While Roderich finds himself staffing at the Kaiserschmarrn to go booth at Gendarmenmarkt in order to help one of his human friend. "Wie in Österreich!" He yells while making same new batches for his customers.

could never mistake that voice and upon hearing it he could only tense and frown. He hopes he hasn't been spotted as he tries to weave himself around a few people to discreetly make it to another part of the

market.

Roderich notices a familiar figure in the crowd. Not sure if that was him, but worth a try, right? "Kaiserschmarrn! Authentically Austrian! Nothing like Germany's!"

pauses, his frown deepening as he turns around to shot a very none discreet glare at him. He knows he's been caught so he begrudgingly makes his way over to the booth. "Roderich...fancy seeing you...here of all

places...and working for once."

finds this ridiculously amusing. He pretends he doesn't know who he is talking to, just showing a rather standard, cheerful grin at the younger. "Good evening to you, mister! How many orders would you like?"

's frown slips off his face and it looks more like an expression of 'really, we're doing this'. He was not going to play this game. "We're doing this? Really?"

"Please don't describe me like an elderly in his seventies collecting abysmally small amount of pension every month while doing nothing but staying at home reading newspapers and criticizing politicians,"

Roderich resumes his usual mode of speech but refused to have his customer smile wear off as he pour more batter into the pan.

that's an excellent description of the Austrian. "What are you doing here?" He gets straight to the point.

starts speaking in Parisian French. "Because I love making crepes and I miss you very much, I couldn't bear it," and then switched immediately back to German after observing the other's face.

"I was planning on doing something amusing on the stage of orchestra due to invitation from a director, but a Kaiserschmarrn worker injured himself a few hours ago," he skillfully flipped the pancakes.

understands Parisian French. He works with France on an almost daily basis. "Are you drunk....and working at the market?" His irritation level was rising, and only in a way that Roderich could get it to rise.

finds Ludwig's reaction somewhat amusing, but instead he gives out a somewhat disappointed look. "I often wonder when exactly will you understand that most of my comments are sarcastic in nature..." including

his current look. Roderich doesn't miss Ludwig on a daily basis. "I also find it interesting that you attribute many of my behaviour to drunkenness. Have you really seen me drunk more than three times?"

rolls his eyes. "I try to give you the benefit of the doubt but it really seems your old age has gotten a hold of your sanity.

"

"If that is so, may I offer my sincere condolences to Francis and Antonio's sanity; at least mine persevered." The bickering is definitely intimidating the future prospect of customers, and Roderich decides

to hold back a bit. "What are the items you are looking for in this market?"

quirks a brow, he really had a hard time believing that. "Antonio and Francis have always been on the thin line between the two." He does feel a little bad that there was a high chance they were intimidating

customers. "I'm looking for certain things I'd like to keep a secret. I hadn't expected to run into anyone I knew here...."

"Ah, Christmas gift exchange or some sort?" Given Ludwig's past practices, those would be for Elisa or Gilbert anyway. "Then I would say you have chosen a wrong market to go to. Who knows if others are here."

frowns. "Roderich, I'm more aware what markets to go too. Remember where you are." He had made sure the two where not here but he had also been hoping Roderich wouldn't be here either. How unlucky.

"Are you certain you can find your items here - wouldn't Amazon.de be more convenient for you?" The market only seemed to offer crafts and food, and more food. He begins to wonder what is Ludwig looking for.

's lips thin. "Ja, I'm certain."

"How folksy - just like my age." Roderich hums a note of delight, and flipped the expanding pancakes, sprinkling some powdered sugar on it. "So- did you find what you want?"

crosses his arms. "I just got here before you interrupted me." He didn't understand why he always had to be so patronizing.

can't help it - he is always the older one. "Ah, very well then, I shall interrupt you no longer."

doesn't think Gilbert is that patronizing if not at times irritating with his outlandish behavior. "How long will you be here for?"

still older than Gilbert for a century or two. And with power. "Until the night ends, I believe. Then I will go find a shelter for the night."

nods at that. "You can stay at my place if you'd like. I'll have the guest room made up. Anything you'd like for dinner?"

"That would be pass midnight that I finish closing down the booth and pack my belonging from my car - wouldn't that be a problem?"

shakes his head. "We eat dinner on Christmas Even much later than that."

"But today is not Christmas- Ah well." Roderich glances at his clock - it was at least three hours away from their closing time. He doubted an efficient man like Ludwig would take more than an hour doing

his shopping. "I assume you will head home first?"

nods. "I need to prepare the room. Also, it was en example. I was just saying that it wasn't a problem eating later since it's tradition to do it on Christmas."

There goes his plan of re-enacting his childish past. It was not bad that an offer was extended, either. "That is why I did not finish my sentence. Anyhow, I will take up your offer in gratitude."

nods finally managing to pull a small smile. "Do you want me to come pick you up then?"

"I can drive if you have extra space in your garage?" it is inconvenient to leave the car parked near by the Cathedral anyway.

nods at that. "I sold one of my projects. There is one more space."

"Projects? What did you make?" Roderich doesn't really inquire the younger of what he has been doing.

smiles lightly. "More like what did I fix up. Just a beat up model of a 1972 BMW."

hums, as his car is merely a year old... "I know someone who has a BMW Dixi that needs to be fixed."

quirks a brow at that. "What did they do to it?"

"They did not bother to take it out of their garage after the war. It has been sitting there ever since."

clicks his tongue at that. "I'm assuming they won't want it afterwards? If it's been hidden away for so long."

"As long as someone bothers to take it out of their garage, I assume they can have it." That requires another car to tow the Dixi, so Roderich doesn't bother doing that himself as well.

nods at that. "How do I get in contact with this friend of yours?"

puts down his cooking utensil momentarily to look for his business card holder. "Here, Professor Kurtz," a lazy professor who does bother fixing his house in Vienna. "He prefers emailing."

takes the card and studies it briefly. "I'll send him a message later. In that case I will let you finish up and I will do the same."

"Sounds good." Roderich returns to his utensils, placing a generous portion of Kaiserscharrn onto a paper plate, sprinkled with just enough powdered sugar and jam. "Here. See you later tonight."

glances down at it before taking it gently. "Ahh...Danke Roderich. Enjoy your time." He pulls back and wonders off into the crowd.