Ficlet: Talk Of This And That

[swatkat]

For the housefic50 prompt: hospital. 872 words, Cuddy, gen. I'm not entirely sure if it makes sense. Not beta'd; your comments/crit will be loved. I'm not sensitive, as you know. Also, LJ won't let me x-post to the housefic50 comm (which I'm supposed to) for some reason. I'll try again later.


Talk of This and That

*

Another day, another hospital fundraiser.

The hospital becomes a different place on these days: transformed, as if by a magic wand. Cuddy plays the perfect hostess as always: entertaining her guests and sweet-talking them into loosening their purse-strings; watching over the catering staff like a hawk; making sure that her normally well-behaved doctors don't get into fistfights after consuming too much alcohol. It's exhausting. Not her idea of a great party.

'Doctor Cuddy!' booms an all too familiar voice from somewhere behind her. 'Some party you've got going!'

Cuddy turns around to face a shockingly well-groomed House, twirling his cane and smirking down at her in a manner that's almost disturbing in its cheerfulness. It usually means that he is up to something, and that's something she could certainly do without this evening. Heaven knows she deals with enough of it on a daily basis. Beside him, Wilson is his usual amiable self.

Cuddy raises an eyebrow. 'I thought you weren't coming.' Or so he had claimed all week: loudly; repeatedly.

'I changed my mind. Good food, free booze, the educated company of my fellow doctors,' he replies, gaze dropping to her cleavage. 'What's not to like?'

Wilson smiles apologetically, mumbling compliments on her dress: 'You look nice.'

Which, of course, House does not miss. 'Yes, that blue – brings out your eyes. And that neckline – ', he says, staring pointedly at her breasts. Again.

'Behave yourself,' she says, sternly. To Wilson: 'And you make sure he stays out of trouble,' because she certainly doesn't have the opportunity or the desire to play nanny all evening.

And with that, she sweeps away to greet her actual guests, ignoring House's loud, 'Hey, where's my booze? Is this how you treat your guests?'

*

'You should have a costume event next. You would make a lovely Cleopatra.'

'Thank you. I'll be sure to keep that in mind.'

'I was at Senator Hill's event last summer, and –'

She watches him out of the corner of her eye while making small talk with her potential donors and getting hit on by mostly uninteresting and some married men. It's not very exciting, but then it's a part of the job: Pediatrics needs a new sonogram and the nurses have been demanding a pay raise which she will have to give in to sooner or later – she needs those donations.

House, somehow – apart from that one minor incident with Davis from Cardiology, who, she admits, had it coming – manages to conduct himself surprisingly well all evening. He spends most of the time slumped on a couch, harassing the waiters and chatting with Wilson, giving every appearance of enjoying himself. Cuddy makes a mental note to thank Wilson afterwards.

*

Later, when she makes her way to the couch that House and Wilson have been occupying for the past few hours, she is greeted with an abrupt: 'Sandler's gay.'

'Is he?' she blurts, before she can stop herself. Propriety kicks in, then, and she frowns, 'And if he is, that's none of your business.'

'He's totally hitting on that guy right now,' House points with his cane. 'Prettyboy over there.'

'Or maybe you just have a dirty mind,' says Wilson, sipping lazily on his champagne.

He is conversing in a rather intimate manner with a handsome, youngish man she vaguely recognizes from somewhere, Cuddy notes, but the very idea of the much-married Dr. Sandler being gay comes across as yet another one of House's ridiculous theories. Or not, she thinks, and then feels vaguely guilty for having speculated over one of her doctors' sex lives, with House of all people.

'Isn't he married?' she asks, even if it's extremely inappropriate and absolutely none of her business.

'Was. Not anymore. Ten bucks says they'll be out of this place in fifteen minutes.'

'Deal,' says Wilson, and somehow Cuddy finds herself settling down on the couch beside House and watching Dr. Sandler with undue interest.

And soon enough, the couple departs – hastily – and House turns to Wilson with a triumphant smile, 'That's one-twenty bucks you owe me right now, Jimmy.'

'Seventy. And you owe me dinner.'

What had them occupied all evening suddenly becomes very clear.

'You're really here for the gossip, aren't you?' she says, more amused by this than she should be.

'Would I do something like that?' he says, eyes wide and innocent. And then: 'Who do you think she'll leave with,' pointing at a gorgeous redhead, 'Freddy over there, or - '

'Frank,' Wilson interrupts. 'His name is Frank.'

