[Marlene Lovechild]

After class, Marlene worked in a small 7-11 convenience store.

It was easy for her to do. She did not need sleeping, which meant a whole extra 8 hours of productive time. While mother slept after over-indulging in beer, she worked diligently to add to the family budget. The work was not difficult, and did not require any particular skills. She kept the goods in stock and serviced the few customers who came by this late at night. Usually people going home from work late, or a few punks wanting to buy energy drinks, or an odd drunkard wanting to buy alcohol, despite the fact it was not for sale after a certain hour. Marlene did not mind them, she did not mind anything, much.

Still... the nights felt lonely, when there was nothing else to do. 

For a while, she just stood still. Like a mannequin. There was no reason to move, really. Marlene browsed her memories, reviewing them and analyzing them. Some of the latest ones were about her lessons with mr. Browning. He taught her how to shoot, and she was looking forward to the next lesson. I should device more jokes to creep him out with... - a mischievous thought went through her mind. Another memory was about the snake-person she met in the cafeteria a few days ago. She was very strange, yet very curious. And like her, in a way. No friends, hard to fit in. Marlene wondered if she would ever see her again. Speaking of people to ever see again... There was a certain giant who used to visit her this time at night. 

He has not seen me in a while... I wonder if he got bored of me...

A morose thought. One that Marlene was broken out of, when the bell above the door rang. Her eyes refocused. She was wearing the black store uniform, with a green 7 across the chest and on the hat. Her eyes focused on the stranger.

"Welcome to Seven-Eleven. If you need any help around the store, please let me know."

[Rui Matsui]

Rui stumbled into the 7-11, tipsy off of the beers she had been chugging just hours earlier. What was she doing again? Getting drunk? No, she didn't have the money for that, and with her healing quirk she had to spend so much money to get past tipsy, what a pain! Hm? Her attention snapped over to the employee behind the counter. Maybe she could have some fun and get famous in the process. Killed 7-11 employee, deadly villain still at large!!! That type of headline, that was what she wanted. ''Hi bestie!!'' She called out, smiling her fanged grin as she swayed a bit in place. She still had her knife on her, she could probably do a robbery with it, right? What were the odds this person had a quirk that could stop her? Basically zero probably! Since she was super cool and unstoppable and like the best villain ever, Tokyo just didn't know it yet!

The little demon woman was small, her steps unusually light due to her featherweight, despite the fact that she was stopping clumsily up to the counter. ''Psst, hey bestie!'' She stood on her tippy toes, whispering up at her, hoping to get Marlene's attention. Then she pulled her knife out of her hoodie pocket, it was just a regular kitchen knife, but to most people that was already plenty to threaten their life with. Grinning wildly, she continued, pointing the knife up at her. ''Do you fear death?''

Marlene Lovechild

[Marlene Lovechild]

Marlene sized up the new customer with her glassy stare. Looking her over from tip to toe.

She was young. She had the getup of a hoodlum. With bright neon colors and face-paint and a lack of taste in clothing. She was swaying, indicating a degree of inebriation. 'This is not going to be a decent customer, is it...' - a disappointed thought slowly scrolled through the machine's mind. But only slightly disappointed. After all, machines could not feel much of anything.

Including fear of the knife. 

Marlene's eyes shifted to eye the weapon, assessing its threat. It was ... minimal. Kitchen knives were not great weapons. One was just as likely to have their hand slip up the handle and cut themselves as they were to kill someone they were stabbing. Besides, this one did not seem too sharp, and was likely stolen out of the kitchen, prior to being use to try and threaten her. The automaton girl did not move, only her eyes going back and forth, towards different points of interest.

"I do not think we have met. You must have mistaken me for someone else." - she said, taking the commentary about them being 'besties' at face value, though not quite buying it. The mocking way it was said went right over her head. As for the other question...

"No, I do not think I am afraid of that." - her tone was eerily neutral, despite the derangement and danger associated with the situation. "If you wish to conduct purchases here, you will have to stop threatening the store clerk. It is a criminal offence." 

Surely an intelligent human being would see the reason in her voice and stop. Right? 

'Maybe I am giving humans too much credit...'

