Daniel and Connor

[choosetoforget]

Daniel's been having the dreams again. They come almost every night, waking him from even the deepest sleep. And there's always the same name that remains in his memory.

Connor.

He knows what it means, of course. Everyone has dreams like that. Everyone dreams of their soulmate, of the one that they're meant to be with, whether that includes intimacy or not, but he's nearly twenty three now and every Connor he's ever met has let him down. Granted, there were only two and one was in a primary class and the other was a server at a restaurant he went to, but he still feels like it could have been better.

Instead of trying to go to sleep, to face the dreams that he knows are coming, he makes himself some tea and watches the lights from the city out of his window. It might be the early evening, but the CyberLife tower in the distance remains illuminated.

Strange, he thinks, after the riots and what he's seen on the news, that the night seems calm. The kettle whistles and he takes it off the stove, then decides against it.

Tea isn't going to fix anything.

He wants a drink. Pulling on his coat and his boots against the snow, he steps out of his little rental and starts walking along the sidewalk, stopping only when a taxi pulls to a park beside him and someone walks out.

"Oh. Good evening."

Comments

[choosetoforget]

Connor.

Connor. Daniel's dumbstruck for a moment, as he is any time he stumbles across the name. He fumbles, almost dropping his phone. "Connor," he repeats. "Truly? Your name is Connor?"

[brutallyefficient]

"Yes." Connor leans down and carefully picks up the phone. The snow is dusted off of it with the back of his hand - thankfully it landed in some soft snow instead of on concrete - and offers it back.

"Have we met somewhere before...?" Might as well just ask. A quick facial scan can reveal basic data which Connor is quick to comb through; Name, occupation, and criminal record. There's nothing that he would have come across before. Then why..?

[choosetoforget]

Daniel takes the phone back, shining the light at his feet. It doesn't take away the fear, but it does help ease his anxiety a little.

Daniel isn't the sort who has ever been in trouble. He's a transplant from London, working at the museum and going to university. No criminal history to speak of, no nearby relatives. He's lived in the city for several months, ever since school had started in the fall.

And he watches Connor with a quiet intensity. Surely not this stranger.

"No," he tells him. "No, we haven't. Well. I suppose we have now," he laughs. "What are you doing here, Connor?" The question isn't as accusatory as it could be. He's genuinely curious.

[brutallyefficient]

"I came here to visit someone." Which is the truth. Hank would be worried after what had happened with the androids on television. It would be best to let him know that he was all right. "I-"

It's about then that he hears a car turn down the street. Connor instinctively grabs Daniel's arm and tries to pull him down against the car and out of sight. Androids were afforded some freedom ..tentatively. But he can't risk getting caught. There are humans that still thought of him as less than a person.

[choosetoforget]

Daniel lets out a soft gasp, but allows Connor to pull him. He presses his back against the car and covers the light of his phone inside of his coat pocket. It's dark, and he instinctively reaches out to hold onto Connor, fingers trembling.

[brutallyefficient]

Connor keeps his arm across Daniel's chest in order to keep him as still as possible. The police car passes by with a loud 'whoop-whoop' of its siren. Once it turns, he looks back to Daniel. It's obvious that he's trembling. But why?

"Are you all right?" Connor asks with a tone of concern.

[choosetoforget]

"I'm cold," he tells him, but the sound is lame in his ears. He doesn't want to lie to him, this virtual stranger, but there's something in him that says it's not just that. It's more than that.

"I - I'm afraid of the dark." His breath comes out in a cautious laugh.

[brutallyefficient]

The way he laughs makes Connor question whether he's serious or not. After a quick glance to observe his expression, it seems...likely that he's not joking.

Connor looks at Hank's house. It seems like a poor decision to leave this person here alone like this. Outside and potentially in so much fear.

Against his better judgment he offers, "Would you like me to take you back home?"

[choosetoforget]

"Are you certain?" he wonders softly, though he absolutely relaxes at the thought of having some company. He doesn't want to take him away from whatever business brought him here in the first place, but - "Thank you."

He tries to move away, to stand up. "What is it that you do, Connor?"

[brutallyefficient]

Connor stands and dusts the snow off of his jeans. It doesn't matter much given he can't feel the cold, but it would probably be something appropriate for humans to do.

"I used to be a detective for the Detroit Police department." Suppose he can't say that now. He shakes his head. "I don't think they will want me participating in any investigations after what occurred recently."

[choosetoforget]

He walks close to Connor in the darkness, eyes on the road. There's headlights in the distance, but they turn before they get to their street.

He lets out a breath. "A police officer breaking curfew?" he wonders, lightly teasing to try and offset his fear. "Just to talk to someone? Don't you have a phone?"

[brutallyefficient]

Connor shakes his head. No, he didn't have any need for a phone. Androids could place calls or summon information without the help of one. It must seem very strange from an outsider's perspective.

"I was a detective. Not anymore." Connor looks down, the sting of being used by CyberLife fresh on his mind. He gives a small shrug. "I don't know what I am now."

[choosetoforget]

What an odd statement, Daniel thinks. "You are you," he tells him. "You don't need to be defined by what you do for a living. What do you like to do?" he wonders. "I mean, outside of work? I just found this really fascinating documentary about penguins, of all things. But it started with a new piece we received of Antarctica and now - here I am - penguins!"

He knows that he's babbling, but there's a part of him that just likes to learn and to share that learning with others.

