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[hopesong]

Hey there, I'm not around right now, so feel free to leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.

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14th October

[plasticasshole]

[Connor is in the food aisle of Fruits Basket, specifically looking at the meat produce. He has a basket full of greens, along with some more colourful fruits. He's also picked up a cookbook, one that seems to focus on healthy alternatives to popular dishes. He's wearing his orange shirt from the party with his dark jeans, so he stands out- it makes him feel a little odd, to be in such bright colours, but he supposes it's no different from the glowing armband he used to wear. Tucked in the back of his pants is a pistol, the shape of it more obvious when he bends over to get something.

Upon seeing Kate, he raises a hand in greeting. Or rather, he raises the packet of bacon in his hand in greeting. He has a small smile on his face to see her, so he very clearly isn't the other Connor.]

Hi, Kate. How was your trial?

[It's more obvious in this light that his eyes are hazel now, with flecks of green in them.]

[hopesong]

[ Kate has a keen eye for trouble. For small differences in the environment, and whether or not there's traps lay hidden. And while she doesn't see any of the physical sort, she's still on the lookout.

Connor and his slightly different hued eyes are not amiss, though, she does recognize the pants from the party.]

It went just fine. I've been lookin' through some of the stuff here, tryin' to decide if I wanna attempt to make somethin' after going so long not [She laughs, rubbing the back of her head sheepishly.] You plan on makin' brunch?

[ It's... still been a long while since she's eaten anything of note. Then again, she doesn't feel hungry either. Probably a hold over from the Entity. ]

[plasticasshole]

You don't often cook?

[He looks down at his basket and gives an equally sheepish smile.]

I want to try. Falco needs to eat healthier, I think... so I want to make him meals from this book. But I've never cooked before, and it's not in my programming. I was never supposed to be a domestic android.

[He sighs.]

I can follow instructions well, but I still... want it to taste good. Or else, he won't want to eat it.

[hopesong]

Used to cook all the time. Stopped doing so when I got too busy with shows. At least, stopped doin' it as often.

[And then the Entity came. ]

That's awfully nice of you though, hun. Always feels nice to do somethin' for others. I'm sure you'll do just fine as long as you give it your best shot. And if it doesn't work out, you let me know and I'll see if I can't help you out.

[plasticasshole]

Thanks.

[He nods, grateful.]

Maybe I could try to cook something for you, too... at least, when I get better at it.

[He's fully confident that he will, after all he's CyberLife's latest prototype. He can do anything he puts his mind to. Just... maybe not always straight away.]

What kind of food do you like?

[hopesong]

As long as it ain't ice cream an' ain' cake. [ Her words come out before she can stop them, and they're accompanied by a very visible shudder and look of disgust.

She'll never be able to have those things again, and that's... probably fine. ]

I think I'll be fine with just about anything otherwise.

[plasticasshole]

No ice cream or cake. Got it.

[He isn't exactly too disappointed that her only disliked foods are bad for her anyway. He notes that shudder though, and tilts his head.]

Why don't you like them?

[hopesong]

Bad experiences with 'em, is all. Kind of doured the whole mood on them. Bit of a shame, but I'll live.

[plasticasshole]

I suppose that makes sense. Taste and memory are very closely linked in humans. I'm sorry that those foods were ruined for you, though.

[He is curious about what happened, but Kate is very secretive. He doubts he'll get anything out of her.]

Is there any food in particular that makes you happy?

[hopesong]

None in particular, honestly. The most important thing for me is that I can enjoy them with others. So if you'd like to have dinner with me, I'd very much like that.

[He gets a playful wink to accompany her words.]

Though I should ask if you can even eat, shouldn't I?

[plasticasshole]

[The wink earns her a wider smile.]

No, I can't eat. I don't have a digestive tract. Some androids can simulate eating, but I can't. I'd be happy to join you for dinner anyway, though.

[He gestures idly at the produce around them.]

There are all kinds of foods I'd like to taste, at least.

