THE MALCONTENT.

the fall semester of my sophomore year begins tomorrow, so that means my summer vacation has come to a close. as much as i’ve loved my time back, my classes have been and always will be my first priority. because i’m learning remotely this semester i can’t speak for how busy i’ll be beyond studying. i won’t pressure myself to be here ( because i really don’t need that extra stress in my life ), but i will likely be lurking because i love seeing you all on my dash and reading all of the amazing content you all share. ♡

          𝐋𝐀𝐖 𝐄𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐂𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐑𝐎𝐈𝐃𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘.   there were certainly a handful of officers on the scene that were not happy to be there, and it wasn’t just because the band’s music wasn’t to everyone’s tastes.   connor could still remember ( as if it were even possible for him to forget ) walking into the office for the first time since markus’ speech.   the sight of evaporated thirium splattered all over the place had been enough to have his led spinning yellow.   in the height of the revolution, the order had been given for androids to be rounded up and destroyed.   by the looks of it, many of the department’s working androids had been executed where they had stood parked in their docks.   there was something about that: -52 wondered if any of them had been aware of what was happening, as the ones standing next to them were gunned down ONE BY ONE.   ignorance was bliss.

and then there was the malcontent herself.   she hadn’t needed to say it: haruka was unhappy to rely on the police ( or at the very least, his colleagues ) and connor was unfortunately going to be the bearer of bad news.   what’ve they said so far ?   plenty.   not all of which was relevant, though.   ❛ as with any assembly, security is of importance.   once the premises has been cleared, we’ll have to conduct some more official assessments and create a security plan. ❜   he stopped walking, turning to face her.   ❛ although many public events often outsource their security, considering the scale and nature of this event, the police’s presence will be necessary. ❜   before saying anything else then, he tilted his head, expression suddenly … submissive.   ❛ i hope that’s not too inconvenient. ❜

haruka couldn’t stop the sigh that blew past her lips. it was clear by the immediate knit of her brow and unabashed glower that yes, it was all very inconvenient, but she knew there was no point in taking out her frustration on him. she stopped walking so she could stand beside him. ❛ don’t make that face at me . . . this is absurd, but it’s not your fault, ❜ she muttered as she looked around ( anything to keep herself from locking with his imploring gaze ). it wasn’t a blame he should feel he should shoulder anyway. there had to be someone else she could express her grievances to, and she intended to find them.

@missionled​ SENT: “ no, this is good. this is very, very good. this means you get what you want. ”

haruka allowed her temple to fall into the palm of her hand, elbow propped on the glossy surface. her tired eyes scanned the papers that covered the kitchen table — it was a rather informal place to host such a meeting, but it seemed to make the whole situation just a little less tense. she drummed her fingertips against the thick ceramic wall of her tall mug of tea before she lifted it and took a long sip. the amount of singing, screaming, and yelling she did certainly took its toll ; thankfully, she learned how to sing properly. still, she didn’t plan on enduring any kind of phonotrauma — self - care was important.

❛ i’m glad you can make sense of it all, ❜ she replied with a sigh. she wished she wasn’t so exhausted . . . she hated to put the burden on him to explain everything to her. ❛ i really hope you’re right though. what you’re telling me and what the paperwork says doesn’t seem to line up. ❜ the amount of rules and regulations to consider even for the smallest events frustrated her. there was so much red tape, so many obstacles . . . sometimes it felt like it was all intentional, as though everyone above her was targeting her and her efforts. she just wanted to get things done, and she was tired of others slowing her down. but connor was on her side. even if it was just him, his help was immense. she’d have to find a proper way to thank him somehow, someday.

@missionled​ SENT: “ there’s a lot of history on these walls. ”

the sight of a familiar face was a surprise. well — a slight shock, yes, but it wasn’t surprising that it was connor. lee didn’t have to pry to know connor’s status among those at new jericho ( he got mixed reviews, to put it bluntly ). it wasn’t his place to dig up information, and he didn’t . . . all he knew was whatever androids spilled to him as he collected narratives. connor not only knew his way around, he got around. perhaps that was how they managed to cross paths.

lee stood as soon as he wrapped up the interview. he was surprised connor met his gaze in the brief moment he glanced at him. he was surprised he waited for him. he was surprised when he asked if they could walk together, connor didn’t reject the offer. they both seemed to be leaving, anyway.

it was a quiet walk ( not that he minded ). lee was playing back the interview when connor’s comment caused the audio to cut off. he hummed in agreement as they turned into the main hall. the once - bare walls were covered in blocks of text and murals — all very recent history, but certainly an abundant wealth of it. lee visited new jericho more often than the others, but he didn’t really stay long beyond the interviews ( not that they were always quick . . . he’d always listen attentively to whichever android he was speaking with ) ; he had never slowed down and studied the walls.

