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"Excuse me, pardon—out of the way, please!"
Ulrich can often be seen hurrying his way through the halls of Laplace. Never out of any disorder, but rather a strict commitment to standards. Arrive to meetings on time, offer assistance to his colleagues as soon as possible, or clock out just as the seconds hand hits twelve—it's really just his responsibility as a dependable and trusted member of the cryptography team.
Though… he can make an exception, once in a while. If he was gossiped about for his ineffective hunger strike, or his caretaking of the oscilloscope, then he might as well let his coworkers add onto the pile. What's camaraderie if you can't debase yourself a little now and then?
Of course, this time does involve him hurtling with a sloshing cup of coffee in one hand, and a box overflowing with paperwork and party decorations crammed between his torso in the other. Is it ridiculous? Quite so. Perhaps X shouldn't have asked very specifically for such long and glittery streamers. At least Ulrich can be satisfied in that he isn't revolted by the idea of a party in the first place, unlike several years ago.
He rounds the final corner that leads to the designated meeting room, and has no choice but to knock at the closed door with his glass dome. He had of course cracked the newly set code within minutes earlier that morning, but he had no free limbs to work with. Thankfully, Researcher Hissabeth is at the ready, and opens it within a second, yanking him in without a moment of fanfare—they have little time! In fact, there was only one more hour until—
"—Ulrich. Explain yourself, before you're banned from my office—permanently."
…He gets greeted with the sight of Adler's glare. The box jolts out of Ulrich's hold a second later as Hissabeth lets him go and it spills across the floor, the files fanning out amongst the mess already present. Most notably among them—his partner's Team Timekeeper application.
Earlier
"Okay, so, 18 liters of Dr. Papper, 12 pounds of cake, and 7 foot long streamers—is that all, X?"
Four of LSCC's brightest are huddled in the cramped, destitute space of Enigma's office, attempting to plan a party. It wasn't every day that headquarters requested someone join the Timekeeper—from what Ulrich has heard, Vertin is usually fighting tooth and nail for the applicants she invites herself. Laplace was to be involved in one of their latest missions pertaining to Manus Vindictae and it seemed like the Foundation wants all hands on deck, including their substitute director's.
"Well…" X places a finger to his chin. "Make sure they're all full of glitter. I can't see the light refractions on them if they're aren't!"
"Do you really think Enigma would want one of your crazy contraptions in his office?"
Researcher Medicine Pocket is lurking in the corner of the room, haphazardly rifling the stack of well-wishing cards for Adler they'd been collecting from their colleagues.
X frowns. "It's a part of my gift! A nice 'surprise' before he gets whisked away. Just handing the cake over would be quite boring."
Ulrich makes a sound of clearing his throat, agreeing in his head, though for different reasons. Seeing that those two are at least partially settled, he faces Hissabeth, who is… cleaning the office.
"Hold on! This wasn't part of the plan!" he waves his arms as she pauses next to a stack of CD cases, about ready to dispose of them, which might actually ruin Adler's entire day. Ulrich steps in between them.
"This mess is driving us crazy!" Hissabeth complains, half-heartedly putting the trash bag down. A couple of her siblings wriggle out from under her hair to corroborate.
"It'sss disssgusssting," one hisses. "I wouldn't even molt in here!"
"Does this 'director' live in a dump on purpose?"
Hissabeth gently shoos them away with a sigh.
"Couldn't a bit of clean up be a nice going-away gift? Who wants to come back to such filth?"
"There's a system to it!" Ulrich says, crossing his arms. "Every researcher here is very particular in their ways—Adler is no different. Can't we focus on the celebration for flux's sake?"
"Riiight." Medicine Pocket begins to flick cards onto Enigma's desk, right on top of his crossword. One from Victor, another from Regulus, then Marcus, and John Titor, and Madame Lucy—
Ulrich makes for the pile to sate his own curiosity, having not heard from the former director in quite some time, but Medicine Pocket dumps the rest of the cards on top without a second thought.
"Well, what now? Are we supposed to hide behind his stacks of junk and pop out to scare him?"
"I should be off to gather up those mission papers and any other supplies—can't you get the refreshments?" Ulrich sighs. "The cafeteria isn't too far from here."
"Yeah, I could, if you'd stop being so defensive. Babying Enigma over the tidiness of his office is ridiculous, I don't care how much you lo—"
"Cafeteria!" Ulrich shouts. "We pooled our personal funds to pay for those provisions—that Dr. Papper getting warm is coming out of your pocket!"
"Alright, alright," they groan. "You mush too then! Go be a good team leader and fetch what we need."
Ulrich would bristle if he could, but he can settle for his ferrofluid morphing into stabbing, angry spikes. "Fine, I will! Gladly!" he turns and makes to leave, with Medicine Pocket blowing a raspberry and following right behind him.
"Don't forget the glitter!" X calls out to Ulrich just before the door smacks shut.
Now
"Ah! Surprise!"
Ulrich fumbles around, pawning his coffee off to Hissabeth so he can drop to the floor and scrounge up the papers before Adler sees them. "There was a… very important announcement for you we were preparing for! You're—earlier than expected!"
There's some snickering, though he doesn't know exactly from who, but he does know whose boot is nudging at him to get up. Adler hauls him up by the arm, absentmindedly dusting him off.
