sweethymns | ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴀʟʟ

[It's not an exaggeration to say that Ai felt more than out of her depth. She was the only human among this particular group of androids and while one DPD police officer gives her a raised brow, he doesn't question it and ushered the cluster to an unoccupied viewing area. The spot feels cut-off compared to the other areas they were in and Ai had a sneaking suspicion it was meant to be that way even though there were a few other humans nearby. But none of the androids seemed to mind and took their seats on various surfaces. Some around the stone ledge of the plants, some simply opt to stand. She takes a seat herself, putting her paint box and sketchbook on her lap. It felt awkward and judging by their blinking LED lights, they were speaking amongst themselves.

Ai looks up at the night sky, thinking about how this was the view Connor and deviated androids look at every day of their lives. But did they ever truly see? And now that this was a small but a significant celebration of their newfound freedoms, a promise of a better future, how would they grow from there? And in her heart, she wondered if Connor would have to remain here so that he could progress further; even if he found fulfillment spending his days with her, not worrying about being an android, maybe it wasn't meant to last.

Thoughts swimming in her head, Ai begins to hum under her breath and then sing the first few verses of "Wonderwall" by Oasis. The child android had been looking at the psychic girl thoughtfully and unexpectedly taps her on the shoulder and Ai looks at him blinking.]

That's a nice song. It's old, right? A human one.

... Yes. It is pretty old...

[The child smiles. He tugs on the shirt of his guardian, another android who had been carrying a violin case. And without meaning to, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, human and machines begin talking to one another. She learns their story; one was a music instructor for a wealthy family and the child was a playmate in another household. Various circumstances had led them to deviate and find each other even in the chaos of the android revolution. A makeshift family. They found refuge in music, both new and old, using that to comfort one another. Ai nods, listening intently. They ask her where she's from, and she rightly says California. The child droid seems to enjoy her knowledge of some old human classics and finally asks Ai:]

Can you sing something else? I can sing and he can play! He's really good at picking up tunes, so whatever you sing, he'll know it!

I don't know—

You're lost, right? Maybe the person who's looking for ya will hear you instead. Think of it as helping out!

[The child's bright eager eyes and the amused expression of his guardian breaks down Ai's doubts. So within minutes, the quiet spot of mostly androids begins to thrum with its own life with violin strings and at first a single voice, then two. Sometimes it's a chorus. Throughtout it all, Ai's singing is prominent and she begins to loosen up, swaying with some of the androids who begin to show more emotion, something akin to amusement and entertainment. Some DPD members glance over at the group of androids, but seeing that there's no harm being done, they stand at their post.

7 more minutes until the fireworks.]

Edited 2018-06-16 22:50 (UTC)

[Time passes, minutes sliding by as Connor moves along with the crowd. Keeping an eye out for that familiar face, a continuous scan of his environment. A DPD officer recognizes the android and stops him briefly to say hello; Connor asks if he’s seen someone who appears lost, giving him Ai’s description. The man shakes his head no, that there’s so many people here right now, but none that stood out to him as lost. He’ll keep an eye out.

Connor exhales then continues forward to one of the more open areas, delegated to watch the fireworks. Soon, they’ll burst overhead, and he’ll have missed seeing them with Ai; it’s a thought that for some reason doesn’t settle very well in his mind. He treats this as an investigation with a time limit, then; look for clues of her, track her down. Make sure she’s doing all right.

There’s music nearby.

It’s enough of an oddity to spark Connor’s interest, a song that he doesn’t recognize flourishing out between the throng of people. A group of androids, it looks like, standing and sitting and singing. Violin music playing and drifting along with the melody.

He follows, pushing through the group gently, muttering polite ‘excuse me’s the whole way through.]

[In the middle of the group is the child droid and Ai. She's ecstatically telling the violinist the song they should sing next. The child accompanies her with some melodious humming and the violinist android after his blinking LED searches and processes the song information, plays the first few bars of "Rather Be" from 2014. With her items set aside at her ankles, Ai has stood up at some point, clapping along with the beat and singing the first verse of the song.]

Oh
We're a thousand miles from comfort, we have traveled land and sea
But as long as you are with me, there's no place I'd rather be!

[Her face is glowing and the other androids clap along with the beat as she sings. It was an inexplicable sense of joy in the air which non-deviants wouldn't have been able to feel or even have the instinct to join in on. A female android jumps in to take Ai's hand, twirling her around in a dance, and the girl laughs in delight as the others continue the song. They all knew this was a human song and yet they could connect with what at the time were simplistic words, hardly poetry. But in this moment of time, they wanted that feeling of treasuring and being treasured and of being in places they couldn't be before with those they formed attachments to. Ai continues to dance with the female android, letting go and then finding herself swinging arms with the child android.]

