ғᴏᴜʀᴛᴇᴇɴ

[confidente]

[ He waffled on it initially, torn between being angry and maybe in part (only a small part) glad. Better that he's gone then still here. House wasn't happy here, he knew that much, but part of him can help but be annoyed that the message he left was a bunch of post it notes. Annoyed but amused. Sort of. Kind of. Maybe. ]

For those who knew him, Gregory House is no longer in Paradisa.

[ A sigh. He'll leave it at that. ]

[ Sherlock Holmes; ]

Remember how I said I expected you to already be in the flat when I come back? Well, I'm coming back. So you better be there.
----

Comments

[workaphilic]

[He'll always be pretending a little. More than he'll allow anyone to know. It's all he has (for now).

He smiles slightly and sets his cup aside. He's had it ingrained in him to wipe the violin down after every session -- he can't resist the urge for very long.]

It isn't where it needs to be. [He handles the violin delicately, lovingly. It's an extension of himself.] You'll like it better when it's properly finished.

[confidente]

[ John will do the dance, for the moment at least, he'll pretend with the best of them. Until it comes too much and he cracks, but that won't happen for a some time (right?). ]

I'm sure I will. [ He's always liked listening to Sherlock play, especially after he started actually playing well. The Irene Adler incident aside. ]

What brought it on?

[workaphilic]

[He was bored and alone and miserable for two months, in desperate need of a distraction.]

I was struck by inspiration. [He finishes, tucks the cloth and the violin away and closes the case.] It seemed worth pursuing.

[confidente]

[ He looks at him, he really looks at him. Gear turning in his head in a far more refined way than they used to. But he is not as good at Sherlock, not by a long shot, so he gets practically nothing useful. ]

I'd say so. [ He brings his cup to his lips again. ] How long have you been here? [ Probably not long, especially considering the flat doesn't look as if it a bomb has hit it. ]

[workaphilic]

[He retrieves his tea and deposits himself in his own chair. This almost-normalcy, he's all right with this.

He glances at his watch.]

Fifteen minutes. Maybe thirty.

[He loses track sometimes.]

[confidente]

[ Almost-normal. It leaves a bitter taste in his mouth as well as a sweet, the odd combination doesn't help much but it's something. ]

You know you could've lied and said an hour, or maybe even a day.

[ But he got his message and that in itself pleases John greatly. ]

[workaphilic]

[He smiles slightly.]

Why would I do that?

[confidente]

Oh, I don't know, to make it seem less like you rushed here at the last second. Make it seem like you knew exactly when I was coming back.

[ He's still predictable isn't he? Sherlock can still read him like a book, right? ]

[workaphilic]

[He scoffs.]

A lie like that just makes me look imprecise.

[That's not a confirmation one way or the other, though.]

[confidente]

[ He laughs shortly, shaking his head. ]

I guess it would've fallen short anyway, the flat wouldn't be so clean if you had been here for a day.

[workaphilic]

[He looks around, squinting critically like he just noticed.]

I don't just throw my things around indiscriminately. [yes he does] I don't have anything on, it might stay this way. [no it won't]

[confidente]

You do and it won't. [ John knows, he knows. ]

[workaphilic]

[muttered:]

Just because you can't appreciate it doesn't mean it isn't organized.

[this is one of those times when he comes dangerously close to pouting.]

[confidente]

Heard that.

[ Oh, he can see it. Right there. ]

There is nothing about it that is organized.

[workaphilic]

I can always find exactly what I need in a timely manner. What should it matter if it's on a shelf or not?

[confidente]

You're not living alone, remember? Frankly I don't want to trip over the piles of your stuff in the middle of the night and break my neck.

[workaphilic]

[A pause.

He stares critically at the floor.]

Aside from the fact that you've got eyes and should be able to avoid that yourself, I suppose it could be beneficial to make a few pathways here and there.

[confidente]

Or maybe we can keep things off the floor.

[workaphilic]

[His gaze snaps back up to John, and he squints like he's expecting a punchline. When it doesn't come, he folds his hands under his chin.]

Well, where else would it go?

[In his room? Now THAT'S a joke.]

[confidente]

[ He sighs, shakes his head and resists the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. ]

Up in the book cases, or a filing cabinet, or hell even your room.

[workaphilic]

No. Absolutely not. Way too much effort to maintain, and it would interrupt my process.

[confidente]

[ HAND MEET FACE. ]

You're impossible. Just ─ not on the floor, okay, anywhere else is fine just not on the floor.

[workaphilic]

[A long, long silence.]

No promises.

[confidente]

Good enough.