(no subject)

[sociallychallenged]

IC Inbox

VICTORY ROAD CONTACT

Comments

20/08

[plasticasshole]

[Connor has gotten himself a nice blue shirt and some dark jeans, and is waiting for Hank with Crockett by his side outside of the inn. By now it's become apparent that they'll be in Cherrygrove for a little while, so he's managed to find a job working temporarily for the pokemon center. It means he has a little more money to spend on things like that.

He's not nervous, or anything. Why would he be? Though they've classed it as a "date", it's not romantic. If anything, he's excited to see what all the fuss is about. Crockett seems excited too, bobbing in place and beeping.

When Connor spots Hank finally he steps forward, giving him a bright smile. He's in a good mood.]

Hello, Lieutenant. I thought I'd wait for you here.

[sociallychallenged]

[Hank looks awkward as hell.]

[He sort of knows its practice, and is sort of treating it like the real thing. He's wearing a nice button up shirt, a light jacket, and jeans. And he's carrying a bouquet of simple blue flowers because that's what you do, and a box of chocolates. Tubbs gets to be in his pokeball for this. He doesn't get to see his failures.]

Hope I wasn't late. [He walks up to him and offers him the box and the flowers.] You don't have to keep the flowers if you don't want them, I just uh....

Seemed right, I guess. They matched your usual color scheme so. [What a reason to pick out something.] They smell okay, too.

[Fucking smooth. Good job. What, why is he doing so bad at a fake presumably and probably platonic date? Has it been that long?]

[plasticasshole]

Oh!

[He seems pleased with the flowers. He hadn't expected them. Nobody's ever given him flowers before. He takes them and the chocolates, and when Hank mentions that they smell okay he leans in to sniff them. Not bad.]

Thank you. I didn't know what to bring. Now I'll know for another time.

[Whether he means with Hank or with someone else, he leaves it open. He does note that Hank seems awkward though, and tilts his head a little.]

You seem a little tense. Is everything alright?

Delivery | August 23rd

[fuelthefire]

[Wherever Hank is on the 23rd, an official Mail Pidgey manages to find him to drop off a small package.

Inside the package is a fifth of whiskey (Not super expensive, but not crap, either. Middle of the road. A satisfying flavor with a strong burn and a great kick), and a handwritten note. The writing is in all caps, is kind of chicken-scratchy, and reads:]

YOU GET A PRIZE EVEN THOUGH YOU DIDN'T GUESS! IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU NEED IT.

-KRIEG

[sociallychallenged]

[At first there's a reaction of Ah! Demons! but that's because someone is a little afraid of birds because they're gross swarmy feathered rats that fly at you. But then again, this bird just brought him some whiskey so that automatically takes away negative points. ]

[When he sees the not he actually grins. Hey! Nice. He'll have to pay the guy back sometime and buy him a round or two. ]

[And he sticks the note in his notebook to keep. Just because he likes to hang onto odds and ends here and there. Reminds him that if he's around for a year? He should try to figure out the guy's age before the next birthday rolls around. ]

[plasticasshole]

(continued from here)

[He wouldn't even have gotten the headache from the incessant crying.]

You think so?

[That makes him feel a bit better, at least. He opens his eyes and gives Hank a tired smile.]

I'm still glad I have you around to actually do things right.

[sociallychallenged]

Connor, you're doing fine. I may have been a parent in another life. But you actually give a damn about this world and how they feel.

[It's the real empathy that Connor shows that draws Hank in, whether to human or android. It might have been a circumstantially justified empathy before, in choosing not to shoot deviants due to their usefulness, but it's still enough to show that Connor respects and values the lives of others.]

[He's very empathetic toward these little monsters. Even when it's painful and exhausting.]

That counts for a lot. Don't knock it.

How does this sound? I go out, I get you something to drink. [He already has dubious bird delivered whiskey.] And after we put them up in their pokeballs for the night, we get drunk and try to make plans for our next trip and see how much we actually remember tomorrow. I'll even write them down.

[He picks up his tablet, as if to show what he means.]

06/09

[plasticasshole]

[It was a harder trip through Route 30 and 31 than Route 29 had been, and by the time they reach Violet City they're exhausted. Crockett floats on ahead and points out the nearest inn, and after checking in the pair of them wordlessly flop into bed.

Connor is aware of the date, though. He knows Hank's birthday is today, but he hasn't said anything. Not yet.

As usual he wakes up before Hank, and while he would love to go back to sleep he's got a half-formed plan in his head. He slips out of the room and goes out to buy Hank a cake and some whiskey, and after some debating he gets him his own coin, too. It has a Growlithe on it, so Connor thinks he'd like it. Even if he doesn't play with it, it's something from Connor that he can keep.

When he comes back into the room Hank is still asleep. He sets his gifts aside and this time, he waits patiently for Hank to wake up of his own accord rather than wake him up. In the meantime, he plays with his newly hatched Pichu. And gets shocked a few times.]

