[network][Day 138|video|@hotstud_xxx] You Get What You Need [open]

[rubikscomplex]

[There's no pithy commentary from House as is more common for the introductions to one of his piano sessions. It's also on video at the moment because House... can't figure out how to change it to just audio. He really hates this particular effect. So, anyone in Snowhell who has yet to actually see Dr. Hotstud House will get a view of him. He's a haggard, middle-aged man who's looking closer to just plain 'aged' after more than three months in Norfinbury. He has the tablet propped up where the sheet music would usually go, and keeps his eyes down or closed as he begins to play. He mouths some of the words, brows furrowed and body swaying to the music.

He runs through that. And then, because he's not going to be able to play and 'talk' to people at the same time, he moves into another tune before stopping and checking for responses.]

Comments

@ASolomons; audio

[devoutish]

[Alfie tries to lipread some of the mouthed lines, but doesn't get any and then just gives up.]

Do you take requests?

[Hi there, just going to talk to you as if he wasn't complicit in your murder.]

@hotstud_xxx; video

[rubikscomplex]

[House smiles at Alfie. It isn't a friendly smile. He then gives the other man the two-finger salute. He knows you limeys use that instead of the bird. If all else fails he can bite his thumb at you. But in any case, yeah. He takes requests, but not yours right now, pal.]

@dickcheese, voice

[headjacked]

[ Greg is... well, GREG, but Rhys cannot fail to appreciate a slice of musical excellence. Maybe if he wasn't corporate scum, he'd have ended up as some kind of musician. Maybe.

Anything's possible.

Rhys sings along with Hotel California. His reply is the beginning to to Stairway to Heaven. No instrumental accompaniment, but damn, the kid sounds good. ]

[rubikscomplex]

[Color him mildly impressed right back, Rhys. He'll find that House provides the appropriate accompaniment, even matching Rhys' pacing.

When the song is finished, House raises his brows and gestures toward the tablet. Your call for the next song, Rhysie. At least it's not all Taylor Swift.]

@ASolomons; audio

[devoutish]

And even odder with the words.

@duster, audio;

[bywolves]

Not bad.

[ It's not even sarcastic! He really actually thinks that's pretty good sounding. He's done tormenting, for a while - he knows he's probably inviting retaliation, but this is his we're through with the threatening offer. ]

[rubikscomplex]

[ Is that an olive branch? House is going to take your olive branch, break it in half, and make you eat it, Royce. The other man will get the two finger salute, as well, for his accent, before House begins to play what may be a sinister-sounding song. ]

@ketximq; text

[mightyratslayer]

[Charlie opens up the video even though he still can't hear anything. Video posts are nice for that reason; he can't read and he can't hear, but he can still see, and seeing other people getting up to whatever they're up to is comforting. He's getting pretty decent at lipreading now, too.

When House appears on the screen and doesn't say anything or even look at the camera, Charlie almost closes it. But then he realizes what the guy is doing.

Given that he's around people and doesn't want to risk talking in front of them, he sends along a quick doodle. GOOD!!! PIANO WHERE??]

[rubikscomplex]

[Oh, it's the idiot who can't keep his hands off live circuits when they're busted. And who's also deaf right now, if House is remembering what he saw on the network correctly. But apparently he plays piano? Okay. That's a few marks in his favor, depending on the genres he likes.

It takes House a moment to flip to the map of the western half of the residential zone. He holds that up for Charlie and taps the big building with the book on it. The School. He's in the school. Next he sets that down, points at the camera, and raises his hands up into view and mimes playing. House then flips one hand over and raises it slightly along with his brows.

Do you play? If so, what?]

[Action/Not Here]

[coyoteking]

[Charles actually jumps when Charlie opens the video and there is suddenly piano music blaring out into the creepy aquarium at a million decibels. He was typing some notes to himself, but now he's fumbled his tablet into his lap. GREAT, SUPER!!! That's definitely helping with his slowly creeping paranoia.]

Jesus Christ, Charlie. [He knows Charlie can't hear him. But whatever.

He peeks over Charlie's shoulder, then opens the post on his own tablet. So this is House. He's alive again, all right. Maybe when he's doing more than pictograms at people, Charles will hit him up to talk more about those conspiracy theories. For now, he'll just enjoy the show.]

@itsybitsy; audio

[redrooms]

Feeling melancholy?

[rubikscomplex]

[He plays a few minor chords and mock-frowns for effect, before raising a brow. Really?





Okay, so the answer might be 'yes,' but never you mind that.]

@estibien; video

[dravanicide]

[Having been told the network is a good means to garner information, Estinien has been making a habit to check it once a day. Even though he hates the damn thing with a burning passion that could rival Nidhogg's scarlet whisper.

Surprisingly, it isn't information he is gifted, but music. Strange music, but music nonetheless. Silently he listens to both songs, and while they're unlike anything he's heard before, they're not unpleasant.

