ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Jun 30, 2023 23:04:54 GMT
Post by Marlene Lovechild on Jun 30, 2023 23:04:54 GMT
Marlene tilted her head to the side, as she listened to the idea that Zenkai proposed.
Her expression slowly changed from neutrally-curious, to blatantly incredulous once more. This was the most action at simulating genuine emotion her face received in a while. Usually, she just forgot to do it. However, as she processed the idea, the more ridiculous it was appearing to her.
"You are trying to conceal the damage of your own doing in order to get out of paying for the destroyed chair. And you want me to become an accomplice by helping you smuggle the broken remains out of the library." - the automaton girl stated blatantly. Her eyes shifted away from Zen's face, going left, then right. Namely, towards the corners of the library room. Surely there had to be cameras... somewhere.
"I cannot condone such actions." - she said, picking up the big stack of books full of perverted literature that the librarian had recommended to her. "Neither will I act as a distraction for you to be able to smuggle the remains of the chair out of the library unnoticed, while the librarian is busy processing the books that I am about to return." - Marlene added a very specific denial.
"And any chances of us meeting in the garden afterwards would be completely arbitrary and not premediated in any way or measure." - she added an even more specific denial.
With that, Marlene went over to the librarian desk and placed the large stack on the counter, right in front of the librarian. There had to be at least 20 books in here. All of which he had recommended earlier and made the machine waste her time and effort, thinking she was getting somewhere.
Totally not blocking the view for Zenkai to carry the chair out of the library. For sure. And Marlene was not being petty about a minor grievance. No sir, not petty at all.
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ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Jun 30, 2023 19:29:32 GMT
Post by Marlene Lovechild on Jun 30, 2023 19:29:32 GMT
"I am not a robot. I am an automaton."
Marlene corrected her 'healer', while the girl worked on fixing her joint. There was a difference, from what the machine girl knew. Robots had their intelligence derived from advanced processors and circuitry. They were digital, electronic, and had all the strengths and weaknesses associated with such. She did not. The machine part of her was simply a body for the quirk to inhabit. In essense, she was a ghost in a machine body. Or a magic golem. The analogies were limitless. But she did not doubt her mother's genius.
It was her place to serve, after all.
"I was built three years ago. I was designed to function as a young adult." - Marlene answered the question about her age. The added explanation was necessary, she felt. To avoid confusion of being treated like a child. Though, in many aspects, she did lack vital knowledge and sawwiness about the world. Almost akin to a child. As much as that stoic, unblinking expression would have one believe otherwise. Unfamiliar social situations, in particular, made her feel lost and confused, often.
Marlene waited patiently, her arm powered down and static, while the doctor continued repairs. When asked about if she were questioned about her parts often, she shook her head. "No, I do not get many questions. Most people do not realize that I am a machine, until it is too late." - the girl made a pause, to let the words sink in, before breaking the ominous silence: "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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Jun 30, 2023 19:10:05 GMT
Post by Marlene Lovechild on Jun 30, 2023 19:10:05 GMT
"Be surprised if someone actually died from one of these..."
"They did."
She did. But it was a story for another time. The red robot was defeated, and so were its diminutive friends. But for whomever ran the simulation, it just meant that they should kick it up a notch. Soon enough, two sphere-like machines crash-landed in the area, and assumed direct control over robots. Marlene looked at them without as much as batting an eyelash. Just as they were assessing the threat, so was she. Unfortunately, not everyone took the time. The dragon-boy decided to spring into action, save the people, whatnot.
"The big ones are controlling the small ones. If we destroy the big ones, they stop holding people hostage." - the automaton girl stated, but the hyperactive fellow already flew off to be a big hero. She looked into his direction with a bit of disappointment. "Also, you could replace people by birthing more." - she muttered under her breath. The choice was between trying to save people and getting them recaptured, or trying to destroy their "command and control structure". But they could not do both. These machines seemed bigger than Marlene. Stronger too. She could not do it alone.
