sweethymns | ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴀʟʟ

Here.

[Ai places it in his hand and nods.]

Take your time.

[She rubs her forehead and crosses her arms thinking.]

We really have to get you new clothes though.

[Appreciative, he nods and takes the phone. Holding it in one hand, the touches a finger on the screen — a finger that’s turned white, glossy and plastic-looking, surely not like the flesh it had appeared to be just seconds ago. Connor then closes his eyes and… hacks into her wifi, ironically enough.

LTE? How archaic. That alone tells him something isn’t right, that this network is slow and sluggish and barely can handle his own advanced interfacing. But a second is all he needs. A single moment to touch the vast web of the internet, all the flow of information cascading around him, and the dates… the dates, the events, all of it, it confirms what she’s said. He’s in 2016. There’s no doubt about it.

He cuts off the connection with a jolt, dropping her phone. But so quickly he returns to reality that a millisecond later, Connor lurches down to catch it with his other hand. He pauses, still, then straightens.

Connor hands it to her.]

You’re… right. You weren’t lying.

[The comment about his clothes have flown right over his head in the wake of this revelation.]

How?

[Uh oh, her phone-- good he catches it. She takes it back and pushes it into her pocket.]

I really don't know.

[Ai Thao sighs shaking her head.]

It's like you just appeared out of nowhere. But however you came here, it wasn't kind to your body; it was a rough trip.

I was merely walking. Walking and turning a corner and-

[And then he was here. Connor purses his lips together, looking at her curiously and skeptically all the same.]

I think you owe me an explanation. Regarding who you are, what you did to fix me, and why the idea of time travel and androids is one you're so casual about.

Oh, geez... Where do I even start?

[She tugs on her single braid nervously, trying to rearrange the order of her thoughts once again. There's just so MUCH to explain and she's not sure if she's the best one to consult.]

Well, first off I'm--...

[And then there's a loud gurgling noise emitting from her stomach. Oops. Ai's face turns red and she looks at her strewn groceries on the ground.]

...

...

Hungry...

[He waits for an explanation, for anything that will clear up a handful of the questions encompassing his head.

But instead, he’s met with a growl of a stomach — and it certainly isn’t coming from him. Connor raises a brow.]

…

[And, stepping forward, he bends down to grab the half-spilled bag paper bag, then reaching out to place everything quickly and effectively back within.]

You can tell me after you eat, then. And we can deal with my clothing situation to the best of your judgment, too, if that will be a concern.

[Ai nods her face a little red as she places her hands over her stomach. So much for a serious conversation.]

Let's... Yeah. We'll go to my place so I can make something for myself.

[She pauses and looks at Connor again.]

Do you eat?

[He straightens with a rustle, a big bag of groceries held easily in his arms. He tilts his head ever so slightly at her, and blinks.]

I don't require food or drink like humans, no. But I can assist with the preparation if you prefer.

[Since she's willing to aid him, it's the least he can do.]

My name is Connor, by the way.

[She seems unsure about whether she'll have Connor carry the groceries or not. At least it's covering his chest where the blue blood has made a mess of his clothing.]

Connor... It's good to make your acquaintance then! Even under these circumstances.

[She gives him a friendly smile and bows her head to him.]

I'm Ai Thao Kha. I don't know if there's anything useful in my apartment room for an android, but I do want to help you out as best as I can. And I'll try to explain what I just did too.

[He nods in acknowledgment, shifting the groceries in his arms. To be honest, he has considered the fact that it covers his blood like this, and should draw less suspicion when they walk.

(Nothing to be done about the big glowing letters of "ANDROID" on the back of his jacket, though.)]

It's good to meet you. And I don't only mean that because you saved my life.

[But it's mostly that.]

Please lead the way. I'm sure your living arrangements should suit me just fine for the time being.

[He's so polite! Ai blinks a few more times because she has to remind herself, this is an android. Not a human, it's an imitation...

Is he though? If that was the case, she wouldn't have been able to heal him effectively as she did.]

You're welcome! I did what I could.

Let's get moving before anyone passes by.

→ → →

[They're able to get to Ai's apartment with more discretion than expected, probably because she was standing behind Connor the whole way there without anyone really looking at him. Just a nice man helping out a young woman with her groceries, no big deal. She closes the door behind the both of them, sighing in relief.]

Okay, meal time. Ah, but you should change your shirt first! Is your jacket laundry friendly?

[She gestures to the counter island so that Connor can set down the groceries before she moves to her room to see what she can make do with.

The apartment is small but modern and sleek. It's well-kept, not professionally so but rather the result of Ai working hard to make sure her living space is clean and refreshing.

She calls to Connor from her room.]

In the fridge, can you take out a container that has salmon in it? That's going to be my meal!

[He follows obideitnly enough, though it's obvious that he's glancing around, attempting to take in the surroundings the entire time.

When they reach her apartment, it really does seem very old-fashioned to him. Connor comes from a world of high-tech, super sleek, ultra-modern design and architecture. This is all still very foreign to him, as if he's just a visitor (which he is), but in a way it does seem very... quaint. If circumstances were not so strange, he wouldn't mind it very much at all.