Either way, House is greeted with a man in full armor, not much can be seen of him besides the lower half of his face, but the ear guards do indicate he's likely an Elezen. Just as Haurchefant is.]

'Tis queer scores you play, but I cannot say I disfavor them. I think not much of bards, but I suppose in our precarious situation, 'twould do to keep moral high with music.

[Music has never helped him, but he knows others have found comfort in it.]

[rubikscomplex]

[Oh, great. Another elf. This one seems to be much less polite than Hauchefant, though. That's a moderate improvement. At least he knows they're not all obnoxiously well-mannered. He does give Estinien a thoroughly unimpressed look, though, before giving him thumbs up.

And just because he's curious if he can get the guy to make a fool of himself, House points to the other Elezen and mimes singing in exaggerated fashion. Then turns looks at him and raises his brows expectantly.

So, if you think it'll help, bro, sing.]

@gravedigger; voice

[harlequinofhate]

But if you try sometime you find you get what you need.

Sounds like you need a hug, Doc.

[rubikscomplex]

[House rolls his eyes, and then puts on an expression of mock distress. He starts in on something much more upbeat-sounding. He's pretty sure the Joker will know Weird Al.]

@fuckyou; text;

[blueteamproblems]

play freebird

[rubikscomplex]

[House snorts. You win for best request so far @fuckyou. He puts on a mock serious expression and offers an 'okay' sign with his hand while nodding solemnly. Like hell he's playing the full thing - it wouldn't be right without a pair of guitars, really. But he plays part of it to satisfy the 'crowd' before taking an exaggerated little bow.]

@standardissue; video

[deus_ex_phs]

[The songs aren't familiar, but Kunsel still listens, enjoying the music for what it is. Back home, he would have had easy access to music almost any time he wanted, but here in Norfinbury there aren't any working radios, or anyone actively broadcasting entertainment. It hasn't really sunk in until just now how much he misses that.

He waits until House is done before speaking, smiling, faintly wistful.]

You're really pretty good at that. Too bad I can't put in any requests myself.

[rubikscomplex]

[House rolls his eyes and shrugs. Thanks for the insight, Kunsel. If he wanted compliments, he'd come up with better ones, himself. He wants to play. But for the moment, House points to Kunsel, mimes playing the piano, then raises his brows and one hand questioningly.

Do you play the piano?]

@username; text; private

[advanced]

Stop delaying, I'm already in position.

permavideo; permaprivate

[rubikscomplex]

[Well, here's a spoilsport. House gives Bucky an unimpressed look before drawing a finger across his throat and raising a brow. He died, bro. What do you want from him.]

@kingdomkey ; video

[seekthelight]

[It's not music that Sora is familiar with but it's nice and he's content to have it on and playing as he prepares for another venture outside to explore so new-ish areas.]

You're really good.

[It comes after the other has started playing the second song, Sora pausing in his repacking of his backpack to smile at the tablet.]

[rubikscomplex]

[House sighs. Can we get something other than praise? He'll take someone singing back at him, really. Less talk that he can't actually participate in, more music.

He gestures to Sora, then mimes singing. Do your own thing, Sora. Think of it as a cultural exchange.]

@Ecks | text

[ecks]

I would like a song.

[rubikscomplex]

[Well, she knows where he is now. Won't be here for long, though. He raises his brows and gestures toward the tablet. Well, what do you want, Ecks? House smiles brightly, frowns in exaggeration, and then makes an angry face. What genre of music?]

@joacin; text

[haillenarte]

I know nothing of your peregrine melodies,
but it sets my mind at ease to hear music after so many months of snow and silence.

[not that... francel has been in norfinbury for any more than three days, but... snow and silence is kind of his thing.]

Forgive me my audacity,
but might I ask you to play something for me?

[rubikscomplex]

[God, again with the flowery language. It's like Shakespeare in the Park. But he shrugs and gestures to the tablet, brows raised. You're going to request something, you need to tell him what.]

@guardian; text;

[phaseshifter]

Oof, careful. You look almost like a real human being when you play. It's terrible. :P

We'll be at the hospital by the end of the day, just so you know, and I'll inform you if Jack learns anything. If you don't hear from myself or Rhys it's safe to assume that it didn't work. The thing with the morgue area, I mean.

[rubikscomplex]

[House scoffs and shakes his head in mock-annoyance. Real human being? Never.

He drops that when he reads the rest of her message before offering a thumbs up. There is something else they can do there, in the event that Jack doesn't work. It should save time on House's own experiments. He holds up a finger for her to wait a moment, then starts drawing. A short while later, she'll be treated to a drawing that shows the hospital morgue with the body lockers. There's another angle on one of the walls that he's drawn a circle around with question marks inside it. The next picture is a rough sketch of a tablet. He taps that, flips back to the first picture, and taps one of the walls.

House is hoping she can get the gist of it. Place a tablet facing the wall where the creature comes out.]