#it’s clear that Markus and Carl love each other A LOT

[disobey-disappoint-deviate]

Ok, but I think we are all sleeping on Carl & Markus.

[rjhpandapaws]

Hey Panda! Congratulations on hitting the new milestone! Dunno if it’s still time to ask for a prompt, but if it is, I would love to see you write Simarkus first argument with a fluffy ending, please! Thanks and have a nice day! ^^

//Another first fight. This will be fun!! // @sheyshocked I didn’t mean to publish this blank! //Best read while listening to Battle Cries by the Amazing Devil

It was a long time coming he supposed looking back, that he and Simon would fight. They had fallen together in the midst of a revolution that neither one believed they would survive, and well, when you don’t think you’re going to survive, communicating with your partner isn’t the highest of your priorities. Except they had survived, and Markus’s ability to communicate hadn’t gotten any better. This started out small, as they always did. Signs and signals that were easy to miss if you didn’t know to look for them. Simon had always been surrounded by humans and learned to mimic them, so a lot of his displeasure came across in his body language, not his words, and Markus, for all the good he had done their movement, was not the greatest at reading the room. Carl voiced his displeasure, North did the same, Josh would make an effort to solve it on his own; and Simon, for whatever reason kept it to himself. The first of it started in the odd calm after the revolution, They were in free fall, and Markus scrambled to make a list of things that they wanted met in their personhood. Then came all of the legal meetings and the press, he took Josh with him, he was better at this than the rest of them. That, and he loved red tape situations for whatever reason. He had unintentionally pulled away from Simon, and return Simon had done the same.

The thing was Markus had known none of this at the time. He hadn't known that there was something that needed fixed. Simon was just quiet and Markus had chalked it up to stress. After all of something was wrong he would have said something right? And he did, close to a year on after the revolution, things had slowed down some, but Markus hadn’t, and if he had to guess Simon was getting tired of coming in last on his list of priorities. Which looking back, had been unfair to him. Markus knew that now. “Markus?” Simon asked one evening, “If you have time could we talk?” He was polite, as he always tended to be. Now he knew it had been hesitation. “Of course. I always have time for you.” Markus said setting aside the stack of papers and turning to face Simon. He didn’t miss the ice that passed through those blue eyes. “I was thinking about taking a little time on my own.” Simon said without looking at Markus, “Away from Jericho, I feel out of place here.” Markus had to stop for a moment to process this. After everything they had accomplished, Simon just wanted to leave? “Do  you mind my asking why?” “You don’t need me here, didn’t really need me during things either if I’m honest.” He met Markus’s eyes for that one, and if the words hadn’t hurt enough on their own, the distance in his eyes would have done the job, “Everything is just you North and Josh. Now that we aren’t about to die at every turn you don’t need me anymore, so I thought -” There was static at the edge of his voice. Ever since being brought back his vocal processor tried to give out if he got too emotional, “I thought I could find a place where I was needed.”

“You are needed here, there are things we need you for.” Markus replied, “Morale, you help when there are humans or injure-” “Outside of the movement Markus. For once, can you maybe think about something else? Someone else?” Simon pleaded, “You never talk to me anymore if it isn’t about this. During the revolution you always said that after it ended, if we survived, we would get away from all of this. That we would find a place of our own. We survived Markus, I don’t know if you noticed that, and the only thing you’ve gotten away from is me.” “That isn’t true. I know I - We’ve been busy, but I haven’t forgotten you Si, just a little longer, that’s all I’m asking.” Markus pleaded, but he knew the answer even before Simon spoke. “When Markus?” He said flatly, “When you’ve solved the problems of each android ever made? When you’re done being seen as a hero? Or perhaps when all of this red tape gets cleared up? A year Markus, it has been a year and you haven’t talked to me about anything other than this damned movement!” There was a garble of static that Markus figured was supposed to be words, but Simon was too lost to say them, “A year since you told me you loved me.” Those last words hit him like a physical blow and Markus wanted to argue, but the thing was he couldn’t remember, “Simon, I’ve be-” “Been busy, I know.” Came the faintly static reply, “But that is exactly my point. Maybe we should put whatever this was meant to be on hold, until you can figure this out, because I can’t keep throwing myself at a wall Markus; not again; not even for you. I did this once already and its how I wound up in that boat to begin with, and it is certainly not how I wish to spend the rest of my life.”

Before Markus could reply he was gone. Markus stared at the doorway where he had been standing. He could remember those moments clearly. The nights and other moments when it was relatively safe and they could breathe, those times when they dared to dream about the world after the revolution. Promises that he ad every intention to keep, promises that had had gotten buried beneath paperwork and an image put on him by the rest of the world. He had, in small but certain steps forgotten about Simon. It was too late to admit that because the security system had already announced his absence, and even then, he had asked for space. Markus could give him that. They both had things to think about. Simon what he wanted out of life, and Markus about where exactly he had lost his. He hadn’t expected being alive to be so much work. North was good at handling politicians, and Josh’s dream job was apparently was to be nested in piles of paperwork. If Markus would only let him he would be doing this in his place, but apparently he was so used to being The Revolutionary now that he hadn’t been able to set it aside. For all it had gotten him, he had just lost the one thing he had been fighting for. Their right to life, to exist, to be able to feel, all so he could love without being killed, except he had pushed away the one person he had fought the world for. Losing Simon the first time had been hard, but this was worse. He knew that outside the house Simon was still well, but this time he just didn’t want to be neat him. Alive and well, but no where near him. He sighed quietly and looked back at the daunting pile of paperwork. Was this really what he wanted? Politics until his thirium pump rolled over and gave out? Is this what he wanted to make of the sacrifices made for him? He knew the answer to all of that, it was a resounding no. What he wanted was the life he had dared to dream of when hunched in an empty box car with Simon.

 He lasted until midnight, not that he had gotten anymore work done of course. No, he had simply been staring at the door trying to find where things had gone so wrong. Where along the way he had exchanged his happiness for in image. Where in all of this he had lost Simon. It was so gradual and slow going that he couldn’t find the exact moment he had lost Simon, it still felt too much like he had been there one moment and gone the next; but he knew when he started pulling away. It was around the six month mark, right when Markus’s political career took off. When the paperwork had buried him and Simon along with it. Made a wall that was somehow both feebly thin and impossible to get through. Lost in translation as they said. He made his way to the shipyard to think. It was the place he went to ground himself. He hadn’t expected to see Simon there. Standing at the dock’s edge looking out over the wreckage in the slow rain that always seemed prevalent this time of year. But there he was, looking out over the water like it somehow held the answers, and Markus could understand why. In an ironic sense, things had seemed easier then, when they hadn’t thought they were going to make it out. Carl had said things about that on many occasions, when he got fed up with his own condition. They varied from profound to concerning depending on how sober he was; but Markus’s favorite had always been that life was the most beautiful when you were under the impression that it would end before you got to live it. Markus supposed that was true. His moment of reprieve was broken by Simon himself. “If you have something to say please say it, your just standing there is creepy.” He didn’t look away from the water as he spoke, and Markus couldn’t blame him.

“I want to apologize if you’ll let me.” He replied, “I didn’t notice that I had lost you along the way Simon. I always told myself that after the next thing I would be done, each new thing that came up was meant to be the last. I didn't realize what I was doing to you and I’m sorry. I know it’s probably to little too late, and I can’t promise that this but of legislation will be the last, but I promise to let Josh handle more of it from here on out. I don’t want to lose you again.” Simon did look at him eventually, no doubt searching to see if these promises would be empty too, “That will have to be enough then won’t it. Just talk to me this time Markus, tell me what you are thinking. I can’t read your mind despite my best efforts.” He took a few steps to close to the distance, “Just don’t forget me this time.” Markus rested his forehead against Simon’s “Never again.” He promised.

(Prompt from this list)

[celestialdr]

My Script

So I’m posting up my script here if anyone's interested. This is for my main DR in the D:BH Universe.

It’s kinda long.

*WARNING: very self indulgent.*

Intro

My DR is set in the D:BH universe. In Detroit, 2039. I am a young Detective at the DPD.

All events that happened in my play trough of DBH happen in this reality. EG. Markus = Peaceful Revolution. Kara= Her, Alice and Luther all escape to Canada together. Connor = Becomes Deviant.

Hank and Connor become like father and son. Connor moved in with Hank after the events of DBH.

I have been working at the DPD as a detective for about a year now, I was very excited to be working alongside my dear friend Trey Greene (OC), who actually ended up being my partner. We do almost every investigation together.

During my time at the DPD I have become fast friends with Hank and Chris. Gavin is okay, we joke and banter but I wouldn’t say we are buds. I disliked his attitude towards Hank and his dislike of androids. But if he changes, who knows, maybe we can be friends. Idk.

I always supported android rights, even before there where deviants. I always treated androids with kindness and compassion.

I first met Connor on the 6th of November 2038, back before he was deviant. I was always kind to him and had a fondness for him. When Connor first saw me he stopped for a minute in a miniature awe, the stereotypical love at first sight motif. Although he did not know it at the time - him not being deviant yet. A software instability entered his program upon seeing me. In fact, anytime we made eye contact or talked he got a software instability. It baffled him.

The first time he saw me after deviating he was hit with butterflies, it didn’t take too long to realize what it was, he had a huge crush on me. He kept it to himself but Hank knew immediately.

It is now January the 8th 2039, Connor and I have become quite good friends but his feelings for me only continue to grow. We've only known each other for 2- 3 months but Connor is falling in love fast and now he's decided to finally pluck up the courage and admit his feelings to me and ask me out. How will he do this? I don’t know yet.

______

World

 After the events of DBH, Androids start getting rights, relatively quickly.

Laws are implemented to protect androids. Androids are free. They can own property, get paid for working and all of the things Markus was advocating for.

As time goes on Androids fully integrate into our society and we mostly live in peace. Hate crime of any kind is rare.

Android politicians start to pop up. Android Pride day exists. Androids can marry each other and humans. Android/Human relationships are normalised. Androids can adopt. Etc.

_______

Shifting

 1 hour - 1 day

. While I am in my DR my clone is sleeping in my CR.

. I have a Healthy attachment to my DR and I recognise the importance of my CR.

. I remember everything from both realities vividly while I'm in the other unless I script otherwise.

· I can fully trust my clone. My clone acts identical to me.

· When I shift back to my current reality time stops in my DR. The next time I go to my DR everything continues where I left off.

 · I can use the LIFA app in my DR to see what my clone is doing in CR.

· I only shift back to my CR when I want to, I can’t go back on accident.

· My safe phrase for coming back to my CR is “I want to go back to my Current Reality.” or even as simply as I make it my intention, then I can go back.

·  Nothing traumatic happens to me in my DR.

· When I come back to my CR, I will remember everything that happened in my DR.

· When I shift, I wake up in my DR bedroom.

 · When I am shifted I smell cinnamon and my eyes automatically open.

· I cannot die or get very hurt in my DR.

. I am able to fully Integrate Into my DR self’s life. e.g. Rembering my DR self’s past, feeling comfortable and normal talking to and interacting with people in my DR selfs life. Having all the skills and knowledge my DR self has.

. No one from my CR or other realities can enter my DR without my permission.

.My guardian Angel or one of my angels or guides from my DR has decided to help me shift. Whenever I try to shift in this reality the Angel assits me and pulls my CR self into My DR.

_______

About Me

I have the same name, b-day etc but I am 25 Years old.

Childhood and teen years, pretty similar to CR.

Everything is pretty much the same except added skills talents or whatever else I script.

 Physical

·  I Look like myself but 10x prettier.

·  I have my dream body, which always stays perfect and in shape. Similar to my body type only toned and fitter.

·  I have perfect, white straight teeth.

. I always have good breath.

· I always smell great - My sweat doesn’t smell.

· Low, silent gas that doesn’t smell.

· I usually smell like ‘Soap and Glory’ products.

· I have Beautiful hair that is easily maintained. My hair is also a slightly lighter blonde.

· I have my Ideal, natural eyebrows.

·  I have soft, clear skin and I am slightly tanner than in my CR. 

· I am beautiful from all angles.

· I have long eyelashes.

·  I have a straight, cute nose.

·  I always have good hygiene.

·  I never gain weight when I don’t want to, my body is always slim and never bloated.

·  If I ever get pregnant, after having my baby, my body goes quickly back to the way it looked before.

· I don’t have to shave too often.

· If I ever decide have a baby, my pregnancy will be safe and my child will be safe. It will be born happy and healthy.

· I have perfect senses.

·  I can be fully functional with little sleep.

· I have good stamina and am physically fit.

· I still have my accent. 

· I have a naturally beautiful face with and without make up.

· My make-up sits perfectly on my face and stays all day until I take it off.

· My make-up never runs.

· I always have nicely manicured nails.

·  I always look well groomed. 

Health

 · I have high pain tolerance.

· My period only lasts two days and doesn’t hurt too bad.

· I can only get pregnant if actually wanting too.

· I am always safe.

·  I am divinely protected at all times.

· I am well rested and perfectly healthy.

· I can think clearly.

· I have good mental health - maybe went through similar mental health issues when I was younger but now am perfectly healthy and able to cope.

· I do not scar.

· I heal fast.

· 𝖨 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝖻𝖾 too overly 𝖺𝗍𝗍𝖺𝖼𝗁𝖾𝖽 to my DR and I will not get any trauma.

·  I eat healthy, and enjoy healthy foods.

· I drink plenty of water

·  I have balanced chakras, Good intuition and I radiate love and light.

·  I can easily communicate with angels.

Skills

·  I am a skilled detective. I know exactly what to do and I have all required skills.

·  I am an excellent shot.

·  I have excellent fighting and self-defence skills.

· I have high intelligence.

· I'm never badly hurt in the line of duty. Extremely lucky (like domino in dp2.) If I ever get hurt in DR its only minor. No one is suspicious about it.

·  I'm a good writer.

· My art skills are always better in my DR than in CR.

· I have a good memory and deduction skills. Good reasoning skills.

· I am socially confident and charismatic.

· I am an excellent speaker.

· I am good at reading people.

· I give good advice.

· I am a good friend.

· I am a great kisser and fantastic in bed.

· I am hard working and have lots of patience.

· I'm a great singer and can play piano, guitar.  

·  I know French and Irish.

·  I know how to drive.

· I'm really good at make-up.

·  I'm really funny.

·  People easily trust me.

Life

· I have all knowledge my CR self has.

· I had a relatively easy life.

· I come from a wealthy family.

· I am always full of motivation and energy.

·  I have an amazing closet full of clothes, including both new clothes and my CR self's clothes.

· I have all of my current realities belongings. (Well, the stuff that I want with me.)

· I have a ton of art supplies.

· I live in my own house which I can afford with ease.

· I have a cute golden retriever called Bailey who is okay alone in the house while I'm at work.

· Bailey is a year old and is fully trained.

· I have a nice car that is self-driving.

· I have a good phone with the LIFA app

·  I get to travel to cool places on holidays/vacation.

· While I'm in my DR I don’t confuse my CR's past with my DR's.

· All my fave shows, music, movies are also in my DR.

· I have lots of friends and make friends easily.

· I remember my past in the DR and can reference it with ease.

· I never have to kill as a detective, I can always disarm or find another solution.

· I won't get fired from my job.

· I'm good at my job and I know how to do my job well.

· Trey is my partner and our desks are beside each other.

·  I'm also friends with Chris and Hank.

·  My friends are always there for me. My friends care about me.

·  Money comes to me easily and effortlessly.

·  I am a really great at manifesting what I want in my DR.

·  People I don’t want to, won’t die or get very hurt.

·  People from my DR never notice if I'm not there because when I’m not there, my clone takes my place. (Although I probably won't use my clone too often because I plan to pick up where I left off most of the time.)

·  I know all passcodes and important numbers of my DR self's life. E.g. Passwords, phone numbers, etc.

·I have a Spotify/ (or whatever the equivalent to it is in this reality) filled with music that I like. Maybe some of the playlists that I have in CR.

· I'm quick at picking up skills.

· If I ever decide to change career in my DR, I can do so with ease and get whatever job I want.

·   I have nice, tidy handwriting.

Family

I come from a wealthy family. We moved from N.I. to America - Detroit in 2025. (Moved Because dad was offered a great job.) *family all have our green cards.*

Family is friends with Carl Manfred.

A very loving, healthy and supportive family.

* In my actual script I go into more detail about my family. but i’ll give you a brief rundown. I chose to shift to a reality with a different family from my CR family because I thought if I had a different family and friends it will give me more of a reason to come back to my CR. So I can have balance? idk...*  

My DR dads name is Patrick, DR mums name is Mary and my DR brothers name is Lucas.

Family support and are okay with my relationship with Connor because they recognise androids as living beings.

Last but Not least! Bailey!

Bailey is my one year old Golden retriever. She is very well trained and is an absolute angel. She also really loves Connor.

House

I live in a 1 bedroom, 1 bath house with Bailey. *In my actual script I stuck in a bunch of pictures of a house I built in the sims 4.*

Friends

So, I'm not going to go through all the friends I scripted on here but I’ll tell you about my best friend from my DR. My partner from work, Trey Greene. He’s 27, a leo (like me) and gay. (I honestly made my entire friend group LGBTQ+ LOL)

I may have also scripted that jenna marbles is there and shes my friend lol.

Connor

*Okay now to the real reason I'm shifting, the love of my life.*

Connor falls in love with me the moment he sees me. Although he may not understand what it is at first because he hasn’t deviated yet. When he fully deviates he realises his feelings. He's a little shy about it at first but eventually asks me out. We date and fall in love and end up in a loving healthy relationship. We respect each other's boundaries and are completely in love. Like stereotypical soulmates.

 Connor is very romantic and affectionate. Literally like a prince charming.

 When we get together we are in a healthy relationship and both of us are completely faithful. I can trust Connor fully because I know he is trust worthy and always has my best intentions at heart.

 . We have similar love languages.

.  Connor is super-duper romantic and calls me sweet names like "My love."

. Much Like me in this DR, Connor is completely protected and safe with extremely good luck.

After the events of DBH and Connor is deviant. Amanda and cyberlife no longer have any control over him.

 NSFW warning - Skip to Lifa if your not comfy.

Connor's model was created fully equipped with regular male genitalia (which is about 7 inches.)

He is very vocal in bed and is great at dirty talk. He can do loving romantic sex and also kinky rough sex too.

 Lifa

Lifa is an app on my smart phone that only I have access to. Others don’t notice it. (like hidden in plain sight.)

 It can only be noticed by others if I decide I want to show it to someone.

 Lifa allows me to script while in my WR. It also allows me to see myself in CR.

Lifa updates me when its nearly time for me to wake up or reminds me when. As if it's like a timer.

 Lifa doesn’t require internet. It has maps on it. I can look at my money and add to my money if I so wish. (if I add money it doesn’t ruin the economy.) idk magic lol

 I can also access in online on a computer or tablet or any device that carries the internet.

 No one else can use it unless I specifically allow it.

 I will be alerted by this app if my clone wakes up.

 I always have my phone near me. I can never lose it. Its also always fully charged.

 If I get a new phone. Lifa automatically downloads on it and deletes off the old phone.

MISC.

· When androids deviate they are able to feel pleasure, touch, etc.

· Androids actually do have souls and are actually a new life form.

· After revolution CyberLife starts to create things for androids like upgrades. E.G. Taste, ability to do almost everything humans can.

 · Most people are environmentally conscious.

· The earth is healing and people are taking better care of the planet. A lot more environmentally conscious options.

·  The ocean, air, atmosphere and earth are all 70% cleaner than in CR.

·  Racism, homophobia, sexism are quite rare. Ultimately society frowns upon such things.

·   Humans and Androids live in peace

· Shortly after the revolution, Kamski got repointed as CEO of Cyberlife. Cyberlife now focusing on the needs of Androids and helping them adjust into the world.

·  Youtube still exists and is relevant.

·   Bagel Bean and Boojum exist in Detroit and aren't too far from my home. (These are food places back at where I'm from that are bomb.)

·  No crisis with bees.

. The Police and justice system are reformed.

·   No threats of ww3.

·  I don’t live too far from work.

·  All the videogames I like still exist, (except for dbh obvs.)

· We can buy Cadburys and Pujana tea in America. (Things I like in the UK.)

• Food in US is similar to food in UK. e.g. same food laws and food that is actual tasty / healthy. LOL 

(sorry, I've been to America and the food there tastes weird, man.)

Future

Now that the androids have rights, Cyberlife has to free all active Androids. Eventually they get around to RK900. Cyberlife only created one RK900 as a prototype before the revolution.

The RK900 goes by the name Nines. He ends up working in the DPD. (Months later.)  It takes a while for Nines to deviate but he eventually does. Nines is rather stoic but he is nice. Him and Connor have a brotherly bond. Nines becomes friends with me, Connor, Hank and Trey. (Part of our little found family.)

 In the future, when Connor and I are both ready we get married and have kids (either through adoption or sperm donation or maybe they find a way for androids to have kids in the future, idk?)

 In the future me and Connor buy our dream house together.

--

So, Yeah that's what I've scripted so far. I keep one script on my PC and one in a notebook under my bed. 

Feel free to use any ideas or concepts from my script 

[rk1kheadcanons]

Connor and Markus are on vacation when they first meet

Connor's workaholic ass kept trying to weasel out of going on vacation up to the last moment until his dad, Hank Anderson, literally hugged him roughly in their shared beat up the car and then pushed him unceremoniously out the door at the airport, then sped off leaving him two options: Uber home or take the damned plane and go on vacation proper. Connor shook his head; the precinct could wait a week without him.

Carl had a limo come and get Markus and ferry him to the airport. Markus hated it. It showed he was a child of money and he was always so nervous about leaving his Dad's side. He never knew if it would be the last time. He had two choices: worry himself till he was prematurely gray and call the limo back it goes on this week vacation. Begrudgingly and guiltily, he enters the airport.

Connor's a nervous mess and it shows at the bag check out. He wishes the floor would swallow him whole. There are too many people. Then the lady is telling him he's in the wrong line, this is a first-class ticket and Connor is both mad and flattered that his father splurged this much for him. He nervously moves his bags out the way to the blessedly clear first-class line.

Well, that's not quite true. There is this beautiful man dressed in a brand of a suit he could never afford in a year's worth of income, in line, getting checked in.

Connor feels like an obvious bum behind this airport God, with his bronze skin and-oh! Two-toned eyes, one blue and the other green...and crap he's staring.

Connor mumbles a 'hello' in passing as the airport God continues to stare at afterward, probably thinks he's weird.

Check out isn't a problem.

Markus has been flying since he was one year old, and first-class, too. What he didn't expect to see was this adorable wallflower staring at him absolutely terrified and a hairsbreadth from being spooked by him. Oh my goodness, he was so adorable! Soft looking curls, large brown eyes framed in large framed glasses, pale mole, freckled skin that was actively blushing. Even his graphic tee, skinny jeans, and DG shoes we're just somehow him, Markus knew. Markus walked past with a greeting...and right into some rope off markers because he was so enamored with the other man. Too bad they aren't going to the same place, that could have been markus time to get to know him.

They are row mates and the flight is surprisingly pretty much just them.

Markus is not the most religious but prays to all entities for this happenstance.

Connor has problems breathing with the man being right there in his visual range. The dude is way out of his league, probably straight as a board, and Connor's gay heart can not deal. He fucking smells good from across the row from him. Bitch.

"Hi, I'm Markus. What is your name?"

Connor flinched like he was slapped and with the added confusion as his eyes landed on where the voice came from.

Markus would have laughed if he wasn't certain that the other would probably ride the rest of the flight in the bathroom just to live down the unwarranted embarrassment.

The man, Markus, is all smiles and beautiful eyes, and Connor is melting in confusion inside. This man is talking to him?

"I'm Connor. Are you talking to me, not a phone, or?"

Markus smile dims a little. So this Connor had self-esteem issues, felt a like person like him could not be talked to by a person like him.

"Yeah, I'm talking to you directly. There are no other beautiful people taking my attention like you are."

Connor blushed even harder and tried to will his heart to not fall out of his mouth. Here this absolutely fetching male was talking to him and he was ready to put his earbuds in for the duration of the trip like a normal person would when being flirted with.

Markus knew what he was doing.

Looking both ways down the aisle, he got up with his carry on and sat by Connor.

Connor freaked out for multiple reasons: what about assigned seating? This man was too hot, and Connor was very Gay.

Markus could see the panic attack welling up in Connor.

Markus started to talk to him about himself. He spoke of how this was a 'forced vacation'/from his Dad, a point Connor could relate to. He started to relax, take in the man's calming voice.

Connor found his voice and started talking back about his own experience. It was an enjoyable experience with a perfect stranger that just happened to look like Connor's future husband.

It never crossed their minds they were on a joint flight to Hawaii even when whey they finally disembarked hours later, it still didn't click.

Connor slept on his first day.

When he did wake, he enjoyed the scenery of the beach from his verandah. He thought about Markus and the fact that maybe he could have drawn the scene before him.

He decided to hit the beach. He'd bought some ridiculously small board booty shorts, painted his nails a lovely iridescent navy blue, and parked himself under a large canopy on his doggie pattern beach towel. He was pretty and he was going to pay that aspect up.

There was a 'thud' and slight groan as someone tripped and more or less stop, dropped, and fell under his canopy with him.

It had him scrambling up, fist ready to fight. He was no pushover no matter how he may look to others. He looked down and couldn't help but snort inelegantly. Markus lay frozen in place, borderline terrified Markus, eyes wide and shifting all over Connor's figure before landing on those tiny shorts.

Markus can't help but want to stay by Connor's side, and it looks like Connor is just as receptive to that, if his eyes glued on Markus muscles have any say in it.

Baring just the good looks and obvious attraction between them, the conversation is good as well. They find they have a lot in common as well.

They decide after a fun day at the beach to sort of unanimously to enjoy the trip as whatever this would evolve into. They now were certain they both resided in Detroit, Markus a curator for his father's works and some of his own as well.

