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#Post#: 518--------------------------------------------------
Re: Secret Origins: Dr. Hertz
DIR By: PlebeianTyrant
Date: July 27, 2017, 12:26 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
OOC
Oh no! Sleep!!? My God, what a terrible thing you definitely
don't need! /s
IC
Wallmand did make sure that there was kosher food prepared for
the reception. He's polite and stops by every table to check
with the guests. Especially the Jewish ones. He deflects
questions about why he's marrying a gentile by simply explaining
that he loves her and that the times are such that there are
many unknowns. He also jokes to some about how he's not a young
man anymore and she's quite a catch.
Admittedly, Rita is very attractive to Wallmand and he is
getting a little swept up in the ceremony of love. For the first
time in almost a month he's gotten a good look at her. The
upcoming wedding had been not the best for their interpersonal
relationship, ironic as that is. Looking at her now, Wallmand
could easily see himself staying with her and raising a family.
In short, he is definitely excited for tonight's traditional
responsibilities.
Wallmand gives a speech, thanking everyone for coming. He dances
with Rita after the father-daughter dance. They cut the cake,
Wallmand is only familiar with this tradition because of his
stay in England. Eventually the night wears on and people begin
to filter out. Wallmand makes sure to shake everyone's hands
before they leave. Finally, it's just Rita's parents and the
newlyweds.
#Post#: 519--------------------------------------------------
Re: Secret Origins: Dr. Hertz
DIR By: insert name
Date: July 27, 2017, 10:41 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: PlebeianTyrant link ---
>
> OOC
>
> Oh no! Sleep!!? My God, what a terrible thing you definitely
don't need! /s
--- End Quote ---
Basically, yeah.
Honestly, my great aunt passed Yesterday and I think I'm still a
little odd at the moment, but trying to get back into my habits.
Fucking weird wedding tradition you don't have to put up with
yet: Bride and Bridegroom smooshing cake in each other's faces.
I remember readinga thing by an Australian talking about how
weird they found that surprisingly common American activity.
IC
Maybe it's the alcohol, maybe it's all the smiles, maybe it's
the music, or maybe it's just the way that, for the first time
in what feels like ages, Wallmand has been forced into being
part of a community, but the reception is... well, it's fun.
Maybe not as fun as a rowdy night in Cambridge or London,
perhaps, but half the times Wallmand didn't even remember those
nights. This was a nicer kind of fun. A fun that made you feel
warm and welcomed and part of something, and that you could
remember forty years later and still feel that sense warmth and
well being.
Whatever doubts and reservations exist about this mixed
marriage, and surely they still exist, are silent as only the
best wishes go to both him and the lovely Bride. That's the word
they all keep using for her, lovely. And, when he looks at her
smile, when he remembers later how she looked at him, and how
she just plain looked, when she said the vows, Wallmand would
have to agree with the choice. Lovely. Everyone is on their best
behavior, and if snide word about the couple is said, it isn't
said in Wallmand's hearing, or Rita's. Instead they hear toasts
and stories about them, and everyone stresses how wonderful they
are. The closest thing to a bad thing said are a few jokes in
the Best Man's speech, but
And, dancing with Rita, with all those eyes on him, carefully
following the steps he'd practiced, showing off to the world
that he was sophisticated, and capable, and married to a fine
and attractive young woman of good social standing and drive.
What more could a man want from life?
---------------------------------------------------------
A child. A beautiful baby girl.
Wallmand was first presented with her in the waiting room of the
maternity ward, swaddled in hospital sheets with a little blue
cap. The nurse told him that his wife was asleep, exhausted poor
dear, but was looking well. She gave them a bit of a worry but
it all turned out fine in the end, and he could come in and see
her soon.
The nurse asked him the new girl's name.
#Post#: 520--------------------------------------------------
Re: Secret Origins: Dr. Hertz
DIR By: PlebeianTyrant
Date: July 28, 2017, 8:41 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Wallmand holds the baby stiffly, having last held a baby thirty
years ago. He looks at her for moment and then looks up at the
nurse, "Sara." He says very simply. He's rather stoic as he
holds the baby, not really making a face or moving a lot. Some
could look at him and say that he was thinking deeply, but in
reality he would describe his mind as having drained down his
brain stem. Wally could not think of a single word, his vision
was entirely focused on the little bundle of genes that were
half his, half his wife's. A word finally bubbled up in his
skull: family.
#Post#: 521--------------------------------------------------
Re: Secret Origins: Dr. Hertz
DIR By: insert name
Date: July 29, 2017, 12:54 am
---------------------------------------------------------
OOC
So, what part of Hertz's life would you like to poke around
next? We could keep going from here, but it seems to be a good
finishing point for this section. We could jump towards pretty
much any place, ball in your hands.
