Glorious success!

A helpful person was acquired. Now all Marlene had to do was sit tight and let the master of repairs do repairs for her. Hopefully, she would be proficient enough with it that mother would not need to be bothered with fixing her up. She did not want to disappoint her creator any more so than she already did, and taking damage in a training exercise would surely add to her ire. A barely noticeable shadow of worry crossed Marlene's face, as she thought of it.

But when the green-haired girl came over, and told her what to do, the train of thought focused on the Now. Marlene was very good at following what she was told to do.

"Very well. You can perform the incisions yourself." - she said, putting the scalpel down, with its handle towards the person. The glasses-wearing girl asked for information, and the automaton girl would provide.

"My name is Marlene Lovechild. I am a year one student at UAU. The damaged parts are as follows: Great wheel, 38 mm., Secondary wheel, 24 mm., Cannon pinion 20 mm, type 5, mainspring..." - Marlene listed out a number of components, totaling 20. There was an oddity about them, though. None of these were robotic parts, cybernetic in any way or measure. These were ... parts of clockwork mechanisms. Some of these Morgan might even recognize if she had ever gotten her hands on a grandfather's clock. After having listed off the parts, the automaton girl finished, on an opened note:

"I do not have the blueprints with me on hand. It is considered intellectual property of my mother. Thank you for your assistance, though." - she said, and an awkward silence followed. It was only broken by another question, from a curious machine:

"What is your name?"

With the Babel tower of books having been dropped onto the floor, it behooved both of them to pick it up.

Marlene did not expect any assistance, but it was offered anyway. The giant fellow being eager to offer assistance. Marlene read a few comic books that started exactly like this. Usually the guy in those stuttered, blushed, and expressed other forms of flustration. This one did not. He noticed the contents, though. And even called her out for being a pervert of some kind or another. The automaton girl half-considered to do what people in those comics she read, did, and slap him across the aisle. Not because she was angry, but it seemed like a very personable thing to do. She did not. Instead, looking up at him, not a hint of blush on her pale face.

"No, it is not what I am here for." - Marlene said without a hint of embarrassment in her voice. Her tone was very neutral, unusually so. She put the pile of books on the table next to her.

"I seek to understand emotion, better. The librarian recommended me these books." - she nodded towards the pile, the top title being something corny like "In the Night Comes the Stranger". Her eyes shifted towards the book that Zenkai was reading. With how short she was compared to him, it was easy to see the title from down below. From it, Marlene made an educated guess on what it was about. 

"Are you interested in the same subject?" - the girl asked curiously. "In one of the books I read, running into someone is how the story begins." - she said, pulling one of the books out and browsing through its pages.

"Your reaction is all wrong, though. You are supposed to blush and be embarrassed. Why do you not feel the need to?"

Such strange questions, and an equally odd train of thought. Yet she seemed genuine in her inquiries. Marlene tilted her head up, eyes unblinking. She waited for an answer.

UAU was a place of many discoveries for Marlene.

A thing she discovered today was that she were not, in fact, invincible. Durable, sure, but not invulnerable. During a sparring practice, she was placed against a very strong student. The teachers knew Marlene was sturdy, did not feel pain, or fear for that matter. A perfect sparring partner. The student in question wailed on her, until he got tired. But, with enough force and determination, managed to break her elbow joint. After the class, Marlene saw the nurse. The woman could not do much, she was trained to deal with human injuries. Or... organic, anyway.

Which was why the automaton girl found herself where she was. In the UAU support labs, home of the support class students. She walked past some of them, her arm lifelessly hanging in an arm-sling, her eyes scanning the area for any familiar faces. A challenging task, when one is a new student. Of course, she could have always gone home, and asked her mother to do the maintenance. But... she did not want to bother mother with something like that.

Perhaps, instead, one of these friendly tinkerers would help out? The damage was not that extensive, just a few cogs to be replaced, surely...

"Excuse me, can you help me with something?"

