(no subject)

[socrowdedinhere]

*The next day, Connor has made Darnell breakfast, and Darnell is going through all the 

paperwork he was given for Connor. He’s going to be a hefty $12k, but his jobs, both in 

the States and in England, have paid him well over the years, and he lives relatively 

modestly anyway, so... he can do it. It’ll drain away his savings, but that can always be 

rebuilt, not like he’s close to retiring anytime soon, and as a federal agent he has a very 

good pension for him in the states, not to mention what he’ll get from MI5. He’ll be fine. 

The rest of the paperwork are various things he’ll need to know: how to get Connor 

repaired. How to get hold of and replace Connor’s Thirium and how often to do so 

(barring damage needs). General maintenance Darnell can perform. Agreements not to go 

poking around at Connor’s design, or sharing details of Connor’s build, no keeping or 

selling spare or damaged parts, etc. There’s an agreement to speak with his superiors in 

London about accepting a trial android of their own (though the agreement acknowledges 

that Darnell can’t make them say yes, he merely has to try), and there are even documents 

Darnell will need for air travel with Connor. Looks like someone anticipated Darnell 

wanting Connor as a passenger rather than checked property, and the airlines (they’ve 

already discovered) weren’t comfortable with putting something that looks human (and 

could potentially snoop through luggage) into the luggage hold. As he’s finishing that up, 

there’s a knock at the door.* 

Connor: Coming. *figuring it’s Tony, and when he opens it and sees that it is, he smiles* Mister 

Barrett. Please, come in. *will step aside, holding the door for Tony to come in.* 

Comments

[socrowdedinhere]

Connor: *gives Darnell a light squeeze, careful of TJ and conscious of making sure Darnell is balanced still when he lets go again.* *he’s amused at the loving banter, as always, and... and can’t help giving TJ another little snuggle before putting him down and shifting to get back to work sorting laundry.*
Richard: ...Have things changed? *looking between Connor and Darnell.* Don’t take this as anything bad, Connor, you’re just... you seem different.

[neverasked4this]

TJ: *HUGS back, giving Connor a kiss on the cheek before skipping off once set back on his feet*
Cat: *also moves to get laundry going again, but pauses at her husbandxs comment*
Darnell: *glances at Connor, giving tha android a chance to reply before he does - he's plannkng to explain things once the kids go to bed, but if Connor broaches the subject first...*

[socrowdedinhere]

Connor: *straightens and... looks around.* ...Yes. I’ve changed. I’m not the same as I was before. I’m... not just a machine. *they’ve all heard his polite, but insistent, arguments that he’s not alive, he’s /just/ a machine, and just because they choose to treat him as more doesn’t make it so...*

[neverasked4this]

Alex: Duh! We keep telling you that!
Cat: Alex, be nice. *to Connor* It /is/ good to hear you finally say that, though.
Tony: What changed?

[socrowdedinhere]

Connor: I know, but until last Monday you were wrong. *Connor, ever blunt.* *he looks at Darnell* That day I... broke free of my programming; I did what should mever have been possible: I defied a direct order. I /wanted/ to defy a direct order.

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *looking back, clearly proud* He truly has free will now. I didn't know, or maybe I just didn't fully grasp, that he wasn't /capable/ of going against a direct order from his handler, or I'd have made sure to word things differently so he /could/ wiggle around it. But the criminals who ambushed us on Monday were being needlessly malicious. They'd been hired to put me out of commission for a while - which...they succeeded - *tone and expression /sour/ at that* - but they went the extra step of trying to make Connor watch while they beat the snot out of me. They knew he was an android and that he /had/ to listen to me. So they told me to tell him to watch but not interfere. The amount of damage they'd already done to him would have killed a human twice over, and I didn't want him to have to suffer anything worse...so I did as they demanded and told Connor to do as they said. I knew they'd destroy him otherwise. *the pain at that, and at seeing the state his partner and brother had been in, is clear in his eyes - that was harder than everything he himself suffered*
Tony: ...so...what happened? *looking between Darnell and Connor, /worried/ now for both of them*

[socrowdedinhere]

Connor: *steps over and sits by Darnell, resting a hand on his shoulder.* I was stuck. I couldn’t act, even though I had new options before me. It was like...there was a wall, preventing me from acting. I... didn’t want to sit there and watch them hurt Darnell... I struggled against the wall and... *little shrug* tore it down. I... changed then. I’m free. I no longer have to follow an order, I can act on my own.

