┈┈ ⚘⠀with simple songs i wanted more

TW !! mention of sensitive topics such as rape, child labour, blood, etc.
recommended song - violet's letter by evan call ,, if you prefer one with lyrics then fourth of
⠀⠀july by sufjan stevens, another love by tom odell, or mr. loverman by ricky montgomery
⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⋆┈┈｡ﾟ❃ུ۪ ❀ུ۪ ❁ུ۪ ❃ུ۪ ❀ུ۪ ﾟ｡┈┈⋆
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀❝⠀Her existence had been kept hidden from everyone. However, the people who knew
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀about her said that she was a weapon. She would fight if you ordered her to. She just
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀looked like a human. She was just a tool without a heart.⠀❞
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ʙᴀᴄᴋsᴛᴏʀʏ.
⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀❁⠀EARLY LIFE⠀❁
⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀Roseanne was merely 5 years old when she was found stranded on Siberut Island
⠀⠀by Dietfried Bougainvillea and his comrades when they found themselves stranded.
⠀⠀At the time she had no name, the man was unsure if she had suffered the same fate as
⠀⠀them or if she'd become orphaned. With news on the horizon of war to take place her
⠀⠀parents Sohee and Insu had taken the first boat away from Korea and had intended to
⠀⠀move to Germany where some distant relatives resided but unfortunately the ship had
⠀⠀become lost at sea and while Roseanne was merely a year old when they'd been able to
⠀⠀find themselves on Siberut Island slowly but surely the people from the ship passed away
⠀⠀leaving the girl at 2 years old alone to fend for herself.
⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀While Dietfried was merely annoyed he had no plans with the child but unfortunately
⠀⠀the same couldn't be said for his crew, some of his subordinates approached the young
⠀⠀child in an attempt to rape her. Before Dietfried could do anything to stop them Roseanne
⠀⠀killed them in response. Terrified by the 5 year old all of the remaining soldiers fled but
⠀⠀unfortunately for them, the young girl continued to hunt them down. Dietfried and his
⠀⠀remaining underlings attempted to kill her but their attempts were in vain and before
⠀⠀they could even fully attempt anything she'd killed everyone apart from Dietfried. The
⠀⠀man tried to flee but she hunted him down, although she didn't attempt to kill him and
⠀⠀instead followed him around.

⠀⠀⠀⠀Dietfried realised that Violet couldn't talk and couldn't understand words. He also
⠀⠀concluded that she was the only inhabitant of that area of the island and that the reason
⠀⠀she had killed so many people was simply that she was ordered to do it. Once he
⠀⠀understood that, Dietfried did repeated experiments. If he pointed to animals or insects
⠀⠀and said 'kill' she would immediately do so. This also applies to humans. Despite her
⠀⠀inability to speak or understand language except for the order to kill, Dietfried brought
⠀⠀her home with him training her until the age of 14 to become a soldier in war.
⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀❁⠀PAST⠀❁
⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ғʀɪᴅᴀʏ 31sᴛ ᴍᴀʀᴄʜ 2023
⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀'Dear Major Gilbert, I have been in this infirmary for 120 days now. While I am on the
⠀⠀road to recovery I still struggle to work-' The pen fell from Roseanne's hand rolling off the
⠀⠀wooden slab sitting on her lap and off the bed sheets onto the floor. With her hands bandaged
⠀⠀up, shaking as she wrote, it was hard to keep full control while using pen and paper. Sighing
⠀⠀she attempts to be careful reaching down without getting out of bed, fingers flexing as if
⠀⠀it will bring her closer to the pen on the floor with mere inches between them.

⠀⠀⠀⠀Footsteps can be heard against the wooden floor Claudia Hodgins enters the building in
⠀⠀search of Roseanne. He greets a nurse, explaining he is here to collect the 17-year-old girl.
⠀⠀Walking through the halls of the building when a thump is heard. Rushing through the hall
⠀⠀the two of them enter the room where they find Roseanne on the wooden floor, pen in hand.
⠀⠀The nurse was quick to move, helping the girl to sit back on the bed. Letter and pen are placed
⠀⠀aside as the blonde's attention is directed towards the man.

⠀⠀⠀⠀"Roseanne. Do you remember who I am?" Claudia's voice reaches her but she doesn't react
⠀⠀at first, eyes scanning his face before she stands from the edge of the bed where she'd been
⠀⠀sitting. "Lt. Colonel Hodgins." She speaks, the heels of her feet pressing together as her hand
⠀⠀raises to salute. "I recall seeing you twice. Once before in training and another before we went
⠀⠀out to war.." She recalls the man rather vividly, she was never one to forget a face.

