office hours: round 1.

[foo_bar]

office hours daily. i'm here to help... i think.

(screened PCs with han)

Comments

[foo_bar]

[and then he scares the bejeezus out of him, and he jumps back, stunned. it takes him a moment]

What the fuck, Hank?

[donotlick]

[ yeah, hank's not sorry. But this is a friendly kind of assholery, I promise. ]

Ah, so you are there. Wasn't sure if you'd totally zombie'd out on me for a sec.

[foo_bar]

Oh, great. Look-- it's not office hours or... whatever. And I'm pretty busy right now.

[he needs space. her runs a hand through his hair.]

Can you please come back tomorrow?

[donotlick]

[ Hank shoots him a look. He is undeterred. Because having an asshole for a friend will do this to you. ]

Is that busy busy, or is it just "I really desperately need a distraction so I'm coding" busy?

[foo_bar]

I'm not coding.

[he says, defensively. But he is sensitive to the topic.]

[donotlick]

[ Hank sighs, sitting down anyway. ]

Why don't you tell me what's bothering you, and you can have a drink while I live vicariously through you?

[foo_bar]

[he wants to work. He folds his hand, but his pointer finger taps the knuckle nervously as he does. He wasn't sure this was a good idea, while at the same time, it sounded fucking great.

But if he drank, he... wouldn't be able to finish focusing on the code. For all the good it was doing him right then, anyway.]

... Hank....

[a sigh, and then he pulls open the filing cabinet next to him.

He's drinking from the bottle, fuck it.]

[donotlick]

[ Hank grins. ]

Thatta boy.

[ Look, if he's cutting back that doesn't mean he can't be a bad influence on the actual adults who could use a goddamn break in this place. ]

And see, look. I'm even cutting back, just like I said.

[foo_bar]

[he knows, but also he's a little miserable. And he can't even say much beyond.]

I really fucking shouldn't. Is this even alright? To tempt you?

[donotlick]

[ Hank waves a hand, dismissively. ]

Hale already let me drink this morning. It was the only way I was gettin' through that trial without getting a fucking seizure.

[ Sadly.......... ]

Look, I made a promise to Connor that I wouldn't do that shit again. And Connor's gonna be my hookup from now on -- I'm not worried. If I seriously lose it and try to jump him for booze, he can put me in the ground.

[foo_bar]

[but what about Han, can han do that.

han doesn't ask that, though, and instead, just. opens the fucking bottle, and takes a big drink.]

... So, how long until that one hits.

[donotlick]

[ Can Han put Hank in the ground??? I dunno, Han, can you take on a 200lb man with police training? ]

What, Hale changing his mind about my sentence, or Connor killing me like a dog?

[ just casual things hank thinks about!! ]

[foo_bar]

[he laughs a little, and then rubs his mouth.]

The Hale part I wonder about.

[his eyes get a little darker at the mention of his name, honestly. the enmity is worse.]

But I meant til the whiskey hit.

[donotlick]

[ He'll make note of that... and probably shut up about the encounter, then. Best to keep it light. ]

Ahhh, yeah, you're not much of a drinker, are you?

[ Hank brings a hand to his heart, crossing over his chest. ]

Promise I won't steal from you when you conk out this time, big guy.

[foo_bar]

You shouldn't, for your health. But fuck it, I deserve it at this point.

[he almost considers taking another drink, honestly.]

Since, you know. I've got shit worth stealing.

[donotlick]

Oh, yeah? And why d'you think that?

[ What dumb shit are you into this time, Han. ]

[foo_bar]

'Cause I brought it, 'cause why the fuck not.

[he's just feeling Bad, and fuck it, he messed up.]

[donotlick]

Yeah, I can relate, dude.

[ Hank snorts. ]

So what's got you in the drinking mood, huh? The death? The robot thing? Megumi being Vivienne?

[foo_bar]

Fucking all of it.

[he almost reaches for another drink, but he also knows... he's a lightweight. He needs to wait.]

[donotlick]

Yeah, no shit.

[ Go for it, dude. Hank's a little jealous, but he just focuses on his promise to Connor and that helps. A little. ]

Plus, hey, it's not all bad, yeah? We've both got Connor. [ Uh ] Not in the same way, obviously, but you've gotta admit he helps.

[foo_bar]

Uh...

[he looks a little awkward at that conversation starter. Fuck. right.

He'd almost forgotten, in the rush of everything that week.]

I mean... Yes... Sorry. This is awkward because of me.

[donotlick]

It's fine. Honest.

[ Hank waves a hand, dismissing it. Look, he's very good at suppressing his emotions. It's fine. It comes with age. You just pretend to be cool with it and keep on trucking. ]

I actually figured I should've given you this talk instead of the, uh, last. Thing. You know. Which is to say...

[donotlick]

[ Hank leans forward in his seat, his face a smile but his eyes dead serious. ]

If you hurt him, Han, I don't care what rules this shitty place has. I don't care how good friends we are. I'll fucking end you.

[ He pauses in silence, letting it stretch on for a few seconds before leaning back. ]

[donotlick]

But Connor's a really swell guy, ain't he? He hasn't told me how things are going between you two, but I'm guessing no news is good news, yeah?

[foo_bar]

[what... has he done....

he just stares at him, silent for a long time. he needs a good answer, to stand up for himself.

somehow...]

.... Sorry, I have no clue how to respond to this.

[this is good.]