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

[bleps]

[The twitch of his lips pulling upwards, a smile that's hard to miss even in the ambient lighting of the bar.]

Am I supposed to always defer to your judgment just because you're almost two decades older than me?

[If he rounds up, at least.

Still, here comes the beer, shining golden in its glass. Connor lifts it up, examining it curiously. He does rather miss the ability to scan items as needed.]

If only Hank were here. I know he'd enjoy this.

[emotive]

Maybe you should. I haven't led you too astray so far, have I?

[Ai wonders if it's the atmosphere, the lights, and sounds of the bar that make her feel bolder. Her blue eyes twinkle, relaxed by their day out together and genuinely enjoying Connor as he is right now. Human, curious, just... Him.

It brings up some thoughts that have been in the back of her mind for a while. There are still no words to them yet.]

Drink up! When you get back you can tell Hank what you thought about your first beer.

[bleps]

No. So far, I haven’t been led astray at all.

[So, what protest does he have to make against his first beer? None at all, really — he’s quite curious in general, regarding its taste. It’s not like he’s unfamiliar with the stuff, after all, especially living with Hank, who sometimes drinks like a fish.

And so, he tilts the glass up to his lips, and takes a long, deep drink. He swallows and—

His brow furrows, placing the glass on the counter. Oh. Okay. A frown twists at his expression.]

It’s… interesting. Bitter. [He searches his mind for proper descriptors, but not being to attribute very many to taste due to his inexperience, none really comes to mind.] I think. I think that’s what bitter tastes like, I mean.

[emotive]

Your first beer! You did it!

[Ai gives Connor a celebratory pat on the shoulder.]

And that's what most alcohol will have; bitterness, I mean. It might seem the same at first but you can start telling thr difference later if your tongue becomes discerning enough.

Is it too much for you?

[bleps]

No. [-he says, quite decisively. ] I don't think so.

[It certainly wasn't strong; though the taste was strange, and he knows that perhaps the alcohol will catch up in a little bit. Once his human metabolism goes to work, as it should.

But for now, he can finish this. As if to accentuate the point, he takes another long swig.]

[emotive]

It goes with saying but if you start feeling like you can't see or walk straight we'll just do a hard stop. Not that I can't make it better if things go south but...

[oh geez that's a big swig

Suddenly another two bottles slide towards them. Ai looks at the bartender curiously and he just shrugs and gestures at Connor.]

One of the girls at the other end of the room says it's for him. Guess some people are taking a fancy to your friend

[Ah.]

[bleps]

[He's not even done with the first beer when two more bottles slide into their periphery. Connor blinks at them, surprised, then looks just as surprised when the bartender gives explanation.]

Do I stand out?

[He thought the whole point was to fit in-- but "fancy"? What a strange concept, for people to be actually attracted to him.

He turns his head, because who...??]

[emotive]

[Ai glances in the same direction as Connor and there are two women, both blonde, one of them waving to Connor in an unsubtle flirtatious manner and paying no regard to Ai looking at them.

She's not sure why but she's sucking the inside of one of her cheeks in irritation. The bartender shrugs and replies to Connor.]

You don't look all that different; hell I'd say you're kinda goofy looking, no offense but maybe those two and your friend here is into that sorta thing.

[Ai snaps her gaze back at the bartender, squinting at him for his comment, this bartender is so rude]

[bleps]

[He isn’t sure if he should wave back or not, but his attention returns to the bar and the bartender at the remark about his looks.]

"Goofy-looking"? You’re not the first to say that to me.

[Well. Now he’s just not sure what to think.]

[emotive]

[Their bartender waves it off dismissively.]

Don't worry about it. That's two free beers for you unless you're gonna share with the little lady.

[Ai has been quiet, surprisingly enough.

And she immediately reaches for one of the beers which catches the other girls who sent them off guard.]

You can't drink too much Connor.

[bleps]

[Connor has no issue with her taking the extra beer — he was going to offer it to her preemptively anyway. The girls on the other side of the room are pretty much forgotten.]

I’ll pace myself, Ai. Don’t worry. I’ve seen the results of having too much to drink. It’s not pleasant.

[He punctuates this statement by taking another drink of his beer. And then, not quite randomly:]

Do I look goofy to you?

1/2

[emotive]

[She was about to twist the cap off of her bottle but stumbles with it when the innocuous question is presented.]

