Ricette d'amore [1/?]
anonymous
March 5 2010, 03:55:02 UTC
“…and I’ve seen it advised that 15 grams of dried basil will suffice as a substitute for the fresh form, which is absolutely ridiculous. Substitutions are possible, yes, but not to that degree. And not with something as integral to the dish as basil…”
It was raining again, in Köln. Dr. Lili Zwingli sighed as she looked out of one of her expansive office windows. It had been raining for so many days straight; she hoped the river wasn’t going to flood. Either way, it was certainly going to take her longer than usual to get home after this last session.
This session. Oops. Well, she probably hadn’t missed much: he was still talking about plants.
“Ludwig, while it is very interesting to learn about the different types of basil that you work with, I believe we were supposed to be talking about your family. Is it alright if we return to our original discussion?”
“…yes.”
In sessions with Ludwig Beilschmidt, Lili’s haphazardly scribbled notes always ended up being a mishmash of recipes, culinary tricks, and actual progress. She looked down at what had been accomplished today and sighed. There was a most likely impeccable list of the ingredients needed for Torta Rustica, and a short outline of the only people Ludwig ever spoke to. The outline held a grand total of six names, all of which Lili recognized as belonging to Ludwig’s coworkers.
The chef sitting in the comfortable chair across from her began to fidget. When he was lecturing about cooking, Ludwig could certainly talk up a storm. But when forced to talk about himself or other people, it was like the man had no idea what to do and was just waiting for instructions. Lili made a note just below her doodle of a basil leaf:
Family next time. Insist.
She then broke the awkward silence. “I think that’s been enough for now, Ludwig. Thank you for coming today, I know it can be difficult sometimes.” Lili smiled as she rose from her seat. Ludwig copied her actions, but without the smile. Lili had never seen Ludwig smile, which was a shame, and probably part of the reason why Ludwig was sent to see her every Wednesday.
“I have been doing my own research and have concluded that I do not possess enough of the symptoms to be diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Dr. Zwingli. Therefore I must insist that you relay this information to my employer. He refuses to listen to me.” The man picked his coat up under one arm and gave Lili one of the angriest imploring looks she had ever seen.
“Please, Ludwig, there’s no need to be so formal with me. It’s Lili. And I’ve already had a little discussion with your boss; Mr. Kirkland knows now that it’s neither accurate nor particularly nice to call you an ‘anal retentive nutcase.’ He promised to stop, but only if you keep coming to our sessions.”
After that interesting phone call, Lili had wanted to get Mr. Kirkland himself to come in and sit in the comfortable chair that Ludwig had just vacated. Judging by their conversation alone, Mr. Kirkland had some of his own troubles that she might be able to help with.
Ricette d'amore [1b/?]
anonymous
March 5 2010, 03:59:26 UTC
But right now she had to focus on Ludwig.
“Ludwig, will you promise to think more on your relationships with your family members before next Wednesday? You don’t have to write anything down, I just want you to make sure you’ll be comfortable enough discussing them. You might even try giving one of them a call…” From the look on the man's face, Lili could tell this was quickly moving towards negative territory. She placed a hand on her patient’s arm as he fiddled around in one of his coat pockets.
Searching for something. She knew full well what that something was, and spoke using the most soothing voice she could muster.
“You don’t have to write anything down for this. It’s not work or a task, it’d just make me very happy if you could think about your family members during the week. You mentioned that you have a brother several sessions ago. Maybe you can revisit the memories you have of the two of you growing up.”
Ludwig stopped rummaging in his pockets, and seemed to think about her words. Finally, he nodded. “I suppose I can do that. And I will not write it down in my daybook because I do not need to write things in my daybook. It is just a useful tool to help keep me organized. I do not have compulsions.” He paused as he digested the rest of her words. “I will think about my childhood, but I will not call my brother. We do not speak.”
Lili found that to be such a shame. She knew firsthand how important families were as a support network, and how painful life could be without them. Not to mention the fact that her brother meant the world to her. “You don’t have to do anything you really don’t want to. Just consider it.”
“I do not wish to call him.”
The doctor sighed, again, as she walked her patient through the door of her office and into the small sitting room she shared with two other therapists. “Then you don’t have to. Have a good week, Ludwig. I’ll see you again next Wednesday.”
