Cyberpunk AU start: Max

[drfeelbad]

House didn't visit Input on a regular basis exactly, but often enough that his face was known there. The men and women he'd spent time with he'd seen more than once, and when he arrived tonight and sat down at the bar, the bartender pushed him a Jack Daniels without him having to ask, and mentioned that they were quite busy tonight but he'd seen Isaac recently if he'd like to have a drink with him. "Yes, please tell him I'm here," House had said before taking a sip.

Though before he'd even managed to take a second drink, he heard someone shouting for a doctor.

He almost ignored it. Almost. But instead, he said to the bartender, "I'll be right back," and then slid off the stool, grabbed his cane, and headed in the direction of the shouts.

Comments

[drfeelbad]

"Not too far," House said. It was the reason he came here. He glanced at the guard to whom the guy had handed over his cash, but didn't say anything.

They passed by the bar on the way out, and Isaac was walking by. He stopped House. "I was looking for you but then you were gone," he said apologetically.

"It's fine," House assured him. "Another time." He nodded and headed off again.

House continued to the door. His clinic really wasn't far.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max followed along, making a note of the path they took.

"You didn't give a name," he said after a moment. "I've seen you though, at Input."

[drfeelbad]

"House," he said, glancing at him. "You?" Because that's right, he was a person, not just a patient. Sometimes House forgot.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"Max," he said.

Just Max or Maxwell, he didn't have a last name anymore.

"You a medic, or a ripper?" he asked curiously.

[drfeelbad]

"I'm a doctor but I've learned the skills I've needed to learn," House said. "Used to work in hospitals. Don't anymore." He quirked a smile. "Lucky you."

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"Why'd you leave?" Max asked. "Good money there. Real good if you're in the right area."

[drfeelbad]

"The system is fundamentally flawed at best and maliciously corrupt at worst," House said bluntly. "So similar reason you don't like hospitals, I'm guessing."

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"No, not really, but I can appreciate the sentiment, and I do agree," Max shrugged. "I can't go to hospitals, because I'm not in the system. I'm a ghost."

And potentially wanted for murder, but he wasn't sure about that part.

[drfeelbad]

"... interesting," House said. That would require a bit of extra care, even in his systems. He tried not to break the law if he could help it - it just complicated things - but he still did when he needed to.

"What's your story anyway," he added. "Medically relevant, I mean. You've got some old hardware for someone who looks half my age."

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"Started young," Max shrugged. "Younger than I should have. Some of it isn't original to my build, it just works better with the things I want to keep. The dream cart drive is the most important, people pay a lot for a human with one. I think there's something similar that the droids and the reps all use, but this is the last one they made for humans. I even learned to code for it, I make custom carts for customers at an additional charge."

[drfeelbad]

"I haven't seen one in a really long time," said House. Perhaps just a touch awkwardly. He'd really seen one, years ago. "You know it's likely it's contributing to your problems. But you... really want to keep it?"

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"I need it," Max replied, looking a bit twitchy. "It's important to my work."

And it was- Just not the work he did at Input. There it was just a perk.

[drfeelbad]

"I think you'd probably do fine without it," House said. It wasn't really intended as a direct compliment, but he felt like on a surface level that Max was as appealing as Isaac, for example. "You're taking a risk."

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"It's worth it," Max assured him. And it was- At least to him. It helped him lure out the worst sorts of men.

[drfeelbad]

House assumed he meant money, because what else would it be? So he didn't comment further on it.

They got to an office building, and House unlocked the door with his thumbprint and led him inside. The place was small and clean, moderately high tech but not particularly impressive. A small waiting room opening into an exam room, and there was another door, also locked.

"Get on the exam table, we'll do some more extensive diagnostics," he said. "There's a port there for you to plug in."

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max nodded, plugging in and laying down on his back. His eyes flickered as his system connected- Something you didn't see much with modern hardware.

[drfeelbad]

House watched this with interest. Then pulled up a screen and a battery of standard diagnosis tests plus a few he'd devised himself.

"I'm assuming you've skipped some system updates intentionally?" he asked as he studied the screen.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"Optics aren't compatible," Max nodded. "Some of my parts are imported, easier to update, especially the parts from Japan. Some have hobbyist support. I've been looking for optics that have compatibility and newer updates, but there's only one company out in Korea that makes them, and they're expensive. nearly 7K in cred."

[drfeelbad]

"I have some supply lines with medical discounts," House said. "What is it that you most need?"

He could guess based on what he had, but didn't want to assume. There were some things about Max that didn't really add up.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"Optics, probably. Like I said though, the only match I found were way out of my budget. BodaNasda Optiprisms. Even on discount, I'm not sure I could get the cash. I still owe someone 3k. I can't take on more debt now. Especially not while I'm trying to find a flat. I've been sleeping in my friend's storage unit these past few days," Max admitted.

[drfeelbad]

"And you can't do without until you manage to save up or the price goes down?" House said. "Because this bootleg bullshit is crashing your system."

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max was quiet for a moment.

"I can't get rid of the port," Max said quietly. "I will, eventually, but right now- Right now it's important. Unless you're willing to break the law and help me install a newer model. They still sell them in Japan, they're not even that expensive. I know a guy who could import one, but I don't know anyone willing to install it. If I had the newer model I could buy cheaper upgrades for everything else."

[drfeelbad]

"It's a stupid law," House said. "Everything you do with that thing, you do it because you want to? Fully consenting?"

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"Yes," Max nodded, and it was true. Sometimes he didn't like the programs, but it was all part of getting rid of the sort of assholes who'd had one installed in him in the first place. It was the only thing he cared about anymore.

"I can end the program whenever I want, the newer ones are even more secure," he shrugged.

[drfeelbad]

"Okay," said House. "You get it, I'll install it. In the meantime I need to quarantine this one so it doesn't continue to fuck with your systems. Okay?"