Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

> ONE (1) NEW TEXT MESSAGE

The new message alert flickers in the corner of Connor’s HUD, drawing his attention away from the case file in front of him. He nearly blinks to rid himself of the distraction, but then he notices the sender.

> MESSAGE FROM: [ fleshcop!! 👮🚓🚨 ]

>> hey con, you busy?

Your contact name winks at him, the one you had set yourself when you gave him your number, and he had never gotten around to changing it to something more professional. Your icon is still the same too; a selfie of yourself and Connor, your arm around his shoulders and a wide smile on your face. Now that he thinks about it, he’s pretty sure he’s likely still saved as “robocop!!” on your own phone.

Curious now, Connor sets the tablet down and opens the message.

> CURRENT MESSAGE THREAD: You, fleshcop!! 👮🚓🚨

hey con, you busy?

Received: 7:27pm

Good evening, Detective. I’m not terribly busy

at the moment; is something the matter?

Sent: 7:27pm

oh no i’m all good!!! haha sorry if i worried u

Received: 7:28pm

i was just listening to music and i remembered you saying you liked

some of the stuff i showed you

Received: 7:28pm

so i thought i’d ask you if maybe you might wanna hear some more?

Received: 7:29pm

Connor thinks about it for a moment. You do have a decent taste in music; he remembers a night several months ago, where the two of you had been on a stakeout together, and you had played some of your music quietly over the car speakers. The music you like differs greatly from the kind Connor typically enjoys, but it isn’t awful like other music he’s heard. And he could use a break from his paperwork anyways—he realizes with a jolt that he’s been working on the same case for nearly the entire day without stopping. If Hank were here, he’d be giving Connor the lecture of a lifetime about the importance of resting. Not that Connor technically needs to rest, but hey, that’s neither here nor there.

I wouldn’t mind taking a break for a moment, actually. What did you have to show me?

Sent: 7:31pm

A link to a video sharing site appears in the thread. He selects it, and the file opens in the corner of his HUD.

Human // dodie & Jon Cozart lyric video

It’s a simple video—white lyrics on a purple background. The song consists of a male and female voice, with a ukulele in the background as accompaniment. Connor closes his eyes as he listens, letting the sound wash over him. The lyrics are interesting; at surface value they speak of love and a desire for someone to love, but beneath that they sound obsessive and oddly gruesome, a craving for someone to see you messy and broken and still love you in spite of that. He can’t quite relate, but he supposes he’s not necessarily meant to understand the entire thing.

When he opens his eyes again, he finds a message awaiting him.

> CURRENT MESSAGE THREAD: You, fleshcop!! 👮🚓🚨

>> TWO (2) UNREAD MESSAGES

the album version is great but honestly i kinda prefer the acoustic version

Received: 7:32pm

has more of an authentic feel to me

Received: 7:32pm

I found it enjoyable. I liked the way their voices harmonized, and the ukulele was pretty.

I liked the simplicity of it.

Sent: 7:35pm

yeah i hoped you'd like that one lol

Received: 7:35pm

Then, before he could finish responding:

it reminded me of you

Received: 7:35pm

Connor stops, a reply already half-written. He didn’t think a song could remind someone of him. He… didn’t think he was that memorable at all, really.

He erases his reply and sends a different one, suddenly engrossed in the conversation.

Which part, exactly? If you don’t mind me asking?

Sent: 7:36pm

idk it’s kinda hard to explain outside a general sense of “this makes me think

of connor”

Received: 7:36pm

like the line near the middle, “will you share your soul with me / unzip your skin

and let me have a see”

Received: 7:37pm

that part really stuck out to me

Received: 7:37pm

I see.

Sent: 7:37pm

like seriously that line makes me feel like i need to lie down for a few hours it’s soooo

fuckin good

Received: 7:38pm

i think it's like. to my knowledge interfacing is supposed to be super soul-bearing? and

Received: 7:38pm

oh shit maybe the music video would help get my point across

Received: 7:38pm

holdon sorry brb

Received: 7:39pm

Several moments pass, then another video link appears. His HUD is too cluttered with messages and files to watch properly, so he sends the video link to his tablet and props it up against a mug.

The video is… odd, to say the least. The woman builds herself a romantic partner, and eventually abandons him in a room full of identical discarded creations. It’s oddly touching and fits the lyrics; something about the desire for a romantic connection, yet the person you want doesn’t feel anything for you. The song is slightly different—the lyrics are the same, but there’s more instruments in the background, giving the song a fuller sound. As enjoyable as this version is, he finds himself almost missing the simplicity of the acoustic version.

The message thread blinks at him when he closes the music video. You had continued explaining your thought process while he was watching, and several unread messages fill his inbox.

> CURRENT MESSAGE THREAD: You, fleshcop!! 👮🚓🚨

>> FOUR (4) UNREAD MESSAGES

so anyways in the mv she like builds a whole dude to be her boyfriend? and

tries to have a romantic relationship with him n stuff, but it doesn’t work out,

and the end where he looks back at her always gives me chills

Received: 7:41pm

and like i was saying, interfacing is supposed to be like showing someone

a piece of ur soul right??

