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]

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.]

[emotive]

[She plays along with it and leans back into her pillows giving a hum.]

If only.

... I could try visiting you for a change. I want to see what your world is like if that doesn't bother you.

[determinare]

[He looks surprised for a moment.]

...No. That doesn’t bother me. Things are not as raucous as they once were, but—

[He pauses.]

I’d prefer it if you stayed near me if you visited. That and I think Hank would suggest the same.

That is to say, yes. You’re welcome to, if you’re interested.

[emotive]

Huh. I surprised you.

[She's caught that expression; is it because he's android she can read him more easily or it's just that the time they've been spending together makes it less challenging. Ai leans forward again, pulling up her knees so she can put her arms on top of them.]

And I am interested. All the technology that doesn't exist in our world is at least worth seeing. Oh. And I definitely want to see other androids. AND I want to meet your friend Hank.

[determinare]

[He quirks a brow.]

Believe it or not, if can be done. Surprising me, I mean. I didn’t expect you to want to visit my world after all you’ve probably heard about it.

[But he digresses.]

But I would be happy for you to meet other androids. And Hank might finally believe my story about being able to visit this place.

[He back in his chair just a little.]

But we should worry about that only after you’ve recovered. Not to mention that I think I still owe you an apology.

1/2

[emotive]

I want to see what it's like on your side of the fence so to speak. It's only fair since you've been making the visits after all.

[She blinks when he mentions about owing her an apology.]

An apology? An apology for...?

[emotive]

[Her eyes land on his hands randomly and it clicks. Oh. OH. OOOOOH.]

... Did you tell Lien!? She didn't tell you anything weird did she?!

[determinare]

[She’s already guessed at it, and Connor is having difficulties deciding whether or not this is off to a good start.]

She asked how I took your temperature, and I told her what happened.

[He could either beat around the bush or just speak plainly. It’s Connor, so obviously he opts for the latter.]

She then informed me that what I did could have been misconstrued as a sexual gesture, and your reaction made more sense to me as a result. I didn’t mean to imply anything lewd or make you uncomfortable. I simply didn’t know.

[emotive]

[Her face is overheating now, thinking about how that conversation with Lien went. How does anyone in their life live so bluntly like her sister??? This is a mystery she cannot hope to fathom so she's covering her face again, her muffled voice replying to Connor.]

I mean...! I knew you didn't know Connor! And you didn't need to apologize again! Aaaaauuugh, thinking about it makes me feel so embarrassed!!

[determinare]

I’m sorry.

[He apologies again anyway.]

You know that wasn’t my intention. That my mind doesn’t ever really skew in that direction.

[IS THIS HELPING]

[emotive]

[Blue eyes peek in between her fingers at Connor.]

Doesn't it?

[Slowly, the hands are removed from her face as she looks at the android curiously.]

... That... That makes sense. You just don't sound embarrassed at all when you present it that way.

[determinare]

No. I—

[He pauses.]

Most androids are not even equipped to have sex with a human. Nor do their inclinations run that way, unless they garner some kind of affection beforehand. Which I suppose is possible, after all that’s happened recently.

[He wonders how many androids built to be companions stayed with their humans. If there was a thread of fondness there that kept them loyal, that made them not feel as if they were merely an object being used. It’s a complex situation.]

So it’s possible for me to start thinking in those terms, I suppose. But I promise that I was merely concerned for your health at the time.

[emotive]

O-Oh.

[And that helps broaden her view of android even more so than before. ]

You never struck me that way Connor, just so we're clear. There's a lot for you to learn. And it's the same for me. I don't mind... Getting confused. As long as we clarify afterward.

[determinare]

[His explanation seems to have gone over well. It’s a small relief.]

Of course. It’s important for friends to keep open an honest line of communication. I’m relieved that you understand.

[emotive]

You don't have to worry about our communication. I struggle t make sense of things even as a human. I can imagine that it's just as complex for an android.

... I would even call it fun.

[determinare]

Fun? The awkward misunderstandings?

[And despite everything, he smiles. It’s sincere and even fond.]

I would have to agree.

[emotive]

They're still embarrassing don't get me wrong but...

... Mm. [It's his smile that makes her pause, to treasure and store in her memories forever.]

I'm not as mad as I should be when you make me feel embarrassed...

[determinare]

[That little headtilt again.]

Because we’re friends?

[emotive]

Exactly that.

[And that smile again.]

Does hearing that make you feel happy?

[determinare]

[The answer to that is easy. Connor knows how to quantify the feeling of happiness these days without issue.]

Yes. It does.

[Ah, she's smiling like that again. It's such an expression that suits her; she should do it more often, he thinks.]

I'm glad to have met you. I don't see that changing anytime soon.

[emotive]

[For the first time since this day started, Ai doesn't think her sickness is a bad thing. It's more bearable now that she had someone different check up on her.]

So... If I do plan on visiting you, should we go through the door together or would you mind waiting for me on your side? Either way, we should be alright, shouldn't we?

[determinare]

It's hard to say which would be better, given that you've never visited before. But...

[There's something quaint about the idea of waiting for her when she appears. Smiling and ready to introduce her to his world.]

I'll wait for you. Arrange a time, and I'll be there.