T'eyla ([info]t_eyla) wrote in [info]house_wilson,
@ 2007-05-20 15:15:00
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Entry tags:fic rating: pg, fic warning: ofc

Fic: Can I Call You James?
Title: Can I Call You James?
Author: T'eyla
Rating: All ages
Beta: [info]tli and the lovely peeps on my flist
Genre: General
Word count: ~700
Disclaimer: I asked David Shore whether I could have them. He sent me a "Get sane" t-shirt.
Notes: I wrote a ficlet about the name issue ;)! This is a Wilson fic, but House does play a role in it. I might write a companion piece, if I can think of one. Enjoy!

Can I Call You James?
by T'eyla

"Can I call you James?"

Wilson looks at the woman across from him. She's young - younger than him, anyway - and has beautiful reddish-blonde hair. Her eyes have this weird thing going on, like they can't decide whether to be blue or green or grey, and she has a nice smile. It's not all that surprising that he ended up having lunch with her. She's smart and funny, too.

He almost wants to tell her, no, please, don't call me James. "Sure," he says, smiling at her.

She continues to talk, but Wilson's mind is elsewhere. He's thinking about his name, James Evan Wilson. Not a particularly remarkable name - not John Smith, but not Tiberius van der Ghast, either. There's the thing about the initials, which he admittedly never noticed until House pointed it out to him in one of their first conversations. Other than that, it's a name that goes well with his normal face, his normal haircut and his normal job.

Before he met House, he'd been James to his friends and family, Wilson to his colleagues, and the nice doctor with the pretty smile to his patients. Then House had barged into his life, and the issue of his name had turned into a complicated science. The family still calls him James, which is the way he likes it. However, since he met House, he's not so sure about what friends should call him.

House doesn't call him James. Wilson doesn't want him to. James, that's for the people who see his pretty smile, his normal hair-cut and his lab-coat. House calls him Wilson. Or, on rare occasions, he calls him Jimmy, which he hasn't been called since he had a pre-teenage shouting match with his mom about the issue. No one calls the great James Wilson "Jimmy". Except that with House, Jimmy is okay. Wilson can be Jimmy to House, he likes being Jimmy to House from time to time. It makes him feel like he's fourteen again, and twenty years after the end of puberty, James Wilson realizes that being fourteen is not such a bad thing.

Jimmy Wilson, that's not the well-adjusted, secure doctor with the pretty smile and the lab-coat. Jimmy Wilson, that's the guy who drives a Volvo because his first wife, who he has been divorced from for over ten years, said it was a good car. It's the guy who really, genuinely likes the taste of broccoli and doesn't eat it just because it's healthy. Jimmy Wilson loves to sprawl on House's living room couch, drink beer and watch a ton of bad movies in rapid succession, and - even though this is something he will never tell House - he likes cooking for House, because House is the only one who ever really gives him the feeling that the gesture is being appreciated. In short, Jimmy Wilson is the guy James Wilson becomes when he sheds the skin of the pretty doctor with the nice smile.

But if that's so, then why, he asks himself, why is it that he's only Jimmy Wilson to House? He should be Jimmy Wilson to everybody except patients and colleagues. He should have been Jimmy Wilson to his wives, and if the woman across from him is going to be his next girlfriend, she probably shouldn't start calling him James.

Wilson flinches as his pager goes off. He smiles apologetically and checks the display. It reads: 911 BORED!

A broad smile starts to spread on his face, but he stops it before the woman across from him can see it. He looks up, displaying his most worried expression. "I'm sorry," he said, sounding like he's genuinely sorry to cut short the conversation. "I'm going to have to take this."

"Of course!" she says, nodding. "Don't let me keep you, James. I know how busy you are."

He answers her smile, and hopes that she will figure that it only looks as fake as it feels because his mind is being occupied by the alleged emergency.

As he walks away, he pretends not to notice the slightly wistful look she is giving him. He does feel a little relieved, though. This way, at least he saves himself another painful break-up.

 

AN: This ficlet now has a companion piece by [info]wihluta! ::click::


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[info]misanthropicobs
2007-05-20 01:37 pm UTC (link)
I liked this, it really makes it apparent that can only be himself with House, something I feel that is absolutely requred by Wilson. He needs being able to shed the facade of the pretty boy doctor and being the "good" one. The relationship between House and Wilson is not at all one-sided, both gain from it and that isn't something that is shown often.

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[info]t_eyla
2007-05-20 05:11 pm UTC (link)
The relationship between House and Wilson is not at all one-sided

Totally agree! Wilson needs House just as much as House needs Wilson. Neither wants to admit it, though. That's the whole beauty of their relationship ^^.

Thank you for reading & commenting! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]velvet_midnight
2007-05-20 02:47 pm UTC (link)
This was a really interesting look into the name issue. It's interesting how a name can make a difference in how someone acts. I like this one.

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[info]t_eyla
2007-05-20 05:15 pm UTC (link)
Thank you :).

