snowblindrpg | Event: Consolidation Theory, Part Six

[ House's expression mirrors Wilson. He's going to have to do something more besides talk at him. ]

But there's nothing there to feel. At least, nothing I can see. All I see is your neck.

[ He glances around the room before looking back at House. ]

Don't tell me you don't want to get out of here.

[ The other man hasn't even commented on that idea yet. ]

[It seems so patently obvious, he hadn't thought it needed and answer.]

Are you kidding? This place is like the vacay destination, bro. Why would I wanna leave? [A beat.] Of course I want out. Physical limitations are working against me at the moment. I can't just pretend there isn't a collar. Is that what this is supposed to be? You convincing me it's not there and it won't be? What kinda nu age hippie bullshit have you been getting into?

[ A sigh. ]

I know better than to try convincing you of anything, when you don't want to be convinced.

[ But he's not about to leave this alone. ]

Just humor me, House. Try walking a few paces away from the wall.

[House glares up at his friend.]

What part of I'm attached to the wall are you not getting here? [A beat.] Fine.

[He rises to his feet, turns, and grabs the chain, and tries to rip it from the wall. To Wilson, this will probably look like a very elaborate mime routine.]

[ Well, he didn't really think it would be that simple. ]

The thing is, House. You're not. I don't really know what's going on here, but this isn't real. There's no chain, no collar, and nothing barring your way out of here.

[ He tries to keep his tone level and straightforward but warm too, a thing he's had plenty of practice with. ]

Look, I'll show you.

[ He walks over towards the entrance and steps through it so that he's half inside the cell and half out. ]

You see?

[House stops pulling when Wilson... clips through the wall?]

What the hell...?

[He sees, but it doesn't make sense. Unless Wilson is fake?]

Come here. [It's a command, not a request. When Wilson comes within reach, House will reach out to grab one of the other man's hands and place it around his neck. It's two-fold purpose. Check if he can feel Wilson and check if Wilson can actually feel him.]

You don't feel that? At all? The metal?

[He does feel Wilson, scratch of the other man's gloves on his sensitive neck and the warmth coming through. Warmth that's coming through all around, including where the collar is. This isn't making sense.]

What are you seeing?

[ Clearly it's more mind tricks, which means Wilson's going to have to work harder to get House to leave. ]

No, I don't. I don't feel anything, because there's literally nothing there.

[ He'd second that thought about this not making sense. ]

[Okay, one of them is severely impaired for their perception check. Considering House is the one who was kidnapped and injected with crap, he's willing to allow that it's probably him. Wilson's too real right now to be a hallucination or del...]

Who did I have a crush on in 9th Grade?

[House knows. And by extension, a delusion would know. Real Wilson is just going to be confused. House lets the other man's hand drop from his neck and just stares hard at his friend, scanning him up and down for changes his own mind might not come up with to confirm thanks a real person.]

Uh-

[ Cue confusion. And racking his brain, trying to recall if House ever mentioned any romantic interests in the 9th grade. ]

No idea, but I don't even need to say that she must have been something for you to have noticed her. [ He coughs. ] Stripper-in-the-making, I'm guessing.

[ If there even was someone House was interested in. It's not that there couldn't have been someone; there absolutely could have been, and there probably was one. It just doesn't mesh well with the man in front of him right now. ]

Cindy Michaels. Brunette, buxom, and definitely a Patriots cheerleader-in-the-making. Don't be gross about a 9th Grader, dude. [Because Wilson is the one who should worry about being gross between them.]

So, you're not in my head, I can feel your hand on my neck when I shouldn't. [House steps forward again, but his mind won't let go of the chain or the collar. He makes an irritated sound.]

Do something I wouldn't expect.

Me, gross? That's funny, House.

I would hope that I'm not in your head, though. Not that there's anything wrong with your head, but- That could become a little bit weird. [ For both of them. ]

Something you wouldn't expect, huh?

[ For a split second, Wilson thinks about socking House in the face, but that feels too mean. Maybe if they were back at home and House wasn't looking like a particularly scruffy hobo.

Instead, he takes a step forward and launches into an impromptu hug. Yes, it feels awkward, and he fully expects to be shoved away, but House did say "unexpected". ]

[The hug absolutely catches him off guard. The number of grown men House has exchanged hugs with can be counted on one hand, and Wilson's not one of them. Except now he is. Instead of shoving his friend away immediately, House wraps his arms around Wilson in return. It might be a cue for just how screwed up this place is. That lasts for just a few awkward beats before House is pulling away, stepping to the side and-]

Huh.

[The collar is gone. The cells are gone. It's just people milling or staring blankly, still trapped in the delusion.]

Well, that worked. Interesting. [He probes the inside of his mouth with his tongue.]

Injuries are real enough, at least.

[ As awkward as it is, it's not really all that bad either. It is surprising how long House holds on, but Wilson doesn't move until the other man does. ]

So you can see what I'm seeing now. Great. I was starting to worry.

[ No, really. He didn't want to resort to more drastic measures to get House out of there. ]

Want me to take a look at those?

[ They're both doctors, so he won't be surprised if House says no. ]

Unless you've got dental implants and some Novocaine handy, I'm fine. I need to get a Lecter out. I'm gonna need him for Graham. And you are gonna need to be a bleeding heart over the people who're having trouble walking. So I don't need to.

[ Wilson's just going to wince at that. He knows what dental implants and Novocaine must mean, and it's not a pretty mental image. ]

Fine. But don't get yourself in over your head.

Have you met me? [The question is mock-indignant before House shrugs a shoulder and looks toward where he can see Hannibal kneeling like he'd been.]

I'll be fine. And Wilson... thanks.

Event: Consolidation Theory, Part Six

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