snowblindrpg | Event: Consolidation Theory, Part Four and Five

Sorry, we're rationing our barbeque allowance. Cook-out Sundays you can get your allotted two teaspoons to use as you wish. [He coughs and then looks down at the food Will's been given.]

If you're thinking of substituting with that crap, can't recommend it. Last time they had us locked up in cages, the food was drugged. Not that they can't just static drug us, but don't make it easier for 'em.

[He's going to joke about it because the alternative is having a nervous breakdown. He's already had enough public versions of those.

Strains of "Lavender's Blue" are intermixed with "Bohemian Rhapsody" and the Prophet's song from the high school in a cacophony in his head that House has been trying to drown out with words and observations since he woke up..]

[ As House spoke -rambled?- Will watched his friend closely. It was odd to realize that of the three of them, Will might be the one coming through this situation with the clearest objectivity.

Not that he would ever suggest such a thing to either Hannibal, with his frustrated, understandable rage or House with his borderline panic, drawn from traumas Will had only ever heard about.

He tilted his head pensively, then reached out with a foot and pushed the food away. ]

Better save my caloric intake for Sunday. It takes discipline to keep this girlish figure.

[ Rolling awkwardly to his knees, Will struggled to get to his feet without using his hands. Once he on his feet, he walked towards House, blue eyes moving methodically over the older man, taking in the injuries he could see. ]

Two points of immediate interest. [ He said, looking down the cell block. ] Those of us with the red lines, are still restrained in their cells, but not people like you and I. Additionally, while we seem to have memories of what happened ... so far no one I talked too with red, reports no awareness of what happened.

[ He had wanted to ask House what memories he had. But instinct told him to let House circle back to that in his own time. ]

[House looks at Will's bandaged hands and wonders what's been done to him. He shouldn't ask, but he is curious. Will looks like he took the 'choke myself out on my collar' option for the evening, as well. Well, birds of a feather.]

Probably Miller screwing with us. They injected us with something. Might've been more nanomachines... but if he's not working with Evie... where's he getting those out from under her nose? Didn't seem like he'd shut her out the same way he did when they were doing emergency repairs. But he's clearly got the ability to lock her system.

Until he doesn't. And then he's just some lowly IT schmuck doing her bidding. What if he's got the virus? [House's gaze goes distant.] Who's the mole in Norfinbury? It's one of the trivia questions he asked us. Asshole. It's him. Miller's the mole!

[ Will absolutely had taken the 'choke myself out on my collar' option. Why waste a perfectly good metal collar around the throat? He was still putting together the early memories, but Will knew he had not reacted well to finding himself restrained in a cell.

Actually it was probably a small miracle that he hadn't broken his own neck in his struggles. Fun conversation topics for later. ]

Mole for who or what? [ He asked, tilting his head -wincing- and peering up at House. ] If I remember my reading correctly, isn't Miller supposed to have been a contact for the company in charge of this town?

[ However, speaking of moles and who was doing what under whom's nose. Will stepped a little closer, invading House's personal space bubble but not touching. He just needed to be able to lower his voice and only be heard by House. ]

It's not here. [ He said softly, looking up. ] My 'little friend'? This is the first time, since I acquired it that I haven't sensed it. It was with me, even down in the Pit, but not here.

[There's a natural impulse to back away when Will steps in close, but he's a familiar presence and doesn't have any red lines. Will is safe, in spite of being one of the more dangerous people the doctor knows. He tilts his head down toward the smaller man, even though it hurts.]

The cult, maybe. Or whoever introduced the virus that made the cult. [House lowers his voice, as well, and considers taking one of Will's hands so he can check under the bandages.] Interesting about the passenger. Especially when you had 'em down in the pit room. Thought the static meant the cult. Could be we got the static that was chanting 'kill the Prophet' a while back. But if it's not cult-y, that undercuts the idea of Miller being a mole.

Give me one of your hands. [He's not going to make Will tell him what happened. House can just see it.]

Could be further evidence that whatever happened in that Pit and is happening now, is off the grid, so to speak.

[ Miller really was working alone. If so, what was his objective here.

At the request for one of his hands, Will hesitates for a moment. He's been trying to ignore the association that comes with the bandages. Using them to illustrate a point, but refusing to linger on why they were bandaged.

But House had his doctor voice on and after all this time, Will was used to responding to it. Much the same as he responded to Hannibal when the other doctor in his life used his psychiatrist tone.