I always thought it to be very interesting to see how people call themselves. Or how they introduce themselves to different kinds of people. It gets especially interesting when you know two different people with the same name. Each variation of that name will mean something completely different to each of them.
*gg*

Glad you enjoyed, and thanks for the feedback! :)

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[info]thebirdmachine
2007-05-20 03:30 pm UTC (link)
This was so good. I love fics about House and Wilson's delisuonal relationship :)


And I like broccoli too! <3

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[info]t_eyla
2007-05-20 05:16 pm UTC (link)
Eep, broccoli! Way too healthy *gg*.

I'm glad you liked it! Thanks for leaving feedback :).

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]suggsygirl
2007-05-20 03:48 pm UTC (link)
I thought this was really well thought out and well-written and I enjoyed reading it!

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[info]t_eyla
2007-05-20 05:16 pm UTC (link)
Thank you! :) I'm happy you thought it was well-written *blush* :).

Thanks for leaving a comment!

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[info]geekygecko
2007-05-20 04:20 pm UTC (link)
Aw, this was sweet. I really enjoyed it! Wilson's thoughts always seem to be of House, no matter who he's with at the time. :)

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[info]t_eyla
2007-05-20 05:18 pm UTC (link)
Well, that's because Wilson's madly in love with House... *happily grins and peers at you through her slash goggles*

I'm happy you enjoyed the fic! Thanks for leaving feedback :).

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[info]housepiglet
2007-05-20 05:40 pm UTC (link)
I love this little story :) I love the way you've categorised the various uses of his name - v. accurately, it seems to me - and that only House is close enough to call him Jimmy. I love the way you've written it, too :)

:::mems:::

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[info]t_eyla
2007-05-20 06:06 pm UTC (link)
Heh, thanks :). Especially for the meming. I'm glad you enjoyed it :).

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[info]arwydd
2007-05-20 08:56 pm UTC (link)
Hahahaha - your icon!! XD

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[info]housepiglet
2007-05-20 09:03 pm UTC (link)
*g* Thanks :) I confess it makes me cry with laughter!

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[info]les_mis_24601
2007-05-20 06:36 pm UTC (link)
Hahaha! This is really good. Very insightfull. Are you gonna write sequal about why House calls him Jimmy?

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[info]t_eyla
2007-05-20 06:55 pm UTC (link)
Heh, nice idea. Actually, I was thinking about writing a companion piece about what Wilson calls House. Hmmm. Will have to think about this.

Thanks for reading and commenting!

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]les_mis_24601
2007-05-20 07:15 pm UTC (link)
No prob.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]les_mis_24601
2007-05-20 07:15 pm UTC (link)
No prob. Cant wait!

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[info]chwheeler
2007-05-20 07:14 pm UTC (link)
I really liked this. It was very well written and managed to be insightful without being blindingly dull. Good job!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]t_eyla
2007-05-20 07:27 pm UTC (link)
Heh, thanks! I was afraid it might be a little dull. Relieved to hear it's not :).

Thanks for reading and commenting!

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]phoenixangel13
2007-05-20 07:45 pm UTC (link)
this was great =D. i love how it shows that wilson is only his real self with house. i think everyone needs at least one person who is their escape like that.

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[info]t_eyla
2007-05-20 07:55 pm UTC (link)
i think everyone needs at least one person who is their escape like that.

I agree. Especially Wilson, because he's just so not himself most of the time.

Thanks for leaving feedback! I'm glad you liked it :).

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]phoenixangel13
2007-05-20 08:01 pm UTC (link)
yeah, he puts on a fake face for everyone, and that would build up and build up after a while. and people wonder why he's on antidepressants... lol. what's sad is that people do that all the time in real life.

no prob =)

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[info]wihluta
2007-05-20 07:54 pm UTC (link)
I already told you that I liked it very much! I'm just commenting again to say I'm glad other people liked it to, 'cause I think it's a really good piece. :-)

*how's smutty sunday going?...* *grins*

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[info]t_eyla
2007-05-20 07:57 pm UTC (link)
Heh, thanks for the double-comment :)!

Eeep. 669 words so far *ducks*. Porny words, though ^^.

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[info]wihluta
2007-05-20 08:10 pm UTC (link)
ah well, no ducking required... :-) I'm patiently waiting until you've finished it. No pressure intended.

*is glad to be at mum's place still... internet 24/7, yay!!*

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[info]t_eyla
2007-05-21 01:43 am UTC (link)
Still there? I'm done. Done with the fic, and done with smut. Not gonna write any smut EVER again. Gah... ^^

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[info]arwydd
2007-05-20 08:59 pm UTC (link)
This was awesome! I enjoyed the naming insight and how Wilson can only be himself around House. I think it's because House already has no illusions towards the human race and so there are no expectations for Wilson to live up to with him.

Thanks! :)

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[info]t_eyla
2007-05-20 10:00 pm UTC (link)
You're very welcome :). Thank you for reading and commenting. I'm glad you enjoyed it :).

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]brown_polyester
2007-05-20 10:26 pm UTC (link)
twenty years after the end of puberty, James Wilson realizes that being fourteen is not such a bad thing.