⠀⠀⠀⠀"Right.. well, I'm here to collect you-" Before he can finish his sentence Roseanne's eyes
⠀⠀widen as she looks up at him interrupting his sentence. "Is the Major here also? Is he
⠀⠀here to collect me?" Her eyes are hopeful as she looks up at him. Claudia's lips retreat into
⠀⠀a thin line as his eyes divert somewhere else. "The Major is... very busy right now. He has
⠀⠀placed you under my care." His words clearly make the girl deflate but she doesn't protest.
⠀⠀If that was what the Major asked for then it was what she would do.

⠀⠀⠀⠀A few silent moments pass between them before Claudia moves to talk to the nurse in
⠀⠀hushed whispers, nodding before exiting the room. "Miss. Roseanne, I will help you dress
⠀⠀while Claudia gathers your belongings from the storage. You're to leave now." The nurse
⠀⠀speaks. The blonde remained silent but did what was asked of her.

⠀⠀⠀⠀After everything is gathered Roseanne is guided towards the front of the building, the man
⠀⠀waiting by the care he arrived in holding a brown briefcase and holding it out to her once she
⠀⠀came close enough. "They'd accidentally had it sent to an army base camp, it only arrived a few
⠀⠀days ago." He explained as she knelt down on the ground opening it. Most of the belongings
⠀⠀being in there consisted of scraps and even an open tin of beans. Eyebrows furrowing she
⠀⠀went through everything again before looking up at Claudia. "Where is it?! Where is
⠀⠀the emerald broach?" Her voice was slightly raised as she spoke, something that the man
⠀⠀had never seen before in the young girl.
⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀!!⠀FLASHBACK !!
⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀Walking through the streets 14-year-old Roseanne and Major Gilbert Bougainvillea pass
⠀⠀through a market in Seoul. The two walk side by side in silence. Roseanne's eyes scanned the
⠀⠀bright lights "Your eyes." The silence between them is broken, the Major looking beside him
⠀⠀but the blonde girl isn't there. Turning around he spots her merely a few steps behind him
⠀⠀staring down at something on display at one of the stalls. His eyebrows furrow. Roseanne
⠀⠀stares down at an emerald brooch, the colour matching the Major's eyes. Her own eyes
⠀⠀softened as she looked at it under the moonlight. His lips part as he's going to say
⠀⠀something but she speaks up first. Hand lifting from beside her to rest on her chest, the
⠀⠀corner of her lips tugging upwards. "The way I felt when I saw this..." She trailed off.
⠀⠀Major Gilbert looked at her in surprise but her eyes didn't leave the brooch. "This
⠀⠀feeling..."
⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ғʀɪᴅᴀʏ 31sᴛ ᴍᴀʀᴄʜ 2023
⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀While relooking through her belongings Roseanne is clearly frantic, a state no one present
⠀⠀had seen of the girl before. Getting up abruptly from where she'd been kneeling on the floor
⠀⠀she looks directly at Claudia. "I'll get it myself! I'll go there!" Her words are hurried as she
⠀⠀goes to rush off, barely reaching past the man before his hand wrapped around her upper
⠀⠀arm pulling her back so she's not able to run off. His grip on her light, not enough to cause
⠀⠀harm or discomfort. She looked up at him with a distressed and almost pleading look on her
⠀⠀face biting her lip almost as if to hold herself back from saying or doing something.

⠀⠀⠀⠀"I need it! Someone gave it to me! The Major gave it to me!" As those words fell from her lips
⠀⠀it was almost as if everything clicked into place for Claudia, and he nodded. "I'll find it for you,
⠀⠀just come with me and I'll make sure to retrieve it, Rosie." His words have her blinking a few
⠀⠀times in surprise. Not many people she'd been in the army with addressed her with that name,
⠀⠀the main person who did had been the Major. The two looked at each other in silence for a
⠀⠀moment before she eventually spoke up, beginning to protest when he cut her off. "It's the
⠀⠀Major's direct orders. You come with me, you're under my care now"

⠀⠀⠀⠀It's the Major's direct orders. Those are something she cannot disobey. Any fight in her body
⠀⠀dies as she simply nods. "Orders? I understand."
⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ᴅᴀʏ . . .
⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀Sitting in the backseat of the car beside Claudia the 17-year-old was looking down at her
⠀⠀hands, the car ride having been in silence the majority of the time. "When will I receive my next
⠀⠀orders from the Major?" It's Roseanne that breaks the silence but she doesn't look up at him. "I
⠀⠀know that my abilities are limited right now due to my injuries but I wish to continue my duties
⠀⠀beside the Major." Her words were met with silence, blinking down at her bandaged arms for a
⠀⠀few moments. It was only when she heard the man beside her rustling around that she glanced
⠀⠀in his direction.

