[log] A Snowhell Dinner Party [closed]

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

Characters: Gregory House, Hannibal Lecter, Will Graham
Location: Various
Date: Night 304 onwards
Summary: Will and House meet up with Hannibal. Nothing could possible go wrong in this scenario.
Warnings: Discussion of torture, mind-control, blasphemy, PTSD, body horror, disembowling, scars, skinning, self-harm/mutilation, and some Hannibal-flavored horror. Also NSFW in marked thread.

Did you remember to bring the wine?

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Night 304 - Building 137

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

A single-story house with a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living room. It's decorated in an old-fashioned style, with lots of ornate wood paneling and the like. The bed in the bedroom is a bit more modern, though, and is lofted to provide space for a desk underneath. A snowman has been built outside of this house.

[ With each step closer to the building Will felt the senses of anticipation and trepidation growing, along with an old friend he hadn't known in quite some time: anxiety.

Though they had been in communication for days now, and he believed he had a good read on Hannibal's frame of mind, Will knew better than to believe he had completely anticipated the Ripper's intentions. Hannibal could be at his most urbane in the very moment before he drove a knife between your ribs. Layer in the added stressor of this environment, and Will wasn't entirely sure of his current read on the older predator.

So when they came to the house, he moved to touch House's arm. ]

Let me. I've taken a certain amount of pride in the fact that you haven't died yet in my company. I'd like to keep that recorded going.

[ The words were flip, but his tone was grim and Will had fished the butcher knife out of pack. Palming it, hilt in his hand he let the blade rest along the inside of his forearm. A defensive position. ]

[rubikscomplex]

[House pulls his cane off his pack and brings it down to a walking position. Will might note how natural the doctor's grip is. He takes up a limp as if it's one that's almost more familiar than his unsupported gait.

House seriously doubts he'll be able to fool Hannibal for very long, but he'd managed it with the Joker for at least a couple of days before House had had to purposefully break that deception. For now, this current one serves a similar purpose. He gets to play the wounded gazelle while keeping a favored weapon out in the open for when and if he needs it.]

Yeah, yeah. I'll play nice, Graham Cracker. I have dealt with psychopaths before.

[tablewithoutpity]

[In the days that they have been in contact, Hannibal has had ample time to imagine how this meeting would go. At one time in their history, Hannibal would have answered Will's attempt to murder him with an attempt of his own, a quid pro quo. Doubtless Will is even now expecting such a move. But what Hannibal had said in their first conversation was true, that his compassion is still inconvenient. After three years apart and a beautiful kill by moonlight, they were beyond quid pro quo.

Besides, the meaning of Will's action that night was not merely an attempted murder. It was a binding of fates.

As he walks down the snow-covered street, he checks the landmarks, ensuring he has not strayed off course. When he looks up from his tablet and toward the house, he sees two people standing outside. Even from this distance, there's no mistaking every detail of Will's shape. Hannibal smiles, tucks his tablet away, hitches the toe bag full of fresh food over his shoulder, and heads toward his friend.]

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

We always insisted he wasn't a classic psychopath. Just, never had any specific classification for him.

[ Leave it to Hannibal to come up on his flank.

Will had expected the other man to be inside the house. He pushed open the door expecting this, and so was a bit bemused when he felt a desolation from the space that suggested it hadn't been inhabited recently.

Stepping back outside, brows drawn together, he was about to ask if they were in the right place, when he saw movement from off to the side. There was a predatory grace to the way Hannibal moved, that was unique to the man and Will stepped to place himself in the older man's path, keeping House behind him. ]

Hello, Hannibal.

[rubikscomplex]

[Really?

House just raises a brow at Will stepping in front of him.]

Dude. I'm like four inches taller than you. At least.

[He raises his free hand to Hannibal in greeting.]

Yo. It's cold, so if anyone's feeling real murdery, can we get that over with now? Otherwise, inside before we do the touching reunion.

[The casual response and flippant tone belie tension. He is watching Hannibal very closely.]

[tablewithoutpity]

PErhaps we should leave that question to the man with the knife.

[Yes, Hannibal noticed. His eyes move to Will's, and he raises an eyebrow.]

Night 304 - Building 137 (post-lockdown)

[rubikscomplex]

A
[House has claimed the bed in the bedroom for now by placing his pack on it. Whether or not that holds the ground is anyone's guess. Waiting for Will and Hannibal gives him time to search the house thoroughly and come up with a cowboy hat and a knock-off version of Clue called Spyglass. Didn't Holmes do a thing on this? House vaguely recalls that.

In any case he'll give the other two ample time to make out and get to cooking before venturing out of the room again. He sits himself down in the living room and proceeds to set out the box for the board game and a pack of bicycle cards that he's had with him for a while.]

If you lovebirds are done, I've got games out here. Poor man's Clue, or strip poker. Take your pick.


