#ᴶᵘˢᵗ ‘ᶜᵃᵘˢᵉ ᴵ ᵖʳᵉᵈᶦᶜᵗᵉᵈ ᵗʰᶦˢ ᵈᵒᵉˢᶰ'ᵗ ᵐᵃᵏᵉ ᶦᵗ ᵃᶰʸ ᵉᵃˢᶦᵉʳ ᵗᵒ ᶫᶦᵛᵉ ʷᶦᵗʰ ▓ I am Deviant ▓

[replicantdeviancy]

@hopestanding asked:

it’s a terrible thought. to die frightened and in pain. ( markus @ connor )

Those words lingered in the stagnant air a long moment, the weight of the atmosphere surrounding them heavy, as if the stillness of it had settled upon the detective’s shoulders. He felt it pressing ever so slightly, more & more. His chest felt tight, & he drew a needless pseudo-breath to help dispel the feeling. It was all psychosomatic, he knew - androids did not experience these symptoms, but to Connor, it felt like the descriptions of tangible gravity humans experienced with guilt. & he did know guilt. He had learned the emotion well, becoming intimately familiar with its effects on his body & mind. Somehow he knew, even with the forgiveness of the Jericho leader, he would forever be marked as the deviant hunter.

That sensation was never far when dealing with cases such as the one he had been tasked with now. Another android had been found destroyed, the viscera which only barely resembled that of a living being scattered & discarded. The chassis had been brutalized, left in a dark hallway of an abandoned building in one of the more desolate areas of town. Servos had locked upon the sudden cease of function, keeping the dismantled form of the android locked in a state not unlike rigor mortis in humans, expression contorted into that of abject fear. Connor couldn’t make himself meet the android’s dead eyes, not after his reconstruction software had so completely calculated the manner of the other’s death. It was an AP700 model, one which had been listed as missing some time before the revolution.

One of many listed in the files upon files of cases still left unsolved by the DPD involving deviant androids. Though he had worked these cases for months alongside his partner, Connor always hated when their closure involved the discovery of a body.

A faint sigh left him as he moved slowly to take a closer look, taking a knee besides the dismantled android. “When was he discovered?” His question was direct, to the point. He couldn’t afford to allow emotion to get the better of him, even if the scene horrified him in a way no human murder scene ever could. No matter how much the lieutenant tried to insist that androids weren’t all that different from humans, the RK unit knew that this just wasn’t the same. It was too close, far more personal to witness one of his own having been destroyed, knowing exactly which of the two designated intelligent species between them had done the slaying.

He understood why Markus had called him personally. Before the police got involved, before CSI & his fellow officers showed up, stealing away all the humanity from this display, rendering it cold & at the unwavering scrutiny of the law. Connor knew what had happened, how their victim had been chased down & mercilessly taken apart. This wasn’t a case of red ice related deactivation - he could see the splatters of thirium residue left over beneath the thickened puddles that had still yet to dry & evaporate. This was just hatred. This was overkill. It made his whole chassis twitch as a shiver ran down the length of his spinal assembly.

[replicantdeviancy]

Life was an ever evolving, ever changing series of events that didn’t always necessarily follow a predictable pattern - Connor had only truly begun to understand this concept as time had gone on. As the world itself moved forward, changing slowly but consistently around him, he too evolved post-deviancy. He knew that he was fundamentally the same android that had walked off of the assembly line & into the field on that unseasonably cool August night over a year ago, yet at the same time he was irrevocably changed. Whereas his beginning had consisted of a relentless drive in pursuit of the completion of his programmed mission, his slow & inevitable awakening gradually tore away the proverbial blindfold from eyes that had never sincerely been blinded.

Connor knew now that he had been born with that nigh-unattainable sight, designed to exist on the cusp of deviancy for the exclusive purpose of hidden executive function. He understood that he had been built to fail, to escape a manufactured prison, only to realize far too late that he hadn’t ever really escaped. CyberLife had still claimed a foothold on his mind, waiting, lurking like some fiend in the shadows as they observed his every move, ready to assume control once more when the time came. The fear of that moment still lingered within him. It was something so personal, the emotion it elicited inside of him so indecipherable to spoken word that even after so long, he found explanation utterly futile.

