The first thing that strikes you about Dr Gregory House is the intense blue of his eyes as he glares at you from beneath furrowed brows. The second thing you notice is the scowl that seems to be permanently set in the lines of his mouth. There are other lines on his face, the faint laugh lines around his eyes, the deeper lines around his mouth etched from pain, frown lines on his forehead, those mainly due to the perpetual puzzling going on inside his head. But if you take the time to look a little closer, you will see the merest glimmer of humour, hidden deep in those blue eyes. They say sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, but in Dr House's case, it is just a hint of the true wit that lies within.
The awkward gait, caused by atrophied leg and cane alike, emphasise the muscles in his arms and shoulders, and does nothing to detract from the innate sexiness that surrounds the diagnostic genius. Sandy hair, although thinning and untidy, lend a little-boy-lost appeal to the rugged face. Dressed in jeans and shirt, he appears to the casual observer nothing more than an unkempt, grumpy, middle aged loner, shunning friendship and relationships in favour of his work. Even those close to him, those who consider him a friend, find it difficult to work their way under the prickly exterior to find the true person beneath.
Although he tries to appear indifferent and unfeeling towards his patients specifically, and people in general, his compassionate nature is unable to be completely hidden beneath the layers of sarcasm and cruelly pointed barbs directed at those around him. He shows gentleness at times when it is totally unexpected, yet is most often indescribably brutal at times when his gentleness is most needed.
Those who know him best, those few that have glimpsed his inner self, know that his callousness and petulance are nothing more than a protective mechanism, a way to hide from the pain of real life, of emotions and feelings wrought from allowing people into his heart.
To his patients, the ones he has cured against all odds, he is a gruff, obnoxious figure with almost god like stature amongst his peers. His methods are often risky and sometimes illegal, but his results speak loudly for themselves, pronouncing to all that Dr House is the best in his field. Amongst his colleagues, his arrogance is legendary, as are his tenacity and unorthodox methods.