Received: 7:41pm

and i guess the concept of sharing tht connection with someone important

to you kinda reminded me of you in a weird way

Received: 7:43pm

sorry im totally rambling now, i get super pumped abt explaining my

favoeite songs haha

Received: 7:43pm

Connor doesn’t know when he started smiling at your messages, but your next one makes him frown a little. 

agh sorry you can totally tell me to shut up if i’m being irritating, i don’t wanna

keep you away from your work

Received: 7:44pm

Why would I do that? I like hearing about the things you’re passionate about.

Sent: 7:44pm

oh!

Received: 7:46pm

idk like. i don’t mean to be a debbie downer but i’ve had a lot of times

where i get too excited about somethin and it can bother people

Received: 7:46pm

so i kinda had to teach myself how to be normal abt stuff

Received: 7:47pm

but !! i’m glad u like hearing me babble abt music!! :))

Received: 7:47pm

i got some more songs that remind me of you, if ur at all interested?

Received: 7:48pm

I’d like to hear more, if you’re comfortable sharing.

Sent: 7:49pm

!!!

Received: 7:52pm

okay!!!!! um!!!!!

Received: 7:53pm

hold on lemme make u a quick playlist so i don’t have to keep distracting u

from ur work

Received: 7:54pm

How do you know I’m currently working?

Sent: 7:54pm

A string of laughing emojis fills his HUD. He sighs. Busted.

Ah. I suppose I can be somewhat predictable.

Sent: 7:54pm

youre always working my guy :P

Received: 7:55pm

but!!! now u can work with some totally bangin tunes!!!

Received: 7:55pm

After a handful of minutes, another Spotify link pops up in the thread. He selects it and shifts it over, so he can still read any incoming messages.

>FILE SENT BY: [ fleshcop!! 👮🚓🚨 ]

>> connor anderson’s bangin tunes

38 songs, 2 hr 16 min

killer tracks n hellacious jams 2 listen 2 while doing cool robocop shit 😎 or nerd paperwork 😪 (hope u like it con!!)

The first song is, of course, Human .

He presses play, fully intending to listen to just one song, and then return his full attention to his casework.

Oh, I'm so human

We're just human

Well… he already knows that one, so it doesn’t really count. He plays another.

I analyze and I verify and I quantify enough

100 percentile no errors no miss

I synchronize and I specialize and I classify so much

Don't worry 'bout dreaming because I don't sleep

If I only was more human

I would count every single second the rest of my life

And another.

When I am dead I won't join their ranks

'Cause they are both holy and free

And I'm in Ohio, satanic and chained up

And until the end, that's how it'll be

And another.

Work it harder, make it better

Do it faster, makes us stronger

More than ever, hour after hour

Work is never over

That one makes him message you again, curious to hear your explanation.

Really? Daft Punk reminds you of me?

Sent: 8:08pm

hey, like the lyrics say,

Received: 8:09pm

u work hour after hour, and ur work is never over :P

Received: 8:09pm

I’ll take your word for that one, Detective.

Sent: 8:10pm

ha!

Received: 8:10pm

for reals though, are you enjoying it so far?

Received: 8:13pm

I am! You have a talent for making playlists.

Sent: 8:13pm

!! aaaa thank u!! i’m glad!!! :))

Received: 8:14pm

I’m curious about the… Saint Bernard song?

Sent: 8:16pm

ohhhhh lincoln my beloved <3

Received: 8:16pm

tbh that one’s pretty much only there for sumo related reasons :P

Received: 8:16pm

but also like. ok i need u to know that this explanation is SO NOT TRUE,

i wholly believe you’re a person, you’re alive, etc etc

Received: 8:18pm

Connor’s thirium pump skips a metaphorical beat at your words. He absentmindedly lays a hand over his pump regulator, feeling the gentle whrrrr of the biocomponent that keeps him alive and well. It’s… nice to hear someone else validate his existence. Sometimes he almost forgets there are others besides Hank who view him as his own person, and not just an android.

so for the lines “when i am dead i won’t join their ranks / cause

they are both holy and free” i was kinda thinkin about like. how

some people (who are not me i promise) have the (very wrong

and shitty) opinion that when androids die, they won’t be held in

the same regard as us fleshy meatsacks are

Received: 8:21pm

which again is a whole load of bullshit >:(

Received: 8:21pm

Your support of our existence is very much appreciated, Detective.

Sent: 8:21pm

tone is hard to read over text but im gonna assume youre being a goof :P

Received: 8:22pm

same thing with uhhhh. “there’s really just one thing that we have in

common / neither of us will be missed” 

Received: 8:22pm

also, “tell me where i came from, what i will always be / just a spoiled

little kid who went to catholic school” is totally about cyberlife but my

braincells simply will not connect the dots on that one

Received: 8:23pm

i dunno i was never super religious so. shrug emoji! interpret what u will!

Received: 8:23pm

What about the Scott Matthew song?