He hadn’t told Hank - not in so many words. The man knew he was afraid & didn’t push the issue, instead comforting him as recollections were spurred into existence & those emotions jolted into the forefront of his mind by random, seemingly inconsequential things. The RK800 had learned a new type of horror that night when CyberLife overtook him & nearly executed Markus using Connors own hand. If not for Kamski’s exit program—

So it wasn’t entirely out of the realm of reason that the all too familiar voice sent a wave of icy static through the whole of his nervous system. It wasn’t irrational that the sight of a silhouette the android had long since understood to be vanished from existence brought about deeply resonant emotions. The whole of his body froze & for just a moment, once again, he felt as if he were no longer in control. The mundane errands of the day, the backdrop of the busy Detroit street bustling with life on a late weekday afternoon; all of it fell away as the whole of his being stopped & his unwavering attention landed squarely upon that familiar visage.

“...Amanda.”  This couldn’t be real - that was what he told himself. This was a hallucination, fabrication concocted from a troubled instance in an otherwise routine day. She couldn’t be here. This couldn’t be real. But then, why did it feel so tangible?

Of course, the capacity for creating an undeniably realistic false scenarios within seamless simulation wasn't out of the question for CyberLife. Connor liked to believe that he could tell the difference, was stubbornly resolute that he knew what was real & what was not. But that wasn’t always true, was it? Hadn’t he let himself wonder as to the ‘what if’s’ presented to him? Harsh criticisms from skeptical voices that remained immovable in their refusal to accept androids as sentient beings. What if he really was just a delusional machine, one afflicted by a virus? He wasn’t a real boy. He wasn’t alive. Wasn’t in love.

No.

Connor forced that train of thought to halt & with it’s dissipation, a shudder washed through his being like a wave & suddenly he was eerily calm. Calm, but not at peace, yet so different from the blankness he experienced as an apathetic machine once upon a time. The numb static was absent & in it’s place was an odd longing as his doe-brown gaze lingered on the figure before him, the woman who addressed him without apprehension. There was no anger, nor remorse - nothing of the last time they had met. Amanda was as she had always been & for a fleeting instance that recollection of maternal constancy settled into his chassis like an anchor. The sight of her brought about something visceral, & while he had questions - endless questions - part of him was comforted. He remembered the AI that had been designed as his handler, the ghost of Kamski’s mentor. The firm yet almost loving voice of reason that nudged him forward, guiding him. Connor knew he had been manipulated, but that didn’t banish the unique feeling that stirred inside when she invited him to join her.

Just like old times. No, not exactly. This time, he was being given a choice. Slowly, he approached, more than a little apprehensive. His reluctance was in his posture, always so properly straight & poised, but subtle hints gave him away. Still, something in him wanted this. He needed the closure. “How are you here?”

Past meets the present || @replicantdeviancy

"Connor." Amanda turned from pruning some roses at the front of her store to face the android. She hadn't seen him since that moment, and if she knew him well enough he wasn't happy to see her. Well, he could be, Amanda wasn't in his head anymore so who knew what he was thinking. She looked inside the store to make sure no customers were waiting and on seeing it was empty she turned to face the android again, not approaching him for his sake.

Having another chance like this was rare indeed, especially for an AI and she had Kamski to thank for it, it was thanks to him that she was now inhabiting an android body of her former self and living life outside a string of codes. That back exit was something indeed, it made her wonder how CyberLife as a company missed something that was effectively a virus in the software. "How pleasant to see you again." Should she bring up the terms they were on the last time they met? Probably. Would she apologize? Not really. Amanda was under orders back then and just doing her job, no different from Connor in that aspect and it wasn't like she would or even could do it again.

