Chapter Text
After the revolution, not all androids were happy.
Many found comfort in their previous owners, many were happy to continue their jobs but now being treated with respect. They weren't just machines anymore.
And Connor?
Connor was walking through the park without a destination in mind. For him, the revolution and his deviancy was a complete mess. The police gladly took him in and wanted him for his abilities. He, as well as the other police androids, were now treated like other officers.
But he had nowhere to go after his shifts.
He didn't feel the need to have an apartment of his own and knew that while Hank offered his couch, he couldn't accept it. He already felt too overwhelmed with everything. He wished he could just return to being a machine, not needing to deal with emotions.
His LED flickered yellow at the thought.
"Lauf Liebes lauf, und pass gut auf dich auf, der Herr der schwarzen Mühle will dich heute Nacht zur Frau."
Connor's thoughts were interrupted as his audio processors picked up someone singing in the distance.
"Da ward' sie eine Schwalbe, entflog ihm Himmelwärts', der Müller aber flug als Falke ihr schon hinterher. Sie ward' zu einem Ross so weiß, sprang durch das erste Gras, er aber war der Sattel der ihr fest am Rücken saß."
> language detected: german
> analysing audio . . .
"Lauf Liebes lauf, und pass gut auf dich auf, der Herr der schwarzen Mühle will dich heute Nacht zur Frau."
> song found: Die wilde Jagd by Faun
> searching for 'die wilde jagd' . . .
> result found: 'The Wild Hunt is a folklore motif that historically occurs in European folklore. Wild Hunts typically involve a ghostly or supernatural group of ...'
"Sie ward' zum weißen Hasen, und lief die halbe Nacht, der Müller aber ward' zum Fuchs und setzte ihr gleich nach. Sie ward' ein Schiff auf hoher See, und fuhr weit fort vom Land, er aber war der Steuermann der fest am Ruder stand. Lauf Liebes lauf, und pass gut auf dich auf, der Herr der schwarzen Mühle will dich heute Nacht zur Frau."
Connor walked closer, until the man came into his view. He was sitting crosslegged on a blanket draped over a spot of grass and sang with his eyes closed, gently swaying with the breeze that the evening had brought.
"So ging diese verhexte Jagd nun schon die lange Nacht, sodass der Müller voller Gier den Morgen übersah. Das Mädchen ward' zum Morgenlicht, das durch des Tales' schien. Der schwarze Müller fand ein End' und ward' nicht mehr gesehen. Lauf Liebes lauf, im Morgenlicht nach Haus', den Müller siehst du nimmermehr, die wilde Jagd ist aus."
The man opened his eyes as the song ended to look at Connor and smiled.
> starting face recognition
> scanning . . .
> Error 404 - no match found
> world wide search advised
> authorisation needed
"Hello, wanderer of the night." the man greeted, smile widening.
"Hello, my name is Connor. I'm the android sen- uh, nevermind." Connor averted the gaze.
'I can't even introduce myself anymore...'
"It is nice to meet you, Connor. My name is Alex, a witch of the Ore Mountains."
> searching for 'witch'
> result found: 'Witch redirects to: Witchcraft. Witchcraft or witchery broadly means the practice of and belief in magical skills and abilities exercised by solitary practitioners and groups. . .'
> searching for 'ore mountains'
> result found: 'The Ore Mountains (German Erzgebirge, Czech Krušné hory) are a mountain range in Germany and the Czech Republic . . .'
The man tilted his head to look at Connor's LED. "I believe you are thinking. What's an android thinking about me?"
"I was searching online for the meaning of witchcraft and the location of the ore mountains. My scans were incomplete before... and..."
"And?"
"And I was wondering who you were. Thank you for telling me, but I don't have any strong opinions about your beliefs or heritage."
Alex laughed at that, but not in a mocking way, Connor thought. "You are very interesting, Connor. I see you are a very analytical being, but you seem quite troubled inside. What were you before the revolution?"
"I'm a RK800, used as negotiator and detective. I was designed by CyberLife to investigate and deal with deviant androids and assist the Detroit City Police Department."
The witch hummed. "No wonder your heart is in chaos."
"I don't have a heart." Connor answered.
"And I'm made out of wood." Alex immediately responded, grinning. "I bet you are working a lot to ignore your inner voices, Connor."
"I- " Connor hesitated, LED switching between yellow and red. "I do feel... confused. I think I understand what you mean by chaos."
