RK800;

It’s odd, to say the least, to receive a message without his own program notifying him about it. Instead, he feels his cellphone give him a blink of vibration in his grip. He had already taken a quick scan of the contacts list when he first arrived but none of the names are friendly aside from [ CONNOR ] which could have been anyone considering Connor isn’t one of the rarest names he knows. But as Markus taps the message tab open, he only realizes now that he should have taken the chance to reach out to that name sooner. A traitorous swell of relief surges within his chest at the thought of knowing Connor is here as well. Stuck here as well. It’s a selfish thought but Markus doubts he could figure a way out of here by himself.

TO: Connor FROM: Markus

[✉] > connor! 😯 [✉] > where are you? 

      connor doesn’t have muscles to tense up, but his joints still sag with relief when he gets an appropriate response. his program rearranges itself without his permission, fixing all objectives to [ FIND MARKUS ]. the ring on his temple flutters into yellow and he’s already digging around for his coin to roll between his fingers to keep him distracted.

TO: markus FROM: connor

△┊ @devianci​​    [ robotic sentence starters ]     ❝ “You’re not planning some world domination scheme, are you?” ❞

    there’s a second where he begins to regard the question genuinely, led stuttering yellow, until he catches the other android’s humored gaze. connor’s lip kicks up slightly, a faint grin painting his cheeks.

△┊ @nurotoxin​    [ robotic sentence starters ]     ❝ “ What are you programmed to do? ” ❞

    despite being begged the question by someone else who is undoubtedly inhuman, there’s something about it that still draws an unease to the rk800. previously he’s found something comforting in reverting to lines of text stringing through his brain, but he finds the idea of touting himself about with a programmed response feels... uncomfortable. after the previous events in detroit, there’s something existential in thinking about what cyberlife’s true intentions with him may have been. 

    perhaps it’s just a new scenario he’s found himself in. deviancy was full of new experiences. connor mentally rips away his default dialogue and parts his lips. this was part of his programming, after all  — to adapt.

△┊ @onelichtwolich​​     [ send for a character song! ]    ❝ ♪ :3 ❞

     here it is, the true connor song, i’m not a robot by marina

❝ I'm vulnerable, I'm vulnerable / I am not a robot / you're lovable, so lovable / but you're just troubled / guess what I'm not a robot, a robot / guess what I'm not a robot, a robot ❞

     this is another song with good ol hankcon vibes. as well as the beginning of the song coming across like he’s observing hank, it really feels like connor is coming to terms with being alive and he’s just elated by it. it reminds me of the hug scene with hank and connor, connors smile at him, the subtle knowing between them that connor is alive and he knows he’s alive and he’s free. overall this song just makes me think about connor coming to terms with being alive and him really holding a sense of joy in that. 10/10

△┊ @spiderstaff​​     [ send for a character song! ]    ❝ ♪! ❞

     TYSM... okay okay so next one. undercover martyn by two door cinema club. 

❝ to the basement people, to the basement, many surprises await you / in the basement, people, in the basement / you hid there last time, you know we're gonna find you / sick in the car seat, 'cause you're not up to going / out on the main streets, completing your mission ❞

     this song reminds me a lot of jericho and the happenings right before the raid. connor went to jericho to neutralize markus, only for him to appeal to his obvious instability and convince him to become a deviant and join the fight for their rights. connor immediately tells him that an attack is about to be launched on jericho. he harbors a lot of guilt for the androids that died that night.

△┊ @nurotoxin​​     [ send for a character song! ]    ❝ ♪ ❞

     ty for sending!!!!! next up... if i were human by bnny rbbt

❝ If I were human I'd wake up everyday a new man / even in the middle of the ruined land there's a chance I could love a human just like you  ❞

     i love this song so much.. the repetition of “human” throughout it really just drives home the “connor” aspect of it for me. shameless hankcon song, or connor with romantic intentions towards anyone really. it feels like a fantasy connor is having about living a simple, human life with simple human things. ❝ the simple human life is good ❞

△┊ @redlichbluelich​     [ send for a character song! ]     ❝ ♪!! ❞

     ty joth!! :3 first up we have broken machine by nothing but thieves... fuckin banger, classic connor jam

❝ hey I'm a broken machine / I can do anything / I've got nothing to hide / now I start to dream / I'm a mechanical thing / with a layer of shit / and nothing bothers me now / my worries are out of my way ❞ ❝ take a human heart / add some vanity / authenticity / and put them all together / do whatever to your broken machine  ❞

     lots of lyrics on this one but that’s bc the whole song just reminds me of him.. especially the contrast between being a broken machine and being able to do anything; connor is incredibly capable but he still sees himself as broken or defective because of his fall into deviancy. this song really emphasizes that struggle he has between what he was built for and what cyberlife was using him for. it reminds me a lot of his experiences in game (controlled by the player ofc) dictating his system instability and whether or not he ends up deviating or staying a machine

TO: markus FROM: connor

[✉] > markus? is that you? [✉] > it’s me, connor.

“It’s better to be honest and honor your emotions. The “bad ones” hurt, but they are part of you. Cry when you need. Be mad when you need, but don’t take it out on people. Admit to being lonely and ask for help. You’re not lesser for having emotions or showing them.”

     ❝ and how do you—honor them? i’m sorry, i’m still fairly new to having emotions, ❞ connor speaks casually, resting his hand against his chin inquisitively. 

“It’s a metaphor, Suits. It means to keep what you feel to yourself. To not be open with all those touchy-feely, debilitatingly awful emotions. It’s great, I do it all the time. Welcome back, by the way~”

"You're not supposed to ignore your emotions though! But bottling them up more or less refers to shutting them down and ignoring them to an unhealthy point."

     ❝ oh. i understand now. thank you for the explanation. ❞