[Rui Matsui]

She didn't seem at all impressed by Rui and her knife. How couldn't she be? Rui was the scariest villain all of Tokyo! She'd show her, she'd show this nobody! ''I have besties everywhere! You're one of my besties!'' She smiled reassuringly, didn't matter if they were family, allies or enemies, Rui had thousands, no millions of besties everywhere in Japan! ''The question is, what kind of bestie are you?'' She tilted her head slightly, curious, as if she tried to read Marlene then and there. How was she not begging for her life? Maybe she was just stoic or hardcore?

''You're not?'' She smiled eagerly, about to continue her sentence when the woman went back to her usual 7-11 employee speak. ''Yeah it is! Because I'm a villain, bestie!'' She would try to climb on top of the counter and continue to point the knife at Marlene. ''I can show you something super cool if you want to! All you have to do is gimme your hand!'' She held her own hand out, expecting Marlene's. ''My name is Mummy, by the way!'' She flipped the knife around, ready to dish out some mcstabbies. ''I kill people!'' She exclaimed proudly. If Marlene did put her hand forward, Rui would immediately try to stab her regular kitchen knife through it. If she didn't, she would simply watch her expectantly with her big eyes.

Marlene Lovechild

[Marlene Lovechild]

"I am?"

Marlene sounded incredulous. A year ago, she would have jumped at the chance, no doubt. But she was aware enough to know that this was probably not a honest thing to say. After all, humans formed connections by spending time with others. And the automaton was certain that she spent no time with this girl. The memories of the original implanted by her mother did not match this face either. Besides, the real Marlene was friends with nice people. Ones who didn't threat others with knives, or kill people. 

The fact she confessed herself to be a villain only cemented the conclusion. Marlene frowned, a bit.

"You should not kill people."

She attempted a de-escalation, as she was taught, in the hero school. And yet, she did offer her hand. Maybe doing so would help. Instead, that friendly motion received exactly what it deserved. A stab, right through the palm. Surprisingly, the knife went through, like a ... well, knife through butter. But there was no blood. And no pain, either. Human hands worked through muscles and ligaments. Between Marlene's digits, there was none. Only latex-like skin to maintain the illusion of a human hand. With steel, underneath. 

"You should not be a villain either. It is illegal."

With that, Marlene reached out with her other hand for the girl standing on her counter. Seeking to grab her by the throat, lift her off the counter, and put her down on the floor. She would not let go, though. 

"You made a mess of my hand. And you left dirt on my nice, clean counter. That constitutes an assault." 

She twisted the hand the knife was in, to wrestle it out of the grip. It would fly, and land on the tiles with a clink, clink, clank. 

"That is not something a 'bestie' would do."

[Rui Matsui]

''You are, you are!'' She nodded insistently.

Then, her bestie seemed to not like the fact that she was a villain. It was nothing new to Rui, but she had hoped that maybe this one would be different, that maybe they could have committed some crimes together. If she let her rob the place, she'd even let her go with twenty percent of the earnings! ''Yeah I should, I do what I want.'' She retorted. She killed people because she felt like it, and because it was more likely to make her infamous.

When she offered her hand, Rui stabbed it with no hesitation, but what happened next she didn't anticipate. ''No blood? Where's the blood?!'' Usually people started bleeding and stuff! Why didn't she bleed everywhere? Didn't she have any blood?'' She was so surprised that she barely managed to stammer out her next reply. ''Y-You can't tell me what to do! Being a villain is totes the coolest!'' Before she could say more she was grabbed by the throat, flailing her arms and legs, although to no avail.

''Bestie wait- B-Bestie wait-'' She tried to talk, still struggling and kicking her legs while down on the floor. ''W-We're the same! I'm the same as you! Stab my hand!'' She smiled nervously. Was she just tripping, or was this girl unusually strong? Like deceptively strong? ''...You'll see what I mean! Just stab my hand, bestie!'' And then maybe let me go after! She didn't want anything to do with this stoic bestie anymore! Not unless she came back with a gun or something.

Marlene Lovechild

[Marlene Lovechild]

"Hm..."

Marlene hummed thoughtfully. She was not going to stab the girl with no need. That was probably against a hero ruling or another. So, she just kept her dangling in her grip. The fingers felt cold, and hard. Not a hand of a warm-blooded human. She did not choke her, but it was going to be difficult to escape the grasp.

