13151/Swatting Bugs is Messy When You Are the Swatter

Swatting Bugs is Messy When You Are the Swatter
Date of Scene:	23 October 2022
Location:	E04 - Empty Dorm - Titan's Tower
Synopsis:	Dawn manages to coax Hank back from rage, and some cleanup ensues.
Cast of Characters:	Hank Hall, Dawn Granger

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Hank Hall has posed:
Hank sits with his head resting against the glass, watching the scenery fly by. He is covered, head to toe, in mantis guts. He can feel it squishing around beneath the layers of his Hawk suit, and that is part of why he has decided not to switch back into his civilian get-up. The other is that, despite the threat being going, he is still maintaining that edge of rage that keeps himself powered up.

He knows he should not be angry. He did the best that he could, and no one is blaming him for anything. More to the fact, even from the ground, he was effective. His anger is self-directed. He was on the ground, and Dove was in the air, and she was in danger, and he was not where he was supposed to be! Because he had lost control, his anger had fueled him to go far beyond what was needed to take out the threat, and it put Dove into danger.

He could feel Dawn's influence next to him, trying to pull the anger away. It was a strange sensation, a tug-of-war in the flow of anger and rage that was palpable. And he wanted to just push it all away, hurl it the same way he hurled that dead mantis if he could. But he CAN'T.k

Dawn could have been hurt because he was too angry in the field. And he cannot let that go, or push that away.

Dawn Granger has posed:
Dawn hasn't returned to Dove. It's not really the threat of something else keeping her focused, it's the danger of what might happen if Hawk loses his cool. She might have influence over him with their relationship as Hank and Dawn, but Dove has the added benefit of that sort of mystic force that ties them together. So, seated next to him on the jet, she keeps an eye on him. A hand rests softly on his knee, but she tries not to be intrusive even in her attempts to soothe him.

The battle had been a mess, but they'd both gotten out unscathed. Minus, of course, the bug guts all over them. That part was the most unfortunate and messy. Dove was more concerned about keeping Hawk focused enough to address the issue.

Hank Hall has posed:
Despite Dove's hand on it, Hawk's knee continues to bounce, nervous energy still pulsing through his body. Anxiety, adrenaline, everything. While the rest of the T-Jet is trading jokes and laughing about the incident, Hawk is still dialed up to 11, ready to tear the side out of the T-Jet at any moment. His chest is rising and falling with the vigor of one preparing for a life or death struggle, and Dove can _hear_ the air exiting his mouth, huffing and puffing. She might be able to sense Hank in there, struggling to pull himself back to center, beneath the waves upon waves of anger and rage and frustration that are emanating off him.

There is at least _just enough_ Hank to keep him from _actually_ tearing the door off the T-Jet, which would have been a legitimate concern in the past.
        Or maybe it is just enough Dawn.

Dawn Granger has posed:
Dove feels the energy radiating off of him, the hand doing something but not enough to calm him. So instead she reaches to take his hand instead, should he not move it too far for her to grasp. Dove might have some calming influence, but the blend of Dawn in there makes her go with her instincts. She leans, just slightly, against him. There's enough pressure there so it's hard to ignore her form letting him support her.

There's a lot going on in his head and she's more than aware, doing her best to keep his focus centered. That's the work of both Dove and Dawn this time.

Hank Hall has posed:
The huffing and puffing starts to slow shortly after Dove takes his hand. It is slow progress, and it is clear that there is effort being down to regulate it. A shift to a more formal pattern of breathing exercises. Hawk is still silent, and does not turn from gazing out the window. But after a few minutes he gives her hand a squeeze. An acknowledgement that he knows what she is doing. He is still agitated, and in that stage where she can tell that any little thing will start it all back up again.

But he is calming himself. He is getting there.

Dawn Granger has posed:
Dove squeezes his hand in reply, another acknowledgement of both that she knows he's trying and a silent 'I'm here'. She's not sure that speaking will add to the stress or detract from it, so she doesn't. Instead she'll let the silence speak what's needed for this--their silent communication had been a strong thing ever since she'd gotten back.

