sweetdevil | 18th ♫ | it's like I'm carrying the weight of the world

[Scientists of various disciplines were in no short supply across the civilization of Solheim, wrought in stone and iron and glowing red magitek circuitry. Mad scientists were, luckily, few and far between. Of course there were some a bit more obsessive with their work than others...and one such half-crazed genius lived in the grand capital of Oskopnir, carefully connecting the last few wires on his latest and most ambitious project.]

[Ardyn Lucis Caelum had built engines, airships, alarm clocks, and all manner of devices, but this was something far more special. For here he was, solidly in his mid-30s and finding himself in an unfortunate quandary: apart from his twin brother and a handful of friends, he had no family to speak of. Truth be told, he'd always wanted a daughter and was just the right combination of mad and lonely to try something absurd.]

[Satisfied with the work he'd put forth, Ardyn closed the panel on the girl's arm (hardly perfectly passable for human, but more similar to a doll than an outright robot), straightened out her shirt collar, and spoke carefully.]

There we are-...that should do it. Can you hear me?

[ She hears him.

Her eyes have been open this entire time, blank and seeing nothing. But at his words, something seems to slide into place behind them. Though they're still as overly reflective and still that uncanny shade of green-yellow that looks too vivid to have happened naturally, they're suddenly not the eyes of a doll anymore. There's light and movement behind them, something whirring into life.

She blinks. Her eyelids flutter anxiously a few times, as if testing the movement and finding something about it difficult to process. But then it settles into a rhythm that looks more natural. More real.

Then her eyes focus properly, on Ardyn and she dips her head just once. ]

Yes. I can hear you.

[ Her voice is soft and level but the rhythm of her speech is just a little bit off. The pauses between her words aren't too long, but they're too uniform and there's little variation in the tone of her speech. But, like the now easy-rhythm of her blinking, that too should come in time. Hopefully. ]

Ah, spectacular. [He clasped oil-stained hands together excitedly, nearly dropping the screwdriver he'd used to close her casing. The cadence needed work, but there was no rush on that. If all went as planned she'd simply adapt through experience.]

Are you feeling well--that is to say, does your body have any restricted or limited movement as far as you're aware?

[ She doesn't answer immediately. Instead, she sets her hands carefully on the arms of the chair and gradually pushes herself to her feet. Something creaks gently -- it isn't the wood of the chair but something distinctly other. Not a sound that any human should make.

She stretches out her arms, first to the side and then brings them together until her wrists touch. Fingers flex, elbows bend and then finally her arms relax at her sides. None of it is smooth. It's still clumsy and too stiff and mechanical but at the very least, it's movement. ]

No movement impeded, as far as I'm aware. Some residual stiffness remains in both knee and elbow joints. However, I expect this will resolve itself in time.

Excellent. [It was certainly a start, at least.] You can sit back down, if you like. [He twirled the screwdriver idly in his hand before it disappeared into a pocket, Ardyn rummaging through several more as he spoke.]

Now, where to start...first I should like to tie some of that hair out of your face if you don't mind, it'll be a bit easier for you to see.

[ And sit back down she does. She doesn't feel any particularly strong way about standing or sitting, but that sounded like a request so she'll take it as one. Her posture is neat as a pin -- back straight and flat against the chair and her hands folded politely in her lap. She could almost pass for a well-mannered young lady of Solheim if it wasn't for the distinct lack of anything happening on her face. ]

That is fine. [ still a little clunky, but there's just a touch more variation in pitch in her tone now. ] Should I remain seating, as you said?

[ If she stands, he won't have to lean over. But he'd requested that she sit. ]

That's entirely up to you, darling. [Ardyn knelt down to be on her level, gently tying her hair out of her face with a ribbon from his pocket.]

My name is Ardyn. It's a pleasure to meet you.

[ Oh. A name.

That's right -- she doesn't have a name, does she? Is she expected to come up with one for herself, as an introduction? Or has not not chosen one yet? She doesn't look troubled, exactly -- she can't exactly do that just yet -- but the pause before her response certainly speaks volumes. ]

And what is mine?