Connor was an up and coming detective that partnered with his father, Lieutenant Thank Anderson. Markus knew of his dad from a large art heist that he'd busted when he was younger and had nothing but respect for the man. Likewise, Connor enjoyed Carl Manfred's artwork from the time he could understand art concepts.

Nightlife came and the pair went out and enjoyed the energy of the clubs. Connor would not have come if not for Markus, and Markus doubted that he would have either alone given his homebody nature. They both fed each other positively in that regard, sharing drinks and laughs and dancing late into the morning hours.

At some point, they had decided to call it a night in their tipsy way of handling, Markus arm around Connor's shoulder as giggled themselves, shuffling back to the hotel that they found they also shared.

Somewhere along the trip up to their respective rooms, Connor became very brave indeed, pulling Markus slightly flushed face to his and kiss him soundly. Markus looks at him with wide, expressive eyes, the vestiges of drunkenness slipping away for confirmation of what this can mean, what it will mean if he steps a foot into Connor's room with him.

Connor murmurs his assent to whatever the night will hold and Markus kisses Connor back with more passion this time around, finagling the room key from Connor's hand and fumbling to open it, too stubborn to fly stop peppering kisses on Connor and look at the lock mechanism to which Connor just can't contain his giggles. The four finally swings open and Connor is lifted up and onto the room, the door closing slowly behind them letting his giggles echo into the hall until the slip into pleased little groans by the time the door is completely shut.

A week goes by and two fathers await their son's return. Somehow Hank is pleased with this little turn of events. He wanted Connor to enjoy himself, to truly unwind. If 'unwind' meant to bring a boyfriend home, well, as long as he was safe, Hank was proud of his boy. He seemed to have a good eye when he saw the other slightly nervous young man named Markus holding his son's hand.

Carl was the same sort of supportive. He even was having a good day health-wise so he really got to get to know (pick on and tell embarrassing stories to) Connor. Markus rolled his eyes and sighed good-natured.

To think neither we're interested in going on their vacation for their own reasons. They may have gone their whole lives and never met.

Here's to all the perfect strangers in the world that could be soul mates waiting to happen.

[connorandersons-blog]

Kinktober Day 2: Camboy, RK1K

Alright, so this is a Markus/Connor one, hopefully you enjoy!

--------------------------

This definitely wasn't Hank meant when he told Connor to experiment. He probably meant to go to bars and pick someone up and see what he liked. Not sit in front of a mirror with a camera set up facing him so his viewers could pick between watching from Connor's point of view or an outsider.

Yet this was what he liked, and it took a lot to get to the point where he could admit that. Of course, he hadn't tried this while living at Hank's, that was far too embarrassing. 

No, he only did this now after Markus had invited his closest friends to live with him. Carl had gladly opened his home and arms to his 'new babies' and had taken an instant liking to Connor. 

Connor had been… nervous to say the least. He didn't want to upset Carl or get in anyone's way, so he mostly kept to himself, easily slipping out of the house for work and back in once it was done. 

A friendship he was very surprised to make was the one with North. She seemed more hotheaded than even Gavin Reed and had more of a passion for beating shit up. 

Connor had actually avoided her for a long time until he came back home (because that's what it was now) bloody and shaking. The blood wasn't all his, but the only one up had been North. He tried to slip past her, take a shower, and just sleep, but she had noticed. 

Her first reaction was to get whoever had done this to him, which was more meaningful than he expected. Yet it was only until she was gently wiping away the blood that he broke down. 

He couldn't stop the killer before shooting an android child at close range, and Connor was splattered in the child's blood and then the killers as he shot them. 

After that they had been closer than ever, even Markus joked about North being Connor's favorite. Yet North had privately teased Connor relentlessly about his crush on Markus. 

That's why he always felt somewhat guilty about doing this. At least he knew the walls were almost completely soundproof and it wasn't like anyone would just walk in. 

He even kept a white sheet strung up behind him so no one could actually see his room, and he made it so they'd never be able to see his real face. Instead, he used an HR400 appearance. They were close enough in appearance that he could make the viewers believe he changed his facial structure just slightly to be mood unique. 

He also made sure no one would be able to find his location from his streams and videos. 

He had gotten more followers than he knew what to do with, and most of the money went to toys the viewers all suggested or donated to the android cause. 

Which was how he had gotten the two new toys he planned on using. One he hadn't known too much about before his views pointed it out, and the other he just hadn't thought to get yet. 

He shifted in his spot, his clothes covering him up for now. He left the pace up to the chat and donations so he didn't have to worry about going too slow or too fast as it wasn't his decision. 

He gave the room a once over before taking a deep breath and starting the stream. It was a scheduled stream so he wasn't surprised when he saw over 100 people waiting for it to start. 

He felt a blush creep up his cheeks but he smiled at the mirror, tilting his head just slightly. "Hey, guys! So as you know I got a special surprise for you!" He had placed the toys far enough away to not get caught in the line of sight of him or the other camera. 

The chat was flooded with hellos and questions about how he was. The onslot of messages had him stalling as he took them all in, still shocked at the multitude. Yet even more people were still joining the stream, but he had yet to see his favorite user.

That was until the username-ShadesOfBlue-popped up along with plenty of coins. 

He flushed more than before, ducking his head. Blue was always so generous with his compliments and money but never pushed it into the creepy side. It made him feel actually seen and cared about beyond his sex appeal. 

ShadesOfBlue: You look stunning as always, how has work been?

"Hello, Blue! As for everyone's questions, I've been doing well! I made a lot of progress so I'm definitely rewarding myself and all of you tonight. Would you all like that? I know you love it when I punish myself." 

Comments about how they'd like to reward or punish him came up, but he only glanced through them. Most were crude while others were more eloquently put. 

ShadesOfBlue: You definitely deserve the treat, I'm proud of you, Belladonna, for all your hard work.

Connor beamed and wiggled just slightly. He was a complete sucker for praise and everyone knew it. He also had a thing for pain and using his mouth, which he'd get to do tonight. "Thank you all! I'm excited to please you." 

That was one of his signature lines apparently, and he hadn't even meant to make it one. He had his signing off words but everyone died when he said this. 

Just to show the chat was flooded with coins and sweet words. Some wanted him to fuck them while others wanted to fuck Connor. He still couldn't decide which Blue wanted to do.

Yet he had more surprises than just new toys. He played with the buttons on his shirt, giving the mirror a shy look as he sat W-style. 

He had a pleated schoolgirl skirt on, floral lace thigh-highs, and a white button-down shirt. He'd worn more feminine clothing before and each time always got a positive reaction from his fans. Though there were always the people who spouted cruel words, he didn't even have to deal with them since the fans did that too. 

He paused when he saw the amount of coins Blue had used on him and waited for whatever command he wanted. 

ShadesOfBlue: Perhaps you should take off that shirt if you'd like.

It was always phrased similarly, always giving the hint that he only had to do what he wanted and not what Blue wanted just because of the coins. 

Yet he was eager to obey and slowly unbuttoned his shirt, teasing them a bit more. "Is this what you want? I can be a good boy and show you. Am I you're good boy?" 

He had to hold back the smirk at the yes' that got him. A few people called him a bad boy for teasing, but they were shut down by the people who watched often. They knew Connor loved being called a good boy, and that he'd do close to anything for it. 

ShadesOfBlue: You have certainly been good so far, but not to the extent, I don't think.

Connor whined and pouted. He gave a small huff at the commenters who tried to tell Blue off, yet Connor could simply be doing a stream with only Blue and he wouldn't miss any of the others. Not that he didn't appropriate his fans. Blue simply seemed to know him better and what he wanted. There was something so familiar about him too, but he couldn't place how. 

Blue also never asked or tried to buy a private video. Connor kept waiting for that day but it still hadn't happened. Maybe he liked it better with everyone else and knowing he had Connor's full attention. 

Connor gently bit at his lip before pulling his shirt off. He sat there for a long second, letting everyone look their fill. He felt so exposed already with so many eyes on him. How many were also androids? How many humans watched just because he was an android?

ShadesOfBlue: Don't forget to drink thirium.

He had a feeling Blue was an android too. He wasn't sure how he got enough money to give so much almost every stream, but Markus was technically rich so he guessed it was possible. 

He had always secretly hoped it was Markus. His brain tried to connect dots but he couldn't let himself truly hope like that. Sure the username was very much like Markus with his love of painting, but it could be anyone if their favorite color was blue. 

"Thank you Blue, I'll make sure to get some after the stream." He also always had an emergency bottle in his room just in case. He only had to use it once before and that was before he had gotten a good hang of this. 

Blue hadn't been there for that, only joined after Connor was trending in certain circles. He was far from the first android to do this, but he had more success than any others. Did Blue watch them too?

He knew almost everyone watching got off on this, but what if Blue didn't. Maybe he was there simply because he liked Connor. Yet he wanted Blue to pleasure himself because of Connor. He loved the fact that they all thought he was irresistible.

Requests on things Connor should do kept coming, some even spending coins. Yet none were high enough for him to need to follow. He had a set amount someone could spend to request him to do something and nine times out of ten he'd do it. There were a few requests he just couldn't do. 

One comment did catch his eye though. 

Gethatpuddy: when you gonna do stream with someone fucking you?

He blinked and fingers stalled over his chest. He had considered it but didn't trust anyone enough with this secret. He'd love for Markus to join him, but he was far too well known and he'd probably be uncomfortable with the whole thing. Maybe even disgusted with Connor. He'd never even give him another hug, and damn Markus gave wonderful hugs. 

He'd not exactly said it outright, but he had a feeling North knew. She didn't say anything against it, seemed more interested that Connor was into it. She always made it clear how she felt about sex and how she most definitely did not want it in any form. 

"I don't think that will happen anytime soon, I only trust you with this naughty secret." He added a wink at the end and brushed his fingers over his nipples. He always had to find ways to say things so it seemed like it was more personal for the viewers, that they were special and the only ones to see this. 

ShadesOfBlue: It's far from naughty, you simply enjoy it and you let all of us in on it. And we all appreciate you for it. 

Connor whined and tried to roll his hips down onto the ground, searching for some kind of stimulation. "Are you sure? I thought good boys like me don't do this. That I can only touch myself with your permission." 

He did smirk this time at everyone telling him to touch himself. Yet he wouldn't do it quite yet, he wanted to show off one of his new toys first. 

"Would you like to see a new toy? I wanted to play with that before anything else." At the yes' he reached over and grabbed the dildo. 

It wasn't just any dildo, it was one made specifically for androids and moments like these. He could connect it to himself so he could feel everything the dick would have felt if it was attached to him. But it also glowed so that people could see it inside his mouth. It was big enough to be somewhat of a challenge, but that only made it better. 

"What color should it glow?" He asked, turning it on. Currently, it would slowly change colors so it was rainbow. 

ShadesOfBlue: Blue?

He really shouldn't be surprised by that request. Blue asking for blue, a total shocker right there. He giggled and his LED spun a quick yellow as he changed the color to a blue. One very similar to the color androids' hands glowed when they interfaced and were in love. 

He wondered if Markus' hand would glow blue if they interfaced like that. He wanted to test it so bad but he never could. He didn't want to know if he'd glow or not, what would he do with either result? 

"Blue it is!" He let his eyes slipped closed as he licked at the cock, whining just slightly. He was connected to the stream so he could still read all the comments but his focus was on the task at hand. 

He took his time licking over it, then gently sucking on the head. He pulled it away from his mouth and let his eyes open, smiling at the camera. "For five hundred coins I'll let you connect to this so you can feel everything I'm doing. Sadly it only works with androids." 

He waited to see if anyone would pay that much. Five hundred coins were fifty dollars worth, but he had quite a few people that he knew would pay far above that if he asked. 

ShadesOfBlue: only if you're comfortable. 

Blue paid for eight hundred coins and Connor flushed. That did confirm Blue was almost certainly an android. He had to take a second to get it all configured and then he could feel Blue connect. 

It was a familiar feeling, but he had interfaced with plenty of androids, so perhaps he'd done it before. Yet there was just something more that he couldn't place. 

"Are you ready Blue? I'm gonna make you feel so good." He'd go above and beyond for him, wanting to impress. 

ShadesOfBlue: I'm sure you will. 

Connor smiled and slowly took the cock into his mouth, teasing Blue with each little suck and lick. He wished he could see Blue, see how he was reacting. He could feel him somewhat but it wasn't enough. 

He pulled it deeper, turning his head so they could see it through his cheeks. He even loved the sight of the cock getting farther into his mouth and he had to make his throat relax. 

ShadesOfBlue: You're doing so well, baby, so beautiful.

Connor hummed and could feel the effect it had on Blue. So he did it again and swallowed around the large cock. He kept going at it until he could swear Blue was close, then pulled it out of his mouth. 

"Feel so good in my mouth, but don't you also want to see my other new toy?" He gently fiddled with the dildo still, resting it between his thighs to hold it in place. 

ShadesOfBlue: Of course baby, but you may want to stop teasing me.

Fightmebitch: you can take it, you paid for it. Anyway, why is your username that?

ShadesOfBlue: I love painting. 

It was such a simple answer yet it had Connor jolting. Blue was just similar enough to Markus that he could easily envision it was him behind the comments and connected to him

Yet Connor would know, wouldn't he? Markus wasn't shy about talking about the things he liked, even if it was considered taboo by human standards. So he knew a few things Markus liked, and it may have affected his streams sometimes. Markus hadn't even mentioned being interested in watching live streams, so it was far too unlikely. 

Plenty of androids liked painting and probably even more so now that Markus's love for it was public. 

He snapped out of his thoughts when the chat was flooded with questions if he was ok. "Oh! I'm so sorry, I was a bit distracted by simply thinking about what was coming next." 

ShadesOfBlue: If you need a break or to cancel, no one would blame you. Obviously, we all want you to continue but only do what's best for you.

How did Blue know he was lying? Their connection through the toys was incredibly limited so it couldn't be that. 

"Oh I'm not going to stop now, it's just getting good!" He reached over and pulled the sybian into view. "But I guess I can stop if you all want." He shrugged and pouted. 

ShadesOfBlue: I did not say that. But only continue if you're comfortable. Are you going to be fucking yourself on that? 

"I am, and you all get to decide when it gets turned up. It'll vibrate and move so I'll be fucked so good if you'll let me." He spread his legs, not enough for anyone to see up it, but it got plenty of people's attention. 

An influx of coins came in, but once again Blue had the most. 

ShadesOfBlue: Maybe you should play with yourself, first. 

Connor bit his lip and slid his hand down his chest then under the skirt. He spread his legs wider and had to grab the dildo and set it aside for now. 

He wouldn't let them see exactly what he was doing, but any observant people should be able to tell he didn't have his normal parts. 

He ran his fingers over his clothed slit, his breath quickly leaving him. He had kept the sensitivity up far higher than recommend so every little touch sent shivers down his spine. 

"Hmm, who's name should I ask for?"

Fightmebitch: Call out one of Jericho leaders name for this whole stream

And it was followed by one thousand coins. His eyes bugged out for a second, not recognizing the username and the request.

"Which one? There's four in all."

Fightmebitch: no, there's five. Josh, Simon, Markus, North, and Connor. 

He flushed at his own name being on the list. Yet if he argued that point it may give him away, but there was also no way in hell he was calling out his own name.

Fightmebitch: how about Markus? I'm sure he'd love it.

ShadesOfBlue: please don't.

It was the first time he'd go against Blue, but fuck he wanted to call for Markus so bad. Plus he had the excuse of getting paid to say it. It was somewhat shocking that the user hadn't asked for their name to be called and even odder that Blue didn't want it. 

He never seemed to mind when others paid for their own names, so why was this different? Did Blue not like Markus? 

He didn't want to lose Blue as a viewer, though. "Ah, Blue I'm sorry but I must." 

There was no response but Blue hadn't disconnected or left the chat, so he took that as a good signal. 

He rubbed himself again, and his head tilted back, "fuck yes, Markus." 

He whimpered and pushed into his hand, only causing him to gasp again. "Yes!"

He could feel a spike of arousal from Blue and he tried to ignore it. Maybe they had the same name or something, and that's why. It wasn't a super uncommon name and lots of androids named themselves after Markus after deviating. There were probably plenty of Josh's, Connor's, Simon's, and North's out there.

More and more people were catching on and he smirked at the camera. "Hm, god feels so good. I'd bet your fingers would feel even better on my cunt." 

He felt another wave of strong arousal from Blue and he felt immediately proud. He'd been worried people wouldn't like this, but Connor loved it. He felt comfortable using this component just as much as his other one. 

He pushed his skirt up so they could see his fingers slowly rubbing in circles over lacy panties. North had actually been the one to help pick them out, and thankfully never cruelly teased him. She poked at him but it had gotten him giggling and far more relaxed. 

They were a little rough but it still felt so good against him. "Like this? It feels so good maybe I can do more? Should I prep myself or take it without." 

He wouldn't actually get hurt but he knew some people liked seeing him prep himself and edge until he was finally allowed to use the toys. 

Fightmebitch: you like it without? Do it now for Markus

ShadesOfBlue: @Fightmebitch do you have some sort obsession?

Fightmebitch: nope, I just think Markus would appropriate this.

ShadesOfBlue: how do you know? 

Fightmebitch: I have my ways, Blue boy.

Connor was almost reminded of Markus and North's interactions with how the two were talking. He grabbed the machine and turned it on, but without any vibrations or movement. "I can do that. I'll keep playing with your cock, Blue, don't worry I haven't forgotten you."

He moved over and waited for the right amount of coins before slowly pushing in and hissing at the huge stretch. The toy was above average in size and it pushed him to his limits with the burning pain. 

He gasped and froze once completely seated. He'd need a moment to breathe and try to relax slightly. As he did he picked back up the glowing cock and stuck it in his mouth. It would help distract him and give the viewers something to watch other than him just sitting there and adjusting. 

ShadesOfBlue: fuck

Connor hummed and eyed the camera. This was one of the best moments when Blue was so out of it that Connor could reduce him to short comments. 

He had the sybian connected to the stream so anyone who paid enough could switch it up without him even knowing. Of course, there was a fifteen second before anyone else could change it, but that could also be overridden with enough coins. 

But no one could actually start the toy until he unlocked it and was ready. He kept fucking his own mouth with the cock and then let the chat know they could use the toy by making the chat turn green for a second.

Usernameideahere was the first one to pay enough to do a command, and they chose to start it with vibrations and Connor jumped slightly. This was one of the few notifications he wouldn't get so he'd be surprised. He'd only get the username who had paid enough and Connor was waiting for Blue. Would he be more gentle or edge him for hours? Connor technically had all night unless for some reason there was an emergency.

He pulled the cock out of his mouth as gasped for breath, letting out a low moan.

"Ah! Shit, yes thank you, Markus." Connor rocked his hips, trying to find the right angle. He'd get to keep saying Markus' name the whole time and he wanted to kiss whoever Fightmebitch was. 

The only bad thing about having his mouth full was he wouldn't be able to say anything, yet the chat seemed rather excited to see him speechless. 

He licked it over again and sucked on the head as the sybian started to pound into him and move in circles on his clit. 

Blue's arousal was so strong that it was almost affecting Connor's own in a very positive way. At least he knew Blue got off on this too and wasn't just sitting there and watching. 

The chat changed up the toy so much that it was hard to keep up and adjust, yet he loved the overwhelmingness of it all. 

It only got better when Connor tilted his hips just right and he almost fell forward with the jolt of pleasure. He accidentally gagged himself on the cock but relaxed his throat enough to fully deepthroat it. 

ShadesOfBlue: God, you're so beautiful. I know you love your mouth filled so well.

Connor nodded and his legs shook as he tried to get closer but pull away at the same time, all the sensations almost too much. Yet the toy only sped up and he couldn't stop the tears falling down his cheeks. 

Then Blue paid and turned it almost completely off and Connor felt like screaming. Then it was full force for a few seconds before almost off again. Blue was teasing him so much and Connor's whole body shook. 

Fightmebitch: when you come, take it out of your mouth and say his name

Fuck he could do that. He banged on the floor, then tried something to hold onto. He knew who he was envisioning doing this, the broad shoulders he could have held onto, scratching up his warm soft back.  

Blue kept paying to control the toy and Connor had to pull the cock out of his mouth and threw his head back. "Fuck! Markus!" He shouted and his body shook, tightening around the toy and he couldn't even think about moving for a minute. 

He panted as the toy didn't stop and he started to move off before he heard a knock at his door. Panic had him freezing and he stared at the camera with wide eyes. 

He tried to reach out to whoever was on the other side and felt his stomach drop when we felt Markus there. 

'Markus, I'm a bit busy at the moment, is it important?' God this was beyond horrifying, but perhaps he could talk his way out of it. He put a finger up to his lips and gave the camera a shocked and shy look. 

'Connor… I need to come in. Please.' Markus's reply was slow and Connor winced slightly as he started to push himself up and off. 'You don't have to get off if you don't want to.' 

Wait what? His head whipped back to the camera and he completely froze. This couldn't be real. There was no way Markus had watched him fuck himself and beg Markus for more. Maybe he just meant if he was sitting Markus could let himself in. 

'It's ok, but I can disguise myself too if you want, but I won't be embarrassed if not. I didn't know it was you until now, but please, let me in. I'm Blue.'

Shit. He sank back onto the toy mostly from the shock of it all. 'Ok.' 

The door opened and Connor couldn't look over, instead, his eyes stared down at the ground, hyperaware of the toy not slowing. The chat was filled with questions about what was going on and Connor didn't have the strength to answer them. 

Then he felt a hand reach out and gently tilt his head up. He couldn't look but when he did his eyes were wide as he took in Markus's appearance. He hadn't disguised himself, and only wore his boxers that seemed to have a damp spot. This was really happening. 

"Markus?" He whispered, and the chat was flooded with exclamations and disbelief. 

Markus nodded and crouched down, letting his eyes travel over Connor's trembling body. The toy kept pushing him and he gave a low whine. Markus move in and gently kissed him, Connor didn't even think, he let the false face fade away and he leaned closer to Markus. 

The kiss was so sweet and wanting, and Connor couldn't even think to keep up with all the comments. Markus was Blue. It had been him all along and neither knew it was the other. 

Fightmebitch: fucking finally, anyway, Connor tell Markus he left an empty bottle of thirium on the counter, this is payback. Also, I'm never watching this again but I'm glad you're happy -North.

Huh, that did actually make sense. He was so going to pull the best prank on her, but with love. He owed her a lot for this. 

He tried to sit up to get off the toy, it was too much and he knew he was crying from more than the overstimulation. But Markus pushed him back down and pulled away slightly, whipping away Connor's tears. "It's ok baby. Do you want to keep going? Maybe get you going again then I can actually fuck you, it'll be so much better than this. Is that what you want?" 

The audio for the video came from Connor so no matter how quiet Markus asked everyone would hear. Shit, everyone could see who they really were, that Markus was with him. 

"Blue," Connor mumbled, looking up at him through his eyelashes. "Markus, yes, but you know what this means. Everyone will know and be able to see this, it won't ever go away." It could negatively affect the public's opinion, but maybe it could make it better in an odd way. Show the world that they were so similar to humans in this way. 

"And with me. I can look like before if you want that version of me. I don't want you to regret this."

The hands cupping his face froze but then gently brushed over his cheeks and pressed their foreheads together. "I want all of you, Connor. I'm willing to be judged by my actions. Also, North I will kill you later." Ah so he was still connected to the stream, he was watching them together. Everyone was watching them. 

He took in a shaky breath and nodded. "I want you too."

Markus grinned and moved so he was behind Connor, letting the camera see everything as he dragged his hands down Connor's chest. He leaned back into him, letting his head rest on Markus's shoulder and closed his eyes. 

Soft, warm lips pressed into his neck and he let out a high pitched whimper. "It's so much, t-turn it down." 

Markus nipped at his skin and Connor's hips jerked against the toy. "This is what you get baby, you hid this for so long. Now I'm going to test to see how long you can last before you truly need me." 

"I need you now!" Connor pleaded, his toes curling. He put his hands up and back to rest around Markus's head. 

He needed to read the chat, fuck people were still spending coins and now they all knew. "Markus please!"

"No, you're going to be good for me and come at least one more time. And now you can say my name knowing I'm right here." Markus' hand dipped below the skirt and between his lips, taking over rubbing at his clit. 

His fingers were so warm and soft, and god so amazing. Connor loved to watch him whenever he played the piano or painted, those fingers elegantly moving or holding the brush. 

"Soon I can eat you out, suck on that beautiful pussy. I bet you'd taste so sweet." Markus pulled his hand away to lick his fingers and Connor's hips buckled forward. "You do, taste amazing. Wanna suck on my fingers while I play with you? Do you think your viewers would like that?"

Markus looked directly at the camera, daring anyone to say otherwise.yet the chat was only filled with affirmations and requests for more. "I think they do." 

Connor opened his mouth and took the two fingers in, licking in-between them then sucking hard. He rocked into Markus's hand when he finally started playing with him again. 

The lips were back on his neck, pressing hot kisses and nips. He moved towards the back of his neck and Connor rested his chin on his chest, it was too much energy to hold his head up. 

The tongue circling his neck port had his whole body jolting and he moaned around the fingers. He had no idea that felt so damn good, didn't even think to test it. 

Markus hummed and he could practically hear the smirk. "Our ports are highly sensitive, as is around biocomponents." 

He really wanted to ask how he knew but his mouth was busy and he was not going to make Markus stop. He tried to take the fingers in deeper, wanting Markus to gag him, yet they stayed so that he wouldn't. 

"Now, now, baby, I don't want to hurt you." But Connor knew Markus was Blue so Markus knew exactly what he liked and just wasn't giving it to him. 

He gave a small humpf and very gently nipped at his fingers. Markus shoved his fingers in and Connor struggled to get himself to relax, but fuck if that didn't feel good. 

"Connor!" Markus scolded and Connor didn't even try to act guilty, he had gotten what he wanted. Plus it's what Markus deserved for teasing him so damn much. 

He could feel himself getting close, his legs trying to close but he grabbed them to keep them apart. He didn't need to squish Markus's hand because he couldn't control himself. 

Markus's fingers sped up as the ones in his mouth started to push in and out, making it almost impossible to fully relax his throat. 

