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I WAS TANGLED IN ALL THE WIRES—
@connor.resnik | ■ ▲ ◌ ▼
@connor.resnik | ■ ▲ ◌ ▼
[When he’s finally allowed to leave the safehouse, he feels a bit like a cat cautiously crawling out from under a bed. The comparison is apt, really. The slow and deliberate exploration of the city, wishing to avoid a repeat of his very first experience — sensory overload, in every feasible way — and he adheres, for now, to what he was told. Keep his head low, don’t draw unneeded attention. Adjust and adapt, and wring out what answers he can out of this place, if at all possible. Most of his activity is observation rather than interaction, and for now, that’s fine.
A few days of that, and Connor will receive a message from Markus without much preamble.]
Do you have a minute?
[Not that these exchange of texts via neural interfacing was very taxing for a pair of individuals who were (are) androids, but it’s polite to ask.]
A few days of that, and Connor will receive a message from Markus without much preamble.]
Do you have a minute?
[Not that these exchange of texts via neural interfacing was very taxing for a pair of individuals who were (are) androids, but it’s polite to ask.]
(busy, busy. between half-heartedly looking for apartments, lending his aid to morningstar refugees, and starting his safety officer registration courses, connor hasn't slowed for a second. stress hits people differently and coping, for him, is never really coping so much as it is repression. just... work hard and ignore the rest...
#peakhealth
hearing from markus happens to alleviate some surface tension, though, and — true to practiced android form — his reply is almost immediate.)
Yes, of course. How are you doing, Markus?
#peakhealth
hearing from markus happens to alleviate some surface tension, though, and — true to practiced android form — his reply is almost immediate.)
Yes, of course. How are you doing, Markus?
Hi.
I got your test results back. I still can't do any deep dives into your genetic makeup, but I did find something very interesting. Both you and Markus both have no allergies, and you're both universal donors.
I may be coming from a biased perspective, but that last bit is what interests me the most.
I got your test results back. I still can't do any deep dives into your genetic makeup, but I did find something very interesting. Both you and Markus both have no allergies, and you're both universal donors.
I may be coming from a biased perspective, but that last bit is what interests me the most.
This is great news about our allergies, or lack thereof. I was worried I'd find out the hard way by ingesting something I shouldn't have... that would have made for a considerably entertaining trip to whatever hospitals are around.
Why do you consider being a universal donor interesting?
Why do you consider being a universal donor interesting?
Markus...
(this is unnecessary, isn't it? connor's jaw tightens and he tries to keep his tone out of this.)
They're slight. If I suppress sleep, hunger, pain, or anything a human body's required to feel, it's difficult to work through when the sensations come back. Used in moderation it's fine, okay?
That day with Clarke- I was afraid. Showing it seemed wrong at the time, when we were trying to further our investigations.
(this is unnecessary, isn't it? connor's jaw tightens and he tries to keep his tone out of this.)
They're slight. If I suppress sleep, hunger, pain, or anything a human body's required to feel, it's difficult to work through when the sensations come back. Used in moderation it's fine, okay?
That day with Clarke- I was afraid. Showing it seemed wrong at the time, when we were trying to further our investigations.
[ more than anything, he hates doing this. Loki is a creature that does not regret, does not apologize, yet here he is, doing both of those things. the problem with fractured memories from previous lives is that there's always one thing that they miss: in this case it's how to keep friends.
doing things where he finds himself at a loss for how to conduct himself is something he hates.
but he does it anyway. ]
Connor.
doing things where he finds himself at a loss for how to conduct himself is something he hates.
but he does it anyway. ]
Connor.
[Sometimes there's no preamble to Markus' texts. Especially those that come at some ungodly hour, like 4 AM.
If Connor isn't awake, he imagines he'll just sleep through it. He sends it almost impulsively.]
What do you dream about at night, Connor?
If Connor isn't awake, he imagines he'll just sleep through it. He sends it almost impulsively.]
What do you dream about at night, Connor?
How's the whole hydration thing working out? Everything going okay?
[ On his "birthday," Connor will find a puzzle box in his flat. It's pointless for anyone else to attempt to open it, even Markus. Activated by the proximity of Connor's neural ID, a digital note pops up on his implant interface:
Happy Activation Day, Connor. Hope it doesn’t take you all day to open your present 😊 — Fitz
Bit of a challenge, that. Scanning the box provides a single clue. Otherwise, he's on his own, seeing as it's a one of a kind product designed by Fitz himself.
