Following A Lunch

[st_abilitylost]

Connor stared at the swinging doors leading to the diner and through the ocular conjoined windows where glossy red stools and patches of sunlight were visible through. Contemplating a decision mid-execution wasn't something he usually did. Routes were planned in advance and adjusted on the fly based on new information, but he'd run across no one since his first morning at the inn. Instead, he was stuck in a self-defeating loop. All attempts to communicate with Cyberlife or even access the world wide net were unsuccessful each and every time. Even entering stasis resulted in nothing--Amanda wasn't even present in the virtual garden. Connor had opened his eyes to his designated room of pastels from a lifeless, frozen hellscape and felt no better for it. But while he still functioned, he could still investigate on foot. Gather testimonials. Seek other residents for advice.

Really, that was the only thing left.

Finally passing through the threshold, Connor took a quick stock of the diner and deemed it no different from any other--no hidden cameras or bugs. At the sight of the first body--a cook and presumably a human (though he'd learned not to assume)--Connor approached the counter. "Hello."

Comments

[st_abilitylost]

"I follow my handler's initiatives. Nothing less, nothing more." The coin clinked softly against his synthetic nail as he tossed it into the air, letting it fall and balancing along his knuckles.

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor wonders if the AI Tony considers Tony his handler; he doubts it. He also doubts that Ultron would consider anyone his handler.

He somehow manages to avoid being distracted by Connor's coin tricks. "Who's your handler?"

[st_abilitylost]

"Cyberlife." Up the silver coin went into the air--once, twice. "They're the leading designer, manufacturer, and retailer of androids. I'm a model designed to aid law enforcement."

[st_ormbreaker]

This time, Thor finds himself watching the coin in motion.

"What about now?" he asks. "There's no Cyberlife here and no one to take directives from."

[st_abilitylost]

"While it's true I can't fulfill my mission, I follow their directives regardless of my location." Connor caught the coin between his two index fingers, launching it back into the air without seemingly moving a muscle. "All I can do is stay intact for when I return."

[st_ormbreaker]

"So what are you going to do until you return?" Thor refills his glass, watching the coin trick the entire way through. "Keeping intact here is easy enough." Most of the time, anyway. When you weren't doing things like transmitting your consciousness into an AI.

[st_abilitylost]

"If there's an expectation for residents to contribute then I should fall in line." Now that the subject had passed, Connor had taken to observing Thor once more. "I met your brother, I believe."

[st_ormbreaker]

"Loki?" Thor frowns slightly. "Did he mention me, or do you know us from the myths?"

[st_abilitylost]

"He did not mention you. I inferred." Without looking, the coin fell right into the little keyhole created by Connor's thumb and forefinger. "Besides your status as mythological beings, you both are popular figures in comic books, cartoons, and movies."

[st_ormbreaker]

"That popular, hm?" It takes all of Thor's self-control not to reach out and catch the coin. "I'm pretty popular back home, too."

[st_abilitylost]

“Rather popular, though the Star Spangled General and Loki had more media presence.” Launching the coin up again, it landed on its side and rolled along the edge of his finger.

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor hums. "Doesn't surprise me. Was my hair longer than it is now?"

Thor, asking the important questions.

[st_abilitylost]

“In most depictions, yes, barring the one where your fiancée cuts it off you sap you of your powers.” The coin rested on the peak of his knuckle, holding his arm effortlessly still.

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor squints slightly at that. "Permanently?" he asks. Then, the more important question: "Who was my fiancee?"

[st_abilitylost]

“No, not permanently. She was a human woman who sought your might for herself.” For whatever reason he was programmed with a knowledge of different subcultures, it was useful now. “She had a redemption arc later on and married one of your teammates.”

[st_ormbreaker]

"Jane?" Thor feels a completely irrational tinge of jealousy. "Which one?"

[st_abilitylost]

“Janet.” Despite Thor’s growing indignation, Connor carried on—questions deserved answers. “Steel Shield.”

[st_ormbreaker]

"Steel Shield?"

Thor hopes that's not who he thinks it is.

[st_abilitylost]

“A business magnate who traveled through time and built an impenetrable suit during a polar shift.” Superhero origin stories were truly ridiculous, but the human imagination knew no bounds.

[st_ormbreaker]

It was.

"Tony Stark?" he asks, looking to Connor for confirmation.

[st_abilitylost]

"Tobias Sharpe." Connor idly rolled the coin to balancing on his alternating fingertips. None of what they spoke of today was bringing Thor any peace, but Connor wasn't programmed to lie unless necessary. "I wouldn't take it personally. The character has had numerous affairs."

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor has no idea why this matters to him so much, but it does.

"Was she another one of his affairs?"

Thor can't decide what answer would be worse.

[st_abilitylost]

"Considering they married in that storyline, yes. Though I believe it ended with Sharpe in a coma as a set up to some greater plot and the marriage terminated." Considering the response he was getting, perhaps this was a bit too on the nose.

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor's frown deepens. He doesn't say anything, just drains his glass of water and wordlessly fills it up again.

Thor drinks half of it in one go.

"In any case, the Thor you know is different from the Thor I am." He sets the glass down with an audible sound.

[st_abilitylost]

"You exist. For one." Connor winked, cinching his coin in his palm.