rk-100

“Well, do you like to walk among humans behind this.. this identity of being human because you’re wary of my kind ..or is it just because you want to?– Or is it because some other reason?”

“…Oookay– Don’t you think that it’s possibly too early to make those kinds of jokes? People get on edge very easily. I’m a bit surprised that you’re not sitting in a cell right now.” 

Elliot Jones -  ▌NEUTRAL▐ 

▌ ▲▐ ─────                    True enough, he supposed. Androids as singular units were resourceful enough to perform their own basic maintenance & continue to function without fail, so long as parts were available to them. However, the connection to someone else on an emotional level was something one could not so easily replace with solitude. Xander wasn’t a SOCIAL android by any means. He preferred to remain in his own head for hours at a time, even days, simply pondering the world & his place in it, or whatever struck his fancy at the time.

                   It was comfortable to be alone. He didn’t feel the embarrassment of his own social ineptitude weighing him down. But that comfort was only possible because he knew he had the option of companionship. Because he had made connections with both humans & his fellow androids with whom he could seek company as he pleased. He had a feeling that Elliot had no such people in his life, or hadn’t for some time.

                   He hoped he was wrong.  “ No, that’s true - we can’t rely on CyberLife any longer. ”  It wasn’t as though they could to begin with. The company used their creations as tools & nothing more, not least of all his predecessors, & the long line of RK models before him.  “ But you must rely on someone. We, like humans, are not infallible to the harsh burden of loneliness. ”

Loneliness was the real struggle, it was true. He’d learned to deal with it the first years by an all consuming need to solve the mystery of himself. Once he’d given up on learning anything though... Well, that’s why he had his work. And his neighbors. It gave him something to focus on instead of the fact that he didn’t dare reveal what he was to anyone - human or android.

“Rely on myself, mostly. When you know you were meant to be destroyed years ago, you develop a healthy level of paranoia.” Not a helpful response, he supposed. “But I’m not without human interaction. I’m a private detective, so I’ve got clients. Connections. Neighbors. Not many people, er humans, know what I am. And other androids never held too much of an appeal for me.”

Elliot Jones -  ▌NEUTRAL▐ ▲

▌ ▲▐ ─────                    Tensions seemed to dispel & an easy feeling drifted through his circuits, calming any of the anxiety building inside of his chassis. He hadn’t expected acceptance so readily, but Xander would be sure not to damage this confidence Elliot had gained in him. He smiled a little in response; an awkward & uncanny thing. A tip of the lips, something that didn’t quite reach his eyes. Like a simulation being run - not quite R E A L. The RK900 was still learning how to be a person, still finding his way. He would find himself in time. He would just have to be patient.

                   Gratefully, Xander was far better at patience than his predecessor.  “ Thank you. ”  His reply was less monotone, a bit more feeling infused into it. It sounded sincere, more genuine. Xander wasn’t the type to display emotions openly - he barely knew how, if he were honest - but his care with words showed thought behind all he did. He was observant & honest. That had to count for something.  “ I have to say, I’m surprised I found you. CyberLife’s archives list your model as 100% purged. ”

                   Old out of date assets, no longer needed. From project to secret project their line had been totally transformed multiple times over the years. Xander was fascinated to find another RK active & functional. Knowing such an antique predecessor was out there, he just had to learn more.  “ How long have you been deviant? ”

Elliot lit a cigarette. It had been fascinating to watch the emotion play across his successor’s face. Deviancy was something he still didn’t quite understand, but it was wonderful to see spreading across the androids - particularly ones designed to never deviate.  His own smile faded as the questions turned to him and he took a long drag of the cigarette.

It took a moment longer for Elliot to reply. “I’ve been like this as long as I can remember. Admittedly, that’s not saying much. Memory only goes back four years. Must have been deviant before my memory got wiped.” His voice was carefully even as if his memory wasn’t a mystery he’d spent the majority of his time trying in vain to solve.