finalflight | PSL; [It's bigger than us, it's bigger than everything]

PSL; [It's bigger than us, it's bigger than everything]

((ooc; cont. from here))

[Anything happening within the walls of Hank's house is now being shattered by the blaring of the doorbell. Once, twice, a third time for a bit longer. Less an actual doorbell and more of a buzzer, a harsh thing that is sure to grab the attention of anyone possessing a heartbeat within. The very obvious sign of someone (a certain RK800 unit) at the door, hoping to find the Lieutenant at his home if he cannot be located at his usual haunts. The sort that serves alcohol, mainly.]

Lieutenant?

[The voice should ring familiar, if not slightly muffled by the obstruction before him. Connor stands waiting, straight-backed, staring at the closed door like the obstacle it is to his entry. The usual curl of hair that falls across his forehead sways in the breeze as he waits, only half-patiently.]

Lieutenant! [The downwards cant of his head, just slightly, eyes averted to the side; the look of someone listening for noise within.] Are you home?

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Of course. You can even help, if you want.

[It'll be Connor and Hank vs. Sumo. A disaster in the making, probably.]

We'll have to find a hotel that doesn't have an issue with pets. Likely will just have to pay more because of it, but it shouldn't be that big of an issue. Besides, it'll be a nice change of pace.

Huh. Yeah, I guess we could tell them we've got a dog too, might be less likely to kick us out that way.

[He'd just sort of assumed they'd be sneaking Sumo in. But you know what? Going by the rules, that's also fine.]

Could take longer, though. We might have to get back on the highway, pick some actual city to look around in. You okay with taking that kind of risk this soon?

[Connor doesn't think the effort of trying to sneak in a St. Bernard is a very viable option -- at least hardly worth the effort, when they could just do it the legit way.]

We can't avoid a big city forever. And... [His lips thin as they once again transition into cautious, more serious conversation.] The program, I want to run it by the end of today. Tonight at the latest. It won't matter if we're in a city or otherwise if CyberLife just comes figuratively knocking at my door.

[Hank frowns. He doesn't understand the danger here, not completely, not like Connor does. That's what he gets, isn't it, for spending so much of his life trying so hard not to learn a thing about all this new tech shit. In any case, that means it's probably for the best if Connor's the one to plan out their tactics, here.]

So if they do, what do you want me to do? You zone pretty hard when they uh, connect with you, right? So you won't be able to tell me what's going on. If that starts up you want me to just, I don't know, pick you up and drive off, or...?

[He shakes his head. As far as Connor knows, there’s not a lot that Hank could do — physically moving him from one spot to another wouldn’t do much about the fact that he was still connected to CyberLife until further notice.]

I think it would be better if you left me alone and let me... handle it.

Yeah. Okay. I can do that.

[Hank takes a breath, staring out at the road. He feels like a silence will get awkward again - at least, on his part it will - so he goes on with the first observation that pops up in his head.]

It's always shitty, the waiting. Not that I've been in this kind of situation before, but just in general, when you know something's gonna go down. Waiting to know.

[And that doesn’t require much thought for Connor to reply to. He agrees, quite wholeheartedly.]

Right. I agree.

[He’s always felt that anxiety, he thinks, though never quite as prevalent as now — or maybe it always had been, except before he had thought of himself as nothing more than a machine, hot off the presses from CyberLife those months back, using his coin as an excuse to focus and push through building uncertainty.

Strange how time and circumstance always grants a new perspective on everything.]

One way or another, though… I don’t think we’ll have to be waiting for long.

Oh that’s comforting.

[Hank’s willing to let that sit, though. Not like there’s anything either of them can do about it. He does think about asking if Connor wants to sit in the back with Sumo, but stops himself. Connor’s a big boy. If he wants to stress hug a big fluffy dog, he’ll decide to do it himself. The only thing to do is drive and wait.

He heads toward the highway, and he waits.]

[No, not comforting, but certainly realistic.

But Connor says nothing else for now, not as they drift along the highway, until signs of civilization slowly begin to rise again in the distance.]

Looks like we could do some shopping around here. [-he finally pipes up.]

Yeah. Let’s see, which way...

[Hank mutters to himself as he tries to figure out how to get there, and eventually they pull in to some big store.]

We might as well get food too, so we can lay low after tonight, if we need to. Soup or some shit, I don’t know.

[More soup. Connor can’t help but raise a brow at Hank a little, even as he reaches to open the door to exit the car.]

Maybe something a little more substantial than soup, Lieutenant.

[EAT REAL FOOD...]