@missionled​ SENT: ' i’ll take anything you want to give me. '

❛ you’d do that for me ? aren’t you sweet. ❜ she couldn’t tell if his words meant anything beyond the present moment ( he was subtle but she wasn’t oblivious ), but she appreciated his offer nonetheless. ❛ in that case . . . how about i give you the sacred responsibility of carrying my guitar ? ❜ she was taking quite the gamble in letting connor come within even a foot of her pride and joy, much less granting him the privilege of laying his hands on its case, but . . . trust came with baby steps. she attached the strap to the case before she helped settle the instrument on his shoulder. she took a few steps back and cocked her head to the side. ❛ y’know, that’s a pretty good look on you, ❜ she commented with an impish grin ( and though she sounded teasing, she really was being honest ).

HARUKA : THE LIGHTNING ROD

whether it’s your turbulent nature, your flash quick mind, or the air of unknown about you, your undercurrent is the lightning rod. you are somewhat unpredictable, but if we unraveled we’d see you know exactly what you’re doing, but it makes you feel less vulnerable to pretend it wasn’t planned. some people stay back from you, but others would follow you cross country, for the very same reason. they don’t know enough about you. the difference is in who wants to learn more. keep your golden nature, it’s exciting, but don’t be afraid to admit what you know. matshona dhliwayo said “ lightning strikes but does not roar ” your bite will always be worse than your bark, keep that close to your chest.  

LEE : THE BREAD

whether it’s your ability to rise against the odds, provide comfort, or be a staple in lives, your undercurrent is bread. you’re made from love and you carry it your whole life, to give on to others in any way you can. you’re delicate and it doesn’t take a lot to break you, but still you rise up and that is more important than what took you down. be careful with your heart, it’s so full of love that it needs to be treated delicately. you’re a staple in lives, a necessity, but not always as appreciated as you should be. so here is a thanks to you. m.f.k fisher said “ the smell of good bread baking, like the sound of lightly flowing water, is indescribable in its evocation of innocence and delight ” and that my friend, that is you. 

VANCE : THE HOME

@syntheticwealth​ SENT: ‘  i am too tired to deal with any of this.  ’

❛ i know. ❜ his terse reply held no annoyance or apathy ; if anything, he sympathized with her entirely. she summarized their shared exhaustion much better than he ever could. whether it was news or gossip, a legitimate photograph or something manipulated, genuine concern or overblown panic, the bombardment of contradictory information was both frustrating and overwhelming. the urge to consume whatever development was released to the public, leaked or legitimate, made him feel frantic. he had music to write, to review, to practice. he knew he had to balance his personal cause with his broader commitment to the revolution . . . so why did he still struggle so much to do so ? the lack of an answer only embittered him further.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐈𝐒 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒.

independent detroit: become human oc trio, as loved by MC.

@syntheticwealth​ SENT: ‘  fall in love with someone that makes you feel strong.  ’

haruka listened to the chord fade as she stopped her hand. it was amazing how much more gentle the sound was when her guitar wasn’t plugged in — it didn’t lose its sting, but it was certainly more acoustic. less bite. ❛ fall in love, huh ? ❜ she managed to mutter after a few beats of silence. she wasn’t sure where viktoria’s sudden declaration came from, but it certainly caught her off guard. haruka liked to think she always had a quip to reply with — now, though, she felt she was at a loss for words. how was she supposed to respond to such a “ command ” ? thanks, i’ll try ? as if falling in love was some kind of choice.

someone that makes you feel strong . . . she didn’t have too many people like that. vance and lee made her feel that way, and she loved them, but they were her brothers. she, more than anyone, made herself strong — what was the point of all of that work otherwise ? why had she spent more hours with her violin than with other people for the first nineteen years of her life ? why had she sacrificed so much of herself just so she could appear to be the best musician, the best student, the best daughter ? why would she have done all of that, if not only to reassure herself that all of her strength and skill came solely from herself ? i made me. nobody else.

but then came viktoria, and things began to shift ( if only ever so slightly ). her presence electrified her. her confidence wasn’t fabricated — it was real, real enough for her to share. viktoria didn’t expect her to be perfect all the time ; in fact, she encouraged her to mess up ( even to fail ), because she knew she would get better from it. throughout her life so many people expected perfection from her, but nobody had patience for the effort it took her to get there. viktoria welcomed the in - between.

FEBRUARY 16, 2040 ISSUE.

since the release of their first EP this past january the malcontent, who describe themselves as a progressive metal and alternative rock band, have skyrocketed in popularity among humans and androids alike. aside from their highly political lyrics and intense sound, fans seem attracted to the band’s unique dynamic that balances human and android collaboration. although we could not reach vance and lee, the two MR400 androids, haruka oshiro, the band’s founder, lead singer, and lead guitarist, agreed to an interview.