So, she chose unity of force over tactical sensibilities. Following Jack's witless lead. Her approach to freeing people was much simpler, though. As soon as she approached one of the machines holding a person, she extended her hand. Wisps of energy shot from the fingertips, connecting with the metallic appendages of the enemy. Their fingers and hands becoming disassembled, and falling down on the ground harmlessly. Freeing the person in question.
"You are free to go." - Marlene says, before punching the robot. Caving his head in with a single blow.
"We should change the priority to the big robots." - the automaton girl insisted.
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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 Jun 23, 2023 0:15:29 GMT
The books being thrown kept floating up, and bapping the clones of Thea on the head.
Their defiance met with methodical patience of the machine. They will be bapped for as long as it is needed, until they started treating the place respectfully. The large Marlene on the screen that made up one of the walls continued to observe the one true Thea, as she went about her search through the depths of her mind. Soon enough, blurs appeared on other walls, before being replaced by more faces. Marlene was watching from all four corners now, highly aware of her rambunctious guests.
Eventually, they discovered something interesting.
An aisle among aisles, without any marking, and what seemed to be outside of Marlene's control to pull out books and levitate them. A quizzical expression appeared on her faces.
"I do not know. I cannot access these files. I assume these have been left by my mother, and have been shielded against tampering."
Like System 32 files in an operating system. At least, that is what Marlene assumed. This girl knew better, it seemed. Or was just plain silly. As she tried to force her way towards the aisle, Marlene saw her form starting to blur. As if her very existence was being challenged by whatever was on the other side.
"Are you alright? You are fading out." - Marlene stated. She would stoically continue waiting for her guest to get out of there. Or perish in whatever protective systems kept that place from being accessed. 'I should ask my mother about this one. Where else could it have come from?'
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ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Jun 22, 2023 22:58:58 GMT
Post by Marlene Lovechild on Jun 22, 2023 22:58:58 GMT
"Yes, yes it is."
Marlene replied to Zenkai's assertion that he had a fat butt. Whether he knew it or not, or whether Marlene realized it, his decision to rightfully take all the blame was ... appreciated. The automaton did not like comments about her weight. She was aware of it, after having destroyed a couple of her mother's old chairs. She was reminded of it every time she walked into a crowded elevator and the weight overload alarm bleeped red. It was ... the closest thing she felt to embarrassment. And annoyance. Why were bad things so much easier to feel than good ones?
The machine's mind refocused from trying to find answers to that philosophical inquiry, and towards what they were doing.
Her eyes scanned through the page that talked about finding a good place for a date.
"The book does not recommend cinema and restaurants for the first date." - Marlene said, summarizing her findings. "It says that in a cinema theater, both participants are too busy looking at the screen and following the film, to be interacting with one another. A dinner date means that their mouths would be often too busy to talk. It also puts a lot of pressure on either individual to generate conversation."
She flipped a few pages over.
"The book recommends mutually-enjoyable activities, games, and sports. Ice skating is presented as an example." - the automaton girl quirked an eyebrow. She never tried skating before. Then again, she never tried much of anything, it being only three years since her construction. When Zenkai said he had ideas, Marlene looked at him a bit incredulously.
"What ideas do you have?"
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ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Jun 22, 2023 22:39:32 GMT
Post by Marlene Lovechild on Jun 22, 2023 22:39:32 GMT
Marlene's head tilted towards the other girl, as she helped three people to safety, while muttering about having it all figured out.
'She must have it all figured out.' - the automaton girl drew a conclusion. 'I should follow her lead.'
Marlene did just that, standing still, standing guard, while the three hostages were rescued. Sounds of fighting and explosions were coming from a different part of the battlefield, where their teammate had run off to. Soon enough, he appeared, in an arc of smoke following him, as the blast brought him over to the rest. One way or another, they indeed had regrouped.
"Hello. Everything is going alright. We have not lost a single casualty, yet." - Marlene replied to the boy, as he looked at her upside down. Her observation was accurate, if somewhat morbid. Reaching down, she grabbed the dragon-boy by the collar, and helped him up on his feet. Despite being relatively small, the automaton girl was strong enough to lift a person up like that with one hand.
