[ he's been staring at the ceiling, playing his flute and quietly listening for any movements next door, but it's like the whole boarding house is empty. it's boring. might as well get out if House needs someone to cheer him up. ]
[ When he gets there, he'll find House already at their usual table, having already gotten himself a drink -- mostly because it meant he could flirt with Nikita. He's brooding over his beer, watching the rest of the room. Lottie's not working tonight, but that doesn't mean he's not keeping an eye out for her.
As Felipe arrives, he flicks a glance up at him. ]
[ it's been on his mind, but he's been distracted with dueling and everything else going on. he feels bad about it, but he knows it's not a problem to be solved overnight, so he isn't going to lose any sleep over it. however, if House invited him here to hear results and to look at him with sad blue eyes, he might have to come up with an escape plan quick. ]
How are you holding up...? [ rather than take a seat he approaches House's side of the table, holding up his arms. there's an awkward pause when he just looks at him, expecting him to get up for a hug. ]
[ The look he gets back is definitely more along the lines of what the fuck do you think you're doing. House holds it for a good long moment to really drive the point home, then reaches for his beer mug again. ]
How was your duel? The barmaid said she thought you were so brave. [ He imitates a girlish falsetto. ] Did you whip it out and wave it around? Your sword, I mean.
... Cold as ice. [ he mutters to himself, shaking his head, as he takes a seat opposite House, sets his elbows on the table. ]
It was great, we fought with fists. The barmaid said that?
[ which one? Lottie?? he nearly breaks his neck whipping his head to see who's working tonight. disappointment immediately sets in, but he manages to flash a polite smile for Nikita as he gestures at her to bring him a drink. the usual.
eventually he turns his attention back to his rude friend. ]
You look like you haven't slept since you were born.
[ House grins to himself into his beer as Felipe cranes around to try and see the barmaid in question. He quickly schools his expression back to normal when the other man turns back around. ]
Yeah, you're looking great too. [ Thanks so much, Felipe. ] I'm fine.
[ ahh, he really should do something about that castle because seeing House like this hurts. the sight wipes the smile off his face like a punch and he averts his gaze as he does his best to forget that John is being tortured as they speak – something that House is probably unable to stop thinking about. ]
I'm sorry. [ he is, genuinely, and he'd give him another hug if House only let him. ] We'll get him back.
[ He should probably feel guilty at the earnest sympathy in Felipe's expression, but he isn't. The subject change does, however, bring its own notes of genuine feeling, a flicker of pain across House's expression as he, too, is reminded of everything he's trying to forget.
He scowls and drinks more beer, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. ]
He'll be okay. [ He won't. None of them will, not knowing what the Duchess is capable of. So he changes the subject, shifting in his seat to lean forward on the table. ]
[ if he was doing better himself, he might offer to distract House with something else entirely, but things being what they are-- his attention snaps back to the other man when he hears the familiar name. for a foolish second he thinks it was his imagination, the name pulled from his daydreams into reality. ]
Why? [ in truth there's really no reason to ask, not when he's already got both eyes and ears on her. he frowns at House. ] Please don't say anything ominous.
But he stays serious, his gaze intent on Felipe. He drops his voice as he talks, keeping it between the two of them. ]
She's been transforming. Ever since the dinner. I think it's slowed down, but if she's on the edge, we need to look out for her.
[ He can almost hear Wilson's shock in the back of his head that House is actually expressing concern for another human being. But things are different here. Maybe he can be different here. ]
[ he stares at House, unflinching but maybe a little frozen. the concern is cute, but he shouldn't be fooled by it. this guy can see through him like he was made of glass if they continue on this subject, so he decides to come clean. they're all friends, after all.
[ House's eyebrows shoot up in surprise and annoyance. More than anything else, he hates being the last to know something. ]
You saw but you didn't share? Which means you consider whatever you were doing while you were seeing to be private, which means -- [ He leans in, taking his voice down to a hiss of accusation. ] -- you had sex with Lottie?
[ unlikely, considering this is Mr. Gossip speaking, but that narrative suits his own purposes, so why not. he doesn't lean over the table like House does, choosing to lean back and maintain some distance between them instead. ]
I was only trying to help.
[ eyes wide, such an innocent picture. he'd sound more smug if he had actually managed something beyond slowing down the transformation, but it's rewarding to see House so surprised. ]
There are only two ways to help someone in this town and you don't look like you got beat up by a girl -- [ His money is on Lottie winning that fight, sorry Felipe. ] -- I'm guessing you gave it to her good and proper.
[ He sits back in his chair, not so much disappointed as annoyed he didn't figure it out quicker. ]
I don't care that you're trying to schtup my girlfriend. I do care that you knew something important and you decided not to tell anybody.
Who knows. Maybe this time tomorrow she'll be rampaging through the town having old ladies for dinner.
[ Speaking from bitter experience. House's expression is grim, but he doesn't seem especially surprised that things are going this way. It just confirms his misanthropic tendencies to find out that someone's been an asshole. ]
You didn't have any problem with her looking like.. [ He sketches the shape of an antler in the air above his head. ]
[ Felipe would rather not think about that possibility, so he doesn't! House's question makes him smile though. of course he had a problem with that, which is something he'd never admit, but in the end it all worked out. ]
You know, I thought that the tail was kind of cute.
