The Park, By The Lake, Monday Afternoon

[gotcanewillpoke.livejournal.com]

He probably shouldn't go out, given it's a miserable day, but...well. They've fallen into a quiet pattern of Wilson covering the clinic in the morning and House doesn't want to disrupt that routine. Especially now.

He'd tried keeping quiet in the apartment, but restlessness got the better of him, and he headed out, leg wrapped and bundled and supported by the crutches he'd dug out of the closet last night to go to the Faire with Wilson. He'd dropped back to his regular dose of Vicodin, and feeling had returned, none too pleasantly, to his thigh. He had strained the leg somewhere along the way, and the muscle that remained howled at him if he so much as put his foot flat on the floor.

He went in to town, grabbed a cup of coffee at The Perk, and deflected to the park to simply sit and think. He settled on a bench near the small lake, glad to be away from the four walls of the apartment where he'd nearly destroyed the one good thing he had going for him in his life. You're no better than Stacy. he'd said. And, referring to Angelus, You're one of his kind now.. He hadn't meant either, had been so hurt and so confused he'd lashed out with the only defense he had. Words. And pain.

Words that weighed heavy on him, even now. Made him question things about himself, and how he could be so quick to throw stones at the one person he truly loved.

If Wilson hadn't come back...He closed his eyes, shook his head softly at himself. He didn't want to go there. Didn't want to think about how he would have dealt with that...He redirected his thoughts to just be grateful Wilson had come back. He'd come home, and they made up and shared a round of good natured snark, discussed Thanksgiving plans, and went out to the Faire.

They were both far from healed as individuals, and as a couple. It would take time. But they were on the right path.

House sighed and let his eyes wander to look around the lake.


[OOC: Again, attemoting to socialize Hosue. Feel free to stop by and...well, risk getting snarked at. He really wouldn't mind the company.]

Comments

[katielockley.livejournal.com]

Kate knows she should actually eat something on her lunch break. Food is generally what the scheduled time is for. But frustration has taken her appetite, the park is close, and it's comfortable, and it has ducks, albeit some flame-throwing ones.

You take what normalcy you can get sometimes.

She walks briskly, across the street and around the TARDIS to the duck pond. When she sees a man sitting on the bench she pauses. She contemplates heading back, but...company couldn't hurt that much, right?

So she continues, stopping beside the bench.

"Come here often?" she asks, her eyes on the pond.

[gotcanewillpoke.livejournal.com]

"It's getting to be a regular part of my schedule," House looked up at her. She was pretty, of course he noticed that. And she looked a little sad. His ever active mind jumped on that, but every thought lead right back to Wilson, and he only smiled.

"You can sit. Bench is big enough, and I promise not to bark flames at you." He hadn't actually seen the flame throwing duck, but he'd heard about it. "Greg House," he added as an after thought.

[katielockley.livejournal.com]

"That's good to know," Kate says, finally turning her head to give him a faint smile. She takes his offer, sitting down on the opposite side of the bench. Infringing on peoples' personal space isn't a casual habit of hers.

She searches her memory for the name, and then his face as she looks at him. Vague recollection; a glance at a file, perhaps, a glimpse in the streets. Or maybe there's nothing at all.

"Kate Lockley."

[gotcanewillpoke.livejournal.com]

"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Lockley." House returns her smile warmly. One of the things he's trying to wrok on, is being nicer. Friendlier. More...social.

He notices how her eyes scan him, as if looking for something, some knowledge of who he is. "I work at the clinic up at the school," he offers thinking she might know his name from there. Might even be a teacher at the school for all he knew, he hadn't met most of them.

[katielockley.livejournal.com]

"Same here, Dr. House." She recognises that effort, and tries to return it. Assuming he's a doctor and not a nurse or orderly might help or hinder that, depending on whether she's right or not.

All the while she's registering the information and filing it away, because you never know what will be important. That might have been where she found his name--pouring over records of the school's faculty.

"How long have you been working there?" A hidden layer of Are you used to it yet? may or may not be obvious.

[gotcanewillpoke.livejournal.com]

"I started with this term." House tells her, confirming the assumption of doctor by not challenging it. He feels like she's trying to read in to him. His instinct is to shut down and put up false barriers. Create misleads and false statements. He mentally berates himself, and tries to focus on being nice.

"Fandom is an interesting place" he adds, sensing the underlying tone. "Have you been here long?"

[katielockley.livejournal.com]

Vague. Implied answers, rather than concrete statements. She can appreciate that, let it go, because she doesn't like being a hypocrite.

