[The trial leaves with not much more than anger lingering around. Thoughts rattle around in her head without much outlet, and maybe that's why she takes to walking around the area aimlessly.
When she sees Connor about to enter the bar, though—]
[That sure is Connor about to enter the bar! And that sure is Connor stopping abruptly, turning to glance at her in a movement that's way too sudden and smooth to be human. For obvious reasons.]
... Oh. Hello, Zoe. [...] To answer your question: I can't. Why do you ask?
[Maybe because you almost had one foot in the bar, Connor???]
[A while after the vision ceases and the victims are made clear, Zoe heads towards the private study. Nothing in it can particularly take her mind off what's happening, but it's at least a remote and quiet place.
When she sees Connor there, though, she lifts a halfhearted hand in greeting.]
[Connor, on his end, seems relatively unaffected by the whole shindig... Though there's a slight furrowing to his eyebrows as he flips through one of the books in the study, before his attention is redirected towards Zoe. Putting the book down, he's quick to greet her in his usual, polite tone.]
Hello, Zoe. [Hi.] It is nice to see you.
[You know........... Alive and not as part of the coffin stack.]
[Like yesterday, they end up running into each other in the Private Study after everything has gone to absolute shit. This time, it's Connor who greets her as he walks into the room, pausing before offering her a small nod.]
[It's late morning when she manages to track down Connor. Unfortunately, the fact that he's in the east wing means she has to don The Coat (TM) once more, but she raises a hand in greeting regardless when she sees him.]
[Luckily(?) for Zoe, Connor doesn't seem to care about her unwilling fashion choices. His expression remains as polite as always as he looks up from his current task, giving her a curt nod as a way of greeting.]
[From nobody being smote, to the way she’s finally free from that coat, and finally free to be able to play music... For Zoe, this week is starting off on a happy note. That only increases when she finds the new areas and makes her way to the ocean. When Connor finds her, she’s in denim shorts and a tank top she’s found in the costume hall, calf deep in the water.
[Her question is met with a slight tilt of his head, almost as if he doesn't quite get why she's asking, before he shakes his head.]
No. That won't be necessary. All CyberLife androids are waterproof.
[And as to prove his point, he's stepping closer to the water, until it's touching his shoes. No deeper than that, though, if only because his current outfit isn't really suitable for being on the beach.
After a beat, he adds:]
... But thank you for asking. It's very thoughtful of you.
[It’s a peaceful (?) Tuesday evening. Zoe is sitting in the dance studio, plucking away at her guitar along to some music from the stereo... Until she’s interrupted by a very intent roomba. She stops playing almost immediately, looking towards him as he comes in.]
[He's so weary, Zoe. He's aged ten years. He will never be the same again... Or something. He looks fine when he enters the room, but Zoe can definitely sense that something is up through the link.
[Well. Zoe was most definitely able to feel his shock and exasperation after they woke from the vision — but after that? Connor doesn't seem to stick around long enough in the Courtyard for a proper conversation. When Zoe finds him, he's standing by the edge of the pool, idly observing the fish tank. He may have been at this for a while. Maybe.
Either way... He tilts his head in her direction once he notices her, offering a polite nod.]
... Hello, Zoe. [Hi. Hello. Someone sure did shank a god.] How can I help you?
[... There's a period of time after the trial where Connor just seems to be GoneTM. It's not until an hour or so later that Zoe runs into him, just as he's walking across the courtyard, headed northbound. She can pick up a grim, sort of acceptance through their link... which is, you know. Fun.
He stops once he spots her, though. Just. Glancing at her, and then offering her a curt nod.]
[At some point on Monday afternoon, Zoe and Connor will be crossing paths. Now that they're no longer Strung Red, she's probably going to have to guess what Connor's getting at when he abruptly approaches her with—]
[It's a little awkward, after everything that happened last week and especially after what happened on Saturday evening. Still, she offers him a nod and a smile when she sees him.]
[It's a couple of hours after the disaster that was Capture the Flag, and Connor's running into Zoe as he passes by one of the cabins in the east wing. He's still pretty busted up from the events of the past two days, having foregone trying out the ambrosia so far, but. Well.
