Case 16

[unnaturalpause]

[Why is he nervous? It may have something to do with what he saw he did earlier in the week when he was busy with Giotto and their flying gecko bro.

But he has to ask, and it's easier to ask and ignore what yesterday was then well anything else. And also apologize.

He really needs to do that.]

I hope everyone had a pleasant time around the New Years or just a pleasant time if that means nothing to you, even with certain events. [And a sigh.] If during that time I did something or someone that sounded like me did, that was otherwise untoward or impolite, would you please inform me? [He may as well make up for it all starting soon, right?]

Also has anyone seen my Sandshrew? He's been missing the last few days.

Comments

[wishmadeinfire]

I have not seen a Sandshrew, but if you like, I could employ Agni and Sybil to aid in finding him. They can track things in the garden well enough when they put their minds to it.

[unnaturalpause]

No, but thank you for the offer. If no one has seen him by the end of the day I may take you up on that offer however. He tends to like being indoors causing a bit of trouble, so his being gone is worrisome.

[wishmadeinfire]

Well, hopefully he cannot get into to much trouble with the cold and the snow about like he might in warmer weather.

dictated

[inafadingcrown]

Thad has been in my care since your other self, as it were, involved him in an attempt to provoke me.

dictated

[unnaturalpause]

[He sounds a little worried as he replies to her.]

Provoke you?

[inafadingcrown]

I issued a complaint over the volume of your music. You attached some device which played your songs at an even greater volume to the poor creature and sent him to my quarters. This is after you told me to, and I quote, " get down and show some leg."

[unnaturalpause]

[There's something like sputtering, and then a groan, and something that could vaguely be him facepalming over the journal. And possibly something resembling a mumbled "Where's Nikola to harass me over this?" in there as well.

And of course trying not to die of a heart attack at that quote.

He's just going to go and cry in a corner after this, he really is.

Though it does explain why Toby and the Glameow have been ignoring him...

This all basically amounts to her getting some rather amusing sounds over the journal before he finally manages to find his voice.]

I'm terribly sorry for all of that, even if it is rather late for apologies. [And it wasn't him but have to apologize.] I hope, no permanent, harm came to your hearing from that, or Thad's.

[inafadingcrown]

[A long suffering sigh] No permanent harm was done. And you scarcely need apologize for that which you are not responsible.

[unnaturalpause]

Yes, well others may not see it as such. Though thank you for your understanding. [He really means that.]

[inafadingcrown]

You were far from my only acquaintance affected. [She had a horrible couple of days, thanks.]

[mal_addict]

You were loud and obnoxious on Hogswatch. [That was the most accusatory tone possible]

[unnaturalpause]

[Of course and he really can't blame her for that tone.] I'm sorry to hear that. [And a pause before he presses on.] How loud and obnoxious?

[mal_addict]

Very. You played one of the music boxes and were a pain in the backside.

[unnaturalpause]

Define being a pain. [Please just tell him how horrible his reputation just got from this, Mal, he'd appreciate it.]

[mal_addict]

You acted like an insane teenager.

Dictated

[save_the_souls]

You tried to use the clinic's needles as darts.

Dictated

[unnaturalpause]

[Why is this sounding like he was some weird mix of Nikola and Nigel...]

I hope not while using a patient as a dart board.

Dictated

[save_the_souls]

No, we certainly wouldn't have allowed that.

Dictated

[unnaturalpause]

Dr. House then, was busy elsewhere? [CAN YOU TELL HE HAS SUCH A HIGH OPINION OF HIM?]

Dictated

[save_the_souls]

[SURE CAN. But wrong move get that snarky with his student when you're in the dog house]

You also attempted to turn much of the equipment into a "Killer Sound System to Liven UP this Sorry Old Joint".

I calculated the amount you owe for damages.

Dictated

[unnaturalpause]

[...]

Can I offer the use of Nikola Tesla to repair everything that needs it as free labor, as well as my own talents instead of paying for it?

[...Yes, yes he's going to drag Nikola into this one way or another to keep the man quiet.]

Dictated

[save_the_souls]

Mr. Tesla?

Of course not! He didn't do it, it'd be unethical to not pay him for your digressions.