If you gave me a chance I would take it
It's a shot in the dark but I'll make it
Know with all of your heart, you can't shame me
When I am with you, there's no place I'd rather be!

[As the group finishes the verse of "N-n-n-no, no, no, no place I'd rather be," Ai spots Connor and smiling, she waves and makes her way over to him. She speaks to him, over the singing.]

Connor! You found me!

[And as if in the opposite motion, time crawling backwards, the crowd parts to reveal Ai in the middle of the group, along with a young android child and a one with a violin. Melody surges forth, from both voice and instrument, and Connor is struck by the sight — joy and celebration, and Ai, the center of which this wonderful storm of emotion swirls around.

Words leave him, processes stall. It’s strange, how one can simply get caught up in emotion. How not all that long ago, he would’ve proclaimed himself to be immune from such a thing.

But no longer. He’s relieved and happy to see her, glad to find her thriving in music when he had been worried just moments before. She didn’t need his assistance. She’s inspired a gathering of androids and herself, solidarity and pure enjoyment of life, and he can’t help but feel...

Well. He’s not sure. Pride? Affection? Something sharped like fondness, making his focus center squarely on her, even with the smiling faces of androids all around.

Her voice pierces the veil, and Connor manages to respond. Yet his voice is lost in music and festivity, as it should be. ]

You wandered off without me, Ai.

Oh, I'm sorry... I made you worry, didn't I?

[Someone passes over Ai's paints and sketchbook before she forgets them and she thanks them before turning back to Connor.

3 more minutes until the fireworks. The violinist gives the final touches to the music and everyone claps, all smiles and lifted spirits. Ai shuffles her feet shyly.]

Everyone here is really nice... The other areas are filled up, but this one isn't. Can we look at the fireworks from here?

[For the first time, he seems to take note of the scenery around him. That this area appears more delegated to the androids, for whatever reason that might be.

Connor steps forward, smiling. Nighttime is sweeping over everyone now, and they’re only lit by a soft mixture of artificial light and starlight. Here, his LED glows poignantly.]

Well. [He settles next to her. ] It does seem like a good spot.

You’ve been having fun, even when lost. I’m glad to see it.

... A year or two ago, I think I wouldn't have been able to enjoy myself. I always was and in some ways, I still am insecure about myself.

[She hugs her items and looks up at the sky in anticipation.]

If you see that, then that gives me hope. And I really thank you for letting me be your friend Connor.

I should be thanking you instead.

[He’s silent for a moment, looking up at the sky. Connor remembers what Lien said about her, the words from their conversation reverberating in his mind. About not feeling good enough, not living up to expectations set.]

If it’s any consolation, I don’t think you have anything to be insecure about. Did you see the smiles on those androids’ faces? You aided in those emotions. I was happy to see it — glad to call you my friend. Grateful.

[He says it easily and logically but after all the time she's spent with him, Ai knows that he speaks from the core of who he is. Her heart beats. Something is blooming and there are no words she can put to it, not yet.

The countdown is about to begin and the excitement rings in the air. Some of the androids chatter excitedly, others decide to quiet down.]

... Connor?

[Her voice is soft as the clock goes down to the final minute.]

You know that song we just sang? It's true you know.

[He looks at her, seeing what he can make of her profile just moments before he knows they’ll be met with the crackle of fireworks in the sky.]

How so?

[He makes an attempt to recall the lyrics he had heard, just moments ago. ]

We're friends. So that means...

[All around them, the chanting of the countdown echoes around them.]

10! 9! 8! 7...!!!

[What Ai does next is a little strange.

She puts her items down on her ground and leans closer to Connor, getting on one knee so she can cup the side of her face with one hand and bring her lips close to Connor's ear.]

6...! ...5!

[She's whispering something akin to a precious secret, a declaration that's just between the two of them. A murmur that could have gotten lost in the excitement all around them.]

"When I am with you, there's no place I'd rather be."

...

...3!

[And just like that, she sits back down again, grabbing her things and hugging them close to her chest and her face.]

2......! 1....!!!!

[And then colors and cheers of joy and laughter erupts in the star-laden sky. The world around them shines. There are glittering hues of gold, silvers, and blues, some greens, reds, and pinks; there are shapes of planets and flowers, some fireworks are simply showers of sparks. Although half of her face is hidden, Ai looks up at the fireworks, not being able to imagine being anywhere else, but in the here and the now with the one man who has become part of her life. He's shared so much with her and Ai wonders if she'll be able to share more of herself with him in what only seemed like a bright future ahead of them.]