Resting her head on his shoulder, she allows herself to relax just slightly. They were both safe, comfortable, and she was aware that once she got back somewhere that she could calm him to just be Hank again, she could handle his rage and calm it.

Hank Hall has posed:
There is enough squeeze of her hand. Hawk is not ready to talk just yet. But he is no longer huffing and puffing. He is on the razor's edge still, but he seems calm, even if the underlying seas are still tumultuous. They remain that way until the T-Jet finally makes it the rest of the way to the Tower. Even as it lands, Hawk lingers at the seat for a moment as the others begin to file off. He is awake. His eyes are out the window. Almost like he is taking a few beats to make sure he is okay before finding his way up and out.

Dawn Granger has posed:
Dove is more than happy to wait until the others are off and cleared before she drops his hand for only a minute to unbuckle her seat before she rises. She reaches for his hand again, the silent support there so he knows that she's with him even when he gets out of the plane. He'll calm down, she's certain of it, she's just being patient. That's something she's good at.

Hank Hall has posed:
Hawk closes his eyes as he feels Dove's hand slip away from his. He uses that moment to undo his own, but does not yet rise. His hand is there for the taking when she is ready. He takes a deep breath, and open his eyes.

        "I'm sorry." His voice is quiet, restrained. Clearly with an effort being made it keep it restrained, though.

Dawn Granger has posed:
"We're getting through this together, I promise," Dove says, standing near him but not rushing him to rise from the seat. The hand simply remains there with his. "Do you feel like talking about it? We don't have to. We can take as much time as you need." Patience isn't her middle name, but she can certainly give him all the time in the world. It's what she wants to do. He's her partner in multiple senses of the word.

Hank Hall has posed:
Hawk nods slowly, a quiet squeak as his forehead rubs against the glass of the window. For a while that is the only sound in response.

Then he turns to look at Dove, and his eyes are a bit red. Not fully blood shoot, but on their way. "I don't want to talk about it. I know what happened." It is not an aggressive refusal, but resigned. He knows what happened. He knows what he needs to do. He takes a moment to look over Dove, and then he snickers. "We should probably hose ourselves off before tracking that inside." An attempt at humor. Trying to bootstrap levity back into the situation.

Dawn Granger has posed:
"I know you know what happened," Dove replies. "That's not why we'd talk." There's a lot more to the situation than just the surface. Plenty to dig into, if she can even get him to talk. "We do need to clean this off. I can't imagine anyone would like us tracking this all the way through the Tower." She smiles at his attempt at humor, squeezing his hand. "We can get cleaned up and relax a bit, okay? If you're okay with that, that is."

Hank Hall has posed:
"Yeah." Hawk nods, giving her hand a squeeze back. He finally moves to slide from the seat, rising up after her. It seems that is about all he has to say for the moment.

Dawn Granger has posed:
While Hawk's not sleepwalking, Dove proceeds to lead him similarly to when she helped him get to bed when he stayed up waiting for her. It's a gentle pull, just a guide even if it's not something he particularly needs. Mostly, it's to keep him moving. She's fine keeping things quiet for now--the fact that he's getting up is already progress.

Hank Hall has posed:
There is a slight nod of appreciation towards Dove. Hawk knows he is not very fun right now, and she is sticking with him. She can tell that he wants to try to pull himself out of this post-rage funk. But he feels it is too close. If he starts talking about his failures, it will get him riled up again, and that is the last thing he wants to do. So he just follows where Dove leads, silently.

Dawn Granger has posed:
Right now, the lack of words is a boon and Dove's more than happy to take it. The comfort of her company, the connection with holding hands, she's doing her best to keep him cool. She's the shield between him and the world right now, and that's enough danger and concern to keep her as Dove for the moment. She's certain that in this case, there's no one that could cool him down other than her.

She keeps an eye out to see if they're too messy to walk through the Tower to Hank's room, and she finds that at this point she doesn't care. They could clean it up later if they had to. Someone might complain, but it'd get done at some point. She leads him to the elevator, eyes scanning around to make sure that no one else approaches. Right now, she doesn't want anything to upset the balance of calm that might be setting in with Hawk.

