plasticasshole | IC Inbox

[He sees that darkening expression, and while he thinks the other RK800 deserves that look, he also knows it comes with a little bit of self-hatred.]

Yeah, it was shitty of them to do that to you. [And to him. He had thought some of their interactions were private moments. Realizing they weren't was difficult.]

Anyway, yeah, I haven't been for years. [Except he hasn't been fishing where there are pokemon. He writes out 'Go Fishing' on his notepad. Then makes a copy of the list to hand over to Connor.] There. We got a plan.

Maybe we can go today. I'm sure there are places that sell fishing rods around here.

[They can spend time at the beach. The idea is appealing.]

Good. I'll handle the cooler and the fishing rods while I'm out. [A cooler is important. Though he'll be nice to Connor and just get soda. Though god, he really thinks he could use some beer.]

You handle laundry. I'll meet you for breakfast after I take care of getting us some supplies.

Okay.

[Good, they have a plan. Magnemite seems happy about it, too. Connor gets on with what he has to do, and meets Hank for breakfast with Crockett floating by him, as usual.]

Did you find everything?

Yep. [Hank approaches, with a bag of non-perishable style groceries for them to share. And the cooler. Which is full of pokemon brand soda. It was even weirder seeing the beer.]

I need to get some fucking coffee. Pits of hell black death coffee. [No withdrawal, same as with the alcohol, but that doesn't mean he doesn't miss it.]

[While he goes to make his order, leaving the bag for Connor to pilfer through, he also buys himself an extra biscotti. Why? Sumo related habit. A coffee for him. A treat for his good dog. Only now he has an eager looking Growlithe sitting by the table, realizing it might get something, so now it's drooling and wagging its impressively fluffy tail. The longer it's taking, the worse that drool is getting, but Hank also needs his egg biscuit thanks.]

[Connor looks through the groceries and the cooler, then notices the drool coming from Growlithe's mouth. He looks over to Hank, back to the dog, back to the groceries. He's bought dog treats, and so while Hank isn't looking Connor silently opens them and feeds one to Tubbs. The drool intensifies.

Connor looks up at Crockett, puts a finger to his lips in a "shh" motion, and feeds Tubbs another biscuit before sitting back and looking innocent.]

[Hank returns to find Tubbs looking like he just ate a shoe, and he snorts and offers him the biscotti.] You look hungry. [He is unaware that Tubbs has been spoiled in his absence, just that the dog looks very pleased with himself.]

[With all the skill of a cop used to being on the job and needing to rush, he plows through that biscuit and starts drinking too hot coffee as if his mouth is made of asbestos.] We'll worry about the clothes later tonight. Figured we could grab the fishing rods at the same time. You come with that knowledge already in there or do you know how to do it?

I don't know how to fish, no. Can you teach me?

[It can't be that hard, surely. In any case he gets up to go order his own breakfast, some toast and orange juice, and gets through it slowly in comparison to Hank.]

Of course.

[Hank actually looks pleased. It's that Connor followed through, that he's whatever Hank wanted from him. A friend that he needed, one that would tolerate him. He was lonely.]

[He reaches down to ruffle Tubbs head when he's done.]

I'd be happy to.

[Connor looks pleased too, having never been fishing before. And he finishes his breakfast a little faster in anticipation, while Crockett hovers close in the hopes of getting petted again like Tubbs. Connor pats the Magnemite and it seems happy to have the attention, before floating over to Hank. You both have to pat him now, it's the rule.]

[The magnemite floats over to Hank and at first he's wondering what it wants, considering offering it food from the grocery bag. But then it clicks. So he rubs his fingers on top of his cueball like he's scritching it. Then realizes he left fingerprints, so he picks up a napkin and rubs his fingerprints off.]

[Two pettings for the price of one.]

Alright. So. We just take this stuff with us and bring it back later? Or do we drop it off at the inn and then go.

We should drop it off first, I think.

[He gets to his feet, wondering if it was a good idea to give Charlotte free reign in their room. That’s answered when Connor opens the door and sees that the entire ceiling is now covered in silky web, with Charlotte resting snugly in the center.]

