I don't know. People just did it. I never did, but I think it's another tradition thing.
I went fishing with Fowler back when we got along. Went with my wife a few times. [Never got to take Cole. But that goes without saying, really.] Went as a group with the task unit but that was... fucking years ago. Nobody caught anything. We just got drunk and had a few laughs.
[So yeah. He's been fishing.]
[He finds a place to buy what he needs (and the change of clothes as an aside). Two fishing rods, some fake lures as bait, and that. Hank still has to take off his coat, but he waits until they get to the beach to do that.] Okay, so. I'll get our lines set up. Gotta just... tie on the bobber, and then the hook.... and then bait the hook... [He's saying it as he's doing it, showing Connor as he does, getting his line ready first.]
[And then he steps behind him and puts his hands behind him.]
Okay, so you want about this much line hanging loose to start. Just about a foot to two feet. And this button on the reel? Makes the line go loose and unspool. So what you do? Is you angle the rod back- make sure absolutely no one is in hitting range because taking a hook the earlobe is terrible, and- [Holding his hand over Connor's, he shows him how to push the button and cast out the line, the reel spinning aggressively as the line lands out in the water.]
[Connor watches as Hank explains what to do, and once the line is cast he looks back at Hank.]
So now I just wait?
[He’s set his jacket on top of the cooler for now, not wanting to get it sandy, and he kicks off his shoes after thinking about it and pulls off his socks, feeling the sand between his toes.]
Yep. Well... Maybe every once in a while reeling it in a little. And if there isn't a bite in a while, you cast it out again.
[Hank deals with prepping his own line and removing his own shoes, though he also rolls up his pants legs to about his calves, just in case he needs to step into the surf and fight in a fish of some sort. By the time he's cast, things feel infinitely less odd. He's in a much better mood.]
[It's nice. The sand is sunwarm and fine. The air is clean (but the air seems clean everywhere). It's beautiful. Fake as hell, of course. But beautiful. That lingering music is still strange but he's gotten so he just tunes the shit out. He can ignore Detroit, he can ignore that.]
[He rolls up his own pants and sits heavily in the sand, eyes determined and gaze set somewhere out in the water. He’s going to catch the biggest fish, Hank.
The silence (minus the music) is nice enough, but Connor soon looks over at Hank again.]
So.
[...]
At least it’s not raining.
[Human or android, he’s still going to suck at small talk.]
Is there anything you'd want me to know? [Hank asks, actually not disagreeing that they're friends anymore. Which, at this point, is pretty undeniable. He's called him by that by name often enough.]
Go ahead. Say anything you want. Start with basics. What's the best song you've heard so far?
[He reels in his line slowly, looking at it, but still with most of his attention on Connor. Just enough to keep his lure wiggling in the water. Tubbs, in the meantime, finds a piece of shell off something and he's running around like he found the world's best prize.]
Not even in the car? [He sounds boggled by that. He always listens to metal while at work, he'd have thought Connor could have made it through one song. But then again, they didn't have a lot of time to pay attention.]
Oh... well... I guess that we could try some music here. Maybe they have some good jazz here.
[Pokemon world would not have good metal.]
Well then.... uh.... anything you'd like to do with me? [It'll give him something to plan around.]
You realize you just asked me to learn about you, right? And your end conclusion is to learn about me.
[He motions between them, giving him a little bit of a wincing smile. Connor's trying so hard.]
Well I'm fishing with you. And I like to watch sports. And I like to collect vinyl records but I can't do that here. And I don't know. I've not done shit in years. We'll figure it out I guess.
[He jokes, nodding to the cooler.] Well, I got more than one type. Didn't recognize all the brands, but I don't mind if you open up more than one. I can always drink after you, since you're not putting weird shit in your mouth anymore.
[He casts his line out again, much further this time.]
I'll make us another list, too. Something longer term. 'Stuff for Connor to do to decide whether he likes it or not.'
[But he looks dubious. After all, alcohol is the reason Hank was sprawled out on his kitchen floor covered in his own vomit when Connor found him the other night.]
What kinds of things should we put on there? You'd have to enjoy them, too.
I don't need to enjoy them. It's about figuring out what you like. Not what I like...
[He huffs and begins the slow real in again.]
It's... been a long time since I liked anything. A lot of the things I used to be excited about? I feel something but it's... it's dim. Nothing's been bright in a long time. [Which is more than he's been willing to tell most people.] Fuckin'.... dealing with your shit has been the most uplifting thing I've had going on in a while.
I'm probably not the best person to enjoy things with. But if it means doing something for you, I'll give it a try or at least be there for you. [Maybe poke some gentle fun if it goes terribly wrong.]
[Connor seems unhappy at that, and after reeling in his line again and casting it he scoots a little closer to Hank and nudges him.]
