Chapter Eins
Ludwig hadn't left his office for three days now, running on only coffee and caffeine at this point. He was usually a clean man, tidy in his appearance. His sunshine hair normally slicked back and his chin clean shaven, the button ups and slacks he normally wore pressed and ironed to perfection without a single wrinkle. This was how Ludwig usually presented himself and he took pride in it. Under normal circumstances he went to great lengths to make sure that his office was also just as neat and organised. He made sure that carpet was clean, his desk spotless with everything out away in their respective folders and alphabetised in his filing cabinets. Now, now it was complete chaos. His hair wild and unbrushed, his stubble taking over his jaw and chin and clothes were wrinkled and crumpled, he looked lost at sea or a survivor from a ship wreck. His office wasn't any better than the man, his desk had papers piled and strewn across the surface, filing cabinets pulled out and left hanging open, folders littered the floor, even his cork board that was usually always organised now was packed with pictures and red strings connecting some of the photos together. Ludwig continue to pour document, map and report that he could find. The office looked like a tornado came whirling through, throwing everything about.
Kiku, a short Japanese man, with short black hair and emotionless dark brown eyes, admired Ludwig and his work, served as his personal assistant. He could only recall one time that Ludwig had opened his office door durning the past three days and that was to receive the books he had Kiku get him. Ludwig had poured out those as well, soaking up every detail, searching. Kiku had become concerned with the obsessive like behaviour that Ludwig was beginning to exhibit and decided that to go into the office and make the German at least changed his clothes. He was shocked and appalled to see the office in such a state and even more shocked to see how Ludwig was in appearance. Ludwig was in such a state that he hadn't even noticed that Kiku had come in, too busy jotting information in a book.
"Sir?" Kiku coughed trying to get the other's attention. When Ludwig didn't seem to hear he he repeated himself louder. Finally Ludwig looked up from his notebook, although his hand was still trying to write, finishing it's sentence.
"Yes, Kiku?" He asks, hoping that the other wouldn't notice the bags under his eyes or the stubble that would have never been allowed to grow. He was hoping his assistant didn't notice such things, he was so close he could feel it in his bones that he was almost there. He couldn't stop, not now, not when he was so fucking close!
"Sir, I think that you should take a break." Kiku suggested, sending all of Ludwig's hopes down the drain.
"No, I'm fine Kiku." He answered, hoping that would be enough to drive his assistant away. No such luck.
Although Kiku wasn't usually assertive or was good with confrontation, he couldn't let the man he idolised destroy himself like this.
"Please at least take or medication, eat something or at least change your clothes." Kiku pleaded, with the voice he had found to speak out with. It was hard to see him like this and it made him worried.
"Kiku, could you perhaps return this book for me?" He asks, knowing that Kiku wouldn't deny the command, he was too polite for that and Ludwig knew that, it killed him a little bit inside to take the slightest advantage with that fact. Kiku took the book and stalked off. Ludwig sighed pushing both the hunger and the sharp pain that jolted through his left leg out of his mind. The pain kept him aware, sharp, awake and going. He was obsessed and he knew it...somewhat. He just needed and break, a clue, anything substantial, something real to go off of. Something, anything other then legends and stories. He tossed a book towards the couch , he had spent hours analysing every word, every rhetorical strategy, every gram switch and every detail, but it was fruitless. He had gone through every book that the campus library had to offer and had found nothing.
Kiku could take a hint and he could respect it, he concluded on his way to the library to drop off a novel that Ludwig had gotten last week for leisure. He was still, of course, worried about him and it was that concerned that had brought him to McDonald's ordering something filling and fatty for his boss. He gave his order to Alfred, the voice over the intercom, although Kiku didn't really catch the name, he was contemplating wether or not he should call Feliciano, a mural friend of both his and Ludwig. Maybe could make Ludwig at least take his prescription, he did after all convince Ludwig to take on Kiku as a personal assistant. Kiku had always been eternally grateful to the Italian for presenting him with that opportunity.
"Here ya go." Alfred says, a little too enthusiastic, at least for Kiku's taste, as he handed him his food. "Need anything else." He adds, but Kiku was gone before Alfred could finish his question. When Kiku got back it had somehow gotten worse and more frantic.
"I got you food, please try to eat it." He says, loud so that way he could hear him,gently placing the food on his desk and promptly leaving, knowing how to take a hint. Kiku, being a patient man decided that if Ludwig didn't get any better the next day that he would call Feliciano if things declined any further. He settled in his desk, picking up a game of sudoku, occasionally checking on the crazed researcher.
Ludwig barley noticed Kiku coming nor did he really notice him going, he had started to pace back and forth the room, he knew it was real, it had to be! In a sudden impulse of frustration and irritation he pushed everything off of his desk, knocking the bag of food to the floor where food had spilt out. He rubbed his temples, before opening his laptop and continuing his search online, but he had shut it down when he had found nothing, but a pounding head and aching fingers alone with half baked conspiracy theories and half serious stories. He once again got up and walked around, passing his bookshelf. The bookshelf was the only thing left that was in order, Ludwig had already knew every book and all it's content, knew every word in every line. He gently followed the alphabet until he had gotten to the book he wanted. It was old and worn with brown leather bounding, he rubbed his thumb on the engraving 'Otto Bismark' the name of his old professor, his mentor and an old friend. Professor Bismark had left Ludwig his journal when he had fallen ill, knowing that Ludwig would appreciate it better than his own children who had shown interest in different other things, not that Bismark minded or would have minded. He flipped through the familiar pages, coming across a passage that he had forgotten about. He gingerly closed the book and scrambled to the laptop, all while keeping the book undamaged. He quickly and vigorously typed out a quick ad and posted it online. When that was said and done he started the process of cleaning up and putting his office back in order.