“May you have a good evening, Dr. Zwingli.”
Lili went over to stand next to the only other person in the waiting room (a lost looking, bespectacled man) as she watched Ludwig leave. He walked with powerful, measured, determined strides. He could never hurt a fly, she knew with certainty, unless someone made a dish featuring flies into a popular Italian delicacy.
But Ludwig had a temper, had high standards, and looked like he could snap a grown man’s arm in half.
The sessions with Ludwig might not be very productive, not yet, but Lili hoped against hope that one day they might be. That one day, something could break Ludwig out of his shell. Lili had an inkling that what Ludwig needed the most was other people, and time.
“Well, Roderich, how does…” she checked the memo pad in her right hand, “Torta Rustica sound for dinner?”
Hi. A promise is a promise, even though when I re-read it I realized that my promise was a very awkward promise. At any rate, I’ve got the plot all written down so it’s only a matter of finding the time to actually write it out now. Just one question before I proceed, though: any side pairings that you absolutely don’t want, OP? Because I’ve got some optional half-ideas floating around, but I want to clear with you before adding them in.
And lastly, I’m REALLY REALLY sorry if I mess up on any of the cooking bits or especially the mental health topics. The internet is a cruel and oftentimes misleading guide.
SuperHappy!OP here
anonymous
March 5 2010, 04:30:13 UTC
Oh God...
There's no words. You made my day. Have my babies.
(“I suppose I can do that. And I will not write it down in my daybook because I do not need to write things in my daybook. It is just a useful tool to help keep me organized. I do not have compulsions.” Anon, I melted out of happiness just right there.)
...
Oh, yeah, the pairings. I usually don't like US/UK, but since this is AU, I don't think this would bother me. And... (This is a really stupid request I am going to make. Feel free to ignore it. OP is just crazy like that.)
*shameshameshame*Could you manage to put Frederick II in your story ? Just because... Yeah... I'm a fangirl...*shameshameshame*
Re: Ricette d'amore [1b/?]
anonymous
March 5 2010, 10:53:50 UTC
Ah, this is fantastic! Italianon loved that movie, and it's true that the main characters fit Italy and Germany perfectly (and now I can't shake the image of Feli looking like a young Castellitto, lol). And this first part is so nice, I like the way you write! Lili's POV was interesting and cute.
Hey, if you need pointers about Italian cooking, I may be able to help! Just ask! I'm not a professional chef, but I'm Italian and I'm a good cook, so...
It was raining again, in Köln. Dr. Lili Zwingli sighed as she looked out of one of her expansive office windows. It had been raining for so many days straight; she hoped the river wasn’t going to flood. Either way, it was certainly going to take her longer than usual to get home after this last session.
This session. Oops. Well, she probably hadn’t missed much: he was still talking about plants.
“Ludwig, while it is very interesting to learn about the different types of basil that you work with, I believe we were supposed to be talking about your family. Is it alright if we return to our original discussion?”
“…yes.”
In sessions with Ludwig Beilschmidt, Lili’s haphazardly scribbled notes always ended up being a mishmash of recipes, culinary tricks, and actual progress. She looked down at what had been accomplished today and sighed. There was a most likely impeccable list of the ingredients needed for Torta Rustica, and a short outline of the only people Ludwig ever spoke to. The outline held a grand total of six names, all of which Lili recognized as belonging to Ludwig’s coworkers.
The chef sitting in the comfortable chair across from her began to fidget. When he was lecturing about cooking, Ludwig could certainly talk up a storm. But when forced to talk about himself or other people, it was like the man had no idea what to do and was just waiting for instructions. Lili made a note just below her doodle of a basil leaf:
Family next time. Insist.
She then broke the awkward silence. “I think that’s been enough for now, Ludwig. Thank you for coming today, I know it can be difficult sometimes.” Lili smiled as she rose from her seat. Ludwig copied her actions, but without the smile. Lili had never seen Ludwig smile, which was a shame, and probably part of the reason why Ludwig was sent to see her every Wednesday.