Sent: 8:25pm

OH MAN THAT ONE

Received: 8:25pm

yeah that one’s like. immediate you vibes

Received: 8:25pm

something something the idea of experiencing pieces of humanity,

even the painful or sad parts

Received: 8:26pm

I can see where you might be coming from. If I’m being honest, I had

a similar train of thought.

Sent: 8:27pm

hell yeah dude!!! see now you’re getting it!!! :))

Received: 8:27pm

Connor moves on to the next song. His paperwork lays untouched on the coffee table, though he does twirl his stylus around his fingers as he listens. Occasionally, he taps it against his knee like a drumstick.

But you're more than bolts

Like the city's more than steel and stones

Soon your heart is gonna overflow

Push you back down, you get up again

Circuits freeze and androids never dream

You're more than a machine

The song by Scott Helman is nice, I like the lyrics.

Sent: 8:30pm

yeahhh his music is good, i dont listen a lot but theres a few songs

of his that i go crazy for

Received: 8:30pm

that song in particular really reminded me of u, idk if you can tell

but the lyrics are very connor :P

Received: 8:31pm

Oh, really? I hadn’t noticed at all.

Sent: 8:31pm

oho! sarcasm from mr connor anderson?? what has this world come to?? :P

Received: 8:31pm

I will not ask you where you came from

I will not ask you, neither should you

Honey just put your sweet lips on my lips

We should just kiss like real people do

May I ask about the Hozier song? I'm not seeing any connections. 

Sent: 8:34pm

uhhh sorry the what

Received: 8:35pm

oh fuck

Received: 8:35pm

hsdfhdjsgkhjds sorry that was a goof, sometimes it’ll auto add

whatever im currently listening to

Received: 8:36pm

Ah, I understand.

Sent: 8:36pm

I like it, regardless. He has a very nice voice.

Sent: 8:37pm

god i know right??? the man is an angel

Received: 8:37pm

(Unbeknownst to Connor, in an apartment across the city, you’re frantically scouring the web to see if someone can legitimately die of embarrassment. Another tab holds the query “can someone tell that u have a crush on them if u accidentally send them a song by the most yearn inducing artist in existence????”. You’re pretty sure you’re safe, but holy shit that was a close fucking call.)

Connor makes his way through the entire playlist, asking for clarification on occasion. You’re quick to explain your thoughts behind each song and answer any questions, something he finds himself greatly enjoying. He likes hearing how you find pieces of him in music, he likes knowing that you have thoughts of him even when he’s not around.

The last song ends, and he sends you a question about the chorus. Half an hour passes with no response. Your icon shows you’re still online, but your messages have gone quiet. Connor figures it wouldn’t be too intrusive to send another, just to make sure you’re okay.

Detective? Everything alright?

Sent: 10:41pm

oof yeah sorry, kinda dozed off for a sec

Received: 10:42pm

didn’t realize how late it got lmao

Received: 10:43pm

Neither did I. I apologize for keeping you up so late, that wasn’t my intention.

Sent: 10:43pm

hey it’s cool!! i had a good time talking to you and i’d stick around if i could,

but unfortunately my circadian rhythm is a BITCH lol

Received: 10:44pm

thanks for vibing with me connor!! i had a great time :))

Received: 10:44pm

Thank you for sharing your music with me. I very much enjoyed speaking

with you as well.

Sent: 10:45pm

anytime!!! i’m glad u liked it :))

Received: 10:46pm

and hey if u ever wanna chat music again, im always available!!!

Received: 10:47pm

unless im sleeping or at like the dentist or somethin, then i’ll

have to get back to u later

Received: 10:47pm

but u know what i meannn

Received: 10:48pm

Message understood. I look forward to it.

Sent: 10:48pm

Have a good rest of your evening, Detective.

Sent: 10:48pm

you know u can call me by my name, right? we’re not at the precinct rn :P 

Received: 10:50pm

I’m aware of that. I just wish to be professional.

Sent: 10:51pm

bump that!! we’re buds, im not gonna report u to fowler or anythin, i promise

Received: 10:54pm

...Alright.

Sent: 10:55pm

He takes a breath, types out a “goodnight” with your name, and sends it before he can talk himself out of it. It’s an agonizing couple of minutes before a reply appears.

!! :)

Received: 10:57pm

and look at that, we’re still friends, and u havent exploded or anythin :P

Received: 10:57pm

It would appear you’re correct. :)

Sent: 10:58pm

ohoho? and now a smiley emoticon? who are u and what have u done

with my connor?

Received: 10:59pm

just teasing :P filter is non existent when tired

Received: 10:59pm

goodnight con!! see u tomorrow, don’t stay up too late!! :))

Received: 11:00pm

And with that, your icon shifts to grayscale, and your status changes to “offline”. Connor leans back in his seat, eyes roaming over his casework. There’s still much to be done before he can retire for the evening, and it would go much faster without any distractions…

...but melodies keep looping through his head. Maybe having some background noise while he works wouldn't be a terrible idea.

He saves your playlist to his personal databank and starts it over from the beginning. The paperwork is just as tedious as it was before, but the music in his ears makes it a little more bearable.