Hank Hall has posed:
It is a razor thin margin, that balance. Dove can feel it underneath, trying to escape. It is only Hawk's willpower that is keeping it back. Willpower that she likely would know, or at least suspect, that he would not have been enough two weeks ago. He follows along with her, giving her hand a squeeze on occasion as he keeps himself in check. He also seems more than content to walk through the Tower at this point, his joke about hosing off aside. Someone will clean it up, if not them. And it's hardly the worst mess to find its way into the Tower.

Dawn Granger has posed:
Knowing the tech of the Tower, Dove is fairly certain that it might automatically clean or have some kind of Roomba that does more than just vacuum. Right now, she's more concerned with Hawk's mental health than anything else. Bug guts be damned, there's more to unpack than just the level of grossness.

She keeps leading the way until she hits Hank's room, glancing up and down the hall to make sure no one is coming. It's not because she's sneaking in, it's because she needs to make sure Hawk's not disturbed. She's doing her best to keep that razor thin margin from teetering in the direction she doesn't want.

Hank Hall has posed:
Hawk takes a deep breath as the stands at the door to his room. He looks down at the ground, and sighs. Deciding that if there is going to be any splatter from the transformation, better it happen out here than on his stuff, he lets go of Hawk, and transforms back into Hank. If only that transformed the ichor into sunshine and unicorns.

"Thank you," he says, giving her hand another squeeze as he opens the door.

Dawn Granger has posed:
With Hawk returning to Hank, Dawn doesn't feel the need to keep her Dove guise up to protect him in the same way. That and she figures that this is a Hank and Dawn issue now anyway. She squeezes his hand again, ignoring the slightly guilty feeling for the mess that it surely made. "You don't have to thank me," she murmurs. "I do appreciate it, though. I just want you to know I'm here." She steps inside, being careful not to get anything anywhere.

"We're a mess. Physically, I mean," Dawn says with a laugh.

Hank Hall has posed:
"I know, you'll tell me you'd do it anyway," mutters Hank as he follows her inside. He seems to begrudging accept that she isn't going to let him beat himself up too much. "But I still gotta say it." He takes another deep breath, looking to her as he allows the door to close. "You don't have to stay with me," he says. It is a resigned statement without much power behind it - he knows that he wants her to stay just as badly as he knows there is no way she wants to leave. But it has to be said.

He tries to laugh. It comes out as something of one. Progress, at least. "Glad you added that qualifier there." He says with a smirk. "You get first crack at the shower. I'll get some towels." It seems there will not be a lengthy protest about her lingering.

Dawn Granger has posed:
"I know you do, I'm just reminding you that I'm here," Dawn says, watching him carefully. The laugh gives her a little concern that he's still not quite as comfortable as she'd like. "I know I don't have to stay, you know I will, though. You know I want to." If anything, leaving him right now is the /last/ thing she could possibly want.

"Honestly, you might as well join me. Our clothes are going to need washed so it makes sense to get everything all bundled up at once. Getting all of this off will be good for the both of us." She does have an ulterior motive for the offer--it means she doesn't have to leave him alone for any long length of time. Right now, she wants to make sure he knows she's there and remind him of that for as long as possible.

Hank Hall has posed:
"Yeah. I do." Hank waves his hand around vaguely. "Never hurts to hear it, though," he says. There is a trace of a smile there. The clouds parting, maybe. It is coming together. Slowly.

He looks at her for a long moment at that suggestion. He does not want to say that that was what he had been hoping for. He does not have to. "Okay. You get started. We'll still need towels."

Dawn Granger has posed:
Dawn smiles back at him, squeezing his hand for a moment. "Okay. I'll get the shower going, get it to the right temperature. I'll leave my clothes in a careful pile so that it'll be easier to clean up. You can pile yours up there too when you join me." She gazes back at him, the silent communication telling her that the offer was the right move.

"I'd kiss you, but I'm not sure if we might accidently taste mantis guts."

Hank Hall has posed:
Hank just nods along with that. He is keeping it all together. He gives a smile towards her. Maybe a bit of a smirk. He knows her clothes will be in a careful pile. He knows his clothes will be dropped on top of hers. And both will need to be washed at this point now. But he also knows that she doesn't care.

