The Best Kind of Medicine || Ludwig

[Feliciano Vargas]

Words: 1060

Tags:Ludwig Beilschmidt

Notes: Beck's stealing the show.

Beck never claimed to be well versed in the world. To her, life was short—why bother wasting precious time on things that aren’t interesting? People were interesting, nature was interesting, music and literature and art (especially Feli’s art) was interesting. She loved listening to her patrons discuss their own passions, she loved seeing the light spark in their tired eyes as they explain the intricacies behind their beloved curiosities. Beck never claimed to be a master at any given thing—she was a decent bartender, a level-headed individual, and a strong manager in her own right. But the thing she really excelled at was people. Even as a child, she had been fascinated by those around her, their actions, their personalities, but more than anything, their relationships. She could always be counted on to listen to the love-sick romantic, to counsel the floundering lover, to comfort the heartbroken. She was the mediator, the problem-solver, and she loved every minute of it.

But there was one man that had continued to fascinate her for the past two years. Tall and blonde with piercing blue eyes, Ludwig Bielschmidt cut quite the dashing figure no matter where he was. She imagined he could be quite attractive if he lost the severe crease between his brows and that constant frown. She always figured that he did something really important—like a high-end business man or a doctor, something with a lot responsibility and underlings. It would be relatively easy to ask him of course, but Beck liked the mystery of it all, it seemed to suit him well. So she continued to guess and watch him when she had a free moment. Despite his intimidating stature, she’d learned that he was actually quite kind. They had only spoken in passing a handful of times, but he had always been very polite, never failing to tip her for each beer she brought to his table. Occasionally, he would stay until closing and even helped carry some of the larger items from the cellar when it came time to refill. Had it not been for two things, Beck might have fallen for the man. For one, she was happily engaged. And, far more importantly, Ludwig’s affections were clearly with someone else.

For nearly two years, Beck had sat back and watched her best friend become more and more entangled with their strange new patron. The first night Ludwig had wandered into the Bunker, nearly everyone shied away from his stern gaze and clipped accent. Even Beck, who’d worked in some of the seediest bars before finally landing a job at the Bunker, couldn’t help but feel uneasy when he stood at her station and fixed her with those piercing eyes. But Feli? Feli never even seemed to blink when Ludwig returned for a second beer. Feliciano had always been a inviting person, indeed it was one of his biggest draws as a bartender, but there was something different in the way he spoke to Ludwig. There was a special kind of warmth, of understanding that spiced the smiles he seemed to direct only at the blonde. It went far beyond his job, or even his innate desire to put others at ease. As, Ludwig’s visits grew more regular, Feliciano seemed more and more distracted by the man, even neglecting his precious patrons to linger near the man. At first, it made Beck nervous. She really liked working with Feli they’d established an easy-going rapport with one another over the years and she hated the thought of losing her favorite coworker. But much to her surprise, her boss actually seemed encourage their arrangement. Now, nearly every single one of Ludwig’s visits ended with Feli camped out at his table.

At first, Beck had figured that Ludwig was humoring him at first, just putting up with his exuberance in the same weary manner of a parent minding a toddler. But as time went on, it became obvious to Beck that Ludwig actually seemed to appreciate the company. Though his smiles were rare, they only seemed to appear when Feli was at his side. She caught the fondness that seemed to soften his gaze as he would first catch sight of Feli upon entering the bar, and she saw the way Feli would light up in response. She figured it was only a matter of time until they ended up together. It seemed to be the only natural progression of things.

And yet, much to her frustration, the pair seemed to stagnate. It was confusing. Feli certainly had no trouble making his interests known in the past, and yet he made no move towards Ludwig. And Ludwig seemed all but oblivious to the tension that swirled around them both. Beck tried to nudge the two, but no amount of teasing, of sideways hints, seemed to do shift the situation and she began to despair that they would never recognize their relationship for what it was. No one in a platonic relationship looked at each other the way they did. But as the months, and later years passed, Beck came to terms with the fact that their relationship was never going move forward.