Marlene asked one student, then another, and another. Some of them seemed flustered or bewildered by her request of assistance. None of them took a chance of "fixing" the odd student. Something about personal responsibility or a lack of experience. After a dozen inquiries or so, and a dozen of rejections, the automaton was slowly being convinced that she would have to perform maintenance on her own. She did not have much experience, but she had her quirk still. Maybe it would be enough. She went about gathering materials around the place. Cogs, springs, etcetera. Carrying a tray with some, to the workbench, in one hand, she had almost run into a tall girl. Or was it a boy? Hard to tell. The automaton stopped, as running into her would be like running into a 450-lbs safe. She looked over the new person with her unblinking glass eyes. She did not bother this one before, with her request. She would repeat it.

"Excuse me..."

Someone came over.

Marlene's head tilted up to look at the person who decided to share a table with her. She had the look of a delinquent about herself - a stark contrast to what the automaton looked like. Where she was tidy, the other one was messy. Where one was polite, the other was bordering on the edge of rude. Not even asking for permission to share the table or saying hello. Only a statement of unfamiliarity. It would have bothered Marlene... if she could be bothered at all. Unable to get particularly upset, even if she wanted to.

"We have not met."

She stated, after scanning her memory for any similarities with this person. Past or present. Those that belonged to her, and others that were someone else's. There were none. A pity. Hopefully, this person would want to talk. Or even become a friend. It has been... increasingly difficult for Marlene to make any. People who used to know the original self were not so... keen on reconnecting.

She ate a spoonful of gruel, curiously watching the girl consume her food with all the manners of an animal.

"My name is Marlene. I am a first-year student at this academy. What is yours?" - she asked. - she asked. ‘Table conversations with strangers are a way to establish familiarity and rapport.’ – she thought. All while watching food fly about from the overly enthusiastic eating. ‘Does mother want me to behave this way?’ – she wondered, idly. A few droplets landed on her, prompting the machine to fetch a handkerchief and remove the droplets, before they could soak into the dress. ‘Doubtful.’

Marlene did not expect to have ended up here.

But on her way through the hallway, a very nondescript student handed her a flyer, and said that many students are encouraged to participate in the interview. The automaton girl did not see these "many students" lining up next to the interview room, but assumed that it was a thing that all students had to do, eventually. She had some time, and there was no need to be in a hurry. And if humans did this, so did she need to participate. If she were to understand and replicate them better.

The girl walked inside. Very properly dressed, in a black-and-white dress that made her look like a maid of some kind. She walked over to the chair, giving the camera an odd, unblinking look. She sat very carefully, and supported the chair with her hands, to not make it creak against the floor, when approximately 450 pounds of weight descended on her. For a very petite-looking girl, Marlene was heavier than most. A secret she did not wish to expose to cameras. With a press of the button of the laptop, her interview would start.

        1) What makes you unique?

Marlene read the first question out loud. She thought about it, for a moment. It was a question that baffled most people. The automaton, however, knew an answer to that straight away. It took her only a moment to consider it. The girl spoke in an even, neutral tone. As if taking a job interview. Her expression equally dispassionate. Looking into the camera with an unblinking gaze, she answered:

"There is only one Marlene Lovechild."

'That is alive, at least.' - she added, in her mind, before moving on to the next question.

        2) What are some random, fun facts about you?

"Sometimes, I break pencils with my fingers. It happens on accident." - the machine shrugged a bit, imitating a human motion. It seemed appropriate for the question, and the situation.

        3) What is something you want to learn or wish you were better at?

"I would like to be more personable, and understand how people act." - Marlene replied to this very personal question, earnestly. She did not hide her mission, or anything, really. It was hard to be embarrassed about something, if you could hardly feel embarrassment at all.

        4) Do you know any good jokes? If so, what is it?

"I enjoy the sight of humans on their knees." - Marlene spoke, her tone cold and terrifying. A small smile appeared on her face, at the end. "That was a joke."

        5) Have any pet peeves? If so, which comes to mind first?

This question made Marlene think. One could almost see her processing all of her memory up to this moment, to figure something out.

"I do not mind most things. But I appreciate neatness and tidiness."

        6) What is your favorite place on Earth?

"My favorite place on Earth is my home. It is where my family resides."

        7) Who are the special people in your life?

"My mother. I would not be here, without her."

        8) What is something you are proud of?

The question made Marlene think again. She diligently scanned her memory for events that would fit the bill. A shadow of a frown crossed her face, as she looked back into the lens of the camera.

"Nothing."