#Post#: 523--------------------------------------------------
Re: Secret Origins: Dr. Hertz
DIR By: PlebeianTyrant
Date: July 29, 2017, 4:50 am
---------------------------------------------------------
OOC
I think I'd like to explore his relationship with his children
next. Maybe dealing with school work. It going on vacation. Sara
would be just starting kindergarten by the time the war was
nearly over. David would also be born around that time.
I can't think of a scene right now.
#Post#: 525--------------------------------------------------
Re: Secret Origins: Dr. Hertz
DIR By: insert name
Date: August 2, 2017, 9:35 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
OOC
Going to add something to Hertz's backstory, if that's all
right. If you object, we'll strike it, but I'm using it as a
jumping off point. I confess I'm making a fairly crazy poorly
educated stab at an appropriate Yiddish (well, Slavic borrowed
into Yiddish) diminutive for Wallmand.
Probably deserves more polish than I'm giving it now, but I need
to post.
---------------------------------------------------------
IC
1914, August 12th.
Wallmand and Karl Hertz are out playing in the street. Mame sent
them out of the house because Tate is arguing with David again.
They've been arguing a lot this past week, worse than usual. So,
the young boys ears are protected from the harshest words the
Yiddish language has to offer with the distraction of a hard
leather football kicked back and forth between them.
Karl, being only eight, doesn't really understand what is
happening. Wallmand, being eleven, explains it to him. Except,
Wallmand doesn't really know much better. It's something about
Russia and Serbia and a dead prince or something. David thinks
he should go be a soldier because the prince got killed. Tate
doesn't think it's any of their business if one of the Kaiser's
family dies.
The two get bored of kicking the ball around soon enough, but
they won't be back in any time soon, so they go off to see if
they can find anyone else to play with, or to throw rocks into
the river.
When the Sun gets low, Wallmand takes his little brother back
home. They find David standing on the street, smoking a
cigarette. Wallmand sends Karl inside, but for some reason stays
out with David. He knows Mame will be angry if he doesn't head
in soon, but... well, Karl asked so many questions and he had so
few answers. Tate won't talk about it. So, he asks David.
David rolls a cigarette with his tobacco-stained fingers and
hands it to Wallmand. Wallmand isn't allowed to smoke.
"Don't tell Mamele," David says. The cigarette burns, and
Wallmand finds himself coughing more than breathing. David just
smiles. "You'll be a man yet, Walltshik." He breathes his own
cigarette smoke. "It is simple, Walltshik. Russia has sent
troops to support the assassins and anarchists in the land of
our allies, and soon they will be sending forces into our lands.
If we do not act, if we do not fight, then Russia will sweep
across us and take everything we are."
Wallmand asks why Tate argues, if it is so simple. Then he tries
again the cigarette, and again finds himself coughing.
David shakes his head, "Father thinks I am too young, too smart,
too educated to be a soldier. He tells me that this is not the
life he and Zeyde struggled for, another soldier dying in the
front. He doesn't believe we owe the Empire for treating us like
human beings." He shakes his head, "But he forgets the stories
we hear from our Russian brothers. Here in Germany, we are
equals. We can marry, we can own businesses, and we can even
fight for our rights in the military. The law says that we are
equal to Christians. If Russia seizes our land, this will not be
true any longer."
Wallmand wonders what he should say, but Mame yells from inside
that it is time for dinner and he is late. David grabs his
cigarette from Wallmand and doesn't come in with him. David
doesn't eat with them at all that night.
---------------------------------------------------------
1915, February 21th
David and Tate argue one last time. This time, Mame doesn't even
have time to get the younger children out of the house. The
argument is too short. David says he is leaving, and Tate says
that he'll disown him, and David leaves anyways.
But, before he does, he comes to see Wallmand. "Wallmand," he
says. "You look after Mamele and Tate and Karl, okay? I'll send
letters, and money, and if Tate is too proud to take it you'll
have to. You understand, Wallmand?" When Wallmand nods, David
smiles, "Don't worry," he says, "I'll only be gone a year or
two. I'll be back." He gets up and hugs his little brother.
Wallmand's head presses firmly into his brother's chest. "Don't
cry," David says, "A man doesn't cry." But, Wallmand can see
David's own eyes are wet. David forces a smile anyways, "Tate
will come around. I'll be back." Then he turns to head back
downstairs. He stops and turns back. "Oh, and since you're a man
now, there's a box under my bed. It's yours now."
After David leaves, Wallmand opens the box. Inside is a pouch of
tobacco, several cigarette paper, and a few French magazines
full of images of women in their underwear and, occasionally,
less.