That is until Feli called out from work. Despite his easy-going nature, Feliciano loved his job, and though he might be late, he was rarely absent. But winters were traditionally tough for the Italian and he often succumbed to the colds and flus that accompanied the icy months. But still… to have him call in on one of Lud’s scheduled days… he must have truly felt awful. Beck was mentally planning a trip over to his little flat after her shift to make sure that he had something warm to eat, just when Ludwig stepped into the bar. She watched his eyes, sweeping the bar, searching out that smile that had always been there to welcome him.

Beck waved him over, smiling faintly as a less than innocent plan began to take shape in her mind. Perhaps this was her chance to finally set the pair straight.

“Lud! Glad you were able to make it tonight! What can I get started for you?” She did her best to keep her expression neutral as she wiped down her station in preparation for the night.

And if she played her cards right, what a night it would be.

made by MISSO for KAT

[Ludwig Beilschmidt]

Words: 548

Feliciano Vargas

Color: #003366

Notes: Hi Beck o/

Another third Friday evening of the month and another drive to the Bunker, and Ludwig found himself standing outside of the bar adjusting his overcoat and tie, trying to make himself presentable after what had been yet another exhausting week. Yet despite the increase in his workload (some of which, Ludwig had to admit, was his own fault), he’d continued to make time for the bar and for his friend that worked there. These past few months had Ludwig feeling slightly guilty, because while he always enjoyed meeting and chatting with Feliciano and with the other staff, lately he seemed to spend half of his time in other places. He and Feliciano had gone to catch the replay of a football match that one evening when he’d showed up damagingly late, and the marked Friday after that, Ludwig had shamefully fallen asleep in his booth when Feliciano had been helping Beck with a rowdy patron. A few normal meetings had passed, then one at a late-night fish-and-chips stand when both he and his friend had neglected to eat. It wasn’t good to have things go so irregularly, Ludwig thought as he stepped out of the damp London evening into the warmth of the bar.

Yet the thought had barely left his mind when he noticed that something wasn’t quite right at the Bunker that evening. The familiar style of music sounded from the speakers, the same regular bar-flies decorated the stools closest to the row of taps, but…

Ludwig narrowed his eyes a little. He couldn’t see Feliciano anywhere.

Well, perhaps he’d gone into the back to find more cider, or perhaps he was taking a quick break before Ludwig had arrived. Surreptitiously, Ludwig checked his watch. He hadn’t come all that late; thankfully, most of his schedule had gone according to plan. Yet the bar didn’t feel quite as lively with the absence of the Italian bartender. Even the few dancers next to the speakers seemed almost subdued.

A motion caught Ludwig’s eye; Beck, a familiar coworker — and a purported friend of Feliciano’s, although they teased each other mercilessly, as he’d witnessed on more than a few occasions — was waving him over to her station. He walked slowly over to the bar and sat down on an open stool near Beck, still craning his neck for a glimpse of that familiar face. When Feliciano didn’t appear, he decided to at least try to be polite; Beck wasn’t as close a friend as her coworker, but she was plenty friendly and had a cheerful energy to her.

”Good evening,” he greeted politely, resting his hands on the worn bar counter. ”If you’ve got any dark beer on tap, one of those, please.” After a moment of hesitation, Ludwig couldn’t hold back his curiosity any longer, ”Sorry to bother you, but is Feliciano in the back somewhere?” A hint of a frown appeared on his face and he lowered his voice a little, ”If he went to clean the bathrooms, the locks for those get stuck sometimes, as you know.” Ludwig had paid for the repairs to the door out of pocket that time, mostly because he’d grown that fond of the place and had felt that guilty about the incident.

made by MISSO for use only by LENA

[Feliciano Vargas]

Words: 418

Tags:Ludwig Beilschmidt

Notes: More Beck... 

