sweethymns | ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴀʟʟ

Nnnn. Apology... [Cough, cough!] Apology accepted.

[She'll give this a shot and try to explain?? Maybe?? Picking herself up, Ai drapes her arms across the top of the sofa facing Connor and gestures with her arms.]

It's like... I get that you were helping. So thanks, but on the other hand because it was my mouth it was invasive... Do you get it? Like...

[Ai takes a deep breath and then another cough, god, she is trying.]

I asked you to let me help you first before I actually touched you. Kind of. Sort of. Oh god, I don't remember clearly anymore.

[She sniffs because she feels miserable, cold with a breaking fever sucks.]

[Ah, she looks so miserable, and empathy rises up once more, making him feel guilty for being so thoughtless. He should’ve asked.]

I understand. Sometimes the lines are blurred regarding the boundaries of personal space, and it differs from individual to individual. I should’ve erred on the side of caution and asked you first. It won’t happen again.

[He settles next to her, on the edge of the couch cushion, giving her enough room to stretch out of she needs to.]

Do you need anything, Ai? Have you taken medicine for your cough or fever?

[Ai's curling up in a ball now. Her long hair drapes across her back and her shoulders and she manages to mumble a reply.]

Medicine... Lien's bringing it over. I've only been drinking water. Haven't eaten yet.

I see.

[He's glad that her sister is at least coming over to aid her. But in the meanwhile, he stands again.]

Is there anything I can do for you? Would you like more water? Something to eat? A blanket, maybe?

Or I can carry you to your bed, since that's more comfortable than the couch.

... I don't mind if you carry me to bed.

[Anything sounds better than actually moving right now.]

All right.

[Easy enough, and it's better than standing around, wrapped in guilt for making her feel worse.]

Then up you go.

[He bends down to scoop her up. He's careful, of course, but the motion is swift and he manages it with relative ease. He registers how warm she is -- it must be due to the fever.

Connor turns to head towards the hall, where he can only assume her bedroom is located. (He's not sure, given he's never stepped foot in it himself.)]

[She's not sure if it's because he's sturdier compared to a human, but she just feels really light in his arms.

One of the doors opens by itself; Ai did that of course, and she points to it.]

In there. [Ai leans against his chest.]

Thank you Connor.

[Leaning against him, she can probably feel the beat of what keeps the Thirium pumping in his veins. The strange, orchestrated movements and vibrations of parts working in tandem with each other, all of which makes up an android. All of which makes up Connor.]

You don't need to thank me. I'm just a friend wanting to help another friend.

[He moves towards the open door, entering her room. Connor crosses over to the bed, and gently sets her down. Then his hands go towards the edges of the sheets.]

Do you want to be covered?

Mm hm.

[The sensation of his pumping blue blood rings in her ears, faint as it was. She brushes her hair aside from her face and nods to Connor.]

That too. Not all the way, please. I kinda feel sweaty.

[Does this count as being spoiled, this feels like being spoiled]

[Probably, but she's sick and allowed to be spoiled.

He nods and situates the sheets to where it only covers her bottom half. In the midst of arranging it neatly, still bent over, he speaks.]

Do you think your sister will be here soon? You really should take something soon so you'll feel better.

[There's no answer. And that's because, after a cough or two, it's replaced with the soft breathing through her lips and nose and Ai Thao's eyes are closed, sure signs of a sleeping person.

She might have murmured whether Lien was going to be there soon or not, but it gets lost as she drifts to sleep.]

[When Connor receives only barely-coherent mumbling as a response, he lifts his eyes to look at her. She’s drifted off; he can tell by the tempo of her breathing, her closed eyes. He remains silent, straightening the sheets for a moment longer before he stands.

He should leave her to rest, he thinks. The would be the best thing to do right now, until Lien shows up, but Connor lingers there for a moment more, simply watching her sleeping form. She’s looks sick and tired, but there’s something peaceful about her face, unperturbed by the waking world. His eyes linger on her expression, and he leans in again slightly, one hand pressing into the edge of the mattress.