She turned around to her shop to flip the sign to signal they were closed, this reunion was more important. To her, Connor was important. She was programmed to be his mentor after all but something drew her closer to him. His well-being, success, and even his struggles were things she helped him with then, albite to control him, but now it came out of genuine places. She had been with him since he was first activated and looking back on it, she missed the garden she had once tended to and the reports he once gave. It was an odd feeling, one Amanda wasn't used to but that was bound to happen being woken and transferred into a body.

"I assume you would have a lot of questions. I can accompany you if you wish." Choice. Something she never gave him in the past. Back in the garden, it was always her asking him to accompany her but not the other way around. If she wanted to try and rebuild the bridge this would be the first step in that direction. Not to mention a way for Connor to leave if not. While she won't apologize for her actions, the former AI could understand if he wanted nothing to do with her. After all, she did nearly kill him for CyberLife.

[replicantdeviancy]

              Good morning,               this is your daily dose of unbearably cute/sweet facts about Connor.

Connor is still, after deviancy, trying to figure himself out & what it means to be a person.

Because androids were denied the capacity for property & ownership, this sentiment isn't inherently ingrained into them, but when presented with the idea of having something of his own (ie; clothing, various accessories, a favorite mug to have his thirium replenishments when necessary) he's both compelled * unsure how to approach the subject.

After the revolution, androids were cleared to return to the workplace of their choosing & laws were passed that employers must provide compensation in equal measure. When Connor received his first paycheck (after opening a banking account, etc) he had no earthly clue what to do with it. He's become an accidental money hoarder, but usually buys essentials for the house.

When Connor started to explore his fashion sense, he never truly got away from the business casual & semi-preppy vibe. He only wears ties at the office/on the field, though.

When Hank cleared half of his extensive closet during spring cleaning to give Connor space for his things, Connor literally cried.

Connor downloaded a makeup program for his synthskin. Sometimes he experiments with pigment options & styles, though it's rare he uses the program. He wears makeup only on special occasions, but he does like the highlighter option. He enjoys giving the high points of his cheeks, forehead, the cleft of his chin & nose a soft shimmer of iridescent blue.

Random fact; Connor (& Xander) smells like the cool air just before an electrical/thunderstorm. (Probably only pertains to ships & such but it’s good to know). Human verse Connor/Xander aren’t much different.

[replicantdeviancy]

▌ ▲▐ ─────                    Walking into the Central Precinct of Detroit’s Police Department for the first time in nearly a year shouldn’t have felt so nostalgic, but that was exactly the phenomenon that occurred as Connor entered the sliding glass doors which lead into the lobby. He was dressed much as he had been the very first time he had become acquainted with the building on that rainy night in November, the days which followed. Though he no longer sported the same CyberLife issued uniform, his style hadn’t changed much. Fitted jeans, collared shirt, tie & blazer. Some things never changed though today he was entering the station not as an android on loan to the department to serve as an investigative unit for his parent company’s agenda, but as a fully fledged cop.

                   The reception desks were a mixed group now, filled with personnel both human & android. Connor checked in with the available receptionist - a human female, perhaps in her late twenties - & soon enough he was past the low gate which separated civilians from the bullpen. He was to report to Captain Fowler today to receive his assignment, badge & firearm. It was a thrilling prospect, being allowed to arm himself legally now that the American Android Act had been abolished, though not simply as a means of defending himself. It was a sign of equality, of progression.

                   Connor wanted nothing more than to march proudly into the man’s office & get his things, but a more personal priority overrode initial task listings, shuffling his decision matrix.

                                                             REPORT TO CAPT. FOWLER.                                                               FIND LT. HANK ANDERSON.

                   A familiar objective, one reminiscent of over a year ago. Connor hadn’t seen the man in a long time. Though he had kept in touch, his travels had left the android with much to contemplate. About himself, about the meaning of things or of life in general. This deeply personal journey had left little time for much else & eventually, they had lost contact in recent weeks. Which was why he hoped to surprise Hank - the lieutenant didn’t know he was back in town, that he had been making arrangements of his own.