"It'd be worth it," he says, with another bit of a smile. But he seems not about to press that point as he heads in the opposite direction to retrieve some towels. He does, however, give her a few moments to get the shower started. Or maybe to talk to himself before he goes in to face her again.

Dawn Granger has posed:
Dawn watches him walk away, still mildly concerned to leave him alone for too long. Even if she worries, she trusts him to come join her when he's ready. Slipping into the bathroom, it turns out his mental picture is correct. She sheds her clothing and leaves them in a neat pile out of the way. The most contained mess seems to be her plan.

She takes advantage of being there early to adjust the temperature to something she's certain will be comfortable. Now she simply has to wait to make sure he comes back to her. It'd be a lot harder now for her to fetch him.

Hank Hall has posed:
While the thought of a naked Dawn running around trying to track him down _did_ occur to Hank and give him some measure of amusement, he is true to his word and returns in only slighty more time than it would take to obtain the towels. He takes a moment to look at her, and then he laughs. A real laugh, this time. "God you're disgusting," he says as he starts to strip down himself. His clothes end up haphazard on hers. There will definitely be a mess there to clean up.

Dawn Granger has posed:
There's a laugh from Dawn at his comment, his laugh prompting hers. There's a little bit of relief that he's at least there and perhaps she'll be able to focus him. Maybe even get him to talk. "You're /just/ as disgusting, if not more," she comments, though she's grinning now. It feels a lot more like he's coming back to earth and not being driven by that rage.

Hank Hall has posed:
"Well then, we better do something about that," Hank says, as he moves over towards the shower to join her. It does seem like the transformation is nearly complete. He is more Hank than Hawk, and more calm than rage. He nods to her. "But this shit got _everywhere_, and, uh, I think I'm gonna need some help getting it off." He looks her over. "You might, too."

Then there is a hint of that Hank Hall grin.

Dawn Granger has posed:
That's the Hank she knows and loves. Dawn grins in reply, looking back towards him as she starts undoing her braid. "I'm going to need help with my hair, got to make sure I got it all out. /That/ would be the most disgusting thing to keep in." Her grin turns into more of a smile as it seems like the calming did the trick.

The talking about the situation could come later.

Hank Hall has posed:
Watching her slowly undo the braid, Hank nods. "The sort of surprise that would sneak up on you in the middle of the night, huh?" He laughs softly. "That's what I've never done a beard again."

He reaches out to feel the water, and satisfied with its temperature, steps in.

Dawn Granger has posed:
Dawn finishes with the braid, reaching up to shake her hair out and comb it a bit with her fingers. She scrunches up her face at the feel of what is definitely /not/ supposed to be in her hair and stops messing with it. "Yeah, definitely going to have you help me. Having someone other than me make sure it's not all gross would be kind of amazing."

She pauses, then flashes a grin at him. "I mean, /you'd/ be the one having to deal with it middle of the night. Leaning in for a cuddle and smelling my hair..."

Hank Hall has posed:
"You know, we didn't need to wait to be covered with bug guts for me to help you with that." Hank seems to be enjoying the prospect of this moment more and more. "It could, I dunno, be a thing. That we do." His cheeks start to flush a bit.

He laughs. "Like I said before. Totally worth it to me."

Dawn Granger has posed:
There's an almost bashful, timid smile as Dawn looks back at him. "I kind of like that. I could teach you to braid it as well, if you don't already know how." She reaches up a hand to touch his cheek. Thankfully, it's clean thanks to the water. "I like having an 'us' thing. I like us. Having things we do together... that's really sweet. Intimate."

Hank Hall has posed:
"Do I look like I ever learned how to braid hair?" replies Hank, almost indignant. Before he smiles, and nods slowly. "I'd like to learn, yeah. That would be...handy." He leans into her hand. "And fun. I'd enjoy doing that." He breathes slowly. "I could return the favor for how you managed to keep me..." He searches for the right word. He doesn't find it. He knows she knows what he means.

He nods. "I'll never tire of having 'us' things, Dawn." Then he flashes a grin. "But, you know, let's _not_ making washing bug guts off each other one of them, ok?" And with that, he snakes his arm out around her waist and drags her into the shower.