The other hand reaches over to brush away a stray strand of hair across her forehead.]

HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOO!!! Delivery is here! Rejoice!

[The door's unlocked. There's a flurry of plastic bags and the noise of shoes thudding on the floor. There's the light clink of jewelry as its wearer slides across the room to the bedroom. The gentle and warm atmosphere of the apartment has been shaken up in a rude way and the cause appears right in front of Ai's doorway.]

I got you some white peach Calpico Ai! Oh and some pudding, but you really should lay off the sweets if you want to—

[Lien Kha sees Connor. She sees Ai asleep on her bed, unperturbed by any noise or the presence of the android over her.]

To—...

[Her smile is still plastered on her face in a goofy way as she glances back and forth as if waiting for another surprise. But, no, it's just Connor in the middle of aa subtle(?) gesture towards her twin.]

... Did I interrupt a moment?

[It’s hard to miss when Lien’s making an entrance.

Connor retracts his hand, but not in an embarrassed, surprised way. He merely turns his head to spot Lien in the doorway, and he straightens. He turns to look at her, clasping his hands behind his back.

He blinks at her, and it’s very obvious that he’s not at all put-off by her arrival. He’s probably even completely oblivious to what she could be talking about, made obvious by his question:]

Hello, Lien. What moment?

Edited 2018-06-13 19:18 (UTC)

... Man.

You know, if I didn't know that you were an android and I didn't read your memories, I would almost think you were trying to pretend you weren't doing anything fishy.

[Not that it doesn't help his case but]

Connor. What you were doing is what we humans call, "A Moment."

... Anyways, did you put her to bed? Thanks!

[At least she can deduce that, she's actually an investigator after all!]

I did. I came to visit, but she was feeling ill. I offered to bring her to her bed; apparently, she needed the sleep very badly. She has a cough and she's running a fever. 101.1 degrees Fahrenheit.

[But he still feels like he's missing something here.]

A "moment" of care-taking, you mean?

[How was that suspicious? He didn't understand.]

101.1 degrees? Yeesh!

[Lien moves past Connor to her own hand over Ai's forehead. It's burning for real and she then quickly moves to the bathroom across from the bedroom to turn on the water and soak a white face towel with ice cold water. Wringing it, she calls to Connor.]

How'd you check her temp? Just a scan right?

…No.

[There’s the smallest moment of hesitation before he calls out in return, because Connor knows that he’s probably committed some sort of faux pas. (Even if he doesn’t understand all of its implications.)]

I put my finger under her tongue.

[The second he confesses, there's a good 30-second pause with the sound of running water between the two of them. Lien turns off the water, wrings the towel and goes back to put the towel on Ai's forehead.

And THEN she looks at Connor with disbelief.]

BUT WHY?

[To him, this loop of logic is pretty straightforward?! Again, humans and mouths.... weird.]

To take her... temperature?

[But now he sounds unsure, THANKS FOR THAT.]

Connor.

[Hands are taking his shoulders.]

Buddy.

[She looks at him seriously.]

I've seen what those fingers touched. The thought of you putting those in her mouth is gonna make me break out into sickness too.

[He raises his head ever so slightly, chin tilting up as he looks at her.]

I washed my hands, Lien. I'm not that thoughtless.

[A beat.]

And it was a finger. Not multiple.

That doesn't make it better, oh my god.

I apologized for being... invasive, so you don't need to worry about that. But I still don't understand why it was such an issue at the time.

[And now it's being brought up again!]

[She opens her mouth to speak, but Ai is stirring in her sleep, so Lien tugs at Connor's sleeve and motions for him to go to the kitchen with her.]

C'mon, we're gonna wake her up at this rate. Besides, I wanna catch up since she got you all to herself the last few times you visited.

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WHADDAUP BINCH

rip

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