[ 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. ]
[ That gets him a measuring look over the top of House's beer mug, as if trying to work out just how much Felipe wants to see her. And what he might do about it. ]
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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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Well, do me a favor and don't mess it up.
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She's safe with me. [ said firmly. House needn't worry. ] Or what do you mean by messing it up? The last I checked we weren't dating. You were.