(no subject)

[socrowdedinhere]

 

Connor: *voice soft* If I am sent back to CyberLife, instead of being repaired here, they won't repair me, they'll send a new model. *he knows how badly damaged he is right now, it'd be easier and cheaper for CyberLife to just have a new model here for Darnell by tomorrow afternoon rather than make Miss Brydan take the next 8-10 hours doing such extensive repairs and part replacements on him. And that scares him. A new model being sent means he'll be dismantled, even if they /don't/ find out that he deviated from his programming and acted on free will.*

Darnell: ...they won't transfer your consciousness like they did last time? That first day?

Connor: *looks at Darnell, brow pulled in, expression pained.* They would... but this time, I... I wouldn't come back as /me/... I would have the memories, yes, but... *huffs, he can't explain it. He just... knows that being replaced this time would undo the /change/ that happened in him today... a change he doesn't want to lose...*

Darnell: ...that "something" that you said changed today? That wouldn't transfer?

Connor: ...I don't know, but... I don't think so. It's... outside of my programming. *that last said in a near whisper.*

Darnell: *if he can reach, he'll lean over and squeeze Connor's arm* We'll figure it out, Connor. It'll be okay. *he'll MAKE IT OKAY!*

Conner: *gives Darnell a little smile and covers the man's hand with one of his own.* ...I nearly failed you today. I'm so glad you're going to be okay.

Darnell: *shakes his head* Don't say that, Connor. Not even close. You couldn't have known what was about to happen, or that there was a second suspect. You did the best you could, just as I did. You did great today, partner.

Connor: *feels he did great only because he deviated from his programming and defied Darnell's order instead of letting Darnell end up beaten worse than he was.* *a little frown at a thought* We don't know who employed those me to put you "out of commission" for a time.

 

Comments

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *grimaces, casting a worried look back into the car at Connor* I got off easy. *at least he's only down one limb, not down /to/ one limb* I'm alive because of him, though. *yeah, they /said/ they weren't going to kill him, but...*

[socrowdedinhere]

Joyce: *glances at the car, and steps over to look, eyes going wide.*
Fanzone: Let me get Darnell settled and I’ll carry Connor in. I hope you have a lot of supplies on you.
Joyce: I... I do. But this is extensive enough it’d likely be best to have a new model sent out...
Fanzone: No.
Joyce: But-
Fanzone: No. Call it sentimentalism, Miss Brydan, /this/ model saved my detective, /this/ model is the one we want to keep around. I’m well aware the next would have the same memories, that’s not the point. If I could have kept the last model here, I’d have done so for the same reason, but he was too far gone. This one isn’t, is he?
Joyce: ...close, but no. I can fix him. *will head back to her van to start moving things into Darnell’s appartment.*
Fanzone: *will start helping Darnell up the stairs to his appartment.*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: Same. Besides, there's a chance of loss of integrity of his memories and development. I don't want to risk losing that. *once they're in the house and out of earshot* Thanks, Fanzone. I owe you.

[socrowdedinhere]

Joyce: The loss is minimal, but I understand. I’ll see what I can do.
Fanzone: We always have each other’s backs, Barrett. *will get Darnell settled on the couch, then will go back down for Connor, Joyce gets a tarp spread over the living room floor, so Fanzone puts Connor down there and will go back down with Joyce ro help her bring up the rest of what she needs*
Joyce: ...May I... ask what happened exactly? *because Connor is a /mess/...*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *without going into details of /exactly/ what was said (so he can fudge wording and avoid the detail of Connor defying a direct order), he'll explain everything.*

[socrowdedinhere]

Joyce: *working as she listens, and will pause to rest a hand on Connor’s chest.* You did good, Connor.
Connor: *little smile.* Thank you, Miss Brydan.
*Joyce will be working for /hours/. She’ll break for water, bathroom, and to just give herself a rest, but will get back to it. Fanzone will order Chinese take out for everyone. His treat. Ot’ll Ve approaching dinner time when Joyce sits back.*
Joyce: All right, all done. Wipe down, Connor, then get a quick rinse before you get dressed. *she’ll go put a clean uniform in the bathroom for Connor.*
Connor: *just in his underwear. He sits up and will start wiping away the Thirium smeared all over his body. He’ll reactivate his skin once he’s rinsed off.*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *will thank her more than once for all her work, and will otherwise just pass the time praising his partner to her, telling her about their cases and Connor's contributions - analyses, reconstructions, etc*

[socrowdedinhere]

Joyce: You sound very pleased with Connor. We’re nearing the end of the testing phase. Do you think you’ll be interested in contracting with us, or purchasing Connor? We can send a mew model, or you could keep this one.
Fanzone: I’m giving Barrett first dibs on this. *looks at Darnell.* If you think Her Majesty will allow Connor within her boarders, then you’ve got first dibs on purchasing him.
Connor: *won’t look at anyone, but is /hoping/ Darbell will, and can, purchase him.*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *the only hesitation is that Fanzone somehow managed to speak up first. His boss barely gets the words out before he answers* Yes, I'll take him. I'll talk to Her Majesty. *wry grin* She owes me a favor or two. And I know she'll be all right with this. *especially once he explains Connor's special circumstances*

[socrowdedinhere]

Joyce: */grins/* That’s great! Actually, if you’re sure, I can leave you with the paperwork to go over. That way, on the final testing day you can just keep Connor instead of me having to take him while you complete the forms. *Darnell has her saying “him” now...ah well.*
Connor: *small smile and finally pushes ro his feet. He’s careful to make sure he has no Thirium on the bottom of his feet so as not to tracknit on the carpet as he heads for the bathroom and a quick rinse.*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: Yes, thank you. I'd like that. *he doesn't even care how much this will set him back, he'll make payments for as long as he has to. Repairs won't be cheap either when Connor inevitably needs them, but he doesn't care at all*

((Awww, and now Connor gets to play caretaker for a few weeks. ♡))

[socrowdedinhere]

Joyce: *will get all the paperwork together and leave it on the little coffee table.* All right. Take care, Detective, and speedy recovery.
Fanzone: *will help Joyce clean things up and moved back to her van.*
Connor: *steps back out, clean and dressed, while Joyce and Fanzone are downstairs. He’ll come sit by Darnell.* Thank you. How are you feeling? *is he in need of more pain meds?*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: */beaming/* Better now that you're all right. And...even more than all right. Looks like you're stuck with me after all.

[socrowdedinhere]

Connor: *smiles, probably the brightest smile Darnell has seen from him before* I think I can live with that.
Fanzone: *steps in to grab his suit jacket.* You get better, Barrett. Connor, don’t let him over exert himself.
Connor: *nods, still smiling.* Promise, Chief Inspector.
Fanzone: Good. *and unless stopped, he’ll go.*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: Thanks for everything, Fanzone. *once it's just the two of them, he carefully twists to pull Connor into a HUG* Welcome home, little brother.

[socrowdedinhere]

Connor: *huffs a soft laugh and hugs back firmly* Thank you. I’m glad to be home.

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *snugs a moment longer, but then his stomach rumbles and he flinches* Ack...well, not surprising, I guess. You know what they say about Chinese. *on habit, he'll shift to get up to fix dinner*

[socrowdedinhere]

Connor: Actually, I don't. *he catches Darnell, hands on the man's shoulders.* You have no reason to be getting up right now unless you need to use the toilet. Wait here, I'll make you dinner.

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *wry grin* An hour later and you're hungry again. *relaxes, relenting* At least help me to the table so we can still talk?