plasticasshole | Aefenglom IC Inbox

Pretty much. I love a lot of punk rock, fuck the man type shit... a lot of stuff like that.

[But he decides that might be a little heavy, plus swearing on the job might be frowned upon... so instead, he starts playing a little love song.]

[Connor smiles warmly at the song, and though he finds he relates to the words he's not sure he wants to talk about it here, with Rich, when some of those feelings are based on the SQUIP.]

I like your singing voice. And that song is sweet.

[He wonders if Rich thought of someone while singing it, too.]

O-Oh... uh, thanks? I'm really not that good, I mean, I'm still working on the lyrics...

[He must be thinking of someone if he's trying to actually write a song, rather than just play one that already exists. Not that Rich is exactly comfortable talking about it yet.]

[He seems even more impressed that Rich actually wrote it.]

You should give yourself more credit. You have a real talent there.

[And yes, that confirms that Rich is thinking of someone. Most definitely. He's curious.]

Who is the song for?

Mm... maybe. Not like it's going to get me anywhere, really.

[No one in his time gets famous anymore, so any dreams of actually starting a band seems like just asking for the opportunity to lose a lot of money...

The question makes him go even more red, clutching his guitar defensively.]

Wh-Who said it was for anyone?

It could here, maybe.

[He shrugs a little though, holding up his hands.]

Nobody. But you forget I'm a detective.

[Connor looks over at Rich knowingly.]

You don't have to tell me.

[Rich raises an eyebrow at Connor, but at least this time, his suspicion is more teasing.]

What, you gonna sleuth out who I like, Sherlock Bot? Maybe I just wanted to write a love song. Love songs are popular.

[But why would he go with something popular when he's so anti-establishment?]

If it supposedly isn't going to get you anywhere, why does it matter if it's popular?

[He could have written about anything.]

I don't think you'd write a song about something you're not passionate about, anyway.

Geez, interrogating me now, are you? Fine, maybe I was writing about someone I'm passionate about.

[He smirks a little, trying to look far more confident than mortified.]

If you're such a detective though, you can probably figure it out without me telling you.

[There's no way he'll know one of the people, and the other... well. That might be a little more apparent.]

[He tilts his head, studying Rich. Who is he close to? Well, he's Bonded to Justine. And he has no real proof that it's her, but he can cheat and study Rich as he "guesses".]

Justine?

[He scans Rich with a confident smile of his own, monitoring his heartbeat. It's true that he'll never guess Michael simply because he doesn't know him, but...]

[Connor doesn't even need to survey Rich's heartbeat. Though it speeds up, the flush on his face makes it more than clear, even as Rich tries to duck and cover his face a little with the neck of his guitar.]

H-Hey! That's a platonic Bond, thank you! You don't even have the full story...

[Connor's smile widens to shit-eating proportions, and he doesn't bother to hide it.]

Of course it is.

[That's adorable, honestly. He can see why Rich would be attracted to her, being in love with Justine himself. Maybe Rich would be good for her?]

I won't tell her, don't worry. I think you should try, though.

[Ugh, stupid robot. And Connor wonders why Rich doesn't trust AI. He continues to avoid eye contact, looking down at the guitar and plucking at it nervously.]

Nah. It's too complicated. I mean, she has people she likes... and I've got people back home. It'd be too messy to make it anything more than what it is.

[He didn't just think of her while playing, even if the song started solely for her.]

Maybe. I'm admittedly very new to relationships, so I'm not sure I'd be the best person to give advice.

[But he doesn't see what harm it would do if Justine knew how Rich felt.]

You don't really have to give advice. I'm sure I'll figure something out eventually. It's just weird, I guess. When you have someone you really care about here, but someone else back home that you care about just as much.

[He wouldn't want either of them to feel neglected, and he doesn't know how to ensure one of them wouldn't, especially with the fact that they're in different worlds.]

[Connor shrugs a little, watching Rich play.]

Maybe.

[He can relate a little in that he loves two people too, but unlike Rich he doesn't have to choose between them.]

Are you hoping the person from home will show up?

I'm hoping I get to see him again... Not so much hoping he comes here. I put him through enough shit already back home so... it wouldn't be fair to get them to come here.

[He doesn't play much more besides chords that happen to sound nice, a faint background music to their conversation.]

Well... I hope that you get to see him again, for what it's worth. Though I'd certainly miss you if you left.

[He means it sincerely, and picks up his violin to play a few notes.]

I hope so too. I... uh, I was actually supposed to take him to prom before I ended up here. I'd feel like an ass if I didn't get to keep that promise, you know?

[Connor... might not know what prom is, but Rich should probably focus on playing music with Connor right now. He starts strumming a harmony to the notes Connor plays, attempting to encourage him to improvise again.]

[He doesn't really know what it is, but he'll assume it's either a place or a formal event.]

I'm sure he wouldn't blame you.

[Connor takes the hint though, playing a little more and finding he's enjoying it more like this. Learning music is nice, but he doesn't have to worry about being perfect like this.]

I know he wouldn't, but I mean, I'd still be pissed to miss out on it, you know? It's kinda a bullshit popularity contest, but it's also kind of a big deal, in a weird way that I don't just want to ignore? It's complicated to explain, I guess.

[Rich is happy to just talk and play like this. Like there isn't the weird strain between the two of them. Rich can't forget it, but maybe he can sort of put it aside for a while...]

It's important to you both, that's what matters.

[He seems to grow more confident with his playing, but he still keeps it from overpowering the guitar. They sound good together, after all. He wishes he and Rich could talk like this more often, but he doesn't doubt that as soon as he leaves this shop things will go back to being awkward between them.]

[Gee, Connor, wonder why that is. Couldn't have anything to do with you marrying the SQUIP, right?

Rich is trying to keep that out of his head, though, focusing on the playing instead, humming under his breath. It seems like his creative energy is flowing again, and he may be thinking of lyrics to the song they're playing.]

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