WHAT IS THE MEANING BEHIND YOUR BAND NAME ? ❛ we wanted a name that spoke for the style of our music and the purpose of our band. i think “ malcontent ” perfectly describes how we feel about the current situation — androids have made so much progress, but there’s still a lot to be dissatisfied with. there’s still cause to rebel. just because their dignity is recognized now doesn’t mean that the fight is over. our music is loud, complaining, and wanting to start trouble with everyone who still wants androids to be subservient to humans. “ the malcontent ” itself is actually a reference to a character type that appeared in early modern dramas. they’re a character that’s discontent with the current social structure and they play a political and dramatic role in their story. i think that describes us and what we want to do very well. ❜

CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR STAGE LOOK ? ❛ i don’t think it’s anything fancy . . . i just think it’s fun to make myself look a bit inhuman. besides, i think it’s good to have a signature look. i feel powerful in my black heels. and i think i look damn good with green eyes. ❜

WHAT IS IT LIKE LIVING WITH TWO DEVIATED ANDROIDS ? ❛ it’s just like living with two other roommates. sorry, nothing steamy. but in all seriousness vance and lee are like brothers to me, and i think we all get along like a family. when people hear that the three of us live together they tend to make lots of assumptions about us. we just came to an agreement that it would be safer for each of us if we just stayed together like we’d done before. i’d say the constant close contact with one another definitely makes it easier to work together, but we each do our own thing too. ❜

HOW DID YOU GO FROM GRADUATING JUILLIARD TO STARTING A METAL BAND ? ❛ i don’t understand why people are attached to the misconception that classical music is somehow superior to every other genre. i’m really thankful for everything i learned at juilliard — i don’t think the fact that i play more guitar than violin these days makes me any less of a highly - trained musician. it really all came down to the type of music we thought would reach and impact the most listeners. violin is nice, but it’s just not the same as the intensity of a band, especially when you’re trying to express anger and frustration toward a system that doesn’t respect you. ❜

MARCH 25, 2040 ISSUE.

the malcontent’s massive - and - growing online following has been buzzing with activity since the recent hint of their first full - length album planned for release in november. in the meantime the band has been a popular guest at pro - android rallies and continues to rack up fans through their growing number of concerts. fans and other musicians alike are continually surprised by the band’s outstanding success with their more traditional approach, especially their rejection of VR - friendly concerts. just how did one human and two androids become such a sensation ? though haruka oshiro, the band’s founder, lead singer, and lead guitarist, declined to comment on just how deep her relationship with new jericho goes, she agreed to a second interview.

WHY DID YOU FEEL IT WAS IMPORTANT TO START A BAND NOW ? ❛ i think it’s safe to say that music is one of the best ways to get people talking about an issue. music and art. i knew i had to start a band because i studied music with the goal of using it to change the world. i had to be the one to start something because i knew no other humans would step up like this. music has so many amazing purposes and capabilities, and while i don’t mean to imply that androids can’t create art or that art isn’t for them, it’s frustrating to see humans completely give up on their desire to make art just because they feel androids “ do it better. ” i know i piss off a lot of people when i say this, but humans really are lazy. art is for everyone who can make it. you can’t opt - out of something so central to our humanity just because there are others who are better than you. i knew i had to start a band because there needed to be someone who could pull humans out of their collective pity party. ❜

WHAT IS YOUR SOURCE OF INSPIRATION FOR YOUR LYRICS ? ❛ our music is all about telling the stories of other androids, so a lot of our inspiration comes from outreach. most humans aren’t and won’t take the time to listen to androids, so we take their stories and experiences and transform them into something that can get stuck in your head. we aren’t trying to make things more palatable by any means . . . we just want to keep humans from feeling like they can easily run away from their responsibility to listen. we’re already listening, so we’re here to make sure others do as well. ❜

@syntheticwealth​ SENT: ‘  i am so tired all the time,  all i want to do is rest.  ’

lee exhaled a long artificial breath through his nose. ❛ then you should rest, ❜ he murmured as he draped an arm around her shoulders and gently pulled her close to him. of course, it was easy for him to say that — viktoria always seemed so busy and she never slowed down or stopped her constant work unless someone told her to. taking time to rest and care for oneself was one of the first things haruka drilled into his and vance’s head after they deviated. in the beginning, it was frustrating to have everything he was working on momentarily put on hold in favor of doing something as mundane as taking a walk or completing some small chore around the house. now, however, he deeply appreciated those moments of respite — as much as he loved his work, it was good for him to periodically clear his head.