[Connor doesn't think he could stand life without a goal of some kind, at least not yet. The badges fit that description perfectly. As someone who spent his life only following orders, it's freeing to be doing what he wants, too. The fact that Hank is willing to just tag along for the most part is a blessing.
Speaking of blessings, he blinks at the pokeball and looks up at Hank curiously. He's smiling, still high from the success, but he's obviously curious too.]
Thank you. You didn't have to get me anything.
[He already got a few gifts from the gym leader, for winning. The money will keep them comfortable for a little while. He takes the pokeball, and opens it. When the Electrike appears before him, pawing at the ground and ruffing, the curious smile turns into a delighted one.]
[He squeezes Hank in return, content to be held for a few moments. He takes Hank's hands in his own when he pulls back to tighten his own around them briefly, before he kneels down to greet the Electrike.]
I think I'll name you Scout.
[It's a cute name, he thinks. Scout tilts his head, but seems happy as Connor reaches out to pet it. That earns Connor a light static shock, but like hell is that going to deter him from petting the dog.]
I appreciate it, Hank. We can start to leave for Azalea Town as soon as you're ready to. I've kept us here long enough.
Ready whenever you are. I mean... I could still get you a celebratory lunch if you want it. And uh...
[He trails off. Doesn't mention what the other present idea is. But he figures Connor might be able to deduce. Maybe.]
Yeah. I'm sick of being a janitor here. Time to be a janitor somewhere else.
[Exciting life he leads now. He might as well poke fun at it.] I put Connie up so she doesn't have to worry about the elements. [He watches Connor pet 'Scout'. At least that seemed to work out.]
They're not very good to breed right now. Everyone who has a Growlithe or a Houndoom could do twenty times better than me. I could only put a few moves out there. And honestly I don't mind. I bitch about it because I miss being a cop. I'd still be missing the same damn thing.
[He loosely holds Connor's hand, and nods to the Electrike.] Maybe eventually we can make some.
[He almost steers them towards somewhere small and cheap and outdoorsy. His favorite sort of place. But he remembers that it's Connor's big day, so-] You pick where we should go.
[Connor doesn’t know the ins and outs of breeding, so he just assumes Hank knows what he’s talking about and leaves it at that. As for where he’d like to eat, he tugs Hank towards a pizza place. It’s not healthy, but he wants to eat something nice.]
We can eat it back at the hotel and pack our things.
[Luckily they have no eggs to wait on, so they can leave as soon as possible.]
If I recall correctly, getting one of everything had been the point. [Kind of the whole slogan.] I don't think we can manage that, what with space limitations. But I think you should get whatever you can, just in case you need it.
[It's not like they have anything more pressing to do.]
I'd like that, though. Dancing with you again.
You looked good that night. [He says way after the fact, recalling how Connor had looked, happy under the moon, sending him into a bumbling self-pitying stupor.]
[That seems to please Hank, some. He perks up a little, it actually shows pleasantly on his rough face, and he's always glad when Connor seems to notice little things about him that make him feel good. Even if in that case, it was Connor alone.]
Yeah, you'll probably need one. Since it seems like you're ready to go career.
[He lets go of Connor's hand so he can get the door of the pizza place for him.]
A psychic type would be nice to have anyway. And Slowpoke is cute, in its own way.
[He squeezes that hand before it lets go of his own, and leads the way into the building. He orders a pizza with some vegetables on it in a vain attempt to at least be slightly healthy, and when they've gotten their orders he opens the door for Hank this time as they leave.]
I'll switch my team around a little now. I should focus on some other pokemon while we're travelling.
[He asks as they're heading back to the hotel, planning the most expedient way to pack up. Hank's been working so much with the dogs that he knows he should level up his cat types too. If he actually wants to try this stupid breeding thing that he's no good at.]
[He dutifully carries the food like a good boyfriend. Honestly he's felt like the designated purse holder since he met Connor. That has nothing to do with any sort of relationship.]
I'll take Benton and Lacey out for a while, I think. I miss having the dogs on my team.
[And he really would like to train them to be stronger. When they get inside the hotel room he sits on the bed and takes his pizza from Hank, and starts to eat absently as he squints at all their stuff strewn about the room. It's not messy, Connor made sure of that. But there do seem to be a lot of things that need to be packed up.]
Yeah. And since I just gave you Scout there, I can get Cagney back out and we'll have three of our matched sets. But I gotta admit, never have I picked out a more ill-suiting name than I did 'Ray' for the dog mermaid.
[He says it like it's hilarious that the dog mermaid is so elegant with an impressive tough guy name like 'Ray'.]
[Hank starts picking up some of their stuff while he's eating the pizza, putting it away.]
I miss having a fuckin' house. [He muses out loud.]
You know... back home. I never got a chance to ask you- I figured things in Detroit were going be weird for a while. I didn't know if I'd be able to stay. I was going to ask you to stay with me.
