WEEK 5

[lockdownmods]

[ You're doing well! In fact, there's a nice message in your inboxes on Sunday reminding you about your midterm evaluations, and how those will be coming very soon. Make sure you're studying! And, of course, there will be support services on campus to help you cope with the stress. The message almost looks like it should go on and list what those services are, but it cuts off abruptly, and that's that.

Meanwhile, the wall is more ominous than it has been in the past. What felt oppressive last week feels oddly eerie, and if you let yourself stay near too long, it feels oddly comforting and calling. Your freedom is just on the other side of the wall, after all. But that's okay, someone has posted a warning outside all buildings to not go near the wall.

Oh well. At least there are new locations to explore!]

LOCATIONS | PROFILES | HAN OFFICE HOURS | MEGUMI OFFICE HOURS

SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY

Comments

[preconstruction]

Hank...? Are you doing alright?

[ this seems. drastic. ]

[donotlick]

[ MmmmmMMmm yes, Connor.... The last person he wanted to see after remembering. What almost happened. ]

I'm fucking tired of this shit, Connor. Yesterday, I had to carry Osomatsu to the damn nurse's office after he fucked up his hand and started slamming his head on shit. I told that kid to stop drinking, and what does he do? He fucking drinks more.

[ Hank grumbles. There's clearly more bothering him, but he's getting the easy stuff out of the way. Well, and the next part is said a bit more softly. ]

I'm fucking tired of... of these kids thinking I'm some fucking role model, then doing all the bad shit I fucking do.

[preconstruction]

[ oh. it's a good thing connor doesn't have the russian roulette memory -- but he remembers hank's description of it. it's ironic, then, that hank is the one telling him about it. he imagines if he had all his memories, he'd remember a similar kind of frustration.

it's good that hank is taking initiative. hopefully that means he would have taken it back home, too. ]

I'm sure that part isn't trying to emulate your behavior.

[donotlick]

[ Hank sighs. ]

I don't even know anymore.

[ He is trying. Very much so. Oh, how he try. ]

The shit I remembered yesterday too, I... I'll tell you more later, but I'm -- I'm done putting people in danger just 'cause I need to take a drink.

[preconstruction]

[ connor looks surprised. that's ominous. ]

What does that mean?

[donotlick]

[ He said "later" but I guess it's coming out now, huh. ]

I remembered... I was drunk. Not like, wasted or anything, but I wanted to forget. I fucking...

[ Mmmm Hank looks around, he hates doing this in public but at least no one else is around right this second. ]

I pointed a gun at you, Connor. I threatened to shoot you. All because I... I didn't know where you stood. I couldn't tell if my partner was a machine or... if you actually gave a shit about me or anyone else. It was fucking stupid.

[preconstruction]

[ connor just watches him, trying to process it. it's a lot, but not more than what he'd remembered. and even if that had happened - hank had saved him from gavin. from the freeway. had praised his actions with chloe. so maybe that had been the case whenever hank was talking about, but he got past it.

he certainly got past it here, hadn't he? ]

You were scared.

[donotlick]

I was angry. At you, and mostly... at myself.

[ He rubs a hand down his beard, shoulders slumping. ]

You were so perfect. So fucking good at everything. And then there's just -- me. A deadbeat cop with a dead son and a drinking problem. [ He sighs. ] I felt like... if I couldn't trust you, if you were just a tool, what was the point of taking on this case? If all androids were like you... what was I supposed to do?

[ But Connor answered his question. He could be anything he wanted, or so he claimed, but he'd been afraid to die, hadn't he? Just like the rest of them. Just like Hank. ]

But you showed me. You showed me that there was more to you... you showed compassion, you weren't just running some algorithm on me, you had your own thoughts and your own ideas. I couldn't -- fuck, I couldn't kill you for that.

[preconstruction]

I know you wouldn't kill me. You're far too kind for that.

[ the way he'd smiled when connor hadn't chosen to kill chloe had spoken volumes about the kind of man that hank was. ]

I trust you.

[donotlick]

[ Hank smiles, something gentle and soft and way too private for a conversation in the middle of the hallway. It's fine. No one else needs to see just how much Connor's trust means to him. ]

Thanks, Connor.

[preconstruction]

[ oh well. ]

You don't have to thank me.

[ just dont ask about his memory kthx ]

[donotlick]

[ He's gonna ask!! In a PC because he doesn't want to embarrass Connor? Wow. He's got some tact, being a human and all. ]

I just told you I tried to shoot you while I was drunk and you answered with "I trust you." [ Hank huffs. ] That's a "thank you" kinda of situation, Connor.

[preconstruction]

But you didn't shoot me. There was nothing to worry about.

[donotlick]

[ Hank can't seem to stop smiling. How weird! ]

You really don't think I would've done it? After all the shit I said to you that first week?

[preconstruction]

Yes, even after all that.

[donotlick]

[ Connor, all that hope and faith in him is blinding. It's like looking at the sun... ]

Well. You're really something else, Connor. Having that much faith in me...

[preconstruction]

[ he smiles, but it's a touch sad. ]

Actually, Hank, there's something...something we should discuss. In private.

[ han had told him to tell hank. and while he took the time for it to be his own decision, han was probably right. hank deserved to know. ]

[donotlick]

Now you wanna talk in private, huh?

[ Hank shoots him a look, but he also recognizes that Connor really means it. ]

Alright. Well, my room's that way. [ He points to his room. ] Let's go ahead.