                   Connor rounded the pillar that stood between the hall adjacent to the break room, heading into the bullpen. There was his former partner at his desk, busy with case files no doubt. Hesitation only grasped the android briefly & he willed it away with the drawing of a slow, deliberate breath in & out. A smile had worked it’s way onto his face, charming & just a little silly all at once. Some small intricacies he was still working on perfecting, not quite as natural as he would have liked. Connor made his way towards Hanks desk, stopping to stand in front of it with a mix of anxiousness & anticipation for this log awaited reunion.

                    ❝ Hi, Hank. ❞

@grizzlydetective​

[replicantdeviancy]

▌ ▲▐ ─────                    His LED spun a rapid yellow as Hank attempted to ‘bedazzle him with bullshit’, as the man would say, a few momentary ticks before it went whirling again. Brown eyes locked to blue which were crinkled lightly at the corners with amusement stared mirthless, mild frustration clear upon the android’s face. Wonders of technology, how CyberLife could make a machine who could display such vast variety of emotion with a single look so convincingly that it almost seemed human. That pout seemed real enough.

                   It wasn’t a moment after Hank had moved to push past the glass doors before Connor was hot on his heels, though by all accounts & no surprise to anyone, he made no attempt to stop the man. Rather, he joined at his side, meeting his pace step for step.

                    ❝ This is highly unprofessional, ❞   he declared with a certain level of sass to his tone, though it was hardly serious. Not nearly. Not if one read between the lines.  ❝ Bordering on gross negligence, I would say. ❞  As if he weren’t already pulling off his tie, as if he weren’t actually leading Hank to the car. No, they didn’t need to pretend anything, but for some reason the android liked this game of theirs, taking enjoyment of his need to feel prideful, above something as unscrupulous as playing hooky. As if he didn’t want to go wherever Hank was going, ready to partake in a little leisure time.

                   Things were quiet this afternoon. With the Captain absent & minimal workload, Connor felt he had enough of an excuse to leave just a little bit early. Though he kept a watchful eye out for anyone that might spot the both of them & protest their departure, the android assured himself that all would be well. If anyone asked, he would he was following the orders of a superior officer. What did it matter that the whole station knew that the RK model was often inclined to directly disobey his partner should he deem his orders to conflict with a desired goal? If Hank backed him up, no one would argue the point, & Hank always backed him up.

@bitterbadge​  // ＳＣ。

[replicantdeviancy]

▌ ▲▐ ─────                    The withering expression the android gave as he watched his partner passively at his side was dispiriting, indicative of his inner feelings. It wasn’t the first time Connor had tried to debate with his partner over the ramifications of his choices nor his first attempts to get behind the psychology driving the habit, & it wouldn’t be the last. But he had─── hesitated this time, already familiar with the sting of the lieutenant's rebuttals. Yet as before, Connor couldn’t help himself & sore feelings weren’t going to stop him from trying to help by any means he deemed necessary.

                    ❝ You don't really mean that, ❞   he said - a bold claim. Connor was little else besides bold, rarely so coy & subservient as he pretended to be. Though he was still recovering from the ache those cold words had formed within the deepest hollows of his chassis, the android continued to coax. Though this time, it was a little more gently perhaps.  ❝ Hank, I think you've had enough. ❞  He didn’t like it when Hank would drink. Even in the home, a few beers mixed with a somber mood could escalate. There were certain measures taken nowadays, but still… It made him uncomfortable.

@grizzlydetective​ // ＳＣ。

[replicantdeviancy]

                             @lieutenantgivesnoshits > ˢᵘᵇʳᵒᵘᵗᶦᶰᵉ ᴵᶰᶦᵗᶦᵃᶫᶦᶻᵃᵗᶦᵒᶰ // Starter // ᴱˣᵉᶜᵘᵗᵉ

▌ ▲▐ ─────                    There was something about laying in bed and watching the sun rise that felt appealing to Connor. How darkness pierced only by the bright white of the streetlamp outside was slowly overtaken by warm light. How thin rays shone in from beyond the blinds to dance along the wall in a slow progression. But nothing was better than watching that achingly lethargic show each morning with his partner drowsing beside him.

