[He moves to stand next to Hank, spotting a bit of drool on his shoe.]
Did you walk Sumo?
Mhm. Had some coffee from the cafe, too.
[And the whole meeting up with Accelerator thing: that’s a lie by omission. Hank’s tired of hurting Connor, though.
And it’s not like he wants to hurt Accelerator, either. The last Connor meant a lot to him — and this Connor will too. Hank is sure of it.
When the trolley rolls up, Hank gestures toward it.]
After you, Con.
As Connor boards the trolley he picks a spot in the middle, at one of the windows so he can look out.]
Got coffee for Accelerator, too. Usually by myself though, yeah. Not exactly a fun guy to be around.
[Sumo hops up onto the trolley with little persuasion necessary, nosing around after Connor.
Hank sits on the seat across the aisle from where Connor picks. Figuring he might want space, or… that’s just Hank reading into things, probably. Assuming, again.]
Gavin Reed is not a fun guy. I much prefer your company.
[Which, why is Hank sitting all the way over there.] Am I taking up too much room?
[He squeezes in tighter to the glass of the window.]
[Okay, Hank’s gotta smile a little at Connor talking shit about Gavin.]
Good thing Reed’s not here to be an obnoxious little fuck then, huh.
[Watching the way Connor squeezes closer to the window, then:]
No, I just... figured you wouldn’t want me breathing down your neck. Got a whole ass trolley to ourselves. [For now...?]
If that's what you want, Hank.
[No, this is about what Connor wants. And Hank is apparently shit at turning off his “assume what’s best for Connor“ mode.
So he ignores it: that impulse telling him to give Connor space. To let him breathe.
Hank gets up. Steps around Sumo to sit beside Connor.]
You know I want what makes you happy, Connor. Sometimes — [a lot of the time] — I’m just bad at seeing what that is. So you can tell me.
[Gazing past Connor, out the window:] Anything in particular you’re excited to see?
[Wanting anything is a sign of deviancy, though Connor has started to express wants and desires. He's not comfortable with saying so.]
I haven't downloaded any information about the layout of Etraya. I suppose I'd like to see all of it.
So I just gotta guess, huh? Is that it?
[Until Connor is deviant, anyway. Which will be soon, Hank hopes — not that he’s really any closer to figuring out what might trigger that. Because the thought, the near certainty, of Hank dying hasn’t helped. Nor has Connor’s injuries.]
Then we can see all of it. Every nook and cranny. [The bounce castle! The weird camp where Hank was held prisoner! Lots to see, probably. Made interesting by present company.
They’re still in the part of Etraya that’s familiar to Hank: the last of the shops. He’s never been much north of this.]
I think the trolley is an excellent way to see most, if not all, of Etraya.
[Connor makes mental notes of the shops as they pass them. None seem to be the source of Aurora's abilities.]
I’ll try to remember to ask, then. Until...
[Until Connor is deviant. But it’s not as if that’ll change everything. Hank should still work on his communication issues. His assuming issues.]
Would’ve had to walk all this way before. Had to walk my ass down to the church in the middle of the night.
[Now Hank can just take the trolley!!
To their left, what appears to be a large stone castle sort of structure looms in the distance.]
Some weirdos live there, I bet.
Do you know them?
I’m laughing because Vincent lives there but Hank doesn’t know LOL
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bootyshortsforoldmen
2025-02-28 04:09 am (UTC)(link)
Was meeting up with someone. Didn’t even know there was a church before all that. Suppose it’s a common enough place, though.
[Although who thinks “I want to bring a church over to Etraya that’s falling apart, and has this weird bed of flowers in it?? Hank has no idea.]
Nah. [He grabs the camera from his bag and takes a few pictures of the castle.] Just seems like an odd thing to bring to Etraya. Kinda ominous, huh? I mean, whoever did is probably used to that kind of thing. Can’t imagine bringing over my house.
[It would make sense if Hank didn't want to bring the whole house. An apartment just big enough for the two of them and Sumo.]
Yeah. Although I’ve been thinking about someplace bigger, actually.
[Hank absentmindedly scratches the side of his neck, looking down at Sumo, who’s made the floor his new drool palace.]
Thought it would be nice to get Sumo a big yard to laze around in. Haven’t been sure where, though.
[Looking up at Connor now.]
Then you came along. Been more focused on you. [Hank offers a gap-toothed smile.] Was worried I’d fuck it up, too — accidentally make you assume I was trying to leave you behind or get away from you, or something. Which isn’t the case.
[It's just easier to assume Connor believes the worst right now, especially with Solmara's fate weighing heavily on his robotic shoulders.
And speaking of which,] If I ever have to return to Solmara, it will be because I am programmed to do so.
[There's an 'if' in there! He's feeling less certain about his mission.]
Good. ‘Cause I don’t. Just, y’know — trying to be more clear here. We’ve had quite a few misunderstandings already, huh?
[And there will undoubtedly be more...!]
The sort that could’ve been solved real quick if I were better at talking. And the sort that would’ve never happened at all if I had kept my mouth shut.
[Hank catches that “if.“ Progress, perhaps? Or is that wishful thinking? He sighs, still having little to go on in the way of deviancy triggers.]
I know, Connor. I know you don’t wanna leave. And I don’t want you to leave, either. We’ll get to where we need to be.
[Next up on their trolley adventure: a large house surrounded by dead trees, up in the middle of nowhere. Looks like the setting of a horror movie. Hank takes a few pictures, regardless.]
[As if it weren't obvious enough that Connor takes most things literally.]
I want there to be a way where I could fulfill my mission and not hurt you or Etraya.
[Connor continues to peer out the window, curious as to the odd house.]
You do. But that’s just your thing. Just like, well — you work with a lot of my things. And we do okay despite all that.
[Connor is good at dealing with him. Does Hank get irritable? Sure. But with most people, they don’t manage to break through those ornery outer layers. Most people don’t care to, and Hank doesn’t blame them.
Once, he would have told himself that makes things easier. Push people away. Keep them away. Now? He’s not quite as sure.
It’s lonely, for one. And Hank is tired of being lonely.]
Would be nice if we could all just get along. I figure Solmara’s got their own Aurora-Echo–whoever. They ever try talking, d’you think?
Connor can talk to himself, but not Hank.]
She killed it. The AI. Solmara is in ruin because we can't rely on the AI to replenish provisions.
My friends are starving.
Why would she kill the AI? Did she not know that’d fuck everything up? Did she not care?
[And Hank figures Connor won’t be able to answer most of those questions, if any, but Hank is still baffled enough to ask.]
We have to restore what we lost. Or everyone there will die.
[Hank looks at Connor’s reflection.]
We’re not going to let that happen, Connor. Once you deviate, we can figure this shit out. We’ll help as many people as we can. And that’s... something worth deviating for, yeah?
[He can’t help how small his voice sounds as he fishes. For a bite. A nibble. Anything.]
I'm afraid it's not enough. I'm sorry, Hank.
[He sees Hank now too and ducks his head.]
There's only one way to save them.
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