.

[rehandle]

Comments

[unorthodoc]

By what? Has Jim tied your apron strings together?

[rehandle]

I know I cut you out of the world's shittiest month a little early, but you've had the blow by blow. It's not exactly casual. What other word should I use?

[unorthodoc]

You really think the situation is going to get less complicated? We're living in the Mountains of Madness. If we're not careful, we turn into unspeakable things. Casual isn't going on here.

[rehandle]

I'm not expecting it to get less complicated. I'm just saying it is complicated.

[unorthodoc]

So that's not a "no".

[rehandle]

[ A pause. Sitting with the strangeness of the conversation, the discomfort. But... ]

No. [ It's not. ] That okay?

[unorthodoc]

You remember the part where I extolled the virtues of his sweet tushy?

[ It's okay. ]

[rehandle]

[ A coughed out laugh. ]

How could I forget. [ When House has such a way with words... ] It's a shame poker went to shit. Those nights would be so much more normal now.

[ Ha... ha ]

[unorthodoc]

Normal is for chumps. You know how to play bridge?

[rehandle]

[ Ah. There goes that uncanny knack for sealing his own fate again. ]

Yeah.

[unorthodoc]

Great. Bring Jim over tomorrow night. I'll make dinner. You like pizza, right?

[rehandle]

Tomorrow.

[unorthodoc]

The one that traditionally follows today.

[rehandle]

Right. Perfect. I was looking for a reason to immediately antagonize him.

The pizza better be good.

[unorthodoc]

That depends. You're not allergic to bananas, right?

[rehandle]

[ This is what he gets for killing god ]

I'll let you know when I know if you should expect one or two.

[unorthodoc]

[ He gets an hour. ]

Well?

[rehandle]

Two.

I'm having the worst conversation of my life.

[unorthodoc]

Tell him he can pet the rabbit.

[ Additionally: ]

I'm going to the castle to see if they'll let me take Zlatka's temperature. I'm packing my extra long thermometer. If I need you for a consult, can I beep you?

[rehandle]

[ What a nice, serious topic shift. He's exceedingly grateful. ]

Of course. Beep me if you need anything else, too.

[ A sorcerer, for example, if he's met with a not so warm welcome. ]

Be careful.

[unorthodoc]

[ Save that gratitude for the point in time when Stephen will arrive at the cabin and witness the jar containing House's heart being used as a centerpiece on the table. ]

I'm always careful.

[rehandle]

Okay. Pigs probably do fly here.

[unorthodoc]

Quite a tone to take with your murder victim.

[ Is this a glimpse of Stephen's future? Yes. ]

[rehandle]

Proof if anything of a not insignificant investment in your life and/or lack thereof.

[ New heart, new he. ]