[sociallychallenged]

[Flashback to three years (and some) ago. There's a birthday party going on. A cute little boy sings 'Happy Birthday' to Hank in a loud, off-key voice. His cake has the dreaded 50 displayed in bold candles and there's cartoon figures on it. Hank's phone is full of teasing texts from his old unit, calling him an old man and over the hill. There's an adorable mostly-grown St. Bernard begging to have a little bit of the cake and his child is standing up for the dog's right to sugar. It's hard to convince him that it's a bad idea.]

[To Hank, a birthday has hardly been a birthday since. The numbers lost all meaning after those fat candles were thrown in the garbage and he fended off middle-ager memes from a decade ago. He lost the reason to have cake, to talk to the friends that he used to work with, and it's just been one more year he's been alive despite his better efforts.]

[Hank's birthday still was only a few months ago in his head, but he knows the liar calendar says it's today. He doesn't mention it. Naively, he assumes Connor doesn't know, so it doesn't need to come up. Especially when he's so tired the best present is taking his shoes off and falling asleep, staring at the ceiling.]

[Though the sleep isn't as long as he expects. He hears soft 'zap' sounds and noises of discomfort and sits up in vague confusion. He sits up with mussed hair and a deeply furrowed brow, curious.]

What are you doing?

16/09

[plasticasshole]

[The day of their date, Connor disappeared for a while. He didn’t say where he was going, but he didn’t return until evening. He left a note to say he’d be back later though, so Hank wouldn’t think he’d actually disappeared.

He returns with a smile on his face and some new clothes in a bag. It wasn’t the only thing he left for, but he liked them. He changes into them, a dark red button up shirt with black pants and walks with Hank almost nervously to the front of the hotel they’re staying at. Once there he stops them, looking up at Hank.]

I got you something. Close your eyes and open out your hands.

[sociallychallenged]

[The most significant difference Hank has when he comes out of the bathroom is that his hair is combed back. This time with some permanence, as he's half done some of it up in a ponytail. What couldn't reach still frames his face, though, bangs to either sides of his cheekbones, and he's paying attention to his dress shirt cuff buttons as he emerges.]

[The jeans are the usual. He didn't try that hard on clothes, knowing he'd have to be carrying whatever he got.]

You look nice. [He informs Connor as soon as he sees him. Of course it turns out he can wear red well, too. Frustrating guy that goes with everything. But man, why be nervous? He's gotta know Hank'll be pleased with whatever he does. When they get out front, though, he does as he's told, extending his hands and waiting with his eyes shut.]

29/09

[thumbsdown]

[The video starts with nothing but purple, and the sound of happy roaring. Then there's the sound of Boone swearing under his breath and the focus shifts to his face, frowning down at his PokeGear to see the damage Pointy did by sitting on it.]

Ah, hell.

[He's butt-dialed someone. Great.]

Hey, uh, sorry. Pointy sat on my Gear.

[The Drapion can be seen in the background wiggling his head from side to side, apparently proud of himself, still roaring.]

[sociallychallenged]

[The response, at first, isn't from a human. But from a screen full of painfully cut white pixie face, who coos happily when Boone looks at the screen. Hello, new person! Connie is out, as she was being read to and being read to is an important activity, so the first thing Boone probably heard was Hank's "storybook voice".]

[Hank had his PokeGear resting in the crook of his arm in case anyone needed him for anything. So Boone gets the next view of Alola shirt print, a flash of book, a flicker of a half-empty whiskey bottle in the background, and a confused Hank.]

Yeah. No problem.

[But once the PokeGear is up, a too close blur of that tiny face peaks up, trying to see again but also drag her very important flower.]

Oct 16/18 : Video

[starry_forehead]

Hey,

I caught that Electrike. If you're still in Violet, I can send it over.

[sociallychallenged]

Yeah! We're still around. I'll get to the Pokecenter to pick it up and send you the money.

If you need anything between here and Azalea, I'll see if I can do you a favor along the way. [Connor should be going for his badge within the next couple of days.]

Christmas 2018

[sleepallthewayhome]

And a gift will arrive for him. It's wrapped up by someone who clearly isn't the best at wrapping and has a card attached. It says 'Merry Christmas' on the top and has a drawn Christmas tree with wrapped presents underneath.

Inside the box is a scarf that's orange, red and black, also warm. There are also some pokemon treats and a mystery novel. There's a note from Newt that reads. 'A nice lady at the bookstore helped me find a book about a detective, I hope you like it. Thank you for helping me so much this year. I hope you have a good holiday.'

> GIFT

[sassymaru]

[Congratulations, Hank! You are the recipient of a gift! Open it up to reveal your prize! He's trying to help, really. There's also an oversized coffee mug.]

[Look, he saw it and the phrase made him think of you.]

X-mas gifts!

[fuelthefire]

On Christmas Eve, Hank will receive a special delivery from a friendly black Charizard. The delivery contains the following:

1x bottle whiskey (the good shit)
1x Jar of homemade jerky

and a handwritten note:

HAPPY X-MAS! STAY WARM, GRAMPS!
-KRIEG

[songoftime]

[A letter will arrive for Hank, sealed in a Wooper-themed envelope and written on Growlithe-themed paper.]

Dear Mr. Hank,

Thank you for the music book. I have tried many of the songs. Some are very close to what I wrote down. Others are different, mostly the ones I was having a hard time with.

