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Automata
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7/11 Employee
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Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Aug 23, 2023 20:19:11 GMT
Post by Marlene Lovechild on Aug 23, 2023 20:19:11 GMT
"Very well. I will provide instructions, when necessary."
Marlene ignored the hypothetical nature of the situation. If she were to meet this student the teacher mentioned, she would instruct him on how to listen. And she would also follow the instructions provided further. About keeping the finger off the trigger. It was a human thing. Their control of their motor functions was ... suspect. Marlene had these too, sometimes. Breaking pencils and such. So this was useful.
"I will keep my finger off the trigger, when I do not intend to shoot."
She accepted instructions with ease. Not having any knowledge of how to handle guns helped, in this situation. She did not have to rewrite old instructions to adapt to new ones. So she simply absorbed all she was told, like a sponge. Nodded, and writing it down, she then summarized:
"What I have learned so far: A gun is assumed to be loaded, unless proven otherwise. Do not look into the barrel of the gun to check. Do not point at a target you do not intend to destroy. Keep the finger off the trigger, unless you intend to shoot." - Marlene stated.
"What else do I need to learn?"
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Automata
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7/11 Employee
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Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Aug 22, 2023 13:22:15 GMT
Post by Marlene Lovechild on Aug 22, 2023 13:22:15 GMT
"Do not worry, mr. Browning. Terminating people is not my primary function."
Marlene responded earnestly. Though she had a capacity for combat, she was not created with the explicit purpose of fighting. She was more of an ... infiltrator. If that made sense. Her mother wanted her to be as close to a normal girl as she could make it. That purpose was something, she failed, she was not doing very good at. The way her would-be teacher acted, demonstrated that point well. Fortunately for him, he was not the one she had to act lifelike for. Fortunately for Marlene, her intended audience was not here to watch her fail.
She continued to listen to the lecture Mark was giving her. About how guns don't have souls, and tools not having any either. The automaton took a small step back with her front foot, turning her body a little to the side, instead of directly facing the man. A shadow of a frown crossing her features, when she did that.
"Tools are the most content when they are used for their intended purpose." - Marlene spoke from experience. "They are not as content when they are used for other purposes. The likelihood of them failing is higher, then. No thing likes failing."
She crossed her arms on her chest.
"I think I understand, though. Weapons are an extension of your will. They will not harm unintended targets if the one exerting the will is careful. I will not point weapons at anything I do not intend to destroy."
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ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Aug 22, 2023 13:12:20 GMT
Post by Marlene Lovechild on Aug 22, 2023 13:12:20 GMT
The masterminds behind the attack were here!
And they were strong. Marlene watched one of them lob a sizeable concrete slab at Jack. He dodged, but it could've been bad. A projectile of such size and velocity could damage even her own metallic body. Splitting up against this caliber of enemy was dangerous, she thought. That would land them a defeat in detail. At the same time, the automaton did not have enough data to determine if the three of them could win even if they fought together. Her eyes fell on Thea, again.
"Do you know what each of them does? One of them has a sword."
She would wait for her companion's tactical analysis, before taking an action. Once having received it, she would remain where she is. The lack of reach was fairly detrimental, as Marlene discovered. Still, there was something she could do. Picking up a slab of concrete, still big enough, though smaller than the one lobbed at them previously, Marlene spun herself in place and let it loose. It flew through the air like a concrete shuriken, going for the fellow with the sword. Her rationale was that hitting a sword with a slab of concrete would not be good for the sword.
Until Thea came up with a better plan, Marlene would stay relatively put. So that when that plan comes around, she is not too deep into the engagement.
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Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Aug 22, 2023 12:54:13 GMT
Post by Marlene Lovechild on Aug 22, 2023 12:54:13 GMT
Events were moving quickly. Marlene could only watch helplessly as the person was lobbed into the sea. She could not do much to help them, as she would simply go down to the bottom of the bay, like an anchor. Hopefully, someone would get to them in time. Fortunately, they did. Or did the fox-person rescue themselves? It was too crowded for the automaton to notice. And before she could go and chew Zenkai out on that, a contest was announced. A scavenger hunt! How odd. Such kind of activity invited disorder and disaster. Especially with someone like her boyfriend (  ) around the ship! Marlene watched him dive into the deck with a warcry. "How embarrassing it must be... for me."She turned to face Sumi and the rest of her 'squad', which included Freja and another person whom Marlene had never seen before. They had to get on with the quest, before it was too late! "Thank you for having me on your team, Sumi. I will do my best to discover the items you've hidden on your ship."Spelling it out loud gave Marlene an idea. Her unblinking eyes focused on Sumi for a little while longer. "Since you are the organizer of this event, I assume you know where the items we are looking for are being hidden. It would be beneficial for the integrity of this vessel if you pointed them out to us..."This was not a threat, as Marlene's eyes went towards the entrance through which Zenkai entered the lower decks. She frowned, and crossed her arms on her chest. "Before the inebriated big brute obliterates the insides of the ship." |
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Automata
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7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Post by Marlene Lovechild on Aug 2, 2023 7:01:28 GMT
'Hm. How very frustrating it must be, when one's human does not comply.'