He sets the groceries down, then casts a glance down at his clothes. For the first time, he really gets a chance to look, and-- well. It's a mess. His shirt and jacket are stained through with blood all across the front, and it's even gotten on his slim tie. At least his jeans seem untouched by his synthetic blood.

Connor shrugs off the jacket.]

Dry clean only, actually.

[He blinks again once he hears the request regarding the salmon. Having never actually cooked, but at least knowing what a salmon looks like, he wanders over to the kitchen and opens the fridge door. The salmon is taken out, glanced over curiously, and set on the counter.]

What else should I do?

Um...

Rice! There's some in the rice cooker that's been on the warm setting. Can you get a large bowl and put two big scoops in it? Almost done, I don't have anything big enough... Ah.

[ There are more rustling noises and she calls out to him again.]

And a pair of chopsticks, please! It's in the counter underneath the rice cooker. Thank you and sorry for imposing on you!

... Make that three scoops of rice.

[she... eats a lot... ]

[Are you sure you want him to handle all your food while wearing these blood-soaked clothes...

But Connor will do as he's asked, anyway. They're simple enough tasks for him, after all, and he goes for the rice and chopsticks with ease.

Yet when she amends her request for a third scoop, he calls back-]

Three? I said you didn't have to share with me, remember?

Oh.

No, that's all for me.

[she hungry]

Don't worry about it. Anyways, I think I might have something for you to wear, but I hope you don't mind it...

[Ai Thao comes out with a white t-shirt brows furrowed as if she wished she had something better. She holds it out to Connor.]

This is a large sized shirt. My sister bought this for me as a joke, but other than that it should fit your build. Sorry it's so weird.

Did you not eat at all today?

[It's a legitimate question! But one that trials off, almost forgotten, when she returns with clothing in-hand. He takes the shirt, holding it up and reading the text across it. He has no real opinion on it (it seems like it'll fit him, and it'll be easy enough to move in), and he's silent for a moment or two.

He then lowers his arms to look at her.]

It looks like it'll fit me fine, so there shouldn't be a problem. But how much did this shirt cost you?

[joke

connor's head]

Ah.

[Okay, so that at least reminds her that she's talking to an android; she can see the joke fly over his head and hit the opposite wall.

But she waves it off.]

Don't worry about it. You can change in the bathroom. Thank you for setting up some of my food!

[Her eyes are laser-focused on having delicious marinated salmon over rice. She's been waiting for this! It's almost more exciting than finding an android from the FUTURE]

[Must he treat this shirt with the upmost care? Surely, because it's obviously a very expensive article of clothing and she's very kind to let him wear it. He just nods, smiling a little, and disappears into the bathroom for a moment.

Coming out, he's wearing the t-shirt, with his bloody clothes folded neatly in his hands. He places them near where he's left his jacket, and wanders over to the table where Ai's seated to eat. He takes it upon himself to draw up an empty chair and take his own seat.]

So, now that food and clothing is settled [DOESN'T HE LOOK SO FASHIONABLE....], I thought we might continue our prior conversation.

[She's made her salmon rice bowl, with the fish arranged in a flowery pattern, topped with some wasabi and seaweed strips. Of course, she's already attacked it so by the time Connor is done changing, about a third of the bowl's contents has been consumed. Ai looks up at the android with stuffed cheeks and chewing and trying to register his new appearance.

It's... Well... Look. At least it fits.

She continues to chew and digest and nods at Connor. She swallows and takes a deep breath. And then scoops another bunch of rice with fish and stuffing her mouth as if she hadn't eaten in days. An index finger is held up as she tries to speak with a muffled voice.]

1 min'...! Eatin'.

[Like a squirrel...]

[Yes, the shirt fits. It sure... does.

But Connor blinks in surprise at the zest directed towards her food. The way she's stuffing her face, practically wolfing down the contents of her bowl. He's told to wait and he will, straight-backed with his hands in his lap, watching her eat. He's fairly certain he's never seen a human eat quite like this before.

He waits. But then:]

You should chew your food. Eating too quickly will give you indigestion, not to mention heighten the risk of you accidentally choking.

Hm?

[That breaks her focus and she swallows, takes a drink of water from a tall glass before she replies to Connor.]

I am chewing. I'm really fast at it, that's all.

Not that I'm saying you're wrong though. I'm just used to eating fast since I burn calories really quickly compared to most people.

[Oh? That's interesting. Connor puts his elbows on the table, leaning forward a little with interest.]

I see. Is that because of your unusual abilities?

[She nods through another bite and properly swallows again before replying.]

That's mostly it. I'm applying a lot of brain power especially if I'm emitting my own energy like that to apply it to an intense process like the healing I did for you.

[That make sense, of course. The more energy exerted, the more required to recover, to replace. The fact that every meal of hers must look something like this, he thinks, would be the only natural conclusion to come to.]

And so we loop back around to my original request for information. Will you tell me what it is you do, exactly? Where these 'brain powers' of yours come from, and what they consist of?

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