[log] Event: Howl [open]

[snowblindmods]

Characters: everyone
Location: The sort of location M.C. Escher wishes he'd thought up.
Date: nights 211 & 212
Summary: I hunt for you with bloody feet across the hallow'd ground
Warnings: potential for violence, death, and psychological horror; please note in subject lines if any specific warnings come up!

like some child possessed, the beast howls in my veins
I want to find you tear out all your tenderness

Comments

[rubikscomplex]

Because your brother died again. You do a great job protecting him, don't you?

[Look, if you're going to threaten him with optimism, Al.]

[armoured]

[House will feel the absolute flinch beneath his arm.]

My brother-- Ed could protect himself. If he couldn't fight it, then nothing I could have done would have saved him.

[rubikscomplex]

See, you say that. The flinch tells me you don't actually believe it. Plus the whole guardian complex and guilt thing.

[armoured]

I know you're just trying to hurt me so you don't have to believe that people might actually want to look out for you.

[But he still sounds a bit strained when he says it, because House isn't wrong.]

[rubikscomplex]

[House can see the corner of the wall they're walking along up ahead.]

And you're deflecting because I'm right. Let's talk about you, Lelly, you're way more interesting. Did you murder anyone else that night or did I get special treatment?

[This is the perfect time to talk about trauma, right?]

[armoured]

Shut up, Dr. House.

[He's extremely tense, which is a feat and a half for a suit of armour, underneath House's touch. But it's not wholly because of the conversation.]

...over there, can you see it?

[rubikscomplex]

Well, did you want me to shut up or not?

[Petulance, thy name is Gregory.]

[armoured]

Did you have to take a class on how to be this annoying?!

[It bursts out of him as he tries to tug House along.]

There's a monster over there, you have to help me fight it.

[rubikscomplex]

Nope. I was just born this way.

[And he does let himself get tugged. He sees nothing in front of them, which continues to be frustrating, but his survival sense does kick in about then. He drops the mocking tone.]

I can't see the monster right now. You're gonna have to distract it when it comes up. I can grab for the light.

[Once it's close enough to kill him, then he will be able to see the damn thing.]

[armoured]

No problem, I'm a good fighter.

[It slips out before he thinks about what he's saying. Stupid. Of course House knows that, he was on the receiving end of it last time.]

It looks pretty big, like-- some kind of giant person, maybe? But it has too many arms.

[rubikscomplex]

[House doesn't say anything about the slip, just gives Al a Look that can be felt, even if it can't be seen.]

Goody. Kick its kneecaps, then. Or are there too many legs, too? The lights are in the mouths.

[armoured]

[He will just ignore that look and focus on the monster that's getting closer. He pulls himself free of House and takes a ready stance slightly in front of the other man, determined to protect him this time.

The creature is nearly fifteen feet tall, covered in shaggy dark fur, with six arms and two legs and a whole lot of teeth and claws. It looks almost like a cross between a werewolf and an octopus.]

Can you see it at all? You have to stay behind me.

[rubikscomplex]

[Well, you don't have to tell him twice. Except... you do. Because there's an overwhelming urge, suddenly to put Al behind himself and defend him. House stamps down on that instinct. It's not natural, and it's ridiculous.]

I can't see it. And I'm only staying behind you until I can.

[House doesn't have long to wait for that. As soon as the creature is within striking range for them, he can see it. The transition is sudden and just as jarring as all the other times. This go around, though, he feels so very, very small, and that light is very, very high up.]

Jesus... Hit it. Hit its knees!

[The doctor darts forward, not following his own good advice and better sense, and tries to lunge for the thing's ankles, crouching low to avoid being hit. Why is he doing this? He's not a fighter. He hates this. This isn't right.]

[armoured]

[Al doesn't want House to get involved at all. The last time they fought, Al killed him. The time before that, the Joker killed House while Al was supposed to be protecting him. This time, Al wants to do it right.]

H-Hey! I said stay behind me!

[He leaps forwards himself, straight into a flying kick aimed at one of the knees. Unlike House, Al is a fighter, and nobody trained by Izumi Curtiss could ever be taken out by a monster like this.]