At least it looks like we can tolerate each other's company pretty well.
[Understatement. Hank finishes getting things together. He can't even contemplate staying here long enough to put down roots. It's mostly his own house with the post-its on the mirrors and the music shrine and the big TV that he misses.]
[But if Connor did get a home, he realizes, he wouldn't want to take that away from him. He'd actually would be proud that he managed to carry on better than many androids would. It's a good sign. So he adds-]
But yeah. Maybe we should try to get our own place. Or you should get your own place and I should pick somewhere. I don't know. I don't want to just invite myself.
[And there is awkward Hank, making his uncertain hand gestures as he fumbles things into a bag. He's just going to shove pizza in his face.]
[He says it like it's the most obvious thing in the world.]
It would be just us and our pokemon.
[He says it almost wistfully. Now he kind of wants a house here. Maybe it's something they can work towards. He wonders where they'd live. Of course, it's easier for Connor to think about settling down here. He doesn't have any attachments to anything back home. Nothing to miss.]
[Because he has the crushing realization that Connor has no attachment to a dog that he only petted once, but Hank raised since he was a puppy. And with the Electrike there, it seems kind of trite. But he does a pretty good job of not letting the feeling reach his face for once.]
For now, we need to get ready to go.
[He checks his PokeGear, then offers Scout his slice of half-eaten pizza. His appetite bailed on him.] I'm going to go out and get some last minute supplies. I'll be back in a few minutes. [It'll give him a chance to step out and pull his head out of a slump. Connor just made a major accomplishment. He'll let him enjoy it.]
[He likes Sumo well enough, but has no attachment to him. If they had stayed in Detroit, he surely would have been best friends with the dog. He never got the chance to be, though.]
I’ll be cleaning up here while you’re gone.
[And by the time Hank comes back, he’s gotten quite a bit done.]
[It's hard for Hank to deal with, certainly. It's a conversation that he needs to have, and will. Surely they can come to some sort of amicable agreement eventually on at least the potential of being together in both places.]
[He doesn't bring it up now, though. Instead he therapy shops a pile of post-its and stickers and returns with those as well as his useful materials.]
[He had planned for a more intimate celebration, but as the place is cleaned and he had his bout of quiet disappointment and realization, he just goes for a kiss when he comes in, smiling against his lips.] You did a good job.
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Speaking of blessings, he blinks at the pokeball and looks up at Hank curiously. He's smiling, still high from the success, but he's obviously curious too.]
Thank you. You didn't have to get me anything.
[He already got a few gifts from the gym leader, for winning. The money will keep them comfortable for a little while. He takes the pokeball, and opens it. When the Electrike appears before him, pawing at the ground and ruffing, the curious smile turns into a delighted one.]
Where did you get him? I haven't seen one yet.
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And yeah... this was a big deal for you. So I had to get you something. Win or lose.
[He steps over and puts his hand at the back of Connor's neck to pull him in for a hug, wrapping his arms around him and giving him a tight squeeze.]
Good work. I'm proud of you.
[But he figures he won't want to be held forever. He needs to go introduce himself to his new shockdog.]
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I think I'll name you Scout.
[It's a cute name, he thinks. Scout tilts his head, but seems happy as Connor reaches out to pet it. That earns Connor a light static shock, but like hell is that going to deter him from petting the dog.]
I appreciate it, Hank. We can start to leave for Azalea Town as soon as you're ready to. I've kept us here long enough.
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[He trails off. Doesn't mention what the other present idea is. But he figures Connor might be able to deduce. Maybe.]
Yeah. I'm sick of being a janitor here. Time to be a janitor somewhere else.
[Exciting life he leads now. He might as well poke fun at it.] I put Connie up so she doesn't have to worry about the elements. [He watches Connor pet 'Scout'. At least that seemed to work out.]
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[He tilts his head as Hank trails off. It's hard to tell if he gets it or not, but inwardly he thinks he does.]
You could start breeding your pokemon soon. Then you won't have to be a janitor anymore.
[He lets Scout trot alongside them as he takes Hank's hand and walks with him to a place they can get lunch.]
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[He loosely holds Connor's hand, and nods to the Electrike.] Maybe eventually we can make some.
[He almost steers them towards somewhere small and cheap and outdoorsy. His favorite sort of place. But he remembers that it's Connor's big day, so-] You pick where we should go.
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We can eat it back at the hotel and pack our things.
[Luckily they have no eggs to wait on, so they can leave as soon as possible.]
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[He lets himself be pulled towards the pizza place, glancing down occasionally at the little electric dog following after them.]
I was told there are some good jazz albums in Azalea. I probably can at least grab something for my PokeGear even if I can't get it on vinyl.
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[He'd enjoyed the slow dancing by the beach. Just the two of them and the music. Turns out he's a bit of a romantic.]
I hear there are a lot of Slowpoke there. Maybe I'll try to catch one.