My Pokémon like the music very much. Maybe I should play it for your Pokémon some time too.

Sincerely,
Link

01/06

[plasticasshole]

[For this date, Connor picks out a light pink shirt (get you a man who can rock pink) and black jeans. He's ready quickly enough, but as usual he spends too much time looking in the mirror and trying to get his hair to look perfect even though it already does. When he finally tears himself away from the mirror he comes out of the bathroom and gives Hank a smile.

He's excited for their date, as usual. He'll always jump at the chance to do things with Hank, even though they spend all their time together anyway.]

I'm ready, are you?

[He doesn't have any of his Pokemon out, for once. He does have Crockett's ball at his belt, though.]

[sociallychallenged]

[Hank still can't wear the suit that he meant to wear to prom, that'll take another five pounds at least. But he does find something nice to wear. A button up shirt without any sort of heinous print, pale blue, and black slacks. His shoes are shined to dress uniform quality. His hair actually combed back, revealing those rarely seen cryptid ears, and when he comes out of the bathroom before their date he actually looks somewhat impressive rather than the substandard mess he'd been after that one drinking binge in Detroit.]

[Fuck, that feels like a million years ago.]

Yeah, I'm ready.

[He makes sure Connie's on the bed.] This is just for us, okay? Hold down the fort. [He puts Tubbs in his ball, though, in the unlikely event he's attacked by a Pidgey because Hank will go fucking hard on Pidgeys, just try him.]

[He gets the door for Connor, holding it wide.] You look nice. [And very gay. But in the best way. Just that right amount of cotton candy twink without giving Hank fuckin' cavities.]

[sociallychallenged]

Fuckin' A it's good to be home.

[Hank had the chance to check in when they could warp anywhere, but god this is nice. Finally reaching home again, seeing places he recognizes, coming into the... okay, currently dusty house. Whatever items he left behind that were shared between them remaining. Some cases, still on his desk. He wonders how many were solved in the time he was gone.]

[He gently picks up the Jigglypuff's rap sheet.]

Hope he found his way back to his owner. I bet they've been worried sick.

[He drops that one back on his desk as there's the jingle-jangle of happy dogs running through the house, feet galloping along the floor, a giant Arcanine shimmying through each door in such a way that his bursts of speed are interrupted each time. The universal dog celebration for "Hooray, we're there!"]

I'm takin' Pointy and Blubber out back. [He calls out, so they be together finally.] Ready to let everybody loose? [Even the Swanna of nightmares.]

[plasticasshole]

It is.

[Connor eyes the dust on the table and blows on it to dislodge it.]

We need to dust... I'm ready, yes.

[He starts to open Pokeballs, including Odette's, who makes happy demon swan noises and lays her head on Connor's leg. With everyone let out, Connor picks up his Bulbasaur.]

I think I'm going to train Jill for a while. I need a good Grass type Pokemon.

[Jill just smiles real big.]

[sociallychallenged]

[The idea of his age lingers over the next few weeks. The way his knees ache sometimes when he crouches to look at tracks that Tubbs found. The way he nearly throws out his back picking up a box at work. The way the sun sometimes catches Connor's near-flawless face perfectly.]

[He talked to Jack a little while ago. Mission goal Connor had always been a bit of a difficulty for him to deal with, too. But finally, after all that they went through, Hank found his reason for living again; just helping people. Trying to be a good man again. He supposes he stupidly assumed he shared Connor's goals out of love and gratitude for what Connor did to save him, which was very presumptuous, he realizes. Took him damn long enough. Not that Connor is particularly unkind in any way, but their ambitions have greatly... well... deviated. Connor wants a gym. Hank is fine with whatever this is.]

[Jack is right. He needs to talk to him.]

[Without the fucking Pokemon watching. Jesus Christ.]

[All he can do is shoo out Connor's. His, at least his team that follows him around, he can put in balls. Most of the rest he shoos out, too. Connie is shocked to be put away because Hank never does that.]

[He feels so guilty when she 'Flos' in surprise when he pulls out his pokeball for her.]

[He rubs the top of her tiny head and promises it'll be alright. It'll just be for a little while. But it's only then that he realizes just how much he keeps her out and around somewhere. She's like the cute version of car keys.]

[After putting her away, finally, he picks at the kitchen, makes sure everything's clean (or as clean as he can tell, which sometimes leaves room for error). Immediately dirties something new by making himself some coffee and settling at the kitchen table with his hands around the warm cup.]

[It takes him a little bit to even send the text.]

Need to talk to you in the kitchen. No pokemon.

[He tosses his Pokegear down rather than putting it in his pocket.]

[plasticasshole]

[Connor has noticed that Hank has been distant with him lately. He hasn't said anything yet though, which is unlike him. Usually, he'd be probing immediately, but... something tells him he really won't like what comes of it. And he finds he's afraid of kicking the hornet's nest.

When he sees that text on his Gear, he swallows down the feeling of dread that follows it and heads home. He has to convince Crockett to stay out of the kitchen by giving it a battery to consume in the living room, and then he sidles up to Hank and sits beside him at the table.

His LED is yellow already. This doesn't feel good.]

What is it?