Lifting his right hand, he held it out towards House. ]

They're a matched set, from what I can remember. [ Was all he offered, then he looked away. It wasn't a case of being squeamish, but rather a coping mechanism he'd used to get through the horrors of what had been done to him by various serial killers over the years.

A way to detach from associating the trauma with himself, so he could avoid the PTSD that often came with such events. A way to survive. ]

But why was your passenger there, but not here if we're off the grid?

[He doesn't expect Will to have an immediate answer, but it's something to mull over as he gently takes hold of the other man's proffered hand. House stays close as he does so, maybe a little too close for this to be entirely clinical. He knows what Will is doing right now.]

Stare over my right shoulder and describe everything you can see, smell, taste, or hear. Paint me a picture with words, Graham Cracker. I wanna know exactly what's behind me. [Mostly to focus Will's attention on something that isn't House examining his hand. He's careful as he starts to unroll the thick gauze.]

Something about the pit was different from what Miller has set up here. [ It was the logical assumption, a good working theory for the moment or at least until they got evidence to suggest otherwise.

It is something to mull over and between the question and the request, Will could see what House was doing. Classic doctor trick and surprisingly good bedside manner. Not that he would ever say such outloud.

Instead, he did exactly as he was told, without question or comment. Taking a deep breath, he started with smell and to a certain extent, taste. ]

Mold. Everything around us seems covered with the stuff. This cell block seems old, feels unused, as if it's fallen off someone's radar and is being used because it's fallen off the radar.

[ As House began to unwind the bandages, Will couldn't help wincing when they pulled at the dried blood on his hands; especially the fingers. House was going to need a strong stomach for what he uncovered. ]

We're being hidden from view.

Hidden from view? Guess that means it's time to make out and/or do drugs. You got a preference on the order of operations here?

[The flip comment is accompanied by a small smirk and brief glance in Will's direction. Humor and snarking are House's main coping mechanisms past his drugs. This will have to do.

He'll let Will keep going as the finally uncover the man's hand. When he sees what's been done to his friend, it's only years of practice that keep him from wincing as his own fingers throb in sympathetic pain. He knows who he wants to sick Hannibal on, at least. Robert Miller is going to pay, one way or another, for what he's done to all of them.

With the damage reviewed, House very briefly runs his fingers over the back of Will's hand. Touch light as a feather. Ostensibly it's to check how far the pain extends up. That's his story and he's sticking to it.]

[ Will's lips twitched as he recognized the coping mechanism for what it was, and fed into it. It was ... well, it was the only thing he could do for his friend at the moment. ]

I'd like to go with the making out first, be sober to enjoy it. But I will admit, there is something to be said for those cannabis pills you introduced me too.

[ As he talks, he keeps his eyes focused past House's right shoulder, as directed. It's tempting to look towards the older man's intense blue eyes, but Will can feel that focus on his hand and he expects he's doing both of them a favor to keep his own eyes straight ahead.

It also helps him conceal the way his own eyes water slightly as the air hits his destroyed fingers. The change in temperature kicking off a series of of responses as his body automatically opens blood vessels and capillaries to get blood to the digits.

Stupid involuntary bodily functions.

The pain is excruciating, but in the second before he was about to break and try to retrieve his hand, House examined that back of the injured limb. The light touch, an offset to the pain, helped Will redirect his attention and while he was still braced against the pain, he managed first one breath and then another exhale; relaxing minutely.

Now his eyes flicked towards House. ]

Do you think that barnacle, with the longest penis, bothers with making out or does it just go straight for home base?

[ It was a callback to another one of their ridiculous conversations from the past. A door opened, inviting more humor and snark. Another layer of protection for the doctor to wrap around himself as they worked to survive this nightmare. ]

[There are a few more feather-light touches before House decides that Will bleeding in agony all over the bandages isn't worth the momentary connection he's allowing... initiating... seeking.

House sniffs and juts out his lower lip as if seriously considering the potential for the barnacle dating game. At the same time he starts re-wrapping Will's abused digits, taking as much care as he can while still getting the gauze tight enough.]

I mean, who's not gonna wanna ride that train all the way to party town? Granted, girl and gay barnacles might be used to their guy's being long. Maybe girth comes into it, too. Must be this wide for the auto-ride. Or there might be barnacle porn stars with even bigger than average dicks. Names like Cee Cucummer using his C.L. brand condoms.