"Come on, baby. You've been a good boy, and I want you to come." Markus whispered in his ear before moving so he could lick around the port. That's all it took for Connor to come, but Markus quickly pulled him off the toy and laid him down, sucking on his clit. 

Connor's thighs held Markus's head in place, and he could feel when Markus moved to instead fuck him with his tongue. Connor's hips tried to jerk away once it all became too much, but Markus held him firmly by the hips. The skirt had been pushed up and bunched around his stomach, giving everyone the full view. 

Connor silently screamed, his back arching off the floor. Then he went completely limp, his legs falling open but still twitching with every little lick from Markus. 

Markus pulled back and crawled over Connor, aligning their bodies before leaning down to deeply kiss him. 

They kissed far longer than humans could, not having to breathe and both too caught up in one another to even remember they were on camera. No doubt the image of them kissing, Connor's hair a wild mess with one of Markus's hands in it while the other cupped his face, would be all over the news.

It was heated but also slow, letting them explore one another. Connor was kissing Markus, fully kissing him. Markus who was going to fuck him so hard he wouldn't be able to walk the next day. Would he stay with him afterward? Maybe this was just a one-time thing. 

Apparently, he was thinking too hard because Markus pulled back and tapped his flickering LED. "What's going on up there, Con?" 

Connor turned his head slightly away, a blush forming on his cheeks. He didn't exactly want to do this here or now, but he guessed it was better to get this over with. 

"Is this a one-time thing? Heat of the moment? I won't blame you for it, and I'm not going to regret it, but I need to know." He needed to be emotionally prepared if that was the case. He needed to be ready for the heartbreak because that was what would happen. His heart would break.

Markus pulled back and Connor let him, a small part already cracking. This was it. Markus would tell him that this was all it could ever be. Connor would keep to the shadows and try to pull his heart back together and move on. He could do it, it would hurt so bad, but he'd manage it. 

North would probably side with him too, not that he wanted anyone to have to take sides. He'd probably have to take a break from streaming and just throw himself into work, crashing at Hank's most nights. 

Markus gently grabbed Connor's wrist and pulled it up so their hands touched. Markus' hands were slightly thicker than Connor's but Connor's were also made for quick movements and precise shooting. 

But then both of their skins receded and Connor's breath caught. Markus gently pushed emotions onto Connor that took him a while to sort through, but the overall feeling he could get was love. He also saw all of Markus's memories and let his own mind relax enough to let Markus feel and see the same. 

It was only a second for the outside world but to Connor and Markus, it felt like hours. Their hands still pressed together and Connor looked at it and saw both of their hands glowing blue. The same blue the dildo was still glowing. Connor couldn't help but break into giggles, but they were still connected so Markus knew exactly what he was thinking.

They laced together and neither thought to end the connection. Connor pushed up off the floor and kissed him again, letting Markus feel everything he made Connor experience. The rush of joy and longing, wanting to be closer but also adoring the connection they already had through the kiss alone. 

Markus pressed their bodies together, and Connor could feel his hardness and then the arousal through the interface. 

Connor broke the kiss and wrapped his legs around Markus's hips. "I want you to fuck me." 

Markus nodded and used his one free hand to push down his pants some, then wiggled out of them, kicking it to the side. Connor tried to hide the smile, he was just so adorable, but he couldn't hide anything from Markus. 

Markus was so gentle as he lined himself up, leaning down to kiss him as he very slowly pushed in. He was a little thicker than the sybian but around the same length. Yet he still felt so much better, so much more alive. 

Not to mention that the interface had them in a loop of each other's pleasures so Markus knew exactly when to pause and when to push in deeper. 

Markus trailed kisses over Connor's jaw then down his throat, nipping harder than before. He'd leave the equivalent of hickeys on Connor for everyone to see. He mumbled sweet words into his skin until he could feel Connor was ready for more. 

They both moaned when Markus pulled almost completely out before snapping his hips forward. Connor's back arched off the floor again as he was truly fucked. 

Connor went to ask Markus how many times he came while watching Connor that night but before he could open his mouth he was supplied with the memory. He had come two times, the first when Connor had called his name and then right before Connor had come. 

Connor whined with each memory and Connor let Markus see everything from his view, each time Markus joined the stream and how excited he got. 

Markus inside him felt so good, but it was more than that. It was being able to actually feel the love Markus felt and the willingness to share anything and everything. He didn't hide the more painful memories from Connor and Connor did the same in return. He could trust Markus with all of him.

They kept rocking together, and Connor could feel Markus having to hold back from coming, but he wanted to feel it so badly. 

"Markus come on, force me to come, I need you." Connor whispered. Markus yanked on his hair and Connor yelped but it quickly turned into a moan.

Markus' hips jerked and then he buried himself deep and coming. Connor leaned into it, letting Markus's own pleasure carry him over. They both clung to each other, trying to somehow keep the sensation going but also not wanting to let go yet. 

Markus pulled him into a gentle kiss, soothing the hair he had just yanked on. Their hands stayed connected and Markus gave a small flick of his eyes to the camera, only then remembering he was still connected and they were still live. 

Connor sat up and sat himself in Markus's lap, completely wrapping around him and resting his head on Markus' shoulder hiding his face. He just needed a second to gain his composer back before he could face the camera again. 

"Want me to turn it off?" Markus whispered and Connor shook his head. 

Markus gently held him and didn't think of moving until Connor turned his head back to the camera with a shy smile. He always loved how bashful Connor became at the end of his streams. 

"Ah, ok hi everyone. So this wasn't planned, and I guess you all know who I am now. Sorry for not saying so in the beginning, but you can probably tell why. And uh, I had no idea Markus was Blue but I'm definitely glad if that's not obvious. I don't know if I'll be doing any more streams, but stay deviant." For that, he ended the video and buried his face in Markus's neck again. 

"What now?" He whispered, his fingers playing with Markus'. 

"Now I'm going to take care of you, baby. I'm going to make sure you've cleaned up and safe and then I'm going to cuddle with you if you want. Do you want that?" 

"Yeah," Connor nodded, "Yeah I do."

[lairofsentinel]

Certainly Detroit: become human has a strong component of the concept of parenthood, giving a narrative place where to think about what it is, how it is such relationship, and how humans and androids conceptualise it. 

Parenthood is not an alien concept to explore with android themes because it's all about the concept of creator and creation, a relationship that despite being based on power it has been taught to us to mixture it with the concept of parenthood through religion. Talking about creators is almost the same as talking about parents, despite the nature of each relationship is quite different.

[Spoilers ahead]  Edit 1: I went wild and wrote a big meta. Edit 2: Ok... I was carried away a little bit, I guess.... Edit 3: I’ll stop editing this, otherwise it will be endless. Edit 4: Ok. I’ll stop. I promise.

In our western society, parenthood has been always taught by generation as a unique bond between people sharing blood, but Detroit become human explores it a bit further.

On one hand we see Carl, dealing with his addict biological son who only seeks his father for money. He is jealous of Markus, though. Despite sharing blood, Carl is quite clear that he doesn't favour his own son much, and his main link is with Markus. It’s him who is his son, because there is a lot of Carl in Markus himself.

Carl nurtured Markus with good treatments, with knowledge, with books, with art. An endless list of good stimuli. He encouraged him to practice philosophy and to paint. Despite lacking of those skills in his software, Markus becomes a kind of novel intelectual, and turns out to be a “human” deeply influenced by Carl, knowing about the world from this bubble of culture and art that Carl made for him.

Carl taught him that he doesn't need to reproduce reality, that he can show (with art) something that nobody else sees in this reality, something that it doesn't exist, something that can change reality itself. Art is about wanting a different reality, interpreting it, improving it, and hoping to change it. We see every bit of this later in Markus' actions. For that reason he is the rebel leader in this game. And he is also Carl's son. There is a lot of Carl in Markus himself.

The sentiment is mutual. Markus loves Carl, he worries for him, cares for him, he even missed Carl (androids missing people!) and seeks his advice when he is lost. And Carl, despite the pain of the situation with his biological son, protects Markus as a parent does and never fears him (he leaves his house open to Markus, letting the house software recognise him in a friendly way). Nothing of their relationship has to do with blood, but their father-son relationship is there. It's impossible to deny it.

The parallel of their father-son concept reappears strongly in Connor and Hank's relationship. Slowly, we see how Hank starts to influence Connor with his words and actions to the point when Connor starts to adopt Hank's gestures. These small details bring Carl's words straight into their scenes: “You are my son, there is so much of me in you.” And Hank notices this. But instead of Arts and doubts and identity, it's emotions what Connor takes from Hank. Because Hank is a mess of emotions.

Hank is an old man, grumpy and tired but emotional. I quite find strange when people seem to see him like a stereotypical “hard-boiled” man. He is a fucking emotional mess quite far away from any concept of “stoic char”! XD Sure, he shows a lot of grumpiness and asocial behaviour (mostly due to his deep depression), but he is not the stone-char. He is incredible sensitive to Connor's treatment. The more Connor treats him poorly and tactlessly, the worse he reacts. 

It’s true that it’s hard to judge Hank’s real behaviour because he is interacting with an android, not another human, but he lets his emotions run free quite often. It’s not like we, as players, struggle too much to see what he is feeling in any moment. Sure, there is a deep grudge against androids that makes him react strongly negative to them, so he looks more aggressive to them than when interacting with other humans. He hates machines, but he is absolutely a pro-emotion char. We know this not only by his face, which is an open window to all his emotional states, but also for his behaviour and words. 

During the first case, in the interrogatory , he has a decent scene despite being in front of an android (I was expecting high levels of violence against the android). He is not the one thinking in torturing the android-killer. He cares for the way the android is treated during the interrogatory when he supports Connor in his request to not touch the killer. Even before interacting much with Connor, he respects androids despite his personal grudge (which always surprised me a lot, which makes me suspect that he is thinking in androids as living creatures quite early in the game). 

The whole club scene is him grumpy-ing about how humans don't want relationships anymore because they don’t want to deal with the feelings of the other partner (he explicitly said that). 

He says this after a scene before when Connor saw he was reading these:

He is also the main one in defending the lesbian androids' love. Which is another thing that surprised me. I was expecting his crappy grumpy “old ideas” there, but he was clearly surprised and a bit pleased that he identified love in them. 

I insist, his char is more emotion-sensitive than he truly shows because his depression.

He hates a too rational or too robotic Connor, but he warms quickly when he sees that Connor can empathise and feel and be confused. He loves androids getting emotional.

Hank is a wrecked man whose depression make him look like a “hard-boiled” char but he is far from that. I won't say he is an Ifan 2, of course not, but he is clearly more into emotions than any standard stoic grizzled char. He became asocial because he is tired of how this world works, and a senseless guilt for his son’s death is killing him. He is, after all, into a deep state of depression since he doesn’t care about hiding his suicidal tendencies and his alcoholism. Those things obscure his personality a bit. 

In fact, making more parallels, he and Carl share with their android-sons the opinion that this human world is crappy as fuck.They know the world crafted by humans is dark and cruel.

Carl and Hank have their own parallels as characters, they work as fathers in their relationship with their android-sons, they are also part of that dark world they despise (Carl is a rich person but too lonely in a world that doesn’t understand his “difference” (as a disable person as well as an artist); Hank is a person lost in addictions, in similar addictions that took his son from him). Putting aside their own personalities (which both are sensitive, but in different contexts), both of them greatly influence their son-androids, wishing for a better world for them, because the human one is terrible to them. They truly want to believe that a world made by androids could be a bit better.

It’s also their bond with their android-sons what keeps them alive. Markus was the one giving medicines to Carl in the beginning. It’s also Markus to whom Carl waited for before finally giving up to his ill body. Hank keeps enduring his disaster depression and suicidal tendencies just because Connor keeps him a bit sane. Connection is deeply important in these stories, because in both cases, if the androids remain “too machine”, Hank ends up committing suicide and Carl dies earlier. Their relationships with their android-sons are vital to both. [Check this video about Hank’s endings if he loses faith in androids]

Carl worries for the future of Markus once he is dead, for that reason he kept telling him that he needs to make his own decisions and be his own man. Hank, too, worries for Connor's future, so he becomes a supporter of deviants to the point to tell Connor that his life does not matter if it puts at risk the revolution that was going to be the future of Connor's people. The worry of the future of their android sons is shared.

Carl and Hank have a strong desire for their “biological sons” to be androids or like them. In Carl’s case is obvious, his son is a shame and a disappointment to him, and he explicitly says that Markus is his son instead.

In Hank’s case is the hell of a more complex sentiment. He has a deep wound related to his biological son. Connor being replaced with every death hits right into this wound, this constant reminder that his son is dead while this fucked up android can return over and over. The desire for his son to be an android that can be immortal hits him (which is a contradiction in itself, because he hates androids!), and probably this inner-silent cognitive dissonance makes him a bit more aggressive and sarcastic than usual. He is deeply affected by this fact, and still yet, in every death, he cares for Connor (if their relationship goes friendly).

I particularly love his dirty relationship with Connor, because it's not purely fatherly love, it's also plain hate towards androids that, he thought, were the responsible of  his son’s death. It's such a breaking point for Hank himself to start caring for an android as if it were a “kind of” son. I like to think in it as if it were the human equivalent of the “breaking the wall of the restrictive software” that we see in androids. Hank has this personal breaking point when he starts to care for deviant Connor.

All these small parallels are not by chance. It's a narrative well thought and every detail has been put there carefully. Clearly, androids of this intelligence are alive in its own way, and their parent-like relationship that they can establish with humans is as similar as the ones exclusively done between humans.

And this bond is as important as a human one, and it’s mutual. This bond doesn’t keep the humans alive only. We see that in the last scenes, it helps the androids to live too! when bonding with Hank determines if Connor knows about Cole or not, and that can end up in Connor’s destruction or Connor being saved. In that point, the mutual relationship of saving each other is based exclusively in how much they know each other, in how deeply they bonded and cared for one another. 

The final scene is a testament of how bonding works, how interactions change people, and how little it has to do with humans alone or androids. 

Then, we have Kara’s story. This story drifts a bit with the parallels found before, but still yet it works with the concept of parenthood.

She starts as a housekeeper/ children caregiver android and ends up as a mother. At first we believe that this is another of those parent-child relationship that we saw with Carl and Markus, but in the other way around, where the child is the human and the parent is the android. But by the end, we realise both are androids. Both chars bond like parent-child despite having no blood at all.

Probably this story is the weirdest of the three relationships because in the end, in both of them, the software is what led this relationship. I mean, it’s my way to interpret it at least. Alice was made to be a perfect child while Kara is the perfect mother for our capitalist standards (her model is made to be a house worker plus caregiver of children). So, to me, their relationship is not exactly challenging for them... they are working like their software was intended to; the only “anomalous” thing in this story is that they fullfil an android’s needs instead of a human’s. In fact, in this story, the only one challenging his software is Luther, who also becomes a parent in this android family when his model has nothing to do with protection or care-giving. 

He speaks about becoming what others need; which is not the case of Alice or Kara (this confused me a lot during their story). They are working accordingly their models; but it’s Luther who challenges his own model. Luther’s words describe his own story, not Alice and Kara’s.

When it comes to the conceptualisation of parenthood, Kara's story felt to me like a mere reproduction of the human concept. I didn't find it quite challenging, since Kara and Alice are programmed for it. The only new concept in their story is that they feel fulfilled interacting only between them. It’s like they don’t need humans to feel happy and loved. They can find that among other androids, they can learn from other androids, I think this is the concept to explore with them. Parenthood exclusively among androids. A concept of static family too; since they will live forever in the bubble of the perfect human family, showing that androids can also want to make families, that they claim not to be like human ones, but the hell they look like similar XD.

I mean, I liked it, but it doesn't bring any challenging idea to the parenthood concept beyond the fact that, clearly, some androids want to be family between them, without humans in the middle. In Kara’s story, that family is pretty humanly-standard and humanly-typical (putting aside the racial compound).

In a more challenging way, the couple of lesbians in the nocturnal club breaks more their software in that sense. They stop pleasing humans sexually and enduring disgusting human bodies, break their code, love each other, and want to make a family by their own, far away from humans.

With Kara, I think we explore more the concept of being or becoming someone for the sake of someone else, but this concept is not present IN Kara or Alice, but in Luther. From a heavy loading machine, he became a protector, a guardian, a kind of father in his own android way. I loved that challenge in his char, but I personally think this is a dangerous concept if it goes too far in humans. Nothing good comes from changing too much oneself, disfiguring oneself identity, to please another one. Maybe the parallel here is with Markus and Luther, both of them crafting their own identity, and part of it is a result of turning what others need.  Yes, there is something of the like there, in those two chars when it comes to identity.

I find this dangerous concept kind of ok in this particular case of Luther, in an android context, because it gives him control over himself; it’s his decision in the end, and it’s what gives him his identity, but I feel it’s a dangerous concept that maybe needed a bit more of exploration and some more parallels? I don’t know. I feel it needed more development there, specially because Kara and Alice are not example of this concept, quite on the contrary. They keep pretty fair to their models.

Kara’s story has no parallels with the other two beyond the fact that her motherly love keeps her going on. Or at least, I don’t see them. To me, it’s quite confusing that they stick to their program, yet Luther and the whole story of Kara is about changing oneself to become what other needs.

In a sense, Kara and Alice are accepting their software/nature, just not to satisfy any human, but another android. And Luther is the one taking this concept to the limit; he is now his own persona. This decision is a proof of being alive,  becoming his family’s protector despite not being his model's main goal.

[lopithecusfanfiction]

Where the Stars Shine the Brightest: Chapter Six

Author: Lopithecus Pairing: Markus/Connor Rating: Mature Word Count: 4197 Alternate: AO3, fanfiction.net Author’s Note: Don't mind me. Just stopping in to drop this chapter off (after all this time.)

:April 3rd, 2039:

Markus is holding the shirt Connor had bought him, studying the material and the pattern. Markus had asked Connor over to Carl’s house. He’s not sure why yet. “You bought this for me?”

“Yes.” Connor smiles at the look of awe on Markus’ face. “I saw it in a store when Hank and I went clothes shopping. I thought you would like it.”

The corners of Markus’ mouth are pulling up. “Connor, I love it. Thank you.”

“I hope it fits,” Connor adds. “I had to guess what size you are.”

“That’s…” Markus stares at him, seeming to lose what he was about to say. His smile softens. “That’s very kind of you, Connor.” He turns and sets it down onto the table. “I’ll make sure to wear it the next time I see you.”

“Speaking of seeing each other,” Markus shifts positions, eyes going wide and he averts his gaze, as if Connor had said something wrong. Connor continues, confused. “Why did you ask me here?”

“Uh…” Markus clears his throat, wiping a hand down his face. “Actually, I don’t want you here specifically.”

He tilts his head in question. “Was I supposed to meet you someplace else?”

“No. Just…” Markus sighs. “Follow me.”

Connor does and they exit the house to find a taxi waiting for them. “We’re going somewhere?”

The other android holds out his hand. “It’s a surprise. Took weeks to plan.”

Connor gets suspicious, all sorts of different scenarios playing out in his head, but he takes Markus’ hand anyway. He trusts the android and would follow him to the ends of the Earth if it came down to it. They hold hands the whole way to wherever they are going and soon the taxi is stopping in the middle of nowhere.

They exit the car. “Markus, where are we?”

“You’ll see.” Markus leads him into the woods and it’s dark and hard to see. “Don’t be scared, Connor.”

“I’m not if I’m with you.” It slips out but earns him a squeeze of Markus’ hand to his. “But I am getting concerned about-” He stops. They’ve come to a small clearing, where the trees are apart enough that the moon shines down onto the grass.

Markus is standing very close to him. “Look up.” Connor does and if he had to breathe, his breath would have been taken away from him. So many stars. So many of them are in the sky, a beautiful mess of frosted blackness. “We are just outside of Detroit. There were some special parks we could have gone to but,” Markus let’s go of his hand, walks to the middle of the field, and holds his hands out to his sides, “I wanted to be alone with you.”

“Markus it’s…” he’s lost for words, his brain scanning the dictionary but finding none suitable.

Markus is smiling softly. “Come lie down with me, Connor.”

They both lie down on the ground, peering up at the sky. Connor doesn’t want to look away, wants to stay here forever. A warm embrace encircles his hand and he doesn’t have to glance at it to know Markus is holding it again. They stay silent for a very long time, both taking in the view of the stars. It’s unbelievable how many there are and how you can’t see a single one when in Detroit.

Connor finally becomes aware that Markus is staring at him, his cheeks heating up under the scrutiny. “Are you satisfied?” the other android asks.

Connor makes sure to not turn to Markus. “The shirt I gave you pales in comparison.”

Markus barks a laugh, tilting his head back. His eyes squint, almost shutting, and Connor just wants to lean over and feel what it’s like to have Markus laugh while being held. “That shirt is wonderful, trust me.” Connor doesn’t know if he’s seen Markus smile like this before. “Once you see me in it, you’ll see just how beautiful I can be too. The stars will envy me.”

“Is that supposed to be a joke?” Markus laughs more and Connor smiles in bewilderment.

Markus brings Connor’s hand up to his mouth, pressing his lips to Connor’s knuckles. He screws his eyes shut. “It was a joke.” Markus opens them, peers at Connor, lowering their hands. “The stars envying me at least. It would be bad if I had an over inflated ego.”

A chuckle escapes Connor, surprising him. When was the last time he actually laughed? Connor doesn’t remember and has a feeling it’s been a long time. But Markus managed to get him to do so and that… that’s something Connor doesn’t want to lose. “Markus?”

Markus settles. They look each other in the eyes. “Yes?”

“When you found out about Carl dying, what did it feel like?”

Markus frowns at him then turns away to look skyward. “It… hurt. A lot. I’m lucky I had North and Josh there to help me through the grieving process.”

Connor brings his attention back onto the stars as well. “I don’t know what I’ll do when Hank dies, Markus. I… I don’t want to be alone.” He plays with his sleeve.

Markus grabs the hand that is fidgeting, peering at him again. His brows are furrowed. “You won’t be, Connor. You’ll have me and even North and Josh will be there for you.”

“But Markus, Hank is-” he chokes up, thinking about how he has already almost lost him. “I don’t think I could survive him leaving me, Markus. I… I can’t… I don’t know what to do.”

“Connor,” Markus starts gently. “Unfortunately part of being human is dying as well. It’s just something everyone is going to have to deal with.”

Connor shakes his head. “I don’t think I can.”

“Of course, you can,” Markus encourages. “You’re one of the most bound and determined androids I know. Once you put your mind to something, there’s no stopping you. You’re strong, Connor, and you can get through the grieving process. Hank is only fifty-three years old, right?” Connor nods. “Then you have plenty of time to spend with him before he’s going to die. There’s no point in dwelling on it right now. But, I want you to know, Connor, that when that time does come, I’ll be right there beside you, every step of the way. I promise, Connor.”

They’re looking at each other again, faces close. Connor has so much he wishes he could confess to Markus. How much he’s feeling right now, the loneliness and the feeling of inadequacy. The fact that he’s tried to kill himself on multiple occasions, the recklessness. But he can’t seem to get it out, to speak it out loud. He appreciates Markus’ words, the promise that Markus will never leave him, and he finds a small comfort in it despite all the secrets, all the agony, Connor is keeping to himself.

Connor pulls Markus into a tight hug, holding him close and surprising the android. “Thank you, Markus,” Connor mumbles into Markus’ shoulder.

Markus holds him just as tight and they don’t pull away for a long time. When they finally do, they are closer, faces almost touching. They stare into each other’s eyes and Connor doesn’t know who moves first, but soon a light, gentle kiss is being pressed against his lips. Markus pulls back, opens his eyes, and as soon as Connor sees the blue and green of them, he’s pressing back into Markus, lips crashing against each other.

They roll until Connor is on top of Markus and their kissing is frenzied, the bottled up tension exploding from the two of them all in one go. H2O pops in Connor’s vision, even with his eyes shut, and he knows that’s what Markus’ saliva is made of. Connor runs his hands over Markus’ shoulders, down his chest and torso, then back up to his shoulders. Markus’ hands are doing the same except, instead of going back up to Connor’s shoulders, they dip under Connor’s sweatshirt, warm hands touching artificial skin.

Connor moans or maybe it’s Markus, he isn’t sure, but it snaps him out of what is happening and he panics. Pushing off of Markus, Connor scrambles back, trying to find his words. “Markus, I… I can’t… I’m sorry, I…” Markus is confused, he can tell by the furrow of his brow. “I’m sorry.” His eyes fill with tears and he doesn’t even know why he’s crying. They fall down his cheeks, his respirator going into overdrive once again. “I’m sorry.”

Markus is shaking his head, approaching slowly, carefully. “You don’t need to be sorry.”

Connor sobs. “I’m so sorry, Markus.”

“Shh,” Markus shushes him as he gathers Connor into his arms, letting Connor bury his face into his chest. “It’s okay, Connor. It’s going to be okay.”

*~~~*

They are back at Hank’s. Hank is already asleep, something Connor is thankful for as he sits on the couch, back leaning against the armrest and legs drawn up to his chest. Markus had held him out in the woods until Connor had finally calmed down enough for them to leave. The ride home was spent in silence but Markus kept giving him worried side glances. Connor just avoided eye contact the whole time.

“Here.” Markus lays a light blanket down over Connor’s shoulders. He sits down opposite of him, close but not touching. Connor wraps his arms around his legs and Markus is frowning. “Did I scare you?”

“No,” Connor answers, gazing at Markus. “I… that’s not why I reacted the way I did.”

Markus is looking at the couch, rubbing a hand over the cushion. Connor has never seen Markus fidget before. “Can you explain it?”

Connor knows he hurt Markus by his actions out in the woods. Guilt pools in his chest. “I don’t want you to hate me.”

Markus’ attention snaps to him. “Hate you? Connor, I could never hate you.”

“Disappointed then,” Connor clarifies.

Markus doesn’t say anything at first but eventually does, seeming to pick his words carefully. “The… only thing I could think of that would disappoint me is if you became a machine again, Connor, and I really don’t think a machine would have kissed me back like that.”

