ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Post by Marlene Lovechild on Dec 3, 2023 17:36:05 GMT
"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.
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ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Post by Marlene Lovechild on Dec 3, 2023 0:12:17 GMT
"... I am confused."
These little skeleton robots and their story was confusing. So they were once people but they created Gods? Why would they be called Gods if they were man-made? And if said Gods then turned people into machines, who would be considered Creator of whom? And if the purpose of this ... machinification was to avoid death, why did it require them to die in the first place? Would that not defeat the whole exercise? So many questions. Marlene took a while to process it all. And more over...
"Why would they intend to destroy the galaxy?"
She tilted her head to the side, as if she were a pigeon. An uncomfortable angle, to be sure. It snapped back into place when the topic was changed towards quirks. It was an unusual turn of conversation. People did not change subjects so suddenly. Was it something she did, or said? For a moment, Marlene looked away, an expression of faint insecurity crossing her otherwise neutral features. It vanished as quickly and mysteriously as it came, though.
'Should I lie?' - the machine briefly considered. 'Tell her my quirk is manipulating technology. Utilize the benefit of the doubt.'
No. She was not Mother. There was no point in trying to deceive anyone else. Not when they brought attention to it.
"I am an automaton given sentience and locomotion by a quirk channeled into me by my mother-creator, Helen Lovechild. I do not have a quirk of my own. I can channel her quirk inside of me to influence machinery."
Marlene carefully picked up one of the tiny skeletons and stared at it, intently.
"What is your quirk?"
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ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Post by Marlene Lovechild on Dec 2, 2023 22:59:25 GMT
"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.
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ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Nov 30, 2023 19:49:32 GMT
Post by Marlene Lovechild on Nov 30, 2023 19:49:32 GMT
Marlene watched, and listened.
Her eyes were focused on the motions that Enda was doing. For someone so tall, he had such ... dainty, careful fingers. She could hardly register when his brush came into contact with her silicon skin. She wanted to learn it, and be able to maintain his work on her own, extending its life. She came to view the procedure as maintenance, of a sort. Maintenance was always ... pleasant. Or something close to it. Any machine liked being taken care of. Maintenance meant better performance. Maintenance meant that ... a machine was needed.
'Maybe that is why mother allowed me to visit here. She needs me...'
A pleasant, if self-placating thought.
The automaton girl's mind focused on the story that Mr. Finnegan told her in short. A lady who grants wishes, makes people pretty, and stands firm against meanness and property damage. It sounded like a story told to children indeed. These kinds of books Marlene neglected in her studies. She was barely two years old, there was so much to learn and so many blanks to fill out. This part she simply did not have the time for. But when sitting in this chair, there was little she could do. Just watch... and listen.
"I have the time." - Marlene said, in case the tall man decided to tell her a more elaborate version of the tale. If he wanted to. All while he worked hard to make sure to turn her into a real girl. She could see some of his magic right now. The pink-ish tint around her cheeks, pretending to be blood flowing to them. A very warm color.
"You are painting a blush." - the automaton noted. "What does a blush feel like? When is it appropriate to have one, do you know?"
Of course he does, silly robot. He is the human. Not you.
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ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Post by Marlene Lovechild on Nov 29, 2023 0:32:35 GMT
"They were alive, then they died, and were turned into machines."
Marlene summarized. It was ... a very familiar concept to her. She remained silent, looking a little bit wistful as she eyed the gray, faceless horde on the table. She could almost feel an odd kinship with the concept of these skeletal warriors. From the gist of it, they were like her. She needed to know more. When the girl asked her about 80k, her head shifted, a soft mechanical whirr coming from the place where the head was attached to the neck.
"I would be interested in learning more, yes. What are these machines called? Who made them? What is their purpose? Did they ... succeed in achieving it?"
She sounded almost hopeful at that last part. The tabletop game part Marlene was less interested in, largely due to the costs mentioned. And the shameful corporate practices attached to them. Still, if it were an activity humans actively engaged in with friends... then it would be useful to do so. Humans liked playing games. The automaton lowered herself a bit to look at one of the models up close.
"I would be interested in playing the game as well. However, I do not have an army. Plastic is weak. It lacks the certainty of steel. Would I be allowed to make my own?"
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ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Nov 28, 2023 15:49:05 GMT
Post by Marlene Lovechild on Nov 28, 2023 15:49:05 GMT
"Expensive?"
Marlene observed the models for a bit longer. They seemed... average, all things considered. Made of plastic, not glorious metal. The plastic clippings suggested mass production. They were a bit better than toy soldiers Marlene often saw children playing with, but not by a big amount. They did not impress the daughter of a skilled clocksmith.