Are you listening? It'll be easier if I don't have to worry about protecting you too!

[rubikscomplex]

[The monster shrieks and starts to crumble at the combined assault on its knee and ankle from the pair. Mostly it's the knee, though. House moves to get out of the way, all but scrambling to get behind the monster, rather than Al.]

Like hell I'm letting you take it alone, kid.

[What are these words coming out of his mouth? Why are these sentiments? It's not even just the freaking Prophet and Andromeda nonsense. House is flashing back to the Joker, as well. He'd stood aside and done nothing and Al had nearly died. Granted, Al had gone on to murder him, so they're about even on that score. But he can't help wanting to avoid a repeat of that first scenario.

When it looks like the thing's down on one knee House points toward its head.]

Distract it while I climb up for the light.

[armoured]

[It's things like this which make Al refuse to believe that House is all bad.

But he sort of wishes that the usual selfishness would rear its head now, because he does not want to be party to watching House die again. It's why he surges forwards with ferocity, using the creature's bent knee to springboard up in a ridiculous flip towards its head.]

I'll get it!

[Stop going into danger, person he's trying to protect!]

Will you just listen to me for once and back up? I don't want you to get hurt, not again, not because of me.

[rubikscomplex]

[Well, hell if House is going to try to match that move. He backs up, but it's only a few feet back before the creature Al is battling becomes entirely invisible again. The kid just looks like he's flying.]

I can't see the freaking thing if I'm too far back, moron! Just get the light!

[armoured]

What do you think I'm trying to do?!

[It comes back in a sharp snap, before the creature is dealing Al a hard enough blow that he comes crashing to the ground beside House with a soft 'oof'.]

[rubikscomplex]

Dunno. Apparently make an idiot of yourself. You wanna keep trying alone, poindexter, or work together? I have a team for a reason. You can't do everything by yourself.

[armoured]

I'm just trying to keep you safe, I can't watch you get hurt again. I've already failed you twice.

[Once far worse than the other.]

[rubikscomplex]

[The creature is starting to rise again. They don't have time for this.]

Attack its legs and keep it occupied if you wanna keep me safe. I'm getting up there.

[Without further comment, House dashes forward an jumps to grab hold of the shaggy hair on what passes for the thing's back to crawl his way up it toward the head.]

[armoured]

[He lets out a frustrated noise, but there's not really chance for argument now so he goes in as House told him to.

He focuses on kicking the legs, breaking one of them with a well placed metal foot. It lets out a bizarre noise of pain, bucking underneath House as it tries to get at Al.]

Hurry up!

[rubikscomplex]

[This is more terrifying than he thought it would be. House grips hold of the creature as it thrashes, just going still and pressing himself into its fur, trying not to lose his grip. He has to wait for the pauses between its more rapid movements, hauling himself up with strength born of adrenaline.]

Patience is a freaking virtue, Lelly!

[It's snapped back as House makes it to the shoulders. He's really going to have to just throw his hands into that things mouth.]

Make it scream!

[He just needs a little extra time between those jaws to avoid losing his arms.]

[armoured]

[At least fighting is something he knows how to do, and knows how to do well. He's not scared when he gets into it, because it's just all his training coming back to him and helping him dodge and land blows in a way Teacher would be proud of.

Make it scream.

Not an order he likes, but he can understand it, and so he spins in a roundhouse kick towards the already broken leg, hitting the shattered bone hard enough that the creature does indeed let out a howl of pain and rage.]

[rubikscomplex]

[The creature jerks as it screams, but this is House's only chance. He uses the fur on the side of its head to all but swing himself into the creature's mouth, hand closing around the light and jerking it free before he drags himself out again. The teeth slam closed just shy of his feet.

The creature begins to jerk and flail wildly before going stiff and starting to disintegrate. It occurs to House that he didn't fully plan his descent... and Al is blind. Damn it!]

Stay still. Stay exactly where you are, Elric, and put your arms out.

[Leaping into the kid's arms is low on House's list of things to do, but it's that or probably break a leg. He might still break something as he jumps, hoping that Al will be able to break his fall to some extent.]