Well, we don't know yet.

[Ardyn frowned slightly as he finished, tapping a finger against his head thoughtfully.]

What sort of name do you think you would like?

[ Oh. So the choice really is her own, after all. That gives her pause again and it's clear the question is whirring around (quite literally) in her head. A name isn't quite as simple as deciding to stay seated or to rise but here it is, the choice in her hands and she's not quite sure it's one she wants to make yet.

So after a moment of consideration she gives a little shake of her head. ]

... I'm not sure. Something like a name... should have a little more thought put into it?

[ There's an upturn to the end of her words that make it clear she's asking that, rather than stating it. ]

Perhaps, yes. But it's also something that you can change later, should you find yourself dissatisfied with it. Quite a lot of people do that at one point or another.

... I think I might wait.

[ After all, there's no point in rushing. ]

I would rather wait to find the right name than settle on something because I felt I had to.

Very well. I do suppose that leaves the matter of what to call you in the meantime, but it's no terrible catastrophe.

... Will I be going by your surname?

[ It's going to have to be something that matches that, if she is, after all. ]

If you would like to, it's yours. My full name is 'Ardyn Lucis Caelum'.

"Lucis" for "Light" and "Caelum" for "Sky".

[ She hangs her head for a moment, looking down at her still neatly folded hands. Light and sky. Well. There's a consistent motif to work with, at least.

She tilts her chin back up and gives him a nod. ]

Then I will try and find something to follow on with that.

And 'Ardyn' for...well, 'ardent'. Well done.

[He smiled gently, tilting his head in interest.]

We'll have to get you some more clothes as well, along with anything else you might like.

But apart from clothes, I already have much of what I need.

[ She can't quite manage confusion in her inflection yet but the slight tilt of her head, intentional or not, sells it well enough. ]

What else would we need to buy?

Well, my darling, there is actually a slight distinction between what one needs and what one might want. Sylleblossoms, for example, serve very little function and yet people keep and cultivate them because they enjoy looking at flowers. Do you understand? It’s not a question of strict necessity, but of whether or not you decide you like something.

[ For a moment, it looks like she’s not quite getting it. It’s not much, just a tiny narrowing of the eyes that makes it clear she’s mulling it over. But then something seems to click and she blinks, then nods.

Yes. Now she understands. After all—there was no need for her own existence in the first place, was there? The only reason she’s aware and even able to consider the question at all is because someone had wanted her to.

It’s a nice thought. She can’t quite feel too strongly about it just yet, newborn as she is, but the idea still resonates pleasantly enough. ]

I think I do. …But I’m not quite sure what “something I like” would be.

[ Ah, well. Baby steps and all. ]

That's quite alright. I'm only saying that if we should find something you decide you like, there's little reason you shouldn't get it along the way.

[ Another little nod. She sets her hands on the arms of the chair and makes to push herself up again. But then, as a thought strikes her, she stops where she is. The effect is honestly a little creepy. It's less like a human being deciding to stop where they are and more like someone's hit the pause button on her. ]

... will there be other people while we look? Lots of them?

There could be--Oskopnir's kind of a large city.

[He tilted his head slightly, regarding her with a look of faint curiosity. That was an unexpected reaction, but rather than question it he simply let it play out.]

Would that bother you?

I think...

[ And for a brief, wonderfully human moment, something in her expression flickers. She looks passably downcast, her brow creases and she looks for all the world like a girl rather than a doll.

But the moment passes and her frown smoothes out as she looks back up at him. ]

They will know what I am. Won't they? They will be able to tell I am something different.

Hm...maybe. [Ardyn tapped a finger against his face in thought, pausing before simply answering with a shrug.]

But I find people already take it for granted that my brother and I are something of the unusual sort. They tend to not question much--and even if they do, what of it? You're just as magnificently unique as any human, and there's no shame to be had in that.

18th ♫ | it's like I'm carrying the weight of the world

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