Now, this… was all too easy. Beck managed to bite back a grin as she quickly filled Ludwig’s order. For her plan to go through, she had to play this exchange very carefully. Marshaling her expression, she turned to him, face carefully blank. “Feli? Here? He didn’t call you?” She slid the drink to him, her head tilting slightly. “That’s surprising, I would have sworn you’d have been the first on his list.” She paused, giving that sentence time to land, to prickle in the back of his mind. Boys are so delightfully simple, so predictable…. She was sure that with just the right touch, she could finally see the end of this chapter.

She couldn’t lie, the two had been fun to watch. For two years she’d watched their relationship grow into genuine friendship, and then… into something more. She saw it in every touch—Feli’s arms wrapped around him, Ludwig’s hand on his shoulder… it seemed their bodies were aware of their feelings long before they themselves did. But the best part of every story is the ending, and after two long, tortuous years, she was ready for some resolution, it was time to put this story to rest so they could get working on the next. And maybe, just maybe, she could finally get a decent double date for her trouble.

She sighed and ran her hand through her hair, leaning against the bar and dropping her voice to just over a murmur. “Feli called in sick today, I figured he’d call you so you didn’t make the trip over here for no reason.” Her brows wriggled as she eyed
him. She’d teased them both about it—every one of the staff and most of the regulars had known that Feli was the true reason Ludwig kept coming back. “Hm… maybe he didn’t want to worry you…. It’s not that unusual, Lud, the winter months are always hard on him. He gets under the weather every so often…” She poured another drink and slid it to another regular, who nodded and muttered a gruff thanks before melting back into the crowd. “I’m sorry. I’m sure he’ll be back the next time you come around.” She sighed and looked around. “Still… it sucks, without him around there’s no way I’m getting out before sun-up… I don’t know how I’m getting that soup to his place now…”

There… the seeds had been planted. Now all she could do was hope that they took root.

made by MISSO for KAT

[Ludwig Beilschmidt]

Words: 561

Feliciano Vargas

Color: #003366

Notes: Sorry for the wait!

Beck's first answer already had Ludwig worried. He didn't call you? Something had come up, that much was clear, and pessimist that he was, his thoughts were leaning in the direction of 'tragic accident leading to emergency hospital visit'.

"I haven't heard from him," he admitted, turning his beer glass around in his hands. "He's always been very quick to let me know if he can't make it to work," he added, upon hearing that he should have been first on his friend's notification list. It truly did sound like something dire had happened, although Ludwig checked himself: Beck didn't look all that troubled, and she was Feli's friend as much as he was.

Thankfully, the news wasn't terrible: as colder weather had settled on London, Feliciano had fallen sick and had needed to call in. In the past, Ludwig had always received a phone call from his friend when this had happened, but perhaps it had happened suddenly. Beck echoed his thoughts unknowingly: Feli knew very well how anxious he got over things, and besides that, Feli hailed from a much warmer and temperate climate. While he hadn't sussed out the other man's exact hometown, Ludwig knew his friend had grown up in Italy, and compared to the hot Mediterranean days and barely cooler nights, the pervasive cold rains that descended on London hit Feli hard. The closer the days crept to autumn and winter, the fiercer the blow fell. Still... he had always called to let Ludwig know when he was ill before.

"I hope he's alright," he mused, finally allowing himself to start on his beer. If Feli was sick, there wasn't much he could do. The other man needed rest. They'd just have to meet again next week, or three weeks from now, or whenever a free evening appeared. Upon hearing Beck's apology, he only shook his head, "It's fine. As long as he recovers, I'll be back eventually and we can catch up then."

The bartender's next words hooked his attention, however. It took him less than a moment to assemble meaning from the vague hints; honestly, if he didn't know better, it sounded like Beck was trying to goad him into doing her a favor. Beck could be unrepentantly sneaky; Ludwig had been a regular enough patron at the Bunker to have witnessed her tricks. But at the same time, she and Feli were friends too. Ludwig knew Feli well enough to understand he'd probably cook something up for Beck if she had fallen ill - and this was with Beck married. Feli was just that kind of person. It made sense that Beck knew him well enough to return the favor.