⠀⠀⠀⠀"I got you these! As a congratulations on being discharged! I wasn't sure which one you
⠀⠀would like the most... so I got you all three!" Claudia's face was hidden behind three stuffed
⠀⠀animals as he spoke. Staring directly at her there was a bunny, a dog and a cat. At the silence,
⠀⠀he loweredthem so his face became visible. "Well? Pick one!" He moved them closer to her. She
⠀⠀only looked between him and the stuffed animals before shaking her head. "No thank you."
⠀⠀Her declining them didn't appease the man, sighing.

⠀⠀⠀⠀Claudia was quiet for a moment before lifting them so they became eye-level with the
⠀⠀blonde. "You have to act like the world is going to end, pick one. One, two-" His words are
⠀⠀cut off by her voice. "Then the puppy." With her decision, he placed the other two aside
⠀⠀handing the stuffed dog to her. "Why did you pick the puppy?" He questions, looking at it
⠀⠀sitting in her lap. "Because the Major's brother once told me, 'You're actually just like
⠀⠀Gilbert's dog'."

⠀⠀⠀⠀Roseanne's words brought silence between them, unsure of how to answer the man just
⠀⠀settled back in his seat. Not having to say anything else she simply brought the stuffed
⠀⠀animal up to her lips biting on the puppy's ear silently.
⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀!!⠀FLASHBACK - ᴡᴇᴅɴᴇsᴅᴀʏ 15ᴛʜ ᴍᴀʀᴄʜ 2023 !!
⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀Kneeling down on the floor surrounded by rubble Roseanne stares at the man slouched
⠀⠀against the wall, broken sobs falling from her lips. The Major clearly struggling to speak as
⠀⠀he coughs up blood. He stares directly at her. "Rosie... listen. You have to live... and be free."
⠀⠀His voice is breathy as he speaks, strained as he gasps for air. The blonde says nothing,
⠀⠀staring at him as tears fall down her face as he speaks. "I mean it."
⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ᴍᴏɴᴅᴀʏ 3ʀᴅ ᴀᴘʀɪʟ 2023
⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀"Gilbert was thinking all along about what your future would hold after the war. That's why
⠀⠀he was saying he wants to leave you with the folks of the Park household, his most trusted
⠀⠀relatives. I contacted them earlier, and the husband and wife said they'd be more than happy
⠀⠀to take you in. I'm taking you there to meet them now." Claudia's words ring through the
⠀⠀17-year-old's head as they travelled by boat before getting on a train. The journey between
⠀⠀where she'd been staying and where they had taken 3 days to commute to.

⠀⠀⠀⠀Knocking at the door the two of them wait in silence. Less than 5 seconds later the door is
⠀⠀opened revealing an elderly lady no younger than 50. "Lady Park, it's lovely to see you again.
⠀⠀This is Roseanne. Roseanne, this is Lady Park. She's the woman being gracious enough to let
⠀⠀you stay with her." Claudia's words are met with silence, his head turning to look at the blonde.
⠀⠀"You can say hello." He looks at her almost in surprise that she hasn't spoken immediately. She
⠀⠀doesn't speak either, instead, her heels press together as her hand lifts and she salutes at the
⠀⠀woman. "A bow would suffice..."

⠀⠀⠀⠀The two of them are led inside the Park Manor. "It's lovely to see you again Claudia. It's
⠀⠀been a while." Roseanne drowns out the mundane greetings as she glances around the manor,
⠀⠀having never been in such a house before and yet she was expected to remain here until the
⠀⠀Major retrieved her. Lady Park and Claudia discuss the travel here as they make their way
⠀⠀through the manor, the 17-year-old following not too far behind.

⠀⠀⠀⠀"Would you like some tea?" Lady Park's words earn Roseanne's attention again, looking
⠀⠀towards her she notices that the words are directed towards her. Instead of replying she
⠀⠀looks towards Claudia who agrees for both of them.