Such a great line! So true!

he likes cooking for House, because House is the only one who ever really gives him the feeling that the gesture is being appreciated.

Isn't it funny how House works so hard never to show appreciation but Wilson knows him well enough to see it?

This is cute! The only thing that bugged me was that Wilson didn't noticed the initials thing until House pointed it out. People use their initials all the time, and even if he was a seven-year-old writing his initials on his pencil box, I feel like he probably would have noticed. But maybe that's just me. I have several friends who have nicknames from the words their initials spell (or some variation). But I still like it a lot!

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[info]t_eyla
2007-05-20 11:02 pm UTC (link)
Isn't it funny how House works so hard never to show appreciation but Wilson knows him well enough to see it?

Yes, I love that part about Wilson: he sees right through House (most of the time, anyway ;) ).

I guess the thing about the initials is different with every person. I'd have to think about what my initials are ^^ (at least when I include my middle names).

Thanks for reading and commenting! I'm glad you enjoyed it :).

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]beandelphiki
2007-05-22 02:06 am UTC (link)
But a lot of people don't include their middle initials - I don't think I ever have. If Wilson only ever bothered to write down "J.W." it's possible he may not have noticed.

House, naturally, would notice immediately. Heh.

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(Anonymous)
2007-05-20 10:44 pm UTC (link)
Evan is soooooooo not Jewish

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[info]t_eyla
2007-05-20 10:57 pm UTC (link)
It's canon, though. It's on his graduation thingy he keeps on the shelf behind his desk in his season 1 office.

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[info]beandelphiki
2007-05-22 02:15 am UTC (link)
Besides being canon, it's one of those names which was derived from another name, which was derived from another name, etc., and you can easily trace it back to Hebrew if you want to get really nitpicky.

*shrugs* Besides, "James" is a derivation as well...

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[info]brown_polyester
2007-05-23 12:29 am UTC (link)
Not all Jewish people have traditionally Jewish names! And a lot of names used in the Western world now can be traced to Hebrew names or derivations of Hebrew names (which is somewhat redundant, no? Derivations of Hebrew names can be traced to Hebrew names, so... yeah).

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]arwen_kenobi
2007-05-21 12:56 am UTC (link)
Well done and a great idea!

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[info]t_eyla
2007-05-21 01:41 am UTC (link)
Thank you :). I'm very glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for leaving feedback!

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Nice !
(Anonymous)
2007-05-21 08:02 am UTC (link)
Well written and very much IC. He just cannot help being the nice guy, even if he does not want to be, even while his thoughts and feelings revolve around House. Made me happy and contemplative (as to what kind of push he would need to drop the facade, House-wise and in general).
Thanks for sharing,
Jo

-sorry for the anon, still don't have an LJ account-

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: Nice !
[info]t_eyla
2007-05-21 11:02 am UTC (link)
as to what kind of push he would need to drop the facade

*plot bunnies wiggling their noses* ;)

Thank you! I'm very happy you enjoyed it, and especially happy that you thought it was IC. :) *futile attempt to shoo away the plot bunnies*

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[info]beandelphiki
2007-05-22 02:31 am UTC (link)
I really like this reflection on what Wilson thinks of the name issue, particularly this paragraph:

But if that's so, then why, he asks himself, why is it that he's only Jimmy Wilson to House? He should be Jimmy Wilson to everybody except patients and colleagues. He should have been Jimmy Wilson to his wives, and if the woman across from him is going to be his next girlfriend, she probably shouldn't start calling him James.

I thought it flowed very well, and the last sentence is a zinger.

Also, "911 BORED" is FTW.

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[info]t_eyla
2007-05-22 02:48 am UTC (link)
People spend so much time discussing what they like the characters to be called, I figured it might be interesting to see what the characters (or as of yet only Wilson) themselves have to say about it :).

Thanks for reading and commenting! I'm happy you enjoyed it.

And I love your icon :). H/W = Balcony!Love.

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[info]sess_geek
2007-05-30 08:03 pm UTC (link)
House is sort of looking out for Wilson in this one, not that he knows it. He saves Wilson from "yet another painful break-up." Which seems reversed, but it's not. House and Wilson protect each other equally, but House more secretly.

Great writing and in-character.

~SG~

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[info]t_eyla
2007-05-31 12:11 am UTC (link)
Ha, I like your interpretation! *happy grin*

Thank you :). And thanks for commenting. Glad you enjoyed! :)

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[info]psyko_kittie
2007-06-01 06:37 am UTC (link)
lovely work! :D

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[info]t_eyla
2007-06-01 09:31 am UTC (link)
Thank you :).

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[info]cadeira
2007-12-01 01:59 pm UTC (link)
I just heard the podfic...thank you! what a nice idea!
I read a fic where House was kind of absent and wilson wondered how House always managed to get paged by his duckling when needed without having to tell them beforehand...Guess, House has a pretty good timing here, too.

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[info]t_eyla
2007-12-01 03:52 pm UTC (link)
Hee, House always has good timing. Except when he doesn't want to xD.

Thanks for the feedback! Glad to hear you enjoyed it :).

(Reply to this) (Parent)

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