Oh. Well.

[Hank comes in and walks in a circle, staring up at the mess that is their ceiling. Before he looks at Connor again.]

Maybe in the pokeball would be best.

[He continues to walk around, just astounded by how much Charlotte managed in just that little time.]

Unless we get a couple of brooms, I'm guessing we'll be paying the maids extra before we go. Fuck, can a couple of brooms even take care of this?

[He's handling it very well. But he's also a man that winces at birds.]

[The Spinarak lowers herself down by Connor’s feet and looks up at him expectantly, as though asking for his approval. Connor suddenly realises he doesn’t have it in him to destroy her work when she’s right there. He gives Hank an apologetic look.]

I’m thinking we’ll be paying the maids more.

Connor. You'll have to put her away. Because I don't want web in my shoes when I wake up.

[He points from Spinarak to Connor back to Spinarak.]

Only one out at a time so we can keep an eye on it, alright? So we don't end up in... I don't end up in a Steven Spielberg scenario.

And we'll let the front desk know. Jesus Christ.

[He mumbles an apology to the pokemon before sending her back into her ball, clipping it to his belt.]

I didn’t know she was going to do that.

[Though maybe it should have been obvious, given that she’s a spider and that’s what spiders do.]

[Don't fucking look at him like that, with the sad puppy eyes. He fucking hates it. It'll be the death of him. That expression is wounded and humans can feel that shit physically.]

[He takes Connor's face in his hands, more gentle than yesterday, and makes him look at him.]

I'm not mad. Okay?

Okay?

[He asks for confirmation that Connor realizes.]

[He blinks up at Hank, nodding.]

I know.

[He had wondered a little, but the face was more self-reprimanding than anything else. Which means it’s still there as he looks up at Hank’s face.]

I just feel... I made a mistake, that’s all.

[He doesn’t quite finish telling Hank how he feels, but he feels dumb.]

Yeah, you made a mistake. We all make mistakes. Even as an android you made mistakes.

But how does it feel?

[He notices that he cut off. But he doesn't let it go, because Connor can fucking wound him with that face. It just cuts him deep, and he can't let it be.]

I feel... stupid.

[Because logic dictates that this exact scenario would happen, and he'd even watched her spinning web up in the corner. He just assumed she'd keep it to that corner and be happy with it. He lowers his gaze, frowning. He's not used to making mistakes.]

These are alien animals. You couldn't have known for sure. Not event this thing- [He pulls out his PokeGear and waves it around] -is specific enough.

And I hate to tell you this, but humans are pretty stupid.

[He's sure Connor has realized, but he guesses if he pokes light fun of his current state, of all their current states, he will feel a little bit better. Where one hand is still resting on his cheek, he rubs it with his thumb again, a subtle gesture of comfort. More than normal partners, he knows, but considering that this man has seen him at his worst, and Hank's already made it clear he'd take a bullet for him and his cause, then this level of affection is permitted.]

[Right... he's human now, he's going to make mistakes and miscalculate certain things. Still, he looks up at Hank as he touches his cheek, meeting his eyes for a moment before sighing.]

Okay. You're right. Thanks.

[And he gives him a soft smile. He doesn't mind the affection. It's nice.]

[Annnnd. Yep. He has officially been holding his face for too long. And staring into his brown eyes with his soft blue ones. Yup. This has went from friendly support to a little awkward. Just... Is there a window he can jump out of because his hand is threatening to get clammy and he can really use someone interrupting them.]

I'm excited. I don't get to be right often with you. I'm on a winning streak.

[Okay just- right, now he's let go. Great, his hand is free, and he's managed to make it less... whatever that was. Is tense a good word?]

You know how to be human better than I do. Of course you'll be right more often.

[He turns his head away, feeling some of the tension in the air but not really understanding why it's there.]

Are we going, then?

Oh yeah. Right.

[Cooler. He needs the cooler. He realizes that he'd tucked his Pokegear absently against his chest to keep it out of the way, and even that feels clumsy at the moment. He puts that away and picks up the cooler.]

We're going.

[What the hell was that, even? He's mentally swearing at himself.]

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