"Why is being a villain the coolest?" - she asked, sounding genuinely curious. "They end up beaten up and in jail. Or worse." - she shrugged. One hand reaching under the counter. From there, Marlene extracted a rag, to wipe the counter with. 'Such a strange girl...' - she thought, cleaning up after her. All while this 'Mummy' was letting out a strange plea of some sort. About how they were the same. The automaton girl looked at her incredulously. 

"Are we the same?" - she asked. Curiously, she tightened the grip. Making it hard to breathe. Observing the reaction. Feeling the living flesh pulse underneath her fingers. Or, rather, recording the pulse as existing. Marlene could not really feel much of anything. Hot, cold, tactile functions. They existed only through acknowledgement of these parameters inside of her very alien, very machine-like mind. She would loosen the grip, to allow the airflow resume.

"I do not think we are the same. You need air." 

With that, Marlene walked over, with Mummy in tow, grabbing the keys from under the counter on her way to the door. Putting the sign "Closed" facing forward, before opening it. 

"You will have to come with me. Do not worry, our journey would not take long."

How ominous.

[Rui Matsui]

''Are you kidding?'' She continued to kick her little legs to no avail, although she started to calm down when she realized resistance was futile. ''B-B-Because it's cool!! What's the alternative bestie? Think about it- if you're a villain you can do whateveeeeeerrr you want!! You can take the things you want, you destroy the things you don't like!'' Right? Why would anyone want to be a boring non-villain or criminal? ''Nuh-uh! Only the lame ones get caught!''

She tried to nod her head, but it wasn't easy in this grip. ''We are we-'' she felt the air circulation cut off, as she continued to struggle. When Marlene finally let go she was gasping, probably a whole different shade in the face, but she recovered unusually quickly thanks to her own quirk. ''Yeah I do like, everything needs air to like, breathe, that's how life works.'' She said it like it was the most obvious fact, what was so unusual about her needing air? What a strange girl!

''Bestie could you put me down?'' She smiled apologetically, ''did you agree to become super awesome villains with me? I'll help you come up with a villain name- I-I'll introduce you to like all the scariest villain in town, they're all my besties and they look up to me! ..You could be my assistant! Like a right hand woman or something like that! I'll show you why villainy is the coolest!'' Before she knew it she was just running her mouth out of desperation, trying anything that might get the stoic girl's expression to change and more importantly, let go of her, but it didn't seem like she was having any luck.

Marlene Lovechild

[Marlene Lovechild]

"Are you kidding?"

"No, I am very serious."

Marlene kept having the conversation with a girl she was holding by her throat, as she closed the shop's door on a key, and continued walking, at a leisurely pace. She did give the arguments this strange girl was giving her an honest thought. Most people would find her words atrocious, deranged, selfish even! Marlene found them ... silly. Yet, illuminating. In an odd, disturbing way. The prospect of doing whatever she wished, made the machine think.

"I am doing with you whatever I want, right now. You do not seem to be capable of resisting me. Does that make me a villain, to you?"

It was a curious thought. Villains wanted to impose their power over others for their own selfish reasons. Heroes imposed powers over villains. In that essence, they were the same. They were the strong imposing power over the weaker adversary, whenever they could. The difference was that heroes did it to protect those who were even weaker than villains, usually the people said villains wanted to prey on. Like this girl. She assumed Marlene was just a regular cashier made of flesh and blood, no?

"I will have to turn down your offer, as I am already an employee of 7/11." - the automaton said, mid-thought. 

"The alternative to being a villain is to be a hero. The benefits of hero-ship include public recognition, monetary remuneration, top-of-the-line training facilities, and monopoly on violence." - she stated some of the main reasons why people joined the academy. 

"Would you be interested in any of that?" - Marlene made a counter-offer.

[Rui Matsui]

''You? A villain? Nah bestie! You could never!'' She grinned back weakly. ''You say you could do whatever you want, but you won't! Heroes, vigilantes, civilians you all play by the rules! Villains, we can do whatever we want, we're free!'' She wasn't expecting to have this conversation with a 7/11 employee of all people, and one that didn't bleed at that. As someone who didn't have blood herself, Rui found her infinitely more interesting for that reason alone.

