Marlene always had an easier time socializing with teachers, and adults, for that matter.

Whether they liked her or not, they remained, for the most part, polite. This one seemed cordial enough, if a bit dismissive. But he was still willing to hear her out, and the automaton girl approached him for a very utilitarian reason. One that he, by her estimations, was capable of helping her with. Being a teacher and all. She did not know much about the man. A teacher's files being not open to her, unlike how hers was to him. No matter, she went ahead to state the purpose of her inquiry. 

"I was told that you are a specialist in firearms." - Marlene stated, plainly. "I am looking to learn to use those, and I need an instructor."

Her head tilted to the side, as if expressing curiosity, but the tilt was a bit too unnatural for a normal person. The little whirr of the metal joints of the neck probably didn't help either.

"Would you care to assist me? I could use a recommendation for what weapon to purchase, and train with. I have no experience with them whatsoever." 

Marlene was a very diligent student.

She attended every class in the program, and even extra-curricular ones. This lecture was one of them. She heard of the fellow telling it. She knew his name was Mark Browning, and that he was a teacher from overseas. Sitting somewhere in the middle row, the girl tried to jot down everything he said, even though it was unnecessary - her memory was not faulty, like that of a human. Still, the advice he gave was exceedingly difficult to write down. Perhaps, it was meant to be learned by heart rather than written for a test, of some sort. 

The automaton girl heard different things about this one.

Most of them were not very flattering. Some teachers said the man was lazy and "not a true hero". Others wondered how he ended up getting the position in the first place. He certainly did not look very teacher-like. More like a character from one of those old western movies, where people drove bricky trucks and solved all of their problems with guns. Speaking of which, that is what Marlene overheard, that got her interest. Weapons. Not archaic ones like swords and clubs and maces. She needed those not, for she feared no one up close. But from afar...

When the bell rang and the few listeners stood up and left, Marlene did so as well. Only, instead of going for the door, she went towards the teacher's desk. Heavy steps following her otherwise dainty and diminutive form.

"Hello, mr. Browning. My name is Marlene Lovechild. I would like to ask you some questions, if you have the time."

The girl's voice was neutral, polite. A barely audible metallic reverb to it. If he would give her time of the day, she would ask her questions. If not, she would leave. 

"It is alright. I do not think I can be offended."

Marlene shrugged her shoulders a little. Her memories went back a little, towards things that happened shortly after her construction. She tried to reconnect with people she had memories of. Reactions were very ... volatile. Words were said. Much harsher ones than a simple and honest mistake. She knew what she was supposed to feel, but felt nothing. 

So, she simply remained seated, and letting the glasses girl work on her arm. Soon enough, a test had to be made. Following instructions, the automaton nodded.

"Understood. Reconnecting the limb."

The wispy strands traveled down from her shoulder, all the way through the arm once more. Its golden glow making the internals appear like some sort of fantasy-like dwemer technology. The arm seemed to have been filled with life once more, some of the fingers jerked to close into a fist, and then into an open palm. Two of them, remained motionless, jerking only slightly, and then getting stuck mid-motion, as if jamming.

"I can move the arm." - she said, bending the elbow, and rotating the forearm.

"Damage is more extensive than initially anticipated."

Marlene looked up at Morgan, her look bearing a slight semblance of guilt and apology, something one was more familiar with in a dog, rather than a machine. It looked... Surprisingly natural, too, before it disappeared.

"I am sorry."

Marlene was looking forward to this date.

It was a ... strange thing to experience. Most of the times, the automaton simply took things that she had to do, and places she had to be at as a kind of a duty. It had to be done when it had to be done. This time, though, was different. She found herself looking at the clock more often. And at the calendar, too. For when that day would arrive, though, the machine girl wanted to be ready.

Mother was made aware of where Marlene was going. Surprisingly to the girl, the woman did not seem disapproving of the motion. In fact, she seemed slightly encouraging. Said something about "knocking oneself out". And then preventing Marlene from taking the command literally and trying to punch herself in the face. Hm... Perhaps mom was simply glad to have her 'daughter' out of the house, so she could get drunk on cheap beer in peace. She even gave Marlene money for the date. Or, rather, gave it back. The automaton brought all the cash she earned to mom, whenever she did. 

Until the fateful day had come, Marlene did some preparations. She read that book about dating, from cover to cover. She ironed her only dress, and bleached the shirt, and doused them in perfume. She practiced smiling, every day, in front of the mirror. And whenever she thought about the date, and the promise she was given, the smiles were the closest to genuine she has ever been. Almost natural. Almost... What kept it from being perfect was a certain strain of doubt, creeping at the back of her mind. It was like a proverbial itch one cannot scratch. A question, one she did not have an answer to.

'He promised to do so much for me... It was very kind of him. What could I repay it with?

The book said that in a healthy relationship, both partners had to pull their weight. Offer something to the other they lacked. Marlene found that she knew nothing about the tall fellow. Her only contribution to him was helping him hide the chair. And even then, one could argue the motivation for that was self-serving. 