I want to give you your grin

So tell me you can't bear a room that I'm not in

He hums along as he grows more familiar with each song. By the time his paperwork is finished and sent off to Captain Fowler—definitely not at three in the morning, that’s absurd, what are you even talking about—he knows the lyrics to every song by heart.

Paint me in trust

I'll be your best friend

Call me the one

This night just can't end

Oh

He keeps the playlist on as he tidies up the living room, as he changes into a t-shirt and comfortable shorts, as he slides into bed and closes his eyes for the evening. Connor falls asleep with your melodies looping and swirling through his head, like autumn leaves in the breeze.

Oh, I'm so human

We're just human

Chapter Text

Ever since you had sent him that playlist, Connor can’t stop seeing the world in music. He hears music from the moment he comes out of stasis in the morning to the moment he shuts off for the night. When he interacts with coworkers, he finds himself idly searching the web for songs that he feels reminds him of them. Every person in the station has their own theme song. Hank’s is gritty, no-nonsense, but beneath it lies a melody of compassion and loyalty. Fowler’s, stoic and serious, a testament to his leadership and his fierce protectiveness of his squad. Ben, Chris, Person, even Gavin all have their own songs in Connor’s mind—though Gavin’s does occasionally change based on Connor’s opinion of him.

When he’s not working, Connor meticulously crafts playlists for every person, every event, every mood he can think of. A selection of songs for every occasion; a rainy evening at home, a joyous celebration of a new birth, several playlists of his favorite songs for a particular month. Playlists for every single one of his coworkers. Connor stores most of it on an external hard drive in order to keep his processors clear for work. But that doesn’t stop the music in his head. Not in the slightest.

He wakes to a symphony of flutes and violins. He dances while getting ready, bopping around his apartment to anything from top 40 pop hits to Japanese rock to Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. He sings in his car on the way to work and practices air drums at every red light. Music plays in his head while doing paperwork, while interviewing suspects, while filing evidence. Perhaps most embarrassing of all, Connor once catches himself humming the Mission Impossible theme while actively investigating a crime scene with the culprit hidden on the premises. Hank teases him about it for days, and the nickname “Detective Groovy” sticks around for entirely too long for Connor’s liking.

(Gavin, on the other hand, finds the entire thing hysterical. He orders Connor a desk nameplate with his new nickname plastered across it. Jokes on him, though; Connor positions it at the very front of his desk where everyone can see. The boy knows no shame.)

But for all of Connor’s newfound musical knowledge, he can’t seem to settle on just one song for you. It changes daily. You smile at him on a stormy Monday morning, and he can’t get “Here Comes The Sun” to stop playing. He watches you pick apart a criminal’s alibi and tear him to shreds, and the theme from Jaws echoes through his mind. You seek him out one awful afternoon after returning from a case where two young children were victims, and as he holds you, Passenger’s entire discography plays softly over the sound of your tears.

Your personal playlist is his magnum opus. Connor needs it to be perfect. It takes weeks, nearly a month to be finished, with songs from all genres. It takes him a good half hour of nervous pacing to finally work up the courage to send it to you.

>FILE SENT BY: You

>> The Detective

57 songs, 3 hr 28 min

A collection of songs (“bangers”, as they would say) for a good friend. I hope they enjoy it.

He then immediately throws himself into stasis for the night, half out of fear of having to answer you before getting his head on straight, and half so he won’t be up for hours waiting for a reply.

Your original “finally I get a fucking day off god bless” plan consisted of four things: sleep in, do laundry, order takeout, and do very little else. You hadn’t even planned on touching your phone, but a text alert catches your eye as you roll out of bed.

> ONE (1) NEW TEXT MESSAGE

> MESSAGE FROM: [ robocop!! 🤖👮🚓 ]

>> At the risk of sounding like a bit of a copycat, I found a song and…

Well, it’s not like you could ignore a message that starts like that. Especially not one sent at early-as-fuck-o’clock. You open it.

> CURRENT MESSAGE THREAD: You, robocop!! 🤖👮🚓

At the risk of sounding like a bit of a copycat, I found a song and it reminded me of you , so I made this for you. [FILE ATTACHED]

Received: 4:23am

You tap on the file, and a playlist loads. A quick scroll shows a few songs you recognize, some more you don’t, and some with titles that sound cool as hell. You figure hey, what part of doing absolutely fuck-all couldn’t be improved by a little music? Especially bangers hand-picked by one Connor Anderson?

> CURRENT MESSAGE THREAD: You, robocop!! 🤖👮🚓

oho? a playlist for lil ol me? sent at 4am cause someone has the worst sleeping patterns i have ever seen?

Sent: 9:27am

His response is near immediate, almost like he’s been staring at your text conversation waiting for a reply. (He absolutely has been.)

You made one for me. I thought it was only fair to return the favour.

Received: 9:27am

And for your information, I do sleep at regular hours. I was simply busy.

Received: 9:27am

doin what?

Sent: 9:28am

...Not sleeping.

Received: 9:30am

ha! 

