IC Contact (Snowblind)

[rubikscomplex]

Comments

[termineur]

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.

[rubikscomplex]

Oh.

[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?

[termineur]

[ 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?

[rubikscomplex]

[House had marginally more tact as a child.]

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.]

[termineur]

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.

[rubikscomplex]

There's no one back home you'd miss?

[termineur]

[ He thinks it over rather seriously, and his voice takes on a slightly more melancholic tone. ]

There's a couple. But they'd rather see me dead, so it's not much of an argument for going back.

[rubikscomplex]

[Oh.]

Do you have Al with you? Because it sounds like maybe you should go hug him, or something.

[termineur]

[ House can't see it, but this makes him smile. ]

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

[rubikscomplex]

Maybe. I guess going somewhere else is better than other things you could do to try to escape.

[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.

[termineur]

[ 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.

[rubikscomplex]

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.]