01 - The Jelly Incident

[marvelous_murderbot]

[The camera comes on to Guri who looks...completely normal, sitting there. But mildly off-put.]

It appears that the first unusual incident has already happened - fortunately enough, I was never a child or adolescent, so I have been spared that, however there are certain aggravating effects nonetheless.

So since I will retain this form, if anybody is in need of an adult to help watch over the children, I can certainly...

[Her hair seems to move.]

Oh, bother

[And a mass of golden hair suddenly appears, erupting outwards like a Christmas tree being cut from its wrapping, covering her face and dropping all the way to her waist. There is a moment of pause, tapping her hand on her knee before parting the hair.]

My hair does grow, so it keeps coming back. All of it.

Comments

[video]

[onehandsomeslickninja]

This may not be the time for it, but you should consider keeping the long hair.

[Edge. Priorities. Jeez.]

Re: [video]

[marvelous_murderbot]

[It may not be the best of priorities, but it does raise questions for her.]

I usually keep it shoulder-length. Obviously the mass is the problem rather than the length. This is the sixth time this has occurred.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

It just looks really good on you! [Edge rubs the back of his head, grinning awkwardly beneath his mask.] Besides, it might just pop back to normal at the end of this, so you could take some time to enjoy it and consider the change when this is all done!

[marvelous_murderbot]

Well, thank you, but the predicament is that it keeps coming back as one mass, so I either have to keep cutting it or become a blond piece of plant life since I can no longer properly move.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Well, I should've been clear and said I meant when this was all over, you should keep it. But it's very strange that you keep going backwards like that when most other people stopped... [Is it because she didn't have a past, apparently, to judge from what she'd said?]

[marvelous_murderbot]

I am not 'other people', and since I was created fully-formed, all that grows or changes on me is my hair. So I guess that is what this...effect focused on.

Also, how much do you think I should keep?

[onehandsomeslickninja]

As much as you're comfortable with, without it compromising your abilities! [Whatever they are. He assumes fighting is one of them.]

I'm interested in that story if you want to tell it though.

[marvelous_murderbot]

[A mass of it is tossed back with some effort so she can properly see.]

I usually keep it to just below shoulder length, really. I like it, aesthetically. But it does not impede functionality.

And where would you like me to begin?

[sciencegirl]

As someone with a lot of hair, that seems inconvenient when you can't just move it out of the way.

Is it following any sort of schedule?

[marvelous_murderbot]

[She lifts a mass of it it, looking curious.]

Yours responds to command?

And so far, I believe it is occurring at rotating intervals of two hours, followed by forty-five minutes.

[subcircuits]

[Oh no. Hair. Not many folks on the train know this yet, but Devero has a weakness for hair.]

I assume you've been cutting the regrowth? Would it be an option to just... keep it long, for now?

[marvelous_murderbot]

That was an early consideration, after the second regrowth. However, if left to its own devices, it begins to impede my movement. And I cannot properly see

[subcircuits]

Have you tried... putting it up? Or is there something more going on than just having a lot of hair? [He's thinking of Entrapta's magic hair there for sure.]

[marvelous_murderbot]

It has escaped all means of control thus far. I have yet to find any suitable rope or other material that may control the mass.

But it still inhibits movement, and is very distracting.

[subcircuits]

Would you mind if I tried? I'm... kind of good with hair. [He sounds a little sheepish as he says it, but the offer is sincere nonetheless.]

[marvelous_murderbot]

[She shrugs.]

It is a better solution than several daily self-performed haircuts. If you can control it, I would be grateful.

[subcircuits]

[His eyes light up.] Let's see what I can do for you, then. I'd need to grab some things out of my cabin but I can meet you somewhere after that.

[marvelous_murderbot]

Agreed. I will meet you in my cabin, then.

Video

[soldier_blade]

[Cue a really..not entirely confused, but more inquisitive teenager.] How were you never a kid or teenager...[If the woman doesn't feel the need to be shy, she doesn't feel bad in asking about it.] Are you a robot or something...or some alien that grew up in a plant pod?

[And...Sonya might've just outted herself as a science fiction geek

Re: Video

[marvelous_murderbot]

Oh, I can assure you I am not born from a plant pod, though of course such is always a consideration when cloning is a possibility.

[Well, she's run into someone for who all of that is just plain fact.]

I am, however, to some extent robotic - I am a Human Replica Droid. I think the simplest explanation would be "blurring the lines", if that makes sense.

Re: Video

[soldier_blade]

They have cloning where you're from? [She's really trying to not sound like a nerd. But after the morning she's had, it's getting rough not to, especially when she mentions droids.]

Woah!...You're actually a droid? I didn't know they could come out looking that human! Or..well, I guess that's the whole point of a 'human replica droid.

[Great job Blade...completely managing your cool there.]

[marvelous_murderbot]

Oh, yes. Not what it once was - but my own skin is, technically speaking, cloned. Or at least properly grown for me. They used to clone in the millions, but that was in a different time.

And I am considerably more human than a standard droid - though not as far along as I'd wish.

[soldier_blade]

[She frowned, trying to make sense, but all she got was a bunch of gory images from movies.] Wait...so..you're wearing a human suit? Gross.

How more human? You mean with blood and other organs?

[marvelous_murderbot]

[That produced a change in her look and a hint, just a hint, of being a bit hurt, though she hides it quickly.]

I am not wearing a human suit. It does not come off, it is my skin. To say nothing of my organs, my blood and indeed my muscles, synthetic though they may be.

[soldier_blade]

[Sonya did realize at the last moment how rude her response was, but it was out before she could stop herself.] So...what sort of work did you do before being sucked over here? Espionage?