The witch turned to reach for the bag at his side and pulled out a deck of cards. "If you want, I can help you look into the mirror to your heart. I am sure it would help."
Connor blinked in confusion, but then sat down in front of the witch. "I am hoping you wont charge me a lot for this. A lot of card readers use various ways of manipulating to get people to-"
"The insight to an android's inner self is enough for me. And tarot is only a hobby of mine, so no worries, detective. I'm not even that good at it!" he man laughed.
Connor nodded awkwardly and stared at the cards in front of him.
"Take a breath to clear your mind. Then, concentrate on your feelings as you mix these cards. Let yourself be guided from your emotions and stop mixing the cards when you feel ready."
The brunette followed the instructions and after a minute, he collected the cards with slightly shaking hands.
The witch laid the cards out before him. "Now pick with your left hand four cards, and again, let yourself be guided by your inner self. Place them like this."
He showed the way of placing the four cards and Connor picked them, irritated by the instruction to pick with his feelings but trying his best.
"Alright. Now let's see..." Alex hummed and turned around the first card. "Ah. You feel... like too much, perhaps? Overwhelmed?"
"I feel overwhelmed by all these... emotions... that I can feel now, after going deviant."
Alex smiled a little in sympathy and turned around the next card. "As result, you wish for structure. For a plan, guiding your life in a strict line you can easily follow?"
"Yes!" Connor exclaimed, surprised as he realized that this was indeed what he really wanted.
"And on the outside..." the witch turned over the next card. "I don't know how much you realize it, but you show a certain distance and... you could say cruelty, to others and yourself."
"Cruelty?"
"Yes. Shutting people out of your life is very cruel, mostly to yourself, but also to them. Being ignored and ignoring beings is hurtful."
Connor stared at the ground, thinking about that statement. His LED turned red, and he felt like crying. All these emotions were too much, he didn't know how to deal with it all.
"It's okay, Connor. Let's see what could help you, alright?" the witch said softly, hoping to calm the android down. "Oh."
"What is it?"
"There are two ways of solving your troubles. I would advise you to let yourself read them to you as well."
The android let out a shaky breath he didn't need, and mixed under Alex's instructions the cards again, then placing another four cards, but differently, like two pathways.
"Then let's see, your first way is..." the witch stopped after turning the cards around. He picked them up to look at the two cards closer. "That can't... are you kidding me?"
Connor tilted his head in curiosity.
"The first way is a drastic change, it's a way to return to virtue. Regarding your case it represents going back to your state without emotions to trouble you."
"A reset." Connor breathed out. "I did wish a few times to just be a machine again. I was never meant to feel-"
A memory from a snowy garden tried to enter his mind. Connor almost felt the cold again, but quickly pushed the memory down.
The witch slowly reached out to place his hand on Connor's shoulder. "Things often aren't what they were meant to be. Just like people. Even if you are a machine, you can't go back to what you were designed to do, right?"
Connor nodded. He felt horrible. He wished he had never agreed to take a look at his inner feelings.
"My mother once had an old coffee machine and used it to cook noodles. I bet it felt as out of place as you do right now."
"Are you comparing me to a coffee machine?"
"You started with reducing yourself to a simple machine!" Alex laughed. "Now, look at the second path before you turn to a life of emotional abstinence."
The witch turned the cards of the other path and raised his eyebrows in confusion. "A future with... what the... I am sorry, but I honestly don't think freeing yourself of the little structure you have and concentrating on being creative won't help you much... Connor, what do you associate with freedom and creativity? What is the first that comes to your mind?"
"Markus." Connor answered without thinking. The android had lived with an artist, told him he liked to be creative as well, and who could represent freedom more than the former leader of the android revolution?
"Then go to him. You want structure and a way to deal with the overwhelming emotions, and maybe this Markus can help you find inner peace." the witch smiled, then put his cards away to search for something else in his bag. "I don't know if it helps androids too, but maybe it is the thought that counts."
He takes out a small pouch and gives it Connor.
> analysing substances . . .
> cotton fabric, passionflower and valerian detected
> searching for 'uses of passionflower and valerian'
> result found: 'Studies have shown that passion flower may be just as effective as synthetic drugs for generalized anxiety disorder. It’s common to see passion flower combined with other calming herbs such as valerian roots . . .'
"Thank you, Alex. I appreciate your gift."
"You're welcome. Now go find the person of your desires." Alex said with a wink.
"That is a... very unique way to say that." Connor answered. "But thank you for everything. Have a good night."
"Same. May our paths cross one day again."