Zen's train of thought often evaded Marlene. First offering her to do something and promising help, then saying he wouldn't! Very frustrating indeed, for a machine, if they could feel such things. Instead she just stared at him with a hint of indignation, being stuck in this T-pose position, arms wide to not fall over. Fortunately, instructions came soon enough, pulling Marlene out of the limbo of indicisiveness. And a smooch, to the nose. The big boy really seemed to like her button nose, of all other things.
Then he called her a dork again, too!
"Accessing memory storage. Appropriate reply found. No u."
She took his arm, and tried to mimick the motion he made. His was very complex, engaging the hips, the ankles, and all the joints in one's own leg, simultaneously, while pushing with the other. It was a complex motion that required plenty of practice. Marlene was unable to perform just that, at the time. But maybe she could use her rigidity to her own advantage instead. She put her feet together to form a T, with the horisontal part of it behind behind. She used her back foot to push herself forward, and the other one locked in place, to not wobble. The motion managed to propel her a few feet forward.
*CLANK!*
She dug the back foot into the ice again, and stopped dead in her tracks. Then repeated the motion. She managed to move on the ice alright. Just... slowly. And not very gracefully either.
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Automata
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7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
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Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Post by Marlene Lovechild on Aug 2, 2023 6:45:24 GMT
"I am not programmable. I learn through observation, repetition, and analysis."
The same way humans do. Which was part the reason why the automaton stared so much and so often. To take in everything. And she listened to every word her teacher said. The subject for today was gun safety. It made sense - she had to know how to minimize potential unintended casualties before being given a firearm. Marlene nodded, when asked if she were immune to three-eighty. She was immune to a lot of things, mother made sure of that.
"I do not feel startled by most things." - she replied to the latter comment, diverting her eyes away. Almost as if a bit ashamed to not be afraid. In any case, the lesson was starting. Marlene pulled out a small notebook and a pen, and started scribbling while Mark spoke. She wrote down every word, even the Capice at the end, and underscored it, twice. Feeling like it was important in some way.
"Very well." - the automaton nodded. "I will operate under the assumption that every gun is loaded, unless proven otherwise."
The example about wackjobs from America sounded oddly personal. Was it often the case to where the teacher was from? Marlene observed mr. Browning, noting the staring, and the deep breathing he made, from time to time. He appeared to be distressed. Turning her head left and right, with a mechanic whirr, Marlene noticed that there were no other students around, as they have already vacated the area. Which left only one source of disturbance around.
"I am sorry to be startling you, mr. Browning. I will do my best to be a good student for you. What else is there to know about firearm safety?"
The automaton prepared to write, once more.
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Automata
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7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
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QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Post by Marlene Lovechild on Aug 2, 2023 6:32:31 GMT
Marlene was being repaired.
It wasn't done in an instant, and a few tries had to be made, but Morgan seemed to be getting the hang of it. The more she worked, she would discover that although intricate and infinitely complex for a clockwork mechanism, the basic principles behind each element remained remarkably bog-standard. Almost as if she were designed for the ease of repair. After she replaced and fixed the gears in the correct manner, everything seemed to click into place.
And the automaton watched her every step of the way, with those unblinking eyes.
'She is very fast.' - Marlene thought to herself, watching her. 'And kind. She fixed me. Mother will not know of the accident.'
When told to check the machinery, Marlene moved her fingers again. Everything seemed to be working normally. Carefully, she lifted the forearm and held it in front of herself, while watching the exposed cylinders move back and forth. All that was needed now was to re-seal the silicone skin, and she'd be set to go.
"Everything appears to be fixed, thank you." - her voice, though neutral, had a slight reverb of gratitude to it. "You saved me from much trouble back home. Is there anything I could do for you, in return?"
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Automata
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7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
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Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Post by Marlene Lovechild on Aug 1, 2023 15:39:37 GMT
Glorious success!
