GP - London Calling

[mist_mods]

It had been months now, and London remained. The mist hadn't rolled back in, they hadn't all been dragged back to the icy beaches, and life was normal. ...Sort of. ...At least for the people who'd started in London. For others it was like being dumped somewhere new again, forced to either try and make their way home, or build a new life in a new city.

(OTA! London is here to stay, though the mist is still lurking, waiting to creep back in now and then.)

Comments

[drfeelbad]

"No... it's fine, I offered," House said. He knocked back half of the whiskey and then said, "I always assumed I was straight, and that guy in college, he was just a kind of... fun anomaly. And then - "

He tapped his fingers on the edge of his glass. "Okay, fuck it. You were right, I had feelings for James."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"I knew it," Fin grinned, looking pleased with himself. "I knew it, I so knew it."

[drfeelbad]

House scowled. "Yes, well, it doesn't really matter at this point, does it? But I suppose that coming to grip with that, especially once I came here and realized how much I missed him, it helped me be more... open. To thinking beyond what I'd always assumed about myself."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Of course it matters," Fin said, shaking his head and sipping his drink. Though he made no move to elaborate, he just moved on.

"Did you fancy him? Me, I mean. ...Other me, I should say. Or was it something that just happened?"

[drfeelbad]

"You want to know if I liked him? Really?" House hesitated, then said, "I can tell you the details of what happened between us, if you really want to know. If anyone deserves to, it's you."

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin thought about it for a long moment, then nodded.

"I think I would," he decided. He didn't want to know about his other self's relationship with everyone, but with Greg it felt important.

[drfeelbad]

House gestured at the bartender for another round.

"I met him in a hotel bar," he said, looking down at his empty glass rather than directly at Fin. "I thought he was a prostitute, though I figured out I was wrong pretty quickly. He didn't mind. And I couldn't figure out why he was still talking to me. I certainly didn't care what he thought of me, but he didn't seem phased by my being more typical asshole self. He said he liked my sharp tongue. When I told him it was my birthday he offered to get me into a club... though once he left I didn't stay long either. I saw him next, by chance, in a different bar. He was completely fucked up. Will and Hex had completely fucked him up. I was afraid he was going to get alcohol poisoning, so I... I don't know, I looked after him."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"That's really sweet. ...I mean, the situation isn't sweet, but the fact you cared is," Fin said softly.

[drfeelbad]

"I was sympathetic," House said. "They'd really done a number on him. Anyway, by the time I ran into him by chance the third time... I don't know, I guess I was glad to see him. We got dinner, ran into Pippa." He glanced at Fin. "She's kind of a bitch, you know. But I don't consider that a bad thing, really. Anyway, she asked if we were fucking, and Fin's answer was that I wasn't interested. Which, you know, wasn't entirely accurate."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Pippa? You mean Kelly, my sister?" He frowned. "She hated her middle name growing up. I wonder why she started using it. ...I wonder if she's still here, in London."

He seemed thoughtful for a moment, then took a swig from his glass.

"Anyway, that obviously changed. I mean, you did eventually hook up, so- How did that happen? What shifted in your relationship?"

[drfeelbad]

"Well I guess it was pretty much that moment," House said. "I mean, he'd always flirted with me though I didn't take it that seriously, and by then I was also afraid I was his type because I was an asshole. I mean, after what happened with Will and Hex. Anyway, he he thought I wasn't interested, and I told him that wasn't accurate. I didn't understand why he wanted me, but he did, so I asked him to come home with me, and... that was that."

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin hummed thoughtfully, then nodded. "Well, for whatever it's worth to you, I think I've got very good taste in partners, and I want you," he smiled.

[drfeelbad]

House considered this answer for a moment and then said, "This question is going to sound bitchy no matter my intentions, so you'll just have to trust me that I'm not pissy about it, I just have to ask - what is it that you get from me that you don't from all your other lovers?"

It was a blunt question, but one he couldn't help but ask, considering that he'd ended up in such a similar position as with the previous version of Fin. House was observant. He had a very educated guess exactly who Fin had been sleeping with when they were back in that place, and could only assume there were similar arrangements here.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"We have a different bond. Our conversations are different, you're different," Fin shrugged. "You're clever, I find that attractive. You're blunt and I need that sometimes. Sexually... You're- Now I don't mean to be blunt, but you're hungry for it. I like that. It's exciting."

[drfeelbad]

Jesus. House looked away, so that Fin couldn't see what damn near felt like a blush. Mostly in reaction to that last part. He also wasn't really sure what to say, so he took a drink, trying to figure it out.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"I very much don't mean it to sound like a bad thing," the fae added quickly, assuming he'd insulted the other man. "It's wonderful."

[drfeelbad]

House let out an amused little snort. "Hungry is certainly a better term than desperate," he said. "I'm not insulted, I'm glad to here there's something I'm particularly good at in bed."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"You're talented in many ways," Fin purred
"I'll make you a list sometime if you like. It would start with kissing, and end with the way your fingers find all the right places to linger."

[drfeelbad]

For some reason House had more trouble accepting that kind of praise from Fin than he had from women in the past - but then again, he hadn't really been sleeping with women (beyond prostitutes) since his leg. And there was no denying his disability had shot his confidence in that particular domain.

"You're humoring me," he mumbled, a little embarrassed.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"I'm not. This is me flirting a bit," Fin said softly.

[drfeelbad]

"If you're hoping to seduce me, you don't have to try very hard," House said with a slightly self conscious smile.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Maybe I like trying. Maybe you're worth that effort," Fin suggested with a soft smile.

[drfeelbad]

"Do you want to come home with me?" House asked. "I mean, you might still have a concussion. A doctor should keep an eye on you."

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin laughed softly, pushing his hair back and grinning. "Well you are my doctor. Seems best to follow your advice."

[drfeelbad]

"First though," House said, "cheese fries. And that will give me time to sober up so we can take the bike." He waved to the bartender and gave him the order.