Astarion

[drfeelbad]

Surprisingly there were not many pubs in London that played American football on the televisions. Even then, it was usually like one television out of half a dozen above the bar. As a result, House had not only a regular pub that he went to this time of year but also a regular seat.

"Hey Greg," said the bartender as House slid onto a stool at the end of the bar and leaned his cane against it. He went ahead and poured a double of Jack Daniels on the rocks and pushed it to him without House having to ask. "Who's playing tonight?" he asked, as if he cared. But House appreciated the effort.

"Ohio State versus Rutgers," said House then added gleefully, "I'm just here to watch Ohio State get their asses kicked." He'd gone to Michigan.

"Hey can I also get a basket of chips?" he asked, and the bartender nodded and walked away.

Comments

[drfeelbad]

“I also don’t make mistakes,” said House. Which of course wasn’t exactly true but he did sound confident.

“Tell me more about how you picked this thing up,” he said.

[sadistic_vampire_spawn]

"I don't really recall the details. I was working- Hunting, I suppose you might say, for the man who changed me. He liked to send me out to lure home treats. I ended up in some club, with all these... I dunno, cult like ravers. Next thing I knew they had infected me. Managed to get out, but..."

He trailed off.

"When I went back the next day to confront them, the place was destroyed."

[drfeelbad]

House gummed in response to that. “Well you’ve got… a lot of weird shit in here. But some of it seems to belong even less than the rest. A little bug slithering around in there.”

[sadistic_vampire_spawn]

"Delightful. So, put a leash on it or something," Astarion said. "There has to be a way to control it, surely."

[drfeelbad]

“I might be able to… slow it down, at least,” House said. “Make it sluggish.”

[sadistic_vampire_spawn]

"Really?" he asked, daring to feel hopeful. "Well... That would be good."

[drfeelbad]

"Tell me about the symptoms," House said, finally looking away from the screen and over at him.

[sadistic_vampire_spawn]

"The symptoms are good, I no longer feel tethered to my former master. I can go out when I please, do what I want. ...With just the occasional pain in my skull and some odd visions here and there..." Astarion explained.

[drfeelbad]

"What kinds of visions?"

Also the utter ick he felt at the reminder of what some sicko had done to him.

[sadistic_vampire_spawn]

"I dunno, they're sort of abstract. I don't remember much of it clearly, just this insistence that things are okay for now. I'm safe."

Though he didn't feel very safe.

[drfeelbad]

"That's... pretty tame as far as symptoms go," House pointed out. "Is there a reason you think it's dangerous?"

[sadistic_vampire_spawn]

"Well, the people who gave me it assured me it was. The intention, apparently, is to wipe me and use me as... I don't know, a shell? A bot? I don't know, but I know I don't want it."

[drfeelbad]

"Jesus," siad House, and then looked back at the screen.

After a moment he glanced over at him. "Have you decided you trust me?"

[sadistic_vampire_spawn]

"I don't have much choice. It's not like I have many other options. ...Besides, it can't get much worse at this point," Astarion said.

[drfeelbad]

"Sure, I just - "

House hesitated, and looked back at him. "It just seems like you've had a lot of people rooting around in your head."

[sadistic_vampire_spawn]

"If you're worried about payment, I'm sure we can work something out," Astarion said, instinctively turning on the charm.

[drfeelbad]

House looked over at him. "Oh. Uh. We can - talk about that after," he said. " I think I can give you a drug. Some modifications to 4U that will slow the progress."

[sadistic_vampire_spawn]

"Slow is good," Astarion nodded. "It'll hopefully buy me time to find a more permanent solution."

[drfeelbad]

"I need to draw some blood," House said. "That okay? And then it will take a couple of hours to synthesize after I put in the specifications."

[sadistic_vampire_spawn]

Astarion seemed uneasy, but nodded slightly.

"That's fine," he said finally, though he looked uncomfortable.

[drfeelbad]

"I'm a very good phlebotomist," House said. "You won't feel a thing."

He went to a drawer and puled out a tray of supplies, then went back over to him.

"Are you squeamish about needles?" he asked. "Or is it the blood?"

[sadistic_vampire_spawn]

"Not a massive fan of having sharp objects slipped into me," he replied. "It's fine, I'm not going to faint or something ridiculous like that."

[drfeelbad]

"I'm very good at it," House assured him again, quietly.

He moved closer. "And you also seem like a man very determined not to show weakness."

[sadistic_vampire_spawn]

"People, in my experience, have a tendency to use weakness against you," Astarion replied, going still while House worked.

[drfeelbad]

"Well all I just used against you was your distraction," House said. "I'm done."

He pulled the needle that he'd slipped in out.