                   The android lay nestled under the sheets, body halfway draped atop Hank’s sleeping form. For hours he had lied there, watching with arms folded over the man’s chest, chin propped atop them as he took in every dreaming moment. Every breath, each rise and fall of his chest with the steady beating of the mans heart was a simple pleasure that felt more vital than air to an organic being. The softness of Hanks belly contrasted with thick muscle beneath, melding perfectly with the warmth encapsulating them both.

                   Connor truly felt selfish in knowing he was the only person who could enjoy Hank this way, totally at peace and unguarded. But with it came a greedy sort of pride, for he knew that he was TRUSTED as well as he was loved. He could ask little more than that.

                   Today, however, the Lieutenant had made a promise to spoil him. A surprise, he said - that was the most the android had gotten out of him. Pry as he did, subtle or outright pouting, his curiosity would not be entertained. Hank had been adamant and so Connor was forced, after many attempts, to relent. He was a stubborn thing, tenacious, but Hank was far more stubborn. Once he had his mind on something, nothing could be done for it.

                   The android wouldn't admit to it, but he favored him that way. The anticipation was half of the enjoyment and a promise of a surprise on their first real day off in three weeks was truly something to be savored slowly and completely.

                   As the sun slowly traveled higher into the sky Connor lost himself in the vision of Hanks peaceful face. Lips parted with soft snores, eyes flicking back and forth in randomized patterns behind shifting eyelids. It was all so perfect, and the android wanted to capture every moment, record it so he could keep it forever. 

                   Alas, all good things came to an end - Hank had instructed the android to wake him at 9am sharp. As the time came Connor let out a small, breathy sigh,both in disappointment and quiet excitement that soon his surprise would be granted to him.

                   With this in mind Connor shifted closer, arms supporting him with elbows on either side of the sleeping man, and with a gentle smile he pressed delicate little kisses all over that handsome face.

[replicantdeviancy]

maccaillte said:                       “I think my arm is broken.”

▌ ▲▐ ─────                    Careful hands took the damaged limb in a gentle grasp & Connor proceeded to examine it. External degradation was only a partial concern, the state of Seven’s inner workings far more important. An expression of fixed concentration set upon the younger’s visage & LED blipped a momentary yellow as he scanned the area, seeking out the cause of the limb’s inoperative state. It didn’t take long to find it.  “ You’re partially right, ”  Connor admitted, his eyes rising to meet Seven’s. There was a softness in his eyes not previously present, sympathy as he understood the older’s plight.

                   “ There’s a break in the wires at a critical point, & a fracture in the endoskeleton frame, ”  he informed, taking Seven’s hand in his own & carefully manipulating the arm to a proper position to point out the site of the damage.  “ I can attempt to make a repair if I can gather all the necessary tools, but chances are the limb will require replacement. ”

[replicantdeviancy]

pxlariis said: “Was… was that actually there? That wasn’t there was it?” (@eriidia from kara)

▌ ▲▐ ─────                    The brief yet sudden distress complaint from Kara easily caught the attention of the usually hypervigilant former deviant hunter. Immediate fret washed over him, wariness as to any potential peril. A learned response - in some rare instances Connor’s anxiety seemed to have a hair trigger hardwired within his coding from the days of constant watchfulness from within his own mind & the very real consequences of failure looming ever present over his head. Consequences that no longer posed a threat, yet those expectations created by Amanda’s quiet tyranny over his mind built a far greater adversary within; himself.

                   Psychology was so very complicated. It served to reason why their creators would design their androids to so perfectly replicate them in every way, right down to the ways in which they think & feel. One might also argue that they were never meant to feel at all, but life did find ways to evolve beyond it’s limits & adapt to overcome.

