R1 DEADLAND

[lockdownmods]

[it’s strange, for the people who were already dead, the shift in scenery is sudden and complete. For those who have just arrived? It’s like you’re back where you left?

How strange.

But if you ever need her, you can always reach out to the guardian of this place.]

LOCATIONS
Note: locations lag a week behind the living counterparts

Comments

[donotlick]

[ O-oh, okay... That's very cute. Hank will just pretend it doesn't mean what he really thinks it means.

But maybe it could. Who knows. ]

Uh, sure. There's plenty of other instruments here, you can do whatever you want.

[preconstruction]

[ he looks around for a moment and then settles on the piano. ]

I have knowledge files for this.

[donotlick]

[ ooh, the piano. Somehow that makes sense, it seems very Dignified. Kamski would.

Hank scoots his chair up by the piano. ]

Yeah? What kind of songs do you know?

[preconstruction]

Classical pieces, mostly.

[ he takes a minute to decide and then starts to play ]

[donotlick]

[ Oh... it's so soft and gentle, the music Connor chooses. Maybe Connor didn't make it himself, maybe it's played to perfect precision, but Hank doesn't really care. It's Connor's way of playing.

Hank sits there and listens, closing his eyes and just letting Connor play. ]

[preconstruction]

[ when he finishes, he looks over at hank to see what he thinks. did he do a good job?? ]

It's one of the movements from Schumann's Waldszenen.

[donotlick]

It's fucking beautiful is what it is.

[ Hank nods. Connor's so good! I mean, he's as good as listening to a recording, but who cares? ]

How many songs do you have saved up in there? I mean, do you like this stuff, or is it just 'cause that's what they figured they should load up in there?

[preconstruction]

I have over 1,000 pieces of music.

[ because, oh. ]

It was Markus. The model that knew how to do this.

[ you know, the android that died for everyones sins? ]

[donotlick]

[ hank whistles low. It's not like Connor isn't a heavily upgraded iPod, but Hank doesn't see him that way (anymore.) ]

Oh. The leader, huh.

[ Hank nods. ]

You know, he kissed a girl on TV and everything. Kind of weird to think he was so much like you.

[ Give him a second. ]

Not in like, a bad way... I just mean. It's fucking crazy how things work out.

[preconstruction]

"So much like me"? What does that mean?

[donotlick]

Like... Just a normal guy.

[ Yes, Connor is a "normal guy" to Hank. ]

I mean, he started off same as you, thinking he didn't have emotions. Probably struggled with some of the same shit you went through.

[ Or he was a one-of-a-kind personal care android, but you know. ]

[preconstruction]

[ connor just looks more confused ]

You think I'm a "normal guy"?

[donotlick]

[ Hank shrugs. ]

Well, yeah. I mean, you're an android, sure, but you're not like... a stuck-up asshole or a plastic prick. You're just a person. You can be that and not be human.

I mean, I know you're important, I remembered the shit from CyberLife too, but... You're still just Connor to me.

[preconstruction]

[ connor smiles a little bit. he's glad hank sees him that way. ]

Thank you. I know you didn't have to say that.

[donotlick]

Don't gotta say shit. It's still true.

[ He's blushing!! It's a compliment and he sucks at giving them...

Anyway, Hank's gonna go stand behind him at the piano, leaning over to take a look. Dang, this thing is old. ]

So, you think you could freestyle?

[preconstruction]

I don't know.

[ that's definitely the essence of jazz but hes??? imagination??? ]

[donotlick]

Hey, nobody's good on their first try. Let's see...

[ Hank presses a few keys. He can only do one finger at a time, but he knows where all the keys are so it's not awful.

It is, however, a freestyle rendition of Chopsticks. ]

[preconstruction]

[ that just gets connor to laugh, really. which is pretty pure. ]

Listen to you. Ready for a whole second career.

[donotlick]

[ Ah, the rarest of sounds... Connor's laughter. Hank is truly blessed. ]

Yeah, you can be my fucking agent.

[ Hank shoves Connor playfully. ]

Let's see you try, asshole.

[preconstruction]

Ah...

[ he looks down at the keys, unsure. he taps one experimentally, but ]

I don't know what to play.

[donotlick]

That's the point, trust me.

[ Hank plays another few keys... ]

It's alright if nothing comes to ya. But maybe just put your hands down and start mashing the keys till something sounds like what you like.

[preconstruction]

[ connor makes a face ]

I don't think it works like that.

[donotlick]

Sure it does.

[ Hank plays a few notes. It's... not good. ]

Maybe piano's just not my thing.

[preconstruction]

Hmm...

[ connor closes his eyes, trying to focus. then he touches the keys, unsure at first. just random notes. but then he starts to play something - something he's deciding on his own. it's not classic, this time, but more like the jazz hank likes so much. a little sad, a little hopeful. something his own. ]

[donotlick]

[ That's more like it. Hank listens beside him, nodding to the tune as Connor's song ebbs and flows. It's nothing he's ever heard, which is good. Great, even. Something jazzy and emotional and very Connor.

Yeah, Hank likes this. He isn't going to interrupt. ]