Yeah, they might be on the tablet. If you look at the Messaging app, see if you can find Robert Miller's name- it should keep a history of any contact you've had with him.
You can also check the Notepad app- that might have something in there? But I know I was bad about keeping notes myself, right from the start. I should probably get better about it, but you get so used to cross-referencing with these things. You know you can follow your name on the network to get everything you've posted before, right? Let's see- the Robert Miller game thing happened before I got here, so that'd be before Day 144. You might be able to pinpoint that whole thing a little better that way.
You don't need to look into all this, of course. I just know if I were in the same situation, I'd want to learn as much about what happened as I could. You seem like you're the same way.
No, I definitely want to learn more. I figure while I'm a kid, people are being nicer to me, anyway. It sounds like I'm kind of a jerk when I grow up. So, I can take advantage of it right now, at least, to learn as much as I can and maybe try some different things.
[Is that bad? It's certainly mercenary, but it's logical and practical.]
Good idea. Definitely take advantage while you've got the time to do it. And- for as bad as this place is? There's some really good, helpful people in it, from places that are better from where I came from- and probably where you came from, too. No one's gonna blame you because your older self pushes people away.
[ And it's not like Gabriel blames House for that, either. He thinks it's pretty easy to get to a place where you don't trust anyone at all. ]
Have you been learning anything new? I mean, I guess Rhys is a druid, so that'd be new for me.
[ In fact, Gabriel's a little jealous. Al was a huge font of knowledge, but they've talked his world over a lot. It was to the point that even Gabriel thought he should cool it a bit. Maybe he can find out an excuse for his group to hang out with Rhys and Flynn later. ]
I never did get into other languages- I always focused on the sciences when I'd study something. And hieroglyphics seem more interesting, too...I wonder if we could get Flynn to run on-network classes or something. Eh, that'd probably be too much work while we're trying to survive, but it'd be fun.
[ And older House might be able to enjoy them from the background, if he hasn't already learned that stuff. ]
We can use as much fun as we can get around here, honestly.
Being bored is the worst. [House readily agrees to that.] I usually have to find things to do, but this is great. I can ask him if he wants to do it. It's not like we have a lot to do after lockdown, right?
[ Oh, good. He was hoping it'd happen this way. Flynn would have a much harder time saying no to House like this. ]
Yeah, exactly. And it's not exactly easy to sleep in these places, so it's good to have something else to do.
So stuff's not too interesting back home, eh? I grew up in New York City- there was a ton of stuff around me, and I wasn't allowed to touch any of it. It wasn't until I was fourteen that I was even allowed to mess with my dad's watchmaking tools. It's rough on a kid that wants to learn.
We're in the middle of the desert. There were more things to do when Dad was stationed in Spain. I learned to play the piano, so I can do that when he's not home. And I'm learning Arabic and French so I can read the local stuff. We're on a military installation, so there's not much I'm allowed to touch, either. I do treasure hunting sometimes. Dad got me the tools for that and map-making.
[Little did the man know he would be aiding in House's escape! Or... well... maybe not. House can't remember if he's done that, yet.]
Watchmaking sounds pretty cool. That's what you do back home? You must be really good with your hands.
I am. And it's what I used to do. I took something of an early retirement. But I'm missing it, so maybe I'll go back after we get out of here. Most people would probably find it unbearably dull, but there's something to building such a complex machine and having it tick away perfectly in your hands afterwards.
[ He does sound a little wistful. ]
I've never really traveled, not to other countries. I guess I'm planning on that if we ever get out of here- I want to go with Al to his world, and they have entirely different countries. And I can't say I ever went treasure hunting. Find anything interesting yet?
Well- [ He sighs, but there's not really any point in keeping much from the kid. ] I found out I had a special ability, like a super power. But unfortunately, it was more an influence on me than I was on it. I shut my shop down, then went off to do some really terrible things. It wasn't until I was brought here, with the ability suppressed, that I really started to analyze what I'd been doing.
[ He's a little amazed he's not getting any further questions about it. Maybe those'll come later. ]
Yeah. I know most people hate it here- and trust me, there's a lot to hate- but it's been good for me. I doubt I would've had a chance to turn things around if I hadn't come here. Really gets the mixed feelings going, you know?
Yeah. The people here are a lot cooler than most of the ones I know back home. All the grown-ups, especially. You guys are nice... for the most part. [Magenta had made him cry, but House isn't going to mention that.]
Well, there are a few jerks everywhere you go, apparently. But yeah, back home pretty much everyone was, and I get the feeling it's the same for your world, too, unfortunately. Here- I don't think so.
When we get out of here, I'm going to head to Al's world, instead of home. He keeps telling me about people he knew- there's a lot of decent people there. And alchemy. I think it'd be better.
Yeah, he's around. And maybe I should. He's pretty great at giving hugs, even with all that armor.
But I'm okay, really. I've thought about this a lot. I think I have a good chance if I go somewhere else. Maybe sometimes people just don't fit in the world they're born in. That's my guess.
