(Speaking of fannish miscues, I read your first line and thought, "But House has been over for the season for a while now.")
where to begin to do the research for RPF
I think that's part of it, though: I've done very little research with RPF. Making sure the characters actually were in that place at that time (or could have been)? Maybe. But if it doesn't work, whatever. Or that the characterization is right? Again, sure, but it's not like you have any significant amount of canon to parse. Youtube clips, or print interviews are just about all you have (or remembered interactions, for some people).
And AU RPF really is, in a lot of ways, "I'll be using this body and character background for my own nefarious purposes, thank you very much." Because you can use characterizations, but they seem like doubly-removed from the actual person. This is them, if they were someone else completely doing something else completely.
no subject
where to begin to do the research for RPF
I think that's part of it, though: I've done very little research with RPF. Making sure the characters actually were in that place at that time (or could have been)? Maybe. But if it doesn't work, whatever. Or that the characterization is right? Again, sure, but it's not like you have any significant amount of canon to parse. Youtube clips, or print interviews are just about all you have (or remembered interactions, for some people).
And AU RPF really is, in a lot of ways, "I'll be using this body and character background for my own nefarious purposes, thank you very much." Because you can use characterizations, but they seem like doubly-removed from the actual person. This is them, if they were someone else completely doing something else completely.
But then, we've discussed my own issues with RPF.