vicodincrutch | Dial Tone

Nothing. This is what I do.

[ One gloved hand reaches down to grab the oncologist by the scruff of his collar, preparing to drag him in and dump him wherever there's water and a tub. Besides the eventual rope burns, Wilson just appears worn, weary, and a little scraped up with bruises and scratches here and there. Oh, and his clothes are torn. A small price for being rescued and dragged across the city. ]

Now are you going to open the door, or are we gonna stand here and waste air? I don't want to have to knock him out again.

Don't bother. You might induce cranial damage. How many times did you put him out?

Hit a pressure point, not his head. I'm not that clumsy.

[ She spits back her retort, sending him another smoldering glare as she starts to drag Wilson across the hallway carpet and into the home of House. See that grocery bag hidden behind Wilson's body just a second ago?

Five huge cans of salt. Enough salt to be part of Costco's inventory. ]

Where's your tub?

When you say knock out it implies knocking.

Up the hall to the right.

What's the story. He took your candy?

Stop fussing over pointless details.

[ And a blade to parry that challenge. She's not in the mood for excessive banter now that she's got a clear plan in mind. And Mindy dares you to try, House. Just try popping that needle in her.

Also, Dr. Wilson's body is making a fine melody of carpet friction as its dragged up the hallway and toward the bathroom. ]

I already said it- this is what I do. Save all your sorry asses, that's what.

Out of the goodness of your heart.

Your brand of help wouldn't happen to stem from any sense of personal responsibility. Oh no.

[ And yet, is that Mindy taking a recently sharpened pocket knife? Why, yes it is. Once Wilson hits the bathroom floor, she slips it out with a flash and makes a single slash to cut the binding and gag around his face. The rope binding his legs and arms will stay for safety. ]

Yeah, that's it. [ Dry. ] Sounds like a new concept for you, huh?

[ Part of it undeniably stems from personal responsibility, a desire to clean up her act and get back on track after the slug's possession of her body. Even if it wasn't exactly her fault. The other part stems from the fact that this is what she does. She's a superhero; she saves poor helpless idiots from distress. ]

Edited 2010-07-30 17:00 (UTC)

Sleeper hold?

[There are a few moments after the material is cut from his face in which he remains still and limp on the bathroom floor; then, his head rolls to a side. It could just be an uncontrolled flop, if it weren't for the low groan that accompanies it.

His brow furrows as he opens his eyes slightly, blinking at the bathroom floor. Well, that's not good. At least not for the entity currently in control of this oncologist. The ropes are tugged slightly as it tests its bonds, then mutters angrily to itself.]

Shit.

[It may not be eloquent, but it effectively summarizes the slug's assessment of the situation.]

[ Honed reflexes nearly drives her to land another jab at that pressure point on Wilson's neck, catching herself a hair away from impact. Let House have his own way. And it's his friend; maybe letting him have his way will mean less bitching.

Okay.

She'll wait for House to jab the needle in, but for now she's sticking two gloved fingers in both ears in the high likelihood that the slug will attempt an escape. ]

Do it now, asshole. You wanna do it your way, then you're going to have to be quick.

[ It's called hard-work, dedication, and aptitude. Does she look like she's on steroids?

As House takes the wheel, she accommodates to his lead with no complaints, moving her hands aside as he pulls them away from Wilson's ears. If the slug escapes, she'll go for a gun or a knife. Easy enough, as long as House doesn't scream.

Now Mindy knows which doctor she'll go to if there's ever an emergency. Hospitals are never discreet. ]

Will it work? Dumping him into salt water?

[ The doctor probably knows better. ]

[As he gains awareness, Wilson begins struggling; there's too much attention focused on his head, with the finger ear plugs and all in place, for him to get any real range of motion there, but he's tugging at the ropes with his limbs.

Of course, then his head is pulled to a side as House injects the drug. He cries out; not in pain, but in anger, and pulls against his bindings violently. He can infer what that was; the slug hasn't been inclined to take much care of Wilson's body beyond what's strictly necessary to keep it up to digging standards, so there's not a lot of energy or food to speak of, but he's not out yet and fighting to keep consciousness.

Was that doubt, infuriating superhero girl? He shoots her a nasty glare.]

My what an elegant plan. Are you hoping to drown him while you're at it?

It should.

Looks like you could use way more salt.

And she wouldn't be drowning you. I would be. Seniority wins out.

[ She adds another unceremonious shove following House's cane act, replacing what could have been a relatively gentle plop into a hard shove into the bathtub wall that splashes them all. She had started the tub before the talking began; it's only half full at this point, and still untainted by Morton's best. ]

Is he always like this, Dr. House? [ A smirk. ] Talking too much.

[ Mindy steps back to let the doctor take full control. She'd be here as back up if things managed to somehow get out of hand. It shouldn't. Those ropes are tied impossibly tight, not your usual slipshod job. ]

You wouldn't want elegant from me, Mr. Slug. I'd mow you down in a single, clean shot.

Edited 2010-08-02 00:03 (UTC)

[Without the addition of the salt, this situation is nothing more than slightly annoying. Untainted water would typically be beneficial; this slug knows, at this point, that it isn't going to stay that way. The possibility of escape has occurred, of course, but it's been quickly dismissed, based on certainty that it would end in no less certain death. Sorry, that means his only option left is to annoy you for as long as he can.]

Go ahead. If you're lucky, you might graze me.

[Please have an obnoxious little smile.]

Or I can start holding my breath now, if you want a head start on that drowning.

[Never mind the fact that he's starting to feel the effect of the drugs.]

He's usually more fun. More of a pushover.

I'll give you a breathing cue. Too bad you've never been baptized it would be useful practice.

And I'll make sure he breaths, if the bastard plays any stupid tricks.

[ She makes a grab for another container, slipping out a bigger knife from her holster to slice horizontally through the top of the container. It all pours out in an instant.

Haste, careful haste, comes first in a situation like this, mocking aside. ]

The salt's gotta be good for his skin, at least?

[Well shit.

Scowling at his captors, his effort is now split; he's focusing on keeping his ears above the water level, and on staying conscious. It's starting to prove difficult, though he's trying to not let on to that fact.

Think you can force someone to breathe? He's willing to test that, exhaling fully and then stopping. This slug knows it's the end of the line; might as well try to take someone with him.]

Hey!

Knock it off.

[ She commends you for that slap, House. It's exactly what she would have done. And what she will do if that wasn't enough to get his body breathing again. Maybe with a elbow to the stomach and a hand to force his jaw open, next time around.

Meanwhile though, she's emptying out all the cans she brought with her fast-- a lot-- enough to raise the salinity of the bathwater to unbearable levels. Ever tried gurgling salt water? Disgusting. ]

Why does it take so fucking long? I could have had him out in a second!

[Well, after that dunk and the rising salinity of the water, the slug's definitely losing its grip. The slap is enough to get him breathing, shooting House one last glare before control slips.

And then Wilson slumps - without the slug exerting its will on him, he's just anesthetized, so he essentially dunks himself conveniently into the salt water... which is enough to get the slug out of his ear. Not that where it's going is any less lethal, of course.]

[ Mindy's resisting every inclination to snatch it out of the tub and let it squish beneath her boot. But that'd be ruining the current show for the both of them.

Patience is a virtue. ]

Cool! [ An exclamation, clearly at the invertebrate. ] When will he wake up?

[Unconscious or not, Wilson's reflexes are intact enough that what little water did get inhaled is coughed out.

The slug, meanwhile, is twisting violently in the water, fighting to reach an edge, but it's clearly a battle that's already lost. As is evidenced by its visibly withering body.]

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