Etraya: Inbox

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

TEXT • VOICE • VIDEO • ACTION
USERNAME: HANK

Hank here. I probably don’t give a rat’s ass what you have to say. Leave me alone. How the hell do I get this damn thing to stop rec — [BEEP]

Comments

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

I would like you to smile, yeah. [Hank snaps a few more shots of Connor. And then approximately a dozen more because you just never know with these things.

Once Hank lowers the camera, he says:] Want you to smile more in general, I mean. Not just for pictures.

[Aiming the camera over to Sumo, laying in his bed in the living area:] You got a real nice smile, Connor.

[instabilitatem]

[Connor smiles through out the mini portrait session and then smiles over at Sumo when Hank aims the camera that direction.]

I'd like to smile more. [He's just got. A lot on his plate. A lot to think about.]

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Yeah? Well, we’ll find you lots to smile about.

[Like Sumo, with his legs twitching in his sleep. Dreaming he’s chasing something, maybe — like a nice steak.

Hank takes a few more pictures of Sumo, creeping around the couch to get a better zoom, before he returns to set the camera back on the table. Next to its trash bag wrapping.]

Thanks, Connor. And thanks for my... birthday. [Early birthday? Super early?] You got any more surprises up your sleeve?

[instabilitatem]

No, these are the last of them. [Until he's repaired and the plan starts.] I wanted to make sure we celebrated.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

[Hank thins his eyes.]

No, no — I think you’re forgetting something there, Connor. Something real important.

[instabilitatem]

Am I? [Connor cocks his head ever so slightly.]

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Obviously. [Hank rolls his eyes.] Thought we talked about this.

[He steps closer to Connor, easing him into a hug.]

[instabilitatem]

[Connor will never turn down a hug from Hank, especially now that they aren't painful. He shuts his eyes and allows himself to absorb the sensation. Who knows when Accelerator will get those parts.]

cn: mention of Cole

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

[Being so insistent on hugs all the time makes Hank feel especially old, like the grandpa on family trips who also demands a million hugs.

But it’s worth it. He tries to keep his hugs short, at least. Usually.

Except when they’re not.]

Oh, and — [Hank pats Connor’s head before stepping back to grab the camera again] — indulge me, okay?

[Raising the camera so the lens is faced toward them.]

It’s cringy; yeah, yeah — just let me have this. It’s my damn birthday, or whatever.

[It’s one thing Hank wished he had more with Cole: pictures of them together.]

[instabilitatem]

[Connor turns his head so he can smile into the camera with Hank.]

Happy birthday, Hank.

[And he hopes it's a good one.]

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Thanks, Con.

[Hank takes a few dozen pictures again, just in case.]

Next we can celebrate your super early birthday, yeah?

[instabilitatem]

I can’t eat cake or lasagna.

[What do androids do to celebrate birthdays? He certainly hadn’t celebrated in Solmara.]

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Can still do your little scan thing, if you wanted. It’d be your day. You ever wanna know the exact make-up of, hell, I dunno, fettuccine alfredo — we could get you some damn fettuccine alfredo.

[Setting the camera back on the table before turning to Connor.]

And food is important for celebrations, sure, but only if you want it to be. It’s more about what you want. Could go all out and blow up balloons. Decorate. Invite your friends. Get a little party hat for Sumo.

Could go to the bounce castle, Connor. You ever think about that?

[instabilitatem]

[That all sounds incredibly nice, but Connor has a very important question first,]

What's the bounce castle?

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

The bounce castle, Connor, is a big ass castle filled with air. Like the bounce houses back home, but bigger. Bouncier, Connor.

[Hank and Heather talked about taking Sumo and her rat to the bounce castle. Someday!]

It’s in the middle of fuckin’ nowhere, I guess, but the trolley goes that way now, I think.

[One good thing Aurora has done for them.]

[instabilitatem]

I’d like to ride the trolley.

[Connor’s never been on any kind if trolley, only taxis and Hank’s car in Detroit.]

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Yeah? [It makes Hank happy when Connor likes things!! Wants to do things.] We should take a trip sometime, then. You pick where you wanna go.

Or — [shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly, wanting to give Connor space] — you’re welcome to go on an adventure yourself. Could take Sumo.

[instabilitatem]

It runs in a circle, one-way, correct? Could we ride it from start to finish?

[Connor considers for only a moment.]

I’d like to go with you, Hank.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

You really wanna ride on a trolley for who knows how long — with me? [Hank makes a show of looking behind him.] Sure you’re not talking to someone else?

[He’s just bullshitting. In a good mood that he’s sure won’t last, but Hank’ll take what he can get.]

Of course, Connor. Can ride it as long as you want.

[instabilitatem]

It would be a good chance to get to know both you and Etraya better.

[Connor looks hopeful that Hank will agree.]

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

[Hank bites back the whole “why would you wanna get to know me?“ bit that first comes to mind. Connor makes him want to be better.]

Sounds like a plan. I haven’t done much traveling myself here. Went to the church, once. I’m sure there’s lots to see.

[And it would be nice to see those things, sure. But even better is imagining Connor looking out the windows of the trolley as he takes in the sights.]

[instabilitatem]

[Connor brightens.] When would you like to go? I would prefer sooner rather than later.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Anytime, Connor. Don’t exactly got anything going on here.

[Hank still hasn’t managed to get through a single book since he got here. His hobbies have consisted of... drinking, mostly. Then when he got Sumo: walking Sumo. Lazing with Sumo. Drinking while Sumo naps.]

Dunno how long the trip would be, exactly. Can bring snacks and thirium. Stuff like that.

[instabilitatem]

That would be nice, Hank. I think I’ll enjoy the trip.

[Connor nods.]

Don’t forget the camera.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

We’ll make some nice memories, yeah?

[Connor can get some reconnaissance in too, Hank realizes, but he’s beyond caring about that right now. If Connor wanted to map out the entirety of Etraya, he could do that on his own.

And it’s not as if Hank is accepting that Connor is returning to Solmara after all this, because he’s not, but he’ll at least have these memories to take back with him.

If.

If.]