[log] God Must Hate Me [closed]

[rubikscomplex]

Characters: House, the Joker, Luna, and Quark
Location Building 58
Date: Day 139/140
Summary: House really wasn't expecting the Joker to leave downtown... It's a heartfelt reunion! And maybe some decryption on the side.
Warnings: The Joker is his own warning, as is House. Will add specifics if/when they come up!

[The building is a simple single-story house, the snow weighs uneasily on it, and it creaks and groans under the strain at the best of times. It's very dark, and only the kitchen and living room are intact. The kitchen has a back door. Two snowmen have been built outside. A message has been written on the wall in blue ink: "Don't wreck the snowmen! That's super mean!" "ALPHONSE ELRIC, MAMI TOMOE, FREYA CRESCENT, GREED, EDWARD ELRIC, STEPHANIE BROWN, DAY FORTY ONE, TRAVELLING EAST." has been carved into one of the walls. The following has been written on the wall in blue pen: "This is Building 95 97 on the composite map. Contact @CaptSteveRogers for details." Underneath this is a fairly accurate map showing the house in relation to the school and buildings 29, 35, 35, 37, 40, 41, 47, 48, 50, 53. House 34 is labeled "Medical assistance; hot, clean water. Contact Dr. Epps @claytonator". The school is labeled "School. Food available in cafeteria; DO NOT STAY HERE OVERNIGHT." The shed is labeled "Shed".]

Comments

[rubikscomplex]

['Say something.' Right. Screw you, too, moron. Things House would like to say. But then Joker is on the ground, hacking a lung out.

Is this a trick? Is he being tested? House stares, silent and on edge. Stealing the poker is just going to end up like the mallet. He could... try to murder the Joker while he's down? But for all that he'd like the clown dead, actively murdering someone is a hell of a lot different than assisting them in a clinical setting. And what if it is a test? The Joker could conceivably be faking all that to get House interested in what's wrong with him and gauge how he'll respond to a moment of weakness. It doesn't look like faking, but he doesn't know how good an actor the guy is.

There's no escape here. If he screws this up, either way he's dying. Either from a fireplace poker to the face or exposure. He could check the guy's vitals, but like hell is he touching the clown.

House draws his legs up and wraps his arms around them, just watching the other man on the floor. He's not helping, but he's too frightened and too trapped to take any other actions, either.]

[harlequinofhate]

[The Joker finally regains his breath and rolls over, putting his back to House so the other man can't see him mop a feverish sweat from his brow with his sleeve.]

I'm fine, thanks for asking.

[After a moment he stands again, retrieving the fireplace poker.]

I'm sick of being sick, Doc. It's not funny anymore.

[rubikscomplex]

[Is that supposed to engender sympathy? It would seem House just missed a golden opportunity, which is frustrating. But if the Joker thinks House feels sorry for him, he's clearly more insane than the doctor thought.

Suffer is the curse in his thoughts as he looks up at the Joker. There's absolutely no kindness in House's gaze. Puzzles interest him, not people. Especially not people who terrify him. He knows what's wrong with the Joker. There's little he can do about it without a better microscope to see anything other than little specks in the blood or proper treatment equipment and a guide for how to cure MN Poisoning.

The prospect of exploring the progression of the poisoning in various people has some merit, but he'd need more than just Joker to make it worth his while. Not to mention, there's the curiosity of House somehow keeping most symptoms at bay in spite of having died so often to make it a running joke.

House raise a brow at Joker, then puts the juggling balls away to pull out his notepad again. He just points to the school.]

[harlequinofhate]

I'll go.

[He gestures at the pad with his fireplace poker.]

If you start clowning with me I...won't kill you. But I'll make you wish I had.

Think we can fade here, unless you've got something else you want them to 'discuss'!

[rubikscomplex]

[House nods, putting on his best impression of a cowed child. It's... not much of a stretch at this point. His mind is furiously working away at escape options for the school. He has tonight and maybe tomorrow to come up with a viable plan. Not a lot of time for someone who doesn't exactly make a habit of this sort of thing.]