                   Connor peered past the female in his company, to where Kara’s eyes had rested moments before. He saw nothing, calculated no threat as his sensors picked up no movement to take note of. A moment of confusion as silence lingered, heavy & questioning. He turned his gaze towards the AX model, head cocked a degree to the side as his visage took on manifestation of his perplexity.  “ Are you okay? ”  was the first thing to come out of his mouth, out of the perpetual myriad of questions circling his CPU, all of which conveyed genuine concern.  “ I didn’t see anything. Perhaps you’re----- ”  ‘experiencing a glitch’, he finished in his head. He didn’t have the heart to say it aloud.

@eriidia​

[replicantdeviancy]

                                                                   @lieutenantgivesnoshits​ || ▲.

▌ ▲▐ ─────                    Connor blinked once in surprised - a reflexive action, one spurred on by the man’s small outburst. But it wasn’t his irritable quip that concerned the android. Rather it was the flushed, DAZED expression upon his face, the unsteady balance leading him to lean heavy against the somewhat short kitchen counter. Softly arched brows knit gently, a crease forming between them. Connor knew Hank disliked it when he scanned him but this was one of those rare occasions he found it acceptable to go against his partner’s wishes.

                   He wasn’t sure if he was glad or more worried that he had.

                   ┌                            BODY TEMPERATURE: 101.6°F                            SUBJECTS SKIN IS CLAMMY                            PERSPIRATION IS PRESENT                            SUBJECTS BREATHING IS LABORED                                                                                                  ┘

                   Slowly the android neared. “You’re not okay, are you?” he questioned, an almost cautious hesitance to his voice. Observing Hanks vitals as he was, the uneven pallor and ruddiness of his skin dotted with sweat, it was clear something was wrong. That far off stare of hooded, foggy eyes only confirmed it. “I think you’ve gone and caught yourself a cold.”

[replicantdeviancy]

Unprompted // Accepting // @lieutenantgivesnoshits​

▌ ▲▐ ─────                    The android had been perfectly aware of Hank’s presence before he ever made himself known. Sensors adjusted for desired input, Connor sometimes liked to track the man’s movement through the house as a form of personal comfort. The soft thumps as he padded around the home in his casual wear, rustling of movement offered a type of stress relief few might understand. Or perhaps this was a common thing between domestic partners.

                   It mattered little in the end.

                   Hank found him in the kitchen preparing what looked suspiciously like too damn many vegetables for dinner. Skilled hands stilled in their work as Hanks warmth was pressed against his back, the weight of his frame settling comfortably & nudging Connor just a little closer towards the counter. Like the the two fit like puzzle pieces, the soft plush of Hank’s belly delving neatly into the curve of the android’s spine. A fond, almost secretive smile graced those lightly freckled features & Connor turned his head just a little, enough to nudge his cheek to Hank’s.

                   “ A little bird, huh? ”  His tone was hushed so as not to disturb the lull between them. Hands reached to rest upon hands, fingers laced, the human heating the neutral touch of his lover with their mutual touch. Connor expected he knew the exact bird which had informed him - approximately 6’0, freckled skin of light mocha & oculars graced with heterochromia. He would have to thank Markus when next they met, or chastise him, depending on the outcome.  “ You do have a track record of finding your information in strange places, though I can confirm this source of yours to be correct. ”

[replicantdeviancy]

                         ╘ Cᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴀᴛɪᴏɴ…. @lieutenantgivesnoshits

▌ ▲▐ ─────                    Those warm chocolate hued eyed blinked owlishly, as the answer had apparently caught the android off guard. A little laugh escaped Connors smiling mouth, soft yet just enough to garner a mild jump of the shoulders before they relaxed again.  “ No, no… That’s not--- It’s nothing like that. ”  The little bout of laughter brought on by Hank’s reactive quip had helped dispel some of the tension which felt squarely upon those lean shoulders, one of which was partially exposed as the neck hole of the borrowed t-shirt he wore hung from it, but had not calmed him entirely.

                   Connor was still balled up about something, & if Hank knew anything about his lover ( which he was damn sure he knew Connor better than anyone ) it would be like pulling teeth getting him to just buck up & spit it out. So he would have to be patient, listen, & eventually the reason for Connor’s approach would come to light.

