Empatheias Inbox

[strengthofhisart]

[Any and all correspondence and closed threads with Markus can go here!]

Comments

8/7 - Voice

[justamachine]

[It didn't take Connor very long to make a decision, but it was really just an extension of his programming. He couldn't afford to sit around and deliberate back home, and having the deviant come here... it's just brought him back to all of that, despite the month that's gone by.]

Markus.

[Connor's tone is even across the amulets when he contacts the other android, perhaps even overly so. He's blocking anything resembling emotion from surfacing, holding onto that distantly polite facade as if his existence depended on it.]

I want to take you up on your offer.

[strengthofhisart]

[Markus is expecting Connor - even though the deviant hunter he knows is a deviant, he still has a mind like a steel trap and Markus knows that once he latches onto something he'll be damned if he lets it go. So when his amulet hums and Connor's voice intrudes on his thoughts he's not surprised at all.

Despite the almost forced neutrality in Connor's voice, Markus greets him with a friendly tone.]

Of course, Connor. Do you want to come to me?

[It's purposefully phrased as a one-way suggestion, a display of trust that he's willing to bring Connor in close without expecting the same.]

[justamachine]

If that's alright.

[Despite all of the things running in the back of his mind, he allows none of it to affect his words, even if the urge to be aggressive is strong. He's better than that, he's working as intended, and this is just another negotiation that he has no personal investment in, because he's not capable of real feelings. The sensation that something is building up inside him is nothing more than a simulation that means nothing.

It would probably be reckless to take the offer, really. It would have all the makings of a trap, if they were in Detroit. But he needs to see what Markus has to show him.]

Where can I find you?

Voice - After Connor has passed.

[fuckingpassw0rd]

He didn't run to you to try and shoot you, right?

[He has no idea what has transpired. He just knows that Markus could be in danger and as much as he wants to protect Connor, if Connor tries to do something to Markus he'll put his own damn life on the line if he has to.]

you make it sound like he died

[strengthofhisart]

[Connor’s voice out of nowhere is one thing, but it’s only been a day; he’s still not used to hearing humans in his thoughts.]

Good afternoon to you too, Lieutenant.

He came to me to access my memory of the last few days.

[Just gonna. Casually neglect to mention the part where Connor did pull a gun on him.]

RIP CONNOR 2038-2018

[fuckingpassw0rd]

Why am I not surprised...

He'd probably realize Hank is a little Upset right now.

It'll take a pretty damn long while before he thinks about doing deviant, if at all. I dunno if I just made the situation worse by speaking to him. Shit!.

voice - 10/6

[justamachine]

[He'd put this off for a little longer than would be usual, even if it was only minutes rather than hours, but for an android who's always been eager to solve problems as quickly as possible, it's definitely significant. He was having to work through his own issues, not to mention... how exactly is one supposed to bring up the fact that a person's dead friend happens to have appeared?

Ultimately, he doesn't think there's any real way to soften it. And he certainly has no intention of keeping it from the deviant leader, as much as his programming tells him to be reticent.]

Markus... there's someone who's arrived here that you may want to see.

[strengthofhisart]

[Markus is a little surprised that Connor contacted him first. But then, it makes sense given the message. His first thought is North, or Josh. The friends who’d trusted him, stood beside him.

Briefly, he even thinks it may be Carl, but he doubts Connor would be so evasive if it was him.]

Really? Who is it?

[justamachine]

[And now for the hard part.

As simple as the words are, his hesitation still comes through clearly in his mental voice. There isn't much else to do but answer the question, though.]

It's... Simon.

10/21 - voice; dumps self in your inbox...... again

[justamachine]

[As much as Connor attempts to keep anything from coming through other than what's strictly necessary, there's nonetheless a sense of fatigue to his voice, something unsteady and drained.]

I think I need to take you up on your offer again, Markus.

[He's going to end up owing the deviant leader a lot, isn't he.]

opens my arms wide

[strengthofhisart]

[For the other android’s comfort, Markus keeps a lid on his own emotions as well. But Connor’s tone has him worried.]

Of course, Connor. What can I do to help?

[justamachine]

[Like usual, Connor gets straight to the point.]

I'd like to download the nursing programs you mentioned.

[As much as he'd prefer not to inconvenience the other android in the process, he doesn't feel comfortable leaving Hank alone right now.]

Can you meet me at my apartment? [And he'll send directions should Markus agree. It's another sign that he's not feeling it necessary to be as secretive as before, though part of it is also out of necessity.]

10/15 -- let me know if this works!

[jerichome]

[Shortly after talking with Hank and Connor at the beach, Simon finds himself back at the small room he and Markus now share. The deviant doesn't know exactly how to feel about everything, there's just a lot to... process. A part of him-- a large part, in fact, is overjoyed that Markus managed to earn the peace that he fought so hard for. It's the best sort of news he could've hoped for. However, another part of him is sad, grief-ridden, that he died in this alternative universe and didn't manage to see this to the end.

