snowblindrpg | Event: Consolidation Theory, Part Four and Five

[ 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!

On to me about what? [ Will asked, though he was doing the math in his head and realized he'd forgotten the whole 2005 vs 2015 factor.

Watching the twitching of the pink scarf, he gave an exaggerated roll of his eyes. ]

Please. You adore that scarf. You're just pissed you haven't been able to properly accessorize to it.

[ This was often the point in their exchanges where they would grin, then retreat to their corners and quietly settle down. Will knew that he should get back to checking on people and suspected House wanted to make the rounds as well.

But he was finding it difficult. Ever since he'd attempted a snow nap ... actually ever since the disaster with the morgue experiment, Will had found himself reluctant to be out of earshot from his friend. With Hannibal returned, Will was damn near like a pesky sheepdog, keeping both men close but this had happened before that habit could become too noticeable. ]

You just want me for my money. That's all the kids ever want. A sugar daddy. Sorry to tell you, but I don't pay out unless it's a by-the-hour kinda deal.

[This is another nonsense conversation and they both should probably be tending to other people, but it's a breath between dealing with others. Even with the space afforded, House hasn't had much time alone with anyone since Hannibal, Wilson, and Ecks had joined up with them.]

And I already accessorized with the mittens. [Also pink when he has them on, thank you.] But you're right... maybe if I get an earring it'll really bring the whole thing together. What're you thinking? Left, right, or both ears? [Totally going to be hep to the cap with those boyband earrings.]

Did you miss the conversation we had about the enormous payout the government coughed up to keep me silent about false imprisonment and torture?

[ He says it easily, with barely a flick of his eyelids but there is a tiredness that moves through his eyes. In the next breath, Will forces it away because there isn't time for much more than this and he knows House needs the humor and the sass win as an aid to keep moving.

To keep the PTSD at bay. ]

I want you for your mind and then your body, you're a little scrawny but what can I say, I have a thing for the whole size difference we've got going here. And the scruff.

And definitely both ears. [ Will said with a pointed wink, that was utterly ridiculous and set House up for a cutting put down. ]

[House purses his lips, trying not to smile. They're going to need to move on soon, but one last playful barb.]

Maybe I want you for your money, then. This whole acting coy shtick is just to get in your pants so I could get to the pockets. Of course... with the size difference thing, I think your pants are gonna come up to my thigh and stop, Half-pint.

[He puts his hand up near Will's head and closes one eye, like he's trying to gauge the other man's height.]

[ At the pursed lips, Will couldn't quite keep his lips from twitching into a smile. House really was impossible, but he'd take a joking House; at least for the moment.

Then House went for a short joke and Will's good intention of letting the older man win the exchange went right out the window. He could not allow the challenge of gay chicken to go unanswered!

It was a moral imperative.

He swayed towards House, just enough to make a theatrical show of it and whispered. ]

Maybe I have a thing for size difference?

[ Doubling down on his most innocentyetnotinnocent expression, his eyebrows arched in a cheeky manner, but he turned to move off. Time to get back to work. ]

[As with most of their exchanges where Will flirts back in that manner, House is left momentarily silenced, uncertain what to actually say as his brain hits a wall of 'is he joking, or...?'

Thus ends another game of gay chicken. House reluctantly adds another tally to Will's side of the board in his mind. There are far too many there compared to his meager few. All things considered, though, it does leave him smirking and rolling his eyes, which is far preferable to the misery he'll be returning to.]

Event: Consolidation Theory, Part Four and Five

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

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