[brutallyefficient]

Connor looks at him from the side, in his own baffled way at first but a fondness follows soon after. They are simple words but effective ones that he needs to hear at that moment.

"I enjoy documentaries." He admits sincerely. "They're very entertaining and simultaneously informative. I'd like to see it sometime."

[choosetoforget]

He still talks so strangely, but Daniel chalks it up to him being nervous. They just met, after all. But Daniel can't help feeling that pull again. Hearing his name from his dream. It's - odd. Compelling. And as they approach his door, he hesitates.

"Do you - want to come inside?" he asks. "I can show you the penguin one. I know - oh, hell - I swear I'm not a serial killer or anything. I just - " He stops near the concrete path to his door.

[brutallyefficient]

The stumbling over words finds him amused. For the first time that night, Connor feels an inclination of another emotion besides self-loathing within him. It's enough for Connor to nudge his new companion with a light elbow. "Real serial killers generally don't reveal themselves like that. They let the victims find out through their actions." Hopefully joking around would set him at ease.

"I would enjoy watching it. Perhaps you can tell me more about Antartica." Being treated kindly by a human is so strange and so welcome. "If that's all right with you?"

[choosetoforget]

"Oh yes," he breathes and takes out his keys, unlocking the door. He feels - lighter. "Do you want some tea? I had some water in the kettle before I walked out."

Daniel's home is small, but comfortable. The furniture is all second hand and a little worn, but there are touches of Daniel all around it. A corkboard with postcards from all over the world with three different handwritings. Pictures on the fridge of Daniel with some of his friends, but centered is a picture of Daniel and a pale woman, a few years younger than him, with his same eyes and smile. He has history books set on his coffee table and a video game console underneath his television. There's a blue and white rug in the living room and a black cat sleeping on top of it. And the only robot in the place is the little vacuum that rests against the wall.

He flips on the lights and sets his phone on a nearby table before taking off his boots and coat.

[brutallyefficient]

"I'm fine. Thank you." Connor slips his shoes off near the door. There's no need to track snow through the house, although the bottom of his pant legs are decidedly still covered in unmelted snow. Usually, human warmth would melt it but he doesn't have that warmth. He doesn't remove anything else and remains in his heavy jacket and hat.

Connor crosses his arms and steps further into the house, looking around as he does so. Items all over the room reveal a little about Daniel's personal life; Places he's been, people he knows. The pictures on the fridge are of particular note. There's one in the center - the most important photo judging by its placement - and he feels something within him stir. Some...feeling he can't quite define. Like he wishes he could be in similar photos.

"This is a very nice house." Connor makes for the sleeping cat and kneels down to pet them. "Your roommate seems to appreciate it, too." A furry roommate, of course.

[choosetoforget]

Daniel has his back to Connor as he makes the tea, so he doesn't see him with the cat at first. "I don't have a - ah. Yes. That's Chess," he says with a laugh. "She came with me from London." He walks over to the couch with his cup and sits down.

"You can take off your coat if you want. It's really not that cold in here. I promise I have the heat on!"

[brutallyefficient]

Right..

Connor slips off his coat. And, resigned, he takes off the knitted hat as well and sets both on the couch. It would look odd if he kept it on and trying to deceive someone like this isn't what he aims to do.

With the LED clearly visible, he sits down. Carefully.

Connor gives a somewhat pleading look to his new acquaintance. Hopefully, he wouldn't have an issue.

[choosetoforget]

Chess raises her head when Connor moves away, but lets out a soft chirp before stretching out and curling up again.

Daniel, for his part, nearly drops his teacup when he spots the LED. "Connor, I didn't - I'm sorry. I didn't realize."

He places his cup on the table so he can turn towards him. "I - I know why you didn't say anything." He's never worked closely with androids, but he's been around long enough to hear the noise. How could he not? It's everywhere.

[brutallyefficient]

With so many people uncomfortable with the presence of an android, it was anyone's guess how he would react. An apology and something that sounds more sympathetic is as much as he can ask for.

"I'm sorry. I hope this doesn't appear misleading." Connor says. His gaze is pinned to the floor. "I couldn't risk being outdoors like this with everything that's happening."

[choosetoforget]

"God no. Please don't apologize!" he says softly, turning towards him fully. "I - You're safe here, Connor. I promise."

He can't think about the implication of this.

Surely this isn't his Connor.

But.

He picks up his tea again. "Did you still want to watch the documentary? Because these penguins are rather adorable." And he gives him a hesitant smile, hoping that he hadn't said something wrong.

[brutallyefficient]

Safe is something he hadn't been in a long time - if ever. The thought of it is enough to settle him even if he's still not quite sure he can trust it.

Connor brings his knees up and makes himself as comfortable as possible. "I'd like that."

Not content to let the conversation end at that and sit quietly the entire time, he decides to recite some facts. Maybe it would be interesting and encourage more communication. "Did you know that the Galápagos penguin is the only type of penguin found north of the Equator?" It said somewhat carefully, trying to figure out if Daniel is up to talk further. "They can be found by the equator as well."

[choosetoforget]

Daniel turns on the television and the documentary, but is absolutely fascinated by what he says, too. He immediately takes out his phone and searches for them, showing Connor. "I didn't know that, but look at them. You never hear about those penguins." And then, as if Connor had never revealed his secret, as if he hadn't just told him that he was an android, Daniel continues, talking a bit faster. "Oh, the Emperor penguins are the ones with the funny sort of eyelashes, aren't they?" he wonders, moving closer to the other man so he can find a picture of them.