But isn't it silly for him to feel that way? It's not like he died. He's still alive and he made it to Jericho. So, why?

No matter how much time passes, the feeling doesn't go away completely, especially since he's relatively certain that the Markus he lives with now is from a timeline where he died. It is a sobering thought, but...

He might not be the same Markus as you know, but he's still Markus, right?

Hank's words resonate in his head and if there's one thing that he's sure about, it's the fact that Simon will follow any version of Markus.]

...

[When Markus returns home, he'll find Simon just sitting silently on a chair, unaware of his surroundings. If he still had his LED, it would be a deep red, but the only clear sign of his distress is the fact that tables and other areas seem far dustier than normal.]

[strengthofhisart]

[Markus comes home with a small potted succulent, a surprise for Simon to make their little room seem a little more homey.]

Simon, I'm-- [As he shuts the door behind him, he notices Simon sitting still at a dusty table. He sets the little pot gently on the dresser, brow furrowed in concern.]

Simon? Are you with me?

[He crosses the room to kneel on the floor at Simon's feet, folding his hands on Simon's knee.]

[jerichome]

[Simon looks completely surprised to find Markus in front of him, how long has the other android been here? Usually he knows when Markus comes back from any sort of outing, but not this time. Guess his thoughts have made him completely unaware of what's going on around him... and even now, they're still stuck on the front of his mind.]

Markus?

[Despite his confusion, he tries to focus on him, instantly prioritizing anything Markus has to say. He'll... try and process everything else by himself later on.]

...What's going on? Did something happen?

11/11 - Breaks your 69 comments

[fuckingpassw0rd]

[Look at that, there's a small package with a card at the Jerihouse (tm)]

So technically this is our world's equivalent of November 11th. Congrats on showing humans what's what. There might be a better future for us all after all.

Here's a plant to celebrate. Connor picked it so don't blame me if you have problems with it.

[The card is signed by both Hank and Connor. Inside the package, it is indeed a plant as promised, but set up to be inside of a space whale planter.]

[strengthofhisart]

[Within the hour, Markus opens the connection between the amulets with an image of the little planter, card propped proudly next to it, sitting in the bright windowsill next to its new friend. The image goes to both Hank and Connor, of course, but with a different message for each one.

To Hank:]

Thank you. It's people like you who prove that androids and humans can bring out the best in each other. [He's talking about Connor.] I hope your day is going well.

[To Connor, a few minutes later:]

Thank you for the plant. I think it likes its new home.

[fuckingpassw0rd]

[Oh look at that. Apparently androids did really like plants, if that's the second one they got.]

You're welcome. Well, I ain't working today so you could say that, yeah. Hope yours is going good too. I would have offered a drink in celebration, but I'm pretty sure Connor would just glare at me.

[justamachine]

You're welcome. I hope the two of you like it. Hank insisted on my opinion, even though I told him I have no experience in picking out gifts.

[He's a little amused, a little exasperated. There's a bit of awkwardness there, too, thanks to not yet being part of nor witnessing any android revolutions, but he doesn't let it through the connection.]

[jerichome]

[He wasn't expecting a gift from Hank and Connor, especially not for an occasion such as this, but he's incredibly thankful and touched. So not long after Markus sends his message, Simon contacts them as well.]

Thank you both. I'm sure you know that Markus has already found a place for it, and I promise to help take good care of it. :)

And I believe that there is a future for all of us.

[justamachine]

[Connor isn't really certain how to reply to the earnestness of the message, so it takes him a second longer than usual to compose a reply. At least it's easier to keep tone out of the words when it's only text they're transmitting.]

It was Hank's idea, so please don't give me any credit. [He pauses briefly, ultimately deciding to avoid directly addressing the second part of the message, not certain anything he'd have to say would actually feel genuine enough. He's still... working through thoughts of the future in Detroit.]

I hope things have been going alright for the two of you since we last met.

[fuckingpassw0rd]

I'm counting on you, Simon.

[Hank's way to show he cares.]

Yeah. I'm sure it'll well in your world too.

Belated Holiday Present

[deathboss]

[During the holiday month, Markus will find an envelope left delivered to him by a wyvern. The wyvern will only leave once the package is taken out of its mouth (don't worry it's got something to protect against slobber).

Inside he will find a 20x24 canvas which has been turned into a drawn portrait of him with a few splashes of color scattered across it. It's surprisingly not that bad, perhaps not as impressive as what Carl could do, but for a young adult, Eikichi seems to know what he's doing.

There's a small note inside.

Happy Holidays!
- Eikichi Mishina (Michel ♥)]

Beep boop telepathic communication

[deathboss]

[Right as this is happening;]

Are you and Simon dating? Asking for a friend. The friend being me.

[Right, if you think Eikichi's gonna be subtle.]

[strengthofhisart]

Dating?

Simon and I are very close, but we've never felt the need to define our relationship like that.

May I ask why our friend wants to know?