[Hank lightly tosses Connor the human food bag, with one of those increasingly frequent smiles.] Yeah, you've both been throwing your all into it.
[And then he takes the time to set out bowls of food for the Pokemon, glad to go into his usual duties of taking care of things, at least. That feels like a nice callback to the man he used to be, even if it's not quite enough. He's working on it, though, finding a foothold. Little by little.]
[He finishes up with that and finally goes to give Connor a decent welcome-home kiss, putting an arm around his back and reeling him close.]
[Connor watches fondly as Hank sets about feeding the pokemon, and smiles wide as Hank pulls him close. He winds his arms around his shoulders, and is just getting into it when he hears a strange sort of noise. A soft one, but enough to make him pull back slightly.
Charlotte had taken a few nibbles from her food, and is now glowing white. He blinks and watches as the white shape transforms and grows larger, much larger- and then when she stops glowing, there’s an entirely different pokemon in her place. She lets out a happy screech, and Connor looks between her and Hank.]
[Hank stares over at the now much larger Pokemon. Just... blankly. Even if he's still holding onto Connor, it's almost like he's forgotten he's there, because he's never seen shit like that before ever. What the fuck was that? Oh yeah, an evolution. Still. What the hell?]
[Then Tubbs looks up from his food bowl, licks Charlotte's face, and goes back to eating. Like not a damn thing changed.]
[Finally Hank looks back to Connor, perplexed, still not having said a thing. And even made worse by the fact Tubbs and Hunter and Luann simply didn't seem to care.]
Connor, is there a way to predict that? Because if you fuckin' manage to evolve your fuckin' fish but do it inside pretty sure you'll find the one way to kill us in this place.
[This is a legitimate concern, because he is actually expecting Connor to try and level up that Magikarp. Please tell him it has to be in the ocean to actually change or something.]
They evolve at certain levels. I suppose Charlotte grew to a high enough level, but needed the energy from her food to evolve. I wasn’t paying attention to the exact level she was. I should have known she’d evolve soon.
[Still, he looks up at Hank.]
I promise I won’t bring the Magikarp inside before it evolves.
Thank you, Connor. I really appreciate it. [No lapfish, please. And the gratitude is sadly genuine. He's figured out that this is a very real risk in giving Connor access to combat monsters.]
[But he leans in and nudges his nose.]
Go make sure your... giant spider is fine... What are they called when they get that big again?
[And he moves away to bend down by the pokemon and pat it a few times, murmuring to it. She screeches again in response, but it seems to be a friendly one.]
So I guess that'll be happening to mine eventually, too...
[And Hank... has been doing a poor job of judging their actual levels, despite training them. He goes to check his notebook, to see how far along some of them are.]
I have no doubt that you will. You wouldn't leave a mission half finished. Just take your time. I think this is the one place where you can enjoy there being no rush.
[He leans down and in, tipping his head so he can line up into a gentle kiss.]
[And his mission here is to be a great trainer. Also to make Hank happy though, and he likes to think he’s doing well in that department too. He leans into the kiss, cupping Hank’s jaw and giving a pleased hum.]
[Because he doesn't have a lot of aspirations. He's not planning on facing the gym leaders or becoming a magnificent trainer. He's still trying to find a way that he can just help people.]
[He puts his hands on Connor's shoulders, though, looking at him earnestly.]
Right now, my mission is you. [Which isn't meant to be a token answer, but the truth.]
God, gotta ask me the rough questions. Um... [He stops and pinches between his eyes as he tries to think of how to put it.]
You got... put here, forcibly, into an unfamiliar body. So first thing I did was try to make that as painless as possible. And then I realized that- [He makes a gesture at the air, some unseen thing.] -the way I feel. But I didn't know if it would be... right ...when I was your first real friend, for me to do anything about it. When there's so many other people for you to meet in a place where you won't have to prove your worth to them.
[Which is more him explaining his own insecurities. But it does have a point.] So then my mission was to make it so when you did make those friends you'd know what to do.
And I know you want to succeed at this, so I go to work, bring you back any extra money, find out whatever I can so when it comes time, you'll be prepped. So. You're my mission. [Though by that point, that's a little self-conscious.]
[His expression softens and he presses a kiss to Hank’s cheek.]
You have made the transition to human much easier for me. And I appreciate that you’re still looking out for me.