Just as the three of them regrouped, so did some of the robots, running from around the corner. These seemed more well-armored than the rest. They were led by a robot colored in rusty red, likely to inspire fear in targets. And ... he had a gun. Marlene moved forward, putting herself between these and her companions, just as a few blaster bolts were shot their way. Both hit her in the chest, making her stagger slightly. The shots burnt holes in her uniform. Still, not a single muscle twitched on her face.
"Hello." - Marlene greeted the robots, with a serene, neutral expression. She then walked towards them, hands balling into fists. One of the well-armored robots charged and tried to wrestle her. The girl caught his hands into his, the two machines fighting each other to a stalemate. She would need help, though.
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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 Jun 20, 2023 0:17:24 GMT
"... Why do you insist on doing that?"
Marlene returned the bap, as it was customary among humans, apparently. Still, she did not object to her hand being taken. This young man was puzzling the machine, to say the least. He laughed a lot. What was it so funny that she did? The book was appropriate, as both of them appeared to have next to no experience on the matter. 'Perhaps it is that coincidence that he found humorous...' - the automaton thought to herself, as she was brought to a reading table.
The giant boi sat on the chair, and Marlene heard the chair's legs squeak pitifully under his weight. She knew that sound. It was the same sound chairs made under her when she sat on them. The fellow was heavy. Which made what happened next an even sketchier idea, as he picked up her petite frame, and pulled it over to his lap. For a brief moment, the poker-face the automaton had about herself broke, instead turning into concenrn.
"Wait! I do not think that is a good..."
*CRRRRRACK!*
The poor piece of furniture could not withstand 950 lbs of combined weight on top of it. Its legs crumbled underneath and went into separate directions. The seat of the chair would end up on the floor, with Zenkai on top of it, and Marlene - on top of his lap.
"... idea." - the girl finished the sentence, though the sound of her voice had a reverb of deflatedness and resignation to it. She stood up from his lap and dusted off her dress, before turning around to face the giant doofus, still sitting on the floor. "You will have to compensate the library for the destruction of their property." - she made an emphasis on the first word, before taking another chair, and carefully sitting on it. Very carefully. Testing the waters first. This incident reminded the automaton of her own weight, something she was very acutely aware of. Her lips thinned a little without her commanding it, her face expressing a shadow of a frown. It's like these expressions appeared on its own. She opened the book.
"I will read the first chapter. How to plan a date in ten easy steps. Step one. Come up with an awesome date night idea..."
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ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Jun 19, 2023 15:36:36 GMT
Post by Marlene Lovechild on Jun 19, 2023 15:36:36 GMT
Many clones of Thea went about the library of Marlene's mind, looking into tomes and casting them aside without any permission or care.
The tomes tossed away did not reach the "floor". Instead, they remained suspended in the air. They would bap the clones that tossed them, on the head, before returning back to where they were, on their respective shelves. The voice would appear again, out of nowhere, ephemeral. It did not sound angry, but ... chiding, in a way.
"Please be careful and do not toss my memories around. You are a guest here."
The far wall of the place blurred, static running through it, and it became semi-transparent for a while, enabling the visitors to see clockwork mechanisms, cogs and wheels turning. It was like looking on the inside of a person's mechanical skull, for a bit. It was then replaced by the "screen" projecting Marlene's face, which looked giant, occupying the whole wall in this library, making her visitors seem small in comparison. She looked at one of them. The original one. Focusing her eyes on her, specifically.
"I did not lie to you about us not knowing each other. The first time we ever briefly interacted was during the entrance exams."
One of the tapes vibrated and was pulled off the shelf, as if held by some unseed telekinetic force, and hovered its way towards the real Thea.
"If you want search for yourself, you may. I have nothing that I would care to hide. The first memories that I possess are in the isle marked current year minus three. The implanted memories are in the isles dated before that. I could help you in your search, if you'd like."