Sent: 9:30am

for reals tho, connor you sweetheart, you shouldn’t have :P i’m gonna listen to this immediately give me like 2 seconds to get ready

Sent: 9:31am

wait fuck youre probably at work sorry i’ll wait till ur done

Sent: 9:32am

I have the day off, actually. And if you’re not busy, I’d love to hear what you had to say. This is the first playlist I’ve shared with someone.

Received: 9:33am

!!!!!

Sent: 9:33am

i will do that literally as soon as possible just let me uhhhh slap myself together, be right back !!!

Sent: 9:34am

You’ve never gotten ready so fast in your entire life. You shower at the speed of light, throw on the first pair of clothes you see, and are partway through brushing your teeth when you cue up the first song.

---

They call me Dr. Worm

Good morning, how are you? I'm Dr. Worm

I'm interested in things

I'm not a real doctor

But I am a real worm

I am an actual worm

I live like a worm

---

This song is weird as fuck. You’re immediately hooked.

so you think i’m a worm? just a little wiggly guy? ;P

Sent: 9:36am

If I’m being honest, I chose this one less for the lyrics and more for the energy.

Received: 9:37am

It’s upbeat and lively, like how I see you. And I thought you’d like the brass instruments, I myself enjoy pop songs with jazz elements.

Received: 9:37am

you have the weirdest way of talking about music and i love how it makes perfect sense

Sent: 9:38am

the trumpets are cool as hell, and i really like how the tempo changes at the end of the chorus

Sent: 9:38am

reminds me of lemon demon actually, i seriously love this. real banana man by tally hall vibes

Sent: 9:39am

off to a good start bud, let’s see what else you got in store!

Sent: 9:39am

---

I used to hear a simple song

That was until you came along

Now in its place is somethin' new

I hear it when I look at you

---

oh cody fry!!!! beloved!!!! 

Sent: 9:41am

I take it you’re familiar?

Received: 9:41am

hell yeah, i love this song! songs that have a big rushing crescendo partway through are so good

Sent: 9:42am

how come you chose this one?

Sent: 9:43am

Would you like the honest answer or the slightly more dishonest answer?

Received: 9:43am

mmmmm dishonest answer first!

Sent: 9:44am

Because I know you like Cody Fry, and thought you would like this one as well.

Received: 9:45am

aaaaaahh my reputation as a cody fry enjoyer precedes me :P

Sent: 9:45am

what’s the honest answer then?

Sent: 9:46am

Because ever since you sent me your playlist, I can’t stop thinking about music. I see it everywhere, in everyone and everything.

Received: 9:48am

You may or may not do several excited fistpumps before replying.

!!!!!!!!

Sent: 9:50am

GOD FUCK YEAH YOU KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE

Sent: 9:51am

buddy if you could see my spotify you would be hitting me up so hard right now

Sent: 9:51am

my brain is all music all the time it’s so

Sent: 9:51am

So what?

Received: 9:52am

i dunno, it’s just so! :P

Sent: 9:52am

i’m glad you know what i mean tho, music is everywhere all the time and it’s genuinely nice to have someone who can relate

Sent: 9:53am

i’m glad we’re friends, con

Sent: 9:55am

You resist the urge to chuck your phone out the window. Instead, you drop it on your bed and shove a pillow against your mouth to muffle your screams. Across the city, Connor faceplants onto his bed and shrieks into his own pillow to calm down.

As am I, Detective. Embarrassing as it may be to admit, I don’t have many people I’m very close to, and it is nice to have someone I don’t have to watch myself around.

Received: 10:00am

You make me feel safe to let my guard down.

Received: 10:02am

If Connor doesn’t stop being so unknowingly endearing, your phone is going to end up in a hundred little pieces on a Detroit street in about five seconds.

!!! hey im glad!! :)

Sent: 10:04am

Perfect answer. Totally casual. You are so thankful he can’t see how bad your hands are shaking.

---

Oh Joy, when you call me

I was giving up, oh I was giving in

Joy, set my mind free

I was giving up, oh I was giving in

How'd you always know when I'm down?

How'd you always know when I'm down?

---

🚨🚨 YOOOO BASTILLE ALERT 🚨🚨

Sent: 10:25am

they were my shit when i was in school i forgot how much they rule

Sent: 10:26am

how come this one?

Sent: 10:26am

I’m… not entirely sure, actually. I think because I feel happy, whenever I’m around you? I receive a message from you, or we talk at work, and it never fails to boost my mood.

Received: 10:28am

You are a source of positive energy for those around you, especially me.

Received: 10:29am

You have to physically get up and take a couple laps around your entire apartment before you’ve calmed down enough to reply. You are seriously earning that takeout tonight.

seriously con you’re gonna kill me with how sweet you are

Sent: 10:34am

DO NOT APOLOGIZE that is a COMPLIMENT

Sent: 10:34am

I wasn’t going to!

Received: 10:35am

suuuuure you werent :P

Sent: 10:35am

---

We’re groove crusaders

Makin’ lovers out of haters

We’re groove crusaders

Front line of the disco war

We’re groove crusaders

And we’re gonna even up the score!

Watch out, cause here we come!

We will groove as one

Against boredom

Won’t stop ‘til we are done!

---

oh SHIT this is funky!!!!!

