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

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"I'm not picky," Max said, which wasn't really true. He liked his coffee with nut milk usually, but he'd take whatever he was offered.

Ducking into the bathroom he got himself washed up, mindful not to take too long. Though he did scrub his shirt in the sink, hoping House wouldn't mind if he left it to dry while he had his coffee.

[drfeelbad]

House actually had real coffee, and he made it in a French press, though of course like everyone else he did have one of those machines, he just thought the coffee was shit.

He poured into two cups, and set one on the counter before sliding onto a stool at the kitchen nook and taking a sip from the other.

The place was small, a one bedroom flat, and it was clean but cluttered. His pride and joy though was an actual piano shoved into one corner of the living room. It had been a bitch to get it up here, too.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max emerged, bare chested but otherwise dressed.

"Shirt's just drying," he explained, glancing around the space curiously, until his gaze settled on the coffee.

[drfeelbad]

House glanced up, and his eyes settled on Max for a moment, before he intentionally looked away. "If you want to use the laundry you're welcome to," he said, and pushed the coffee to him.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"Don't have anything to change into while it washes," Max said, shrugging one shoulder and taking the coffee.

"Smells good, not like that tar at the Midnight Mart."

[drfeelbad]

House thought it would probably be a step too far to offer solutions to the changing situation. "It's actual coffee beans," House said. "If it were that crap I probably would indeed be masking the taste with sugar. You sleep okay?"

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"Slept brilliant," Max said, sipping his coffee and holding it close to his chest. "Thanks for letting me stay. My man's gonna drop off the new port just before noon- Is that alright?"

[drfeelbad]

"Sure that's fine," said House, though he actually looked a bit eager. Honestly he was interested in the challenge, and to see some new tech. "You arrange to unload the old one?"

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"Yeah, this medic I met a while back paid me up front for it last night. He collects old tech, has shelves full of the stuff. Works at that clinic on 7th," Max nodded. "Told him I'd drop it off tomorrow sometime."

[drfeelbad]

House wondered if he knew him.

"Maybe he's going to install it on himself," he said dryly, and took another sip of coffee.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"Doesn't seem the sort," Max said honestly. "Though who knows. Once it's his he can do as he likes."

[drfeelbad]

House set down his coffee cup, then hesitated, and finally said, "If you don't mind my asking... what's it like?"

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"Using carts? It's like dreaming," Max said. "You never know how much you're going to remember or how real it will feel. Sometimes you have some control, other times it's fully scripted. Depends on what the client wants."

[drfeelbad]

"Which do you prefer?" House asked. He was genuinely curious now.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"I suppose it depends on the scenario. Some things I would rather be passive in, like some of the stranger fetish stuff. Feet, food, stuff like that. It's easier to shut down and just let it happen," Max admitted. "The rougher stuff I like being alert. I want to have a chance to defend myself."

[drfeelbad]

House looked at him for a second and then said bluntly, "Well that's fucking depressing. I guess that answers my question about how you feel about your job."

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"You think the guy selling you your Nando's on a Friday night is having the time of his life, or is just passionate about Peri Peri chicken? It's work, were paying our rent like everyone else."

[drfeelbad]

"That's one heck of a false equivalency," House said. "The chicken clerk usually doesn't need to shut down and let it happen to go about his job."

He held up his hands. "But look, I get it. You do what you have to do."

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max wanted to argue. After all, he'd had those jobs too. Fast food, housekeeping... Tedious tasks that didn't engage him. Jobs where he'd shut down and go through the motions. It was all the same- At least sex work could be interesting on occasion.

He didn't want to argue with someone who was going to slice him open later though. Didn't matter if he seemed nice, it seemed like a shit idea anyhow.

Shrugging, he continued to sip his coffee.

[drfeelbad]

House looked at him for a second and then said, "I mean, to be clear I think you have more cause to judge me than I have to judge you."

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"What would I judge you for?" Max asked. "Being at Input? Not to offer more 'false equivalencies', but I'm not going to judge you for spending money on company anymore than I would if you were spending money on a curry."

[drfeelbad]

“It just sounds like you’ve had some bad experiences,” House said.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"Sure, plenty, but that doesn't make every client bad," Max pointed out with a little shrug.

[drfeelbad]

"... sure," said House. "Well. Good."

He drained the rest of his coffee. "How are you feeling?"

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"Fine, still a bit... I don't know, disconnected? Like my body knows something has been locked off to it, even if it's not important to its functioning," Max explained.