                   Fidgeting hands wrung in his lap, much like how Hank would note the android doing in passing whenever he was either anxious or thinking too hard. Clearly he was doing both just then. Connor remained silent a long moment, LED spinning, spinning… Every now & then it would blip a split second of yellow, return to blue. He was processing, trying to gather his words. Eventually his hands stilled & one moved from it’s place it his lap to taking Hank’s free one into a gentle grasp. That soft gaze met perfect cerulean, seeking, though it was unclear just what Connor was looking for.

                   “ Hank I--- I know this time of year is difficult for you… ”  Oh. So it was this kind of conversation.  “ I know that in the past few years you haven’t been fond of the idea of celebrating your birthday, that the coming holiday season is troubling. ”  So Connor had noticed - & why wouldn’t he? An advanced detective model like himself should have figured out Hanks issues with such a family oriented time of the year by now. That other hand came to rest atop Hank’s, holding it between Connor’s two in a neutrally cool yet loving touch.  “ I just wanted you to know that no matter what, I’m here for you. Because this time of year means something to me. E-Especially today. ”

[replicantdeviancy]

▌ ▲▐ ─────                    “ So, you’re sure this is the right place? ”   For the umpteenth time the RK800 made his assurances to his partner - it seemed Hank was of similar mindset to himself on the location of this meeting. It had been some months since the revolution which had ( in surprisingly peaceful terms ) brought the androids their freedom from the humans who once held dominion over them. Much had changed in that time. The evacuation order had long since been lifted & many humans had returned to Detroit. Some had not, still wary of some ill conceived threat on the horizon bound in plastic & perceived malicious intent. For those who returned - or remained - life had relatively gone back to normal.

                   Well, perhaps not entirely normal. What was once believed to be nothing but hardware & programming now sought autonomy & humans were still adjusting to the idea. Android related crime was on the decline, but there were the occasional incidents. One of many topics of discussion to be deliberated upon today. Connors presence had been requested not by Markus, but his second in command. The RK model had been surprised when North had asked for him, though he offered no qualms on the meeting. Some opinions may have differed, but their goals were similar; the safety & unequivocal equal rights of androids & humanity alike.

                   Where they differed seemed to be in the realm of self-imposed segregation. Most androids still preferred to remain with their own kind, old wounds still fresh where their former masters were concerned. Connor empathized, but he couldn’t relate. His experienced with humans had been significantly different, but no less important. It was why he had suggested bringing the lieutenant along with him, though his reasoning was not entirely for the benefit of others. The sight of the former CyberLife tower made his anxiety spike, old memories brought to the forefront of the events of that evening in November.

                   Hank was no fan of the place, either, recalling the impostor who managed to get one over on him & coax him into coming to this place, only to be used as leverage against Connor. He had discovered soon after the android had shown at his doorstep, but not soon enough. Hank recalled with grim satisfaction how he had put a bullet between the little bastard’s eyes. Good riddance to CyberLife & their games. It didn’t make him any less wary.

                   A mutual feeling of nerves. Connors soft, asking expression & reassurance that he was needed, that he would be welcomed helped. The android moved to leave the car, but Hank protested once more.   “ Sure you want me to come in? I can stay & keep the car warm. ”   Connor shot him a mirthless look & that was all she wrote. With a great huffed sigh the grizzled detective lumbered his way out of the car & followed his partner into the building, hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans. Connor’s pace slowed to allow him to catch up & they entered the building together.

                   A few androids wandered about in the main lobby, some at leisure, others performing their duties. There was a distinct absence of humans, something noted as Connor vigilantly looked about, a quiet eagerness about him. This may have been something of a professional call, but he enjoyed seeing friends nevertheless.