Sent: 10:43am

dude!!! where did you find this sick groove???

Sent: 10:43am

I was looking for more Daft Punk for myself, and this group has similar music. I thought you would like the “funk”, as you put it.

Received: 10:44am

trust me, i absolutely do

Sent: 10:44am

god this fuckin RULES con!!!

Sent: 10:45am

“your body’s a sex bomb and my body is ground zero” oh my god im going insane that’s such a good line

Sent: 10:45am

They’re called “Tupperware Remix Party”, or “TWRP” for short. They have a lot of songs with

a musical comedy duo by the name of Ninja Sex Party.

Received: 10:46am

youre fucking kidding me

Sent: 10:47am

they do music with nsp and i had no idea??????

Sent: 10:47am

You know them?

Received: 10:47am

fuck yeah i know them, they’re awesome

Sent: 10:48am

they have a lot of original comedy stuff, and a bunch of epic covers

Sent: 10:48am

i listen to them pretty much daily. half of my “getting ready for work” playlist is their stuff

Sent: 10:49am

when you get a sec look up their music videos for 6969 and mystic crystal, you’re gonna lose your shit

Sent: 10:49am

actually no scratch that i wanna watch them with you, i wanna see your reactions in real time

Sent: 10:50am

I’m sorry, they have a song named after a position for sexual intercourse?

Received: 10:51am

that is maybe the weirdest way you couldve asked that and i love it oh my goddd

Sent: 10:51am

dude their name is ninja SEX party what were u expecting???

Sent: 10:52am

they have so much horny stuff and it’s all hysterical

Sent: 10:52am

for example, and these are real genuine song titles: 

Sent: 10:52am

everybody shut up i have an erection, no reason boner, fyi i wanna f your a, road trip (this is about the lead

singer fucking his way across the entire united states of america and it’s incredible), sex training, accept my shaft, 

Sent: 10:55am

Please stop, I think I get the idea.

Received: 10:55am

awwwww but i havent talked abt buttsex goldilocks or samurai abstinence patrol yet!!! :P

Sent: 10:56am

In the words of Gavin Reed, blocked and reported.

Received: 10:56am

HJDSKGHDSFHK cant believe im being shamed for spreading the good gospel of heart boner, part 2 of the boner trilogy :crycat:

Sent: 10:57am

Dear God. You are such a menace, Detective.

Received: 10:57

and you looooove it >:3

Sent: 10:58am

YOU HADN’T MEANT TO SAY THAT BUT WHATEVER. IT’S OUT THERE NOW, YOU GUESS. TIME TO COVER YOUR TRACKS AT LIGHTNING SPEED.

just trust me i think you’ll like it! and like i said they have a lot of excellent covers if ur really not into their original stuff (which i have to tell u is not all horny, i promise)

Sent: 10:58am

like they have a covers of don’t fear the reaper, in your eyes, rocket man, so much awesome shit like that. rocket man in particular is incredible

Sent: 10:59am

I suppose I could give them a try. If you like them. :)

Received: 11:00am

CRISIS AVERTED, PROBABLY. TIME TO PASS OUT.

---

You're enough, you're enough, you're enough, you are enough

These little words, somehow they're changing us

You're enough, you're enough, you are enough

So we let our shadows fall away like dust

---

oh the sleeping at last one is really pretty, what’s that one for?

Sent: 11:37am

Connor types for a long time. You watch the typing bubble appear and disappear, wondering what’s got him so inarticulate. He’s normally so good with words, so seeing him struggle to explain his feelings has you worried.

(You don’t know this, but he’s pacing nervously around his living room, trying to find the words to say “you mean the world to me and I wouldn’t be where I am without your support, and I’m grateful every day for your companionship” without sounding like a complete idiot.)

Finally, after a few minutes, your phone dings. You snatch your phone up, eyes scanning the screen at lightning speed.

This one is… more personal than the rest. Please don’t think differently of me.

Received: 11:45am

hey i won’t judge?? you’re ok to say whatever’s on your mind, i promise

Sent: 11:46am

I think this might be easier to say over not-text. Give me a few more minutes.

Received: 11:47am

It’s another long couple of minutes before an audio file appears. You tap it and raise your phone to your ear. There’s a bit of rustling, some breathing, and then Connor’s voice.

“Hello, Detective. I’m sorry if this is too forward, but sometimes things are harder to understand non-verbally. Though I’m not sure how easy it will be for me to say this. Um…”

More rustling.

“When I deviated, I spent the first few months feeling very unsure of myself. I knew I wasn’t just an android anymore, I knew I was a person in my own right, but everywhere I looked I saw people invalidating my identity. And some of that made me begin to question myself. I felt… insecure. Uncertain. I was so full of new emotions and doubts and worries that I felt like I couldn’t contain everything.” Then, softer, like you weren’t meant to hear it: “Some days I still feel that way.”

A pause. Connor clears his throat and continues.

“But throughout it all, I’ve had you to help guide me through. This song reminds me of you, because I hear your voice when I hear this song. I feel as though you were the one who handed me the proverbial envelope. For all the time I’ve known you, you have done nothing but show me that I am enough, and I don’t need to prove myself to anybody.