"Why is it so? They do not have mechanisms, made of plastic, and require the owner to assemble them on site. I could make them better." - Marlene said, as her eyes went to glance over the table, to see if any were painted yet. "I would have difficulty painting them, though."
Junsuina explained the game further, though. It appeared to be a strategy game of sorts, only played without a checkered board. The figurines were the pieces to be moved on it, which explained the lack of automation. And they were played in tournaments of some kind. Jun describing these as undead machines made Marlene quirk her eyebrow.
"How can machines be undead, if they were never alive to begin with?"
It sounded oddly personal to the automaton girl. Was she to be considered an undead machine too? She was made in the facsimile of a dead girl, after all. And tasked with living a life for her. She now looked curious, and waited for what her new acquaintance had to answer.
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ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Post by Marlene Lovechild on Nov 25, 2023 0:58:43 GMT
"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.
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ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Nov 24, 2023 23:43:27 GMT
Post by Marlene Lovechild on Nov 24, 2023 23:43:27 GMT
"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."
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ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Nov 24, 2023 20:11:01 GMT
Post by Marlene Lovechild on Nov 24, 2023 20:11:01 GMT
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...'
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ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Post by Marlene Lovechild on Nov 24, 2023 2:14:36 GMT
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."
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ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Post by Marlene Lovechild on Nov 23, 2023 2:07:11 GMT
"Your assistance will be remembered in the upcoming Empire."
Mr. Finnegan was not like Mr. Browning. The latter was creeped out by the jokes Marlene made. This one seemed to take it in strive. Though she was not able to gauge the levels of nervousness behind that smirk of his, if there were any. Still, the machine was satisfied that her personal brand of humor was finding at least some positive feedback with this one. 'He is nice.' - the artificial girl made a conclusion about the man, remembering to raise the relationship counter by one point.
With that in mind, Marlene approached the chair she was invited to. It was a very nice chair, expensive-looking. She took her time getting to sit on it. She inspected it with her eyes for a few long moments. She then reached out for it with both hands, and gave it some slight downward nudges. Testing how sturdy and stable it was. She then got to place her tush on it, though very carefully, and very slowly. The whole process took about a minute, and one could hear the barely audible creak of the chair underneath when she was finished. Shifting a little bit to see if everything was alright, the machine finally came as close as it can to seeming relaxed. Or, at least, a little bit less rigid.
The automaton girl was able to see herself in the mirror now. Her pale face contrasting with reddish hair, and her dark eyes. She drew a smile. It was too long, too creepy. She dropped it. The next smile was too wiry and dishonest, it looked like someone forced to smile. It was also dropped. The third one looked pleasant and neutral, though not very emotional. This one stayed.
"What is a fairy godmother?" - Marlene asked, earnestly, indicating her lack of knowledge in children's stories and books.
Her head moved at an uncomfortable angle, turning backwards to look at mortuary cosmetologist.
"I am settled in. You may proceed when ready. I will comply with whatever instructions you give me."
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ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Post by Marlene Lovechild on Nov 23, 2023 0:40:36 GMT
Marlene tilted her head a bit to the side.
The girl seemed to be alright, at least for now. She made note of her name - Junsuina Kanjo. She made note of everyone's names. Had a very good memory for that, among other things. However, soon the stranger pointed out what she was doing here so late. Painting an army of some kind, for a game. This was curious. Marlene knew that games were a popular past-time among humans. She herself had never played games before. 'Humans play games. If I play games => I will endear myself to humans.'
A spark of interest briefly appeared in Marlene's glassy, unblinking eyes. She looked at the models.
"I have never heard of Battlemace 80k." - she stated, honestly. Putting the mop away, she approached the table, to have a closer look at them. Her joints whirred a bit with each passing motion. The automaton girl inspected the tiny unpainted skeletons. They appeared to be made out of plastic, and there were signs that they were assembled from different pieces. They were not machines, though, she could not find a single sign of them being propelled. So they were not wind-up toys. How strange.
"Your army appears dead." - Marlene noted the skeletal features. "Is this what you meant by 'broken'? They have not yet taken to the field, yet they seem defeated already."
She really did not know anything about this game. But the neutrally-curious tone invited conversation. And explanation.
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ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Nov 21, 2023 19:58:20 GMT
Post by Marlene Lovechild on Nov 21, 2023 19:58:20 GMT
... Unusual.