I want you to be happy too, Hank. You’ve been trying hard for me. I don’t know what could make you happy, but if you ever think of something I can do for you, please tell me.
[He finally looks over at Connor again, expression gentle. Gentler than usual, anyway.]
This helps.
[And he feels another weird tug at his chest, a thought choke at his throat, that sort of thing even stronger than what kept him from sharing gratitude on that rooftop. Saying, "someone not giving up on me" means something.]
When you said that you'd be whatever I wanted you to be... You gave me what I wanted. [Okay he's going to look out at the ocean again because fuck this, fuck that, fuck making words, fuck feelings. Just fuck them. He's going to- it's the ocean, okay? What fucking ocean? He doesn't know. Shit probably has a made up name.]
[It's reduced to a wobbling, jelly crisped form as Tubbs breathes fire at it. And Hank is just a little startled by his dog breathing fire to react properly at first.]
[Then he throws a ball, because it seems like a good plan, and it goes right into it.]
Uhhhhh I think that was what I was supposed to do. So, I guess the answer to your question was, yes, we would see Pokemon. Holy shit.
[Tubbs is bringing the ball back and wagging his pom tail! Look at how good a boy he is!]
[He bobs his line a little, then recasts it. He's still sitting close to Hank he realises, and wonders if he should move back or if that would draw attention to it.]
I hope so. I- oh.
[His line gets a tug, though a weak one. He pulls, and out comes an orange fish. It flops uselessly on the sand, not attacking. Magnemite hovers over it and Spinarak approaches, but Connor has a feeling he doesn't even need to weaken it. He pulls out a ball silently, throws it, and the fish goes in. Charlottle rolls the newly caught Magikarp over, and he picks it up and looks at Hank.]
It's called a Magikarp. And about all it does is have a name. But hey! You caught something. [He gestures at the ball that Connor just got.]
Do you want me to do your hook up for you or do you want to do it yourself?
[He's assuming they'll keep going, despite their immediate successes. He doesn't make any effort to move Connor away, if anything, he leans in in case he needs his help, just tilts and angles so when he casts, their lines aren't at risk to be tangled.]
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I went fishing with Fowler back when we got along. Went with my wife a few times. [Never got to take Cole. But that goes without saying, really.] Went as a group with the task unit but that was... fucking years ago. Nobody caught anything. We just got drunk and had a few laughs.
[So yeah. He's been fishing.]
[He finds a place to buy what he needs (and the change of clothes as an aside). Two fishing rods, some fake lures as bait, and that. Hank still has to take off his coat, but he waits until they get to the beach to do that.] Okay, so. I'll get our lines set up. Gotta just... tie on the bobber, and then the hook.... and then bait the hook... [He's saying it as he's doing it, showing Connor as he does, getting his line ready first.]
[And then he steps behind him and puts his hands behind him.]
Okay, so you want about this much line hanging loose to start. Just about a foot to two feet. And this button on the reel? Makes the line go loose and unspool. So what you do? Is you angle the rod back- make sure absolutely no one is in hitting range because taking a hook the earlobe is terrible, and- [Holding his hand over Connor's, he shows him how to push the button and cast out the line, the reel spinning aggressively as the line lands out in the water.]
Like that.
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So now I just wait?
[He’s set his jacket on top of the cooler for now, not wanting to get it sandy, and he kicks off his shoes after thinking about it and pulls off his socks, feeling the sand between his toes.]
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[Hank deals with prepping his own line and removing his own shoes, though he also rolls up his pants legs to about his calves, just in case he needs to step into the surf and fight in a fish of some sort. By the time he's cast, things feel infinitely less odd. He's in a much better mood.]
[It's nice. The sand is sunwarm and fine. The air is clean (but the air seems clean everywhere). It's beautiful. Fake as hell, of course. But beautiful. That lingering music is still strange but he's gotten so he just tunes the shit out. He can ignore Detroit, he can ignore that.]
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[He rolls up his own pants and sits heavily in the sand, eyes determined and gaze set somewhere out in the water. He’s going to catch the biggest fish, Hank.
The silence (minus the music) is nice enough, but Connor soon looks over at Hank again.]
So.
[...]
At least it’s not raining.
[Human or android, he’s still going to suck at small talk.]
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[He creases his brows at Connor, smiling warmly.]
But I'm not a fish so I'm enjoying being dry.
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[He looks out at the water, kind of tempted to splash his feet in it.]
So now that we’re better friends, maybe there’s something else you’d like to know about me?
[Rather than “yeah why do you look so goofy”.]
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Go ahead. Say anything you want. Start with basics. What's the best song you've heard so far?
[He reels in his line slowly, looking at it, but still with most of his attention on Connor. Just enough to keep his lure wiggling in the water. Tubbs, in the meantime, finds a piece of shell off something and he's running around like he found the world's best prize.]
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[He frowns to himself.]