“Your support has meant everything to me, Detective. I feel proud to call you a friend.”

A long, quiet moment. You would think the message is over, if it weren’t for Connor’s soft breathing.

“I hope this isn’t too much to hear at once. I just felt like I needed to say it. I’m… not sure why?” A quiet laugh. “Perhaps there are still a few things to learn. I hope you’ll help me.

“Enjoy the rest of the playlist, Detective. Send me another, sometime? I really do like your taste in music.”

Your eyes are burning. You blink, and a tear lands on your phone screen. Oh, when did you start crying?

connor i

Sent: 11:52am

dude

Sent: 11:52am

give me amoment to stop w the tears lol

Sent: 11:53am

I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you!

Received: 11:53am

nono you didnt!! i am just so very full of feelings :)

Sent: 11:54am

have i ever told you how proud i am of you? cause i am

Sent: 11:56am

youve been through so much shit all the fuckin time, and you always come out of it with your head held high.

you do your absolute best every single day and i can see how hard you work

Sent: 11:57am

and if others cant see that well then fuck em!!! theyre either blind or stupid or both!!!

Sent: 11:58am

you’re rad as hell and an incredible detective and a great friend and a better person than most of the folks i know

Sent: 11:58am

and i mean that wholeheartedly

Sent: 11:59am

Detective…

Received: 12:01pm

shhhhhh accept the compliments beloved

Sent: 12:01pm

you deserve them! :)

Sent: 12:02pm

Thank you. Genuinely.

Received: 12:03pm

anytime, bud <3

Sent: 12:04pm

---

When my time comes around

Lay me gently in the cold dark earth

No grave could hold my body down

I'll crawl home to her

---

[i lift my proverbial lighter to the music of the gods that is mr hozier]

Sent: 12:47pm

the grip this man has on my soul. inescapable. i am a fly and he is my venus flytrap

Sent: 12:48pm

You have quite the expressive way with words, Detective.

Received: 12:48pm

thank u i do try :P

Sent: 12:49pm

so how come you picked hozier? and this song specifically?

Sent: 12:50pm

cause idk if you know but the yearn of this song is extremely powerful :P

Sent: 12:50pm

Same reason as many of the others. I know you like this artist, and I thought you would like this song.

Received: 12:51pm

The chorus in particular makes me think of you. This may be morbid, but if anything ever happens to me, I hope

you know that I will try my absolute hardest to come back to you.

Received: 12:51pm

that's indeed very morbid, but i do get it :P

Sent: 12:52pm

actually that sounds kinda badass. like a zombie! i've always wanted a zombie for a friend

Sent: 12:52pm

and hey, i'd do the same for you. you're not getting away from me that easily >:3

Sent: 12:53pm

After a few hours of going through the playlist and replaying a few of your favorites, you reach the last song on the playlist. It starts off slow, pretty; just a simple guitar and a voice.

---

Love of mine

Someday you will die

But I'll be close behind

I'll follow you into the dark

---

You’ve been lying across your bed with your eyes closed, but the voice makes you sit bolt upright. You scramble to grab your phone and check the artist, not quite believing what you’re hearing.

Sure enough, it’s Connor himself. What the everloving Christ.

---

If Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied

Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks

Then I'll follow you into the dark

---

He sounds seriously good. You had no idea he could sing, much less play the guitar. You’re pretty sure Hank’s got a guitar somewhere in his house, and Markus has always liked music, so maybe he picked something up from one of them? Or decided to try it out on his own? Either way, the guy’s damn good. You close your eyes again, letting Connor’s voice wash over you.

---

If Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied

Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks

Then I'll follow you into the dark

I’ll follow you into the dark

---

dude

Sent: 2:47pm

DUDE

Sent: 2:47pm

Yes?

Received: 2:48pm

you?? can sing??

Sent: 2:48pm

Ah. Right. I forgot I put that there.

Received: 2:49pm

????!??!??!!?!!?!??!!???!?

Sent: 2:49pm

ah yes i too have forgotten that i recorded an incredible cover of ill follow you into the dark and sent it to my friend who is losing their whole shit at how good a singer i am

Sent: 2:50pm

such a relatable feeling i also have experienced :P

Sent: 2:51pm

howd you even get into death cab anyways?

Sent: 2:51pm

You have to promise this will not leave our conversation.

Received: 2:53pm

consider my lips: zipped >:3

Sent: 2:54pm

Richard. He likes this sort of music.

Received: 2:56pm

OHHHH MY GOD

Sent: 2:58pm

YOUR BROTHER LIKES DEATH CAB THIS HAS MADE MY ENTIRE DAY

Sent: 2:58pm

do me a flavour and tell him i’m free to talk emo bullshit literally whenever

Sent: 2:59pm

I’ll pass the message along. I’m sure he’ll appreciate it.

Received: 3:00pm

coooool beans !! :]

Sent: 3:00pm

hey uh are u busy at the moment?

Sent: 3:02pm

Not particularly. What do you need?

