SOOOO this is a gift for @the-darklings , she’s a very talented writer and avid lover of our homeboy Connor
A crew of DPD’s finest was sitting in Sterling Liquor, a bar a few streets down from the station, gathering for their “drinking party”. Ever since Hank was put back on his feet by the ever caring RK800 android, people in the station found him to be an actually fun drinking buddy; thus began this little weekly tradition a year after the revolution.
Of course, Hank had to have Connor with him on these little bouts to drive him and any other highly intoxicated members of the gang home in the wee hours of the morning. The detective android didn’t like his friend drinking at all, but his above average alcohol intake at home was significantly decreased since the outings, so Connor decided that he’d take this necessary evil. Regardless, Connor liked coming to these gatherings as they made him feel more part of the team, despite his lack of drinking abilities. The officers and detectives he sees every day in the station seemed more relaxed in the bars, the alcohol doing its job and the fear of Captain Fowler’s breathing down their necks gone.
But Connor especially liked coming to these outings because he could see you.
Tonight was no different from when he first met you those many months ago. The DPD crew gathered around a point in the long stretch of the bar while you worked behind it, a sight so beautiful to the android detective. Your hair was pulled back into a loose bun, the fly-away hairs gently resting on a long, unblemished neck, and tonight you wore only a fitted black tank top. Connor noticed the increase in the bar’s temperature with all the extra bodies in it, and he silently thanked human biology for being so sensitive to temporal changes.
As you continued filling out orders from the crew members, Connor slipped onto a stool nearby, calculating you’d see him in less than 3 minutes, betting that your time as being a bartender would make you very observant on any new patron.
It took two minutes before you flicked your eyes around, scanning the bar, and landing on Connor.
You gave the android a broad smile, continuing to pour a drink very dramatically with a lift of an arm. Connor focused in, catching how the sweat from working made your shoulders glisten and a few of those fly-aways plastered themselves to the back of your neck. A warm buzz came over the android’s body as the thought of placing open mouth kisses where the strands sat.
While these thoughts weren’t uncommon whenever he came to the bar with his friends, it still didn’t stop him from being a little bit surprised each time they did come up. Little by little, Connor had come to realize that deviancy cut across all protocols in his repertoire, causing new pathways of thoughts, feelings, and wants in his systems. The strong pull of want hadn’t really applied to Connor until he met you; the electric buzz under his skin so hard to ignore each time you swiftly worked the bar and talked up the patrons just so they could buy one more drink.
“HANK,” Officer Miller’s shout in the loud interior shoved Connor from his thoughts, “you should know this song!”
The lieutenant pointed a finger at the officer, beer still in hand, “I’m not that old, you dipshit.”
Connor tilted his head, processing the rustic acoustic melody that came out smooth from the surrounding speakers.
Hotel California, Eagles 1977
The android smiled to himself, you’re old enough Hank, while quickly scanning the group, making sure everyone was still in the vicinity. The lieutenant refused to join in Detective Reed’s tequila shot challenge, instead chose to watch the younger coworkers dig themselves a deeper hole for the next morning with a knowing smile on his face.
“Once again,” the purr of your voice caught Connor’s attention immediately, “they make the android the designated driver.”
In turning to face you, it never failed to amaze Connor on how striking you were. You’d decided to lean forward on the counter, arms crossed, and fingers fidgeting with a coaster; and in mere milliseconds, Connor analyzed everything that his eyes could lay on. Your body temperature was raised, heartbeat increased, and a slight blush ran from your cheeks and down your neck. The dilation in your pupils The fly-aways around your head caught the soft yellow light behind you from the shelves of liquor, creating a halo effect, and sharpened your features.
There she stood in the doorway;
And I was thinking to myself
'This could be heaven or this could be Hell'
“It’s only logical,” Connor picked up this small dance you two seemed to play, “and only considerate of me.”
You grinned, fingers starting to twirl the coaster in slow, lazy circles, “I should develop a blue blood cocktail for you, it would be the considerate thing for me to do.”
Connor’s systems whirred, taking in every little feature of your smile. He knew quite well that as a bartender, you had to be charismatic to entice the patrons to buy more drinks and get more tips. But there was something different in the way you spoke with Connor, more playful and open to the android while being mysterious, leaving him wanting to come back for more.
Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place (such a lovely place)
You got up from your position, being called away to make another round for another group. The sway in your hips made the android mesmerized, jeans hugging all the right curves that Connor didn’t know he found so alluring until a month ago.
“Y’know,” Connor whipped his head around to find the lieutenant standing next to him, “I decided to drink light tonight so you wouldn’t have to worry about getting me home and spend more time focusing on our pretty gal.”
Connor’s LED flickered yellow for a second and Hank caught it.
“Oh please,” Hank snorted as he took another swig, “anyone can see you got the hots for her. Catch you later, kid.”
Before the android could even create an answer, Hank moved back to sit with the rest of the crew, a few of the older members singing to the song. The systems in Connor’s head were moving ten thousand miles a minute as he realized new scenarios unlocked at that moment. Does he stay at the bar? Go back home with Hank to make sure he’s alright? Would you even consider a date with him?
Connor’s LED continued to flicker yellow as he considered all his options and took out his coin to help him think. The small object ran smoothly from one knuckle to the next, the rise and fall of the electric guitar in the song helped him retreat further into his mind to recreate these thousands upon thousands of scenarios that could go on as the night progressed.
But movement caught his eye before he could go any farther.
From behind the bar, you were swaying as you poured drinks and your empty hand tapped the beat of the song against the counter. Turning to grab a different glass and bottle, Connor could see your lips slightly working, mouthing the words to the song.
The pink champagne on ice
And she said, 'we are all just prisoners here, of our own device'
The android continued to watch you, drinking in every detail of how your mouth moved to the song, the way your hips popped to the side with the drum, and the small smile that grew as you heard a particularly good lyric.
'We are programmed to receive.
You can check out any time you like,
But you can never leave!'
Just as the lyrics ended, your eyes caught sight of Connor, LED flickering erratically from blue to yellow as he watched you with smoldering, dark eyes. It was like he was hungry.
Connor’s systems cooled, and he knew what he had to do as you sauntered back to your place in front of him on the counter.
“When do you get off?” Connor asked, LED flickering yellow.
You smiled, fingers ghosting over his own that rested between the two, “It took you long enough to ask.”