"It'd be a shame to let good soup go to waste." Ludwig took another sip of his drink. "I could run it over. I'll be honest... I could use sleep more than beer, so I wouldn't mind bringing it to him on the way home. Only... I don't know where he lives." Feli had never been forthcoming with that information, and Ludwig had never pried. It just seemed like one of those unspoken rules of friendship they'd agreed upon, and now, the thought of crossing that without Feli's permission made Ludwig feel a little uncomfortable. Hopefully, once he got the soup and Beck's get-well-wishes, Feli would understand.

made by MISSO for use only by LENA

[Feliciano Vargas]

Words: 585

Tags:Ludwig Beilschmidt

Notes: FINALLY! 

Jackpot!

Beck couldn’t help but beam, clapping her hands together in victory. “Oh my god, really? Lud, you’re a life saver!” She immediately dropped her towel, rocking back on her heels excitedly. “Just wait here, okay? I’ll get the soup!” Before Lud could think too hard on his offer, she jogged away, withdrawing back into the break room. She knew Ludwig well enough not to give him too much time to worry and fret over going to see Feli. She had to keep his concern in the forefront, otherwise the German would somehow talk himself out of going.

“Here, the soup should be hot, I kept it in a big thermos so you shouldn’t have to be worried about spilling. You need the address though, right?” She glanced up at him, gauging his reactions as she spoke. Ludwig was a very composed individual and it had taken Beck a long time to figure out his tells. To be honest it was one of the things she’d always admired about the German, his ability to keep his emotions in check. Indeed, for the longest time, the only one in the Bunker who’d been able to read Ludwig with any real accuracy was Feli. But after two years, Beck had learned the intricacies of Lud’s emotions almost as well as her coworker. She jotted out Feli’s address, before pressing both the paper and the thermos to his chest. “Stop looking so worried, Lud,” she said with a grin and a pat to his shoulder. “Feli’s going to be so happy to see you. He sounded miserable over the phone and having a hot meal and your company is going to do him a world of good!” She clapped her hands together. “Really, you’ll be better than any medicine.”

She did feel a slight twinge of guilt at that, a brief moment where she couldn’t help but wonder if she was overstepping her bounds. Sending Lud over to Feli’s little flat was pretty intimate. Feli never entertained at his flat, rarely invited friends to the little hole in the wall he called home. She hadn’t asked about him about it, didn’t want to pry too much in that particular area, not when it was clearly something that made her friend so uncomfortable. She couldn’t help but wonder if Feli would be upset with Lud appearing on his doorstep.

But still. She hadn’t been exaggerating when she’d said Feli sounded miserable. The poor boy sounded dead on his feet., and possibly feverish. And if she knew him, e had stubbornly refused to call anyone to keep him company. What if he passed out? What if he hit his head on something? She was only looking out for him, right? And since she couldn’t be there for him, who better to look out for her favorite Italian than someone who she knew cared just as much about him (and maybe more.) She glanced up at the blonde, frowning slightly.

“Look, I know this is a little… unorthodox,” Beck said, leaning forward. “Normally I wouldn’t ask you to do this but… I worry about him, being alone and sick like that. If anything happened, none of us would even know. I’d feel better if I knew someone responsible like you was there to look after him. Feli’s always looking after others… I just want to make sure there’s someone looking after him?” She fixed Lud with her best no nonsense stare. “Can I count on you?”

made by MISSO for KAT

[Ludwig Beilschmidt]

Words: 803

Feliciano Vargas

Color: #003366

Notes: He's convinced now.

Ludwig managed a small anxious smile as Beck thanked him and, as she bustled off to grab the soup, he worked on finishing his drink. Feli was fortunate so have such a thoughtful coworker, someone who looked out for him like this when he fell ill. It was another reason Ludwig liked visiting the Bunker as often as he was able to: there was a real sense of family there, at least among the workers and the more regular patrons. When Beck returned with the thermos, Ludwig held his hands out, but hesitated when she mentioned Feli’s address.