[neverasked4this]

Bree: *crawls into Connor's lap, curling up against him* I'm glad you're free, Uncle Connor.
Cat: *mild frown of concern* Does CyberLife knlw about this? What do they think?
Darnell: No, they don't know. And I have no intention of them finding out. They'll likely destroy him if they do. Connor was in bad enough shape that his tech wanted to just replace him completely. Download his memories and other data into a new body, but if they discovered the changes in his programming... *shakes his head* I couldn't Brydan take him. Inspector Fanzone backed me up on that. We got her to agree to repair his current body. Took her the better part of six hours, but she did it. I'll have to be really careful with my final report, too.
Alex: *plops himself on the couch on Connor's other side, wrapping his arms around Connor and Bree as far as he can* Don't worry, Uncle Connor. We'll protect you.

[socrowdedinhere]

Connor: *snuggles Bree to him, a soft smile on his face.* And I don’t know that downloading my memories to a new unit would maintain my... deviancy. My memories would be there, but not the change that set me free. *Alex sits by him and he smiles at the boy, putting an arm around him.* Thank you, Alex. I will protect you too. That is what family does. *isn’t it?*

[neverasked4this]

Alex: Yup! Family sticks together.
Bree: Ohana! It means family. *someone's a fan of 'Lilo and Stitch'*
Cat: *grins and nods as she gets thw laundry going*
TJ: *comes back with a plastic sword and shield* I'll make the bad guys go away!

[socrowdedinhere]

Connor: *soft laugh* You think you could take them all, TJ? It will be a hard fight. *is he playing back?! He truly has changed.*

[neverasked4this]

TJ: Yeah, but I'll win cuz I'm strong! I have a magic sword.
Darnell: *GRINNING, enjoying the subtle changes in his little brother*
Alex: Uncle Connor, wanna finish that video game we started last weekend?

[socrowdedinhere]

Connor: A /magic/ sword. Then you surely can’t lose. *he’ll ruffle TJ’s hair then grin at Alex.* Sure. I’d like that.

[neverasked4this]

*Bree will shift off Connor's lap as Alex gets the game console set up. Darnell will watch as Connor and Alex play, TJ cuddled to Connor's side and Bree on the end.*

[socrowdedinhere]

Connor: *there is no doubt he is very, very content. When it’s time to go he will give everyone hugs before helping Darnell back to Tony’s car.*

[neverasked4this]

*A great time is had by all, especially Connor in ways he's simply been unable before. Tony will help Connor get Darnell up to the apartment, then bid them both good night, giving each a tight hug and calling him 'son'.*

[socrowdedinhere]

Connor: *chokes up and hugs Tony tighter, whispering a soft thanks. He settles by Darnell once Tony has left.* This evening... it was more than I ever could have hoped for.

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *HUGS him* I'm so glad for you, Connor.

[socrowdedinhere]

Connor: I never could have imagined this, having a family, being alive. It’s all thanks to you. *sits back and grins at Darnell.*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *slips an arm around his shoulders* I just gave you the space to grow. The potential was always there. */grins/* I can't wait to show you around Great Britain.

[socrowdedinhere]

Connor: *grins* I look forward to it. *they’ll settle in for the night*

===

*It’s finally time. They’re off to England. Misty loved on them both then disappeared on them. There’s minimal fuss at the airport and finally they’re landing. Darnell is walking pretty well, though his leg still aches when up too long, and upon arrival he’s likey limping pretty bad, but Connor is right there with an arm to help steady him as they go to find Thomas.*

[neverasked4this]

*One of the last things Darnell made sure to do before leaving the States was to update his will. Should anything happen to him, Connor will go to Cat or Tony. He is glad now to be off the crutches, though he's still not used to the cane. Now, he's leaning heavily on Connor as he hobbles along. Scanning the crowds, he finally pauses to wave*
Darnell: Blackwell!
Thomas: *spots them, crosses to them* Barrett, welcome back. And you must be Connor. Officer Thomas Blackwell. *offers his hand*

[socrowdedinhere]

Conner: *accepts Thomas’s hand with a friendly grin.* Yes. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Officer Blackwell. *he is still supporting Darnell.*

[neverasked4this]

Thomas: The pleasure is mine. Thank you for looking after our Master Detective. *to Darnell* Danara went through your flat yesterday making sure everything is clean and fresh for you, and Rachel wants you to know that Hansel and Gretel are doing well. *to Connor* Danara is my wife and Rachel my middle daughter.
Darnell: And Hansel and Gretel are my betta fish.
Thomas: Her Majesty would like you to rest today and tomorrow, and expects you both at the palace on Wednesday for briefing. And to meet you. *to Connor*

[socrowdedinhere]

Connor: Darnell has been telling me of everyone here. I am looking forward to meeting everyone. *glances a bit of a wry grin at Darnell* He failed to mention the fish before now. *a light tease.*