[emotive]

[She's able to make eye contact surprisingly enough. And sincerely (and because she's confident the low lights of the bar and the noise that surrounds them is enough to distract from the flush in her cheeks) she says...]

No. I don't think that.

[A short pause and Ai makes An Attempt—]

I think you look... Um...

[She's poking her fingers together again.]

[bleps]

[Those signs of... hesitation are easily read because he’s seen them before. But Connor encourages her to continue.]

I look...?

[Maybe she’s trying to figure out a way to be polite about it.]

[emotive]

... I think you look friendly and approachable.

[The top of her bottle pops off and she looks at her bottle for a second before taking a large swig. Her nose scrunches up as the alcohol hits her nose and the back of her throat. Ai clears her throat before continuing.]

But also, I personally think you're good looking. A little handsome even.

[bleps]

[He blinks at her, pleased by her answer. More than he originally thought he would be; it's... flattering, coming from here. Makes him feel strangely warm.]

Just a little?

[But of course Connor has to choose this time to insert his random sense of humor.]

[emotive]

[Ai's looking somewhat indignant as she takes another sip of beer and shaking her head at Connor.]

You're not getting a prize for it you know.

[She might look pouty but in all honesty, she's also kind of returning the teasing at least in the sense that she's not going to easily add to her compliment.]

Besides, what would you do if I said more than that?

[bleps]

[Well, it's not as if he expects a prize. But Ai's question catches him off guard, giving him a moment to think. Why did it matter? He supposes it was mostly asked out of lingering curiosity what her opinion was, and yet-

He takes another long swig of his beer. With this one, the glass is easily drained.]

I don't know. I think it'd make me happy; I don't know what I would do, though.

[emotive]

[Looking from her bottle to him, Ai sets it down and leans on her arms on the counter, leaning it over so that she's looking up at him from a lower angle.]

... Happy... You like the fact that people can like you even on the surface.

I like you a lot more beyond that though. You understand that right?

[bleps]

I want people to like me. I think that's merely the result of being a social...

[Creature, he wants to say, and he supposes it would fit, with him being human at the moment. And yet Connor still -- and always will -- thinks of himself as an android. It is simply what he is, and he would not change it permanently. The core of himself should always be the same, molded by experiences, but never completely ignored.]

...construct. Humans are social, and I think that androids strive to be the same way. It only makes sense, given humans are who made us.

[Still, he smiles at her.]

But yes, I understand. It's because we're good friends, correct?

[emotive]

[Ai smiles back feeling and looking more relaxed even with all the noise and merrymaking around them.]

We're very good friends.

... You know though Connor? The fact that you chose to come back to see me... That made me really happy.

[Connor the android made that choice and in a way, it awes her even to this day.]

I think every choice you've made as an android has led up to this and it's helped me make important choices too. Don't you think that's amazing, that you can do that at all?

And that's why I like about you Connor; you're amazing.

[Straightening up, she holds up her bottle to him.]

Here's to being friends. And here's to the both of us for trying to figure out what being human is about.

[bleps]

[That she's calling him amazing is flattery of the highest accord. And yet, while it does make him happy, he feels that wave of self-consciousness again, that glad... embarrassment that he seems to be experiencing time and time again when he spends time with her. Strange, but not necessarily unpleasant. He can feel the blood pulsing through him, warming him. The alochol, too, probably doing its job.

But it's only been one glass. And he still has another bottle to finish. Connor raises it up.]

You're amazing, too, Ai.

[His grin this time is wide and sincere, like a young man simply enjoying himself on a night out on the town.]

To being friends and being human.

[emotive]

[She clinks the bottle against his and takes a long drink before setting it down. The night is still young, they've both only had one drink.

Clearly, they need to go descend further.]

Let's try a mixed drink next! I love the sweet ones.

[god have mercy on their souls]

[bleps]

[The slow descent into hell begins in earnest...

He drinks to his own toast, then sets the bottle down. Still a strange taste, but not so unpleasant that he’ll stop.]

What’s your favorite?

[emotive]

I like the Mint Julep and if I'm in the mood for chocolate, there's the Alexander... Oh!

[Ai waves down the bartender and asks for...]

... A Mai Tai!

[Two tall glasses of the cocktail even. The bartender is raising a brow at the two because that's already beer and now they're going for a drink that is deceptively delicious as it is alcoholic.

Ai, however, is getting right into it, eating the red cherry first before taking a sip.]