Marlene simply watched the whole sequence of motions and emotions that the strange sleeping girl went through in the course of the next few seconds. Going from being awake to being terrified to ballistic, to confused. The automaton did not manage to stop her launch out of her chair, nor her hard landing on her back. It was fortunate that Jun did not hit the back of her head against the hard floor. But she did appear disoriented, somewhat, with the who-what-where she had been asking.
Most people would gasp and worry and fidget and say sorry a dozen times over by now. Marlene was calm, instead. Studying the girl on the floor for any signs of serious injury. There was none. Good.
"Hello." - she answered monotonously, bringing a hand up to wave, when she was greeted. "My name is Marlene Lovechild. I have been tasked with cleaning this room. I cleaned most of the room, save the spot you were sitting at."
She would offer Jun a hand to stand up.
"Are you injured? I do not see any bloodstains on my nice clean floor." - she said, having inspected the place of falling. And wiping over it with a mop a few times, after the girl had moved herself from it. Every movement Marlene made made a small mechanical whirr. Being either too smooth or too sudden and angular for comfort. And yet, uncannily efficient, in its own way. The automaton turned her head, looking over the paints and models still on the table. It did not seem like any of them were knocked over.
"What were you doing here? The classes are over." - she asked curiously, still eyeing the models. What kinds were there?
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ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Post by Marlene Lovechild on Nov 21, 2023 8:21:32 GMT
"I am sorry to be a challenge. But I have faith in your abilities."
The machine girl sounded a bit upbeat when she heard that the makeup artist would take her as a customer after all. There was, of course, the last resort - to ask the support students back at the academy for help. But they were about fixing things, not make them pretty. Her condition needed a bit of a ... special touch. One that Mr. Finnegan could provide. He seemed like a very lively individual himself, being loud, chatty, and very attention-grabbing. Marlene attempted to imagine herself behaving in a similar way. She failed. Her behavior was already far enough from the original. This example was something akin to peering to another galaxy with an amateur telescope.
He is very different...
A bit of an awkward pause followed after she passed the photo. The automaton girl observed the expression that the tall fellow she came to visit, had. The smile he had turned from boisterous to something more gentle and wistful. Was it pity, or sympathy? Or both? Neither? It was a favorable reaction, nonetheless. There were instances when people were turned off by what they learned. That Marlene was not just a machine seeking to emulate being human. But that her purpose was that of a replacement instead. An emulation. A copy. She took the photo back, and nodded.
"Yes, that is one of the reasons I was made for. Your assistance will help me infiltrate human society. They will never see it coming, until it is too late."
A long pause would likely hang in the air after that line, with Marlene making eye contact with Enda, looking at him with her glassy, unblinking stare. Followed by small spark, and a smirk she's been practicing in front of a mirror, for a while.
"That was a joke."
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ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Nov 20, 2023 18:50:18 GMT
Post by Marlene Lovechild on Nov 20, 2023 18:50:18 GMT
Every once in a while, students at the Academy were put on janitorial duty.
Reasons were multiple. It was a tradition in Japan, ever since elementary school. It also helped save money on hiring janitors to sweep the floors and clean the tables. It was also supposed to instill the spirit of the community, but nobody believed that. Today was Marlene's turn to provide free cleaning. She was supposed to be joined by several other students on this floor, but all of them were suddenly very busy with important things that required their presence and attention. Some of the reasons cited including feeding the dog, visiting mom at a hospital, and having left a clothing iron unplugged. She had to cover for all of them. Each of them was immensely grateful, of course. One of them even called Marlene "a good friend". Surely, they were honest with the naive little automaton. Surely.
And even if they were not, Marlene did not mind it. She never minded much of anything, and simply undertook the job with the methodical efficiency of the machine. Sweeping, washing the floors, wiping the tables, wiping the blackboard, wiping the countertops, change water in the bucket, wash the rugs. Repeat. Room after room. Until it was done. People passed her by as the classes were over, and soon enough there were hardly anyone left. Except ... for one place.
Marlene's heavy steps echoed against the creaky wooden floor. Inside, she found a girl. She was surrounded by small toy soldiers, and next to her there were paints and brushes. She was sound asleep, it seemed. How curious. I wonder if I should wake her up...
She didn't. Instead, she just worked a bit slower, and quieter. But still, efficient. The floors were swept, then washed, and so on and so forth. This was the last room the automaton girl was supposed to be taking care off. Eventually, the only place not tidied up was a small circle around the table at which Jun was napping. There was no other option. To complete the task, Marlene had to wake her up. Looming over a bit, she carefully reached out, and rested her small, yet heavy hand on the girl's shoulder.
"Awaken."
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