[Marlene Lovechild]

The early bird gets the worm.

Or so the saying goes. Marlene was a very early bird. She did not need to sleep. Nor eat, much. Which gave her a lot more productive time than most people ever had. She was also a diligent student, who wished to start her internship as early as possible. Which was why she was making her way to Ouros Investigative and Hero Agency. The place had a good reputation, and was always looking for employees. 

The girl was dressed for the occasion. Her favorite (and only) black dress ironed out, her white shirt bleached to perfection. She had the smell of freshly ironed and washed clothes about herself, more so than perfume. In her hands there was a folder, which she carried with herself. Containing her details as a student, her CV, as short as it was, and a recommendation letter from the Academy, everything she needed to start. She was also given a few references to some of the active personnel within the organization. One she could be considered attached to.

It was an exciting thing, in a way. Another step towards becoming a proper hero. The original Marlene often dreamed of this... Probably. The automaton girl did not have her memories. But she had her mothers' recollections. The girl was chipper, kind, really wanted to help people. Her replacement was not chipper, and hardly kind, such words could not be used to describe her. But ... she wanted to succeed where the original had failed. It filled her servos with determination. So, with a very determined look on her face, Marlene marched towards the main office.

The organization's working hours were 9 AM to 7 PM. The boss was here at 6 AM. Marlene arrived at 7 AM. After an hour or so of being reviewed for internship, she was told to find a man by the name of Tobias Murakami. He had an office of his own, in the building. And so, until the working hours started, the girl sat in a chair next to his door. Her eyes, unblinking, watching the entrance to the corridor. She was told that the man was tall and imposing, she could not miss him. So, she waited. And waited. And waited.


Most people would get bored by now. To spend the time, Marlene fished out a small cosmetics mirror and looked at it. Most people used those for last-minute appearance preparations. She used it to practice smiling. This time, it was for polite, cordial smiles. Ones to wear at work. She did those the best. Because they did not have to be genuine. Eventually, the girl would hear steps going down the hall. She hid the mirror and stood up.

Was it the person she was looking for?

[Tobias Murakami]

Tobias Murakami had become a new fixture around the Ouros Investigation and Hero Agency, though his appearances were rare. He would arrive early each morning, greeting anyone he passed with a bow and quiet hello, his eyes averted. Then he would retreat to his office, only emerging with a teapot in-hand, moving purposefully towards the office kitchenette.

To start, they had him doing paperwork– to “ease him back into investigative work”. Demoralizing, is what it was. He used to be a covert operative, taking down the biggest and baddest international villainous threats– and now he was pushing papers for this small-fry Japanese agency? There was little to be done, though– his brush with death had unnerved Tobias, and he’d been forced to retire from the squad he’d dedicated more than the last decade to.

Tobias Murakami arrived at the old mansion at about eight-thirty that morning– early enough to move at an unbothered pace, to set a teapot boiling and get his computer running, all prior to the actual nine o’ clock start. This also afforded him the luxury of not encountering many coworkers prior to his shift.

What Tobias did not anticipate was the young woman standing at-attention by his office door. A pale girl with hair as red as his, and a neat black dress that only served to further wash her complexion out. Had the dictionary a definition of “dead fish-eyes”, her gaze would have been the exemplary picture– for they were as devoid of emotion as devoid of blinking.

“Good… morning, miss,” Tobias said, the greeting creaking out of his mouth like the protest of an old door with rusted hinges.

As he was in the office, Tobias sported his usual suit– a nondescript black suit with red tie and white button-down shirt. But, with the tanness of his complexion, he looked… dignified. The gold rivulets that sprawled across his skin from head-to-toe gave the impression of a broken statue that had been mended with gold, then brought to life.

“Is there something that I can assist you with?”

He hoped not. But propriety demanded that he asked. It wouldn’t be polite to charge past the woman into his office, which she was inconveniently situated right next to.