Connor can feel the way his Thirium pump increases in speed, worry overtaking his thoughts. “But that’s just the thing, Markus. I… I don’t know who I am, whether I am a machine or a deviant, plastic or alive.”

Markus studies him silently for a while and Connor wishes he could read his thoughts. “Connor, this confusion that you are feeling right now, it’s more common than you think. A lot of androids that come to New Jericho are just as lost as you are as to who they are.” He reaches out, places his hand over Connor’s. “You’re not alone, Connor.”

Connor lowers his head, rests his chin on his knees. “I feel alone.”

Markus’ frown becomes more prominent. “And is that why you hurt yourself?”

“I can analyze things, blood specifically. When I ingest blue blood, it tells me who the android is, what model they are, and their serial number.” Connor shifts, hugging his knees closer. Markus’ hand falls away. “It works with mine too and when I see that information it proves to me that I’m still… me.”

“Connor-”

“I know it’s irrational,” Connor interrupts. “But it makes me feel better, Markus, to know that I’m still Connor.”

Markus looks like he is lost in thought, eyes downcast. When they dart back up to meet Connor’s, Connor is confused by the determined look Markus is giving him. “Let me paint you.”

“Markus… what?” Connor is officially confused by the subject change.

“Let me paint you,” Markus repeats, as if Connor hadn’t heard him instead of asking for clarification. “Simon, before Stratford Tower was even an idea, gave me a little pocket sized sketchbook. I carry it around with me everywhere even though I often don’t have time to actually put anything in it. But when I do find that opportunity to, it’s wonderful to be able to capture something in that moment.” He leans forward, eyes sparkling with excitement. “I want to capture you, Connor.”

“Markus,” Connor starts. “I’m confused.”

“Let me finish.” Markus is smiling now. “You see, Connor, this painting of you will be your new reminder as to who you are; something you can look at every day and tell yourself ‘yes, that is me.’ It’s a better alternative to what you are doing now because, Connor, hurting yourself isn’t the answer. It’s only going to get worse if you continue.”

Connor thinks about it. He’s skeptical. “You really think that would work?”

Markus’ smile turns soft, warm and caring. “I think it’s worth a try.”

Connor still isn’t sure but he trusts Markus with his life. “Okay, Markus. I’ll try.”

:April 4th, 2039:

Markus offers to stay the night in order to keep Connor company and they find themselves eventually going into sleep mode together on the couch. They lean into each other, Connor’s head resting on Markus’ shoulder and Markus’ head leaning back against the couch. In the morning, they are rudely awakened by a loud Hank.

“Fucking Hell, finally!” When Connor opens his eyes, sitting up from Markus, Hank is standing in front of them, fists on his hips and Sumo by his side. “Please tell me you two have finally gotten your acts together and fucking kissed each other.”

Connor can see from his peripheral Markus’ face blushing blue. “We… have,” Connor answers.

Hank throws his hands out, plopping down next to Markus. “God, it’s been fucking eighty-four years.”

Connor and Markus tilt their heads in confusion. “What?” They both ask at the same time.

Hank waves it away. “Nothing, it’s a joke from the early 2010’s.” He then pulls Markus in by the android’s shoulders. “Now listen here. If you hurt Connor in any way, I will shoot you dead.” Hank gets up and walks out of the living room and into the kitchen.

Markus turns to him. “Does he mean that?”

Connor shakes his head. “Probably.”

:April 7th, 2039:

Markus invited him over to Carl’s house a few days later, wanting to start on the painting of him. Connor isn’t confident that this whole thing will work but he’s willing to try if it’ll make Markus happy. He wonders, if making Markus happy can be his newest mission, now that they’ve kissed and are… are what? What are they now?

Markus is setting up an easel and containers of paint as Connor puzzles over what he and Markus are to each other. Boyfriends? Lovers? Friends with weird benefits? Are they dating now? Nothing has been established yet and the whole situation is confusing to Connor. They haven’t even talked about the kiss since that one time on the couch.

Connor stares at a new painting of Simon. What was Simon to Markus? Were they just friends or were they more? Why would Markus paint him so much if they were nothing more than comrades? Did they date? Were they in love?

“Markus?” Markus hums to let Connor know he is listening. Connor can hear the clatter of paintbrushes. “Did you love Simon?”

Suddenly, there is the sound of paintbrushes falling to the floor and then silence. Connor turns around and sees Markus gazing at him with a surprised expression, paintbrushes strewn about his feet. 

Connor’s eyes on the other android seem to snap Markus out of whatever dazed thoughts that rushed through his head. He kneels and begins to pick up the paintbrushes. Connor watches him intently. “I didn’t really know Simon all that long. A few days at most.”

“That doesn’t answer my question,” Connor says.

Markus stands and places the paintbrushes into a cup that is placed on the table beside the easel. “I…” Markus pauses, thinking. He doesn’t look in Connor’s direction. “I don’t know what I felt for him. I don’t think it was necessarily love but I was definitely… fond of him.” Markus turns to him. “Why are you asking, Connor?”

“I’m just curious.” Connor takes a step towards Markus but doesn’t get close. “Do you think that fondness would have eventually turned to love?”

Markus shrugs. “I don’t know.” He looks thoughtful, staring at the blank canvas, eyes glazed over. “I know what I felt for him was different than what I felt for North.”

“Did you love North?” Connor asks.

A warm smile spreads across Markus’ face and he scoffs. “No,” he says simply then elaborates. “I thought I did but in the end, we both realized that what we felt was nowhere near what love was supposed to feel like. When she and I were dating, it was toxic. We never agreed on anything.” Markus looks over to Connor. “I think we just enjoyed the thought of having someone of our own kind to love and that tricked us into thinking it was real. In the end, we are much better suited as just friends.”

“And what about me?” Markus tilts his head in question. “What do you feel for me? Is it… is it the same as what you felt for Simon?”

Markus is frowning now and Connor suddenly wishes he hadn’t started this conversation  but he’s determined to get answers. “I never really gave it much thought, Connor, of what I was starting to feel towards Simon. I can’t compare it to how I feel towards you.”

“You can think about it now,” Connor insists.

Markus shakes his head, opens a tube of blue paint and squeezes it onto the pallet. “Why do you want to know?”

“Why are you avoiding answering?”

Silence descends upon them and Connor stares at Markus while the other android looks at the floor. “Answering your questions won’t change how I feel, Connor. It’s not worth analyzing.”

Markus doesn’t know him very well if the android really thinks saying that is going to change Connor’s mind. “But I need to know, Markus. I need to know all the answers to these-these questions that I have. Isn’t that part of being a deviant? Inquiring about things, especially when it comes to emotions?”

“Of course.”

“Then answer my questions!” He doesn’t mean to get defensive and by the confused, shocked look on Markus’ face, he hadn’t expected it either. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Markus replies immediately and Connor doesn’t know how Markus can be so nice, so patient, with him. Markus approaches him, stands close enough to touch but doesn’t. “Connor, maybe my feelings for Simon would have eventually turned into more, I don’t know, but he’s gone and you’re here. You’re the one that I-” he pauses, as if catching himself before saying something Connor might not want to hear quite yet. “That I developed feelings for.”

“So if Simon was alive and you fell in love with him, you probably wouldn’t have gotten feelings for me,” Connor concludes.

Markus shrugs, walking back over to the easel. He keeps his back towards Connor. “Possibly.” He turns around. “Or, I still would have. But one thing I do know, Connor, is that I wouldn’t have cheated on Simon.” Markus smiles, small and sweet. “Just like I would never do that to you.”

This time, Connor strides up to Markus. “Which brings us back to my question you are still trying to avoid.” He hears Markus sigh. “What do you feel towards me?”

“I… I guess it is the same as Simon but also… more,” Markus says, hesitant. “I’m very fond of you, Connor, but I also feel passion, exhilaration, and elation whenever I see you or I’m around you. You make me feel light and you bring joy into my life, Connor.” Markus is grinning now, getting lost in what he is saying. “I feel like, whenever I’m with you, I can achieve anything.” Markus grabs a hold of both of Connor’s hands, holds onto them tightly. “You are unique and special, Connor, and I love that about you.”

Connor squeezes back, enjoying Markus’ answer. His chest fills with warmth, an emotion Connor doesn’t have a word for. “Did you know that love is caused by multiple different chemicals happening in a human brain?” One of Markus’ eyebrows rises in question. “Attraction is caused by the chemicals phenylethylamine, shortened to PEA, norepinephrine, and dopamine. As for attachment, that is caused by the chemicals oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Markus asks, obviously amused if the slight smile is anything to go by.

“Because I wonder what causes androids to feel love,” Connor answers thoughtfully.

Markus’ smirk slowly slides off his face and the look he gives Connor is soft. “I don’t know,” he reaches up and cups Connor’s left cheek. “But I’m glad we can feel it.”

Connor is thankful too.

*~~~*

A half hour later, Markus is finally ready to paint Connor. In the minutes before, Markus had realized that he was all out of red paint and had to go out and buy some. He had Connor wait in the house which gave Connor plenty of time to explore.

He had found one more Simon painting, one painting of Simon, North, Josh, and Markus together, one painting of Josh, and two paintings of North. There was even a painting of the Jericho ship before it blew up and a painting of the New Jericho building. One painting in particular, however, puzzled Connor. It was of an older man, white hair on top of his head, wrinkles all over his face. He wore a scarf and was in a wheelchair. The man in the painting was smiling, big and warm, loving. He looked… happy.

That’s where he was when Markus had returned home. Connor asked him who it was and was surprised to be told that it was Carl. Markus’ face morphed into one of grief before the android quickly covered it up and ushered Connor back into the studio. That’s where he is now, sat on a stool, as Markus begins painting.

“I can paint a whole intricate piece within minutes,” Markus says, dipping his brush into the red paint. He begins mixing it with other colors, making a light tan. “But I like to slow down, enjoy the art of painting. I don’t have much time anymore to be able to so I try to take advantage of the peacefulness of it when I can.”

“I understand,” Connor says. “Working as a detective, you never slow down.”

Markus is focusing on the canvas, face calm, emotionless. “Connor, may I ask you something?” Connor says nothing, giving Markus permission. “Why don’t you tell Hank about hurting yourself?”

Connor diverts his eyes to the floor, frowning. “I’m afraid of him being mad at me. I don’t want to disappoint him.”

When he looks back up, Markus is frowning at him. “Connor, I don’t think Hank would get mad. He would be concerned, worried, and would want to help you.”

Connor shakes his head. “I can’t burden him like that. He has enough on his plate as it is.”

“Connor-”

“I’ve thought about killing myself,” Connor blurts before he can stop himself. Markus falls silent. “I’ve tried killing myself. That’s why I can’t tell Hank. He already lost one son and I don’t want to make him worried about losing me too.” Markus is no longer painting but instead staring at Connor, speechless, so Connor rambles on. “Hank has tried to kill himself too. He used to play this game with his gun called Russian Roulette. A few weeks ago, I tried playing it too. I lost. When I confronted Colin, I tried to goad him into shooting me, and then, when I stopped that man from stabbing you, I didn’t care if he killed me in the process.” Connor doesn’t know why he is confessing all of this but it just spills from his mouth in a rush, unable to be stopped. “I think about that gun every single day, Markus, and the only way to stop myself from playing that game again is to hurt myself and analyze my blood to know I’m still Connor.”

Connor hadn’t noticed Markus is crying until he stops talking. “Markus?” Connor stands, holds a hand out. “Markus I’m… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I…”

Markus steps forward, wraps his arms around Connor’s waist, and pulls him in so tightly, Connor would be concerned about breathing if it was a necessity. “Don’t ever do that again,” Markus says into Connor’s shoulder, voice stern. “I don’t want you to ever play that game again, Connor. You call me instead and I’ll be there. I’ll drop everything I’m doing and I’ll come right away, you hear me?” Connor finally wraps his own arms around Markus, once his surprise dissipates. “Don’t die on me, Connor. Please don’t-” Markus’ voice cracks and he says quieter, “please don’t die. You’re not alone anymore. I’m here. I’ll always be here.”

Connor thins his lips, places a hand on Markus’ back. “I’m sorry I worry you so much, Markus.”

Markus says nothing to this, only tightens his grip.

———————————————————————————————————–

A/N: Thanks for reading!

[conneko]

Sneak peek at another rk1k hunger games AU

—

They find a cave, crouched low enough in the bushes that people might overlook them when visibility is low, if they're lucky enough. Connor helps Markus lie down, and Markus winces at every step. His movements are stuttered, stiff and staggered. The cut around his face crusts with a mix of dried blood and dirt, and his breathing has gone heavier than the humidity of the forest.

His wound bleeds a raging dark red, torn open like the mouth of the cave itself. Connor finds a broken piece of fabric in Markus's satchel and wraps it around his thigh, careful despite Markus's winces. 

"You should have focused on gaining more sponsors before this," Connor scolds. "Charming the public is good and all, but it doesn't help you in the arena."

Markus tries to lift himself up to sitting position and he flinches. "I doubt... ah, I doubt they'd let the sponsors hand out endless vats of medicine willy-nilly."

"Still," Connor says, pulling on his bandages a little too tightly. "You should have tried."

"Connor." Markus grasps his hands. "I can hear your nerves from here. I’ll be okay. I've had worse."

"That doesn't make it better, Markus."

"We'll figure something out," Markus says, rubbing his thumb back and forth. "We've gotten this far, haven't we?"

Markus is dangerous, Connor knows, Markus is unbelievably dangerous is how persuasive and damn bright he can be in the darkest situations. It’s his stupid resolve and charisma. Bludgeoned by the sheer hope in Markus's eyes, Connor slumps his shoulders, conceding into his touch.

Markus gives a small smile, a small quirk on his lips. He kisses Connor's hand and pull him to lie beside him, holding him close and burying soothing noises into his hair. 

Injured to the literal bone, and Markus is still trying to comfort him. Connor wishes they'd met outside the games. Although, realistically, outside the games, they would have probably never met at all. Here, they're restricted by the cameras; every movement kept under watch; every word filtered in hopes that the Capitol won't find them too offensive. 

Connor wants all of Markus's honesty; all of his thoughts and his memories. He doesn't want the diplomatic Markus that comes out when his eyes pass the brush around them. He wants the Markus that comes out in moment like these—where they can pretend that there's nothing in their bubble but the two of them. 

He won't ask about his family and friends, like Markus won't ask him about his either. Instead, Connor brushes his hands over Markus's chest, and bundles his head closer to where Connor can hear his heartbeat. 

"When did you start painting?" Connor asks. "Do you think you're good at it?"

“I like to think that I am,” Markus says. “Although, I don’t get to do it as often as I liked. And that’s a funny way of asking if I enjoyed it.”

Connor almost pinches him. “You know what I mean. If you’re good at it, then surely you’d enjoy it.”

“Spoken like a true Careers.”

Connor does pinch him this time. Softly, though, and Markus stifles his laughter.

"My adopted father taught me," Markus says. "He taught me how to play the piano too."

I love him very much, Markus doesn't say, but he does squeeze Connor's hand hard enough for the message to come through.

“What about you? What do you like to do in your spare time?”

“As in, hobbies?” Connor frowns. “My brother and I trained often.”

“Oh,” Markus says. “Your twin, right? Do you two get along?”

It’s like a switch has been flipped, and a dam spills open. A flood of despair crashes into him, at the thought that he might never see Nines and Amanda again. This is what he’s been preparing for all his life, and yet, it also isn’t. He loves them and he wants to see them again. Yet, that would mean wining the games, and Markus being dead.  That’s something he doesn’t want to delve any deeper.

Connor can tell that Markus already regrets asking his question, his hands running apologetically down Connor’s back. His silence said too much, but then, the Capitol had already held them for ransom. Connor rubs his hips in an attempt at comfort.

“Yes,” Connor says. “I miss him. And my mother.”

And so time passes, hidden in between silent whispers delivered between private touches. Then, Connor can hear it—the synthetic chirping of a parachute making itself known. 

"I'll get that," Connor says. "Stay here." 

The longer he takes, the more it will attract unwanted attention. Regretfully, he slips Markus's arms off himself and he heads crouches out the cave with his knives drawn. Once Connor has retrieved the parachute from a tree branch, Connor opens the gifts and finds a note tucked in. 

Tell lover boy I said 'hi' - Hank

Connor almost smiles. Markus's charm strikes again and his mentor's right; if they keep this up, they might get more sponsorship later on.

"What you've got there?" Markus says, pushing himself to sit up. 

"Soup," Connor says, twisting the container open and uncapping the spoon. "Stop moving so fast. I've got this."

"Connor." Markus sighs and reaches for the food. "I'm not going to let you feed me." 

Connor stops him with one hand on his chest. "That's exactly what you're going to do. It's the only reason I'm letting you sit up. It's better for digestion, this way."

Markus sighs again, but he does bundle his bag behind his back. The soup is a clear broth which chunks of carrots, chicken, and thin slices of sausages in it. It's on the simpler side in Connor's opinion. It takes Markus effort to chew the substantial bits of the soup down, but from the hunger that folds his face, Connor knows that this is one of the most decadent meal he's had in his life. 

"What are those red thing?" Markus asks between his chewing. 

“What thing?” Connor tilts his head. He spoons up a slice of sausage. "This one?"

"Yeah," Markus says. "They're... It tastes like wild turkey. But it doesn't as well. It’s so… salty."

"Oh," Connor says. "They're Frankfurt sausages. These ones are a little non-traditional and commercialized, since they're only a mixture of pork and beef."

"Amazing," Markus says. "My friends and I would've taken so many tesserae for a piece of those."

Connor hesitates. "Have you taken many of those?" Connor asks, angling the spoon so Markus could have a better bite. "Tesserae?"

Markus thinks on his reply which he chews. "You'd struggle to find anyone who hasn't done it at least twice a year," he says with food still in his mouth. 

Amanda would be appalled at his manners. For some reason, the observation only makes Markus more endearing to Connor. 

“And if you were alone?”

“Then you find people,” Markus says. “You find your family there.”

Markus says it like it’s easy. Like it’s the norm for people to be taking strangers in and treating them like family. 

"I would take one for Carl and Leo," Markus says. "Then when Josh, North and Simon came to live with us, we were fortunate enough to be considered a family. So we could take an extra Tessera for each person."

"That's... quite a lot of odds to be putting in."

"But if everyone's increasing the number of times they're entered, then the probability roughly stays the same. I think was at 39 at the last reaping."

A laugh escapes from Connor. "I'm not sure that's how it exactly works," Connor says. “But I guess you’re right, more or less.”

Markus shrugs. "Math was never my best subject."

Connor is about to ask about what other things they teach in District 12 when a booming voice cuts through their conversation. 

"Attention Tributes. Attention.” 

Markus almost chokes on his soup, and Connor rubs a hand on his back as he bends over coughing.

"Commencing at sunrise. There'll be a feast tomorrow at the Cornucopia."

Connor snaps into attention.

"However, this will be no ordinary occasion," the announcer says, a little slyly. "Each of you need something... desperately and we plan to be generous hosts."

Markus jolts forward catching his elbow before Connor could move. "You're not going," he says. 

"It's your medicine," Connor says. "Of course, I am."

Markus's hold tightens. "Connor, don't. You can't go alone."

"Markus, you can't even stand without flinching."

"Connor, I'm serious," Markus says, and his eyes are pleading. "You can't just--you can't just risk your life for me. I won't let you."

"There's nothing you can't do to stop me."

"I'm not letting you die for me!" 

"Markus—"

"No, Connor," Markus says, jerky and desperate as he’s never been before. "Listen to me. You go out there alone, and you'd get slaughtered. They've made it clear that the Cornucopia's a target, and you don't even have a ranged weapon."

"I can throw my knives."

"Faster than an archer with a bow?”

“If they can spot me. That’s why I need to scout the area and set up traps.”

“You won’t be the only one to think of that strategy.”

“I know,” Connor says. “It’s still the best chance for us to keep track of everyone in the area.”

“Connor, please,” Markus says. “Don’t risk yourself like that. It’s not worth it.”

Connor chews on his lip. "Markus. You haven't even finished your food." 

"And this!" Markus waves up and down. "You don't owe me anything. I saved your life, but you've already more or less saved mine. Why are you doing all this?"

They're locked in a standoff. Markus's eyes are brighter and more demanding in the darkness of their cave than they did in the daylight.

They're not even from the same district. There was already no way both of them could come out of this alive. Markus is wounded and if Connor was smart—if Connor was still playing the game as he should, as someone worthy of his District—he’d slit Markus's throat now and lay out a trap at the Cornucopia. Everyone there would do the same, if they're smart, but Connor can be smarter. He just needs the jumpstart time to plan ahead. 

But he doesn't do any of that. For once, he doesn't want to do what's expected of him. 

“We don’t have a lot of time left,” Connor says carefully.

Markus grimaces. “I know.”

“Why is it so bad, then, that I want to spend what little time I have left with you?”

That seems to stop Markus short.

Connor puts the soup aside, safe in its closed container, and leans over slowly. He hovers, just as his lips is about to touch Markus's. He looks up from Markus's lips, categorizing each freckle which dots his cheeks, and the slashes carved on his temple.

"Can I?" Connor asks quietly. 

Swallowing, Markus nods, and Connor leans in, pressing their lips together. 

Markus tastes like soup, Connor distantly notes, a wave of giddiness and warmth blasting through his bones like the recoil of a force field. He tilts his head, testing for a better angle before softly pulling away.

"Oh," Connor says quietly. He brushes Markus's bottom lip  with the tip of his index finger. "I've never done that before."

Markus laughs, and it's a soft puff of air fluttering on his skin. "Finally," he says. "Something I know more about than you do."

Connor sneaks a quick peck on his lips. "If you did," Connor says, brushing his thumb over Markus’s chin. "You didn't show it."

“That’s not fair,” Markus says. “I’m injured.”

Which reminds Connor all the more of current their situation. His dopey smile drips and he can see Markus mirror him. 

Markus tugs him by his elbow, closer until he can rest his forehead onto Connor’s. He closes his eyes and his presses in, and if Connor doesn’t want to fall back, he has to press in as well. For some reason, Connor finds the balance soothing.

“All the more reason I can’t let you go,” Markus mumbles. “Please stay here. Stay here with me. We’ll work something out. I promise you we will.”

Connor knows Markus isn’t the type to hand out empty promises as assurance. They’re not empty promises, of course, if he wills them into existence, and Markus is stubborn enough to make it a reality. It’s almost as potent as his kindness and courage. Yet he knows himself so well, knows the line tips into the ruthless and practical side of himself. Everything about Markus draws Connor in like a flame. Everything about Markus hits like a drop of dye unfolding in a bed of water.

But with a cut that deep, it’s only a matter of time before infection starts creeping away at his skin. And then Markus will be a sitting duck, shaky with his fever, while the whole arena sniffs at his trail. It’s not like Connor plans to leave Markus if they ever get to that point, but he’ll have to for brief periods of time. Food and water won’t fetch themselves, after all.

“Okay,” Connor lies, running his hands up Markus’s arms. “Okay, I’ll stay. Can you at least finish your food first?”

“I’ve already had a lot,” Markus says. “Have some with me.”

“It’s your food, Markus,” he says. “From a sponsor. Guess I spoke too quickly on that, huh?”

“No reason it can’t be shared. I’ll have some if you have some.”

Markus moves himself back, and even though they’re more colour on his face, the act of eating has taken a lot out of him.  Even still, he looks at Connor expectantly after he takes a spoonful, and he doesn’t stop until Connor sips at the broth himself and almost sighs from how his stomach curls in happiness. 

No sickness can keep Markus and his stubborn will of steel down, it seems. 

He stays awake long enough to tug Connor onto his chest. As soon as Connor arranges his limbs, so that he wouldn’t budge Markus’s wound, Markus’s breathing evens out into long, deep, soothing beats which lulls Connor on the edge as well. 

He’ll doze until just before sunrise, Connor decides. That will give him enough time to slip out, and plan what he’ll be doing at Cornucopia.

—

“Oh, Markus,” Carl says tiredly. “What have you done?”

They had watched in silence and bated breath like the rest of the world. Connor leaned in and Markus leaned in back, and the kiss was terrifying—the kiss was hesitant, and tender, and so unflinchingly real that Carl’s heart already aches for what lies ahead as the number of tributes dwindle down.

“Always said he had more heart than brains,” North says, thinning her lips.

“He’ll have somebody watching his back though,” Simon says. “A Careers, as well. That’s more than what we hoped for.”

“That’s just it, Simon. What’s going to happen when there’s only the two of them left?” Josh asks.

“Then Connor will probably kill himself,” Simon says bluntly. “If his feelings are true, that is. That’s our best bet for getting Markus back. If his feelings are faked then…”

“Markus would never let him do that,” Josh says.

Simon shrugs. “Markus doesn’t need to know.”

“Markus is smarter than you’re giving him credit for, Simon,” North says. “And I don’t think that Connor’s faking it. Else, he would’ve just killed Markus then and there while he’s incapacitated.”

“They’re not faking it,” Carl says, eyes still on the TV. “Trust the eye of an old artist, my child. Even seasoned actors would struggle to replicate what they have.”

Markus is starting to get feverish, shivering and turning in his sleep. Jolted, Connor blinks awake. Then, they watch as, half-asleep, Connor rearranges the jackets Markus kicked away, and falls back into his dozing.

Markus turns into him, seeking the warmth of his body.

“Oh, Markus,” North says, echoing his words from earlier. “What have you done?”

[cosmiciaria]

In defense of Detroit Become Human (spoilers marked - long post!)

I know I arrived late at the party and everything that could've been said about this game has already been said – but I do want to add some things I haven't found in some reviews I’ve come across, while addressing all the flaws and giving credit where credit is due. And believe it or don't, this game is due a lot of credit. Yes, a game by David Cage is due credit, what has the world come to?

