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

[determinare]

[Everything about those assumptions are correct. Maybe even more than she realizes.

Not that Connor has a reason to hide this.]

There’s no "probably" about it. I’m less than a year old; I was released last August. In my world’s time, of course.

1/2

[emotive]

[Give her a second.

She's covering her face with one hand and there's a muffled sound of... Laughter? Giggling? There's an attempt not to, not when this situation is gravely serious in its own way, but... But!!

Less than a year old.]

[emotive]

[Okay, she coughs into her fist and fans herself, trying to calm down.]

S-Sorry! I couldn't help it and I know you feel really confused being in a human body, but... Yeah!

It's okay to feel that way right now. I bet if you scraped your knee in the next minute, you'd be petrified! Meanwhile, for a human like me, I've scraped my knees and elbows or fallen on my face really early on as a child. And that's just us at our most vulnerable state.

But that's beside the point... Let's see if you remain that way or switch back when you return home.

[determinare]

[Ah. She’s laughing at him. And strangely, he feels a flush beneath his skin, as if it’s a little embarrassing.

Yet nothing she says is inherently... incorrect. He would be met with confusion and fear if he suddenly scraped his knee; pain was foreign to him. But Connor can’t seem to decide whether to look embarrassed or just nod in agreement with her.]

I guess you’ll start thinking of me as a small child at this rate.

[emotive]

Connor is Connor.

[And she takes one of his hands so she can pull him along as they head to their destination.]

I won't treat you any differently than I have before.

[determinare]

[He opens his mouth to reply to that, but she grasps at his hand, and all his words fall away.

It’s… strange. The sensation is similar to what he had felt before, that wonderment at her warmth and the feeling of electricity just under the surface of skin. But now he does more than register the warmth, he feels it. The pulsing of his own blood under the surface, thrumming through his veins because of his ‘new’ heart pumping in his chest.

An odd excitement that would make him stumble in his step, if he had not felt the same as an android that night of the fireworks.]

I… ah. Yes.

[It’s all he can manage.]

[emotive]

[There's the briefest pause on her end as well when she feels the surface of his skin on his human hand. Of course, there would be a difference she tells herself; don't act weird about it!

Easier said than done. Ai just keeps looking forward and then to her right and left.]

Um... Good thing the door isn't far away from where I am! [Some hair is brushed behind her ear, a nervous gesture. But to her credit, she doesn't let go of him.]

I don't think this is permanent if it makes you feel better.

[determinare]

I don’t… I hope not.

[Aaaaah, where’s that door? He needs to focus, but it all feels dismantled and derailed. He has to remember why they’re here, not be bogged down with confusion. This was far easier as an android; categorizing thoughts into priority wasn’t difficult to do.]

No offense, Ai.

[emotive]

None taken!

[Was her pitch a little higher that time? Hard to say. Soon enough they're at the alleyway and after giving another quick look around for no intruders, she enters the secret place, letting go of Connor's hand.]

Well, we're here... Try it out now and we'll see what happens.

[No time like the present after all.]

[determinare]

[Letting go of her hand, he swallows — a tell of vague anxiety, not something that existed in him when he was purely an android. He steps forward to where the door usually lies, then turns his head to look at her briefly.]

Coming with me?

[emotive]

Oh!

[Ai didn't even think of that. She nods reassuringly.]

Right behind you then. We're in this together!

[determinare]

[It’s a small reassurance, but it’s nice to know that she’ll be there with him. It makes a boldness creep along his spine, and Connor nods.]

Then let’s give it a try.

[The door opens, a burst of energy that he’s familiar with, before stabilizing enough for the both of them to step through. He sets his jaw and steps through.

On the other side, they’re met with the same park, the same bench. He’s seated, as he always appears to be when he arrives.]

I—

[Immediately, he performs a diagnostic scan. Processes whir to life, and he answers his own lingering question — yes, he’s android again.]

[emotive]

[At least she doesn't go tumbling out again. She's seated next to him, eyes shut. One blue eye opens up and she looks at Connor sitting next to her and...]

... Your LED.

[She points to it and tilts her torso to look at Connor's face from below.]

... Good! Then it isn't permanent. [There's a mixture of relief and lingering confusion. Why did the door make him go through that metamorphosis in the first place?]

[determinare]

[A hand comes up to touch at the LED on his temple, feeling the texture there that lets him know it exists. Another hand to his chest, feeling how he is. He doesn't need the extra confirmation, but it helps center him.]

...The difference is like night and day. And yet there are still some things that haven't changed.

[The important parts, probably. The core of him, unshaken -- what really matters.]

[emotive]

[Ai lets out a deep sigh and straightens her back, leaning against the bench.]

And that's what we call a heart attack... Sort of. I was worried you might get one.

[Lips purse when she tries to consider the implications of this new development.]

You... Didn't like how it felt didn't you? Does that mean you won't go through it again? I mean, I don't mind visiting you from now on instead...

[determinare]

[Finally, he looks at her, and his LED flickers accordingly.]

It was jarring. I hadn’t been human long enough to quantify whether or not I enjoyed it or otherwise.

[A beat.]

And what you said… about new experiences. It still holds true.

[How clearly he can think, now, with his mind unmuddled.]

[emotive]

Really? I said that back there because I was trying to be positive.

[She was also worried that it was an off-putting situation, being in a flesh body and all.]

There's... A lot you can do as a human since you have all the five senses. And if you're concerned about pain, you know I can take care of that.

[determinare]

Pain is part of the experience isn’t it?

[But perhaps more importantly—]

And I want to be able to visit you. Even if I should be temporarily human, if that’s what the door dictates, then at least I’ll be better prepared knowing what to expect.

[emotive]

... I see. That... That's a relief.

[And the relief shows in her smile and the way her shoulders relax. ]

I guess it was childish of me but I was worried you wouldn't want to go through again. You seemed like you were in such a shock.

[determinare]

[He had been sitting straight-backed, but now he leans forward a little, placing his elbows on his knees.]

It was a fair concern. It came as a surprise, to say the least. My entire body... different.

But knowing it’s not permanent, I can at least look at it as an opportunity for experimentation.

[emotive]

Don't push yourself too hard... And hey!

[She brightens up when she thinks of the prospect.]

You'll be able to put normal things in your mouth!

[determinare]

[Normal things? A hand comes up to briefly touch his lips, not having realized this until she’s said as much.]

You mean like food.

[emotive]

And toothpaste!

[determinare]

[???]

Was there something wrong with my teeth? Or breath?

[emotive]

N-No... That was just one of my ideas about normal things...

Um, anyways! That aside if you want to prepare yourself, maybe you can come visit tomorrow?