B
[Later on, House finds himself unable to actually sleep. It's late and they have a long slog ahead of them in the morning, but the doctor paces the living room, phantom pains from his leg and actual pain from his chest flaring bright. His cane thunks along with the movements, so it might be a little obnoxious to anyone actually trying to rest, but he's not actively trying to bother either of the other men. His gaze is distant, turned inward, mulling over the next step in his plans, the next experiments to get them through that damn bunker.]

B

[tablewithoutpity]

[What with House having relinquished the bed and bedroom to Hannibal and Will, the temptation to merely close the door, literally and figuratively, and concentrate on being with his friend after all this time is very high. But Hannibal hears House pacing in the living room. Chances are they're going to be traveling together for some time, and Hannibal figures there are two reasons it would be beneficial to assess what is troubling the other doctor: one, it demonstrated engagement and commitment, and two, knowing what was troubling the man was helpful, both when it was beneficial to ease it and when it was beneficial to aggravate it.

So Hannibal leaves Will behind for the moment, and comes out to the living room. He doesn't wish to startle the man, so at the doorway he speaks the other doctor's name softly.]

Dr. House?

[rubikscomplex]

[House doesn't stop pacing, but glances over at Hannibal briefly, distractedly. He registers as 'threat' in the doctor's mind, but not an active one. He assumes the man is just coming to tell him to quiet down.]

Close the door and get to the love-making if the noise is bothering you. Enjoy the honeymoon while you can, doc.

[He still needs to contact someone about the power plant search... probably should check in with a few people from the school.]

[tablewithoutpity]

[Hannibal raises his eyebrows in mild amusement.]

The noise isn't bothering me.

[He crosses to the sofa and sits, leaning back, crossing his legs, folding his hands.]

What is troubling you, Dr. House?

[rubikscomplex]

[That actually gets House to stop and turn his full attention on Hannibal. The doctor's lips quirk up into a smirk.]

Here for a session, then? [His expression shifts to something overly dramatic along with his tone as he raises the back of his hand to his forehead.] I guess the trouble all started when I was five and just couldn't collect enough box tops for that secret decoder ring. Golly, I've been thinking about it all night!

[tablewithoutpity]

[The mockery doesn't fade Hannibal's mild smile one bit. If anything, the smile grows just slightly. He has a certain fondness for the bright and sarcastic.]

Do you always use sarcasm to push away people who try to help you?

A

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

I want to call your strip poker bluff. [ Will remarked, not rising to the 'love bird' bait, and now full enough of a decent meal to feel as if he could be naked without freezing his ass off. ]

But I have a soft spot for Clue and all Clue knock offs. Are you sure that game has all the pieces?

[rubikscomplex]

No bluff, bro. Remember, what happens in the ice caves stays in the ice caves. [He offers Will an overly flirtatious wink, then goes to open the box with the game.]

Looks like... Spyglass has everything we need. You wanna be... Reverend Jade or Mrs. Pearl? Lady Sapphire is mine.

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

[ Oh for fuck's sake, is the expression that crosses Will's face, but simply means that House gets an A+ for trolling because the younger man doesn't have a witty comeback at that moment. He doesn't expect Hannibal (if the other doctor is around and listening) to put any stock in what House says but really ...

HOUSE!

Besides, on to more important matters. ]

I'll take Mrs. Pearl. There is an irony to be enjoyed at Hannibal getting Reverend Jade.

[rubikscomplex]

[The troll is pleased enough to let it pass without comment.]

Well, he could also have Captain Canary, Ms. Ruby... or Mr. Granite. They seriously couldn't come up with a yellow stone? Captain Canary? [House tsks.]

Night 304 - Building 137 ( post-House and Hannibal chatting )

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

[ Cold showers sucked.

For the record, they sucked but Will was ridiculously fastidious and true to habit he had taken his sliver of soap, shampoo and some of the new underwear into the shower after dinner for a wash. He also had some laundry to clean as well.

What this had to do with the situation hours later you ask? Well when Hannibal got up and left the bed, Will had briefly considered surfacing from where he was hunkered down under the curtain, finally warm for the first time in days. He could hear House and Hannibal's voices, though he couldn't completely make out what they were saying, and he weighed the idea of making sure they weren't trying to kill one another.

But ... warm.

Warm and he suspected that if Hannibal had been feeling murderous, House would have been on the menu tonight, and Will could also acknowledge that House was doing well to avoid getting on the menu. So he was going to trust the pair not to devolve into bloodshed and stay curled up under his curtain, thank you very much.

However, though he dozed, he did not allow himself to fall back to sleep entirely until he felt the mattress dip, signalling Hannibal's return. ]

Is he alright?

[ He wasn't accusing Hannibal of anything, but expected that the doctor had gone to check on the other doctor for a reason. ]

[tablewithoutpity]

[Hannibal was well aware that Will felt the need to protect the other doctor. Which was fair. Even if Hannibal would object that he didn't just go around murdering everyone, he certainly had killed a great many of people before he surrendered on Will's lawn, and had guided another serial killer's reign of terror from inside his glass box. The fact that Will did not try to stop him from going to House just now was reassuring, that Will trusted him, even just a little.