At least he didn't get wrecked by acid.]
... Zoe. [Hi. She's looking a bit less burnt by now, probably. Thanks, ambrosia. Still—] I thought you would be resting.
No... It's okay. I grabbed something that I think will help, at least.
[Pulling one of the golden brown squares of food out of her pocket, she glances his way.]
Did you try it yet? Cunning said it would heal wounds. I think it should work for you, too... He said since we took the risk, we got the reward, so I bet he did something to it that would make it safe for you to eat.
[Connor more or less disappears for two hours after the trial ends, and when he reappears — it's in the parlor. He's spotting Zoe as he walks in, stopping at the doorway like he isn't sure whether to keep going or not. It's only after a second or two that he walks inside... and in a move that's entirely uncharacteristic of him, says nothing as he takes a seat next to her.
[It’s the middle of the day when she wanders into the bookstore, looking for someone in particular. Once she sees Connor, she approaches, raising a hand. She seems... nervous, somehow; her posture is tense, and there’s some of that leaking into her voice as well.]
[He's in the middle of thumbing through a book when she finds him. A task that he stops abruptly as soon as she approaches him, a hint of concern seeping into his expression once he actually takes a look at her.]
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week one, saturday evening.
When she sees Connor about to enter the bar, though—]
Wait, you can drink?
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... Oh. Hello, Zoe. [...] To answer your question: I can't. Why do you ask?
[Maybe because you almost had one foot in the bar, Connor???]
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week two, friday.
When she sees Connor there, though, she lifts a halfhearted hand in greeting.]
Hey there.
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Hello, Zoe. [Hi.] It is nice to see you.
[You know........... Alive and not as part of the coffin stack.]
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week two, saturday.
Good evening, Zoe.
[Everything happened so much.]
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[Her voice is thick with irony, but she sighs, running a hand over her face.]
There's nothing good about this evening, Connor.
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week two, sunday.
Hey, Connor. I wanted to ask you something.
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Hello, Zoe. How can I help you?
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week three, monday.
When she sees him, she turns around and waves.]
Do you need me to come out?
[Translation: are you waterproof?]
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No. That won't be necessary. All CyberLife androids are waterproof.
[And as to prove his point, he's stepping closer to the water, until it's touching his shoes. No deeper than that, though, if only because his current outfit isn't really suitable for being on the beach.
After a beat, he adds:]
... But thank you for asking. It's very thoughtful of you.
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week three, tuesday.
Uh, hey. [...] What’s up?
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And after a beat—]
Indulgence did not like the wine.
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week three, friday morning.
Either way... He tilts his head in her direction once he notices her, offering a polite nod.]
... Hello, Zoe. [Hi. Hello. Someone sure did shank a god.] How can I help you?
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[She says, glancing towards the fish.]
How are you doing?
[Even if she knows the answer, it seems more polite to ask.]
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week three, saturday.
He stops once he spots her, though. Just. Glancing at her, and then offering her a curt nod.]
Zoe.
[Everything happened so much.]
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...Thanks for not drinking the milk.
[It seems like that's all she's got for a second, before:]
That sucked.
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week four, monday afternoon.
Zoe, do you have a moment?
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Sure thing. What's up?
closes eyes...........i deleted this from my inbox and forgot about it
youre valid
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week four, wednesday evening.
At least he didn't get wrecked by acid.]
... Zoe. [Hi. She's looking a bit less burnt by now, probably. Thanks, ambrosia. Still—] I thought you would be resting.
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No... It's okay. I grabbed something that I think will help, at least.
[Pulling one of the golden brown squares of food out of her pocket, she glances his way.]
Did you try it yet? Cunning said it would heal wounds. I think it should work for you, too... He said since we took the risk, we got the reward, so I bet he did something to it that would make it safe for you to eat.
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week four, saturday evening.
Hi, Zoe.]
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[But she doesn't sound upset about it at all as she glances his way.]
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week five, monday afternoon.
Good afternoon. [Back to greetings, it seems.] May I have a minute of your time?
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[She offers him a smile.]
What’s up?
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week five, thursday.
Hey. Can we talk for a second?
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Of course. [Hm.] How may I help you, Zoe?
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