⠀⠀⠀⠀The three of them sit down at a table, the other two chattering amongst each other until
⠀⠀the lady of the house notices that Roseanne hasn't touched her tea. "Aren't you going to
⠀⠀drink that?" The girl looks down at the chamomile tea at her words not saying anything and
⠀⠀instead reaching out and taking the glass mug in her hands. As she lifts it to her lips her
⠀⠀hands shake barely holding the glass, very clearly unstable. "Oh! Don't force yourself!"
⠀⠀Roseanne ignores the other's words at her clear struggle and continues to slowly lift it only
⠀⠀for it to slip from her grasp last second. "Be careful you may burn yourself!" Looking at
⠀⠀her bandaged-covered arms she looks towards Lady Park who very clearly shows worry.
⠀⠀"Don't worry, I cannot feel heat." Her words fall on deaf ears as the lady speaks up. "But
⠀⠀your bandages. We have to cool them down, Oliver bring ice!"

⠀⠀⠀⠀As the butler is about to rush off Roseanne simply remains silent, lifting a hand to her lips
⠀⠀as she unravels the bandages from her hands and lower arms revealing metal limbs. The
⠀⠀metal fingers flex slightly before she looks up. "These arms are made of adamant silver.
⠀⠀They're a bit bulky but they're sturdy. I'm not used to them yet. I should be able to adjust
⠀⠀soon." The way she speaks is rather calm, the rest of the room having been shocked into
⠀⠀silence. "Come with me." The lady insists.

⠀⠀⠀⠀Moving from the table she follows the elderly woman out of the room and towards another
⠀⠀room, Claudia following them both not too far behind. "I used these when I was young." The
⠀⠀woman's words are quiet as she speaks, holding a wooden box in her hands as she turns to
⠀⠀them. Taking the lid off of it to reveal brown gloves. "Let me put them on for you." Roseanne
⠀⠀lifts her hands from her sides at the offer, without the bandages on her arms making clear
⠀⠀metallic noises like metal being pressed together as they move. "I'll get or sorted so that we
⠀⠀have a covering for your arms too, I wouldn't want anyone saying anything due to your arms."
⠀⠀The girl stays silent at her words, flexing his fingers after the gloves are put on her hands.

⠀⠀⠀⠀Distracted by the new material Roseanne doesn't hear Claudia announce his departure, that
⠀⠀he'll be leaving in a moment only looking up once she's spoken to by the lady of the house.
⠀⠀"Think of me as your real mother. You can tell me anything, okay?" The blonde blinks a few
⠀⠀times, face remaining blank as she speaks. "Yes but I.. don't have any parents so I don't need
⠀⠀any replacements." Her words were blunt as she spoke. The lady gasped upon hearing them,
⠀⠀the lady was slightly surprised by what she said. "Don't say that dear. I had a son but he was
⠀⠀killed in the war." Lady Park's eyes move to a painting hanging on the wall while she speaks
⠀⠀but Roseanne's eyes remain on the lady. "I can't become a replacement for your lost child."
⠀⠀Is her response and before things continue Claudia's voice takes both of their attention.

⠀⠀⠀⠀"Okay listen Rosie. It's Gilbert's wish for you to live happily here, so.. do you understand?" His
⠀⠀words take her by surprise. The mention of the Major has her pausing, eyes falling to the floor
⠀⠀lost in her own thoughts she doesn't realise as he takes his departure until she hears a door
⠀⠀close. Eyes snapping up she spots his figure in the window walking away.

⠀⠀⠀⠀Ignoring anything and everything else Roseanne chases after him, slamming the front door
⠀⠀behind her gaining Claudia's attention. "The Major!" She yells from where she stands at the door
⠀⠀before walking closer. "Major Gilbert. Why is he leaving me here?! Is it because I lost my arms
⠀⠀and lost my value as a weapon? If I just trained a little, I'd still be able to fight!" Her words are
⠀⠀frantic as she speaks, eyes wide and pleading. Her breathing is shaky but not from exhaustion
⠀⠀but rather from worry. "Rosie.. you do realise that well.. the war is over." His words are quiet as
⠀⠀he looks at her with something akin to sympathy. "'I am the Major's tool but.. if he doesn't need
⠀⠀me anymore, then I should be discarded. Please do it... Please discard me somewhere." Her voice
⠀⠀grows quieter as she speaks, eyes almost sad as she looks at him.
⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ᴅᴀʏ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴛʀᴀᴠᴇʟʟɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴇɴᴛʀᴇ sᴇᴏᴜʟ . . .
⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀As they're walking through the streets of Seoul Roseanne simply follows the man, eyes
⠀⠀scanning the area before they ultimately fall back on him. "Lt. Hodgins-" He cuts her off,
⠀⠀turning his head to look at her properly. "I left the army, I am no longer a Lieutenant." His
⠀⠀words take her by surprise, and she blinks up at him slightly even as he turns his head
⠀⠀forward again. "Then what should I call you?" She questions. Military titles are what she's
⠀⠀grown accustomed to, the only people whom she didn't refer to with them were those in
⠀⠀her own rank and even then the men were a lot older than her so she'd used honorifics
⠀⠀with them.