Received: 3:03pm

Before you can lose your nerve, you tap the little video call icon. You prop your phone up against the lamp on your nightstand and listen to it ring. Your heart feels like it’s about to beat out of your chest.

CALLING…

CALLING…

CALLING…

CONNECTING…

“Ffff ffuckme .”

CONNECTING…

CONNECTING…

The call screen disappears, replaced by a slightly confused-looking Connor. He’s wearing a cream sweatshirt that brings out his eyes. His hair looks damp and curlier than usual. He looks comfortable, happy. And annoyingly pretty. Seriously, it’s kinda fucked up how pretty Cyberlife made him.

“Hi,” you murmur, suddenly lost for words. He smiles, which of course makes him even prettier, fuck you so much Elijah Kamski you evil bastard scientist.

“Hello,” he replies, lifting a hand in a shy wave. “I apologize for looking a little unkempt; I was helping Hank bathe Sumo earlier and it got messy.” The camera shifts, and you realize the wall behind him is unfamiliar.

“Where are you? That doesn’t look like Hank’s house.”

“Oh!” Connor angles the camera away from him to show you the rest of the room. It’s mostly sparse: the bed he’s sitting on, a dresser against the far wall, a partially open closet. A few picture frames on the dresser, a few paintings on the walls. A desk with a laptop and a lamp, the kind with the nifty extendable neck. The open door shows a glimpse of what could be a living room.

“This is my apartment,” Connor says from behind the camera. “I decided it was time for me to have my own space.”

“You got your own place! That’s awesome, Con!” You clap your hands rhythmically. “House tour, house tour, house tour!”

Connor chuckles. “Alright, if you insist.”

The rest of his place is fairly small, but looks to be just the right amount of room for him. A cozy living room with a huge blanket draped across the couch. A couple of tall bookshelves holding real paper books, picture frames, and other small knick-knacks. A small kitchenette that looks to be mostly for storing thirium and other android necessities. Some baskets filled with plants hanging from the ceiling, their long vines spilling towards the floor. Huge windows with a gorgeous view of the Detroit skyline.

“Man, you seriously lucked out,” you say, as Connor holds the camera up to the windows to give you a look outside. “My apartment looks out over a scenic view of the parking lot.”

“The sunsets out here are lovely. They make the rooms look like something out of a painting.” You can hear the smile in his voice when he says, “Next time we’re both free, you should come see it. I think you would like it.”

You’d like that. You’d like that so much.

As he brings you back to his bedroom, you catch sight of a guitar case leaning against a beanbag chair in the corner, and a ukulele in the chair itself.

“You play the baby guitar, too?”

“The baby– oh! The ukulele? That was a gift from Tina, when I moved here. I haven’t quite figured out what to do with it yet.”

“Same hat! I have one too—if you wanted, I’d be happy to help teach you to play?”

The camera flips back around to reveal a slightly flustered Connor. He runs a hand through his hair; as usual, the rogue curl is pushed back for a grand total of two seconds before flopping back over his forehead. You mentally curse Kamski to hell and back a few more times for good measure.

“You would do that for me?”

“Dude, of course! I love playing mine, and if you learned how then we could jam together sometimes.”

Connor smiles, his LED flashing bright blue, and he looks so adorably eager you have to look away after a couple of seconds. He can be so transparent with his emotions sometimes, it’s both cute and concerning.

“Will you play me something else?” you ask after a brief silence.

“Oh! Yes, of course!”

Connor rolls off his bed and hits the floor with a thump, popping up again almost immediately.

“I’m okay!” he chirps, though it’s barely heard over the sound of your cackling. He adjusts the camera so it’s facing the beanbag chair and flops into it with a satisfying fwump .

“Did you have anything in particular you’d like to hear?” he asks as he unzips the guitar case. “I’m trying to learn songs on my own, but if you have a request I would be more than happy to download something for you.”

You think about it. A dozen different songs run through your mind, but none of them feel quite right. After a minute, you think you have your answer.

“Play… something else that reminds you of me? Or something you think I’d like? I like a good surprise.”

Connor’s LED cycles yellow, and for a minute you think you’ve said something wrong. But then he settles the guitar firmly on his lap, takes a breath, and begins to strum. The tune is so familiar, but you can’t quite place the name. It’s on the tip of your tongue, and you’re about to ask him, when he begins to sing.

“Almost heaven, West Virginia—”

“Oh, fuck yes.”

“—Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River.”

You lean into your pillows and settle your head on your arms. When the chorus comes around, you join in, taking the harmony. Connor jerks his head up in surprise, and the grin on his face is enough to send your heart into maximum overdrive.

“Country roads, take me home

To the place I belong.

West Virginia, mountain mama,

Take me home, country roads.”

Connor smiles as he plays. Laughs when his fingers stumble over a chord. Your chest feels tight, like you can’t catch your breath, but you keep singing along. You never want this moment with him to end. And as Connor strums away, glancing at the camera when you’re not looking, he’s thinking the exact same thing.

I could stay like this forever.

“Country roads, take me home

To the place I belong.

West Virginia, mountain mama,

Take me home, country roads.”