Once inside, he'll find a tie, neatly folded and perfectly in line with their shared "preppy dad of the future" style. Navy, too, seeing as that's what Markus recommended, with a silver tie bar ‘cause Connor likes to keep it neat. ]
Happy Activation Day, Connor. Hope it doesn’t take you all day to open your present 😊 — Fitz
Bit of a challenge, that. Scanning the box provides a single clue. Otherwise, he's on his own, seeing as it's a one of a kind product designed by Fitz himself.
Once inside, he'll find a tie, neatly folded and perfectly in line with their shared "preppy dad of the future" style. Navy, too, seeing as that's what Markus recommended, with a silver tie bar ‘cause Connor likes to keep it neat. ]
(connor spots it on the kitchen counter, impossible to miss there but anywhere would've done the trick. a curious little thing, plucked immediately from the granite and turned in his hands with a cant of his head at the notification. his activation day. a gift from a friend.
the puzzle box would've done the trick on its own, never mind the tie and clip inside. connor treats it like he'd treat any one of his precious possessions and plays with it between clever fingers. his excitement gives way to distraction and, dropping his coat and bag just anywhere, he turns with it in his fingers and attempts to pull at its lid. nothing's that easy, a scan leading him to a clue that leads him to a mindless drift into the living room where his head remains bowed for the rest of the time it takes him to decrypt the odd thing's message.
its entire mystery is solved when, after a fair amount of time spent reverently studying the construction, connor reviews what the symbols and their matching letters spell out. a warm smile creases at his eyes, mood spiking with a challenge solved. suffice to say he's sending fitz along an attachment: a silent, five second long, point-of-view video of the grand reveal — a rapid spin, the centrifugal force jarring the puzzle box's pins, and a very cheesy thumbs up before the image freezes with the clip's cut-off.
followed by a very enthusiastic message when the surprise inside is unravelled and held against his chest. he's never been more proud to wear something, immediately shucking his own bland number to fit fitz's tie around his neck with a pinch of the tie bar to "keep it neat".)
I've never received anything like this, Fitz. A simple thank you isn't enough, but it's all I've got at the moment.
This is all very clever... I think I might store a few small items in it.
the puzzle box would've done the trick on its own, never mind the tie and clip inside. connor treats it like he'd treat any one of his precious possessions and plays with it between clever fingers. his excitement gives way to distraction and, dropping his coat and bag just anywhere, he turns with it in his fingers and attempts to pull at its lid. nothing's that easy, a scan leading him to a clue that leads him to a mindless drift into the living room where his head remains bowed for the rest of the time it takes him to decrypt the odd thing's message.
its entire mystery is solved when, after a fair amount of time spent reverently studying the construction, connor reviews what the symbols and their matching letters spell out. a warm smile creases at his eyes, mood spiking with a challenge solved. suffice to say he's sending fitz along an attachment: a silent, five second long, point-of-view video of the grand reveal — a rapid spin, the centrifugal force jarring the puzzle box's pins, and a very cheesy thumbs up before the image freezes with the clip's cut-off.
followed by a very enthusiastic message when the surprise inside is unravelled and held against his chest. he's never been more proud to wear something, immediately shucking his own bland number to fit fitz's tie around his neck with a pinch of the tie bar to "keep it neat".)
I've never received anything like this, Fitz. A simple thank you isn't enough, but it's all I've got at the moment.
This is all very clever... I think I might store a few small items in it.
[Whatever celebrations have transpired, — cake, presents, friends, the buzz of shared camaraderie — the day must eventually come to a close. There must be a retreat back to the apartment, a quiet to settle into the usual worn grooves of a clockwork schedule. The blessed simplicity of just being home-away-from-home again, to continue whatever lives they’ve drawn up for themselves in this city so very different from Detroit.
It’s only then will Connor find one final surprise stowed away in his room, placed visibly at the foot of his bed, whenever he visits. It’s a dog, or at least, something close to it.
Around its neck is a ribbon (cardinal red) tied neatly, perfectly, into a bow. Draw close enough, and a message will ping in Connor’s implant, a note that reads:]
It’s only then will Connor find one final surprise stowed away in his room, placed visibly at the foot of his bed, whenever he visits. It’s a dog, or at least, something close to it.