⠀⠀⠀⠀Claudia didn't speak immediately, leading them to a building before halting at the doors. "Call
⠀⠀me president. This is my company." He motions towards the building. Her eyes looked up being
⠀⠀met with a red sign hanging from the side of the building with the letters 'CH' on it. "'I bought
⠀⠀an old house and renovated it a bit." As the words fell from his lips he opened the door
⠀⠀motioning the girl to walk through the entryway. The door clicked closed behind them as
⠀⠀Roseanne's eyes scanned the area, following the people who moved around the place.
⠀⠀were a few people doing what looked like organisation, some talking to others doing
⠀⠀what she assumed was their job.

⠀⠀⠀⠀"The first floor has the reception desk." The blonde's eyes didn't look back at him and instead
⠀⠀landed on a woman sitting at the desk with short wavy ginger hair. "Alright, sir. If I could just
⠀⠀ask you to write the receivers and senders addresses on this form." Although Roseanne had no
⠀⠀idea what those words meant she listened in briefly, her eyes drifting to another woman as she
⠀⠀spoke. "Please allow at least three days for it to be delivered." Her eyes moved from the letter
⠀⠀to the woman herself who stood there with long blonde curls perfectly framing her face.

⠀⠀⠀⠀It was only when Claudia had begun walking upstairs that she snapped out of her trance, her
⠀⠀footsteps rushing to catch up as she walked behind him. "The second floor houses the office
⠀⠀and the writing department." He explained which only had her head tilted to the side in
⠀⠀curiosity. "Writing?" She questioned. "Yes, this department writes letters at the requests of our
⠀⠀clients. There are a lot of people who are unable to write or cannot form the correct words."
⠀⠀Her eyes lingered on open doorways they walked by as he spoke. "I did not know how to
⠀⠀write until the Major taught me how." The words fell from her lips automatically, unable to
⠀⠀stop herself from talking about the Major.

⠀⠀⠀⠀At the mere mention of the man Claudia's face fell slightly although she was unable to
⠀⠀notice with his back to her as he led her through the halls. Instead, he turned the conversation
⠀⠀away from Gilbert. "I was thinking of starting a business when the war ended. The government's
⠀⠀postal service doesn't address the civilian's needs so I thought it would be a great
⠀⠀opportunity." Roseanne merely nodded, stopping her footsteps suddenly as she turned her
⠀⠀head noticing the man had stopped walking as they reached a door.

⠀⠀⠀⠀"Now, here's your orders. Roseanne Park." At the mention of orders, it's like the girl's eyes are
⠀⠀immediately alert, gone went the girl who'd almost run off to look for an emerald brooch and
⠀⠀there stood a machine ready to do what she was told. "The fact is that Gilbert left you in my
⠀⠀care, so I'm going to give you orders in his place. You're still very useful Rosie. You can work.
⠀⠀Right here" As he spoke again he opened the door, motioning for her to follow him. Walking
⠀⠀towards a blonde-haired male who was shrugging on a carrier bag.

⠀⠀⠀⠀"Benedict." Claudia's words caught the other's attention, looking at him with an unbothered
⠀⠀look. "Yeah, president?" His speech was rather relaxed like they were good friends. "You're
⠀⠀supposed to say "How can I help you, president?"?!' Voice raised slightly, if Roseanne didn't
⠀⠀know any better she would assume that he was agitated. "So, what's up?" The moment the
⠀⠀words fell from the blonde male's lips a newspaper is brought down on his head, not hard but
⠀⠀hard enough to hear the impact. "Ow! Why'd you do that?!" The man- Benedict spoke, his voice
⠀⠀almost as equally agitated. "You didn't listen to me!"