---------------------------------------------------------
1916, November 22nd
Wallmand's birthday wasn't anything special. Karl got him a book
on animals. It was beneath the reading level Wallmand had moved
onto in the library, but it had some interesting pictures. Karl
had worked hard to scrape up the money for it, and was very
proud. Tate got his son a straight razor. It was a nice blade,
with an oak handle. Wallmand wasn't quite growing enough hair to
make use of it, but Tate assured him it would be soon now. Mame
made him a wonderful cake, no easy feat as the war tightened
everyone's pantry, and they had a small party with his friends.
But, the birthday had been on the Sabbat and the party on the
Sunday after. Now was the Monday after, and the best present
arrived: a letter from David. David had yet to fail to write a
letter every week, but sometimes they were delayed or he wasn't
able to send every week. Here it was, though, a handwritten note
from his brother, the hero, fighting for Germany and all there
freedom. (Tate disagreed vehemently on this point, saying that
all they were fighting for was Austria-Hungary's revenge on the
weak and pitiful nation of Serbia.) Today, the letter told
Wallmand of more heroic battles and desperate struggles. More
than that, though, it wished Wallmand a happy birthday and
apologized that he couldn't buy a gift, so instead Wallmand
should enjoy the gift of twenty Marks.
The letter, and the money, made every friend Wallmand had green
with envy. Of course, Tate tells him he should save it and hide
it. That is a lot of money right now. Wallmand suspects Tate
thinks the money should go to the family, but he won't admit to
needing David's money. He pretends that the money that comes in
the letters is just part of Wallmand's salary, even though it's
more than he could ever hope to earn.
Wallmand is beginning to see the faults in the letters, though.
David makes it sound like things are fine, but even in this
letter it's clear that things are getting worse on the front.
That Germany is losing ground.
After this letter, David's writings become more sporadic, more
scattered. He sounds like less of a hero, more aware of the pain
around him and his own.
---------------------------------------------------------
OOOC
For what it's worth, 20 Marks in 1916 is a bit over a $100
today.
While I'm having an expository break, I'm imagining David's only
15 or 16 when he leaves (only a few years older than Wallmand),
but big enough to lie about his age.
---------------------------------------------------------
IC
1916, June 2nd
David comes home. He arrives by train, looking tired, haggard,
and incredibly happy in his dashing gray uniform. He lugs an
enormous pack on his back, and strides with purpose and
strength. He looks different. He's thinner, free of the baby fat
he left with. His fingers are still yellow from tobacco, but he
really does have a spring to his step and a shine in his eyes.
Wallmand has seen plenty of soldiers come back, and many of them
come back harrowed and haggard, but not David.
"I am just glad to be home," he says. Wallmand has changed too,
in his brother's absence. He stands a little taller now, and has
started to shave, even though he doesn't grow more than fluff.
David talks to him a lot, since he can't talk to Tate much. Tate
brings David into the house, all thoughts of disowning him
apparently gone, but the two talk seldom and never of anything
of import.
No, David talks to Wallmand, and sometimes Karl. He buys
Wallmand beer and tells him about the war. There was a turn last
winter, the Russians pushing back with the Turks. "But, that's
all the more reason to fight," David tells his little brother,
"We really stand for something. Tate still thinks that everyone
is caught up by things like race and religion, but we're
fighting alongside Muslims out there. And what the Turks are
doing to the Armenians," he spits on the street. "No, the German
Empire, this great coalition of nations, is the only hope we
have of being equal citizens. The Russians certainly won't treat
us as such. Thankfully, they'll soon tear themselves apart."
The beer he buys Wallmand is good, and his words sound good to
young ears. Mame says drinking is bad, and Tate hasn't touched
it in years.
---------------------------------------------------------
1916, July 9th
It's been a good month. David has been loose with his money,
it's true. With his morals true, if the rumors about him and the
women of the street are true, but he's a soldier now. Wallmand
has learned all about the horrors of trench warfare, but also
the camaraderie of everyone standing together, the heroism of
sacrificing for your cause, and the way that a girl looks at you
when you walk by in uniform. It all sounds os fantastic. But,
the one thing that David and Tate agree on is that it's not for
Wallmand. No, better he put that huge brain to work in a college
somewhere, making the world a smarter place. No time to study
the world when you're stuck in a trench.
But, all good things come to an end, and now David is hugging
Mame at the train station. He shakes Tate's hand, grateful the
old man came to say goodbye this time, hugs little Karl and,
this time, shakes Wallmand's hand, one man to another.
"Don't worry," David says, "Your hero will return."
---------------------------------------------------------
1916, July 17th
A letter from David arrives, saying he's no longer on the
Eastern Front. Apparently his unit was destroyed in his absence
and he's been pushed out to France, and the faltering Battle of
Verdun. Not to fear, Germany shall triumph here as it has
elsewhere, no matter how the odds may look now.
Still, David is more than a little worried to be fighting with
France. Russia and Turkey are one thing, clear aggressors and
dangers, but he has less bile for France and England. But, they
were fighting to support the Russian aggressor, so what choice
did a good soldier have?
