ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴀʟʟ

[formidable]

Androids, psychics, magic, investigations, and finding out how to human. ➢ Cool Mood Music No. 1 ➤ Cool Mood Music No. 2

Comments

[emotive]

[wHAT]

... That sounds like a scary man!!

[determinare]

[He drops his hand back to his lap.]

He wasn’t particularly personable at first. He hated androids. To have been partnered with one was an insult to him at first.

[The wryness of his smile hasn’t quite left yet.]

But I’m glad I eventually changed his mind on the matter.

[emotive]

[Lt. Anderson listens to heavy metal and threatens to shoot a nice android man, Ai has the face of an Unsure Person.]

If you say so... He sounds like he'd be hard to deal with if you didn't choose your words carefully. Then again, police figures tend to be hard for me to deal with in general...

Almost done combing by the way. You can tell me if it looks okay or not.

[determinare]

[He notices that look, and Connor thinks that maybe he should try to make Hank sound a little more flattering. He really isn't a bad man at all.]

I realize my descriptors don't shine him in the best light. But Hank really is a good friend. He's helped me a lot and currently... well, I had no place to go after- [He pauses. After CyberLife.] -after many androids were freed. He let me stay with him.

[He's indebted to Hank in a lot of ways.]

And please take your time with combing. I appreciate the effort.

[emotive]

Hm. You're mostly honest, so I'll take your word for it about him. I'm glad you have someone in your world to be your friend.

[She's done with his hair and takes a step back. Taking out her phone, Ai unlocks it so she can open up the camera function and use it as a makeshift mirror for Connor to look at.]

There! Is that okay?

[determinare]

[He straightens when she's done, looking at his reflection in the phone screen. His hair is still a little damp, but the wetness aids in keeping it neat. She's done a good job, all things considered.]

It looks perfect. You really took note of the style of my hair.

[Somehow that's amusing to him.]

Thank you. Do you need me to do anything for you in return?

[emotive]

I was almost overthinking it, but I think it was easier to style than I thought in the end.

Anything in return... [She's twisting her damp hair over her shoulder and squeezing it both hands, thinking.]

... Could we watch one movie before you have to leave? I mean... You keeping me company is more than enough.

[determinare]

[Oh, that's easy enough to agree to.]

A movie? Of course. I have plenty of time to stay as long as you want or need me to; time's not moving normally in my world right now, remember?

[He shifts in his seat a little, looking curious.]

What sort of movie were you wanting to watch?

[emotive]

Let's see...

[Ai retrieves the remote TV and plops herself next to Connor, looking through some rentable movies on her streaming service.]

Maybe something with some action at the very least. Thriller maybe? I tend to watch some more relaxing media on my own, but it might be easier to watch those other genres with you.

[After some scrolling, her eyes land on a classic title and it's...]

Alien... 1979. Oh, this one is pretty old! Lien said this one was scary, but good.

[determinare]

"Alien"?

[He doesn't recall anything like that in his database, and a cursory mental search brings up nothing specific pertaining to 1979. And so, the conclusion is easy enough to make:]

I assume it's a sci-fi film that must be exclusive to your world? I'm interested to see how the future was envisioned to be in the late 70's.

[emotive]

I hope we can both enjoy it then! This is definitely outside of my tastes, but it's good to expand the type of things I watch.

[Godspeed.

She presses play and the movie begins. The atmosphere already feels mysterious and dark, but that's what's intriguing and keeping her hooked. Eyes, attentive to the screen, Ai makes sure to pull her mostly dried giant bear over to stay cozy.]

[determinare]

[Connor watches silently, seated on the couch with his back straight, his body language attentive. He's never taken the time to watch a movie before (another first), and with the images flashing before him on the tv screen, he finds himself becoming relatively quickly lost in the narrative.

The aesthetic of the 70's is glaringly obvious, but even so, it depicts an interesting universe in possession of technology that was still far beyond the scope of his own world. Deep space, and the dangers that lurked within; what atrocities could be housed within the flesh casings of a human body, and how vulnerable the lives of the crew truly were.

It's not without its creeping tension, of course. During particularly stressful moments, Connor leans forward, hands grasping at his knees. His eyes never leave the screen, not yet.]

[emotive]

[The movie takes its time and it takes Ai time to start feeling the tension and thinking that she might have been in over her head with this movie. And yet she couldn't look away. She finds herself being invested in the fate of the crew of the Nostromo.

Connor may hear her mutter "I'm okay, I'm okay, I'm okay..."; arms slowly wrap around her legs and her body stiffens as the sense of dread begins to pile on...]

1/2

[determinare]

[It’s a fairly well-known scene at this point. The tension is running high and in the narrative, shit has definitely already hit the fan. Connor still remains enthralled rather than put off by any of the more gruesome moments — he seems quite interested in the story and the fate of those still alive.

The stress and build-up for this scene is not insignificant. Anyone who has seen it knows what comes next. And though Connor remains silent and his body language only a little stiff, all it takes—]

[determinare]

[—is a grand swell of music, an alien literally bursting forth from a man’s chest in a bloody show, and Connor startles in his seat, jerking back and grasping a hand on the back of the couch. His eyes widen and he lets out the customary yell of surprise that are prerequisite of any good jump scare. ]

[emotive]

[She also yells when the chest burster alien makes its entrance and without thinking, she grabs Connor's sleeve and several pillows move to cover up her whole body and her face, leaving one arm sticking out of one hole to keep a hold of him.

Just. Oh no. OH NO. Ai knew this was scary, but NOT TO THIS EXTENT.]

[determinare]

[It's almost sensory overload (poor android boy) with the dread excitment of what's happening on screen, coupled with Ai's yell and the way she's grasping his sleeve, tugging him a little closer.

He can feel his Thirium pump moving quickly in his chest, and he turns his head to look at her -- she's mostly covered up in pillows. And despite everything, he has to give out a shaky laugh.]

Is this too much for you?

[emotive]

I'M OKAY!

[Or so she yells, muffled behind the pillows. Ai seems to realize she was holding onto him and lets go of him. One pillow drops from her face so that there's a square-shaped slot to still see the screen out of.]

But this feels safer.

[Safe from the imaginary aliens, yes]

[determinare]

[His sleeve is let go of, but it's not like he minded it to start. Still, he almost feels the need to tease her for her reaction. (Not like he didn't jump or anything, too.)

The movie continues playing in the background as he speaks.]

The couch cushions make you feel safe?

[emotive]

It's a psychological defense Connor.

[She seems serious enough about her pillow fort.]

Maybe the jump scares won't be as bad with these.

[determinare]

[And at that, he just laughs lightly.]

I see. That makes sense. I'm sure the aliens won't get you in there.

[emotive]

If they do, I'm gonna crush them.

[SHE SOUNDS SO SERIOUS and it's funnier in retrospect considering her powers. The movie continues and she flinches as the crew is finished off painfully by their alien enemies, sneaking through the air vents.]

[determinare]

[You know... he has no doubt that she can. Smiling, he returns to the movie, and is soon drawn back in.

Though, randomly, he speaks up:]

Do you think aliens like this might exist in reality? Not just fiction.

[emotive]

Oh. Well.

[Considering the other supernatural elements that can exist alongside psychics in this world...]

... Possibly. It's funny, we only know so much about space as the experts do. Psychics aren't that in tune with it.

[And neither are magickind. It truly is the final frontier.]

[determinare]

[He tilts his head at the screen. It's true that the point of this film was not necessarily meant to spark such existential questions, but Connor's mind has wandered in that direction.]

The unknown of space can make one feel much smaller as an individual, I think.