[He goes in for a hug, smiling contentedly. He likes this world, he likes his pokemon, and he likes that he has Hank here with him. That part especially. This wouldn’t feel right without him.]
Part of my mission is to make you happy, too. I hope I’m succeeding.
I'm working on it. I can't rely on you entirely for that. Wouldn't be fuckin' fair of me. But you do help.
[He hugs him back, tipping his cheek against Connor's head and rubbing his back with one hand.]
You're doing alright.
[He misses what he was, when he wasn't a coward and was a good cop. But that's not Connor's fault. That's something that he can't help. But finally he pulls back and clears his throat.]
[Hank looks genuinely surprised for a moment. But then remembers, like somehow he'd forgotten all the times he'd tried to banish Connor to his car and failed to do so. Then suddenly he smiles, knowing fully well the truth. That Connor would absolutely not listen to him if he told him to go and that he'd be better off without him.]
[No matter how convinced Hank is of this.]
I can't figure out how you keep proving me wrong without disappointing me at all. You're a hell of a puzzle.
[He takes his face in his hands and nudges his nose, again, sure of how he feels again.] Your spider is trying to web up the ceiling again.
[He pats Connor's butt to get him to move a little.] I'll go clean it up. It's the least I can do.
[But there's still some warmth in him, happy to have a reassurance like the one Connor gave him. Even if one or the other of them were to disappear, it's nice to have that moment between them. That added little bit of security.]
[He does stop though, like he wants to add something to it. He raises his finger. He considers...]
The timing doesn't feel right. I'll get back to you later on it.
[When he's not grabbing a broom to swipe at the ceiling. It's not a huge mess, fortunately. They caught it early.]
God... Cole would have loved you being around. He could have gotten away with everything.
[That part he says out loud as he sweeps. Chased by the thought that, if things had been just a little different, Connor would have been good parent to help raise him. A sentiment that isn't voiced but might be carried in his previous words.] I can imagine the designated chalk and paint wall now... [He chuckles a little. He needs to move on, he knows it. But he doesn't think it's so bad to consider those nice things.]
Yeah. He'd get it all over his hands. He had slowed down to drawing with pencils but he'd still do sidewalk chalk. Sometimes he'd give me a hug and leave two rainbow handprints on my coat and no one would tell me, and he damn well knew he did in on purpose.
[Hank still sounds very fond, and once he's done he realizes he didn't cover the broom like he should have so he has to clean that, too. Oops.]
He would have liked your coin trick, too.
[And then he just sighs, again remembering those are things that couldn't happen, but it's nice to think about.] The egg salad sandwich in the bag is mine, by the way, if you could get it out for me.
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[And then he takes the time to set out bowls of food for the Pokemon, glad to go into his usual duties of taking care of things, at least. That feels like a nice callback to the man he used to be, even if it's not quite enough. He's working on it, though, finding a foothold. Little by little.]
[He finishes up with that and finally goes to give Connor a decent welcome-home kiss, putting an arm around his back and reeling him close.]
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Charlotte had taken a few nibbles from her food, and is now glowing white. He blinks and watches as the white shape transforms and grows larger, much larger- and then when she stops glowing, there’s an entirely different pokemon in her place. She lets out a happy screech, and Connor looks between her and Hank.]
Um.
[Well then.]
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[Then Tubbs looks up from his food bowl, licks Charlotte's face, and goes back to eating. Like not a damn thing changed.]
[Finally Hank looks back to Connor, perplexed, still not having said a thing. And even made worse by the fact Tubbs and Hunter and Luann simply didn't seem to care.]
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I guess that answers what an evolution looks like. ...Are you okay?
[Because Hank seems a little beyond mystified at the moment.]
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[This is a legitimate concern, because he is actually expecting Connor to try and level up that Magikarp. Please tell him it has to be in the ocean to actually change or something.]
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[Still, he looks up at Hank.]
I promise I won’t bring the Magikarp inside before it evolves.
[And after, because it’ll be too big.]
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[But he leans in and nudges his nose.]
Go make sure your... giant spider is fine... What are they called when they get that big again?
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Ariados. Give me a moment.
[And he moves away to bend down by the pokemon and pat it a few times, murmuring to it. She screeches again in response, but it seems to be a friendly one.]
I think she’s alright.
