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Anything important come up?
[... It is extremely important to keep tabs on you, Connor. Not because you're not mission-oriented, but because you are literally a walking database full of spoilers for the people stuck in Etraya.
And, well.
He has other motivations, too. Unspoken ones.]
[... It is extremely important to keep tabs on you, Connor. Not because you're not mission-oriented, but because you are literally a walking database full of spoilers for the people stuck in Etraya.
And, well.
He has other motivations, too. Unspoken ones.]
Robert and I have found a lead on someone who may be able to repair me.
I am currently staying with a man named Hank. He is aware I am not from Etraya, but I trust him to want what's best for me. He won't tell anyone.
Have you been able to find what you need here? [Connor worries after all.]
I am currently staying with a man named Hank. He is aware I am not from Etraya, but I trust him to want what's best for me. He won't tell anyone.
Have you been able to find what you need here? [Connor worries after all.]
Good.
[It's important to get repairs in while he can. Can't know for sure where they'll end up, but... at least Connor'll be repaired. For whatever its worth. If they end up back in Solmara, he'll probably get damaged all over again, but... that's just how it is. Things break, things get fixed, they get broken apart again. Kind of hopeless, that truth.
He ignores Connor's question, but only because he's distracted by something else spoken.]
... Hank?
[Why does that name sound familiar.]
[It's important to get repairs in while he can. Can't know for sure where they'll end up, but... at least Connor'll be repaired. For whatever its worth. If they end up back in Solmara, he'll probably get damaged all over again, but... that's just how it is. Things break, things get fixed, they get broken apart again. Kind of hopeless, that truth.
He ignores Connor's question, but only because he's distracted by something else spoken.]
... Hank?
[Why does that name sound familiar.]
Lieutenant Hank Anderson. I worked with him in Detroit. I believe I spoke of him.
[And someone who cares about Connor.]
[And someone who cares about Connor.]
Someone from your world is here.
[Spoken with some surprise, though only some. Max, after all, has ran into someone of his own. Someone important to him in ways that may be more similar than Connor and Max currently know — the kind of people from home who remind you of your underlying humanity, buried under all of the other shit.]
What does he know?
[Spoken with some surprise, though only some. Max, after all, has ran into someone of his own. Someone important to him in ways that may be more similar than Connor and Max currently know — the kind of people from home who remind you of your underlying humanity, buried under all of the other shit.]
What does he know?
He's figured out some on his own. [AKA saw through Connor's stairs lie.] And he knows of Solmara, but no details of our mission.
[Someone Connor doesn't want to hurt.]
[Someone Connor doesn't want to hurt.]
[Max hums. Considers Connor's words carefully, and speaks just so.]
... You know what happens to him. If we succeed.
You going to be able to handle it?
... You know what happens to him. If we succeed.
You going to be able to handle it?
[There's a beat of silence from Connor.]
I do.
[He doesn't answer whether he'll be able to handle it or not.]
I do.
[He doesn't answer whether he'll be able to handle it or not.]
[... Connor...
Max hums, low in his throat, and considers the silence that follows.]
Usually better at answering questions.
Max hums, low in his throat, and considers the silence that follows.]
Usually better at answering questions.
I am, yes. [Connor's programming is blaring, loud, sharp. Still not answering the question.]
Edited 2025-02-24 00:11 (UTC)
Mm.
Can't, or won't answer?
[He does wonder. How far this apparent programming goes.]
Can't, or won't answer?
[He does wonder. How far this apparent programming goes.]
I'll answer if you instruct me to. [But there's a strong undercurrent of he would prefer not to.]
[His eyebrows raise.]
Would you rather I guess?
Would you rather I guess?
Mm... Can't be helped, if you're completing the mission.
[And this is the moral quandary Connor is facing.]
I suppose you're right.
I suppose you're right.
[Max wonders about that...
But he'll switch gears a little. Get more information.]
What does he want for you? This friend of yours.
But he'll switch gears a little. Get more information.]
What does he want for you? This friend of yours.
He wants me to be safe and happy. [Which is still something Connor is trying to figure out.]
Easy thing to want. Hard to obtain.
Safety and happiness... it's limited.
Safety and happiness... it's limited.
[A soft hum of agreement, as Max seems content to leave the conversation on that thoughtful note.]
Call us. If anything important comes up.
[And enjoy the freedom while you can, because there's a possibility they won't get to have it too much longer, depending on how things go.]
Call us. If anything important comes up.
[And enjoy the freedom while you can, because there's a possibility they won't get to have it too much longer, depending on how things go.]
Of course.
[Connor, too, is feeling the pressure.]
[Connor, too, is feeling the pressure.]
You wanna meet up at the trolley stop by the cafe?
[Hank took Sumo out on a walk to the cafe on his way to meet up with Accelerator. Feeling both better and worse after that whole conversation: like he’s betrayed Connor, for one, but also like he made the right decision. He had to tell someone about all this, right? Had to ask someone for help with the whole deviancy thing.
And if things go south — they won’t — well, now at least Accelerator will know it’s Hank to blame.]
Of course. I'll meet you there immediately.
[Connor only really has one speed anyway.
He arrives at the cafe not long after the text and smiles as he sees Hank.]
We're riding the trolley today?
[Connor only really has one speed anyway.
He arrives at the cafe not long after the text and smiles as he sees Hank.]
We're riding the trolley today?
That okay? Was in the area, so…
[Hank shrugs. Lifts the bag in his hand.]
Picked up some things from the store. Not interrupting any of your plans, am I?
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