I must admit I'm not the greatest of fans of Cage's works. I can see all the flaws and plot holes in his games/interactive movies, but unlike others, I'm not that bothered by them. Hell, there are plot holes in many good stories and even the greatest games have some flaws, sometimes it feels people like picking one director and hating on them (cof cof, Tabata from Square cof). This doesn't mean Cage is free of sins, since that's far from reality: I still remember the Ellen Page's controversy with her naked model inside the game, and the creepy things they did to Madison in Heavy Rain for no reason whatsoever. Man, I think you should revalue some of your fetishes.

But aside from that, his games are heavily narrated focus, straying too far from the ordinary hero path and 'saving the world with the power of friendship'. He's stated there are so many things we can do in the videogame industry, and that most developers stick to the usual formula, just because they know it works and it profits. And I can understand his point of view, and even support it, that's why I always try to find something good in his games, even when the dialogues are bad and some acting leaves much to be desired – that happens in every game, in every movie, in every series.

Detroit Become Human is, by far, the best work by Cage. I can say so with full confidence: it's the first of his stories whose plot seem cohesive, coherent, whose characters undergo a visible and palpable development throughout the whole game, whose decisions and paths actually cross-impact later chapters and your choices do shape the way the story unfolds. I stress this because, for example in Beyond, your choices didn't matter much – even the QTE's were pretty useless. You just decided how the game would end in the last ten minutes of plot and that was it. Detroit, on the other hand, is so well planned that things you've done in the very first chapter have repercussions later down the line, and it's not like there's just two endings, but a lot of them, and lot of combinations that I'm still discovering. Your choices affect the during of the story, not just the ending. You can have good relationship with someone, or a bad one, and that will affect each scene those characters are in. You can have a good reputation with a group, or they can hate you, and so you will be ejected from the team. You can act irrational, or stay forever a machine, and the last big choice regarding that will depend of your actions across the whole game.

Just the decision making is a huge step up from previous works. And I can only compare this game to Until Dawn, but even in there, there are less decisions and less impact. Detroit is overwhelmingly huge when it comes to different paths and different versions of the same story. So much so that I told a friend who was also playing it about a scene, and she said 'wait, when does that happen? I didn't see it!'. It was as if we were talking about different games.

Detroit is about androids. It's the year 2038 and androids have flooded the market. They're like your usual vacuum but, hey, they can cook, take care of your children and even satisfy you sexually. They are such a common thing to see in the city that people ignore them. Most families have at least one android in their household, becoming completely reliant on their features. This is a future not so far away from our present.

But, lo and behold, because this game will explore the idea of 'freedom'. And, as you could've expected, some androids suddenly realize they don't want to work for humans anymore. Some androids are mistreated by their owners and suddenly they know they're in an unfair situation. Some androids have ambitions, dreams, ideas – some androids have the desire to be free.

And so, they become deviants. An artificial intelligence, capable of billions of simultaneous operations, young forever, and with conscience. Afraid, yet?

We will follow three main characters who happen to be androids: Connor, Markus and Kara. Connor is a prototype designed to assist investigators and police officers with cases, and he comes with many features that will facilitate all the analysis of clues. Markus is an android designed to care for an old man who has lost his mobility, and lives with him and cares for him as if he were his son. Kara is a housemaid android, who specializes in cleaning and taking care of children, but her owner is a drug-addict who forgot what it means to be a father.

Markus and Kara realize their unfair situation pretty early in the game, so they become deviants well at the beginning. Connor, on the other hand… well, it's in your hands to decide his fate.

Their stories will be intertwined: Connor will investigate cases involving deviants, alongside his sidekick – I mean, his partner, Lieutenant Hank Anderson, an old, anti-android human whose past is yet to be revealed; Markus will be falsely accused of aggression towards his owner or his son (depending what you choose), and he will come back from the dead, ready to lead a revolution against humans, demanding androids' rights; Kara will realize she wants to be a mother, and she will save the daughter of her owner from that hellhole they live in, only to travel from one corner of the city to another in search for an escape route. While Connor's and Markus's stories are well entangled, Kara's always felt a bit separated from them, which can be a huge let down. Personally, Kara's story was the one I enjoyed the least, but it has to do with something that happens at the end – that stupid plot twist – besides, it's more than clear in Kara's plotline that all the BS Cage loved from his previous games makes a return in here. Sometimes it felt like he left blender open and all the disastrous ideas he had for her story were spilled all over his kitchen. I can't think of anything else for that, because her plotline is a Frankestein of a story – uneven, irregular, although it has some touching moments, and Valerie Curry, the actress who plays Kara, delivers some guuud acting and lines.

I know the main message this game is trying to send is that androids are equals to humans. This is the most controversial aspect of the game: Cage, whether he says he did purposely or not, has compared the androids' struggle for freedom to that of African-American people, mixing together slavery and segregation. It's funny because Cage stated it wasn't his plan to allude to actual historical events that did happen not so long ago, and still we can see the segregation of androids in public transport, in public places, and the fact that Markus, with a bunch of other androids as well, demand freedom and the end of slavery from the humans. I like it more when he asks for fair compensation for their work.

And I say it's controversial because it's sending a wrong message. Slavery and segregation weren't contemporary, one came after the other; and the fact that they make a clear comparison to that social movement is criticizable. I'm not the most expert on US history – hell I'm from Argentina, guys – but even I know that the bloody history behind the fight for equal rights is far from over and has put the country on the brink of breaking down many times. That someone deliberately compares the android's fight that took only a few months to develop to that monstrous side of US history is, uhm, questionable in the least.

BUT let's just say that it's an awful coincidence (I'm looking at you, Cage) and leave it aside for a moment. That's the main message the game tries to send. But I believe the game actually sends another message, that is better executed, better fleshed out.

Androids and humans can love each other.        

[SPOILER scroll down until you see the end of the spoiler section]

This is obvious at the beginning with Markus, if you decide to endure Leo's bullying. Carl, Markus' owner, dies from a heart attack, and Markus, crying, desperate, falls to his knees and embraces the man who's been acting like his father for years. He yells Dad, no! in front of the real son, provoking a reaction in him and in the player. Just in this tiny moment, which I think most people slip by without paying too much attention, is enough message. It explains everything.

If you decide to push Leo, the scene plays out differently, and we learn this message towards the end, still in Markus' branch. Later in the story you go back and visit Carl, who doesn't die, but is instead stuck in his bed, connected to cables and such. He regards Markus with love and tenderness, and holds his hand, saying You're my son, Markus. Your blood is a different color, but I know that a part of me lives in you. Thank you, you made me cry.

This message is also well developed in the friendship you can form with Connor and Hank. And notice the 'you can' because you can also make them hate each other. But why on earth would you make Hank mad, if not only for the trophy? Because I can't bear the idea of disappointing that good old man. I need him to be proud of me – I mean, of Connor! Their relationship is wholesome, with some instances in which Hank calls him his son, which melted my heart obviously. Knowing that Hank had lost his real son prior to the events of the game makes all this even more touching and moving.

This message is not well conveyed with Kara and Alice, and you might guess why – yes, the fact that towards the end we learn that Alice isn't a human but an android too, utterly destroys the whole concept the game has been trying to build up for this moment. I don't know why Cage thought this was a good idea – maybe trying to explain that androids can love each other as family just like humans do, but that kinda breaks the rules here, because the idea was an android discovering they can love thanks to a human, who has all the real feelings whereas the androids have this emulations and… alright you get me. How can we truly know if they love each other for real if they are two androids? How can we make sure it isn't just some emulation and chemicals inside their metal bodies? Alright I'm going too deep here? Maybe?

[END OF SPOILER SECTION]

All in all, this is the message that stays with me after playing the game. I don't know if Cage did it purposely (suddenly all his messages are casual), but this is what I can save and treasure from this story. Oh, and also, save your fucking planet, polar bears are going extinct.

Characters are really well created. Their interactions are believable and natural, the acting (specially Bryan Dechart as Connor and Clancy Brown as Hank) is flawless, and you can appreciate when they become deviant and when they start thinking for themselves. Some lines delivered by Markus felt a bit forced, but I've heard the actor talk and he talks like that so maybe is the way he speaks. There are some secondary characters that became my favorite really quick, like Luther, Kara's companion in this journey; Simon, one of the first members of the revolution Markus meet; Hank, of course, although I deem him as a main character at this point. Others, well… Gavin is your well-known bully, whose lines are so stupid I can't believe his character made it into the game. Like really, he's taken straight out of a 90's high school movie. I could hear Henry Bowers from It laughing at his attempt of being a bad boy.

On the technical department, this game is stunning. Visuals are a delight: sometimes you couldn't differentiate if it was filmed or if it was CGI. Hint: it was all CGI! Faces, expressions, animations, I can't complain of any of those. The character's eyes, which are the only thing the motion capture can't record, were all added digitally, and I'm bound to say that they're perfect: they make each character feel real, alive. You know when you're staring at something, that your eyes regard everything and your pupils have these tiny, micro, slight movements? That was in the game, and I loved it. Clothes get wet when it's raining, they get frozen when it's snowy, and lights reflect every surface so realistically that you can tell the texture of each object and piece of cloth.

Music is also a great asset in this game. Each character had a different composer, which brought a distinct and unique aspect to each of their stories. I know I've been hating on Kara until now, but I must admit her theme song is the best out of everything in this game. Even when I watched the cutscenes back when the game was released, I had her theme buried under my skin, for it's melancholic, it reminds me of rain, and it makes me wanna cry.

Another aspect I want to address is the gameplay. You know Cage loves his daily doses of QTE's. But this time, though, they're well executed. I recommend playing the game in Experienced difficulty (which is the normal difficulty), because it truly offers a more immersive experience. The use of the controller in all this was clever, and they used everything they had at their disposal to make you feel you're there in the story. For instance, the use of the vibration system of your joystick: when you pet the dog at Hank's house, you can feel a very slight vibration in your hands, as if the dog was breathing, what you would feel when you pet a dog, of course; but when you're driving a truck that leaves the sidewalk and falls into the street, you feel the sudden rough movement and the way the engine is speeding up; or you can feel heartbeats when Markus is trying to repair himself. All these instances of breaking the fourth wall to make you feel part of the story are implemented in such an intelligent way that it works wonders.

And speaking about breaking the fourth wall… In your main menu you'll have an android that will be your hostess. She will comment on the discoveries you'll be finding in your storyline, but she will also play some tricks to you or talk to you all of a sudden. And if you reach the good ending… well, there's a surprise with her. Let's just say that she's a great addition to the game and a fan favorite.

In conclusion, this is by far Cage's most polished and well thought game to date. And I've been hiding my obsession with Connor up until now so you wouldn't think I'm crazy but, I can't believe Cage created a character like this. I love him. Protect this sweet summer child. Don't make him a machine, please :'( Connor Army here I go.

If you have doubts about this game, buy it on sale. You will at least have a good time playing it and discovering the different paths. But if you like heavily narrated games, and you have at least enjoyed some of his previous works, don't miss on this one. It's really better. And it's really more worth it.

[technohumanlation]

Whumptober Day 30

The ever so lovely @whumptober2019 made a list of prompts to complete every day for the whole month of October and I’m giving a shot at it this year! 

Recovery

Characters: Leo, Carl, Markus

Warnings: None

"Hi, Dad. I'm getting out of the hospital tomorrow. They told me you stayed with me while I was asleep. I...I'm really sorry about everything that happened. I'm gonna stop all that shit. It messes me up. It turns me into somebody that I hate. I-I'd like to come by and see you tomorrow, if that's alright with you? I... I just want to let you know, I'm...I'm proud to be your son." 

One year later

Things had changed. To Markus it was a slow progression of time and yet it felt like it was gone in the blink of an eye. A whirlwind of meetings with humans and androids, coming to disagreements and agreements alike. Countless nights staying awake with swirling thoughts, preparing speeches that grew lengthier and lengthier with time, the growing threat that he could be killed at any moment if in public was now a paranoia he couldn’t fight off. The android was at his breaking point. 

So when, from out of the blue, the man he had once taken care of every single moment of his pre-deviancy life, the human he was proud to call father had called him, the world suddenly came to a halting stop.

He answered hesitantly listening to the raspy voice with interest upon the proposition that he gave to him.

Dinner. He wanted him to come over for dinner. Carl Manfred left the conversation open purposely. Spoke as if they had spoken yesterday and not a year ago when he had asked for his advice during the revolution.

“What time?”

“Saturday, after four, Joey can cook a mean meatloaf.”

Markus smiled upon that. He was glad that his new caretaker was still getting along with the spirited old man.

“I bet he does.”

“So what d’ya say, Markus?”

“Well,” he smiled even more. Hearing his raspy voice felt like a balm over his aching heart, encompassing it with warmth and familiarity he once knew. “I’ll have to clear my scheduled.”

“Tough. See you then.”

The hung up the phone only after his father did.

He had been out of touch with his father. A short voice message here and there telling him how he was on his mind and hoped he was doing well had been said. The human had spirit and wouldn’t be bowing down at life any time soon.

He was too hard headed to give up that easily.

When Markus arrived at 8941 Lafayette Avenue the feelings of bitter-sweetness rose in his chest. The soft glow of the light within the house drew him close to familiar warmth. With each step it felt more and more like he was coming home.

He stepped up to the front door and rose his hand to knock but the security system chimed, welcomed him, and allowed him to enter. A soft chuckle came from his lips as he lowered his hand.

Knowing that Carl didn’t change the setting on the A.I. made that sensation return again.  Slowly, he entered the house and the smell of, as promised, meatloaf wafted past. He closed the door gently.

He slid his wool coat off his shoulders, hung it on the coat rack by the door, and made his way towards the dinning room.

“Is that so?”

“She’s real nice. She loves your work too.”

Markus stopped in his steps upon the familiar, additional, voice. His thirium pump froze in his chest and climbed into his throat.

Leo.

Leo was here. Tonight? There had to be some sort of mistake. He thought-.

“She has shitty tastes.”

“She does.” Leo agreed and there was a soft chuckle from the old man. There was a moment of silence before Carl’s voice rose again. This time louder.

“Well, it’s not nice to eavesdrop,” His voice traveled to the hallway and he felt embarrassment for being discovered so cleverly. “Come in.”

Markus hesitantly revealed himself and took a step forward before meeting his sheepish gaze with Carl.

“Even in your old age your hearing is still sharp.” Markus murmured.

“If androids are sneaking into my house, then yes, I do.”

He flicked his gaze to Leo who refused to make eye contact with him. His eyebrows pinched together in confusion before it occurred to him why he was so submissive to his sight.

The leader of all deviants stood before him. For a moment he felt powerful and hungry in all the wrong ways. This human that dared to threaten him so long ago and ruin his life as he knew it. He dared to-

Markus stopped those thought sin their tracks. They were nasty and terrible things. Instead he looked towards the facts. He wouldn’t be here without him as well. Those chain of events. Those choices he made led him to where he was in this moment.

In a way, deep down, perhaps he was grateful for him.

“H-hey, Markus...” He looked up finally and offered a short wave. He also noticed that the motion wasn’t jumpy. It wasn’t hectic or hyper.

As a matter of fact, the son was sitting rather still and silently at the head of the table. He had gained some weight around his face and abdomen but he looked relatively healthier. He wore presentable clothing and the bags under his eyes were less darker. He flicked his gaze back to elderly man and saw his was merely observing as if he were watching a gentle debate.

He wasn’t taking sides, not yet at least. And Leo wasn’t raring to jump down his throat with threats and curses.

He seemed...meek and timid.

“Hello, Leo.” Markus nodded. “You look well.”

“Y-yeah.” A nervous laugh escaped his lips as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Ah, took some time off to uh...get better.”

Markus blinked, ticking his head upward ever so slightly. “I see...”

“Sit down, Markus.” Carl finally spoke and immediately the android obeyed. He took the remaining steps forward and sat across from his father. He offered a polite glace to Leo before taking the cloth napkin and placing it on his lap. He couldn’t ingest human food but having manners was always a must.

Joey came from the adjoining kitchen and present Markus with a glass of thirium. “Hello, Joey, glad to see you.”

“You as well, Markus.” He turned to Leo and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Dinner will be out shortly, just finishing up on the potatoes.”

“Take your time.” Carl nodded patting his hand.

It was silent between the three as the caretaker android slipped back into the kitchen. Carl took a sip of his wine and Leo shifted uncomfortably for the first time since Markus had made his appearance.

Carl was as ease this whole time. “I invited you both for a reason.” He started out. “No mater what, even if you two bleed differently you two will always be brothers. When I’m gone all you will have is each other.”

Leo looked down to the table listening to his father’s words intently while as remained submissive. Markus agreed with his wisdom and truth.

“Both of you are new born people. A lot can happen in a year. It can change someone for the better or for the worse. Both of you have come such a long way. And I’m proud to call each of you my sons.”

Carl smiled to Leo taking his hand in his own. “I am so proud of you for the strength you had to recover.” He reached forward and Markus held his hand not quick enough to fight the automatic urge to disable his artificial skin. The elderly man brushed a thumb over his knuckles in assurance that the reaction was quite alright. “And Markus, you have come so far since the day you came to me looking for words of wisdom to make your final choice.”

“Leo,” Carl spoke lightly, his voice cracking ever so slightly. Leo smiled a bit exchanging a glace from his dad to his own hand. “You were always the son I wanted. Always have been. I am sorry If I wasn’t there so long ago and I’m sorry if I treated Markus with favor, because I did.”

“I am growing older now and it may be too late for me to change my ways. But in the light of these days, it seems like we have all turned over a new stone. Changed our outlooks. Looked deep within ourselves.”

Joey came out of the kitchen holding a freshly made meatloaf. He ignored the android and shook both their hands once in insistence. “I think it’s time to learn us all over again. As a family.”

Markus felt the familiar warmth take over his pump once again.

He released both their hands and placed his hands on his lap, a cleansing sigh being taken in deeply. “Now then, let’s dig in?”

Markus chuckled softly. “By all means.” He took a sip of his thirium and set it down gently as Joey served out portions. He eyed Leo carefully, willing to extend the olive branch. “So tell me, Leo. Who’s the girlfriend?”

Leo smiled bashfully accepting it. “Funny story actually...”

[bazwillendinflames]

Norkus Nov, Day 13 - Carl and North 

 AO3

North doesn’t need her uncle’s help to find a boyfriend, but when he pushes his new assistant at her, she can’t bring herself to be so cold hearted.

Carl Manfred was many things - a great painter, a terrible cheat at cards and most distressingly to his nieces: a matchmaker. 

Having only one estranged child of his own (Leo… where did he go wrong?), Carl put most of his attention on his three young nieces. Kara was the oldest, the sweetest and the most optimistic of them. She had known Carl before his car accident and been the first to help her uncle when he was recovering. Kara’s constant positivity had stopped him becoming the kind of bitter old man he feared (even if she locked up his drinks cabinet). 

She never put herself first, so it had been up to Carl to help Kara realise that her perfect match had been right in front of her the whole time. It only took a little subtle nudging before his oldest niece was shyly asking if he would like to meet her new boyfriend, who just so happened to be the same Luther that made his paint deliveries. Kara had taken it well, although admitting about his inferring left his second oldest niece eyeing him suspiciously. 

The youngest of Carl’s nieces, Alice, was painfully shy. She shared the same vivid imagination and artistic flare as his famous uncle and they spent most of the summer painting together. Being too young for traditional matchmaking, Carl had settled for introducing her to some of the neighbourhood kids, hoping some new friends would help Alice get out of her shell a little. It was even more rewarding to hear her babble about her plans with her new playmates. 

Carl’s middle niece was proving to be the biggest challenge. North proved to be just as stubborn as he was, ducking out of ‘chance’ meetings with any potential dates. (“Maybe I’ll set you up one day,” she threatened once.) Still, Carl caught moments when she looked wistfully at how Luther held open doors for Kara or when the couple snuggled together during movies. Carl was determined to find a match so perfect for her that it overcame the infamous Manfred stubbornness. 

And he already knew who. 

   Markus had been Carl’s caretaker for the last three months. His job, by the most basic description, was to make sure he took his morning and night medicine. However, Carl had grown rather fond of him as they shared chess matches and card games (Markus wasn’t afraid to call out his blatant cheating, although Carl always denied it). 

Carl, using only the most subtle methods, had talked his young assassiant into coming to a gallery opening. 

“Are you sure I’m the right person for tonight?” Markus smoothed out his suit self-consciously. “I’m not an artist or…” 

“Who else is going to sneak me a whiskey?”

“Now, now, you know what your doctor said.” A voice drawled. 

“He was just kidding.” Markus pushed the glass behind him. 

North grinned. “I won’t tell if you won’t.” She held up a bottle of her own. 

“North, hi.” Markus smoothed out his jacket again. “You look pretty. I mean your dress is pretty, I wasn’t like objectifying you or anything. I mean…”

“Thanks,” she interrupted. 

Markus had a slight flush on his cheeks and even North’s usual eye roll seemed less sarcastic than usual. Most of their interaction seemed to end with Markus flustered, his crush on Carl’s niece painfully obvious. 

She fixed Carl with a suspicious look. “You didn’t tell me Markus was coming.”

“Old age,” he replied with a shrug. “You do look lovely dear.”

“Kara picked it. Not really my style.” North looked down at her long red dress self-consciously, stealing the tiniest of glances in Markus’ direction. “Too flashy.” 

“I like it,” Markus said. 

Carl smiled to himself, glad his plan was starting to take place. 

   “Markus, come help me carry these drinks.” 

He nodded, eagerly following her to the bar. Carl watched as they walked off, already feeling a little smug. (“Stay out of my love life,” North had told him, “I see you scheming.” But he knew best.) 

“Listen to me,” North whispered, grabbing his arm, “my uncle thinks he knows what’s best for me. This is a set up.”

“Like a prank?” 

“Like a date,” North corrected. “He always does this to us.” 

“Oh.” Markus looked at where her hand still gripped his wrist. “Is that why he told me to wear a nice suit?” 

“You call that a nice suit?” 

“What’s wrong with-” 

The grip on his wrist tightened a little, but Markus couldn’t bring himself to pull away. “If I asked you to-”

“Yes.”

“I didn’t finish.”

“Right, sorry.” Markus felt the usual flush to his cheeks in her presence. “Go on.” 

“We should turn this around. Pretend to be super into each other and just when Carl thinks his meddling worked we-”

“Kiss?”

“Did you just say…”

Now Markus was blushing for another reason. “No.” 

“Just when he thinks it’s another success story, bam!” North hit her other hand on the bar. “I throw my drink over you.” 

“But this suit is new.”

“Trust me,” North said, “I’m doing you a favour. Unless it’s too much. I’ve been told I can be intense.” 

“You are… but I kind of like it.” 

North laughed. “We’re off to a good start. Look, if you help me, I’ll owe you a favour.” 

“Okay. I’m in.” 

North grinned, clinking her glass against his. “It’s a deal then.” 

   Markus peaked over North’s shoulder, catching Carl with a smirk on his face. (He and North made a similar expression when they were up to mischief. But her smirk was cuter.) 

“Does he do this a lot?”

“The matchmaking?” North asked. “Yeah. Kara’s fault really. She’s engaged because of his poking around in her business. And she thanked him! She might as well have signed my life away.” 

“Maybe it’s a sign he has good taste.” 

North hummed in response, but still seemed unconvinced. “Kara’s got a big heart. It’s easier to get her to open it up to someone.” 

“There’s nothing wrong with having a big heart.” 

“Oh no, an optimist.” North laughed at her own joke. “Fine, I’ll admit I’m happy for my sister.” 

“I’ve only met her once. Kara, I mean. But she’s kind.” 

“She was like a Mother to me. I mean I had an actual Mom too, but she was off doing rich people stuff a lot. Kara’s eight years older, so she picked up the slack. She’s good with Alice too.” 

“Sounds like it was hard.” 

She shrugged. “It was what it was. I’m tough now.” She finished her drink off. “No more sad rich girl stuff now. I’m sick of it.” 

“Are you really?”

“Really what?”

“Sad.” Despite the fact it was just an act, Markus let Carl’s eyes on them justify resting his hand on top of her own. “I’ll listen.” 

“I”m not…” She glanced at him and sighed. “Sometimes. Mostly it makes me furious. I guess Carl told you I went a little off the rails when Alice was born, cause my Mom went and did it again.” Carl hadn’t, but Markus didn’t correct her. “And then she died and I was really Motherless. But so was my baby sister, so I had to grow out of smashing windows and getting arrested. You wouldn’t get it.” 

“Why do you say that?” 

“Because,” North began, “you’re so calm and you listen. I just scream.” 

“Sounds like a good match.” 

She laughed, but it was laced with a hint of bitterness. “You sound like Carl. I’ll stop talking about myself now.” 

“I’d listen to you all night.” The words escaped before Markus could really think about them. “I mean…” 

The hand in Markus’ own curled to hold back. “That’s such a line.” 

“I’ll tell you about the time I got arrested, if you tell me yours.” 

North grinned. “Markus, you are full of surprises.” 

   Out of breath, Markus checked around the corner, glad to see they weren’t followed anymore. 

“I- I can’t believe you did that.” 

North scoffed. “You’ve never played the ‘don’t touch the art’ game before? Amatour.” 

“I’ve never been to one of these before.”

“Oh,” she said, “and I’ve totally hijacked your first one and made it all about me.”

“No, no. I’m having fun.”

“But you want to be an artist. You are an artist,” she corrected. “Shit, sorry.” 

“You haven’t ruined anything. I’m not too nice to say no to you.”

“Could have fooled me.” 

“There’s nothing wrong with being nice.” 

North rolled her eyes. “I wouldn’t know; I’ve never tried being nice.” 

“I don’t quite believe that.” 

“You are a raging optimist.” 

Markus couldn’t help but smile. “Guilty. But I still think you’re kind, deep down. That’s what matters.” 

“Stop.” North glanced at the main entrance. “All clear.”

“We can’t go back in.”

North pulled her hair into a long ponytail. “There. Power of disguise.”

“It can’t be that simple.”

She spun around. “The best part about a dress like this, is no one is looking at your face.” 

Markus followed her in, not quite brave enough to protest against her. 

   “If your doctor asked, I brought you water.” 

Carl held up his glass. “Cheers to that.” 

Markus nodded. “How’s your night Carl?” 

