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

[instabilitatem]

I like Sumo.

[And Hank, but that's a discussion for another day.]

I think I'll paint him first. Thank you Hank.

aND HANK 💘💝💖💗

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Sure thing, Connor.

[Although a dog might be... difficult to start with. Hank can’t remember the basics they made him do in school. Shapes? Trees??]

Let me know if you need anything while I’m out.

[He almost says “I’ll be home in a bit,” but... Connor deserves some alone time. Some Hank-free time, specifically.]

AND HANK

[instabilitatem]

Perhaps materials for hamburgers. I read a new recipe today.

💝!!

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Sure thing. You just send me grocery list and I’ll pick everything up.

[Of course Connor asks for something that’s really for Hank. Of course.]

Sumo’s gonna be eating like a king tonight, huh?

[instabilitatem]

[It's still a wonder to Connor that he can ask for any food he likes, that he isn't trying to feed Hank on rations.]

Ground beef. Tomatoes, Lettuce. Onions. Garlic and Oil.

He will. He deserves it after posing for his portrait.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Got it.

[Onions, garlic... Hank’s stomach rumbles. Why does Connor have to be so good to him, huh!!]

He being good? You making sure to paint his drool?

[instabilitatem]

He's perfectly still. I think he might be asleep.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Yeah?

[It’s a sweet mental image. But even more than that is the fact that Connor is exploring his interests. And they’ll probably never be quite at peace here — chaos seems to be the name of the game — but this is something.

More than Hank thought he’d ever get just a few months ago. Before Connor was here.]

Lazy dog. He’s earned it though. Cute fucker.

[instabilitatem]

I never asked but, where did you get Sumo? Was he a rescue?

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Got him at a shelter, yeah. Just a pup and already almost as big as some adult dogs.

Cole insisted. Said he liked big dogs, WANTED a big dog, even though he’d never seen one before.

Little guy was surprised when Sumo ended up being..... Well. Horse sized.

[instabilitatem]

I'm glad you have a good memory like that.

He must have been really surprised when Sumo grew up.

[Connor knows he was surprised after tumbling through Hank's window.]

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

He sure was. Kept saying, “Dad, Sumo keeps growing?? He’s bigger than all my friends’ dogs!”

Like it was something to be proud of, you know?

Anyway I’d catch Cole filling Sumo’s bowl in the middle of the night. Thought he could get the damn dog to grow... Well, BIGGER than a horse.

[Makes Hank a little nostalgic to talk about, but with Connor it feels... safe. Perhaps oddly.]

[instabilitatem]

[Connor smiles on the other end. He likes hearing about Cole outside of the context of the accident.]

Did it work?

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

[Hank’s first thought is “hell no.” Simple. Logical.

But...]

Maybe a little.

(:

[Is that smiley weird? Hank isn’t even using it condescendingly here.]

When you gonna show me one of your paintings?

[instabilitatem]

[Don't worry! Connor is smiling on the other end.]

They are still very elementary.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Doesn’t have to be perfect, you know.

You getting shy on me, Connor?

[instabilitatem]

Alright. I'll put one out in the living room.

[When Hank does arrive in the living room, something similar to this is hanging on the wall.]

PLEaSE that’s adorable 😭🙏

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

[True to his word, Connor’s gone and hung up one of his paintings.

A painting that Hank isn’t quite sure what to make of — immediately heading over to it once he gets home.

It’s abstract, yeah. Colorful. Is it happy? Sad? Exploratory?]

Huh. [Hank crosses his arms. Really absorbing all the different colors.

Maybe Connor just likes colors...?]

cue connor crying in the corner ! !

[instabilitatem]

[Huh.. That's what Hank says, with his arms crossed, and Connor steps up onto the couch to try and pull down his 'painting.']

I indicated it was elementary.

nOOO CONNOR!! WEEPS

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

...The fuck are you doing? Hey. Hey.

[Hank presses his palm to Connor’s shoulder. Gently.]

All I say is “huh,” and you think I’m — what? Mocking you? Just observing, Connor. Give a guy a minute, yeah?

I like it. [Honestly. The colors, the textures. The fact that it’s Connor’s.] Tell me about it. What did you think about when you were working on it?

[instabilitatem]

[Connor has the painting off the wall when Hank stops him and Connor hesitates before replacing it on its hook.]

I thought about the colors I like to see in the world.

[He points to the yellow-creme color.] This is the shade of the stripes on your shirt when we first met. The blue here resembles thirium.

CN: Cole grief again ! !

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Well, what d’you know? Thirium blue, and... Hank yellow, yeah?

[He takes his hand back. Rubs behind his neck.]

It’s nice, Connor. Could really see the walls covered in stuff like this.

[Which makes Hank, predictably, think of Cole: how he has none of his drawings here, and how finite they would be even if he did.

His soft smile turns to a frown for a moment before he catches himself. Bringing the smile back because, really, he’s happy for Connor.]

Glad you’re having fun. Really.

[instabilitatem]

You enjoy it? [Connor perks up. He knows the purpose of art is to have fun expressing oneself, but hearing the positive feedback from Hank means more than Hank likely knows.]

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

I do. [And it’s a simple painting, sure, but there’s nothing wrong with that.

Because:]

It’s insight, y’know? [Hank playfully butts Connor’s shoulder with his own.] Into that head of yours. What you’re thinking. Feeling.

[And Hank might not understand, but... he is looking.]

[instabilitatem]

Would you like more? [Connor asks, wondering if perhaps the novelty would wear off after one of his paintings.]