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ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Jun 18, 2023 22:42:52 GMT
Post by Marlene Lovechild on Jun 18, 2023 22:42:52 GMT
Among the three students taking this exams, stood one.
An unassuming girl, barely 5'3'', wearing a simple white and green sports suit. While the others might have felt anxiety or even fear of what were to come, there was not a single emotion written on her face. Apart from idle curiosity. This was not Marlene's first exams she took to enter the UAU. In fact, it was her second attempt. The first one was very similar, in many ways. There too, were robots. There too, were people to save. Only with a few key differences. She was made of flesh and blood. She was much more anxious. And, in the end... she died.
It was an accident. Not the robots glitching out, nor was it teammates hitting her with a stray shot. It was just... a piece of debris falling on her. She remembered the event well. From a third-party view. No emotions were connected to the memory. Only knowledge. Marlene was better now. The powers were still there. Only the body was made of metal. Capable of withstanding even the harshest of punishments.
She knew her mother-creator was watching. This was the first step towards her goal. Their goal. She would pass, for this was her purpose.
The automaton girl assessed her allies. One was boisterous and eager to engage the machines. He shot brilliant rays of energy, which slashed through the weaker droids like hot knife through butter. The other one was a girl of unknown qualities. She did not look particularly strong, but appearances were deceiving, here. Still, each one had a role to play.
"Hello." - Marlene greeted everyone, though her attention was focused on the girl, as the boy had already ran forward. "I will defeat the robots in my path and help pull the injured individuals out. Can you bring them to safety?"
As she asked, one of the weaker bots made a beeline to her and clocked Marlene on the head. A metallic thunk rang against her, but she did not flinch, nor move. Instead, she turned around and returned the favor. The machine lost its head and fell to the ground. More were coming. Marlene walked towards them, and delivered swatting hits to each and every one. Their heads and torsos caved in, as they tumbled back and fell. Approaching one of the hostages, their leg stuck under a pillar, she lifted it with one hand, and pulled them by the collar away, with the other.
"Be not afraid. My teammate will take care of you."
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ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Jun 18, 2023 22:05:35 GMT
Post by Marlene Lovechild on Jun 18, 2023 22:05:35 GMT
"More undergarments?"
Marlene looked at Zenkai, her expression slightly incredulous. She looked at herself, as if inspecting the dress she was wearing. It was very conservative - a long double-skirt, leggings, shirt and everything. Very fancy. Her mother's gift for graduation. "Were they wearing winter clothes?" - she asked. Assuming that whatever those more emotional robots from the manga had was even more conservative, somehow. Maybe she should investigate that, sometime.
Turning around, fully, Marlene now observed Zenkai. Now he acted more like in some of those books she had read. He seemed flustered, despite being such a big and confident fellow. Well, if he were to assume the role of the shyer and sheepish partner in this play, it behooved the automaton girl to take the lead. And unlike beings of flesh, plagued by their own insecurities, the machine had no such weaknesses. Still, it paid to be prepared. Seeing Zenkai's confusion, Marlene explained:
"It is simple. I have not been to a date before. It would be a new experience."
She kept the book she was given, the one about Aharen the incomprehensible. She would read it in full, later. Instead, she moved over to a different shelf. One that was about psychology, self-help books, and all kinds of relationship advice. Conveniently, it was placed not too far away from the manga shelves, next to where the section ended. Looking over the books, she fished one out, and turned to Zen, showing the book she had in hand. The title of the book was as follows:
'Dating and Relationships - for Dummies.'
She fished out another copy, and approached Zen. Handing it over to him, silently.
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ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Jun 17, 2023 16:34:51 GMT
Post by Marlene Lovechild on Jun 17, 2023 16:34:51 GMT
"Your apology is accepted."
