Dr. Hänneschen Kowoll

His lips pursed slightly at the mention of regret in trying. He didn’t want to find himself thinking that years, or even weeks, down the track. As happy as he was with the idea of marriage with Angus, his heart was very fragile in the matter. He did not want his heart broken again like the broken close friendship between Ida and himself. In fact, he had been so anxious over it, he hadn’t even sent an invitation to his old friend to give her a chance to reject it. He didn’t want it to be seen as a slap in the face after what he knew of his Father’s wishes of her and himself. 

“I have worried your ear enough, mm? I believe I should search for my company while leaving you to your own. Nonetheless, I ah…appreciate your humoring of me with listening to the drivel of an old man.”  The meals definitely had some time to go before they would be delivered to the tables. During the wait he could look for his companion.

Tucking his scarf into his jacket, he paused in his wanderings to glance back toward the Soldier and turned to face him with a faint smile. “A feather?” He plucked it from the other’s fingers to look it over then chuckled softly. 

“If I am to be honest, I was never truly fond of birds.” Or animals at all, to be precise. Still, he tucked the colorful feather into the breast pocket of his jacket before digging out his gloves. 

“Suppose it’d be the same as always” he set the cup down and relax in his sit. “Either die in a battle I simply cannot win, but still try to” out of resawpn range of course “And prove myself the best soldier around” He cackled. Of course there was a little more to that. But that would be discussion for a more convenient time. 

“I will need luck in just figuring out something.” An amused smile came to his lips, soon to be covered by the tilting of the mug. He swallowed down a good portion of the coffee now that it was cool enough and leaving a good quarter or so in the bottom, he set it down upon his knee.

Or it could be a flat lie for all he knew. Working with his commander, he learned very well that most people told lies. But either way it did not matter. Hans clearly did not have any answers for him and that was fine as well. 

“I suppose that proves the fact that you don’t know me at all then” he chuckled at the man’s last comment. “And I suppose that is also for the best, all things considered”. Whether he didn’t want to stay there or at the base. It felt like both were the answer. For some reason he was feeling at an odds with himself lately. And very much alone. Though going face first into danger is what Emmerich was good at. What made him who he is, and serve who he did. Fearless obedience. Or complete idiocy and lunacy by some definition. 

“Happy New Year.” Raising the glass as a cheer, he tipped it to his lips, drinking down the alcohol without as much as a pause. He had been prepared to celebrate the changing of the year by himself since everyone else was out partying in their own way, and while the brief company was welcomed and wanted, it all fell back to that expected solitude.

The glass was filled again as he glanced over to the one the Soldier left behind. Not wanting it to go to waste, he slid it closer and leaned back again, resting the bottle back to the table. Drinking by himself was never entertaining, especially since he wasn’t much of a drinker to begin with. He glanced to the door, considering making his way to his room, but it was warm in here with the fireplace going. Relaxing as much as he could, he brought the glass to his lips for a slow swallow.

Tucking his scarf into his jacket, he paused in his wanderings to glance back toward the Soldier and turned to face him with a faint smile. “A feather?” He plucked it from the other’s fingers to look it over then chuckled softly. 

“If I am to be honest, I was never truly fond of birds.” Or animals at all, to be precise. Still, he tucked the colorful feather into the breast pocket of his jacket before digging out his gloves. 

When the conversation went on about teleportation he huffed a bit. Sure it saves a lot of time, and is very efficient. But sometime he wished they didn’t have those things. Not only it made his guts turn upside down, but it also took away from the pleasure of actually physically traveling somewhere. Maybe it was just him, being old fashioned and liking the casual drive. Or maybe it was simply the fact the doctor didn’t like wasting time in such a matter… which, was really not a waste of time.  There was much to see and witness. 

“Do you have any new year’s resolutions?” The question was completely out of the blue, yet it had been something that was on his mind for a few days now. It was tradition, and something he tended to participate in. Did he succeed in upholding them? Well, that was another matter all together.

But, lately he had been sharing even some of those secrets of his past with Angus, especially his past with Calida. To the doctor’s words however he couldn’t think of anything to say so he kept quiet. The next two sentences however, he found a response.

“You won’t have to imagine for long if a proposal comes up and the other agrees.” He toyed with the cultery as he thought of his future life with his soon-to-be-husband. “I couldn’t imagine being married to someone like Angus. The class difference for one thing, and business isn’t quite his strong point… And yet, here we are.”

Well, rejection or giving that gifted car to his companion. No surprise he kept the rest of the things. The Spy had good taste, after all.

He sighed, a heavy, tired and even somewhat frustrated sigh when the doctor decided to avert the conversation into a different direction, causing the soldier to doubt his stay. It seemed like he was not going to get the answers he wanted. It was that simple,a yes or a no. But maybe it was just simple for him because all he knew was simplicity. And that is all that separated him from normal folks. 

“Not hungry” he replied, his voice just barely above a whisper. He didn’t touch the champagne. Didn’t feel like drinking either. Not in company anyway. New year’s was just … not right. It never was. And when he’d try to reflect upon all the others, they were just more bad memories. Recent ones are even painful. A thought that never bothered him until now. 

“I do not know how you want me to answer, Emmerich.” Lowering his hand he rested the bottom of the glass against his thigh and absently nudged his glasses back up the bridge of his nose with a light touch of his fingertip. “You asked if we knew each other before and I do not think we have. You ask if I remember a commander and his bodyguard, which leads me to believe you were either one or the other and, again, I do not remember. You are not familiar to me what so ever.” Finding little to no interest in his drink, he leaned forward and set it down.

“There is plenty I do not recall, and it is likely best that way.” As he leaned back, he tucked his finger into the knot of his tie, loosening it slightly. The air was beginning to feel a little stifling. “We both did what we had to do and it is in the past, mm?” Exhaling a slow sigh, he dropped his arm back to his stomach and set the other along the back of the couch in an attempt to remain relaxed despite the vaguely closed off body language he displayed. While he didn’t want to speak of anything he might recall, he had attempted to answer to the best of his ability.