'Whatever. He looks like he should be called Freddy. Freddy, or that tall one over there?'

'Frank. Look at their body language.'

'Tall guy's prettier.'

Cuddy laughs, feeling more at ease than she has all evening.

'You don't think he's prettier?' House says, looking extremely serious.

'I – '

'How about a little bet? Ten bucks says it'll be the tall guy.'

Cuddy thinks of saying no: it's juvenile and inappropriate, just the kind of thing House would do. And she has to return to her guests.

But there's a twinkle in House's eye, and it's her party after all – she deserves a bit of fun every now and then.

'You're on,' she says.

The guests can wait.

*

Comments

[thirdblindmouse.livejournal.com]

I like it. If you want any concrit, I'd point out that it was a bit uneventful...I'd want more of what happens after she decides to hang with the boys (not that that doesn't work as a good ending).

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

Hee, thank you so much. It *is* uneventful - I sat down and wrote whatever came to my mind. Hence, no plot. I *could* use it as a sort of prequel to a H/W/C I've been wanting to write for a while now... maybe.

[zulu]

Me, I like that it ends there. It works as a story: set up, problem, resolution--and it's funny and in character besides. Plus, you leave it up to our imaginations what happens next. I think it works. For my bit o' concrit, I'd say: I thought it was House's dialogue that started the second section, but it was a donor's--that was unclear. And, hmm, the colon after 'Cuddy raises an eyebrow' doesn't seem necessary. I think a period might work better. All in all: big bunches of aww! and Cuddy, how are you so awesome? Nicely done.

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

I'd say: I thought it was House's dialogue that started the second section, but it was a donor's--that was unclear.

I was going for boring dialogue, but you're right - House could've made a Cleopatra crack. Hmm. And I *have* been over-using the colons, haven't I? *fixes*

Thank you. *g*

I think it works fine as a stand-alone.

[spud31.livejournal.com]

It's short enough to just be a little look into Cuddy's head.

Re: I think it works fine as a stand-alone.

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

Thank you. *g*

[cs-whitewolf.livejournal.com]

This was quite nice to read, though I would be interested in reading more should you decide to continue it (as you mentioned in a comment above). If not, it's a lovely little view into how these three interact with one another.

Thanks for sharing,
Peace,
CS WhiteWolf

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

Hee. I've actually wanted to write that fic for a long time now, and someday I hope I will (although, given my track record with getting things done...), even if it isn't a sequel. Thank you for reading. :)

[jaybee65.livejournal.com]

I think this works beautifully as a stand-alone piece. You don't need action action action for there to be a coherent and complete story, and I think you provided one.

I was initially confused by the Cleopatra remark, too! My initial reaction was "Hee! That's such perfect House dialogue!" and then I went, "Oh, wait!" Heh. You could make it work very nicely, though, by having her think to herself that it's bad enough that she has to keep an eye on House, but now her nitwit guests are channeling him. Or something along those lines. That way you could keep the dialogue as is (because it is quite funny and thus worth saving), clear up who it is who's talking, *and* add additional snark. *g*

I love your writing. I wish you would do more!

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

You could make it work very nicely, though, by having her think to herself that it's bad enough that she has to keep an eye on House, but now her nitwit guests are channeling him.

Ooh! But now I want it to be a House line, just so Cuddy can snark back at him by asking him to come as Captain Ahab. Hmm.

And I do write more, you know. I just don't finish them that much. *facepalm*

Thanks. *g*

[sk56.livejournal.com]

I don't know the show, but this hangs together character-wise and event-wise. Having been to enough meet and greet fundraisers, this feels very true -- especially the pool on who's hooking up!

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

Thank you. *g* And watch the show! It's teh awesome!

[ijemanja.livejournal.com]

This really made me smile. I love Cuddy. I love your Cuddy! Why dn't you write more often? Especially if this is what you come up with. The voices and tone of the characters is perfect - in particular, I think, Cuddy and the way she sees the boys. Short and sweet and very enjoyable. :)

And to throw my two cents in - the ending is abrupt, but in a way that's full of promise. Like we know this could just be the start of things, and we're happy for Cuddy because we know she's going to enjoy herself? I don't find it lacking, in other words.

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you liked my Cuddy - coming from you, that's reassuring indeed. I love her too! *g* And it's not that I don't write more often, I just don't get around to finishing them much. *blush*