When Will spoke, Hannibal smiled, and reached back, settling a hand on Will's shoulder.]

He's well. Some anxiety, but I believe he should be able to rest now.

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

[ As Hannibal got back onto the bed, Will shifted about and reached out to invite him in under the curtain with him. It wasn't particularly sexy, Will was bundled up in his pea coat and using a bunny slipper as a pillow but he was waiting for Hannibal to get comfortable before scooting up against him. ]

He's used to looking over his shoulder. [ Will explained, burrowing back into the curtain and Hannibal. ] Not that I blame him, he's managed to piss off most of the other residents in this town.

[ And House had probably heard more of Will's past with Hannibal than anyone else. Was probably the person most aware of just how dangerous the psychiatrist could be, in some ways Will suspected House understood more than even Will himself was aware of revealing. ]

[tablewithoutpity]

[Hannibal climbed into bed and settled close to Will, wrapping an arm around him to hold him close. It had been a very long time since he'd been close to anyone. And long had he desired just this, being close to his friend. He lowered his chin and closed his eyes, breathing in Will's scent for a moment, before answering.]

He certainly has a talent for being abrasive. I must say, it is rather refreshing to meet someone who already knows exactly who and what I am and to be...accepted.

[As much as House "accepts" anyone, he supposes.]

Night 305 - Building 130

[rubikscomplex]

A decently-sized pharmacy. It must have once also had a small section for food, but the shelves are empty now. Sometimes medicine can be found here. Four of the floorboards have been pulled up in a corner of the pharmacy, revealing metal beneath.

[House is usually thorough when he searches a building at night. Will will have picked that up by now. But in the pharmacy, he's downright obsessive. He goes over the shelves multiple times, checks every drawer twice, pulling it all the way out. He checks the employees bathroom, under the counters, even down in the small space where floorboards have been pried up.

He comes up with a pack of gum and wants to rip the grates off the vents and throw them for a bit. His pills should be here. The pills he prescribed to Gabriel, but they're his. And the pills were so close he could taste them. He ends up dry swallowing a couple of placebo pills and rattling the bottle in his pocket as he limps up and down the empty aisles.

The physical symptoms of his Vicodin withdrawal are gone, but the psychological have been left behind. The psychosomatic pain from last night is back fiercer than before, and House is glad he's faking it with his cane because he actually needs the damn thing tonight. His agitation is obvious to anyone looking, even non-ex-profilers and psychiatrists. The pills should be here. Most of the reason he'd wanted to come up this way had been the pills. Did Eve cut them off? He hasn't canceled the prescription.

Eventually, House stops and slaps his hands on the counter.]

Anybody find any drugs?

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

[ The irony of the situation was, Will hadn't been looking for them.

He'd simply been walking past a shelf, reading bottles (did he feel a sense of wanting something?) and the word had jumped out at him. He'd reached for the bottle, expecting it to be empty, but instead he'd felt a light weight and heard a rattle.

Discreetly checking the cap, Will confirmed that the bottle was full of the mid-sized oblong white pills and it had been on the tip of his tongue to call out to House, but he'd felt the words catch in his throat. He'd watched the older man struggle through the physical symptoms of withdrawal, and he'd heard enough to understand that House was an addict.

What would he do for these pills? What wouldn't he do for these pills?

The stunt House had pulled with the video was still fresh in Will's mind. More recently -and importantly- the fact that House and Hannibal were able to converse in a language Will had no hope of interpreting, flashed through his head.

He needed leverage. On both of them.

Will closed his hand slowly around the bottle and slid it into the pocket of his pants. ]

Like weed? [ He inquired, eyebrows arching in an innocent expression. ]

[rubikscomplex]

[House's gaze snaps to Will and there's almost a physical heat to it as he scans the other man. The doctor pays particular attention to his pockets before looking back up toward the younger man's face.]

Well, if you found some, Graham Cracker, do tell. Or y'know? Prescriptions. I have a patient with meds that turn up here.

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

[ House was not a dumb man, but Will didn't necessarily need to hide what he had. Rather, taking a leaf out of Hannibal's playbook, he needed to not admit to it.

He hadn't looked too closely at the label, beyond seeing the words 'Vicodin' and the prescription level, not that the dosage had meant much to him. ]

And you're checking to ensure they're here for when they need them? [ Will asked, guilelessly, careful not to assign a pronoun to this 'unknown' patient. ]

[rubikscomplex]

I'm looking to pick them up for him. Because I know where he is right now.

[The fact that Will has drawn attention to himself as the focus for House's ire is enough right now to put him in the dangerous position of being a Target. Locked in with an addict who can't get his fix is something Will's already used to, but House hasn't felt this level of need for Vicodin in several days now. It's gnawing at the back of his mind, impossible to distract himself from as he usually does.]