[ When House shifts from the feather light touches and moves to bandage his hand, Will almost breaks and asks for just a moment longer. A moment where the physical reality of pain takes a back seat.

There had been precious moments, when Hannibal had calmed and they'd embraced, and it was tempting to just lean in a little closer and rest his forehead against House's shoulder. Only the "bi-monthly" hug moratorium, and the fact that Will wasn't sure that if he let his guard down he wouldn't become useless to both House and Hannibal, kept him from sneaking closer.

Though it wouldn't be enough to stop him from saying what he would to Zell in a few hours. That so long as he had these two men at his back, he felt stronger than he probably had any right too.

When House began to re-wrap his fingers, Will struggle to keep his focus away from the pain. ]

I guess you have a point there. If all barnacles have the length thing going for them, it's got to come down to girth? [ He pauses for a moment, and now he does look at House's profile. ] How long have you been sitting, waiting for the opportunity to use that porn name?

[House is well aware how much this is probably hurting and works to keep distracting Will.]

I'm insulted! You think I can't come up with porn names on the fly? Gimme an animal, any animal. I'll come up with one. It's my special talent.

I'm going to regret this. [ Will said in a tone that suggested long suffering.

It was a cover to help both of them keep up necessary fronts; engage in necessary coping mechanisms. ]

Alright, platypus.

[ It was the most ridiculous, non porn type animal he could think of off the top of his head. This conversation was also ridiculous, but it would hopefully serve it's necessary purpose.

For both of them. ]

Seriously, dude? You're starting off easy. Patty Pussy.

[The pun is already right there, Will. You're going to need to engage your brain on this one to stump him. Use up that focus on dumb crap instead of how much your hand hurts.]

[ Damn it. He had pretty much set House up with that one. ]

Don't be smug. [ He grumbled, even though he knew House would be smug and had every right to be. The doctor had come out on top for that round. Perhaps under other circumstances, Will wouldn't have called attention to the fact, but in this moment it was part of what little he could offer his friend in terms of comfort.

Tilting his head back, he looked up at the filthy ceiling. He was genuinely considering his next animal, but he was also trying to hold back tears of pain that were threatening to sting his eyes as the wrapping continued. He knew House was being as gentle but also as methodical and purposeful as he needed to be and once this was done the bandages would protect his hands once more.

Just have to get through it.

After considering a couple of animals (and coming up with his own porn names all too quickly. He poked his tongue out between his lips and then had a eureka moment. ]

Anchovy.

You like me when I'm smug. [The retort comes paired with a brief glance up and a bat of House's eyelashes. His attention returns quickly to the hand he's rebandaging, though.]

Hmm... Better. [More of a challenge.] Better, but not good enough, Graham Cracker! Anthony "Salty Shaolonging" Vee.

[ The batting of the eyelashes earned a soft chuckle. This certainly wasn't the time or the place for anything resembling humor, but sometimes the mind could only take so much, before it had to break a little at the absurd.

A pun war over bad porn names was definitely absurd, and Will was about to remark on this fact when he happened to turn his head just in time to catch a look in House's mouth when the doctor spoke. Will's brows furrowed together quickly and before he could stop himself, he reached up with his left mitted hand and pressed it against the side of House's face.

Well ... not quite the comforting contact he was going for. He really was going to have to remember that his hands were next to useless to him at the moment. At least there was human warmth (and injury warmth) emanating from the bandages where they rested against whiskers. Will had intended to try to stay away from the personal trauma, but House had cracked the door open by asking to look at his fingers. ]

House, your teeth.

[House's hands still as he winces at Will's touch to his abused face.]

I've got 28-ish to work with. It's fine. God knows the dentist would wanna pull out more than that if he knew I haven't been flossing regularly.

[He keeps his eyes averted now. His jaw is swollen and his lip was split at some point.]

[ For a moment, Will stood without moving his eyes searching his friend's face. When he spoke, it was in a fierce whisper. ]

It's not fine. It's not fine and we're going to end it. [ He said, and though there had been no mention of it, Will's mind ran along the same line as House's. Miller had a lot to answer for.

He gave it a breath and then opened the door back to the safe territory of humor and snark. ]

We absolutely should start petitioning Eve for dental care. They cover medical but not dental? What kind of two rate benefit package is that?