"You broke in. Again."
"You haven't been trying very hard to keep me out," he huffs.
Restrained, Adler lets him go, pausing to give the room a cross look. "Stop making fools of yourselves. You don't think I check my e-mail every hour of the day?" He sighs. "I've known about the assignment for a week—though I can't say I expected it." He scratches at his neck. "I don't see what good a human would provide to the Timekeeper."
"Ezra is a human," X optimistically offers.
"And he has a bucket of gadgets as well. What do they want me to do? Solve some puzzles in front of them?"
Ulrich reins him back, laying a hand on his shoulder. "Whatever the case, it's a great achievement! We wanted to… surprise you with the news, but… you beat us to it I suppose. Fortunately, that doesn't spoil the celebration!" He bends down to gather up the important papers. "Just, uh, let X put the finishing touches on his surprise and we can get to it."
Adler, with some summoned-up patience, huffs a breath through his nose and stoops over Ulrich.
"I thought you'd know by now I'm not a fan of surprises."
"W—Well, it was a collaborative effort this time! Very important. We couldn't let the opportunity go to waste."
"Yeah, come on Adler, one little mixer won't kill you," Hissabeth smiles. "It's not fun having a party pooper for a boss."
"I'm not even remotely in charge of you!" He scans the room, and Ulrich slowly coming to a stand with all the files in his hands. "It was… a nice gesture, Ulrich, but I would prefer to just—" he takes the papers. "Know what's happening."
X shrugs, unbothered and bundling up the sparkly streamers, while Medicine Pocket breaks for the cake they had set aside. Ulrich fears the lot of them will just have to mill around until Adler's decided he's had enough of their social contagion and tells them to leave, but Hissabeth speaks up first.
"So… welcome to Team Timekeeper! Luckily, since you're in a room of experts, we can answer any questions that those files can't."
"Experts in what?" Adler asks, unamused.
"Leaving our rooms—for one," Medicine Pocket says in between scarfing down bites of cake. "And working on a team? Ha! Boy, you're in for a rough time."
"Delightful," he grates. "Will the Timekeeper be attending this party as well?"
"She's quite busy, but not to worry, you'll be briefed in full before stepping foot in the suitcase," Ulrich waves Medicine Pocket off. "You may very well have someone here accompany you!"
"And I can picture just who you'd want that to be, Ulrich," Hissabeth laughs, but a fork is quickly pointed at her in turn.
"Damn, you're just jealous the Foundation wanted Enigma on the team before even getting Pointer over here." Medicine Pocket shakes their head.
The Melusine freezes, then forces a laugh, causing some of her siblings to stir. "What? No! There just hasn't been a good time to fill out her transfer request!" She smooths at her coat. "I can't poke a little fun like you?"
"Uh, yeah, without being a hypocrite. You mention her so much I've been trying to request that our 'director' here includes ear plugs in our operational budget!"
Hissabeth gasps, Medicine Pocket rolls their eyes, and the two break into a squabble as quick as that. Ulrich, of course, has always appreciated their contributions to Laplace, but he is thankful that he only occupies the cryptography lab—outside of their vicinity.
With the distraction, Adler has, at least, been able to read his files. He doesn't seem concerned. But he is furrowing. Ulrich is more than happy to step in.
And by that—perhaps some time ago it might have meant to chastise him for being ungrateful. Despite everything, and very much despite each other, they'd managed to be cooped up long enough to see past how argumentative they were and understand there was a reason for it that wasn't just petty dislike. An incident or two while running through "storm" simulations may have contributed to that. In short, Ulrich more so gets his kicks from keeping Adler content rather than admonishing him daily.
So, he does step—closer, being a good presence for the news the man is receiving. Regardless of the theatrics of the day so far, Ulrich did understand it might be more than just an 'adjustment' for Adler to be dropped into a whole new team. Hissabeth, even if jokingly, was right: he'd prefer to help him along if he could.
Thankfully he gets some reciprocation—Adler leans into him and gives a side glance, which might be saying thanks I guess, or do you have to?But, he returns to his reading, and Ulrich gets to stew in his poor emotional recognition skills with the benefit of being tolerated.
"Wait…" the contentment breaks. A noticable sweat has broken out at Adler's brow. "That can't be right. Scheiße—" he pulls away as Ulrich cranes his tank, which only further raises concern.
"What? Is it about the mission?" The ferrofluid wavers in apprehension. "If it isn't confidential then I'm sure you can disclose—"
Close enough to see it, a flush dusts Adler's face as he groans unhappily. "Ulrich, you moron. You're coming with me."
Despite Hissabeth's sudden guffaw, he manages to keep his head. "What?"
Adler flips the mission brief around, and—yes—right there typed next to Adler Hofmann is a comma, then Ulrich.
"Oh! Well—uh—" he stammers, unable to stop his ferrofluid from giving a twirl of excitement. He gazes around the office at the surprised stares of everyone gathered around, trying not to look back at Adler. "That's great! I'll—be sure to prepare whatever's needed for the two of us—"
"Couple's holiday? Ugh," Medicine Pocket decides on disappointment, rolling their eyes. "I think we can leave this 'party' to just the two of you now!"
"NO."
For once, in unison, both Ulrich and Adler agree on something.