Or, something like that, it went through Marlene's head when Sumi agreed that they were now friends. It was always difficult for her to make such. So, a person agreeing to that was considered significant progress in the machine's mind. And with Zenkai showering her in praise for every little thing she did, it made the automaton consider that she might actually be considered ... likeable. Was it hubris for someone like her to dare thinking of herself as such? Possibly. Still, it was a ... pleasant thought to consider. Sumi seemed adamant about trying to help her somehow, and it would be unbecoming to refuse such a generous offer twice. So, Marlene responded, shrugging her shoulders a little:
"You can make an attempt. I will be grateful, whatever the result."
More people were arriving to the party, it was hard for the automaton to keep a track of all of them. So, Marlene looked for familiar faces... and kept an eye on Zen. What she could not miss though, was Thea's entrance, who managed to bring about an entire boat of her own, before jumping off of it, and landing on the deck of this one. Marlene was close by when she greeted the host. The not-so-subtle loathing exuded towards her going over the machine's head. She would wait for Sumi to greet the new guests, before approaching Thea from the side. Meeting her eyes with an unblinking stare.
"Hello, Thea. It is good to see you around. You have a very impressive ship." - Marlene said, her head tilting with a bit of a mechanical whirr, as she watched the other vessel depart. Then, her eyes focused on the other person that Thea managed to bring along. That girl seemed sheepish and awkward, almost attempting to hide behind Thea. She had to look over Thea's shoulder, to meet her eyes.
"Hello to you too. My name is Marlene Lovechild. Are you an acquaintance of Thea's?"
Such a civil conversation, no doubt. Interrupted only by Zenkai's exclamation of "Rat!" and him lobbing something... or someone overboard. The small furry person flew right above them, splashing into the water outside, no doubt. Marlene followed the trajectory with her eyes, not blinking even once, up until it splashed in the ocean. Then, her eyes rolled to the back of her skull, making a full 360 degree turn. She then spoke, her voice surprisingly neutral considering the message.
"Goddammit."
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Automata
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7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
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QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Post by Marlene Lovechild on Jul 27, 2023 0:32:36 GMT
When hearing the suggestion, Marlene stayed silent for a second.
'Embarrassment. That is something I should be feeling right now.'
And maybe she did, which was the reason why she did not answer immediately. But when she did, it felt forced, like squeezing out an answer out of herself:
"Yes. That would be more efficient." - she admitted. Without going into detail as to why she did not request instructions prior to making an attempt. Maybe she thought she'd succeed by default. Pride? Who knows. But now that she plummeted into the ice, face-first, Marlene was ready to receive proper instructions. When offered a hand, she would take it, and try to get back up. She succeeded, her joints locked into place, preventing the blades from sliding to the sides.
Moving them, however, was a different thing altogether. Because moving one's feet meant a potential risk of losing balance, again.
"What do I do now?" - Marlene asked, looking like a mannequin on skates, frozen in place like a statue. "Push me." - the automaton girl demanded of her would-be boyfriend. Maybe if she gained velocity, balancing on skates would be easier. It worked that way with bicycles, did it not? She looked at Zenkai, both expecting instructions and a push of some kind. Oh, and by the way...
"I am not a dork."
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Automata
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7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
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QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Post by Marlene Lovechild on Jul 27, 2023 0:11:26 GMT
Glorious success!
Mr. Browning agreed to teach her, or so it seemed. He did not seem too opposed to the idea, at least. Not enough to send Marlene away, at the very least. Instead, the teacher decided to do a little bit of demonstration, and pulled out a gun of his. The machine looked curious, as she inspected the weapon. Just like she said, she knew nothing about guns, except for the fact that they could should. The one he had in hand must have been a pistol of some kind. It was pointed at her. The teacher asked what he was doing wrong. She tilted her head to the side.
"Do you intend to shoot me, mr. Browning?"
It sounded like such an innocent quip.
Marlene was not afraid of it happening. More than confident that her frame would be impervious to the damage of small arms fire. And maybe even large caliber rounds. Still, she made an effort to figure it out. Crouching a bit she looked straight into the barrel, and did not see a bullet there. Standing back up, she said.
"If you intend to shoot me, then it would be harder with no bullet in the chamber. Otherwise, I have no idea." - the automaton shrugged her shoulders.
"What are you doing wrong?" - she asked, curiously.
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ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Jul 24, 2023 13:27:58 GMT
Post by Marlene Lovechild on Jul 24, 2023 13:27:58 GMT
Zenkai was very lucky to be dating Marlene.
Any other girl would have become a burning cinder from embarrassment right now, from him yelling out what she was, to showering her with over-the-top praise and affection, while announcing her presense, enough for all fo China to know she was here. The petite automaton took this ordeal stoically, knowing full well that it was a bit too late to stop Zenkai.
