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

[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. ]

[preconstruction]

[ he plays for awhile until he figures out how to give it a natural conclusion - resolve it and everything. then he opens his eyes and turns to hank. ]

Do you -- was that okay?

[donotlick]

[ Hank nods, quiet like his voice might break the spell Connor's song had created. ]

Yeah. That was more than okay, Connor. That was amazing.

[preconstruction]

Oh, then -- I'm glad. Thank you. I tried to just feel.

[donotlick]

It was great.

[ Hank sets a hand on Connor's, letting him feel how he felt, listening to it. It had been like experiencing Connor's feelings, but listening to them instead of just feeling them. He could feel the hope and the sadness, even the way it called back to the music Hank likes.

Or maybe he's just projecting, but he'd like to think otherwise. ]

I really... I liked it. I could tell it was yours.

[preconstruction]

[ it was definitely like that. it's nice to be touched, to be shown. he smiles a little bit. ]

I see.

[donotlick]

[ Draws his hand back to pat Connor's shoulder. It's too bad he can't play, or they could play together... ]

You're really something, Connor.

[preconstruction]

I'm learning, at least.

[donotlick]

Yeah, see? You're gonna keep learning, too.

[ Hank smiles, proud. ]

You're just gonna keep getting better and better.

[preconstruction]

It's nice that you have so much faith in me.

[donotlick]

I've seen what you can do, Connor.

[ The revolution. Everything here. Machines may have limits, but Connor doesn't. Hank knows that. ]

If the answer ain't "anything" then it's wrong.

[preconstruction]

I don't -- I don't know what to say.

[ he's so bad with compliments. he's been so starved for them for so long. ]