[To say that it’s a gesture unexpected is something of an understatement. Connor feels it, at first. The faint warmth of her drawing closer registering in his senses, the gentle sound of words brushing against his ear. He would not have been prepared for it even if he knew it was coming, and though Connor does not have to breathe, the air caught inside of him stills. A sensation unlike what he’s experienced before, akin to self-consciousness, but something else buzzing just under the surface of all of him, an electricity that isn’t just from the energy being carried by the Thirum in his veins.

He thinks he might have imagined it. That sensation, the very fact that Ai had uttered the lyrics of that song to him at all; the meaning behind it ringing clear and the implications obvious. Happiness, in each other’s presence. Friendship bringing a strange sort of warmth and contentedness for the future that he’s looking forward to sharing with her.

Connor doesn’t know how to reply. Other something simple, something that hardly needs to be said.]

You’re right. That song is exactly how I feel too.

[Fireworks burst overhead in a show of color and light and energy. Celebration and somber remembrance for all androids have earned, and what they still need to push forward and fight for. Hope for the future, in all things. Expectations that things will change, each crackle in the air a promise.]

[She doesn't remember if she said anything else of importance during the 20-minute light show. Ai may have pointed or gasped in delight at some shapes in the sky or she may have held her silence as she looked at the fireworks in awe. Androids and humans alike celebrate around them and in their mostly-android cluster, some of them have their arms around each other taking comfort in the moment.

All good things come to an end and the fireworks end on a grand finale of booming noises and the shiniest fireworks saved for last. As the din of lights and noise dies down, the DPD and volunteers begin to usher the crowd to safe exit pathways, making sure there are no riots or lost stragglers. Their flashlights and lit up roads help them find their way back.

Ai remains behind sitting with Connor. She lets out a yawn and turns to the android.]

I think we could call that having too much fun, don't you think?

[It’s the telltale sounds of excitement dying off. The quiet buzz that settles, like something rising up from the ground, people shuffling off, talking about the fireworks show. Just how fun it was, how many colors there were, how it didn’t seem to be 20 minutes long, it went so fast.

Connor’s eyes linger on the empty part of the sky where the fireworks had been overhead just a moment ago. His back is straight and he’s cross-legged, his hands neatly settled on his legs.]

I don’t know. It seemed like just the right amount of fun to me.

[He looks at her, smiling wide.]

You’re tired though, aren’t you? Once more people leave, we should head back too.

Yeah... It's been a full day so I'm going to sleep well when we get back tonight.

[The android child she sang and played with passes by the two and waves a happy goodbye and good night at Ai. She waves back and watches as he leaves hand in hand with the violinist. The child turns his head to call to the two of them.]

Mister! Remember to hold her hand so you don't lose her again!

[Connor looks at the young child curiously, tilting his head in consideration. And a part of him, driven by reason, sees nothing at all wrong with this suggestion.

Another part of him, something more than just logic and efficiency, simply thinks it’d be nice.

So he extends his hand at Ai. An invitation.]

So you don’t get lost, like he said. Right?

[She looks at his hand and then back at Connor, thinking. Ai extends her hand and puts it in his, fingers curling.]

Let's go back then. We don't want to make Sumo and Hank worried right?

[Her fingers curl around his own, and Connor returns the gesture with a little squeeze. For a moment, this connection jumps itself to the forefront of his mind. That feeling of acute awareness, her skin against his own synthetic illusion of it.

(Connor wonders, briefly, if it would be possible to share information and emotion like this, the way androids do. If her powers would allow such a thing, should she ever be willing to delve into his mind and him open up this access to see what lies within. But that’s too bold, even Connor knows that’s too intimate, and he wonders then why he had thought of it to begin with.)

He walks forward, along the fringes of a dying crowd.]

Hank will probably get home later than us. But we’ll be there when he does. Sumo could use some attention right now, maybe.

[Ai's hand feels small around Connor's like the rest of her. For a second she wonders if she had been truly been able to grow up in the few years since she separated herself from other psychics. And it makes her think about how spending time with this android who has discovered his own sense of self and who wanted the same for those like him, has made her make leaps, made her take chances. What other changes will there be?

She wants to be there with him throughout all those changes. Ai doesn't pay attention to anyone else around them as a line forms for taxis. She focuses on holding his hand, letting him know she won't let go.]

Feel up to a late night movie? It might help me fall asleep.

Of course.

[He sounds briefly amused at the notion.]

Something scary again?

That's going to do the opposite.

[But she laughs at his suggestion and it fades away into the memory of the night they shared with everyone around them, like a firework itself...]

ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴀʟʟ

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