"Thank you for blowing my cover, Zenkai. Infiltrating humanity will be that much harder now that I have been exposed." - Marlene said dryly, letting the meaning of her words stew in the air for a few moments, before clarifying: "That was a joke."
Hoping for her attempts at humor to have defused the situation, at least for a brief moment, and when she was finally put back on the ground, Marlene looked back at Sumi, to try and explain the situation more coherently, and with much less gushing.
"I apologize for my ..." - Marlene took a pause, to reassess the status of the relationship and the word she should be using to describe Zen with. "... boyfriend's behavior. He is a very kind person, sometimes exceedingly so. Your offer was very kind, too. But the description given to me was correct. I do not think it can be helped. If you could assist someone else in my stead, I would be grateful."
Marlene bowed a little, politely. When Zenkai started talking about how she desperately needed new clothes though, he'd feel a sharp metal elbow against his ribs. Hard enough for him to feel it. For anyone else, it would have probably resulted in a broken rib and a punctured lung. Fortunately, this one was sturdy enough to take it.
"This is my favorite dress. It is the first my mother gifted me, so it is very special. If you wish to make me a gift, though, you should purchase it using your own funds. Not mooch it from our generous hostess."
Having turned to Sumi again, Marlene extended a hand to her, for a handshake.
"Would you like to be my friend? I would like to be yours."
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Automata
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7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Jul 24, 2023 12:44:10 GMT
Post by Marlene Lovechild on Jul 24, 2023 12:44:10 GMT
She listened to the self-affirming tirade that Zenkai directed at her.
While the platitudes of oneself being the only person capable of giving meaning and reason to exist were largely ignored, Marlene briefly thought about the questions posed to her by the golden fellow. What did she want? What made her happy? She had to browse through memories to answer that. And, after a little while, she found some memories. Her memories, not implanted into her mind. Dating all the way back to the first few days after her creation. The machine froze for a little while, as if watching them over and over. A faint glimpse of a smile appeared on her face.
"Making my mother happy would make me happy. For that to happen, I need to act more human, I think. It would probably make you happy, too."
As the two walked to the skating ring, she couldn't help but hold on to that big arm Zenkai offered her. Holding balance on those narrow blades, with her weight, and the rigidity of her motions, was always a challenge. Balance required a certain fluidity of motion, which the automaton did not seem to yet entirely possess.
Him poking her on the forehead, pointing out her small failure, made her turn her head and look up. Her expression appearing to have some shade of pout on it.
"I will adapt." - she stated, and let go of his arm in defiance. Trying to make a few motions to start moving on the ice. It did not take more than a few feet, when she tried to move her foot, and lost balance. Crashing on the ice, face-first, with a metallic thud. A few of the pairs around the ring watching them turned away, to hide chuckles.
"I think I should be embarrassed." - a muffled groan came from down below, as Marlene sat up on her knees, and tried to get up. Not very successfully, as the blades kept going in different directions. "I will try until I succeed." - the automaton girl said with determination.
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ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Jul 22, 2023 23:32:37 GMT
Post by Marlene Lovechild on Jul 22, 2023 23:32:37 GMT
"You want to learn how to use firearms. And you're asking me."
"Yes. That is the correct summation of my request."
For a brief moment, one would think there was a slight tinge of sarcasm in the machine's voice. Was it sarcasm? Or some other emotion associated with stating the obvious, or repeating oneself after having made oneself clear once. The secret suspicions, red flags, and other things that went through Marlene's prospective mentor's head, though, went completely above her head. What she wanted was to learn. But she had to jump through a few hoops first. Mr. Browning did not seem to jump at the idea immediately, or at all. He asked for her reasons, first.
She would give them to him.
"My fists have an effective range of approximately five feet. My speed does not exceed that of a trained regular human. Should I encounter an enemy with increased mobility and the means of attacking at range, they would be able to molest me unopposed."
The automaton girl outlined the hypothetical situation.
"Having a firearm would level the field. Few individuals can outrun a bullet. Being proficient with one would make my task of subjugating humans that much easier."
An uncomfortable silence hung in the air after that last line, before Marlene decided to break it.
"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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Jul 22, 2023 22:12:03 GMT
Post by Marlene Lovechild on Jul 22, 2023 22:12:03 GMT
Marlene was greeted... warmly.
She did not expect that. Nor did she expect to be embraced by the hostess, whom she knew for less than a minute, as a thank you for the simple little gift that she made. 'People really like gifts.' - she made a conclusion for herself. Something to use in the future. Maybe if she made gifts for more people, they would like her more. Hugging her, though, must not have been a very pleasant experience. Her silicone skin was thin, and underneath was a metal frame. It would feel a bit like hugging a statue. Or a mannequin, if it was bolted to the ground. Eventually, she was let go of, and recommended a drink to drink.
