I CAN'T FIGHT THIS FEELING ANYMOOOORE.
WHO: Ludi und Rodi.
WHEN: Sometime in the evening on Thursday; let's do the time warp! (July 8th)
WHERE: Their respective homes.
WHAT: A phone conversation between old gays friends.
LUDWIG: [RING RING RING PHONE CALL.]
L: [The phone rings.]
L: [And rings.]
L: [And rings.]
RODERICH: "... Guten Abend, Ludwig."
L: "Guten Abend... Erm, is this a bad time?"
R: "Uh... nein. Ich-I was... Never mind that. How are you?"
L: "I'm fine, thanks. I was just calling to make sure you received the money I deposited. For the, er, damage Gilbert caused."
R: "Yes, I have but you should not have paid for it. It was Gilbert's responsibility, Ludwig."
L: "[clears throat] You know my brother doesn't have that kind of money."
R: "You should stop sheltering him. It's not good for him."
L: "I'm not sheltering him. He lost his job; I'm sure he'll get an- Look, I didn't call to argue with you, Roderich."
R: "[pauses] ... I didn't realize we were arguing..."
L: "You were lecturing me about my brother. Again. You have that habit."
R: "Because you never listen to me."
L: "Well, I'm trying. You have something to tell me, don't you?"
R: "Yes? I was telling you that you should not shelter Gilbert. How long has it been since he has lost his job? Has he attempted to find another one?"
L: "I meant, something else. I may have called on... false pretenses."
R: "... I am afraid I don't follow you."
L: "...I saw what you wrote. Online. That's what I was referring to. That's... why I called, ahem."
R: "... I thought I made it clear that you were not supposed to see that..."
L: "I don't make a habit of looking the other way, especially not when it's about you, Roderich. Why didn't you just tell me?"
R: "...... What do you want me to say, Ludwig?"
L: "I want you to be honest. You made it seem like I would abandon you. Is that what you think?"
R: "Am I wrong to think that it might happen?"
L: "Yes, I'd say so."
R: "When was the last time you contacted me, Ludwig? Prior to tonight? When was it?"
L: "I did call you earlier in the week when you asked me to."
R: "You only called because I asked."
L: "You know I've been busy. Between business trips, working toward a promotion, planning a wedding, I barely have time to see... Feliciano."
R: "I see where I am on your list... [pauses] A phone call would have been nice. An email, even."
L: "I was illustrating how tightly I have to manage my time these days. I'm not ignoring you. I'll try- no, I will do better. Du bist wie ein Bruder."
R: "I know you aren't ignoring me. It would be nice if you... you call more often... I... don't want to... Never mind that."
L: "You don't want to what?"
R: "Ludwig, I am quite certain you know what I am going to say."
L: "Be a bother? Get in the way? What is it? I need you to tell me these things. Please be patient."
R: "... I am not going to say them out loud...!"
L: "..."
L: "Is it... that bad?"
R: ".... Ludwig. Please."
L: "Was ist los?"
R: "... you idiot."
L: "[STARTLED NOISE!] Excuse me?"
R: "You. Idiot!"
L: "Stop saying that."
R: "H-How can you not understand that...!"
L: "Understand? You're not even speaking in full sentences!"
R: "Do I have to say everything I feel, Ludwig? I thought you knew me better."
L: "It's not possible for me to know things that you can't even muster the courage to say aloud."
R: "Some things are difficult to say out loud, Ludwig..."
L: "Then, I think it bears repeating: I thought you knew me better."
R: "Ludwig."
L: "... yes?"
R: "...."
R: ".... Ludwig..."
R: "... Ich liebe dich."
R: [He hangs up.]
WHEN: Sometime in the evening on Thursday; let's do the time warp! (July 8th)
WHERE: Their respective homes.
WHAT: A phone conversation between old gays friends.
LUDWIG: [RING RING RING PHONE CALL.]
L: [The phone rings.]
L: [And rings.]
L: [And rings.]
RODERICH: "... Guten Abend, Ludwig."
L: "Guten Abend... Erm, is this a bad time?"
R: "Uh... nein. Ich-I was... Never mind that. How are you?"
L: "I'm fine, thanks. I was just calling to make sure you received the money I deposited. For the, er, damage Gilbert caused."
R: "Yes, I have but you should not have paid for it. It was Gilbert's responsibility, Ludwig."
L: "[clears throat] You know my brother doesn't have that kind of money."
R: "You should stop sheltering him. It's not good for him."
L: "I'm not sheltering him. He lost his job; I'm sure he'll get an- Look, I didn't call to argue with you, Roderich."
R: "[pauses] ... I didn't realize we were arguing..."
L: "You were lecturing me about my brother. Again. You have that habit."
R: "Because you never listen to me."
L: "Well, I'm trying. You have something to tell me, don't you?"
R: "Yes? I was telling you that you should not shelter Gilbert. How long has it been since he has lost his job? Has he attempted to find another one?"
L: "I meant, something else. I may have called on... false pretenses."
R: "... I am afraid I don't follow you."
L: "...I saw what you wrote. Online. That's what I was referring to. That's... why I called, ahem."
R: "... I thought I made it clear that you were not supposed to see that..."
L: "I don't make a habit of looking the other way, especially not when it's about you, Roderich. Why didn't you just tell me?"
R: "...... What do you want me to say, Ludwig?"
L: "I want you to be honest. You made it seem like I would abandon you. Is that what you think?"
R: "Am I wrong to think that it might happen?"
L: "Yes, I'd say so."
R: "When was the last time you contacted me, Ludwig? Prior to tonight? When was it?"
L: "I did call you earlier in the week when you asked me to."
R: "You only called because I asked."
L: "You know I've been busy. Between business trips, working toward a promotion, planning a wedding, I barely have time to see... Feliciano."
R: "I see where I am on your list... [pauses] A phone call would have been nice. An email, even."
L: "I was illustrating how tightly I have to manage my time these days. I'm not ignoring you. I'll try- no, I will do better. Du bist wie ein Bruder."
R: "I know you aren't ignoring me. It would be nice if you... you call more often... I... don't want to... Never mind that."
L: "You don't want to what?"
R: "Ludwig, I am quite certain you know what I am going to say."
L: "Be a bother? Get in the way? What is it? I need you to tell me these things. Please be patient."
R: "... I am not going to say them out loud...!"
L: "..."
L: "Is it... that bad?"
R: ".... Ludwig. Please."
L: "Was ist los?"
R: "... you idiot."
L: "[STARTLED NOISE!] Excuse me?"
R: "You. Idiot!"
L: "Stop saying that."
R: "H-How can you not understand that...!"
L: "Understand? You're not even speaking in full sentences!"
R: "Do I have to say everything I feel, Ludwig? I thought you knew me better."
L: "It's not possible for me to know things that you can't even muster the courage to say aloud."
R: "Some things are difficult to say out loud, Ludwig..."
L: "Then, I think it bears repeating: I thought you knew me better."
R: "Ludwig."
L: "... yes?"
R: "...."
R: ".... Ludwig..."
R: "... Ich liebe dich."
R: [He hangs up.]