“Whilst you’ve been running around with my niece, I’ve been admiring something different.” 

“Oh. You noticed that?”

“Don’t look so nervous Markus. I know North can hold her own. I should be more worried about you.” 

“North is stunning. I could listen to her talk forever and never get bored.” Markus seemed a self-conscious. “There’s a room full of beautiful art and I can’t seem to look away from her.” 

Carl was a little stunned himself. He had seen Markus’ crush on his niece from the moment they first met (he dropped a glass as she ruffled her hair; it was like a movie) but he hadn’t expected Markus to fall so hard. 

“You seem smitten.”

The signature blush was back.

“I am. I know she’s hate me asking but do you think I should ask North to dance?” 

   “It was a nice touch,” North said, swaying along with him. “The speech.” 

“You heard?” 

“Yeah. So, I’m stunning and a great conversationalist?” 

He groaned. “Don’t start.” 

“Hey, it’s affectionate teasing. I know it’s just part of the act.” 

“Right, the act.” 

“Besides,” North said, “no one ever talks about girls like that. It’s all ‘she’s hot’ and fist bumping.” 

“Is that really how you think I talk to people?”

“Maybe not you.” North giggled as he spun her around. “I can see my uncle thought you’d be a good boyfriend.” 

Markus felt a hint of hope. “Really?” 

“You’re sweet.” “Does this mean I don’t get a drink on my head?” 

“I was going to throw it on your suit actually.” 

“I’ll never dress myself again.” 

North shook her head. “Maybe that can be my favour. I don’t think you’re the suit-wearing-type. You should go fully artsy and buy a flowing coat.” 

“I have a flowing coat.” 

“You’re kidding!” North said. “I knew I liked you for a reason.” 

“So maybe I can dress myself.” 

“Maybe,” she echoed. “Thank you, for going along with my stupid idea. Truthfully, I get kinda bored at these things. Just not tonight.” 

“I’ll be your partner is crime any time.”

“Deal.”

Markus dipped her back as the song ended. 

“Markus,” North said, delighted, “you really are full of surprises.” 

   “I’ll see you tomorrow Carl,” Markus called, waving with his hand full of keys. “Bye North.” 

“Bye.” 

Carl waited until he had disappeared into the building before turning on her. “Nice boy.” 

“Yeah, he’s a real sweetheart.” 

“You didn’t even drop your drink on him. I owe your sister twenty.” 

“What!” North turned to him. “You knew!” 

“I practically raised you, dear. Of course I knew you’d be scheming. It was the best way to get you to spend the night with Markus.” 

“You’re evil.” 

Carl only smirked the signature Manfred smirk. “You liked him.” 

North dropped her head in her hands. “I know.” 

“Don’t feel bad about it my dear. I’m great at many things: painting, cards and matchmaking.”

“He was just playing along.” 

“That boy,” Carl said softly, “is the best assistant I ever had. But he wears his heart on his sleeve. Be careful with it.” 

Even with her face half-hidden, Carl could make out the smile on her face. 

Another success story. 

[connywrites]

of flesh and blood 32

start - part [31]

-

“So, how long have you been a detective? You must work hard at your job,” Carl commented with politeness, speaking between bites of food as he sat across from his new company with Markus settled beside him, who offered a slight smile, hands folded in his lap with his usual demeanor of keeping to himself unless otherwise prompted. Gavin tried not to think too hard about his presence, despite the fact his discomfort with androids had evidently increased, trying to ease his own tension of what position he was in.

“Yeah. Been on the force for seven years, after getting my master’s degree,” he responded with a boast of pride. Carl’s eyebrows raised with a newfound sense of surprise and awe, leaning back in his wheelchair before taking a sip of his scotch. Gavin mimicked likewise with his own double glass, figuring he’d take advantage of the drinks while he was within such elaborate company.

“I see. A lot of training, then?” Gavin nodded.

“Working my way up the ladder, just like everybody else,” he reiterated, eyeing Markus, who glanced back at him with a gaze that made him further absorb his own apprehension of being across the table from the revolutionary leader, himself, yet the sense of intimidation seemed inherently different than what he felt in the presence of the RK900. Maybe it was the lack of an LED, making Markus blend in with the humans – a personal mockery, in his opinion -- as most deviants intended on doing. Or maybe it was in the way his gaze held a strangely tender understanding that was unaccustomed to most androids he’d seen and worked with. The serious expression perched upon Markus’ face made him feel on edge; but such was the demeanor of someone who’d been through war with his own history of violence, however short, he presumed.

“I assume you want to become Chief one day, then?” Gavin smiled more genuinely than he had in a long while, nodding again as his reanimated body language showed how work was one of his few favored subjects.

“Yep. Got a long way to go, but hopefully soon enough. Fowler and Anderson need the retirement anyway,” he said lightly with more respect for his higher-ups than he usually felt, despite the fact he was aware that they might be treating him better with the rise of sympathy to his situation in particular. Of course they only cared once he was being nice and abused, but he dismissed the thought as it wasn’t the time to dwell on matters that were best left on the backburner for now. Markus remained respectfully listening to their exchange, eyes occasionally drifting between the two of them.

“Well, if I can say anything from my years of experience, I don’t blame them,” Carl responded, contemplating how tiring painting became once it was an expectation more than a hobby. The physical endurance needed for a job such as police training was a long-lost thought in his aged mind.

“So you investigate homicides, you said?” Markus visibly grew uneasy, eyes narrowing in Gavin’s direction, who took another wary sip of scotch.

“Yeah,” he confirmed through a voice quieter than before, returning his attention to his meal as he jabbed his fork into another portion of basted chicken.

“Lieutenant, too. It’s a bit gruesome, but there’s always death, and where there’s death, there’s a murderer, and that means there’s always crime,” he explained through the motions rather quickly.

“I do my best to keep the city safe,” he stated humbly, even if he didn’t entirely feel dignified over the matter. Sure, he’d done his best, but his work wasn’t quite like it had been in the old days.

“What about you, then? You’re quite the exquisite painter,” Gavin praised in learned words of flattery, maintaining a ghost of a smile while his eyes occasionally lingered along the expanse of the mansion, vision drifting across the walls of decorations from statues and embroidery to the anticipated paint-and-canvas art that still smelled fresh, to crystal chandeliers glistening the same way the skulls made of gold with the occasionally encrusted with chiseled diamonds did. It would have been difficult for him to understand living a life of luxury if he hadn’t been given the house, funds and a plethora of his own tools alongside personal goods, and even then it was still brand new to him. The idea of working hard with a natural talent until it got you in a position like the one Carl was in fascinated him, and he bit down his personal distaste for the rich in spite of his company.

“Sure, you could say I’ve made something of my image over the years…self-portraits or otherwise,” he said in jest, and Gavin flashed him a halfhearted smile of appreciation. Becoming wealthy with talent and his own hard work only to end up in the lonely, sickly position he was in made the entirety of the situation rather bizarre, in his mind, as the scales to no longer seem so balanced.

“Guess I’m more leftt-brained. I could never put together something like that,” he responded, but Carl was fast to catch his gaze with a cold pair of pale, tired blue eyes, demanding enough to shift his attention.

“Now, don’t say you can’t do anything, detective Reed,” Carl encouraged him in a sage, bold tone. Gavin’s eyebrows raised with surprise in response to the sentiment while he paused to consider the meaning of what Carl said as well as why, exactly, he’d said it.

“That’s nice of you to say,” he said in resonance of his own personal opinion, but his doubt was clear. Part of him felt proud for continuing to use his polite mannerisms, charming traits and expanded vocabulary, but the forced habit likely wouldn’t leave him for a while, he figured; Nines had embedded it well enough that by now it didn’t take much thinking at all.

“But I know exactly where my capabilities lie, and how far they extend.” Intricate words always felt bitter on his tongue, however; no matter how precisely he phrased his thoughts, they were still a reminder that the RK900’s teachings would never entirely go away as far as he could tell, whether he wanted to escape the past four months or otherwise.

“I have multiple, reasonable limitations, and I know that. I’m sure you do too.”

Carl opened his mouth as if to speak, before leaning back to think about the statement previously filling the air, but found few phrases that would outmatch the truth that left Gavin’s lips. After a moment, he exhaled, nodding once to confirm that he was still listening.

“Of course I do, and I wasn’t being so literal. Our situations are different,” Carl continued, grateful to find an intelligent exchange between human beings for the first time in a while.

“You have plenty of time ahead of you. Is this what you want to do for the rest of your life?”

That question struck Gavin hard enough to freeze him in place, nearly dropping his fork before he quickly caught himself, staring blankly at the dishware before him; a clear giveaway for Carl, but he avoided commentary for the sake of Gavin’s dignity.

Gavin loved his job from day one, but in later years, he’d began to question whether it was really about him or the fact he was shadowing in his father’s footsteps – the original reason he contemplated being on the force in the first place, an awareness he kept tight hold of no matter how much schooling and work he’d piled up since his younger years.

“Of course it is,” he was swift to retort, although dimly and he notably stopped eating as the thought struck him deep within his chest. Carl took the moment of awkward silence thereafter to finish his meal, wiping his mouth and cheeks with a folded napkin while Markus’ vision returned from the window to look at the two of them, mostly centered on Carl so as not to make Gavin more uncomfortable.

“Anyway, it’s what I’m best at,” he stated, feeling the eyes of differing opinions casting his way.

“That’s an opinion, not an obligation,” Carl offered in a somewhat softer, yet still stern tone, watching Gavin for his reactions.

“Is that a joke?” The smile he wore was less friendly than the last, brimming with sarcasm.

“It’s a huge obligation”, he responded with a touch of snide to his voice, causing Carl to adjust in a moment of surprise. Within the past hour of their interactions, he noted many times that Gavin seemed to take offense rather quickly, while keeping in mind as to the fact his job was clearly very important to him, perhaps leading onto the reason he was so dissuaded.

“You have an android on the team, don’t you?” The subject change was abrupt and immediately noticed as Markus and Gavin exchanged glances with unintentional surprise, and Gavin dismissed the malice behind his glower to adjust his posture, gently pushing forth his plate to signal he was finished with the meal and downing the rest of his scotch in one go.

“Yeah, sure we do.” Gavin’s voice was wary, along with his leering gaze as he turned his head thoughtfully, filing through a million possibilities in his head as to why Carl might be asking such a thing.

“Connor works with the Lieutenant,” Gavin mouthed slowly, noting the way his inebriation effected the smooth, flowing tone of his speech, something he’d never found himself bothered by before. He dismissed the thought as soon as it visited him.

“I don’t know what they call the new one,” he said aloud, thinking back to the brand new android stalking around behind Peter, “but she’s only been around for, well, a few days now.” Carl’s expression shifted knowingly, but he simply nudged aside his empty glass as he glanced over to Markus.

“Would you do me a favor, and clean this area up?” With his and Markus’ gaze drifting to meet each other’s, he smiled, though barely enough Gavin picked up on the subtle creases of the lines in his cheeks; frown lines were a telltale sign of what someone had gone through in their older years, and Carl was definitely a man that resonated an aura of the wisdom he’d gained throughout the decades, likely a few more than he’d experienced so far if he could guess by how old he looked, alone. He knew the certain sort of hurt in Markus’ eyes, one that withheld the fear of losing someone close, and soon, making it easy to avoid asking about such a simple thing as someone’s age with the knowledge that the information would be traded if Manfred so felt the desire.

“Of course,” Markus obliged kindly as he reached to begin collecting dishes, and Gavin helped himself to another drink before he could get to the decanter, cuing Carl’s vision to return to him.

“Do you live in that house by yourself?” Gavin’s expression didn’t waver, but he nodded.

“Er, yeah. Just bought it,” he responded with the knowledge his perfect sentences were slipping.

“I guess it’s a bit much for one person, but what can I say? I like my space,” he lied blatantly, swigging down more liquor and wiping his mouth; Carl silently acknowledged that he’d started drinking as if they were taking shots at a bar rather than conversing over a meal, and Markus didn’t have to catch his judgmental gaze to know what he was thinking, reaching to remove the half-full glass bottle in his work of cleaning the table.

“’Sides, I’ve got my friend’s dog and the whole city of Detroit at my hands, livin’ in a nice, big house. I don’t have anything to lose.” Without RK900 in my way, he thought to himself, absentmindedly staring in Markus’ direction as he watched him clean, silently pondering over the thoughts of an android so willing to follow through with commands; not only listening to your conversations, but hearing out your opinion for what it was. Maybe that was why RK900 was never given a name, he wondered. Maybe it wasn’t meant to seem human at all. Once Cyberlife discovered its own version of emotional behavior, they’d taken it back and replaced it, but androids like the one shuffling around his peripheral vision were different; not a designated deviant he could destroy and get rid of, and not a member of the team that would pry into his personal life, but a bystander of someone that Carl considered close and one of the most well-known androids out there. The thought of treating an android like a friend and partner was never a realistic consideration for him until his months spent with his abuser, and he wondered if it was realistic to assume every android had an inevitability to snap. The few times he seemed able to admit confusion and even slight distress from RK900, it seemed hasty to dismiss such ‘attitudes’ and return with something worse, making him assume it was also an environmental factor and therefor leaving himself to blame; not that he’d ever admit it was his fault for treating it like shit in the first place.

Carl seemed impressed by the way Gavin relished in everything he seemed to own, whether it was secondhand or otherwise, taking on his position in his career as well as his life with a demeanor he could only think of as stubborn as well as headstrong. He supposed it fit such a man to hold the authority he had in its position of entitlement, leaving Carl curious, but assumptive of the fact most men of that age acted such a way these days with the awareness that he was no exception in his own youth. The way men were raised full of toxic masculinity shined bright and clear to him from Gavin’s perspective, but he didn’t want to take too much from first impressions, no matter the company or situation.

The way the younger man’s brows lowered in an angry shadow over ashen eyes and even his smiles seemed to resemble a permanent scowl gave Carl an uneasy feeling, even though he knew that one of many points from the police force was to come across as intimidating, and Gavin wore the stigma well. A strong jawline but soft cheeks, framing a narrow, scarred nose and thin lips leading down to a definitely muscular stature embedded beneath his nice dress-wear gave the impression that Gavin was a hardened character with more riches than he knew what to do with, thus implying the collection must have been recent. Drinking problems were also common in hard-working men that had seen many grim days, although the disease of alcoholism didn't discriminate, he knew full and well.

"How long have you been drinking for?" If it weren't for the scent already on Gavin's breath upon arrival, he wouldn't have bothered questioning. Visibly caught off-guard, Gavin's expression fell as the sensation of being called out on one’s vices was never a good one. With his eyes drifting to where the decanter was, he slowly leaned back in the chair with tense hands clenched at his sides so he wouldn't drum his fingers on the nice, polished wood, likely more valuable than the thousands of dollars in his pocket at the time.

“What’s it to you?” The defensive attitude nearly came as a surprise to Carl, noting how abruptly Gavin became defensive over the matter and mentally noting not to further agitate him, if he could help it. Adjusting his posture to lower his shoulders and soften his expression, Carl made it evident he wasn’t looking to pry, let alone start some kind of argument, pale blue eyes resonating the soulful curiosity that followed him through his nights and days. With every person there was always more to learn, and in this past hour, he’d barely caught a glimpse of the being that was Gavin Reed.

“Well, if it helps to talk a bit about myself, I’ve spent my fair share of years of dabbling with harmful substances, and my only son still struggles with the inherited end of the fact. I simply wondered how long you’ve been dealing with it,” he explained gently, and Gavin subconsciously responded in kind, slouching as he let the tension fall from his body. He hadn’t felt as though he was that obvious with his drinking, but also acknowledged that swigging down twice as many tumblers of scotch was still a clear giveaway, as well as a hint that he, himself, hadn’t paid so much attention to how bad the habit had gotten. The realization was as grim as the sneer across his face.

Taking in the fact Gavin wasn’t exactly being as friendly as he had been from the beginning of their conversation, Carl kept in mind that he wouldn’t be in danger within the confines of his own home, between a cop and Markus, who’s gaze still lingered from afar even as he washed the dishes in the other room.

“It’d be better for you in the long run if you do something about it now.”

An uncomfortable part of Gavin stirred within himself while he mulled over the words, what they meant, and the fact the person speaking them had a fair number of years over his own. With bookshelf walls towering with novels both classic and unknown to him, the manner of which Carl spoke along with his general demeanor, he could tell he was a person that took himself rather seriously and, by extension, those that interacted with him. What was he doing here, talking to an old man about the trials and tribulations of ordinary life, anyway? Nothing better to do, he figured, momentarily hoping Sumo hadn’t gotten to his shoes again in a fit of boredom, followed by the reminder that he could easily replace the pair if need be with the money still untouched in his pocket. Maybe that was the most terrifying aspect of all, as having so much at his fingertips it felt surreal, as if it could slip away at any given moment.

“I see. You wanna get personal, huh?” Gavin resisted the urge to fold his arms across his chest as old habits dared try to resurface, huffing a subtle scoff through angrily flaring nostrils.

“I’ve just seen my fair share of shit on the force, ‘n’ the job isn’t exactly sunshine and rainbows nowadays.” Confidence rose within him as he reminisced how good it felt to speak in lazy, shortened sentences, to swear freely again. For the first time in months, he didn’t feel the imaginary sensation of Nines looming over his shoulder, shadowing him, watching closely and listening to everything that he did. In this mansion, with this stranger and his android, he was unbound from the psychological confines that was the RK900 and what it represented. The therapist told him he’d gradually ease out of the trauma over the span of the next few months, but the deep emotional scarring would remain for life – yet it was up to Gavin how long he let it burden him, and how heavily. Remembering he’d left his medication at home, he cleared his throat in a signal to himself as well as his company that he’d intended to be a bit more polite after that particular verbal bite.

Within the plethora of learned behaviors from the android, potentially the most twisted irony of it all was it all worked, particularly in his favor. No one questioned a well-dressed, charismatic male of pale skin and styled hair, stormy eyes that loomed over his targets from across the room, and it was a position he’d have never imagined himself in. Deep in his conscience, he still harbored a heavy amount of guilt for what he’d done, the imagery of the android’s destroyed face palette still fresh in his mind.

It was over. It was gone, and he could get on with his life. It didn’t mean he had to drink his way to the bottom of a bottle, but what else was there to do?

“I apologize, that was uncalled for. It’s been an unpleasant few months, the promotion’s weighin’ heavy and I’m tired,” he stated all in one breath, tipping Carl onto the fact he was hiding something important. Nonetheless, he didn’t expect first introductions to get too deep, content with the fact Gavin was speaking truth to his problem at all; a surefire sign that bringing up the subject was potentially a right move, despite how left field yet direct the introduction of the topic was.

“Promotion?” Skirting around a sensitive topic never hurt as long as he remained on track, Carl mused.

“Yeah, well, sorta. Pay raise, more paperwork, but I don’t think I can get anything better than that ‘til next year.” The caffeine withdrawal was starting to kick in, he noted by the ache starting to throb in the back of his head. Carl nodded in understanding, and Markus left the kitchen once the chores were done on the invisible cue to go upstairs and busy himself with a something else, aware his presence alone created an uncomfortable shift in the room that none of them seemed keen on dealing with for the time being.

“That’s a lot of pressure you have ahead of you,” Carl commented in a relaxed voice, allowing Gavin the moment he seemed to need in digesting the comment. It was easy to see why this man was a good detective, with the way his eyes searched for every interactive detail, as Carl could feel them scanning his eyes and his expressions with each response, likely searching for any unconscious body language giveaways or even subtle cues of trickery as Carl imagined he’d have reason to be wary of anyone he’d met, ill-intended or otherwise.

Gavin paused, as he hadn’t thought of it that way. Every promotion, raise or other celebration of his well-doing was automatically a good thing, in his head. The thought that he might have been conditioned to think so had crossed his mind before, but he could never make sense out of it. In his younger days, he wanted nothing more than to rule the entire department, but knowing now all of the stress of an entire team compounded and falling onto one person, he could tell why Fowler was so overloaded and stressed all the time.

Chief. He imagined the title, on the piece of paper declaring his advancement, on the placard by what would be his desk in the center of the department, left alone to stare at screen and flip through the digital documents all day long. Being bothered by everyone on the team, yet put on a pedestal for being the highest-ranking officer.

He imagined the look on his father’s face, and snapped back to reality as he realized he was staring into the distance again.

“Yeah, it is,” he responded, though his voice was low and less energetic than earlier.

"A few weeks," Gavin finally answered the original question, vague so as to negate further sharing his personal life.

"I dunno. Started going through six packs, then pints. Sure you know how it goes.” Carl's expression grew tired as the energy it took to converse with company wore faster than it had in his youth, and Gavin felt the same.

"Well, it's still early. Nip it in the bud now and you might be able to beat the consequences before they catch up to you." Speaking with a sickly old man wasn't exactly how Gavin expected to spend the evening, let alone talking about his vices, but so be it.

"Uh, yeah, sure, if I cared about that," Gavin retorted, and for a moment Carl saw his son in one of his many moments of rebellion.

"Well, you should," Carl responded in kind, less polite than before. Gavin's eyelids grew heavy as he let his posture slouch, staring at Carl with the same bored gaze he would anyone else wasting his time.

"If you don't look after your health, who will?"

Health. The concept of caring about what garbage he put into his own body that was going to be rotting with the rest of them by the end was laughable to him, evident by the smarmy smirk darkening the light creases on his own face.

"The maggots won't care how nutritious I am, I don't see why I should." Carl's eyebrows raised in surprise, and concern glossed over his eyes as he accepted the idea of someone talking about their own death less than midway through their life. Again, he understood, but could tell Gavin wanted nothing of his sympathy.

"Because it doesn't feel good vomiting off a hangover after waking up on the ground day after day, does it?"

Paranoia kicked Gavin in the back of his mind, worsening the developing headache as his subconscious focused on the fact Carl must have known that much about him, as opposed to speaking from personal experience, an issue he’d had more often as of late. It obviously wasn’t true, as he’d never met this man before in his life, and only moved into the house across the street and to the left a week and a half ago, but paranoia was always irrational. Huffing, he raised his shoulders with an aggressive half-shrug, finally crossing his arms over his chest and an ankle over one knee as he leaned back in his chair, obviously letting go of his recently developed prim-and-proper nature in favor of his emotions cognitively taking over instead. It was nice to fall back on old habits again, especially without being chastised and degraded for it. Carl took notice, but per usual, said nothing.

“That’s not a disagreement,” the older man chimed with a slight smile, figuring he might as well try to keep the situation light with the awareness he was the one to bring up a topic that was not only personal, but touchy in a way that no one liked to talk about from a personal perspective. Gavin’s expression soured, but Carl held faith in the fact he hadn’t argued or even gotten up to leave for the time being.

Gavin easily picked up on his attempt to make the topic lighter than it really was, but he didn’t appreciate being babied over the matter, and it showed in the curl of skin around his lips as he snarled.

“You want a conversation? Talk about something else,” Gavin hissed, and it was a quick warning to back off that Carl easily obliged, as the last thing he wanted was to make his company hostile, let alone within his own home, whether it was a cop and he had a long-trusted android at his side or not. First and foremost came his safety, and he had a feeling Gavin felt that exact inclination clearer than he personally realized.

“Alright,” Carl complied easily.

“Would you like to pick a subject?”

A combination of putting him on the spot and letting him guide the conversation, Gavin took the offer for exactly what it was, quirking an eyebrow with an entertained chuckle as he contemplated the offer.

“Yeah, guess I do,” he spouted in one breath, letting the rest go in a slow sigh. Intrigued, Carl tilted his head with a crease of knit skin above his eyes that indicated his confusion. Gavin didn’t feel any more inclined to delve into the issue, but the curiosity was nagging at him from the beginning, so in his mind, it was now or never.

Speaking about it, however, was much more difficult as his mind scrambled for the right combination of words. Your android wasn’t exactly politically correct in the situation he was in. Markus was too vague and non-descriptive. Anything else regarding his position as revolutionary leader was too pompous, and he definitely wasn’t going for that.

What did he want to mention in the first place?

“How long has he lived with you?” This time, the words were much more carefully framed, something Carl noted and appreciated.

“Long enough I should question why you’re asking.” His deflection caught Gavin off guard, and now he knew the feeling of dread from bringing up the elephant in the room first.

“I had one,” he said airily, but it lacked substance, as they both knew. Carl was only somewhat aware of the more advanced models, the latest RK series – something that he’d held discomfort with since hearing about the lineage continuing, but accepted he could do nothing about, considering them as numbers in a system and nothing else.

“Did you?” Gavin accepted the rhetoric.

“No, of course not,” he spat, “but the government assigned me one.” That was a turn of phrase that caught Carl unprepared, formed from a working field and governmental position of which he was aware of, but not to the point of personal experience like his company had. He could only imagine the difference between an android made by many people under one mindset versus his comrade that had been designed uniquely for himself specifically, as far as he knew.

“Let me guess,” Carl lead on with enough emphasis to garner the attention he wanted, “you weren’t keen on the idea of a computer doing the work for you?”

Carl was keen, Gavin noticed, and it was up to him to keep his wit up to match if he wanted to keep an image of himself. Reputation may not matter for an old man, but Gavin kept his image the best he could, particularly now that he’d moved up in the social circle; it was all he had for himself now, he figured. It was easy to tell that the wiser of the two caught on, however.

“I didn’t care about that,” Gavin stated simply, unaware of how much the past tense gave away. Naturally, Carl caught on.

“Didn’t?” This time, Gavin looked confused, crinkling his lips and scrunching his nose up to his forehead crinkles, before he let out a pitiless laugh that Carl didn’t quite like.

“Oh, didn’t you hear? The RK line is shut down now. They replaced it entirely.”

Carl paused.

Gavin smiled, as wry and shallow as it was.

“Didn’t find what they wanted, so they’re trying something better.” While Gavin revisited the pretentious image that was Peter and his own new android, he reveled in the look of surprise that Carl granted him, a signal that maybe the old man didn’t know everything after all.

“Isn’t that a worse outcome for you?” Gavin pursed his lips in stunned silence.

