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[flyingsolos]

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[flyingsolos]

Akira said that too.

Connor, you're an android, right? Can you tell if someone's getting sick by scanning them or something?

[bleps]

No.

[Which is still a point of contention for Connor, because it's been nothing but inconvenient since his scans have been disabled.]

If we were back in Detroit, then maybe. But many of my most basic functions have been disabled here; that includes any form of scanning or sample analysis I was once able to do.

Now I have to rely on old fashioned observation, like everyone else.

[flyingsolos]

[ Poor, poor robot. ]

But you still get the problem of being at risk in storms and shutting down. That's kind of unfair.

[bleps]

Yes. Just as you are potentially at risk of sickness if we did bring something back with us to the temple. The idea is the same.

Did you have abilities that are currently defunct or repressed now that you're here, Rion?

[flyingsolos]

[ ... haaaaa. ]

Kind of? It's hard to explain, but I can't do some of what I was able to do at home. So yeah, just like you.

[bleps]

[He could just leave it at that, but Connor's innate curiosity (built to basically be a detective, it's hard to turn that off) makes him press just a little more.]

I'd like to hear what it was you were once able to do, if you don't mind.

[flyingsolos]

[ ... ]

I don't mind, but I'd rather not talk about it like this.

[bleps]

[Oh.

A pause before the next message comes through.]

Would you prefer to speak in person?

[flyingsolos]

Yeah. Sorry to make you have to work a little for it.

[bleps]

Don't apologize. I don't mind it.

Where are you right now?

[flyingsolos]

Over by the fruit trees.

[bleps]

Then I'll be there in a minute or two. Wait for me, please.

[And so ends the text communique, soon to be replaced by a face-to-face visit.

And Connor was right; he's there in about two minutes, seen approaching from a distance in the direction of the fruit trees, and spotting Rion quickly enough. He offers an amicable smile, as usual, politeness instilled into his demeanor.

(If he gives her a scrutinizing glance, to assess her "tiredness", then he won't say as much, of course.)]

Hello, Rion.

[flyingsolos]

[ Rion's chilling beneath one of the trees, offering a tired little smile in response. She does look a little strained, but not to the point where it'd be considered worrisome. Probably. ]

Hey. Have a seat!

[bleps]

[About what he expected, but no more reassuring because of it.

Still, Connor looks at where she's seated, and -- supposing he has no real choice other than to sit on the ground -- finds an empty spot next to her, under the swaying boughs of the tree.

dirt on his uniform.....he will ignore it for now......]

Do you prefer sitting outdoors like this?

[You know, he's never actually done this before.]

[flyingsolos]

Yeah, I do.

[ immediately and sincerely; this might be a first for Connor, but Rion seems more than comfortable like this. ]

I had to spend a long time in the hospital once. When I got outside and got to feel the wind in my hair and breathe fresh air, it felt amazing.

[bleps]

[Knowing what to do with his legs is a tricky thing, but eventually Connor settles into a crossed-legged posture after a bit of shifting. Light shines through the leaves, casting dappled shadows across both of their forms.

Made to work in Detroit, and otherwise return to CyberLife in what moments of "downtime" he possessed, sitting out in nature like this is still foreign to him. Still, he can't quite qualify it as a bad thing; not when thus far, the temple grounds have been relatively peaceful.]

I can see how that makes sense. Did you contract an illness?

[flyingsolos]

No.

[ with a faint smile, and a quick shake of her head. Normally, the memory brings with it at least a small surge of painful nostalgia, but maybe she's just too tired. Or maybe it's because Connor's an android and had insisted that he didn't technically have emotions, so he won't be worried. ]

I got pretty badly injured as a kid-- surgery and rehab and the works.

[bleps]

[Still, it's hard to reconcile the fact that she's obviously better now against how difficult it must've been then. He doesn't know what it's like to be sick -- androids don't experience that, they don't even feel pain -- but he's not oblivious to the efforts that the human body needs to exert in order to properly recover from something remotely serious.

The response might be something he falls into by default, but there's an underlying thread of sincerity that isn't as easily obscured.]

I'm sorry to hear it. I know that was in the past for you, but I'm still glad that you managed to recover.

[Sounds like there's a story behind it. But Connor times his prying questions with intent (this time), and therefore he won't push the matter further.]

But I guess that isn't what I came here to talk about, right?

[flyingsolos]

[ Odd. It might just be that as a professional idol, Rion has a trained ear. Largely for music, of course, but she's picking up some kind of undertone in his voice that isn't merely calming and reassuring and whatever else he'd said about his programming.

Is he... ]

Right; you wanted to know about my abilities?

It's probably going to sound a little wild, so. Sorry in advance.

[bleps]

[Connor shakes his head, and attunes his voice to reflect gentle encouragement.]

No need for apologies. I've come to expect oddities when it comes to other worlds and experiences at this point.

[He's just glad to listen, happy to fill the gaps in his knowledge and to quell his innate curiosities.]

[flyingsolos]

Oh, good. Because I fight monsters from another dimension by using a weapon that comes from the strength of my soul. Also an app.

[ Yep. ]

[bleps]

[Connor blinks. His LED spins, and he tries to formulate a response.

Said response is:]

Sorry.

[wat]

Can you explain that to me in further detail?

[flyingsolos]

Sure. Do you want me to start with the monsters or the weapon?

[bleps]

[It hardly seems to matter. Both are interesting and baffling in their own way. But why not start with the weapon, before getting to the monsters made to be slain by it?]

The weapon, if you don't mind.

[flyingsolos]

It's called a Soul Device. I'm still not exactly sure how they came about, but they're one of the few things that'll actually hurt the monsters I mentioned.

Anyway, they take different forms, depending on the wielder and their soul. In my case, they're a pair of wings.