I haven’t really heard much music. I don’t think I’ve heard any songs all the way through.
[Unless you count this repeating music, which is starting to get on his nerves.]
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Oh... well... I guess that we could try some music here. Maybe they have some good jazz here.
[Pokemon world would not have good metal.]
Well then.... uh.... anything you'd like to do with me? [It'll give him something to plan around.]
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[He tries to smile, well aware that he's not really giving Hank much to go on.]
So what do you like to do, Lieutenant?
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[He motions between them, giving him a little bit of a wincing smile. Connor's trying so hard.]
Well I'm fishing with you. And I like to watch sports. And I like to collect vinyl records but I can't do that here. And I don't know. I've not done shit in years. We'll figure it out I guess.
So what's the best part of being a human so far?
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[He sighs. He wishes he was more interesting, but Hank has him beat there. After all, how interesting are three month old humans?]
Maybe just exploring together will be fun.
[He rests his chin in his hand, trying not to look too dejected by how badly he's screwing this up.]
Well, I like eating. But I haven't experienced much yet, have I?
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[He jokes, nodding to the cooler.] Well, I got more than one type. Didn't recognize all the brands, but I don't mind if you open up more than one. I can always drink after you, since you're not putting weird shit in your mouth anymore.
[He casts his line out again, much further this time.]
I'll make us another list, too. Something longer term. 'Stuff for Connor to do to decide whether he likes it or not.'
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[But he looks dubious. After all, alcohol is the reason Hank was sprawled out on his kitchen floor covered in his own vomit when Connor found him the other night.]
What kinds of things should we put on there? You'd have to enjoy them, too.
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[He huffs and begins the slow real in again.]
It's... been a long time since I liked anything. A lot of the things I used to be excited about? I feel something but it's... it's dim. Nothing's been bright in a long time. [Which is more than he's been willing to tell most people.] Fuckin'.... dealing with your shit has been the most uplifting thing I've had going on in a while.
I'm probably not the best person to enjoy things with. But if it means doing something for you, I'll give it a try or at least be there for you. [Maybe poke some gentle fun if it goes terribly wrong.]
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I want you to be happy too, Hank. You’ve been trying hard for me. I don’t know what could make you happy, but if you ever think of something I can do for you, please tell me.
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This helps.
[And he feels another weird tug at his chest, a thought choke at his throat, that sort of thing even stronger than what kept him from sharing gratitude on that rooftop. Saying, "someone not giving up on me" means something.]
When you said that you'd be whatever I wanted you to be... You gave me what I wanted. [Okay he's going to look out at the ocean again because fuck this, fuck that, fuck making words, fuck feelings. Just fuck them. He's going to- it's the ocean, okay? What fucking ocean? He doesn't know. Shit probably has a made up name.]
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I did?
[He's glad, but he's also not sure what he did.]
I meant it, you know.
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[His line is pulling, and he's reeling it in, but it appears to be a 'war of the worlds' style walking jellyfish.]
The fuck am I catching a tentacle monster for?!
[Suddenly Tubbs is on the job, ready to douse that thing in some extra fire as soon as it's on land.]
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[Connor is still frowning at the thing, though. Crockett floats over too, while Connor scans it with his Gear.]
It's called a Tentacool.
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[It's reduced to a wobbling, jelly crisped form as Tubbs breathes fire at it. And Hank is just a little startled by his dog breathing fire to react properly at first.]
[Then he throws a ball, because it seems like a good plan, and it goes right into it.]
Uhhhhh I think that was what I was supposed to do. So, I guess the answer to your question was, yes, we would see Pokemon. Holy shit.
[Tubbs is bringing the ball back and wagging his pom tail! Look at how good a boy he is!]
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[Still, he brightens up.]
You caught your first pokemon, though. Now we both have two. What are you going to name it?
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Don't know. I'll figure it out later. [How he's spent today: Catching a tentacle monster. Sentences he never expected.]
Keep trying. There's probably something.
[He'll have to redo his own hook though, in the meantime.]
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I hope so. I- oh.
[His line gets a tug, though a weak one. He pulls, and out comes an orange fish. It flops uselessly on the sand, not attacking. Magnemite hovers over it and Spinarak approaches, but Connor has a feeling he doesn't even need to weaken it. He pulls out a ball silently, throws it, and the fish goes in. Charlottle rolls the newly caught Magikarp over, and he picks it up and looks at Hank.]
I don't know what I just caught.
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It's called a Magikarp. And about all it does is have a name. But hey! You caught something. [He gestures at the ball that Connor just got.]
Do you want me to do your hook up for you or do you want to do it yourself?
[He's assuming they'll keep going, despite their immediate successes. He doesn't make any effort to move Connor away, if anything, he leans in in case he needs his help, just tilts and angles so when he casts, their lines aren't at risk to be tangled.]
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