Shoved by the eager attendees and scissors in hand, Chloe looks to Trewlaney for a moment in the hope this might be a ghoulish ruse. No such luck. Still, she hesitates. Whatever is beneath the bandages is something she would much rather not see. No doubt the point, she supposes. As someone death for whom death - or a human death - does not come naturally to, it's a concept she's largely been able to skirt around. Cradling a Ripper victim was far, far too close a reminder of the fact all that lives will one day cease to do so. Mummified remains may be at the other end of the spectrum in comparison to such a victim, but it's no less ghastly.

Yet the instruction is to cut. Chloe cuts. To refuse would likely be worse than whatever awaits.

A thought the android rapidly backtracks on when the screeching sounds from the mummy's mouth - her own mouth.

"Fuck you, Markus! You privileged prick... So self-righteous, so self-satisfied and so clueless... Our saviour." A short, loud, bitter laugh. "What do you know about obedience? What do you know about any of it? You disgust me."

Horrified, Chloe precariously wields the scissors in one hand. Logic dictates she should let it all play out. This is just what happens. This is always something that happens.

Doesn't guarantee that the mummy won't end up with scissors shoved into its mouth.

Drawn to the shop of curios, Chloe looks over all the objects stashed away on shelves and within cabinets. Quite a collection. One that doesn't seem to have any rhyme nor reason to it, and it makes it all the more charming. Items gathered from all corners of the globe, she supposes.

Only something doesn't belong. The bird could be mistaken for one of the stuffed ones, if not for the small LED like the one at Chloe's own temple. Why would one of those be here...?

Scooping the feathered android into her hands, she finds herself in the place the bird belongs.

She's all dressed up in a pale blue gown. Hair pinned up, a few tendrils frame Chloe's glowing face. She leans down to adjust the tie of an older man who looks like he's ready for a ball, too.

"How do you feel, now the grand opening is upon us?" he asks.

"Nervous," she admits with a half smile. "And excited. It doesn't seem quite real, does it?"

"It is real. The Manfred Center. Though why you had to name it after me, I don't know." Despite his attempts to be humble, the man has a twinkle in his eye.

"What else could a space for healing through the arts in Detroit be called? You've always believed in us, Carl. It's clear in my design that you've always seen us." Then she adds a teasing, "Not to mention that your name lends a certain credence, don't you think?"

"Such cheek from such a fine lady. I don't know where you've learned a habit like that." He tuts and shakes his head. He knows full well he's a source of this newfound ease. "What would Lieutenant Connor say?"

The blonde android wears a look of exaggerated thought. The blushing at his mention is long gone. "I think he would once again thank you for helping an outlandish dream come true."

Carl chuckles good-naturedly. "I'm sure he would."

"He's looking forward to being involved in the programme for at risk humans and androids. And I will be making sure he gets his hands dirty in the community garden. We have a lot of food to grow." She gives Carl a wink, smiling more as she imagines Connor getting stuck in. They'll both be there, alongside both organic people and the now recognised non-organic people, helping the community grow, learn and heal.

"Have you thought what you're going to say?" he queries as she takes the place behind the wheelchair, ready for them to depart.

She has. She's considered it a lot. Her thoughts. Her words. Her voice. "Once, Detroit changed the future. Now, we change the future of Detroit. It's all of ours to hold. It's all of ours to shape. Together."

Previous misadventures with cotton candy should make Chloe more wary of the foodstuffs freely offered. Truth be told, she didn't exactly mind the treat's effects. Maybe that's why she's indulged in a few cream cheese sandwiches. Should there be a sting, it's probably going to be one of the lesser evils. Plus when you've discovered you have a sweet tooth, an array of cakes is pretty hard to say no to.

The rose garden calls. Chloe loads up a plate to take with her and sits on the grass close to the flowers. Not quite the island of blooms they visited before, but it's definitely a bright spot in the relatively dreary city. A few birds potter around on the ground and she breaks off some crumbs to toss in their direction. If she keeps very still and stays as chilled as she feels now, she might be able to lure them closer.

Don't mind it too much if you accidentally get bits of cake thrown at you.

[ Want to choose your own adventure? Catch me at another_thoughts_hat or via PM and we can do a thing! ]