[He would leave it to House to choose which direction he took for coping; at least in this moment where they both had an opportunity to catch their breath. ]

[House is choosing to ignore the fact that Will still has a gauze-covered hand on his face. If they don't acknowledge it, then it's not real and therefore doesn't actually need to be batted away. The doctor finishes rewrapping Will's other hand and focuses on the joke. He may need to talk to Hannibal later about Miller, but that's predicated on them actually finding a way to get to the guy. And while House might be feeling vindictive enough in the moment, he doesn't particularly want to have to face the music when it comes to actually eating his promised meal.

He turns his eyes back to Will as he lets go of the man's hand and tries to convey some of the anger and resentment on behalf of himself and his friend that he's feeling there without words.]

We should see if they cover plastic surgery, too. You're seriously gonna have some premature balding there, bro.

[ Don't be so quick to say no; Hannibal is one hell of a cook. However, as it sounds like Miller was frozen at some point in all this, he's probably spoiled goods.

However, that doesn't excuse his rudeness.

When House released his right hand, Will took it as a good cue to lower his left. It was tempted to try to flex his hand, test the give of the bandage, but he's learned to try to keep his fingers still. He does meeting House's gaze and it prompts him to give a small nod.

The feeling was mutual, even if it went unspoken.

Reaching up to touch at one of the ripped patches on his head, he wrinkled his nose. ]

I'll just grow the rest of it longer. It's usually such a mess, no one is going to be able to prove the comb over.

However, that spot at the back of your head ... [ Will pulled a rueful face and carefully waggled his hand back and forth. Deliberately being an ass to help them get back to what passed for functional normal. ]

[There's certainly something rotten in the state of Denmiller.]

Wow. I've got a face like I just went three rounds with Muhammad Ali, and you're making fun of the fact that I'm balding? I'm 47, kiddo. I had a good run. Let's see where you're at when you get here.

[The nerve, Will! The lip from you whippersnappers these days!]

See if I ever take my beanie off around you again.

Kiddo? [ That there is a fighting word gosh darn it! ] I am only ten years younger than you and I think we can both agree my millage equalizes out those ten years if not exceeds them.

[ Not that House didn't have millage, and Will would never genuinely discount the struggles his friend had gone through in his life. But this was ... this was shit-talking. It was catching their breath in the wake of the trauma they had all experienced down here, as well as pulling pigtails to offset the genuine need and exchange of comfort.

Because Heaven forbid they actually acknowledge it directly. ]

The beanie is why you have a bald spot. [ No the beanie was to keep his head warm. ] It's a scientific fact that when you insist upon wearing teenager fashion at your delicate age you go bald.

Going by the years we were each born, I'm probably more like twenty years older than you. Chronologically. And don't give me that 'time is a construct and has no meaning here' spiel. I'm onto you, Graham Cracker.

Also, I don't choose the clothes, bro. They choose me. [He tugs at the ragged pink scarf that's ever-present around his neck.] Hobo chic was not the style I was going for this season, but it's all they had on the shelves. Ain't it a bitch when the stores don't get the new line-up in? Amateurs!

Event: Consolidation Theory, Part Four and Five

cw's continue for the thread

cw's continue for the thread

no subject

no subject

no subject

cw: borderline dissociation

cw: borderline dissociation

cw: borderline dissociation

cw: borderline dissociation, fingernail horror

cw: borderline dissociation, fingernail horror

cw: borderline dissociation, fingernail horror, NSFW commentary

cw: borderline dissociation, fingernail horror, NSFW commentary

cw: borderline dissociation, fingernail horror, NSFW commentary

cw: borderline dissociation, fingernail horror, NSFW commentary

cw: borderline dissociation, fingernail horror, NSFW commentary

cw: borderline dissociation, fingernail horror, NSFW commentary

cw: borderline dissociation, fingernail horror, NSFW commentary

cw: borderline dissociation, fingernail horror, NSFW commentary

cw: borderline dissociation, fingernail horror, tooth loss

cw: borderline dissociation, fingernail horror, tooth loss

cw: borderline dissociation, fingernail horror, tooth loss

cw: borderline dissociation, fingernail horror, tooth loss

Re: cw: borderline dissociation, fingernail horror, tooth loss

no subject

no subject

cw: mention of suicidal intent

cw: mention of suicidal intent

cw: mention of PTDS

cw: mention of PTSD

cw: mention of PTSD

(no subject)