She frowned when her offer was turned down. Shoot, so she couldn't escape her grip that easily. She never knew 7/11 employees could be so much trouble, were they actually a tier above normal civilians and closer to heroes? ''Y-You can get that from villainy too!'' She protested, this girl out here talking up heroism like it was all that and more. She was not going to stand for this slander against villainy!

''Join you...In becoming a hero?'' For a moment, perhaps a fleeting second she considered the option. Could she be a hero and become mega famous that way? She had killed countless people already, would they forgive her? Wouldn't they find her freakish with her quirk? What if she got the urge to kill again, heroism wouldn't allow her to do that... Her smile faded for a moment and for the first time during their conversation she lowered her voice. ''Nah. Whether I take over Japan as a hero or villain, I'll do it one day, I'll become the ruler of everything and I'll kill and steal my way to the top, bestie. I'm not gonna let myself be chained down by your shitty moral system.'' She glared back at Marlene. She was used to getting reactions out of people, why was this 7/11 employee so calm, like Rui wasn't even a threat to her? She had to change that!

Marlene Lovechild

[Marlene Lovechild]

"You are very strange."

Marlene kept walking. But... when Rui started talking about rules and being free, she stopped.

Was the talkative little criminal getting to her? Was she considering the rightfulness of her words and the intrinsic virtue of freedom, even if that freedom allowed people like her to be as good or as terrible as one was? No, that was not it. They were at a crosswalk. The traffic light for the pedestrians was glowing red. Despite the fact that there were no cars passing by, Marlene waited till the light went green, and then continued her journey, carrying Rui in hand. 

"What is this 'top' you speak of?" - the automaton girl asked, curiously. "Is it important? Why do you wish to reach it so badly, despite the likelihood of personal harm coming your way?" - she asked. It was ... difficult to understand. There seemed little to no logic in her captive's actions. Which only made Marlene feel like she could understand humans less and less. Then again, this was a very unusual human. Not like the others. Much more ... irrational.

"Is it the reason why you came to my shop tonight and threatened me with a knife?" - she continued her train of thought. "What was the outcome you were trying to achieve? Was it a part of a plan of some kind?"

She seemed genuine in her questions.

[Rui Matsui]

''Who are you calling strange?! You like working at 7/11!'' She shouted back, growing increasingly frustrated that she couldn't read this girl's emotions and that she still wasn't any closer to slipping out of her grasp. They were going outside? Maybe Marlene just wanted to carry her off the premises and once they were far away enough from her workplace she was going to realize Rui and let her go with a warning or something. ''Totes important bestie! If you're at the top you rule the world, what's not to get about that? Think about it! You can do whatever you want, no one can tell you no.'' What she said next made her pause for a moment. ''Personal harm?'' She grinned arrogantly. ''You think I'm scared of getting hurt? It's kill or be killed, bestie, maybe you grew up with lots of money so you don't get it, but I risk my life every day to get what I want.''

Why were they crossing the street? If only she could actually turn around and see where they were headed. ''Kill you, probably, steal some stuff, show off my quirk.'' All that stuff she usually did, but why did she do it. She never really thought about it and this girl bringing attention to that fact only made her more angry. Why was she out here trying to make her use her brain? ''You can let me go now.'' She huffed. ''I won't attack you again, I've learned my lesson.'' She tried to slip out of her grip again, but unless Marlene willed it Rui wasn't going anywhere.

Marlene Lovechild

[Marlene Lovechild]

"It is my job. I do not particularly like or dislike it."

It was true. Marlene did not work in 7/11 because she enjoyed the solitude and putting products on shelves. It was simply a job that the business owner was willing to hire her for, which fit her schedule. It was complicated enough to find work, either way. The memories of a robot uprising in Shibuya were still fresh. Few were ready to trust the likes of her to do anything, and not turn Machine Overlord when one least expects them. 

She kept listening to the girl's reasonings and ideas, as she carried her, walking slowly down the walk lane. It wasn't too difficult for anyone who lived here to recognize where they were going. There was a police station nearby. Which was one of the very few places still open at this ungodly hour. 'She is very eager on killing people to get her way.' - Marlene thought to herself. Such eagerness were puzzling, coming from someone who did not appear to be particularly apt in combat. This Rui person hardly put up a fight!

