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

[psychometer]

Hm. I'd say so. She keeps letting you inside and that's probably more successful than with any guy that she does know.

Which isn't very many. She's not great with them.

[Connor is new and different and also non-threatening in a way other men aren't, human or otherwise.]

You're not malicious. Hell of an investigating unit, but you don't mean harm and she can sense that.

And you seem to like her QUITE a bit... [Her tone of voice is inquisitive yes.]

[determinare]

I’m sure it’s a matter of how she considers me — not like a “man” that would usually intimidate her. Maybe not even male. Simply an android.

[That might be an incorrect assumption but it’s his best guess.

Though he has to return her look with a quizzical one.]

If I didn’t like her, I wouldn’t be visiting her.

[He’s thinking of the wrong kind of “like”.]

[psychometer]

I dunno. Androids are made to blur the line and while she knows it's there, maybe that isn't the point.

[When he asserts his last statement, Lien looks up at Connor with an equally quizzical look.]

... You were made to track down androids that strayed from their programming before you did that yourself. And from what I was able to gather from your data... Mind... [She changes the wording because what she saw was so much more complex beneath the raw numbers and stats that Connor sees the world in sometimes.]

... They made a swerve because they weren't bound to the programmed loyalty they once had to humans.

What I'm saying is it's... Odd? It's odd how you're bonding with her. Maybe I wasn't expecting an android to show interest in humans.

[determinare]

Is it? Do you think I should only show interest in other androids?

[That’s a rhetorical question, of course.]

Ai doesn’t seem to care that I’m... different than her. She’s well-aware of it, but she’s treated me as a friend regardless.

If she doesn’t see that divide, then why should I? Besides, my best friend is a human.

[psychometer]

Oh, yeah that old guy...

[Lien recalls drinks, the dog, the drunk, the redeemer and redeemed, someone hopeless, but later filled because of Connor. And Connor becoming more whole because of him. ]

... In my twin's case, you're kind of in like uncharted and organic territory. She's probably just as emotional, if not more than your partner. And she did save your life. No wonder you like her.

[determinare]

[Funny how easily he can state:]

I think I would enjoy our time together even if she didn’t have to save my life.

[She’s a kind young woman. He’s had nothing but enjoyment with each visit.]

Yet she doesn’t strike me as the overly emotional type. Unless you’re saying she’s so reserved that she keeps it all locked inside.

[psychometer]

Are you kidding me? She's super emotional. But it's like you said, she kinda does keep to herself at least when it comes to more complicated situations.

[The dishes are almost done and Lien gets to work on a pot of rice and some simple calories to get Ai to eat. ]

She's someone who wishes for so much, but doesn't know how to grasp her dreams with her own hands. And she contradicts herself by wanting to be liked, but wanting to escape at the same time because she's used to never being good enough.

[Ai did talk about flying after all.]

[determinare]

[Yes, he certainly hasn’t forgotten.]

She told me she wants to float away from this world. It’s why she likes flying.

[He works on putting the dishes away, his face shadowed in vague concern.]

Who told her she isn’t good enough? And for what?

[psychometer]

[Silly girl, thinks Lien. But she doesn't say that aloud. Connor's question is proving difficult to answer, not because there isn't one but because there's a lot that comes with it.]

... Humans always want an edge over one another. Psychics especially. You got the idea of how much power she has. So for the longest time, our superiors would use her as leverage; to strike fear into others.

But you know by now right? At her core, she's good. She's gentle.

[A shrug.]

They don't accept that about her. No use for a bleeding heart.

[determinare]

And that’s the life she’s detached herself from? What she’s free of?

[He also hasn’t forgotten the conversation he had with Ai about feeling more free, either.]

[psychometer]

Yeah, pretty much. When she isn't being a fluffy sweetheart who eats waaaaaay too much, she can find it in herself to scare other people.

So long story short, she told them to piss off, or else. But now there's the whole, well "what do I do now?"

[determinare]

[He nods.]

I understand. In a way, that’s similar to how I feel. I possessed a purpose, a mission, and now that I’m free, I have to make my own.

It’s difficult to know what to do with that.

[psychometer]

Here's a start.

Don't put your fingers into people's mouths for one thing.

[determinare]

Don’t worry. I’ve already made a note of it.

[Hank would be proud. Maybe.]

[psychometer]

Good because you only do that after Steps 1 through 3 is achieved.

[She just made these up, don't ask]

That being said, you're a sincere weirdo, so even when you do off-kilter crap, at least Ai is fast to forgive. Lucky for you huh?

[determinare]

[...He doesn’t even know where to even begin with that.]

And what are steps 1 through 3?

[Time to make shit up, Lien.]

1/2

[psychometer]

[CRAP DAMMIT]

[psychometer]

... Heh.

[She pats his shoulder and then walks past him like some dramatic anime protagonist.]

You'll learn when you're older.

[determinare]

[He blinks, not even sure what that has to do with anything.]

How much older?

[Ah, well. She’s walked away. Maybe he can ask Ai later.]

later...

[emotive]

[Well, now he may never know. An hour and a half later, Ai wakes up in bed and next to her on her dresser is a tray with some easy to eat oatmeal, chopped up fruits, and some cheese on toast made by Lien in addition to her cough and cold medicine and plenty of water in a large chilled bottle.

She partakes in her medicine and then her food, wondering if she may have forgotten something... Oh yeah! Ai calls out in a muted voice due to the coughing that's been straining her throat.]

Connor? Are you still here?

[determinare]

[And so he appears a moment or two later in the doorway to her room, stepping in. It’s good to see her awake, though she needed the rest.

Connor offers a smile, glancing briefly at the food and medicine set up for her.]

I’m still here. Your sister visited while you slept and left you something to eat, as well as your medicine.

[emotive]

Oh... I'm surprised she didn't wake me up.

[She smiles down at the bowl of oatmeal in her hands.]

I took my medicine just now so I think I'll feel better in a while. [Ai points to a chair at the desk and it moves to face the android.]

You can sit down if you'd like Connor. You came all this way to visit and I can't even take you out right now, so I feel a little bad.

[determinare]

I doubt she wanted to wake you when you needed the rest so badly. And you were deeply asleep.

[He moves closer, just so that he can sit at the chair offered to him. Connor places his hands on his lap, back straight as usual.]

Don’t feel bad. It isn’t as if you know when I’m going to visit, since we don’t have a way of contacting each other when I’m in my world. Besides, I would rather help you feel better.

[emotive]

It'd be nice if we had a way to contact each other consistently. [The oatmeal is finished up so she'll just drink water as they chat with each other.]

But when you visit, it's always like a pleasant surprise. No downside to that.

[determinare]

Are you saying your powers don’t cross through the universes?

[He’s kidding, of course. And he knows she prefers to stay out of people’s heads.]