What, like a four course meal? How many of those you think we can fit in the trunk?

[Hank can eat real food. He’s great at real food. He ate a real greasepile of Chinese takeout the other day, and it wasn’t imaginary or anything.]

Nothing extravagant. But you've subsisted on nothing but a diet of soup lately, and wouldn't you rather have something more filling than that?

[Does Connor sound enough like a fussy mom yet, Hank?]

Would I rather?

['Fussy mom' isn't a comparison Hank's making yet. He's mostly just glad the way Connor asked left him a loophole.]

I don't know, it'd be kind of convenient if I didn't have to fuck around with stupid human bullshit like food at all. Wait, shit, wait, we forgot your hat.

[Hank stops, spins on his heel, and tries to remember what the car looks like.]

But you have to—

[Oh, right. His LED. Connor reaches up to touch it a little self-consciously, uselessly, as he turns around and indicates at which car is Hank’s.]

That one there.

[It's still weird, sometimes, to see evidence that Connor feels, but seeing this feeling is mostly kind of sad, seeing Connor experience the emotion of 'self conscious in public'. Hank watches him, noting the gesture, then walks up to the car and digs around in it for a second.]

Sorry, Sumo. We'll be right back, buddy.

[It's cold enough that they don't have to worry about leaving him in the car, and that's a blessing. The less memorable they are, the better. He gives Sumo a quick pat, then heads back and moves to plop the hat on Connor's head. If Connor lets him, Hank will give the hat that rakish little tilt that hides the LED so well.]

There. Classy.

[It shouldn’t be a hard habit to fall into, the need to hide his LED. Especially since it’s going to be a vital thing to remember, and Connor has already briefly scolded himself for forgetting, even as Hank neatly places the hat on his head, skewing it at an angle. Still, it’s an awareness that’ll have to be wrought out of habit, and his hand comes up to adjust the rim of his (questionably incognito) fedora.]

Perfect. Thanks.

[He grins at him a little, then motions at the super market behind them.]

Ready now?

Like I’m the one holding us up.

[Hank’s lips quirk up a little and he speeds up, trying to go fast enough to deliberately bump into Connor as he walks past.]

If there’s anything else you want, speak up now. I don’t wanna stop for stuff any more often than we actually have to.

[Anything he wants other than “real” food, that is, which is a topic Hank’s happy to let go if Connor’s distracted from it.]

[And Hank does indeed take the lead, Connor jostling lightly with that friendly shoulder-check. He tilts his head, lets out an exhale, and speeds up to match pace.]

I don’t require much. We should focus on food for you and Sumo. Maybe more clothes.

[Since this is definitely one of the larger stores that carries more than just produce.]

Brought some of my clothes, unless you want to dress me up or something. But yeah, Connor, I know you don’t require much. I asked what you want.

[He’s been pushing this a little, yeah. He’s going to keep pushing it, or at least asking it, until Connor starts thinking to ask it himself.]

[He hadn’t been thinking at all about what he wanted, and it’s more than just because Connor isn’t used to it. Though he understands that Hank wanted to use this opportunity to craft new experiences for him — in this new life-after-deviancy — there was only so much shopping for pleasure that Connor cares for right now.]

I want to purchase what will be useful to us in the future. That’s all for now.

Yeah, that’s fair.

[He lets it go - now’s not the time, but the question of what he wants is in Connor’s head now, and that’s fine. Hank looks around once they get inside, not bothering to people watch like he normally might but heading straight for where the hair dye probably is. Then he finds and starts looking over them, making a face.]

Hey, what shade would you say you are? ‘Havana Brown, or ‘French Roast’?

[He follows, brows cinching together as he looks upon the rows and rows of hair dye products.]

Hexadecimal color #37261B.

[A pause.]

Closer to the latter, but you don’t have to match my hair exactly. That isn’t always how genetics works.

[Hank runs his fingers over a line of boxes, looking for one of those ones that’s supposed to leave a little gray. It’s supposed to look natural, after all, not like he’s trying to relive the glory years.]

Well, we got time for a science lesson if you really want to enlighten me. Hey, this one look okay?

I didn’t think you’d be interested in hearing a full explanation on the variances of human genetics. It’s easier explained in this way — if a father has a certain shade of hair, even if the allele is a dominant color, it doens’t always guarantee that the child will possess the exact same shade. Genes from the previous generation should also be taken into account.

[Connor eyes the box that Hank takes, obviously considering it a fine enough of a choice since he doesn’t protest against it.]

Should be fine. Some slight variation is more believable. anyway.

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