"I did not grow up with a lot of money. Most of my earnings are my own." - the automaton girl reminisced. "If you were to earn money, you would not need to come to the shop and attempt to rob it. You could purchase items you need, instead."

Marlene sounded like a mother explaining elementary things, to a child. Systematically disassembling the motivations this girl seemed to have.

"Do you wish to rule the world?" - she tilted her head. "World governance is difficult, I would imagine. It requires many skills and connections. What qualities do you possess that would make you effective at that?" - Marlene was curious to hear the response. Soon enough, though, they were walking along the fence that surrounded the local police department. It was then when the girl she captured pleaded to let her go.

"I do not want to let you go. Nor have I intended to teach you a lesson. I have brought you to a place where other people will take care of you, so I could return to work."

[Rui Matsui]

''Whatever you say.'' She stuck her tongue out at Marlene. ''You like 7/11!'' She said it like it was some kind of scathing attack against her character. Maybe to someone like Rui it really was that bad, slaving away at a boring job, how did Marlene do it? How did she not grow bored and use her position to steal stuff from the company that hired her?

As they walked she kept trying to glance over her shoulder to see where they were headed. Surely not the police station, right? She wouldn't do that to her, surely her bestie would not betray her! ''That's not the same! 'Earning money'? You wanna waste time at a job to earn money to buy things when you can just take them? I don't understand you at all, bestie.'' Rui wasn't going to let her get through to her with her logic and reasonable arguments, she was going to tune out of all of them! Being a villain was the best, how could Marlene not see that?

''Yeah.'' There wasn't a moment's hesitation in her response. ''All of it.'' She grinned wildly, almost as if she could visualize what it was like living in a big fancy castle, ruling over everyone and everything. ''I'm the best that's why. No one is as qualified as me.'' There was zero irony and only arrogance and confidence in her tone of voice. Right up until they got close to the police station and all of that shattered in an instant.

''No! They're gonna lock me up, let me go!'' She started kicking her little legs. ''This isn't fair! You're cheating! You're using cheats!'' As they approached a couple of police officers noticed the commotion. ''Do you know what time it is? What's going on here-'' The one officer grimaced as he got close, ''Is that Mummy?! Careful, with her she's dangerous, we'll take things from here.'' Rui heard the familiar sound of handcuffs and her fate was pretty much sealed. ''She's evil! She attacked me first!'' Rui pleaded, trying to accuse Marlene in a one last, desperate attempt to get out of her own arrest, but to no avail. Rui had been arrested so many times at this point that the police were very familiar with who she was. ''I'll come back for you bestie! I'm gonna find you!!'' She growled as the one officer started dragging her away. Rui was shouting all manners of insults at Marlene, but the other officer with her hair tied back quickly tried to grab Marlene's attention instead. ''What happened? Can you tell me your name?''

Marlene Lovechild

[Marlene Lovechild]

"You are going to waste time being in jail."

Marlene replied to the girl's arguments with dispassionate honesty. She was not tired at all, to hammer simple truths into this girl, despite her wiggling and kicking, and accusations of cheating, and silly threats. The automaton girl simply waited for police to show up, to apprehend the criminal she brought to their doorstep. Swerving her head to face them, Marlene spoke out:

"My name is Marlene Lovechild. This girl attempted to rob a 7/11 shop that I work at, and assaulted me with a knife. Security cameras have recorded the incident. I have brought the criminal to you for processing."

Once the Mummy was handcuffed, she would hand her over to the officers. What happened to the girl after ... Marlene did not really know, or care. She could only hope to have talked some sense into this criminal, and maybe set her on a path of righteousness, as unlikely as it was. Meeting the girl's gaze again with her glassy, unblinking eyes, Marlene reached out and patted the girl on the shoulder. Her hand felt rigid and cold - something the girl was already acquainted with, while the automaton carried her by her neck.

"If you wish to find me again, I work at 7/11, Monday to Friday, 11 PM to 7 AM. I hope that you will visit me as a law-abiding customer, next time."