Haroun and Hank - Relationship Advice From The Land Of The Drool Cup

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Hank comes to find Haroun to discuss taking care of Alison. The two talk past each other for the most part, but come to an agreement in the end. Set Monday around lunchtime.



Hank had taken a while to remember which one was Haroun's door, but he'd found it eventually. He tapped on it tentatively. He wasn't sure this was a good idea... he'd made so many mistakes lately... but someone had to take care of Alison if he couldn't. And Miles was too little. He didn't like Haroun much, but Alison did, and he figured it was worth at least asking. "Hello?" he called hopefully.

Haroun put down his latest Harlequin Special, covered it with a copy of Guns and Ammo kept expressly for that purpose, and slowly walked over to open up his door. "Yes?" he said to the furry blue behemoth at his door.

"Talk to you?" Hank asked, and then he frowned, trying to concentrate. "CAN I talk to you," he amended. "Please?"

Haroun nodded, and stepped back to allow Hank access. "Certainly." he said with a slight bow. Islam taught that the mad were to be respected and pitied, and right now, Hank qualified. "I'd offer you a place to sit, but none of my chairs would suit you well." he said, closing his front door and sinking into what he was privately referring to as the Overstuffed Monstrosity, AKA his desk chair. "What can I do for you? Are you lost?"

"No... want to talk to you. About Alison." Hank took a deep breath. "Can't help her," he said sadly. "She's my friend. And I can't take care of her. Usually do. Not this time."

Ah. Relationship advice from the land of the drool cup. "She doesn't need any taking care of." he pointed out carefully. "She's quite happy with the way things are."

Hank was aware that he wasn't thinking very clearly right now, but apparently he was still smarter than the Walking Ego. He gave Haroun a look intended to convey this. "I'm prob'ly gonna die," he said, a bit more clearly. "Been friends for years. Used to be together, 'fore that. You think she's happy now? You're stupid."

"Used to be together." he said softly. Now that he did not know, and Alison had not seen fit to tell him about it. Interesting. "Well, since you're clearly the expert, before you shuffle off this mortal coil why don't you clue a brother in?" he said sarcastically. "I do the best I can given what I have to work with." he said peevishly.

Hank looked at him helplessly. He hadn't followed all of that. "She's sad," he said, since obviously he was going to have to spell this out. "Because of me. And I can't help. Not all 'bout you, y'know. What kind've boyfriend you, if you won't comfort when she's sad?"

Haroun grinned at that. "Your memory is slipping. It has been discovered that my cybernetic systems are not prepared to deal with the realities of life outside of combat. We're working on correcting that, but I am to strenuously avoid _any_ intense stimuli until after the surgery." he said with a sneer. "Because if I get worked out, there's a nonzero chance I could just lose it entirely."

Hank sighed. "Know you're sick. Can't do a lot. Me too. But doesn't mean you c'n be mean," he said reproachfully. "'m sick. Trying to make sure people're okay. You could, 'f you wanted to." Really, it was so irritating... here he was, his mind coming apart at the seams, and he was still coping better than the stupid Egoman. He really wondered what Alison saw in him.

Haroun grimaced. "See, but I actually do care, so I quickly run afoul of the no-getting-worked-up rule." he said with gritted teeth. This guy was supposed to be some sort of a genius, why was he being so _dumb_? "I'm trying to do the right thing here."

"I guess." Hank sighed. "But when you get better, 'f I don't... take care of her?" he asked sadly. "'s gonna hurt her.And I don't like her to be sad."

"I will." he said solemnly. "Rest easy. I'll take care of her the best I can."

Hank nodded. "Want her to be happy," he said softly. "One of my best friends. Someone needs be there for her."

"She will be, she is, and I will be - for as long as she wants me to be." More the fool him, considering how things had been going lately, but he got the bug and he got it bad, and even the though of stopping beating his head against that particular wall made him angry and sad.

Hank nodded. "Should go back," he said a little sadly. "They worry, 'f I wander away. Think I might get hurt." He managed a wry smile. "If you don't take care've Alison," he added. "I'll come back 'n haunt you. Spookily."

Haroun smiled indulgingly. "Perhaps." he said. "Do you want an escort back? If we move slowly enough, I should be able to do it."

"Okay." Hank nodded, a little relieved. Getting back to the medlab was going to be a bit of a challenge... he did get lost a little, lately, if he wasn't going the way he usually did. "Thanks."

"Think nothing of it." he said indulgingly. "Come now, let's get you back into your reinforced playpen."