[ He's not wrong, but it's just more evidence for the pile that House had a really awful childhood. ]
Sure. Guess I'll let you go relax and hang out with Flynn and Rhys some. Glad everything's all right- or getting more all right, anyway. Like I said, call me if you want to talk. Anytime, okay?
[ He doesn't exactly smile, but he looks more content than usual. ]
And ask Flynn about those classes, huh? I will too, next time I talk to him.
Sure! Talk to you later, Gabriel. [It might have been an awkward note to end the conversation on, but House makes an effort at a smile, himself, before hanging up.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
rubikscomplex) wrote2015-08-27 10:05 am
no subject
You can also check the Notepad app- that might have something in there? But I know I was bad about keeping notes myself, right from the start. I should probably get better about it, but you get so used to cross-referencing with these things. You know you can follow your name on the network to get everything you've posted before, right? Let's see- the Robert Miller game thing happened before I got here, so that'd be before Day 144. You might be able to pinpoint that whole thing a little better that way.
You don't need to look into all this, of course. I just know if I were in the same situation, I'd want to learn as much about what happened as I could. You seem like you're the same way.
no subject
[Is that bad? It's certainly mercenary, but it's logical and practical.]
no subject
Good idea. Definitely take advantage while you've got the time to do it. And- for as bad as this place is? There's some really good, helpful people in it, from places that are better from where I came from- and probably where you came from, too. No one's gonna blame you because your older self pushes people away.
[ And it's not like Gabriel blames House for that, either. He thinks it's pretty easy to get to a place where you don't trust anyone at all. ]
Have you been learning anything new? I mean, I guess Rhys is a druid, so that'd be new for me.
no subject
no subject
[ In fact, Gabriel's a little jealous. Al was a huge font of knowledge, but they've talked his world over a lot. It was to the point that even Gabriel thought he should cool it a bit. Maybe he can find out an excuse for his group to hang out with Rhys and Flynn later. ]
I never did get into other languages- I always focused on the sciences when I'd study something. And hieroglyphics seem more interesting, too...I wonder if we could get Flynn to run on-network classes or something. Eh, that'd probably be too much work while we're trying to survive, but it'd be fun.
[ And older House might be able to enjoy them from the background, if he hasn't already learned that stuff. ]
We can use as much fun as we can get around here, honestly.
no subject
no subject
Yeah, exactly. And it's not exactly easy to sleep in these places, so it's good to have something else to do.
So stuff's not too interesting back home, eh? I grew up in New York City- there was a ton of stuff around me, and I wasn't allowed to touch any of it. It wasn't until I was fourteen that I was even allowed to mess with my dad's watchmaking tools. It's rough on a kid that wants to learn.
no subject
[Little did the man know he would be aiding in House's escape! Or... well... maybe not. House can't remember if he's done that, yet.]
Watchmaking sounds pretty cool. That's what you do back home? You must be really good with your hands.
no subject
[ He does sound a little wistful. ]
I've never really traveled, not to other countries. I guess I'm planning on that if we ever get out of here- I want to go with Al to his world, and they have entirely different countries. And I can't say I ever went treasure hunting. Find anything interesting yet?
no subject
What made you retire? You don't seem super old.
no subject
no subject
[A lot of people seem to have stories here that end in 'and then something bad happened.']
Sorry that happened. I'm glad you got something good out of coming here, too?
no subject
Yeah. I know most people hate it here- and trust me, there's a lot to hate- but it's been good for me. I doubt I would've had a chance to turn things around if I hadn't come here. Really gets the mixed feelings going, you know?
no subject
Yeah. The people here are a lot cooler than most of the ones I know back home. All the grown-ups, especially. You guys are nice... for the most part. [Magenta had made him cry, but House isn't going to mention that.]
no subject
When we get out of here, I'm going to head to Al's world, instead of home. He keeps telling me about people he knew- there's a lot of decent people there. And alchemy. I think it'd be better.
no subject
no subject
There's a couple. But they'd rather see me dead, so it's not much of an argument for going back.
no subject
Do you have Al with you? Because it sounds like maybe you should go hug him, or something.
no subject
Yeah, he's around. And maybe I should. He's pretty great at giving hugs, even with all that armor.
But I'm okay, really. I've thought about this a lot. I think I have a good chance if I go somewhere else. Maybe sometimes people just don't fit in the world they're born in. That's my guess.
cw: allusion to suicide
[That's maybe a little dark to consider for an 11-year-old, but he hasn't been shielded from much in his life. Not with his father, anyway.]
Anyway, I just wanted to let you know I was okay and stuff. Thank you for trying to look out for me.
no subject
]
Sure. Guess I'll let you go relax and hang out with Flynn and Rhys some. Glad everything's all right- or getting more all right, anyway. Like I said, call me if you want to talk. Anytime, okay?
[ He doesn't exactly smile, but he looks more content than usual. ]
And ask Flynn about those classes, huh? I will too, next time I talk to him.
no subject