Chapter Text
Connor takes a step into the Woodward church, the new headquarters for Jericho. It’s quite majestic. There’s lush hanging plants and fairy lights lining the mezzanine balcony. It’s 9pm and the moon is halfway up in the night sky, its soft glow shining through the multicolored mosaic windows.
The gang had told him they’d meet him on the second floor bar. Apparently Cyberlife opened a new department for android consumables, and they sent a crate of their new alcohol prototype, Voltharium 143, for the people of Jericho to try. Ever since androids discovered that they could eat tiny bits of food at a time, some of them have been pushing Cyberlife to invest in this field. However, Connor still found it “extra”.
Connor navigated his way through the church, turning heads as he went. It was natural, of course, for he was the second most influential person in the android revolution (if you didn’t count North, Markus’ lover).
“He’s the one that added three thousand androids to our forces and strengthened our cause!” “He’s the one that fought the hardest against his programming, refusing to kill our leader and saving millions of us in the process!”
Connor was a little flustered- he wasn’t used to all this positive attention. Just a year ago it was still in his programme to accept insults and discrimination. He headed up the creaky stairs.
“Connor, there you are.”
Connor’s head turns to the source of the call, his brown eyes scanning the environment.
Scanning… ALOE VERA
Place of origin: South-east Arabian Peninsula
Scanning… MARKUS
Model: RK200 // #681 842 971 // Deviant Leader
Criminal record: Attempted murder, Organizing an illegal gathering
Connor briskly walks to Markus, taking a seat next to him.
“Man, it’s been ages since we last met up.” Markus comments. Connor could feel his blue and green eyes scanning him. He wasn’t used to getting scanned himself, but somehow it didn’t feel uncomfortable when Markus was the one doing it. “Yes, it is good to see you again, Markus.”
Connor also exchanged greetings with Josh and North, who were sitting on the other side of Markus. He noticed North wasn’t sitting next to Markus. Odd. Connor’s LED flicked yellow for a second, and decided to go for the question.
“How are the people of Jericho doing?” Connor inquired.
“Jericho’s going good. I mean, there’s certainly still people protesting against our rights, but ever since so many of our people were exterminated, they seemed to be happy with the new job opportunities.”
“That was quite the price to pay... What about-” he paused for the slightest second, “you and North?”
“We broke up.” Markus replied without hesitation, and took a sip from his shot glass. “On good terms, though. We agreed that we are better off as friends ‘cause of our opposing views.”
“And Josh is on the same page as her?”
Markus chuckled at the sarcastic remark. Connor had only seen him smile once before - for some reason, it made him feel… fuzzy. Warm. But a different sort of warm from the way he felt with Hank. No, this feeling was something else which Connor couldn’t understand.
“Here.” Markus slided Connor a shot glass. Like the one he drank from, it held a blue liquid like Thirium, but more purplish in color. “Try it.”
Scanning… VOLKARIUM 143
Alcoholic beverage // Dark periwinkle
WARNING: POISONOUS TO HUMANS.
Connor hesitated before taking the shot from Markus. “What is the recommended amount for consumption? I have work tomorrow.”
“About eight shots. The people at Cyberlife compare it to weak beer.”
“What would you rate it? Out of ten.” Connor warily asked more questions.
“...A seven. Just try it, maybe it’ll get your mind off work.”
“You sound like one of those red ice dealers Hank made me research.”
Markus rolled his eyes, still grinning. He didn’t know why, but he felt at ease that day. Like a hole he didn’t know he had was filled. Maybe it was the busy, bustling atmosphere, or maybe it was… Connor’s presence.
“My bad. You don’t have to try it. I just wanted our people to try out all the new things we couldn’t have before.”
“I didn’t know you fought for our right to get drunk. I apologize.”
Markus laughed again. “Did they give you a smartass program?”
“Maybe. I was designed to be likable by humans.” Connor winked and looked down at his shot glass, a little embarrassed. He remembered Hank saying ‘Well, they fucked up’ “...It didn’t work very well.” He added self-deprecatingly, twiddling his thumb over the mouth of the glass.
Putting two fingers to his mind palace, he activates his artificial taste sensor and takes a cautious sip of his drink. Markus is watching him, his left elbow leaning on the counter, cheek rested on his palm.
For some reason, Markus felt expectant; a little excited even, for Connor’s approval. He knew he was a deviant with emotions, but why did he care about Connor’s approval? Why did he want Connor to have a smile on his freckled face over something that he enjoyed? But whatever. Markus chalked it up to deviant feelings. There still hadn’t been much research done on android emotions, so he shall remain blissfully ignorant of the foreign feeling slowly welling up in his pump regulator.
“It’s good.”
Markus gave a slight smirk, and his posture perked up ever so slightly.
This didn’t escape Connor - the (ex) most advanced prototype Cyberlife has ever made - he saw the subtle delight in Markus’ eyes. He himself was happy that Markus’ unique glimmer hadn’t left his eyes yet. The light of hope and determination - paired with his charisma, it was no wonder Markus led a successful revolution.
“Bartender? Oh hello Simon! Two more Volkarium 143 shots, please.”
“No problem, it’s good to have you back.”
“So, shall we get talking business? I’m sure you can handle your liquor, you are the RK800.”
“Of course. Alright, where do you want to start campaigning…”