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[And Hank... has been doing a poor job of judging their actual levels, despite training them. He goes to check his notebook, to see how far along some of them are.]
It'll still be a while, but I need to keep track.
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[He goes back over to Hank, taking his hand and smiling up at him.]
But he’ll get big. Maybe I should evolve my Growlithe eventually too.
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[He leans down and in, tipping his head so he can line up into a gentle kiss.]
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[And his mission here is to be a great trainer. Also to make Hank happy though, and he likes to think he’s doing well in that department too. He leans into the kiss, cupping Hank’s jaw and giving a pleased hum.]
What is your mission here?
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[Because he doesn't have a lot of aspirations. He's not planning on facing the gym leaders or becoming a magnificent trainer. He's still trying to find a way that he can just help people.]
[He puts his hands on Connor's shoulders, though, looking at him earnestly.]
Right now, my mission is you. [Which isn't meant to be a token answer, but the truth.]
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Care to elaborate?
[Tell him all about your priorities and goals regarding him, Hank. He wants to hear them.]
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You got... put here, forcibly, into an unfamiliar body. So first thing I did was try to make that as painless as possible. And then I realized that- [He makes a gesture at the air, some unseen thing.] -the way I feel. But I didn't know if it would be... right ...when I was your first real friend, for me to do anything about it. When there's so many other people for you to meet in a place where you won't have to prove your worth to them.
[Which is more him explaining his own insecurities. But it does have a point.] So then my mission was to make it so when you did make those friends you'd know what to do.
And I know you want to succeed at this, so I go to work, bring you back any extra money, find out whatever I can so when it comes time, you'll be prepped. So. You're my mission. [Though by that point, that's a little self-conscious.]
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You have made the transition to human much easier for me. And I appreciate that you’re still looking out for me.
[He goes in for a hug, smiling contentedly. He likes this world, he likes his pokemon, and he likes that he has Hank here with him. That part especially. This wouldn’t feel right without him.]
Part of my mission is to make you happy, too. I hope I’m succeeding.
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[He hugs him back, tipping his cheek against Connor's head and rubbing his back with one hand.]
You're doing alright.
[He misses what he was, when he wasn't a coward and was a good cop. But that's not Connor's fault. That's something that he can't help. But finally he pulls back and clears his throat.]
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I care about you, Hank. Whatever happens here, you won’t lose me. I promise.
[His gaze is earnest, and he squeezes his hands lightly.]
I won’t leave even if you tell me to.
[No surprise there, when does Connor ever do as he’s told?]
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[No matter how convinced Hank is of this.]
I can't figure out how you keep proving me wrong without disappointing me at all. You're a hell of a puzzle.
[He takes his face in his hands and nudges his nose, again, sure of how he feels again.] Your spider is trying to web up the ceiling again.
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Charlotte... we’re going to have to pay extra again.
[He rummages for her pokeball and brings her back, clipping the ball to his belt.]
I really wish she’d stop doing that.
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[But there's still some warmth in him, happy to have a reassurance like the one Connor gave him. Even if one or the other of them were to disappear, it's nice to have that moment between them. That added little bit of security.]
[He does stop though, like he wants to add something to it. He raises his finger. He considers...]
[Hm.]
Nevermind.
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[He moves when he’s patted, but stops when Hank seems like he wants to say something else.]
What is it?
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[When he's not grabbing a broom to swipe at the ceiling. It's not a huge mess, fortunately. They caught it early.]
God... Cole would have loved you being around. He could have gotten away with everything.
[That part he says out loud as he sweeps. Chased by the thought that, if things had been just a little different, Connor would have been good parent to help raise him. A sentiment that isn't voiced but might be carried in his previous words.] I can imagine the designated chalk and paint wall now... [He chuckles a little. He needs to move on, he knows it. But he doesn't think it's so bad to consider those nice things.]
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I would have loved to meet him. Did he like drawing?
[Kids like drawing and stuff, right? And toys. And... he’s not sure what else.]
We could have made the whole house colourful.
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[Hank still sounds very fond, and once he's done he realizes he didn't cover the broom like he should have so he has to clean that, too. Oops.]
He would have liked your coin trick, too.
[And then he just sighs, again remembering those are things that couldn't happen, but it's nice to think about.] The egg salad sandwich in the bag is mine, by the way, if you could get it out for me.
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