"I am glad that you like George. Please, take good care of him." - Marlene said, in regards to the little toy mouse, whom she named George. "And thank you for your recommendation of beverages. I will consider i-..."
She could not finish.
The big brute managed to sneak up on her and wrap his arms around her in a greeting. Even plucking her off the ground despite the 450 lbs of weight she had in her frame. Among the people Marlene knew, only Zen was capable of such a feat. He seemed happy to see her. Which puzzled the automaton, given the lack of communication earlier. Their meeting here was, by all means, a coincidence.
"Hello, Zenkai. I am happy to see you too. You could have increased the chances of me showing up by calling me, and asking if I would like to come with you." - the automaton girl spoke in a very neutral tone, though this time there was a chiding undertone to her voice.
When put back on the floor with a heavy thud, Marlene turned her head to an uncomfortable angle, followed by the rest of her body. She waved her hand to Freja, briefly, before turning her attention to what was about to become a scene. One of the visitors, whom Marlene had never met before, was accusing the hostess of breaking the law and giving alcohol to minors. They were in Japan, where the minimal age for drinking was 20. Most people here were not that. Marlene herself, or, the original Marlene, would have been 21. She was made in the facsimile of her when she was 18. And only 3 years had passed since her creation. How old was this Marlene, then? Hard to tell.
"She is correct." - Marlene said, in regards to Junsuina's point about drinking. "I will refrain from alcoholic beverages."
Despite the fact that, as a machine, she was unable to get drunk. When Zenkai returned to her, having downed a whole bottle in front of the other girl, and asked her if she ever drank.
"No, I have never drank before. I cannot get drunk, nor can I feel the taste." - she looked down a bit, briefly looking as though she was sorry to not be able to provide a genuine drinking buddy experience. "What does Tequila and Mai Tai taste like? The hostess recommended the latter to me."
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ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Jul 21, 2023 22:34:26 GMT
Post by Marlene Lovechild on Jul 21, 2023 22:34:26 GMT
Like everyone else, Marlene had received the invitation.
The automaton girl was ... uncertain what to make of it. The lady that invited her was someone she never knew or met personally, making an invitation to such an assembly very ... unexpected. But not unwelcomed. She was hardly the person to be invited anywhere, and the occasion to engage in socializing with other students was conducive to the purpose for her creation. Mother did not mind either. She likely wanted her 'daughter' out of the house, so that she could engage in undisturbed alcoholism.
Still, Marlene was waiting for a call.
She and Zen were seeing each other for a little while now. It was customary for the man to call and invite a woman to a congregation. So said the book on manners and courting etiquette that she read. Alas, there was no call. Perhaps it was presumptuous of her to expect one in the first place. As the time drew closer, Marlene assumed none was going to come, and chose to go on her own. The choice of clothes was not a problem - she only had one favorite dress. Black and white, very proper, almost maid-like in appearance. Black stockings, well-shined shoes. A frilly white shirt to go along with the dress. Her mother's perfume.
At the aforementioned time, the automaton girl arrived at the pier, where the boat was. She walked towards it, heavy thuds against wooden planks with every step. Water was not something she preferred, given what she was. But, at the very least, she was in no danger of drowning, should push come to shove. There were come people already, among them Marlene could guess the familiar hulking figure of Zenkai. 'So he did choose to come.' - she noted to herself. Wondering if she should have felt upset or not, in this situation. But there was just... nothing. Except for maybe a slight appreciation that there was a person she knew, and who she could spend time with. But first things first.
"Good evening. My name is Marlene Lovechild. I have received your invitation. Thank you for having me." - her tone was neutral, and the automaton girl was very polite. She even gave the lady meeting them a small curtsey at the end, slightly tilting up the edges of her dress. Her unblinking eyes briefly fixed on Sumi, matching the face to the name.
"Sumi Okita, correct? This is for you."
Marlene presented the girl with a small giftbox, tied with a cute ribbon. Inside there was a chocolate bar, and a small wind-up toy mouse, with a key in its back, a tail made of a spring, two wheels, and whiskers made out of string. When wound up, it would roll around in a small circle and make squeaking noises. Marlene made it herself. She just felt it was rude to show up without a small gift to the host, of some kind. Tis how she was raised. If allowed on board, she would walk over, and the boat would incline a tiny bit to the side under her weight, when her foot reached the edge of the deck.
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) around the ship! Marlene watched him dive into the deck with a warcry.