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[It's not like they have anything more pressing to do.]
I'd like that, though. Dancing with you again.
You looked good that night. [He says way after the fact, recalling how Connor had looked, happy under the moon, sending him into a bumbling self-pitying stupor.]
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[He looks up at Hank fondly.]
I wasn't quite aware of it at the time, but... so did you. I remember. You looked happy.
[At least, he did before he had withdrawn into self-loathing.]
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[That seems to please Hank, some. He perks up a little, it actually shows pleasantly on his rough face, and he's always glad when Connor seems to notice little things about him that make him feel good. Even if in that case, it was Connor alone.]
Yeah, you'll probably need one. Since it seems like you're ready to go career.
[He lets go of Connor's hand so he can get the door of the pizza place for him.]
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[He squeezes that hand before it lets go of his own, and leads the way into the building. He orders a pizza with some vegetables on it in a vain attempt to at least be slightly healthy, and when they've gotten their orders he opens the door for Hank this time as they leave.]
I'll switch my team around a little now. I should focus on some other pokemon while we're travelling.
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[He asks as they're heading back to the hotel, planning the most expedient way to pack up. Hank's been working so much with the dogs that he knows he should level up his cat types too. If he actually wants to try this stupid breeding thing that he's no good at.]
[He dutifully carries the food like a good boyfriend. Honestly he's felt like the designated purse holder since he met Connor. That has nothing to do with any sort of relationship.]
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[And he really would like to train them to be stronger. When they get inside the hotel room he sits on the bed and takes his pizza from Hank, and starts to eat absently as he squints at all their stuff strewn about the room. It's not messy, Connor made sure of that. But there do seem to be a lot of things that need to be packed up.]
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[He says it like it's hilarious that the dog mermaid is so elegant with an impressive tough guy name like 'Ray'.]
[Hank starts picking up some of their stuff while he's eating the pizza, putting it away.]
I miss having a fuckin' house. [He muses out loud.]
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[Clearly Connor hasn't watched what Hank has, because his associations are wildly different.]
Maybe one day we'll have one. We can't live in hotels forever. I'd like a house of my own.
[He seems to perk up at the idea, putting pokeballs away into his bag with a pizza crust still hanging from his mouth.]
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At least it looks like we can tolerate each other's company pretty well.
[Understatement. Hank finishes getting things together. He can't even contemplate staying here long enough to put down roots. It's mostly his own house with the post-its on the mirrors and the music shrine and the big TV that he misses.]
[But if Connor did get a home, he realizes, he wouldn't want to take that away from him. He'd actually would be proud that he managed to carry on better than many androids would. It's a good sign. So he adds-]
But yeah. Maybe we should try to get our own place. Or you should get your own place and I should pick somewhere. I don't know. I don't want to just invite myself.
[And there is awkward Hank, making his uncertain hand gestures as he fumbles things into a bag. He's just going to shove pizza in his face.]
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[He says it like it's the most obvious thing in the world.]
It would be just us and our pokemon.
[He says it almost wistfully. Now he kind of wants a house here. Maybe it's something they can work towards. He wonders where they'd live. Of course, it's easier for Connor to think about settling down here. He doesn't have any attachments to anything back home. Nothing to miss.]
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[Because he has the crushing realization that Connor has no attachment to a dog that he only petted once, but Hank raised since he was a puppy. And with the Electrike there, it seems kind of trite. But he does a pretty good job of not letting the feeling reach his face for once.]
For now, we need to get ready to go.
[He checks his PokeGear, then offers Scout his slice of half-eaten pizza. His appetite bailed on him.] I'm going to go out and get some last minute supplies. I'll be back in a few minutes. [It'll give him a chance to step out and pull his head out of a slump. Connor just made a major accomplishment. He'll let him enjoy it.]
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I’ll be cleaning up here while you’re gone.
[And by the time Hank comes back, he’s gotten quite a bit done.]
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[He doesn't bring it up now, though. Instead he therapy shops a pile of post-its and stickers and returns with those as well as his useful materials.]
[He had planned for a more intimate celebration, but as the place is cleaned and he had his bout of quiet disappointment and realization, he just goes for a kiss when he comes in, smiling against his lips.] You did a good job.
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My pokemon worked hard, too. I should do something nice for them.
[He keeps close to Hank, his arms winding around his waist.]
Any suggestions?
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Maybe just let them run around a little while before we go. [He nips his lower lip, leaving it a little pinker.]
Stop and get them a snack? [Hank thinking of rewards in food, of course.]
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[But Hank’s kisses earn a nip back, and then another slower kiss.]
But you’re being awfully distracting right now.
[He leans into him more, happy to be held.]
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I'M GONNA DO IT I CAN'T STOP MYSELF
BINKY PLS
YOU KNOW YOU DESERVED IT
:(
I refuse to be guilted by your frowny face
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