sweethymns | ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴀʟʟ

Will you try?

[He shifts his body to face her, stepping forward. His words are imploring, and he has the look in his eyes like a man who's finally got his hooks into a lead.]

Assuming this isn't too dangerous of a task for you to undertake, I think it's the best chance I have at returning home.

[When it approaches her, it gives her a start, but she stays where she is looking up at Connor and the expression in his eyes.

Expression. Even he has that. Why was that so equally compelling in a machine as it was any other human? Ai doesn't know what else to do but nod.]

I'll try. You're needed where you are after all.

...thank you.

[He hadn't realized it, but a bit of tension in his shoulders unwind upon hearing her agree. The spark hasn't left his eyes, but it softens a little.]

I'll find a way to pay you back, somehow.

[Big words, for someone who might be in a different universe altogether. But it's only right.]

Don't worry about that.

[Ai realizes she's been saying that a lot to Connor; ironic considering she can be a huge worrywart herself, insecure, and having the continuous struggle against passiveness.]

We'll get you home. I promise.

[He nods, his smile creeping back.]

In that case, I’ll be ready to give it a try whenever the both of you are prepared. Please do not hurry on my account. I know your sister still has to recover from reading my memories.

If you're gonna pay us back, I want a Detroit styled pizza.

[Yes, she's still on about the pizza.]

I dunno how you'll deliver it, but I want it. With a lot of pepperonis and crispy cheese.

Edited 2018-06-09 18:46 (UTC)

[There's a pause from Ai who GENUINELY looks like she's intrigued by the pizza and maybe even wants the same as Lien. But she just covers her mouth and waves her hand at Connor while shaking her head.]

You don't have to do that.

[Here’s Connor making a mental note of that request, something to figure out how to do — would he be able to come back and visit sometime?

Well. He’ll try his best to figure it out.]

I don’t have to, but I will. If an android can cross dimensions, then why not a pizza?

[He tilts his head, laughing lightly.]

Right?

Interdimensional pizza? Now we're talking.

[Lien lays on her back again and turns to Ai.]

Can I have some ibuprofen, please? I'll only take it once today and it should tide me over.

[Ai nods and goes to retrieve the medication. When she's gone, Lien turns her attention back to Connor.]

... Hey. I got question about androids.

[He looks at her, and of course he’ll answer with his own curiosity.]

I imagine so. Please feel free to ask anything you like.

[She pauses, pinching the bridge of her nose.]

Nnn. I'm not gonna comb over everything you showed me. It was like watching an 8-hour movie in 3 minutes.

... What I wanted to ask is if... Are androids like you going to be okay or not?

[She turns her head to fully face him and for a moment she really looks more like Ai with seriousness and somberness coloring the surface of her eyes.]

Were they just made in a world that said it needed them, but hated them anyways?

[Ah.

It’s impossible to miss the flicker of emotion that passes through his face. Something troubled, for she’s hit upon a question that’s pretty much answered itself.]

That’s not a question that I can answer, really. What you said is correct — we were made because we were needed, and we made the life of humans easier and more efficient. However, some of the populace became resentful of us; those who lost their jobs, those who saw androids as an abomination. Those who were afraid of what they didn’t understand, and afraid of androids rising up and taking over.

[Rightfully so.]

Things are changing in my world. But I can’t pretend to know where we’ll all be in the future. I can’t answer your question satisfactorily.

[Lien nods in understanding.]

I get'cha. And to be fair, if you asked me or Ai something along the similar lines of, "Are you going to be okay..."

[She turns her gaze to the ceiling again.]

We'd say the same thing. We wouldn't have a good answer.

Not that different from you. [She closes her eyes.] Kind of makes you think.

[Connor looks at her silently for a moment, not quite sure what she means. Not that different from him?

Sinking into the couch cushions after deciding to sit again, he asks for clarification.]

What do you mean by that?

Hm. What do I mean indeed...

[She keeps her eyes closed as if she's sleeping, but her mouth keeps moving as she continues her train of thought.]

We're both uncertain about the future. Sometimes we have the means to calculate the highest and lowest probabilities of the choices we make, but I think we both understand that those are not guarantees about the shape we end up being as a result. Especially when you have actual sentience and you understand yourself. When you know yourself, you inherently understand that "life" is unpredictable.

Well. At least I hope you understand that after crossing over into a world that isn't like your own.

[A pause. Her chest moves up and down as she takes soft breaths and it's almost like she's sleeping until she speaks up again.]

Sorry. Sounds like rambling, huh? Just wanted to get that out. You're a good listener.

[Lien has a lot on her mind, he thinks. To be in possession of thoughts like these are the sort that run quite parallel to his own. That feeling of being on unsure footing, unable to see far ahead of oneself where the future is concerned.

Chasing away the fog to discover just who he is, just who he wants to be, and if the world will still allow him to define himself as he likes.]

It’s not rambling. Thoughts like these are important.

[Always best to get them out.]

Is your future not a clear path in front of you, Lien?

[Her mouth forms into a frown.]

It never was.

I don't think I mind that now, not as much as I used to.

Is the life of a psychic an unstable one as a general rule?

[He remembers asking Ai about what she did, and the answer he received.]

Your sister told me that she’s happier being “free”.

We try to maintain stability in a sense. Even when we're not living in a commune, we're still connected to one another and we... "Self-correct" to put it lightly.

[Meaning if anyone is out of line, another will come along for punishing.]

In Ai's case? Well...

[Speaking of which, Ai is coming back with the ibuprofen so...]

[... This can only mean Lien making a 180 degree swerve.]

Hey.

Connor, do androids have nips?

[Ai freezes because she just walked in right when the question is presented and the poor psychic looks SO CONFUSED AND ABHORRED AT THAT QUESTION.]

[Connor is not so unable to read the social cues in the room to not know why Lien has changed the subject. It’s a little jarring, but that seems to be the status quo with her.

He pauses only a second before rolling with it.]

Androids were created to look and mostly function as closely to humans as possible. So effectively, yes, we do.

[As long as his “skin” is active, at least.]

Wow. That CyberLife company sure is thorough.

Are you sure a detective android really needs them though? Like if the nips shot lasers then MAYBE—

Edited 2018-06-09 23:52 (UTC)

[Instead of telekinetically punishing Lien, Ai opts to ball one hand into a fist and noogie Lien's head instead who then can only yelp in protest "OWOWOWOWOWOWOW!!!!!"

Simultaneously, Ai turns to Connor and sighs apologetically.]

You don't have to answer her questions all the time. I think you're catching on to how she works.

Edited 2018-06-09 23:56 (UTC)

[Or maybe he was answering the question for the sake of a subject change, Ai! You’ll never know.]

I don’t mind answering though.

[He seems unaffected by the sight. This is obviously just how these two sisters function.]

I think it’s only natural to be curious about how androids work. How we’re made differently, and how we’re the same.

I mean... It's so invasive though. Talking about your body parts is invasive for humans already, so shouldn't that be the same for androids too?

[Lien is surrendering by putting a pillow between Ai's fist and her head.]

ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴀʟʟ

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