Marlene did not sound angry, or upset. Or disappointed, even. It was very hard for her to do it. When he did announce that his romantic intentions were, in fact, intentions, the automaton girl began thinking. She started processing what she just heard. Making friends was difficult in the academy. It was even harder back home, when approaching her old acquaintances from a different life. But this fellow, and so quickly... they barely knew each other. Was her mother's work so aesthetically pleasing? The opportunities for learning to be human would be greatly expanded. By all means, it was... a glorious success.
"... As is your declaration of intent."
A shadow of a smile appeared on her features.
Opening the manga, she started to look through the pages. Unlike most robots, who just browsed through the book in a second, she took time to look at every image, and read every line. Either she took her time, or she wasn't capable of the "speed-reading" shown by others of 'her kind'. She looked at the expressions, the words being said, and the circumstances. Almost missing whatever it was that Zenkai was talking about. Almost.
"I have never heard of a manga where a machine falls in love." - Marlene said, almost absent-mindedly. Inside of her mind, she already began scanning her memories, to figure out if she had ever experienced an emotion that could be described in a similar manner. She had do, if she were supposedly to return any romantic affections, were she not? There was ... very little that would match. The closest thing to it was the feeling of odd contentness, back when her creator was happy with the job she was doing. As clumsy at that was. Now, Marlene's expression took on a more serious note.
"I will need help with that."
The feeling, or the book?
Probably, both.
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ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Jun 16, 2023 16:39:36 GMT
Post by Marlene Lovechild on Jun 16, 2023 16:39:36 GMT
"No, it does not hurt. I cannot feel most things. I just register minor damage."
It was a very robot-like response. However, even though the excruciating feelings of having one's elbow destroyed were something not available to Marlene, she could still feel upset over being damaged. Could it constitute as a substitute for pain? A question for another time. Because, as soon as her quirk-strands started coming out, her repair-person bolted away like a skittish girl she was. The automaton girl looked at her, then at the curious energy strands, then at her again.
"I am sorry. That is the extension of the energy that moves me. It is harmless. Allow me to de-energise the limb."
Having said that, Marlene made a mental command for her body to do just that. The energy strands let go of the tiny pieces they have been fiddling with, going back into her arm, and further into her body. The arm slumped back onto the table with an audible thunk, as if no longer supported by whatever was in it that kept it suspended against the rest of the body. The automaton shifted herself a bit, to get into a better position, for herself and the support student working on her.
"You may proceed. I apologize for the interuption. I did not mean to scare you." - the machine promised, after scanning Morgan's facial expression. That girl hardly made an effort to hide her emotions, with dilated pupils and refusal to come closer. 'I should have thought about it beforehand.' - Marlene chided herself. 'Humans are skittish. They are often afraid of ... me.'
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ALIAS
Automata
OCCUPATION
7/11 Employee
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
Ghost in the Machine
Archived
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Jun 16, 2023 15:53:50 GMT
Post by Marlene Lovechild on Jun 16, 2023 15:53:50 GMT
Marlene's new friend's behavior had changed.
He was being very handsy, allowing himself to invade her personal space, and letting his hands go below than just the shoulders. The automaton girl paid it no heed, for a while. While the sudden looming, hugging, and other notions would have made most girls extremely uncomfortable, she did not feel threatened by it. With Zen being so close, he could hear and feel small whirrs and ticking sounds coming from underneath her clothes, and her skin. It was like holding on to a human-shaped clock, in a way. Even when she moved, there were small whirrs coming from the joints, telling the story of what was hidden beneath.
Nevertheless, she was aware of the human concepts of appropriate behavior. When she felt her ear being touched by his lips, the girl inclined her head a bit forward, and then back, suddenly. The back of her metal head meeting his lips and teeth. Bump.
"Please, do not stand so close. We are not yet that well-acquainted for it to be appropriate." - Marlene said. She did not sound angry, though her words did come across as chiding. "Or am I to take your actions as a declaration of intent?" - she added a question, bluntly. To be honest with herself, the machine girl did not know how to react to such behavior. None of the humans she knew ever behaved in such a way, before. And the books she read so far were not of much help. Marlene only had the rules of human etiquette to rely on, at this time.