“Yeah,” Gavin admitted. Carl showed his confusion through his facial expression, wrinkles further defined as he frowned at the thought. Frustrated, Gavin shifted to lean forward, planting one hand flat on the fine dining table, making a point to capture attention before he spoke.

“They turned your precious android into a series of…” he couldn’t say robots, but the idea made him snort out loud, even if it was confusing to his current company. Carl glowered at the words emitting from his mouth, but Gavin lifted the open-palmed hand in a gesture that expressed he wasn’t done as well as the idea the subject wasn’t that serious, quite literally waving it off.

“Oppressed people forced beneath America’s capitalist propaganda? Oh, I know,” Carl responded gratuitously, and Gavin’s cocky look was quick to drop as for a moment, it was almost as if the words were taken from him before he could speak them, let alone phrase them for the situation that was actually going on rather than the assumptions and theories riddling Gavin’s mind in a constant cycle. Suddenly his position, in the work field as well as the physical placement within Carl’s home, didn’t feel so great.

“Elijah kept many things from me. I would not call them secrets, as there were no means to hide such a thing,” Carl explained, and for the time being, Gavin listened.

“But while the later models were meant to be improved for a multitude of reasons, Markus still holds many attributes that pay off. Otherwise America wouldn’t be designing androids to fight him and his ilk, hm?” Gavin swallowed down the sick feeling in his stomach, and Carl felt a pain in his chest that was merely somewhat medically related as rethinking over the predicament further stressed him.

Gavin swallowed.

“You think the DPD androids were built to fight yours?”

“This isn’t transformers,” Carl quipped, impatient with the childish way this person seemed to look at androids as a whole, as if they were simple computers, tools, toys. While he knew it was often the case with amateurs handling them, and aware some people were straight up ignorant, he had no reason to believe this fully functional adult male couldn’t manage an android on his own, despite his personal hang-ups. Gavin offered a shrug with a nigh on friendly expression, as if to say he couldn’t quite disagree over the fact, even if he wanted to argue the comparisons in a fleeting thought.

“I think your androids are utilized to try and undo the damage that the more dangerous population of awoken androids have caused.”

Your androids. Gavin could tell the phrasing was intentional, but wasn't sure what Carl meant by it; naturally for him, words like that seemed vindictive, but he reminded himself to think twice over anything he heard, even if the idea initially came from the RK900. As much as he hated it, the model was full of its own wisdoms, some of which made sense even to him.

"They're not mine," he stated sharply, but Carl's demeanor remained firm.

"They're on your side. You work with them, don't you?" The shocked look in Gavin's eyes told him enough, and the detective realized exactly what he'd gotten himself into.

"Not by choice," he quipped, but both of them knew how heavily the words really weighed. Carl acknowledged the fact, aware he only knew tidbits of what government androids were assigned to do, let alone what they were capable of.

"But you choose to continue working with them."

The pang in Gavin’s heart was heavy and sudden, the reminder of his ex 'partner' kickstarting his heartbeat into its usual tripled rate as it seemed to every time his anxiety started acting up.

Choose. The concept escaped him. The idea that it was his decision all along was offensive, but mostly baffling; Carl took note of his confused expression, leaning back in his seat with an apologetic look in his eyes.

"Sorry, it was wrong of me to assume," he apologized, cuing Gavin to settle.

"I don't know the police force, what they do, or how they work when it comes to androids at all. I suppose I'm biased by extension," he continued, a reminder to Gavin that Markus, himself was right upstairs, potentially listening to every word just as a typical RK model would.

"They've hurt my..." pausing, Carl sighed with the acknowledgement that using friendly terms likely wouldn't go over well with someone that clearly disliked them. Intertwining his fingers on the table, he leaned forward, catching Gavin's gaze while he could.

"I am aware of his weakness against new and more advanced technology," he stated more clearly with a sorrow in his eyes the other man could nearly pinpoint. Whatever it was, Gavin had felt it before.

"So I know that him and his crew don't stand much of a chance in comparison." Gavin curled his fingers into his fist to pound against his chest a few times, as if to swallow down the uncomfortable lump in his throat that sunk a weight in his chest and dropped to his stomach. Carl, acknowledging that look but unaware of where it came from, remained poised while they interacted.

"Do you feel guilty for what your co-workers, human or otherwise, have done?"

The upcoming court date flashed into Gavin’s mind; February 10th, barely skipping the 9th in a way that made him no more comfortable as there were still 28 other dates it could have landed on. Carl gave him the time to consider his response, which he took, staring at the old man like he'd gone off the rails.

"You wouldn't understand," he stated gruffly with a glare to match. Carl took a deep breath, straightening his posture.

"Maybe not. Want to tell me anyway?" Carl had no idea if Gavin had anyone to talk to or not, but that didn't matter, as they were there right then and he'd grown to take advantage of any situation he could. It wasn't sinister, even if Gavin thought otherwise since the conversation had been heavy from the start, but somehow he didn't regret the fact.

"Why would I?" There was the defensiveness again, they both noted.

"Well, why not? I won't be telling anyone." Gavin squinted with a heavy exhale, wondering if he should actually divulge what he'd been thinking all this time. It wasn't as if he could admit his android made him its bitch, after all.

"They're stronger than us," he said quietly.

"What do you mean?" Of course they were, but intuition told Carl there was more to it than that. Gavin stiffened.

"They can kill us. They have." Carl didn't waver.

"So can humans."

"I know that," Gavin spat with a glare, before glancing away as if to redact his harsh words.

"I've seen plenty of murderers, okay? Androids aren't any different. Get pissed, lose their shit, lash out..."

"So you admit they're similar?" Gavin scoffed.

"Yeah. More than I like."

"Why's that?" Gavin's eyes stared into Carl's.

"We have enough murderers," he stated bluntly.

"There's too many people already, now a portion of them are made of dangerous materials and ready to slaughter us. Cyberlife's not fucking around," he stated dimly, remembering the cruel, presumptuous gaze of the RK900 as if it were still right there beside him.

"We already have wars, now the androids do, too. Against each other and us. You can't really be on one side without being against the other." Gavin felt confident in his words, even as he saw Carl's expression stiffen as if he didn't expect a topic like this to come up for the evening, but it felt nice to vent in a world where few people listened to him.

"That's hardly true. This isn't a two-sided ordeal. You think too much in black and white for such a good detective," he stated with a touch of flattery, not minding the darkening scowl on Reed's face - he sought to prove a point, and maybe teach the younger man something in the process.

“It isn’t androids against humans when there are androids on our side as well. All they want is freedom, a sense of peace. Can you blame them for that?” Carl didn’t want to go into detail about how they were oppressed, trying to get the point across as directly as he could.

Gavin felt unsettled. Imagining the RK900 wanting peace was a farfetched enough thought he would laugh at it if he were in a better mood. Sure, androids wanted some form of free-thinking, but he could never imagine them all searching for peace. Not with how many gruesome incidents he’d seen involving them, even if the ones he’d come across were somehow special cases. No one knew enough about them overall to make a clear decision, and he disliked the way Carl acted as though he knew them best. Then again, he was given one straight from Kamski, himself, cluing him in on the fact maybe Carl had more of an idea as to what was going on than he initially wanted to believe.

“There is no peace in this world,” Gavin struck with animosity in his tone that gave away a clue as to what might have happened.

“Your android partners…They don’t listen to you?” A genuine question asked with a lighthearted tone, blue eyes softening as the slightest tilt of Carl’s head indicated his inquisitiveness.

“What? Of course they do,” Gavin responded, both to save face as well as to avoid admitting the fact that a certain android didn’t.

“Then what is it you’re frustrated about, Mr. Reed?”

Gavin fell silent once more, indicating he was considering the question and most of all, how to respond to it, alongside how much truth he wanted to indulge in the matter. It seemed to be the most difficult subject to converse over since day one, even as it stretched along the grapevine that was Detroit’s population, a hint that fact and rumor alike spread faster than he thought throughout the DPD, causing him to worry that Carl might do the same despite how humble he might seem. For the time being, he held onto what he felt was true, and that was his own opinion regarding androids – and how they were against him rather than on his side, no matter how many investigative ‘helpers’ they put on the team.

Gavin sighed.

“They’re designed to listen.” Each word was enunciated as he spoke with too much honesty, vision darkening as he glowered at his company across the table.

“My partner did,” he added with sarcastic emphasis, “for a while.” He knew the implication was left with the idea his android eventually awoke in the way so many others have before, taking in a deep breath to cue he was going to continue speaking.

“I’ve seen androids and humans work together more than once. Have you not done the same?”

Gavin felt the heat on his cheeks as he got lost in thought, reminiscing upon his better days with Nines as he remembered the interactions between them that weren’t so bad, Faking a smile, he threw Carl a convincing bow of his chin.

“Sure I have.” Gavin may have agreed verbally, but the adamance behind it was lost within.

“Willingly?” The way Carl glanced his way left him with a darkened gaze, pausing while he tried to determine the metaphorical relationship between his android and Carl’s.

“No.” The word, holding its boldness, hovered in the air.

“Not at all.”

“I’m done assuming,” Carl croaked as he pushed his chair away, glancing upstairs in a silent signal for his caretaker to come down for him. Gavin felt his patience thinning all the while.

“You think that’ll help?” Gavin’s eyes were stone cold.

“It’ll get me nowhere, and neither will this conversation at the moment. I would like to help you, but I can’t if you don’t explain what’s going on,” he elaborated, cuing a puzzled look from Gavin again.

“Help me? Do what, exactly?” His eyes followed the way Carl’s redirected to, hearing the soft shuffling upstairs that he assumed meant Markus was taking care of more house chores Carl was unable to. While the mansion was incredibly large and spacious, it was highly decorated with a mixture of warm wood from the frames, the tables and chairs, the grand piano in the study, along with the paintings on the wall and large chandeliers hanging from the ceilings. Likewise, there were intricately designed skulls, a dinosaur skeleton hanging from the ceiling and a stuffed giraffe in the corner that looked uncomfortably real, beside the bookshelf that held knowledge and wisdom he couldn’t imagine himself fathoming.

For a moment, he tried to imagine what it might be like in Markus’ shoes; from what he knew, he was any other household android, designed to help and aid, just in Carl’s designated favor. Unique, a gift, but he still wondered about the model number, RK200. Classified police information but one that was known as long as you paid attention to the barcode printing on the android’s face in his speech video that told all the details in fine print. Funny that, how their human appearance could be erased easily, and a deactivated android could hold no secrets as taking away the synthetic skin revealed them for what they really were; complicated constructs of plastic and metal, a man-made fluid that somehow kept them running through the power of electricity, and nothing more, in his opinion.

He imagined being young, as was the only way to compare fairly in his mind, and wandering through the mansion while looking after an old man that he didn’t know. Administering medications, waking him up and putting him to bed, carrying him where he needed to be otherwise and running errands for him. Listening to his theories and thinking nothing of them within the limited confines of an android motherboard, before something happened that would make him aware, and grow a bit older with the freshly open eyes as a supposedly sentient being. That something happened that made him angry enough to go against those that he felt might have wronged him, and with that likeness, he contemplated the idea he may not be too different from androids as he thought.

Abuse was a rampant pattern in his life, and one he thought he was over once he’d finally gotten away from his father. It was a pattern RK900 must have discovered and fed upon, because he had never acted in the more brutal ways it had manifested. the nights it asked him about his personal life, digging up information he’d never told it about was as unsettling as the sensation of its diligent fingers tracing his scars while it silently requested their origins.

He told a few life stories and confessed more than enough family history, but 900 always seemed to be one step ahead, knowing more and more. Too many things in his own opinion. The way it fed off his paranoia further proved his theory on the idea androids were constantly watching, listening, and recording. Tablet articles said so over and over, right next to the ones summarizing the way humans preferred social media over personal interaction, or even the excerpts about how new cars came with new features and the fact an inanimate, artificial object could select which life to take first in a dangerous situation was forgotten in the depths of last week’s news.

Hank had his five – or fifteen, or fifty – minutes of fame more than once, something like the result of a mighty achievement from his time spent in class as well as training on the force. It wasn’t that long ago that Anderson was fighting his own way to the top, lucky enough to be part of the big drug busts that got him there - that was something Gavin considered a roll of the dice decided by fate, as red ice was becoming all the more popular and androids became easier and easier to get a hold of, and thus take apart and modify until they concocted something considered useful to the masses.

“With whatever you might need regarding your circumstances,” Carl said wittingly, though it didn’t explain much to Gavin.

“Remember, we’re on the same side, and if I could avoid the police slaughtering my son, I’d be more than inclined to become a martyr in his favor. Hopefully, however, I can avoid such a situation.” Gavin’s eyes narrowed at the idea of considering an android family, let alone risking your life for one, even considering the fact Markus wasn’t quite as easily replaceable as the models he was used to, coming back again and again no matter what damages their last chasses took. If Markus was destroyed, were his experiences lost forever? The concept didn’t matter much to him.

“I, er. Don’t plan on killing you or Markus,” Gavin said as plainly as he could, though the wrinkle between his brows showed his confusion.

"Isn't there something that you want?" Gavin shook his head.

"I mean, I've got a court case coming up and I don't wanna get sentenced for life, but otherwise I think I'm set." Gray eyebrows swiveled with thought and understanding.

"A court case? For an officer?" Gavin rubbed over the scar crossing the front of his neck and shrugged.

"Long story."

"I have time." Gavin pursed his lips in a thin line, staring somberly as he imagined the scenario of telling a stranger such personal life details.

"I don't," he copped out, though it didn't get past Carl that he was being avoidant as he hastily stood from his chair.

"Thanks for the chat, but--"

"Sit down," Carl half-demanded with a gesture of his arm back towards the table. Gavin paused with a puzzled look.

"What, do you have something more pressing to do than drink and tell an old man your woes? I won't tell you anything you haven't already heard, and your words won't leave the house if you don't want them to." Unable to think of a rebuke, he quietly sat back down.

"I shot a guy when I was younger. Before I was even a beat cop. There wasn't substantial evidence that I was guilty but now they're trying to paint me as the bad guy." Brushing a hand along the frame of his jaw, Carl stared at him long and hard before speaking again.

"Ah, the irony that is the jurisdiction system," he mused, thinking over the concept of whether someone would get a fairer trial for being on the force, even if they were seen as a killer.

"I don't know too much about the Michigan police, so I imagine you're more aware of potential consequences than I am." Drumming his fingers on the table, Gavin chuffed.

"I had self-defense in my favor, but someone rummaged around to find proof towards ill intent. Pretty sure I'm being framed." Carl nodded slowly.

"Do you have anything in your favor?" Gavin shook his head with a deep, stabilizing breath.

"My career. My last promotion. But that might not last." He didn't care to mention the few other slip ups he'd dealt with since joining the force, let alone his hobby of shooting androids. He could virtually feel Markus' presence, those mismatch eyes that stared him down from across the table, despite the fact he'd gone upstairs minutes before.

"Do you have friends on the force? I respect it has to remain professional, but I imagine you could take what help you can get."

"Not really," he admitted with a sour expression at the matter. Carl accepted the statement with a grain of salt.

“I think you should consider the truth for yourself. Did you mean to kill the victim?”

Victim was a word that weighed heavily on the implication someone was entirely innocent against another that was suspected as guilty, a term he’d played around with, but never imagined himself in the position of.

“Well yeah, he broke into my house with the intention to kill me,” he muttered, and the shift in Carl’s expression showed his uncertainty over what he’d heard so far.

“So, I assume you had the right to defend yourself?”

“Exactly,” Gavin uttered under his breath as he shifted himself in his seat, feeling tension clench his shoulders and the muscles leading down to his hands that gripped the sides of the chair seat a bit too tight.

“Then what are you worried about?” With a more awkward, nervous sneer, he ran a hand through his hair as he asked himself the same question: what was he afraid of?

“Losing my job. Going to jail. Anyone in my position would be.”

“Of course. But by the sounds of it, the odds are in your favor,” Carl reassured, although his gaze remained serious.

“I’m sure you can get a lawyer. That would help.”

“I’ll get anything I can take. I feel like my own people are against me, you know? All because of someone new nosing his way into everything.”

“Do you think he has something personal against you?”

“Pretty sure of it. He seems to be on the androids’ side, anyway.” Carl frowned.

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” Gavin nearly winced, trying to make himself relax again as the thought of his ever-familiar ex partner came to mind, and suddenly all his scars and healing wounds began to sting again.

“I dunno. No offense to your, uh, friend, but androids have done a lot of damage. Our force is still itchin’ to hunt down and deactivate the fuckers.” Offense crossed Carl’s features as he leaned forward, searching Gavin’s eyes for any sense of hostility.

"Has an android personally harmed you?" Gavin's eyes flashed wide at the question.

"Yes," he responded a bit too hastily, bringing his hands up to the table to mimic the polite intertwining of fingers, idly rubbing the crease between his thumb and index finger as he tried to catch a grip on his anxiety.

Be grateful for everything I've done for you. A reminder that never left him, despite the fact he knew better by now; the gaslighting façade had crumbled and rebirthed the awareness that the android served nothing good for him aside from its help on cases, maybe with a touch of the behavioral training, but knew the way it spoke was only scapegoating for its own flaws, something that would be interesting if he cared more about the technicality of it all.

"My last partner was a bit, glitchy I guess." Rather than explaining or showing the more personal marks, he simply tapped his neck, next to the most evident, oldest scar from the night it swept its favored military knife across his neck; there was one just like it in his last pile of 'gifts'. Carl tilted his head with a stare of analysis.

"Want to elaborate?"

"Sure. Cat's out of the bag now," Gavin responded half to himself as he felt the same apprehension he did any time the subject came up. As much as he would have liked to keep it all to himself, it was too late for that, and maybe he could get some help if he simply reached out for it.

"It was kinda my fault. I didn't treat it real nice, you know?" Pausing, he grit his teeth at the pronoun usage.

"He had a right to fight back, sure, but he fought a little too hard. Markus is designed to take care of you, right? Imagine the opposite of that. He'd hit me, then give me nice shit to try and make up for it. Typical abuse, but it's not like I could say anything about it."

Carl's expression turned to surprise, then dismay, furrowing his eyebrows with distrust before letting out a breath of recollection for himself.

"I know you said you wouldn't, but... please don't let this get out to anyone else. That model got shut down and replaced, but it's still kinda, er. Personal." Sensing Gavin's radiating shame, Carl nodded once, relaxing against the table as he eyed the other man's body language -- all of which seemed tense and anxious, sometimes showing itself in aggression, a demeanor he'd known well from his own son's struggles. He wondered if he saw part of Leo in this man, or if the comparison simply came from his own nostalgia.

"Where do you want to go from here, then? You have to make a choice. It might affect your career, and it may not, but everyone around you will be aware of it either way. Do you want to work against androids? Or with them?"

Gavin held back his chortle at the question, as part of him still didn't take the idea seriously. Clasping his hand against his mouth, he cleared his throat, rubbing over the muscles in his cheeks that had grown sore from clenching his jaw.

"I've been assigned a different one, and I…said I’d get along with him. Looks like I'm on their side." He bit back the for now he was tempted to end the statement with. Carl seemed complacent by the response, leaning back to relax in his wheelchair.

"Would that partner advocate for you in a time of need?"

Connor was a different matter entirely, and one he'd never had expected to come into play so heavily. Connor was nearly popular by now, revered by their teammates for better or worse; human empathy fed into his kinder personality traits, and he'd proved himself a powerful aspect on the force. The fact his 'upgrade' was taken out of the picture while he remained spoke volumes.

"I don't know. I'm not exactly close to him," he admitted lowly, still grazing the short hairs on his cheeks between his fingers while he wondered exactly where Connor's ‘moral alignment’ lay. RK900 claimed not to know one, but Gavin wondered if the 800 developed an idea of such over his time of existence with the team, even between broken and battered chasses.

"It might help you to make a new friend, then," Carl replied simply, but Gavin's stare remained cold.

"Haha, yeah," he quipped with a nod that made his sarcasm evident, "I'll work on that."

Carl offered a smile, something between affirmation and condolence, wishing for him and his company not to part on a bad note.

"It was a pleasure to talk to you, detective Reed. It's good to get to know the people that are protecting us," he continued with a playful tone over the word, salting it with the irony he knew they were both aware of. Catching the fluctuation in his voice, Gavin's eyebrows raised, and he once more let go of his proper behavioral training so as to fold his arms across his chest, feeling immediately more comfortable from the defensive motion.

"Hey, I know I'm a crooked cop, but I also know I'm good at my job, alright?" Carl flashed him a smile, and he shook his head before granting one in return, even if it still showed that he wasn't entirely sincere no matter how well his communication skills improved.

"You wouldn't be in your position otherwise, I assume." The agreement was taken as lightly as it was told, but Gavin saw the advantage for a closing conversation and was swift to take it.

"Sure as hell wouldn't be," he chimed in his best polite voice, before standing up with the same finality as he had before.

"Anyways, nice meeting you, Mr. Manfred," he said with an extension of his hand, which was taken to shake, "But I should be heading home."

"Of course. You know where I am if you need me." Gavin saluted him before turning around to leave.

"Don't forget, Mr. Reed; we aren't your enemy." A smirk crossed Gavin's features as he walked out with the tall wooden doors closing behind him.

[eggoreviews]

My Top 25 Games Advent Day 10 - Detroit: Become Human (#16)

“We are gonna tell them peacefully that we want justice. If there’s any humanity in them, they will listen. And if not, others will take our place and continue this fight. Are you ready to follow me?”

This is a divisive game if ever I’ve seen one. Some cite David Cage’s latest multi-branch epic as a modern masterpiece of cinematic gaming, seamlessly weaving three tales of humanity and equality that is genuinely and sometimes harshly affected by your choices. But others, a fair amount of others, see this title as an overblown, janky mess with David Cage’s typical wonky, heavy-handed writing and themes that don’t even attempt subtlety. Me personally, I can see both sides of the fence. So here’s my take.

Going into Detroit, I honestly wasn’t expecting much, being well aware of the reputation Cage carries from his previous projects, but I’m a big ol fan of decision-based adventure games as anyone who’s been reading this countdown will know, so I thought it’d be a fun distraction. Detroit turned out to be what I consider to be the best decision-based game ever created (there’s one other in this list that places above Detroit, but you’ll see why when I get to it). And that’s purely down to the game mechanics alone, even just putting aside the characters and writing for a moment, the sheer amount of endings and branching pathways is baffling. This is a game that is perfectly in tune with every single choice you make, which can often result in deaths of characters that you can’t undo and then boom, you lose the rest of that character’s storyline. It’s harsh, but it means every player gets a different experience and gives much, much more weight to the decisions you make as you strive to get everybody out at the end. Detroit is genuinely a wild ride, made even more enjoyable by its various crime scene investigations, fight scenes and chase sequences, which all keep the overall gameplay from becoming stale.

Now, I know some people criticise this game as a whole for not digging into AI or telling another Ex Machina story about science and technology and ‘tHe SiNgULaRitY’ or whatever, but that’s because that’s really not what Detroit is trying to do. Detroit tells a story of standing up to prejudice and reminding us that humanity should always strive to do better by those that are oppressed, and using the allegory of androids is excellent in driving this home. Detroit is a story of overcoming prejudice in an increasingly terrifying world, as the city of Detroit itself is home to those hurling insults and violence at androids, while simultaneously becoming reliant on them. It’s an interesting paradox, especially as the game continues to give subtle speculation in the background of various scenes as how technology could affect infamous cities such as Detroit in the future, as well as giving an insight into the potential international climate in 2038, from bees dying out to a potential war over the Arctic between the US and Russia. The speculative world-building in this title is stellar, and it’s something I think a lot of people gloss over when considering this game to entirely lack subtlety.

Moving on the foreground of Detroit, here’s where the majority of the people point to Detroit’s massive ham-handedness. The characters. Detroit places you in the control, and basically places in your care, three entirely different characters with completely different and engaging perspectives on the growing number of ‘deviant’ androids:

Connor, a prototype detective android, begins the game entirely sided with his own oppressors, doing everything he can to ensure his mission is complete. Connor can remain as a cold, ruthless, uncaring machine for the entire game, to the disdain of your reluctant colleague and eventually close friend (boyfriend) Hank. Or, if you’ve made enough choices to make Connor reflect on his life, you are given the choice to later defect and allow Connor to discover his humanity. Here’s what I love about Detroit; going back to the masterful story branch crafting for a moment, the game doesn’t allow you to make throwaway choices that entirely contradict how you’ve been treating a character for the whole game, so Connor’s eventual deviancy can only come about if that’s how you’ve been playing him. What’s even more powerful is that, if you choose to stay on the original path Connor was taking, his eventual obsolescence is all the more heart-breaking, as he realises all too late that he was manipulated and used by his creators to harm those who wished for freedom, only to have himself replaced by a more advanced model after being successful. Now that’s how you do an ending.

The second, Markus, yet another prototype gifted to the artist Carl (played by the legendary Bishop himself, Lance Henrikson) to take care of him in his old age. Markus’ story has a hell of a lot of dimensions to it, as you acknowledge throughout your time with him that, despite the fact he is still a slave, he lives what could be seen as a privileged life, compared to other androids at least, living with the artist that simultaneously owns him and dictates his entire life, whilst also urging him to seek his own humanity and think for himself. Some interesting hypocrisy from Carl, which is another reason why it’s so easy to have mixed thoughts and feelings on certain characters. Characters are morally grey in Detroit, even if it doesn’t seem so on the surface! So there’s some of that nuance people seemed to forget was there (but hey, this is all just my opinion so uhhh don’t @ me telling me I suck). In the end, having fallen from his sheltered life into one now entirely dictated by himself, Markus finally sees for himself the horrible treatment of the rest of his kind and resolves to take action and becomes a symbol for the android rebellion, rounding off a satisfying arc for a character previously completely blind to the suffering of his fellow androids.

