[log] Tonight we light the fires, we call our ships to port [closed]

[sleight_of_fate]

Characters: Watson, Sherlock, and Mina, Hannibal, Will, House, Ecks, Wilson, Jared Rhys
Location: Building 309, then 326 (the high school)
Date: Daytime/Evening 349
Summary: Reunions. Lots of reunions.
Warnings: Hannibal Things, House things, possible drug use, more added as needed

Comments

[sleight_of_fate]

"No kidding, now that I'm looking for them, pens and pencils are like fucking gold here. I found a ballpoint good enough to draw with and I'm holding onto it for dear life." He knows there's art places in town and he's tempted to find them, it just seems like a less vital use of his time at the moment. He has chalk and charcoal too, at least, and quite a few pages in the notebook he's got if he's frugal.

"Real classics, huh?" He watches House with the orange and it quiets something in him, a satisfaction he's been looking for. Peace? Kind of. Whatever it is, it's a good weight to have off his chest. "I always liked the old El Caminos, too. Spread a sleeping bag in the bed, sleep under the stars. " The corner of his mouth quirks.

"And definitely candy red. Not many other colors for a real classic to be." He knows shit about engines, but aesthetics? He can definitely do aesthetics.

[rubikscomplex]

House considers that first part and focuses on it. As much as he'd like to talk shop on cars, they're a far less achievable goal in this place. Unless they come across an auto-repair shop that the Admin hasn't completely gutted.

"What've you got to trade? I've got crayons and gel pens." Every artist needs some color!

[sleight_of_fate]

Gel pens. Those would be perfect for Rhys's style, and he can't help the sudden surge of interest at the offer. He would offer...pretty much anything he has, for those, but he has to tamp down his excitement.

"I've got some cigarettes. Real ones, not tea. Coffee and tea. Umm..." He actually has to think, because he has a lot of things stashed away. "Condoms. Matches. An extra candle. I can also take commissions, if you want to see my work."

He's got the vodka, but he knows better than to offer it to someone on Vicodin. That one, he's keeping quiet for now.

[rubikscomplex]

"One cigarette per pen plus some coffee. I've got five pens." He pulls off his pack and unzips one of the pockets where he keeps his writing supplies. The gel pens he pulls out are a range of colors: blue, green, pink, orange, and red. The blue one is about half-used, but the others are mostly-intact.

"Take your pick, partner."

[sleight_of_fate]

He knows better than to show too much excitement, but he has to restrain himself from jumping at the offer, which is much cheaper than he'd expected. His voice is casual, but his mind is already running with the idea of actually being able to draw for a little longer, add a little more to his work.

"That offer still stand if I want all of them?" He tilts his head in question, reaching for his bag.

[rubikscomplex]

[House wants cigarettes and coffee more than he wants gel pens he doesn't use much. It's Rhys' lucky day!]

I'm not giving you a bulk discount, kid. Take it or leave it.

[sleight_of_fate]

Rhys definitely isn't arguing, especially when it's this much to his benefit. He gave House his One Chance Of Good Will, and now he's taking it with no regrets.

"Just making sure," he says, offhandedly. He reaches into his backpack and starts rummaging, carefully pulling out everything he needs to make the trade. Rhys is painfully meticulous, including storing his so-called trash for later, so the five cigarettes get sealed in an empty foil potato chip bag, and the coffee gets poured from the jar into a Ziploc cookie bag.

"Pleasure doing business." Rhys offers up the two packets when they're done. "If you find any plain white notepads, save 'em for me. I'll trade for those, too."

[rubikscomplex]

"Mm..." House pulls out one of the cigarettes and settles it between his lips before stowing the others. He doesn't have that godawful biting and tasting obsession anymore, but he's always had a minor oral fixation. The pill popping had fed that. It feels good to have a cigarette set there, even if it isn't lit.

He needs to go and find Hannibal. He gave the guy his matches a while back for his cooking endeavors. "I prefer Cubans, but beggars can't be choosers. I'll keep an eye out. You want anything else, or...?" Or can he leave. This actually went a lot better than he expected. Mainly because House had anticipated getting punched in the face.

[sleight_of_fate]

Rhys smiles a little bit fondly.

"I don't smoke 'em. but I like the smell of a good one. Pipes, too. Cedar and bourbon and toast." Once in a while, he keeps company with people with enough money to smoke the really expensive ones, and it's probably not all that surprising given his own penchant for herbal cigarettes and incense.

After a moment, he digs in his pockets again, pulls out a box of matches, and pulls out two to carefully add to the package with a wry raise of eyebrows. He doesn't say anything, but just adds them silently.

House could always get punched later. Rhys is actually more likely to haul off and hit him when he's calm and clear-headed than when he's emotional. But right now, they're good. For what it's worth.

"I think we're good," he says, zipping his pack back up. "I'll stick around, but we've got a big crowd. So tomorrow I'll break off, do a food run or something, and ghost you from a building or two away until I find something better to do?"

He knows six people is way too many for House to be comfortable with, and he also knows that the older man won't give up Will or Wilson's company. Rhys is good at traveling alone, quick and efficient and smart: he'll play outrider for a while.

[rubikscomplex]

House certainly isn't going to say no to free matches. He strikes one--hey he's not the one who usually builds a fire at night--and lights up the cigarette, taking a long, slow drag as he closes his eyes. He blows out a puff of smoke and crosses one arm across his waist so that he can prop up his elbow on it.

"Y'know, I prescribed these to Santa Claus once? Merry Christmas." He doesn't elaborate, just takes another drag. "Sounds good, kid. Whatever you want. We'll probably head over to that church tomorrow. Got a message from Dincht and his crew. Door's open."

[sleight_of_fate]

"Santa, huh?" Rhys tilts his head, curious. "I'd have figured you more likely to hang out with the Krampus, but cool."

Santa is probably real in his world, just not quite what the Coca Cola Corporation would have you believe.

At the mention of the church, Rhys hmmms and tugs absently at his bracelets. "Church...I'll probably follow, then, yeah. If there's anything ritual there, might be able to untangle it, and I wanted to check in at the clinic anyway...see if there was anything more I could do there. And, grab a shower now that I've got soap again."

Priorities, of course. He gives House a mock salute, shifting away from the counter he was leaning on. "Gonna go set up for the night, then, but let me know if anything changes."

[rubikscomplex]

"Sure thing, bro." House is just going to lean back against one wall and enjoy his cigarette. It's been more than a year since he's had one and it tastes good.