”Ah, yes, please,” he answered. ”He’s never told me anything about where he lived before.” A little selfishly, Ludwig hoped Feli didn’t live too awfully far, like somewhere on the outskirts of the city proper. Honestly, he didn’t even have any idea how the other man got to work. If Feli rode a bike, it’d be reasonable to assume he lived nearby, but he had not the slightest clue. As far as Ludwig was concerned, Feli just appeared at the bar and vanished when his shift was over. The realization was embarrassing: he knew Feli’s favorite foods, hobbies, and even songs, but he had no clue how the bartender got to his job every day. It certainly made him feel like a poor excuse for a friend. When Beck pressed the thermos and the address into his arms, he clutched both tightly, before freeing a hand and fishing into his pocket for his wallet.

”He sounded miserable?” he echoed, digging out some change to pay for the beer. ”That’s not like him.” Maybe Feli was worse off than he realized. The thought became an uncomfortable stone in his chest, and Beck’s other remarks only made matters worse. If anything happened, none of us would even know. Ludwig forced himself to take a deep breath. It was just like the bartender, to spend all of his time looking after other people (including Ludwig himself) but not spare a thought for his own well-being when he fell badly ill. In fact, it sounded just like Feli to disregard himself like that. So when Beck asked if she’d be able to count on Ludwig, his reply was instantaneous.

”Of course. I’ll get going right away.” Already, he’d shouldered his jacket back on and had started searching in his pocket for the keys. ”Have a good evening, Beck, I’ll make sure he’s alright.  You don't need to worry.” He nudged the coins towards her and spun on his heel, heading quickly for the door.

Inside his car, Ludwig set the thermos securely in the passenger seat before taking a look at the address. Feli didn’t live terribly far away… but the part of London he called home wasn’t exactly savory. Shivering a little in the damp, Ludwig revved the engine to life, flicked on the heat, and started driving. The misty streets of London weren’t deserted by this time of night, but most people were already holed up at home in front of TVs and radiators and so Ludwig made good time. As he drove, he mentally recounted times he’d been sick, and what he’d needed. Eventually, he stopped for five minutes at a late night pharmacy to buy a box of tea and a pack of cold medicine, and only concern stopped him from pausing once more for other assorted items. He’d just have to assume that Feli had the basics — tissues, blankets, aspirin — available to him.

It took him longer than expected to find Feli’s apartment building, as he drove past it twice looking for it. Once he’d been certain of the address and parked the car nearby, Ludwig stepped out into the drizzle and stared up at the building, worry building uncomfortably behind his ribs. Feli lived in a rigid cookie-cutter apartment building, one of several near-identical ones on the block; all of them had fallen into some state of disrepair. As Ludwig walked to the door, he couldn’t help notice the shards of broken glass and other detritus that crowded the path. Above him, maybe one window in five had a light on behind it: the rest of the place looked dismal and dark. It felt difficult to picture bright, cheerful Feli living in such a sad-looking place.

Finding Feli’s nameplate on the intercom, Ludwig pressed the button next to it, waiting for an answer, and when one didn’t come immediately, he gave it two more rings in quick succession, more urgent. Finally he heard a click on the other end of the line and spoke up.

”Feli? It’s Ludwig. Beck told me you were sick so I’ve got some soup and tea for you. Can I come in, please?”

made by MISSO for use only by LENA

[Feliciano Vargas]

Words: 959

Tags:Ludwig Beilschmidt

Notes: Feli's finally up to bat!

Feli had grown to love his adopted country in the years since he’d arrived on the island. Admittedly, it took some getting used to. Gone was the airy architecture, the warm plaster buildings that lined the canals of his home city. The buildings in England seemed to mirror the people he’d found residing in them, sturdy, heavy, orderly creations. And so much grey… Feliciano had never seen so many incarnations of the color mashed into one space before. And yet… the longer he stayed, the longer he came to admire both the buildings and the citizens of London. There was a sense of strength that seemed to run through the city, infusing everything that lived here with an austere sort of determination. Venice felt ethereal, fleeting, a testament to human frailty, but London was an ode to human perseverance.