“I have been doing my own research and have concluded that I do not possess enough of the symptoms to be diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Dr. Zwingli. Therefore I must insist that you relay this information to my employer. He refuses to listen to me.” The man picked his coat up under one arm and gave Lili one of the angriest imploring looks she had ever seen.
“Please, Ludwig, there’s no need to be so formal with me. It’s Lili. And I’ve already had a little discussion with your boss; Mr. Kirkland knows now that it’s neither accurate nor particularly nice to call you an ‘anal retentive nutcase.’ He promised to stop, but only if you keep coming to our sessions.”
After that interesting phone call, Lili had wanted to get Mr. Kirkland himself to come in and sit in the comfortable chair that Ludwig had just vacated. Judging by their conversation alone, Mr. Kirkland had some of his own troubles that she might be able to help with.
Reply
“Ludwig, will you promise to think more on your relationships with your family members before next Wednesday? You don’t have to write anything down, I just want you to make sure you’ll be comfortable enough discussing them. You might even try giving one of them a call…” From the look on the man's face, Lili could tell this was quickly moving towards negative territory. She placed a hand on her patient’s arm as he fiddled around in one of his coat pockets.
Searching for something. She knew full well what that something was, and spoke using the most soothing voice she could muster.
“You don’t have to write anything down for this. It’s not work or a task, it’d just make me very happy if you could think about your family members during the week. You mentioned that you have a brother several sessions ago. Maybe you can revisit the memories you have of the two of you growing up.”
Ludwig stopped rummaging in his pockets, and seemed to think about her words. Finally, he nodded. “I suppose I can do that. And I will not write it down in my daybook because I do not need to write things in my daybook. It is just a useful tool to help keep me organized. I do not have compulsions.” He paused as he digested the rest of her words. “I will think about my childhood, but I will not call my brother. We do not speak.”
Lili found that to be such a shame. She knew firsthand how important families were as a support network, and how painful life could be without them. Not to mention the fact that her brother meant the world to her. “You don’t have to do anything you really don’t want to. Just consider it.”
“I do not wish to call him.”
The doctor sighed, again, as she walked her patient through the door of her office and into the small sitting room she shared with two other therapists. “Then you don’t have to. Have a good week, Ludwig. I’ll see you again next Wednesday.”
“May you have a good evening, Dr. Zwingli.”
Lili went over to stand next to the only other person in the waiting room (a lost looking, bespectacled man) as she watched Ludwig leave. He walked with powerful, measured, determined strides. He could never hurt a fly, she knew with certainty, unless someone made a dish featuring flies into a popular Italian delicacy.
But Ludwig had a temper, had high standards, and looked like he could snap a grown man’s arm in half.
The sessions with Ludwig might not be very productive, not yet, but Lili hoped against hope that one day they might be. That one day, something could break Ludwig out of his shell. Lili had an inkling that what Ludwig needed the most was other people, and time.
“Well, Roderich, how does…” she checked the memo pad in her right hand, “Torta Rustica sound for dinner?”
Hi. A promise is a promise, even though when I re-read it I realized that my promise was a very awkward promise. At any rate, I’ve got the plot all written down so it’s only a matter of finding the time to actually write it out now. Just one question before I proceed, though: any side pairings that you absolutely don’t want, OP? Because I’ve got some optional half-ideas floating around, but I want to clear with you before adding them in.
And lastly, I’m REALLY REALLY sorry if I mess up on any of the cooking bits or especially the mental health topics. The internet is a cruel and oftentimes misleading guide.
Reply
There's no words. You made my day. Have my babies.
(“I suppose I can do that. And I will not write it down in my daybook because I do not need to write things in my daybook. It is just a useful tool to help keep me organized. I do not have compulsions.” Anon, I melted out of happiness just right there.)
...
Oh, yeah, the pairings. I usually don't like US/UK, but since this is AU, I don't think this would bother me. And... (This is a really stupid request I am going to make. Feel free to ignore it. OP is just crazy like that.)
*shameshameshame*Could you manage to put Frederick II in your story ? Just because... Yeah... I'm a fangirl...*shameshameshame*
Reply
Reply
Hey, if you need pointers about Italian cooking, I may be able to help! Just ask! I'm not a professional chef, but I'm Italian and I'm a good cook, so...
Reply
Reply
*loves*
Reply
Reply
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