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]

[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.]

[bleps]

[Connor of course has to appreciate the look of it before going straight for the kill.]

It's very colorful. It's almost a shame to drink it, right?

[emotive]

Just a little. As they say though...

[And there she goes, drinking through the straw and draining about a third of the glass.]

Bottoms up!

[bleps]

[wow, wait for him!!

Connor lifts the draw to his mouth, taking a long, indulgent sip. He seems pleased with the result.]

Very different from the beer. Not at all the same taste. Are you sure this is still alcoholic?

[emotive]

Yup. But don't be fooled! Drinks like this are heavier in alcoholic content than your tongue can detect!

[Even Ai's cheeks are beginning to redden from all the liquor she's consumed, uh oh. ]

[bleps]

[Don’t worry, it’ll catch up with Connor all at once later.]

My tongue can’t detect much in this state. In terms of alcoholic content.

[emotive]

Mmm.

[Ai glances at Connor, raising a brow.]

You look like you're taking it well. Better than expected actually.

[there she jinxed it]

Let's make sure to drink actual water after all of this okay?

[bleps]

Maybe I’m more resilient than you give me credit for.

[ Definitely jinxed it. But for now, Connor will take pleasure in new tastes and experiences; but most importantly, getting a chance to spend time with Ai like this.

Fast forward later into the night however, and things aren’t so pretty.

The truth of the matter is that Connor can hold his alcohol about as well as anyone else who’s never had a drink in their life: terribly. He’s drunk, definitely, but it’s manifested itself as feeling nauseated and ill. Already, he’s had to pray to the porcelain goddess, with the aid of Ai guiding him through his misery. And now? They’re back at her apartment, with him leaning rather pathetically against the toilet, feeling as if he is literally dying.]

Is this a biological death?

[The question only makes partial sense, but it sure describes how he currently feels.]

[emotive]

[At some point, Ai had stopped inhaling liquor thankfully. Any more and she wouldn't have made it safely home with Connor who was doing worse than her. She's just a little drunk but not embarrassingly so. Her cheeks are just reddened and they feel warm. And while she feels sorry for her poor friend who is experiencing the biological limitations of the human body, Ai's patting him on the back languidly.]

There, there! There, there. This is perfectly normal for anyone who drinks an abnormal amount of alcohol.

[And she giggles. Yes, she's a blushy and giggly drunk.]

If you need me to rub your tummy later after you vomit, let me know!

[bleps]

[There is only the sound of a long, miserable groan. It echoes throughout the bathroom.

How can she have so much energy? Was she more resistant to alcohol? Connor felt like he was dying; he knew, logically, what this was, of course. His body telling him that drinking was doing nothing more than poisoning his body. Expelling what it didn't need, nor want.]

I just... I understand now, how Hank feels.

[emotive]

Hm? He drinks a lot too?? I see, I see.

[Ai nods her head as if she completely understands even if she totally doesn't get the context of everything.]

Well if you need me to look away, let me know. You're going to have to pass out on the couch or something...

[She starts to move to the closet anyway, stumbling on one step as she does so.]

So no more drinking ever?

[bleps]

He drinks so much... that he ends up hungover. Many times.

[Many times. Connor wondered why he would ever wish to inflict this on himself; and now, he wonders that ten times over.]

No more. Ever.

[Just leave him here to die.]

The human body isn't meant for this. Why would anyone...

[emotive]

It's called "living in the edge" Connor. Sometimes we get excited when we test our physical limits. But also the addiction to alcohol is more than indicative of a deeper issue and now he's used to it.

Do you need me to pat your back again?