It is kind of cute. Mostly because of the pert little ass it's on.
[ He's okay if Felipe wants to agree with that. House takes a drink from his beer, wondering if he ought to push it and make Felipe feel guilty, but he digs into that idea and finds he's too tired to bother. So he clears it off the metaphorical table. ]
[ i forgot about Felipe's beer but it's here now and he's also drinking it. ]
She lives in the room next to mine. I'll be seeing her whether I want to or not.
[ House was never jealous about John, so he doesn't think this will be a problem either. he shrugs, decides to downplay his feelings a bit anyway. in reality he's done nothing but think about Lottie lately. ]
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[ he's been staring at the ceiling, playing his flute and quietly listening for any movements next door, but it's like the whole boarding house is empty. it's boring. might as well get out if House needs someone to cheer him up. ]
See you at the tavern.
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As Felipe arrives, he flicks a glance up at him. ]
Been to see Her Duchessness yet?
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[ it's been on his mind, but he's been distracted with dueling and everything else going on. he feels bad about it, but he knows it's not a problem to be solved overnight, so he isn't going to lose any sleep over it. however, if House invited him here to hear results and to look at him with sad blue eyes, he might have to come up with an escape plan quick. ]
How are you holding up...? [ rather than take a seat he approaches House's side of the table, holding up his arms. there's an awkward pause when he just looks at him, expecting him to get up for a hug. ]
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How was your duel? The barmaid said she thought you were so brave. [ He imitates a girlish falsetto. ] Did you whip it out and wave it around? Your sword, I mean.
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It was great, we fought with fists. The barmaid said that?
[ which one? Lottie?? he nearly breaks his neck whipping his head to see who's working tonight. disappointment immediately sets in, but he manages to flash a polite smile for Nikita as he gestures at her to bring him a drink. the usual.
eventually he turns his attention back to his rude friend. ]
You look like you haven't slept since you were born.
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Yeah, you're looking great too. [ Thanks so much, Felipe. ] I'm fine.
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I'm sorry. [ he is, genuinely, and he'd give him another hug if House only let him. ] We'll get him back.
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He scowls and drinks more beer, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. ]
He'll be okay. [ He won't. None of them will, not knowing what the Duchess is capable of. So he changes the subject, shifting in his seat to lean forward on the table. ]
I need you to keep an eye on Lottie.
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Why? [ in truth there's really no reason to ask, not when he's already got both eyes and ears on her. he frowns at House. ] Please don't say anything ominous.
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[ Ha ha.
But he stays serious, his gaze intent on Felipe. He drops his voice as he talks, keeping it between the two of them. ]
She's been transforming. Ever since the dinner. I think it's slowed down, but if she's on the edge, we need to look out for her.
[ He can almost hear Wilson's shock in the back of his head that House is actually expressing concern for another human being. But things are different here. Maybe he can be different here. ]
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[ he stares at House, unflinching but maybe a little frozen. the concern is cute, but he shouldn't be fooled by it. this guy can see through him like he was made of glass if they continue on this subject, so he decides to come clean. they're all friends, after all.
he leans back, runs a hand through his hair. ]
Well. Yeah, I saw.
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[ House's eyebrows shoot up in surprise and annoyance. More than anything else, he hates being the last to know something. ]
You saw but you didn't share? Which means you consider whatever you were doing while you were seeing to be private, which means -- [ He leans in, taking his voice down to a hiss of accusation. ] -- you had sex with Lottie?
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[ unlikely, considering this is Mr. Gossip speaking, but that narrative suits his own purposes, so why not. he doesn't lean over the table like House does, choosing to lean back and maintain some distance between them instead. ]
I was only trying to help.
[ eyes wide, such an innocent picture. he'd sound more smug if he had actually managed something beyond slowing down the transformation, but it's rewarding to see House so surprised. ]
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[ He sits back in his chair, not so much disappointed as annoyed he didn't figure it out quicker. ]
I don't care that you're trying to schtup my girlfriend. I do care that you knew something important and you decided not to tell anybody.
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You already knew. What's the problem?
[ he doesn't feel like he owes anyone any information, especially not when he thought that he could have been the one to save the day. ]
She's going to be fine, isn't she?
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[ Speaking from bitter experience. House's expression is grim, but he doesn't seem especially surprised that things are going this way. It just confirms his misanthropic tendencies to find out that someone's been an asshole. ]
You didn't have any problem with her looking like.. [ He sketches the shape of an antler in the air above his head. ]
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You know, I thought that the tail was kind of cute.
[ antlers? what antlers? never saw those. ]
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[ He's okay if Felipe wants to agree with that. House takes a drink from his beer, wondering if he ought to push it and make Felipe feel guilty, but he digs into that idea and finds he's too tired to bother. So he clears it off the metaphorical table. ]
You going to keep seeing her?
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She lives in the room next to mine. I'll be seeing her whether I want to or not.
[ House was never jealous about John, so he doesn't think this will be a problem either. he shrugs, decides to downplay his feelings a bit anyway. in reality he's done nothing but think about Lottie lately. ]
And I do want to.
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