---------------------------------------------------------
1918, March 25th
The Kaiser declared yesterday a holiday, in memory of the guns
bombarding France. Wallmand has not seen David in two years, but
the letters have kept him up to date. David wishes he could go
home while on leave, but it hasn't been feasible. Still, after
being pushed back sof ar he's now with the new offensive,
charging right into Paris now.
And, today, there is a piece of news not from him, but about
him. Wallmand reads it first, having taken over much of the
family's mail by this point. A letter from the military, telling
the Hertz family that their son really is a hero, that Uffz
David Hertz is to be awarded the Iron Cross for acts of heroic
bravery in battle.
Tate, for all his reservations, frames the letter and puts it on
the mantlepiece. "If he is to live a life I cannot approve," he
says, "He had damn well better be good at it."
---------------------------------------------------------
w18, November 24th
Two weeks after he is defeated, after the Empire is defeated,
the hero returns as promised. A failure. And yet, David still
has that spring in his step and that straight back. Yes, he will
forever after sometimes go quiet and distant as he remembers the
war, and get angry when people call it a loss, but he will
always tell anyone who wishes to hear that, in the end, Germany
was not taken. That they aren't living under the rule of the
Russian aggressors ("Ha," Tate will say, "Russia did nothing but
defend their weaker ally." but David will not rise to it), and
that every brave soldier should be remembered as such, no matter
the outcome.
He steps off the train, strong and straight, even as so many of
his compatriots are wounded or world weary, because David made a
difference out there. Because they all did.
Wallmand is surprised, at the age of 15, to find that he is now
taller than David. Slighter and weaker, to be sure, but taller.
---------------------------------------------------------
1937, October 15th
Uffz. David Hertz is killed in a concentration camp for
'disobedience'. He was sentenced there a week before, on an
accusation of murder. There was a dead man in his house, but the
other man had a gun, the witnesses had clearly broken in as
well, and more than a few valuables were missing from the scene.
Self-defense was obvious, but it did not matter.
Hertz, on reading the news, felt the final pin fall into place.
Years of hoping that things would turn around, that they could
fight against the tightening grip of the Nuremberg laws and the
Nazi party vanished like so much smoke. It was time to take
Richard up on his offer. It was time to go.
---------------------------------------------------------
1970, January 1st
To this day, Unteroffizer David Hertz's Iron Cross has not been
recovered. Sometimes, his little brother wonders what happened
to his brother's Christian wife and their young boy. He hopes
they found a safe way through it all, but he lost any ability to
reach them long ago.
---------------------------------------------------------
1943, October 12th
It is with all that has come before in mind that when a boy is
born, Wallmand Hertz insists it be named after his older
brother. Rita naming the girl after her grandmother is all well
and good, but Wallmand's son will have the name of a hero.
Funny how these things work out. Wallmand always hoped David
would echo his brother's heroics, and instead he will go on to
echo the fights with his Tate.
---------------------------------------------------------
OOC
Checking notes, I've had to you then your children by about 2
years, since the original age estimates suggested Hertz married
in 1938. 3 year shift isn't much now that game's timeline is two
years in.
Again, sorry if this post is unpolished but I feel a need to
post it already, since it already took all night. Did end up
doing a fair bit of research and... damn WW1 was a mess.
#Post#: 528--------------------------------------------------
Re: Secret Origins: Dr. Hertz
DIR By: PlebeianTyrant
Date: August 3, 2017, 7:24 am
---------------------------------------------------------
OOC
Aside from some dates being wonky, it's good. You never
mentioned his sister though.
#Post#: 529--------------------------------------------------
Re: Secret Origins: Dr. Hertz
DIR By: insert name
Date: August 3, 2017, 12:15 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: PlebeianTyrant link ---
>
> OOC
> Aside from some dates being wonky, it's good. You never
mentioned his sister though.
>
--- End Quote ---
****, did I mess up the dates?
*check*
Yes, yes I did.
Edited. i think fixed.
I honestly thought Hertz had a sister, but couldn't remember for
sure. Was she older or younger than Hertz? What was her name?
This is also a good time to ask if there's anyone Hertz knew in
Old Country that he met in the modern day. You know, friend or
family members who fled or lived through the worse and got back
in contact with him later.
#Post#: 531--------------------------------------------------
Re: Secret Origins: Dr. Hertz
DIR By: PlebeianTyrant
Date: August 5, 2017, 9:07 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Sadly, he lost track of all of them
#Post#: 534--------------------------------------------------
Re: Secret Origins: Dr. Hertz
DIR By: insert name
Date: August 5, 2017, 9:46 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
OOC
Having re-read the opening, I did not know you were indicating
Madalene was your sister. Then again, I somehow picked up Karl
was your brother, so go figure.
I'm taking it you don't know what scene to set next, so I'll try
and work something out.
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