[hopesong]

That's unfortunate. [ And she really does sound upset by that. Food is what brings people together, but she supposes that as long as he can taste, it should be alright. ]

But, if you can at least taste then that's somethin'.

[plasticasshole]

As long as you don't mind me touching your food... I could just touch a little bit of it, after you're done.

[Maybe she could leave him a few scraps to analyse.]

I'm still learning what counts as sweet or savoury, and I've never had anything sour, but I know I don't like black coffee.

[hopesong]

[Is that how he tastes? Kate laughs, holding her stomach as she does, because it's still novel. Connor is funny, and he doesn't even realize it, but she's not laughing at him, not directly, anyway.]

Of course, hun. Anythin' you want, you got.

[plasticasshole]

[Well, he touches things and then puts them to his mouth. So yes and no. He also really isn't sure what's funny, so he just looks confused as she laughs.]

Have I said something amusing? I'm sorry, I don't understand.

[He doesn't seem put off or anything, it's just a genuine question.]

[hopesong]

Just novel, that's all. Weird enough it's funny to me. Ah, but don't take that the wrong way. It's just not somethin' I'm used to yet.

[She waves her hand, leans back against the counter nearest her.]

I've got a lot of learnin' to do about people from other places. I think I told you, but I'm only from 2018, we ain't got androids like you.

[plasticasshole]

Yes, you told me.

[He smiles a little again.]

I think I see where I confused you, now. I don't taste with my fingers. I tend to touch my fingers to what I want to taste, and then lick them. It generally gives me enough of a sample to identify what I need from it.

[He could go around just straight licking carpets but CyberLife had a little more tact than that. Only a little, though.]

[hopesong]

Well, that's a bit relieving to hear. I was ready to accept it just as it was.

[Thankfully, Connor is an android, and that means that she doesn't have to worry about things like backwash. Hopefully.]

Maybe we could cook together an' we can just give you smaller portions?

[plasticasshole]

We could do that... I just didn't think you'd want to waste anything on me.

[Y'know, since he can't eat the portions he's given.]

I'd like that, though.

[He seems pleased by the prospect.]

[hopesong]

You know, hun. People in Japan give offerings of food to their deceased family. An' they can't eat either. It's more of a symbolic thing, to let them know that they're loved and people are thinkin' about them. In the same vein, I'd like to do the same for you.

[plasticasshole]

[Oh, that's... really sweet, actually. Sweet enough that Connor isn't sure what to do with it for a moment. He smiles, lowers his gaze, and then looks up again with a fond look in his eyes.]

I'm not- I mean, nobody has ever... I don't think anyone likes me that much, but... thank you.

[hopesong]

Nonsense. I like you that much. [She reaches forward, touching his arm gently, reassuringly.] An' I'm sure others feel the same way.

[plasticasshole]

Really?

[His LED blinks, processing, but remains blue.]

I just wasn't sure we'd known each other long enough for that.

[Now, Connor calls people "friend" pretty readily... Hank is an obvious example. He's only a few months old, so a few days is a reasonable amount of time to him. That said, nobody has ever said they have any kind of love for him. He doesn't think Kate means it romantically, but it's still a big jump to him. One he's entirely happy to accept, if Kate means it.]

I'm not sure what any kind of love feels like, but... I know that I like you a lot, too.

[hopesong]

Connections depend on the person, hun. Some people forge friendships in minutes, others can take days or months. Ain't no one person is the same.

[She gives his arm a squeeze.]

I prefer to make mine in minutes. If you don't feel the same way, that's alright too. We got all the time in the world.

[plasticasshole]

Making friendships in minutes isn't so bad.

[That's generally how Connor goes about it, too- though he's always longed for something deeper. A friendship like his one with Hank, he's realised, is rare- and it doesn't come in minutes usually. But Kate seems like she'll become a good friend too, and he's grateful for that. He wants to connect with people, human or android or... whatever else this place can bring.

Good friends hug, don't they? He moves closer and wraps his arms around her in a grateful embrace.]

Thank you.