But I'm a reasonable person, so please have Mr. Tesla set a going rate and you can pay that instead of new equipment. Assuming of course, you are capable of doing so.

THREADJACKED

[vampirize]

[REALLY, JAMES. REALLY???]

I'm not going to lift a single finger to help that old coot, by the way. So don't mind if I just reject that offer and let the man do it on his own free time, thank you very much.

[unnaturalpause]

[Help a bro out, dude.]

Would you like a list of the times you still owe me for helping you? [WOULD YOU REALLY LIKE HIM TO DO THIS? 'cause he will.]

[vampirize]

No, but still, I'm going to help you when I want to, not because you rocked out too hard.

It's on your own hands, why drag me into it?

[save_the_souls]

Mr. Tesla does have a fair point.

[unnaturalpause]

Except for the small fact that Nikola has done similar to me in the past. And still owes me a great deal of money.

[Never mind the fact some of that debt goes to Helen, and that he's dead. We're ignoring that.]

[vampirize]

And you've had over a year to ask that money from me and you haven't done so until now, and honestly, you're going to pull that on me?

I'll say it again: do your own work, James. Just because you're lazy does not mean I will take pity on you and help you. Quite the contrary.

[unnaturalpause]

Because rather surprisingly, I haven't needed it nor your help until now. And you honestly can't say you're surprised at that.

And I'm hardly the lazy one, and I'm not asking for pity, if I was I'd be mentioning the fact I died to make sure you could go on and have adventures in your future to guilt you into this. [...Like he just did.]

[vampirize]

...

[There's a long silence over on the other end, before:]

You're seriously trying to make me feel for you by recalling your death and how I owe you and everything...over helping rebuild whatever you took apart to build a stupid stereo. Really.

I would say you're desperate, but even this is exceeding it.

[unnaturalpause]

[And he's just going to resist the urge to cross the hall and yell at him in person.]

Actually it's more like I owe them a monetary debt that I can't pay at the moment and need a hand. And I'm rather certain it's quite a bit of equipment that needs repairing, and would you rather have me sitting outside your door yelling about it or give me a hand so it goes quicker?

And I hardly see you doing much better with others.

[vampirize]

No, I would have you getting off your seat and doing something about it. I don't care how long it takes you, but honestly, you're not going to start doing it by pushing others to do it for you.

So, the answer is still no, and I'll move to the library if it really ends in you doing a childish thing and shouting at my door.

And who cares if I do better or not? James, this is your problem, go find some other person to do the work for me. I'm not going to be saying yes to your proposition in my lifetime, get that in your thick skull of yours.

[atrophied]

[ And in the clinic, House offers Allen a bag of popcorn as he drops into a chair with one of his own. ]

[save_the_souls]

[Oh hey popcorn! He will be taking that with a happy noise and yep...proceeding to munch on it while he listens to this fight]

[What? It's free entertainment. ]

[atrophied]

[ Good student. This is why you're still student. ]

James

[is_mafia]

...It seems like our other selves were busy while we were trapped in the other world.

[...UNDERSTATEMENT.]

Giotto

[unnaturalpause]

[Way to make the understatement of the century, Giotto.]

Indeed, including frozen tennis balls and insulting a woman that could easily strike me down with a single thought.

James

[is_mafia]

[He tries, he does try.]

...Frozen tennis balls. [Tell him that his double didn't do what he think he did.] Have they melted yet?

And...ah, I am sure she understands that it was not actually you, yes? [Does he have to rescue you, James?]

Giotto

[unnaturalpause]

[He did...] No, they haven't, much to the annoyance of my dog.

And she does, though I fear others haven't. [No, no he doesn't, at least not from the scary lady.]

James

[is_mafia]

[He did. You can probably here a groan over the journal.] I can...come unfreeze them for you, if you wish. Since they won't be melting at all if I don't.

...What other trouble did the other you get into? [...What does this involve.]

Giotto

[unnaturalpause]

[Just casually drawing an arrow up to that talk with Nikola and Allen now as he talks.] Part of your ability I take it?

James

[is_mafia]

[Reading that talk now.] ...It destroyed the clinic equipment to build a stereo. And now you have to either pay for it or rebuild the equipment? [Where does he come into all of this, James.]

Yes. The ice is the opposite of Flames. It is something like their antithesis, or their negative.