(Untitled)

[hammerofhell]

Hans was in an extremely foul mood, sitting at the kitchen table, as he looked over a variety of newspapers. His mood was further darkened by the fact that he was attempting to forgo coffee in a show of solidarity with Ali, but the newspapers from his own world, along with various correspondences from various sources in the know, were not making

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[vicioussweetie]

Ali didn't say anything right away when she saw Hans sitting in the kitchen. Instead, she worked around him, making tea and and a little snack for them both (good German cheeses and sausages and grapes); generally she left him alone, though she did occasionally brush a hand against his arm or trail a finger along his cheek.

When their snack was ready, and after a spot for it had been cleared on the table, Ali sat down beside him. She poured the tea, fixed it up for both of them, and then waited. Resting her hand on his knee, she waited for him to be ready to talk.

[hammerofhell]

Ali is good to him. Far better than he deserves. "Thank-you," he says, quietly, when she sets their snack and tea down.

He puts down his paper, folding it with the great care and precision of a man putting off talking about what is on his mind for as long as possible. When he has delayed things as much as he can, he finally begins to speak.

"They are... what is the American phrase... making a mess of things."

[vicioussweetie]

Ali nods a little. It's nothing she didn't know was coming for him, but seeing him hurt hurts her too. And worse, all she can really do now is give him a hug.

"I'm sorry."

[hammerofhell]

Hans holds her tightly, drawing strength from her for a moment. He had been forewarned and forearmed, from her history lessons, but little could have prepared him to truly see it come to pass.

"It is just as you said it would be," he goes on. "This will only end in bloodshed and misery."

He shakes his head. "There must be something that can be done. I had advocated to let history pass as it would... but now, as it draws closer... I do not know."

[vicioussweetie]

That gets a little sigh. His timing was pretty rotten, in that regard.

"If changing things is what you truly wish," she offers, "we can. But there are only two ways I can see of doing that. One is to murder a great many people, most of them before they've done anything wrong, on account of what they might do someday. The other would require years of negotiation and work. Years away from home."

[hammerofhell]

He hakes his head again. Timing on the field of battle? Flawless. Timing in other aspects of life? Not so good, actually.

"Neither of which appeals to me. I've had enough killing to last me a lifetime, and I've no desire to spend any time away from you and the children that I do not. What happens... will have to be what happens."

It is a terrible thought, but one which he realizes must be. And there was always the threat that the Russians and the United States would, in the absence of a unifying threat, simply teat each other and everything else in-between to pieces.

"Perhaps... perhaps there are smaller things which can be done, smaller differences which can be made."

[vicioussweetie]

Ali takes his hands, then presses a cup of tea into them. Tea is good! Tea helps!

"Yes, but I cannot promise how effective they'll be. We could spend the next twenty years doing every small thing we can think of, and have it all be for nothing. And if you're not prepared for that, we'll have to find a way to split our time and resources between two crises."

[hammerofhell]

Hans mulls this over, briefly sipping his tea. Ali is quite right, in that respect. Tea is quite good and ever so helpful.

"It is better than nothing," he says, firmly. "Though I am uncertain over how much I will be able to accomplish. Much of what I have done, what you helped me to do, comes from rank and the privileges that granted me. Soon, that will all be done away with."

[vicioussweetie]

"So we make sure you have the new sort of power," she answers patiently. "We make sure you have lots and lots of money."

[hammerofhell]

He nods his agreement. "This will not be easy. I remember you telling me the economy will soon collapse."

He ponders. "We will need to make certain to create wealth of tangible or lasting value, not tied to any particular currency's value."

[vicioussweetie]

A flicker of a smile crosses her face.

"Yes, that would be very wise. And I'm sure we can find plenty of places to invest what liquid assets you have now, before it's too late. Investments that will offer more tangible returns."

[hammerofhell]

Something almost like a smile dances across his face.

"It is strange, though. I have lived all my life the life of the noble, of those groomed to lead and command. And yet when circumstances act to take that away from me... I find it does not concern me the way that it should."

"There are far more important things to worry about losing these days."

[vicioussweetie]

"People are important to you," she murmurs, sipping her tea now that it's cooled a bit, "And that's a good thing. It's one of the things I love about you.

"But I am glad to hear that you don't care so much about the adulation of being a hero, so much as doing the work of being one."

[hammerofhell]

"I never did. It was the command, and the government, who tried to make me a symbol of German might and power. I flew because I could, because I thought I was doing what was right."

What a fool he had been. All those lives he had taken... and for what?

"But you are correct. There is much work to be done. And precious little time to begin it in."

[vicioussweetie]

Ali smiles faintly, then leans forward to steal a kiss. She's not as stealthy with this as she used to be, but he can pretend to be surprised, right?

"Indeed. We should make a list, of the sorts of things to buy. Lots of farms, I'm thinking; people will need food, and someplace safe to work. We could set them up as a cooperative, perhaps, and let people pay for things with labor or barter instead of money."

Ali leans over to the fridge, pulling off the pad and pencil she uses for grocery lists.

[hammerofhell]

For Ali? Hans will be happy to act surprised every time. If she will do the same when he gives her a kiss of his own.

He nods, though, as she begins to speak and write. "An excellent idea. Which does remind me... I will need to make arrangement to move my Fokker to this world."

Even if he must install seatbelts.

"But farms, yes. That is a strong avenue of food and other goods for many people."