.com]

He shook his head.

"No, I already have my own room, off in the corner. I have the metal, but it will take some time to assemble. It can wait. Ah."

The dresser is old, the outside covered with paint in some places, but intact.

"I trust this will be suitable, then?"

[grey1911.livejournal.com]

"Perfectly." Old is good, in Aaron's opinion, as he helps move it with minimal effort. A small bit of guilt at Von Hammer's charity is starting to creep into Aaron and once they have it in the main living space he wipes a small bit of dust off his hands and nods. "Of course, I will help with rent, and any other way that I might be of service." He didn't favor the planes, but they could be aerial support for the police in the future. He foresaw certain skills of his as being useful, if Von Hammer would have his help.

[the-enemy-ace.livejournal.com]

He does much the same with a handkerchief, nodding.

"I thank you, but it is not required. I received a...excellent deal, as it were, on the property."

He does offer a small smile, however.

"But, if you cook, it might be of some great use. My own culinary skills are, alas, fairly basic. A few meals only."

[grey1911.livejournal.com]

Cooking. Aaron gives Von Hammer something along the lines of an apologetic look.

"It's...been a while. I'm not certain my own skills are any better." He really hasn't had a need for cooking in a very long time, after all.

[the-enemy-ace.livejournal.com]

He nodded.

"I understand. Perhaps I will get a cookbook next time, try to learn. A...peacetime hobby, if you will."

He moved across to another pile, pulling out a cot.

"I have a spare pillow and blankets, of course, those will not be a problem. There is a shower in that room over there," he says, waving a hand to his right, "but the water becomes sporadic after about eleven, for reasons I have not yet ascertained."

[grey1911.livejournal.com]

"I will keep that in mind." Being a night-person, as it were, it's certainly something he'll do well to remember. Aaron nods, the cot is light, there's not much reason to help with it. He fidgets a little, feeling a bit awkward and looks away. He doesn't like to flaunt his abilities, but he's never afraid to use them, especially if it could help him feel less like he was taking advantage of someone's charity. "If you do need any help with heavy labor, it's certainly something else I could provide, if you need it."

[the-enemy-ace.livejournal.com]

He nods, rubbing the back of his neck. He isn't weak, but he isn't as young as he used to be. The barrels of fuel, for instance, were an absolute pain in the backside.

"I will remember that. And take advantage of it when the next fuel shipment arrives. The jet is a thirsty one."

He sat back down, finishing his rapidly cooling tea.

"And you can stay as long as you need, Herr Grey," he said.

[grey1911.livejournal.com]

Well, it's certainly something he could help with, and he is glad for it.

"Thank you." He smiles, returning to sit across from Von Hammer. "And you are welcome to call me Aaron, if you like."

[the-enemy-ace.livejournal.com]

"Aaron then," he said, nodding. "And please call me Hans, in return. I have little time for formality, except where politeness dictates it."

He folded hands in front of his lips for a long moment, considering his new...lodger? Roommate? What was the term for these things?

"Have you had any success about returning to the police force? You may have mentioned, I cannot recall."

[grey1911.livejournal.com]

He nods, acknowledging the exchange. At least that will help things around the hangar, a little less formal would be easier to work with.

"I have. I will be returning to duty shortly, once the official letter is signed allowing me to work for The City." He seems rather pleased about that. While the work is difficult, and still strange at times, he likes it. "It shouldn't be more than a day or two. I can find a bed and work on putting up the partition in the meantime." Aaron's abilities with handiwork are somewhat basic, but he's had plenty of time to pick up tips and tricks.

[the-enemy-ace.livejournal.com]

The entire place is somewhat ad hoc, pieces assembled. Years of having to grab every piece of use on the frontlines engenders that. When you exist out of wooden cabins or whatever tents you can find, you become better and better at finding useful items.

So, at any rate, the handiwork will probably be superior to what gets done when the next enemy strike could be at your doorstep.

"Excellent, truly. If it were not for you, Aaron, I should not have been able to join. Your report made it feasible, that and Sergeant Victoria. So I have the two of you, alone, to thank for it."

[grey1911.livejournal.com]

Aaron smiles faintly, accepting the thanks with another nod. It will probably be better than a quick fix. What Aaron lacks in developed skill, he can make up for it with an eye for detail and planning.

"I'm glad I was able to help."

[the-enemy-ace.livejournal.com]

His next remark is said very quietly, very deliberately, after a short silence.

"Purpose truly is a wonderful thing to have again."

He sighed, leaning back into the chair.

"It is a marvellous opportunity. To fly without having to kill."

[grey1911.livejournal.com]

Aaron's seen personal reflections like this before, and he nods respectfully.

"I will be glad for the opportunity to serve with you."

[the-enemy-ace.livejournal.com]

"I doubt it will be a long time off, either. Considering we have the same enemies, it seems. Or, at least some of them."

He looked at his cup, leaning forward.

"More tea?"

[grey1911.livejournal.com]

"Please." Aaron nodded. "While I wouldn't wish these kinds of enemies on anyone, it makes it a little more tolerable, knowing we are on the same side..."

[the-enemy-ace.livejournal.com]

He got up, with the smallest of sighs, as if it had been a long day. It probably had. They usually all were, if more satisfying than they used to be.

He moved into the kitchen, pouring two new cups.

"It does. I have had to fight badly outnumbered, with defeat inevitable. It is catastrophic to morale, and the handful fall so easily."

[grey1911.livejournal.com]

Aaron followed, at least so as not to make Hans carry it all back to the couch and serve him. It seemed terribly rude when he'd just agreed to let Aaron into his home. Aaron made a thoughtful sound at Hans' remarks and nodded.

"Whatever I can do to help keep this location discrete, let me know. I'm well-acquainted with such measures, but if there are methods you use that you know work, I'd rather ensure our relative security than to risk it." He'd spent decades keeping himself and his people's activities hidden from humans. Now that he was aware of the threat from The Major, he was only too glad to try and avoid another incident involving him outside of official business.

[the-enemy-ace.livejournal.com]

"I have some security, but mainly it is just me."

Because if they decided to attack with heavy equipment, he'd likely be dead no matter what security measures were in place. It was a hangar, not a fortress.

"Thus far I have been left alone. How much longer that state will persist, anybody could guess."

He handed over the cup, taking his own.

"Thankfully, I have experience in urban warfare, so if it comes down to it, I believe I will acquit myself well enough. The wars saw to that."

[grey1911.livejournal.com]

Aaron nodded and as he took his tea and started to head back for the seats.

"I'm more familiar with urban settings myself." He sat down again, sipping at his tea. "If my presence becomes an issue, I will continue to look for another residence. I wouldn't want to cause any problems."

[the-enemy-ace.livejournal.com]

"No, do not worry about that. My existence will cause enough trouble. Frankly, you may wish to head on to other lodgings to avoid that."

He sat down, sipping at his tea.

"Before I came here, I had not had a cup of tea since...1941."

[grey1911.livejournal.com]

There was a faint, wry smile from Aaron at Hans' mention of trouble.

"Perhaps we're both in good company, then." It would certainly protect civilians, if they both kept away from populated locations. He sobered, however, at the mention of the war. "Most simple luxuries were lost, during the war."