Despite Feli’s growing love for London, there was still some aspects that he would always hate. Namely their winters. Londoners seemed to ride out their winters with the same grim humor they used to ride out just about everything else. But for Feli, who was still a citizen of the Mediterranean at heart, the winters felt like torture designed specifically for him. A being who depended so heavily on the sun, the long grey months wore on him, and though he never liked to admit it, it was far harder to keep up a bright smile when everything was just so… monochromatic. It was little wonder the Italian succumbed to the plaque of illnesses that usually came hand in hand with the falling temperatures.

But this one? This one might be the worst that Feli had weathered since he’d moved to London. Far from the sniffles that normally dogged the little Venetian, this bout was debilitating. Feli just couldn’t get warm, making every muscle hurt and every breath a struggle. Worse still, his world just wouldn’t sit still like he wanted, making every movement that wasn’t curling up into the fetal position a nauseating affair. Feli hadn’t wanted to call in tonight, it was one of the nights he got to spend with Luddi and those were becoming few and far between, but his body overruled an fantastic notions of patching himself together enough to see his favorite patron. With vehemence. Feli wasn’t even sure if Beck could understand him as he made the call, curled up on the couch in a cocoon of blankets, he couldn’t think about anything other than the pounding pain behind his eyes and the icy weight on his chest. But whatever he said must have convinced the woman, she certainly sounded concerned as she hung up. Maybe… maybe if he was lucky, she’d drop off some soup after her shift and Feli could enjoy a few minutes of company… even if it meant taking some abuse about the state of his apartment.

It had not been a good month for Feliciano Vargas. After his close call on his latest mission, he had taken a step back from taking on any tasks from the Underground, and the Bunker hadn’t been bringing in the patrons it had been, likely due to the abysmal rain that had dogged the city for weeks. Making rent was a struggle, which meant Feli had to pick some priorities. Food and gas to work his stove was of course the first, with lights and heat falling a distant second. At first it had been fine, Feli had managed to find a great deal on candles and to be honest, he was so rarely home it didn’t really matter if his light switch or thermostat worked. But now that he camped out on the couch, battling the mother of all winter bugs, the cold and the dark was becoming a real problem. Feli yearned for someone, anyone, to sit with him, to stroke his clammy forehead and ease away the pain and the cold.

So when he heard the buzzer to his flat sound off, he felt his spirits lift considerably. Beck! Beck was at the door, with soup and company and— Feli stumbled to the door, still clutching a blanket around his shoulders and hit the button to respond. “Beck—“

But it wasn’t Beck. Feli’s hand slipped from the intercom, a mounting panic rising in his chest. No… No, no, no! Why was Luddi at the door?! Why now?! Feli had always been so careful not to give Ludwig any clues to where he lived. The German wasn’t supposed to see this part of Feliciano’s life… what would he say? Ludwig belonged in Parliament, not trudging through the seedy streets to Feli’s dark flat. Feli had always been able to keep their friendship going by ignoring the very obvious difference in their social status just as he was sure Ludwig did. But now? Now it was unavoidable.
He was tempted just to not to reply, to go back to the couch and pretend that this was all a fever dream. But… but Luddi knew he was here, had heard him pick up on the other line. Feli thought about turning him away, but… the offer of soup and tea… his weary body clamored for something to heat his chilled fingers, to soothe his swollen throat. But more than that… Feli was desperate for contact… even if Luddi yelled at him, it was better than being alone. He’d smooth it over later.

“Ve…” His voice was weak, made harsh by his ragged vocal cords. He coughed slightly and tried again. “L-Luddi came to visit me? On his night off? Y-you didn’t have to do that…” He paused again to catch his breath before continuing. “I’ll let you in… but you shouldn’t stay long… I don’t want to get Luddi sick too…”

made by MISSO for KAT