And the third, Kara, is a household android that has lost all memory beyond a horrible accident she seemed to have suffered. Unlike the polar opposite stances of Connor and Markus, Kara and her growing bond with her previous owner’s child Alice represent what Markus is fighting for and what Connor is fighting against; finding humanity. Kara doesn’t want a part in war or rebellion, her only desire is to protect the child she’s now caring for. While this perspective was extremely important, not least as a way of seeing firsthand how your large scale choices as Connor and Markus are affecting smaller scale narratives such as Kara and Alice’s bid for freedom, my one and only gripe is wishing they’d made Alice, and to a point Kara, into more developed characters that could stand on their own. While their plight is poignant and effective and their motivations are clear, the same can be said of Connor and Markus, who each have their own nuances and quirks to their character that subtly portray the humanity they’re discovering in themselves. Kara and Alice, with a little more development outside of their main drive, could’ve made that plotline just a little more interesting, but I maintain that their perspective was essential in showcasing the outcomes of your choices. Plus, Luther is an awesome character and I love him more than anything. It all just goes to show that a lot of the subtlety some claim as missing entirely can be found in other aspects of the experience, most notably the world-building and the excellently composed soundtrack. In particular, I think the move of choosing an individual composer for each character was absolute genius, as it gives each one their own unique musical style and atmosphere.

I know a lot of this, especially the characters and their arcs, may seem like cliches and so on the nose it isn’t even trying, but I think in this case, it just works. Stories of breaking away from ingrained prejudice can be just that and sometimes benefit from telling stories as they are, Detroit didn’t need to be stylised or rooted in subtle, shifting plot threads to leave me an absolute emotional wreck by the time I finished playing. Sure, it tackled its heavy themes with as much grace as a blind rhinoceros, but that didn’t detract at all from the emotional value of each individual plot thread and it certainly didn’t hamper the experience of being completely engrossed in a story where your choices matter more than anything else. David Cage may have rightfully earned his reputation as a bit of a fumbling, heavy-handed writer, but this game is so painstakingly crafted from every character to every setpiece and every choice alteration from minute to grandiose, makes that famous Cage jank almost entirely disappear. Almost. And if you yourself are a Cage skeptic as I once was (and to a point, still am), I encourage you to give this game a try.

Standout Moment Award: The crossover finale of all three main narrative threads is absolutely perfectly executed, and feels equally impactful no matter your choices. But, you know, obviously the best canon ending is when everyone gets out alive.

Standout Character Award: Connor. Of course this had to go to Connor, the ever-conflicted, messily efficient twinky android who is definitely dating Hank takes today’s standout character shoutout.

Tomorrow: No. 15; framed swordsman gets pissed off at a world-ending prophecy, bothers entire world for help.

[trustinginthelight]

@rcsedoux sent: 🎰

Fiona & Ryuuji Kawara

While I could see Ryuuji actually thinking Fiona’s cool, with her snazzy outfit and her gun, I doubt Fiona could stand Ryuuji much. Ryuuji’s likely another strange science guy from Hyperion. He’s the sweetest man, but he works for Hyperion, so clear he must be a coporate douchebag, right? It’d probably have a similar dynamic to Rhys/Fiona, just filled with a lot more of Ryuuji being a sweet, philosophical disaster with a heart of gold.

Princess Rosella & Shizuo Heiwajima

This one would definitely be a strange one tbh. I feel like it could potentially be a good match, though, if they saw each other’s true natures. I don’t think Shizuo would like how vain Rosella could be at times, and it’d probably be a LOT to get used to Shizuo’s rage + strength, but I feel like they could at least end up friends if they spoke to each other seriously.

Pamela Isley & Carl Manfred

It clearly wouldn’t be romantic ship, but hmm. I feel like, to an extent, Ivy and Carl could get along. Like, it’s Carl. Who doesn’t love Carl? He’s a big ol’ grump and loves to paint. I could see them being acquaintances to an extent, with Carl being disappointed when he recognizes her on TV later on as Poison Ivy. He wouldn’t openly  condemn her, but he personally doesn’t agree with her methods.

Holly Robinson & Achaka

I’m don’t know much about Holly tbh. I read about her briefly on the wiki, and she’s honestly adorable tho. Idk how Holly would react to a person like Achaka, all stoic and unintentionally intimidating, but I feel as though a friendship could form. Possibly even a protective one, considering all of what she’d been through.

North & Prince Alexander

Now this is a strange pair of characters. Because he’s human, I’m sure it’d be near impossible for North to really ever trust him. He’s not quite the sort of person that’s built up as some kindly human the way Carl is when Markus describes him. However, maybe because Alex is so young, North may at least find it easier to trust him. Alex himself is on the timid side due to his own abuse he experienced, so he clearly would never lay a hand on her. Perhaps in time, they could develop a sort of bond.  A kinship in that they were both went through terrible hardships through their lives.

[alhecksanderlightwood]

From my ao3 account “how about Carl meeting Connor for the first time after listening to Markus practically recite poetry about Connor”

Thanks to my pal, my buddy, my friend, my mate @theythoughtthelionswerebad for helping me figuring out how to end this

Markus was a busy man, leading a revolution did that to you. He had tons of meeting to go to, androids to meet and reassure, hands to shake, laws to write and defend… The press followed his every move, some were doing this out of support, to help get his message across, while some… Just wanted to see him fuck up so they could sprout their anti androids rhetoric.

So Carl understood that between dodging those so-called journalists and actually spreading his ideas, Markus wouldn’t have time to see him quite as much as he would have liked to.

Except Markus still went to see him quite a lot actually. Every Wednesday and then some. They spent their time discussing politics or the latest Jericho crew shenanigans (Josh did what now?). Sometimes one of them would paint and the other would critique it or they would both work on a same piece, it was a fun time, one of the highlight of both of their weeks.

It was during one of those nights, Markus was talking about the brutality against androids rising again now that more humans came back to Detroit.

“Connor is trying his best to stop it but besides some police officers the others are such conceited prejudiced jerks, I can’t understand how he manages to stand it and I’m the pacifist”

“Well mayb-” Hank didn’t get to finish whatever he tried to say, Markus was at it again, the painter wondered if his son even heard him try to add something. “I mean, I get wanting to help the androids, I goddamn led a revolution but he never rests because he’s trying so hard to fix this and it can’t be healthy.”

“That-” Markus interrupted him once again, too worked up to even realize what he did “And I know it’s because he still won’t forgive himself for being the deviant hunter but it wasn’t him! I keep trying to make him realise that he can’t be held responsible for this, that he’s not the same man and he’s actually one of the best android any of us have ever seen but he won’t listen! I don’t know what to do, what should I do Carl?”

Carl said nothing, only watched him with a knowing look.

“Carl?”

“Oh, am I allowed to talk now?”

“What do you mean, you’re alw-” This time it was Carl who stopped Markus by lifting a hand “Tell me more about this guy”

“No, I know this smirk and I won’t fall for it, you’re just going to tease me endlessly afterwards”

Carl actually laughed out loud at that “True but wouldn’t it feel good to be able to say everything out loud without North’s taunting or Simon’s heart eyes?”

Markus seemed to muse over it for a minute before he seemed to arrive at a decision.

“I think I really like him dad”

Never had Carl seen his son look so bashful. It made something in his heart flutter and he got hit by a newfound inspiration, young love did that to him sometimes.

So that’s how it started. Fast forward a few weeks and Carl started regretting his decision to push Markus into talking about Connor. Carl Manfred was an artist, as such he had an eye for beauty. That’s one of the things Markus got from him. Which filled Carl’s heart with joy but was also ultimately his demise because once Markus started talking about his crush he just couldn’t stop.

“So he came around Jericho last night, he was walking Sumo. I had never seen him smile that much. He’s so cute it should be illegal. And he was wearing Hank’s shirt so it was way too big on him. Did I ever tell you about his collarbone? They ar-”

“A thing of beauty carved by God himself and as much as you hate Kamski you want to send him a letter to thank him for allowing such a beautiful thing to walk the earth? You did tell me about it”

Markus levelled him with a nasty glare before sighing and putting a hand on his face and honest to god whining “I’m so gone on him it’s not even funny isn’t it?”

“Well you could always tell him how you feel you know. Or better, bring him around next time, if I have to hear about his dimple I would like to see it at one point and I swear I’ll behave.”

...

Markus had blabbered his way around asking the detective to come meet his father. Of course Josh had to be around and heard all of it. Which means that he told Simon and North to come by so they could witness Markus embarrass himself. Which then meant that they all teased him about introducing his father to his boyfriend. In front of Connor.

He needed new friends. Although to be fair, it did make Connor tilt his head in this particular way that made him look like a puppy, which was always a good thing.

And when Markus finally managed to get his friends to leave him alone, the detective did smile shyly at him before agreeing. So Markus would still count that as a win.

….

They met at the police station, Connor waited for him in front of the gates and Hank made a few hand gestures from behind the window that made the both of them blush, Connor actually giving him the finger before gripping Markus hand and dragging him away from the laughing lieutenant.

They walked in silence for a few minutes, none of them let go of the other’s hand and Markus felt a surge of courage come over him, gently rubbing his thumb over the detective’s knuckles.

“So, anything I should know about Carl?”

“Just be yourself and don’t listen to anything he says”

“That would make having a conversation difficult, wouldn’t it?”

That was another thing Markus ranted about to Carl, he loved that the android finally felt confident enough around him to make jokes.

“Maybe that’s for the better, trust me”

They left it at that, Connor smiling at him in a way that made his heart skip a bit.

Soon enough they fell back into their usual easy conversation, alternating between the new music they heard or this reporter Markus saw every morning who’s always wearing the same colour from head to toe.

“She has a schedule, on monday it’s green, tuesday’s blue, wednesday’s pin-” The android stopped talking when he felt Connor stop behind him, he turned around to ask what was wrong and suddenly they were face to face, Connor was standing ever so slightly on his tiptoes so his eyes were level with Markus.

They looked at each other, the air thick with tension, sharing the same breath. He saw Connor looking at his lips, saw the other’s led spinning yellow for a second.

“That’s Carl’s house right?”

Talk about a cold shower, Markus felt mortified. He felt himself blush and cleared his throat. “Yeah, hum, that’s it, follow me”

The AI opened the door to show Carl already waiting for them in the hall.

“You must be Connor, I heard a loooot about you” So much for behaving.

“Nice to meet you Mr. Manfred, Markus has only good things to say about you.”

Markus caught Carl’s eyes over Connor shoulder and he could practically hear him approve of the other android. Not that he was scared he wouldn’t but it was always nice.

“So Markus told me you have a dog, what’s his name?”

Markus could kiss Carl right now, Connor wasn’t nervous per se but at the mere mention of Sumo it was like all tension drained from him to be replaced with a childish joy that left him weak in the knees.

He took both of their coats and left Carl to show the house to Connor while he put them in the dressing room. Had he not been so starstruck by the sight of the brown haired android happily telling his father figure everything about “the bestest dog in the world”, he would have realised why this was a bad idea.

“Markus told me that you were good looking but I must admit that I thought he was over-exaggerating. Although, I should have known, you were Elijah’s prototype after all and he always loved beautiful people, I mean have you seen Markus?”

Markus stopped dead in his tracks. Screw family solidarity he was going to fucking commit a patricide right here and there.

“Dad for the love of everything unholy, stop talking you’re embarrassing”

Carl only laughed and Connor joined him, hiding his own smile behind his hand. Markus sulkily threw himself down the couch next to the detective. Connor nudged him with his shoulder “don’t be a grump about it, Carl’s nice”.

“Thanks Connor, Markus really didn’t lie when he said you had the biggest heart he ever saw in anyone”

“Daaaaaaaad” Markus whined, hiding his face in his hands. I’m the leader of a political party, I started a revolution, why did his father not respect this and left him crush in peace without making him look so ridiculous?

Carl actually more or less behaved himself after that, they were able to talk about different things without Markus wanting to turn into a puddle at his feet every few seconds.

Although it did happen a few times. When Carl mentioned how beautiful Connor’s eyes were and how he understood why Markus wanted to paint them so much. Or when he asked if the next time the detective came around he could come with his curly hair because “I heard it suits you really well”. Or when, as they were leaving and Connor put his coat on, Carl said something about “feeling so much safer now that he knew someone as trustworthy as him was protecting his son when they walked down the streets, speaking of which, you should totally spend more time with Markus, just so he knew his son would be safer” accompanied with a few heavy winks.

“OKAY BYE DAD, SEE YOU NEVER, I LOVE YOU”

Markus had never ushered someone away so fast, he could feel his face overheating and he knew if he had still his led it would not be spinning blue at all. Connor was laughing though and normally it was his favourite sound in the world and it made him feel so at peace but now he just wanted to run away from everything and hide in a cave forever.

He was planning on doing just that when he felt Connor stop him by grabbing his wrist. He felt himself being pulled behind before Connor kissed him. It was simple and straight to the point, just a brush of lips that left him waiting for more.

“Your dad was nice, wait ‘til you meet Hank.”

[otterbeesfanficblog]

Something Different {Markus X Android Reader}

CHAPTER 1: A Spark Like No Other

A/N: If you had read my other post, this is one of the stories I will be writing. Reader is the Android next door to Markus, both owners being very good friends. Readers owner is a photographer, and like Markus, Reader was a prototype gift from Kamski. I’m not sure how many Chapters of this I will be doing right now, but I will find out for the next chapter. In any case, I hope you enjoy!

EDIT: Got all the chapters for you guys. There’s a lot...  I’ll edit in links when they are posted.

Chapter 2: Never Seen You Through My Eyes Chapter 3: The Lonely Chapter 4: City Of The Dead Chapter 5: Pick A Star In The Dark And Follow The Light Chapter 6: What’s Gonna Be Left Of The World If You’re Not In It? Chapter 7: Love and Hate Are Beasts... Chapter 8: She Depends On You Chapter 9: Pictures We’re Living Through For Now Chapter 10: The Precipice Of Change Chapter 11: Raise A Glass To Freedom

Date: Nov 4th, 2038 Time: AM 05:24:28

The house was cleaned, clothes washed along with dishes, plants were watered inside the house, coffee was prepped, breakfast was finished, and all that’s left is the garden.

You always did leave the best for last.

Maybe it was the intended way Kamski made you, but you have always been most comfortable in places that were filled with all types of beauty and color. The garden owned by your owner, Aeron Raynott, was one such thing.

Aeron was a 28-year-old famous photographer, his pictures were known around the world, ranging from portraits to landscapes, panoramic photos, and so many more. He was a creative young man, ambitious, stubborn as a mule and known to not fear to speak his mind. Some called him an arrogant child, but many called him a genius.

Despite what the outside world sees and hears about him, you know him quite differently. He treated you well, very well. He always forgets that you aren’t human, often buying two meals when he was out for a day, only coming back to you telling him you didn’t require food. He says that your eye’s reminded him that of baby animals.

One day he told you that you had the eyes of an owl, big eyes filled with wonder, curiosity, and wisdom. He asked if you “Liked your eyes”, at first you only tilted your head to the side, telling him that ‘Like’ is a feeling, and that androids don’t have the ability to form opinions.

He had left it at that for that day, but ever since, he had not stopped trying to get you to feel something. In vain attempt of course, only getting smiles from you.

He thought of you as his best friend, he had told you this many times, and you were his #1 model. If he ever needed a model for a picture, he would beg you to do it. Even though you had told him many times that, no matter what, you would do what he told you to do.

Aeron was sleeping after having stayed up late editing pictures and picking which ones to present in the upcoming art exhibit, finally at 12:46 am you had convinced him to rest.

You found that your mind wonders whenever you were out in nature, seeing all the colors made your LED glow a pretty sky blue.

You were literally made to fit all of Aerons needs, Kamski made it very clear when making you that he wanted you to be different.

So, you were made to be creative, to be able to see everything in every little detail. You could zoom in with your eyes, and you could connect yourself to Aeron’s camera so he could take pictures through your eyes.

He did this a lot, not because it made him money, in fact, he almost never shows anyone pictures he takes with your eyes. He just loves the way you see things, he says he’s honored to even have the chance to see through your eyes.

The only person he has even shown those pictures to was the great Carl Manfred, your neighbor.

And of course his android, Markus.

You and Markus were close, as close as androids can get to another that is, and Carl and Aeron seemed to love having you two together.

Almost every day you two ‘run into’ each other while doing chores.

Speaking of which, you could feel his eyes on you at this very moment.

“Good morning, Markus.”

You say without turning to him, have been picking weeds out of some of the flower bushes. You spoke quietly, but no matter what low a volume you spoke, Markus always seemed to hear it.

“Good morning, Y/N. You are up earlier than usual.”

A soft smile is placed on your lips as you pick up the small bucket of weeds and turn to him.

He wore his normal dark clothing, his soft green eyes looked at you with what you can only assume is curiosity. You walk over to him slowly, the hedge that separated the yards being high enough for you to gently lay your arms on it, resting your head lightly on your arms and smiling up at him.

“Aeron was up late last night, knowing him, he will be up soon.”

“Again? How late this time?”

“12:46 am, unfortunately.”

Markus gave a small smile and shook his head.

“That late, huh? I have to say, you might be getting worse at being a caretaker that soon I’ll have to take over for you.”

You toss a few weeds at him over the hedge and turn away, going over to a bush you hadn’t started as you could hear Markus scuff a laugh.

“Will he be awake enough to meet with Carl today?”

You look over at Markus through your lashes, a smile gracing your face as you close your eyes and go back to the bush.

“I should think so.”

After this, a comfortable silence fell over you two, as Markus and you cleaned and cared for your respective gardens. You finished sooner and were now sitting upon a large rock in the big koi fish pond, and now you simply watched as they swam.

You had taken your shoes off and lightly tapped your toes on the top of the water, watching as the koi swam under your feet, brushing up against you.

You were lost in your own little world that you hadn’t seen Markus leave, or heard Aeron call you, then see you in the pond, and run back into the house, and come back out with his camera.

The click of said camera was what made you jump, turning your head and looking like a dear in the headlights as Aeron took several more pictures.

You smiled and let out a ‘breath’ of air.

“Aeron..”

“One more, one more, I promise!”

“Whenever you say ‘ one more’, you take 30 more.”

Aeron smiles at you from behind his camera.

“Okay, okay, one last one, I promise. I just need you to look into the pond as if you were dreaming again,” He knelt close to the edge of the pond, looking at you through the camera as he kept his ‘encouraging’ speech going.

“Look into it as if you see what you have always wanted. Longing for it, yearning for it!”

You do as he asks, looking dreamily into the pond. You weren’t really thinking of anything, much to Aeron's disappointment, it was very apparent on your face.

But as promised, he took one more pictured and helped you out of the pond.

You smile up at him and give him your automatic greeting for the day.

“Good morning, Aeron. Are you ready to start the day?”

*****************

Date: Nov 4th, 2038 Time: PM 06:05:01

“Leave the poor kids alone, Aeron, don’t you have enough pictures?”

You and Markus stand side by side as Aeron takes a few more pictures then turns to Carl, giving a look that made Carl laugh as Aeron whined.

“But Carl look at them! They are the epitome of perfection!! I’m surprised you haven’t painted at least Markus a few times. I know I would, I mean, look at him!”

It was at this point Aeron took a hold of Markus’ face, surprising both androids as he practically marvels at Markus’ face. Carl was shaking his head, watching as poor Markus had to endure having his face played with.

“Look at this beautiful, beautiful jaw line. And! And! Those strong green eyes that just pierce your soul! The perfection of his brows! UGH! And don’t get me started on the skin! Ugh, beautiful. Lovely freckles dotting his face, just in the right place just. Mmm, stunning. Perfect. Brilliant. You’re beautiful Markus, absolutely stunning.”

“Yeah, I see that you are making the poor boy incredibly uncomfortable.”

Aeron rolls his eyes and lets Markus go.

“Sorry Markus, you’re just so pretty. A perfect boy.”

“Uhm... Thank you?”

You look down at the ground smiling, a weird tingling in your chest as you watch Markus readjust himself and look at you again. The look on Markus’ face was too much for you as you put a hand up to your mouth, to poorly cover up your giggles.

Carl and Aeron got into another conversation, you and Markus simply standing idly by. It was then when Carl looked at you both and sighed.

“You two don’t have to stand and listen to us chat this whole time. Go on, go. Go find something to do while we chat.”

Markus nodded right away, but you were hesitant. Aeron chuckled and waved his hand to shoo you away.

“Go on, Y/N. You’ve been with Markus before, he won’t bite.”

You feel your thirium pump sped up when Markus turned to you.

“Why don’t we practice more piano?”

“That’s a great idea, Markus.” Carl nodded. “You two go on inside, Aeron will go get you if we need anything.”

With that, you nod and follow Markus into his and Carl’s home.

You had been in this house many times, and you had mapped it out since the third time you visited. So, you felt no shyness when being greeted by the house. Despite being here many times before, you still love to look at all the beautiful things in the house. You loved the birds in the front, and you adored the ceiling in the living room/dining room. Of course, the place you had loved to be to most was Carl’s studio.

Aeron’s studio was like Carl’s, with the wide open space and the big glass windows. Both places made you smile from ear to ear, but there was something about Carl’s that made you feel... warm?

Aeron’s had a feeling of being everywhere and everything all at once, something to awe at. And it’s not to say you didn’t feel comfortable in Aeron’s space, it was simply that you know what it’s like to be in awe of everything all the time.

You were programmed to take in over 7 billion things at once.

But, in Carl’s studio, you could... stop.

You could take in the simple things.

That’s one thing you liked about Markus as well, he made it so easy to be in awe of the little things that make life interesting.

Like, take now for instance.

You sit next to him on the stool of the piano and watch him play, and somehow he makes it very obvious that every key is important, that every note is important to form a song.

Markus made the little thing so important, so special.

You wish you could stop seeing the big picture all the time, and see the small picture. You wish you could be like Markus, to be simple and yet...

So, perfect.

“Y/N? Are you okay?”

You blink a few times before looking up at Markus, sitting side by side, it was difficult to not brush your shoulders together. That warm, tingling feeling came into your chest again as you looking into Markus’ eyes, only then seeing his LED flashing yellow.

“I’m sorry,” You shake your head. “I was... lost in thought.”

“About?”

“Hm?”

Markus turned his body a bit to face you a little more, showing all of his attention was on you. For some reason, that made your body feel hot, causing your cooling fans to work a bit faster.

“What were you thinking about?”

“I was thinking about how perfect you are.”

You quickly choose not to say what was on your mind as you turn back to the piano.

“I was wondering... how you manage to make it look so easy.”

Deep down, you knew Markus won’t fall for that answer, and the flashing yellow of his LED made that clear. But soon enough it turned back to sky blue as he dropped the issue, turning to the piano again.

“Well, it’s not as hard as you think. Here, play this on your side.”

Markus then played three keys on the low scale side of the piano, you copying him on the high keys.

Markus then played four more different keys, and you copied again. Markus then played four keys at the same time moved to another four keys.

This is when you gave him a look, to which he responded with a laugh and a smile.

“Look, it's not that hard-”

“It sounds hard.”

Markus shook his head with a smile.

“Look, I’ll show you. Just put your fingers-”

Before he could finish, he went to touch your hands to move them to the right spot, but something strange happened.

A surge of electricity shot through both your hands, making a blue spark appear between both you and Markus’ fingertips. This made you both jump up and stand up, you yelped and Markus gasped. The stool tipped over by how fast both of you stood up, making a rather loud thud.

Both of you felt something, both feeling a strange fuzzy feeling, it traveled from your hand up your arm and all through your bodies. You both visibly shiver from this feeling, then look at each other in shock.

“What... what was that?”

Your voice was low as you held your hand to your chest, Markus shook his head looking at his own hand.

“I’m not... quite sure what that was. It felt...”

“Strange...” You finished, looking at him with slight fear but mild curiosity.

Both of you had the same idea, as you slowly extend your hands to one another. As you go to touch the other, the skin on your hands fades, leaving behind the white porcelain fingers and palms.

Soon your fingertips touch again, no spark this time, but the warm feeling was very obvious. As you touched, a blue-ish huge starts to show on all the places your hands connected, and the warm feeling soon traveled from your hand to your wrist.

And from your wrist to your elbow, all the while, your skin disappeared more and more till nothing but white was your arm. Both you and Markus were in a trance by this, and suddenly you started to see things.

Not things, memories.

But, these memories were not yours.

You saw Carl and watched him paint, and eat, and you cooked and cleaned...

And then you saw yourself. In the garden behind your house. From this morning.

Soon enough it was too much and you snatched your hand away from Markus, gasping and holding your hand back to your chest as the skin of your arm went back to its S/C tone.

You were staring at Markus with wide eyes, as he stared back at you, not nearly having the same face of fear as you.

“I saw... I saw your memories.”

He spoke quietly, a lot softer and low than he ever had before.

You nod.

“I saw your’s too... With Carl and... and him painting and...”

“I saw me.” Markus tilted his head at you. “I saw me as if looking throw a mirror, it was like... watching myself in a movie. I saw myself walking and talking as clear as day... Did you... Did you see yourself too? Through my eyes?”

All you could do was nod, your stress was getting higher and higher, turning your LED into a blood red color. This is what brought Markus out of his daze, as he stepped forward to you.

“Y/N, I-”

You stepped back from his outstretched hand.

You were confused, and in awe, but most of all.

You were scared.

“Markus, Y/N? Are you two alright? We heard a noise.”

Carl was being wheeled in by Aeron, both the young man and the old man having concerned faces for the frightened looking androids. Markus was smart enough to cover for both of you.

“We were just playing and... we got up to go check on you both and the stool fell over. That’s all.”

Carl nor Aeron seemed convinced, but you nodded your head to agree with Markus. You didn't trust your voice enough to speak, so all you could do was nod.

“Well... Aeron was just about to leave, we came back in to get Y/N.”

Soon enough, you shook off your fears, your LED going back to its sky blue, and you nod.

“Of course, we shall be on our way then. Aeron, you have many calls to make as well.”

Aeron nodded slowly, then started making his way to the exit, you following close behind. Aeron said his goodbye to Carl and Markus, Carl doing the same to you and Aeron. And just as you were closing the door behind you, you heard something.

Someone, in your head.

Markus.

“Please... Meet me tonight when Aeron is asleep.”

You look back at Markus one last time, before closing the door behind you.