Around its neck is a ribbon (cardinal red) tied neatly, perfectly, into a bow. Draw close enough, and a message will ping in Connor’s implant, a note that reads:]
Happy Activation Day, Connor. I found a new friend who wants to celebrate with you. You should name him something that suits his noble demeanor. —Markus
(it's late, he's tired, and their efforts to tidy the apartment post-party pay off. he's never been more thankful for the chance to crash into bed and sleep well into the morning, inevitable hangover be damned. he can't wait to stress this understanding to hank — his callousness treatment of him when he was suffering headaches and nausea from a previous night's binger is now understandably awful in light of his new experiences.
dizzy, his fingers knock at the wall in search for the switch and the lights flicker at him annoyingly before dimming to suit his eyes' preferences. not one step in towards the bed and connor's receiving markus' notification after blinking widely at the plushie. which is, consequently, enough to startle him into placing a hand over his chest with a little huff of amusement. how did he manage to hide this, when they're busy playing musical beds every time noctis comes to stay the night?
that's worth a smile, a wobbly one as he seats himself beside the dog and reaches to thumb at the red ribbon before composing a new text's regards.)
Markus, I don't know what to say... thank you for your thoughtful gift.
dizzy, his fingers knock at the wall in search for the switch and the lights flicker at him annoyingly before dimming to suit his eyes' preferences. not one step in towards the bed and connor's receiving markus' notification after blinking widely at the plushie. which is, consequently, enough to startle him into placing a hand over his chest with a little huff of amusement. how did he manage to hide this, when they're busy playing musical beds every time noctis comes to stay the night?
that's worth a smile, a wobbly one as he seats himself beside the dog and reaches to thumb at the red ribbon before composing a new text's regards.)
Markus, I don't know what to say... thank you for your thoughtful gift.
Connor, it was brought to my attention that you still believed your identification could have some glaring holes. That was my bad. Usually when we come up with making up someone's life, they aren't a blank slate. You all are. Were.
If you'd like to return to your previous line of work – you can do that. Bellamy Blake is taking a similar path himself.
Just thought you should know.
If you'd like to return to your previous line of work – you can do that. Bellamy Blake is taking a similar path himself.
Just thought you should know.
Gaby, this is a pleasant surprise. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to reach out.
Pursuing a career with the NAPD is a goal of mine, I might have to look into it now if you're sure the background I've fabricated will hold up under scrutiny. You and the other Morningstar agents are extremely capable and I shouldn't have doubted your thorough processing.
Are you comfortable with having police officers in your midst? You didn't seem to be before, when we first met.
Pursuing a career with the NAPD is a goal of mine, I might have to look into it now if you're sure the background I've fabricated will hold up under scrutiny. You and the other Morningstar agents are extremely capable and I shouldn't have doubted your thorough processing.
Are you comfortable with having police officers in your midst? You didn't seem to be before, when we first met.
If you don't mind, I'd like to ask where your head's at right now.
I've never seen you lose your cool like that.
And given that you conveyed it rather well through text ...
[It had started with Connor trying to keep things calm.
It had blown up from there.]
I've never seen you lose your cool like that.
And given that you conveyed it rather well through text ...
[It had started with Connor trying to keep things calm.
It had blown up from there.]
Clarke. I'm sorry you had to read all of that. I'm not proud of my behaviour.
(talking it through with markus helped, despite the other conversations they had to have. it's been a stressful week.)
I maintain my positions, but I'm not going to argue them anymore.
(talking it through with markus helped, despite the other conversations they had to have. it's been a stressful week.)
I maintain my positions, but I'm not going to argue them anymore.
hey! uh, i know everything's kind of very crazy lately, but i'm just wondering if noct is staying with you guys again?
[okay, first of all,, he's using Proper Punctuation and not using his obnoxious chat speak. connor officially bullies him.....]
also... unrelated to that, but i wanted to give something to you. i didn't see you around for a while, i don't think, so...
[okay, first of all,, he's using Proper Punctuation and not using his obnoxious chat speak. connor officially bullies him.....]
also... unrelated to that, but i wanted to give something to you. i didn't see you around for a while, i don't think, so...
(this is prompto and connor's throwing the chips.)
I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm sure he's doing fine.
(translation: yes, but keep it on the down-low because there are evil men afoot.)
That's very thoughtful of you, though, is there somewhere you'd like to meet me?
I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm sure he's doing fine.
(translation: yes, but keep it on the down-low because there are evil men afoot.)
That's very thoughtful of you, though, is there somewhere you'd like to meet me?
hey connor
can i talk to you and markus about something?
can i talk to you and markus about something?
You too.
Text me immediately should you need help. With anything at all, okay?
(it scares him, so many friends — both close and not — running headlong into a war. the cold feeling won't dissipate, considering his dealings with the army interference in michigan, when jericho went up into flames. so many people died.
so many.)
Okay?
Text me immediately should you need help. With anything at all, okay?
(it scares him, so many friends — both close and not — running headlong into a war. the cold feeling won't dissipate, considering his dealings with the army interference in michigan, when jericho went up into flames. so many people died.
so many.)
Okay?
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