"Almost three months," Kate answers. Her face grows pensive.

"This town...it's different." A dryness to her voice at the understatement.

"My first days here and there were zombies. Which wasn't actually one of the stranger things." Simply one of the more disturbing. Old memories should stay buried.

[gotcanewillpoke.livejournal.com]

"The zombie invasion," House nodded. He had stayed in his apartment through that. "Not exactly what I agreed to when I signed on here."

He shrugged. "Where are you from, Miss Lockley?"

[serra-inara.livejournal.com]

Inara walks by the pond, tossing handfuls of crumbs out to the ducks and watching them waddle around after the morsels.

She sees House on the bench and pauses before coming over and indicating the seat.

"May I?"

[gotcanewillpoke.livejournal.com]

"You may," House gives a nod and a smile. "Miserable day out here." He comments, mentally wondering what he was thinking coming out on a day like this.

[serra-inara.livejournal.com]

"It's not the most pleasant of weathers," Inara agrees. "But that doesn't make it miserable out here." She glances at House. "I'm Inara."

[gotcanewillpoke.livejournal.com]

House glanced up at the grey sky. It reflected his mood a bit too well, though he was brightening a bit just by talking to someone.

"Greg House," He answered, with an offer of his hand.

[serra-inara.livejournal.com]

"A pleasure," she said, meaning it. He looked a little despondant, and it was hard to resist the urge to see if she could lift his spirits a little. "I haven't seen you too much around town, Mr. House. You work up at the school, then?"

[gotcanewillpoke.livejournal.com]

House nodded. "I do. I'm one of the doctors at the clinic." He doesn't directly correct the title, doesn't insist on being called Dr House. Even when he'd been practicing in New Jersey, he didn't care for the title.

"I havne't made a habit of coming in to town very often, I'm afraid. You see, I'm really rather anti social."

[serra-inara.livejournal.com]

"Well, you're sitting here in the town park," Inara said, smiling. "And talking to a stranger. That's not exactly anti-social."

[gotcanewillpoke.livejournal.com]

House chuckles warmly. "Sometimes, I even surprise myself."

After a Conversation with Wilson

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Once Wilson leaves the shop, Aziraphale places a note for Crowley on the table, bundles up in his coat and scarf, and heads outside. Pleased to see his 'target' sitting alone on a park bench, he walks straight over.

"Good afternoon, Dr. House. Isn't it a bit wet to be sitting outside?"

Re: After a Conversation with Wilson

[gotcanewillpoke.livejournal.com]

House looks up, pulled out of his thoughts. He offers a friendly smile. "Indeed, I am berating myself for wandering out in it. You're looking well, Mr Phale," he says and jerks his head to the empty side of the bench.

Re: After a Conversation with Wilson

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Aziraphale takes a seat, not seeming to be terribly bothered by the weather. The rain, in fact, seems to let up a bit, or perhaps the wind is just blowing it away from the bench.

"Thank you, I'm feeling a great deal better. And a good part of that is thanks to James."

Re: After a Conversation with Wilson

[gotcanewillpoke.livejournal.com]

House nods. Oher than the ache throbbing in his leg, House doesn't mind the rain either. Especially now that it's not hitting so hard. "James is...I'm sure you know there aren't many men like him. He's a good guy. And it's genuine."

Re: After a Conversation with Wilson

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

"Yes he is. I consider him a dear friend, and he's done me a great favor -- really more than one, but we've agreed not to concern ourselves with debts among friends."

He shifts on the seat and pulls a small thermos out from under his coat, offering it to House.

Re: After a Conversation with Wilson

[gotcanewillpoke.livejournal.com]

we've agreed not to concern ourselves with debts Debts. Contracts. I signed a contract with a 6000 year old servant of hell

House shivered and pulled his coat tighter at his shoulders. "What is it?" he asked, reaching out to take the thermos.

Re: After a Conversation with Wilson

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

"Tea. I thought you might enjoy it, considering the chill." He slips his hands back into his pockets.

"I came out here to talk to you about James."

Re: After a Conversation with Wilson

[gotcanewillpoke.livejournal.com]

House nods and takes a tentative sip of the tea. The warmth spreads through him instantly, and he takes another sip.

"I'm listening." There's a calm gentleness in his voice. He's really trying to be open minded. It's difficult, based on what Wilson has told him. Bits and pieces here and there. But for Wilson, he'll stay calm, listen, and work through his resistance himself.

[dr-jwilsonmd.livejournal.com]

[ooc: *Squees with glee at the House socializing threads!!* Damn but reading these things make my day!]