'I will need to know more. I will ask questions.'

Her fists balled into fists, in determination. When it was time, Marlene already waited by the gates. She was here first, arriving ten minutes or so before they agreed to meet. She was not going to be late. Too much was at stake. Soon enough, her date arrived. Hard not to notice, that big man. 'I wonder how large his heart is...' - an idle thought went through the machine's mind. Marlene was there, her appearance as strict and perfect as ever, her clothes having the faint scent of ironing on them still. And a gentle waft of perfume around the head and wrists.

"Hello, Zenkai." - she would say, whenever her date would choose to arrive. "I am happy to see you." - the girl added, stretching her lips into that smile she was practicing. She would offer him her hand, like a lady would. 

That's how it was supposed to go, right? The book said so. 

Zenkai was fortunate that the girl he was hitting on so much was Marlene.

Any other girl would have been terrified by his display... Or his handsiness. Grabbing for the waist and pulling the petite automaton to his chest like that. Fortunately, physical discomfort was not a very familiar concept for Marlene, save for a few instances of it. And there were no people around to keep up the facades of civility for. It was not the physical actions, however inappropriate, that solicited her reaction. 

It was the words, and the promise. 

A declaration of intent, to help her be able to fill every emotion there was. To succeed in the purpose which she was built for. The only thing Marlene really cared for, upon inception. Whether intentional or not, it was the best thing Zenkai could possibly say to her. For the first time, within those dull, dark glass eyes, he'd think he could see... a spark. Filling the machine with determination. Still held close, Marlene reached up, and wrapped her hands on the fellow's collar. Using it to pull him down to her level, given the tremendous height difference. Looking him straight in the eye.

"You will make me feel every emotion possible. I will hold you to that promise."

It was possible to see Marlene's eyes shift a bit to the left, then to the right. Many times, as if she was reading something within her mind, or making calculations. She was quickly revising all that she had read and seen so far, in order to determine what was the next logical procedure for this, arguably, awkward situation. She had to do something, to reciprocate. Zen did promise her the world just now, after all. Something no one else has ever did. Refocusing back on his face, the automaton girl leaned forward. And pressed a small, dry kiss against his lips. It lasted less than a moment, in time.

"To improve your motivation."

Soon enough, the girl was kicked out of Marlene's head, by some unknown force. The automaton couldn't have helped but feel a little bit of relief. She, and her clones, weren't very respectful to the place, no matter the amount of bapping delivered to the top of their heads. Fortunately, it was all over now, so they could continue the conversation face-to-face.

Marlene listened, politely, and attentively, as Thea blabbered something incoherent. It was rude to think such things, but the automaton suspected the girl was a bit delirious from the experience of being shunted out. "I am certain that if you had anything to do with the formation of my memories, you would have remembered it. And were able to overcome the 'memetic hazards'." - she stated, astutely, before returning to her tasteless porridge. Fortunately, Thea offered her something else, for her troubles. A standard conversational opening! Marlene's eyes brightened up a bit. For the first time in this strange exchange, she felt as though she knew what to do. What was expected of her.

"You are correct. I am not a human. I am an automaton, created in the image of Marlene Lovechild, daughter of Helen Lovechild nee Zamenhof, who died during the entrance exams to this Academy, three years ago." 

Marlene felt she could speak freely about all of this, since this girl had already looked through her memories. Much of what she was saying, the automaton assumed, the other already knew.

"I was made to replace the original daughter, live a life in her stead, and accomplish the goals she intended to accomplish. She wanted to be a Hero, so this is what I set out to do."

Having eaten a spoonful, the replica looked at Thea, with her odd, unblinking stare.

"Could you tell me more about yourself?" - she mirrored the question.

Yes, it was because of the librarian joke.

While Marlene gave him back all the books, Zenkai successfully escaped. Her little bit of revenge was complete. But as soon as that happened, the machine went thoughtful, quiet. Why did she do it, really? Was it an impulse, like an emotion? Or did she try and achieve something with it? Was it satisfaction? There was ... nothing really, after that happened. And the absence of anything after the impulse was gone and by was ... thought-provoking, and troubling. 

She was thinking about all the way to the gardens, where she found the tall delinquent that she had become an accomplice to. He was happy to see her, even kissing her on the forehead, like one would a little sister. She did not reject the sign of affection. But when asked about how did it feel to be a prankster and a ne'er-do-well. Marlene processed the feelings and emotions she felt. Or lackthereof. Her shoulders drooped a little, she looked a bit down.

"I know what I should be feeling, but I do not."

Having reached behind herself, the girl pulled out a bag, which she dropped to the ground. It it there were a couple of shovels she took, having found them near the garden. Probably the garden keeper's tools. She picked one of them up, and put the spade to the ground, starting to dig the hole for the chair. A few long moments later, Marlene suddenly broke the silence.

"You said I was literally the best. Who was I being compared with?"