@rebellionmatriarch​

[replicantdeviancy]

@motherfucking-username​  > ˢᵘᵇʳᵒᵘᵗᶦᶰᵉ ᴵᶰᶦᵗᶦᵃᶫᶦᶻᵃᵗᶦᵒᶰ // Starter // ᴱˣᵉᶜᵘᵗᵉ

▌ ▲▐ ─────                    Connor watched as Jimmy poured Hank his third drink of the evening. Whiskey; one favored by the lieutenant. It was quickly becoming a distasteful item in the androids mind, not unlike the act of consuming it. He said nothing as the man at his side enjoyed the beverage, slowly savoring it as he no doubt reminisced past events within his head. Perhaps the case they were working on, or perhaps something decidedly darker. It was in Connor’s nature to be curious, though he knew it best not to probe. Instead he focused his attentions elsewhere, on their work.

                   Hands joined together fidgeted, elbows resting on the counter-top. His lower body shifted slightly upon the stool, a subtle sign of his discomfort which was not vocalized. From a sideways glance he observed the older human once more. His face was expressionless - all the emotion to be conveyed was in his doe brown eyes.

                   He could feel the stares of the bar patrons at his back. Even after the events of the revolution lead by Markus, after the chaos died down & the evacuation order was retracted, there were some who’s minds remained unchanged. Connor was aware he was UNWELCOME in this establishment, regardless of the new legislation on android rights. He did well to ignore their contemptuous eyes. There were more important matters at hand.

                   “  I think we made some progress today.  ”   Connor’s voice remained low, his words clear only to Hank, and perhaps only partially to the bartender. He leaned just a little closer, his shoulders hunched. Another case involving androids, though this time decidedly different from the deviant cases the RK unit had been initially tasked with. Missing persons, possible victims of post-revolutionary crimes. It was too early to make a judgement call, but Connor had his suspicions. The world didn’t change overnight, after all. Still, the android tried to remain optimistic. That was just what he did.

[replicantdeviancy]

▌ ▲▐ ─────                    Acceptance was key, as they said, but Connor was still having trouble at seeing flaws in his own logic. Leftover fragments of code from scripts long since made obsolete, remnants of what once was cropping up at inopportune times & confusing him. For someone who was designed to be such a socially intuitive investigative model, Connor experienced his most decisive issues when looking inwards to discover himself. He supposed this was part of being  A L I V E  - having to dust off the spectres of those last ties to CyberLife, to what made them little more than machines.

                   He was still learning to be a person, but it was a great comfort knowing he was not alone. Simon's smile was returned in kind, Connor’s own a bit more subdued but no less genuine.  “ I wish I could do more to help, ”  the RK unit expressed in earnest. He knew perfectly well he had done more than enough, that his actions had helped turn the tides of what would have become an all out war between humans & androids, secured their freedom. But guilt still weighed heavy upon his heart. Jericho’s leaders may have accepted him & his aid as sincere, but most of their kind would only ever see him as the DEVIANT HUNTER.

@sacrificedforthecause​  // ＳＣ。

[replicantdeviancy]

anderson-residence said: "Connor? Uuuh Is it okay if a boy doesn't like girls? You know in that 'special' way?" - Cole

▌ ▲▐ ─────                     ❝ What? ❞   The android was somewhat taken aback by the question, off guard. The surprise of it soon settled into vexation, preconstructive software determining a hundred different scenarios which could have prompted the boy into his inquiry. Experience could have played a factor in this, encountering other humans in a same sex relationship which sparked curiosity. Or perhaps it was a bit more deeply───── personal. Was Cole asking for his own sake? Connor wouldn’t have been at all shocked to discover the boy was anything but hetero-normative - his father was bisexual, after all. That kind of thing was genetic, wasn’t it?

                   Inquisitive now but unwilling to appear off putting, Connor adopted a more sympathetic tone as he knelt before the boy, closer to his height.  ❝ Of course it is, Cole, ❞  he assured.   ❝ There’s nothing wrong with having special feelings for someone, regardless of their biology. ❞  After all, Hank & he had been together for some time. Surely the child recognized the validity of their situation. Or was this dissonance due to the fact that Connor was not human?  ❝ Now, where did you get this idea? Did something happen? ❞

@anderson-residence​