Still, she allowed her hand to be guided toward the books, and fished out the issue of Aharen the Incomprehensible. It was recommended, and her new acquaintance did say the main heroine was similar to herself. Did he refer to the child on the cover page? If Marlene had the capacity for it, she might have felt a bit demeaned by the comparison. Her eyebrow quirked a bit.
"What is this book about?" - the girl asked, turning her head to face Zen. The head turned to an angle a bit too uncomfortable, for a human.
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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 Jun 16, 2023 0:07:54 GMT
Marlene picked up the book placed on the top of her head, and looked at it, as Zenkai explained that the books she spent a few days reading were next to useless to her goal. A very ... believable frown appeared on the automaton's otherwise neutral poker-face. She closed the book, loudly, slamming the pages against one another. And put the book away, to the rest of the pile. "I have received poor recommendations, then." - she said, thinning her lips. "I assumed the librarian was an expert, not a rank amateur. How very silly... of me."
Though her voice remained neutral, Marlene certainly sounded a bit stingy, there.
She did not resist Zenkai's attempt to drag her along, but she did walk at her own pace. He could have dragged her if he wanted to, with some effort. He was a pretty strong fellow. And almost two feet taller than her, too. Her shoulder felt sharp underneath that dress of hers. One could guess a layer of silicone, but it was thin. One could tell for certain that there was a lot of metal put into the dainty doll-like frame of hers. The young man promised to help her pick actual books to help study human emotion, which is what the automaton needed. She had no reason to distrust him, unlike a certain librarian she could mention. He seemed helpful, and not at all disturbed by Marlene's apparent nature. It was a rare enough thing, for which the girl was thankful for. As Zen promised to put her on the right path, she nodded.
"I appreciate your help. I hope to learn much from you. You seem very emotional." - Marlene said, in the reference to the outburst of laughter earlier, despite the fact a library was a place one was supposed to keep quiet in. She remained unperturbed to the off-hand implication of her wanting to do the 'hanky-panky'. Which, if her analysis was correct, was one of a million euphemisms humans came up with to avoid directly calling the process.
"I am capable of performing the deed. It is not what I am looking to do, at this time. What books would you recommend to me, instead?"
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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 Jun 15, 2023 4:41:26 GMT
Marlene's eyes were made of glass.
They were attentive, alright. They moved back and forth, as if scanning Zenkai's face expression. They focused on his eyes. As he blinked, so did she, a moment or two later. It was a motion he did not see her do before. The automaton was obviously capable of it. Only ... it seemed to require a conscious effort to do so. But she did not divert her gaze. The two were staring at each other. Had it not been an empty library, onlookers would've considered it odd. And then...
Bap.
Marlene returned the favor, bapping the big guy with her book, again. The conversation went about books. Zenkai told her about his. The expression on the automaton's face turned thoughtful, for a moment, as she processed this new information. "Strange premise. If they love each other, why would they not say so to one another? It would save everyone time and effort." - Marlene said, before giving it another thought. "Unless it is a courting ritual of some kind. The book I read right now is titled Naked Came the Stranger. It is very straightforward. Stay-at-home wife finds plumber attractive. They have sex."
She summarized the book in two sentences. The quality of it could tell one that the assortment of literature had little to no value on learning how humans function... And that the librarian was pulling a practical joke on a naive machine that did not know better. The boop to her nose distracted the automaton girl briefly, making both of her eyes focus on the tip of her nose. Which made her otherwise emotionless face appear silly. Her skin was lukewarm, and felt like silicone. Though, appearance-wise, very lifelike.
As for her objectives in trying to acquire knowledge, Marlene responded.
"I wish to learn about emotions so that I could imitate them better. Humans would be deceived into coming closer, and by the time they discover the ruse, it would be too late."
The automaton said it with a dead serious tone. An uneasy silence followed. Then, suddenly, she reached forward with her hand. Her finger, metallic and sharp, under a thin layer of artificial skin, flicked against the tip of Zenkai's nose.
"That was a joke."
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