⠀⠀⠀⠀Claudia's bickering halted as he turned to Roseanne who stared back at him. "This is Benedict,
⠀⠀he's a postman here. He's an old friend from before I started this company. Benedict, let me
⠀⠀introduce you to Rosie." Hearing his words the girl moved to salute but stopped her arm
⠀⠀midway before bowing like she'd been told to do so instead. "She's a postman starting today."
⠀⠀He explained although the blonde girl was unsure as to what a 'postman' was exactly. "She's
⠀⠀just a little kid!" Benedict was quick to protest and no one corrected him because she
⠀⠀technically was still a child. "She's highly capable of performing her duties. Now, I'm going
⠀⠀to the bank for a bit, teach her what she needs to know."

⠀⠀⠀⠀The next hour consisted of Benedict and Roseanne moving around the Postal Company
⠀⠀building. First directing her towards the lockers, "You put your stuff in here." "Yes sir."

⠀⠀⠀⠀The next stop was gathering her uniform. "Your uniform, put it on." He directed her.
⠀⠀Immediately she complied. "Yes, of course, sir." Her hands moved to the white shirt she
⠀⠀was already wearing, about to lift it over her head only to earn a surprised scream of
⠀⠀protest from the man. "Wait! Hold on- not here!"

⠀⠀⠀⠀"Mm, it's too big." The blonde male decides the moment the 17-year-old leaves the changing
⠀⠀room. "It's not a problem." He merely nods at her words before motioning to the gloves on her
⠀⠀hands. "Wouldn't it be better to take those off?" His question had her lifting her hands up and
⠀⠀blinking at the leather material. She brings her left hand to her mouth pulling off the glove
⠀⠀using her teeth before doing the same with the next one. As she looks up it's clear Benedict is
⠀⠀staring at her metal hands in shock, having not gotten them covered yet as Lady Park planned
⠀⠀on doing. "... Will it be hard to sort mail like that?" His words seem hesitant like he's trying to
⠀⠀word it politely. "No, it's not going to be a problem."

⠀⠀⠀⠀Heading back to the mail room he shows Roseanne around the room, explaining how to sort
⠀⠀through the mail. Once he's certain she's got the hang of it he decides it'll be fine to leave her
⠀⠀alone. "There's a huge pile of mail but you don't need to rush. The break room is on the
⠀⠀second floor." He explains, heading towards the door pausing and turning to face her as he
⠀⠀speaks. "I understand, sir." She salutes waiting for him to leave before relaxing.
⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ʜᴏᴜʀs ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ ɴᴇᴀʀ sᴜɴsᴇᴛ . . .
⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀When Benedict walks through the door of the mailroom he's met with the blonde girl
⠀⠀organising through what seems like the last 20 or so letters from the pile that consisted of at.
⠀⠀least 300 earlier Upon hearing the door open Roseanne's head turns looking at the other. "Sir
⠀⠀ I've almost completed my duties." Her words startle him, looking at where the pile had
⠀⠀previously been. "Were you working the whole time? Without taking a break?" He questioned
⠀⠀like it was the only reasonable answer as to how she'd done so much. "I'm used to long
⠀⠀operations." She confirms.

⠀⠀⠀⠀Sighing he decides it's better not to respond and instead move along. "So you wanna try
⠀⠀delivering the mail?" The question earns a confused look in return, her head tilting to the side
⠀⠀slightly. "Delivering?" At her words, Benedict moves towards the map on the wall of Seoul.
⠀⠀"You deliver the letter to the address that's written on it." He grabs a letter and points to it as
⠀⠀an explanation. "Anyway, I'm going home now. See you tomorrow." With that, he takes his
⠀⠀leave.
⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ᴀғᴛᴇʀ sᴜɴᴅᴏᴡɴ . . .
⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀The sun had set a few hours earlier, Claudia riding the bus back. Leaning back and slouching
⠀⠀in his seat he lets his eyes roam along the people on the street when he spots a postman going
⠀⠀around on a delivery. "Looks like some companies do nighttime deliveries too. We can't afford
⠀⠀that." He mumbles to himself. It's only when his eyes flicker down to the barrel that he spots
⠀⠀the logo 'CH' eyes widen when he realises that the postman on duty happens to
⠀⠀be Roseanne.

⠀⠀⠀⠀Rushing off the bus he runs to catch up with the girl, stopping her in her tracks. "What are
⠀⠀you doing?!" He questions, voice breathy from having rushed to catch up. Her response is
⠀⠀straightforward like it's the most obvious thing in the world. "Delivering the mail."

⠀⠀⠀⠀Sitting at a cafe Claudia brings Roseanne alongside him to meet up with Benedict, the two
⠀⠀men having planned to do so after work. The men had already started eating, talking
⠀⠀between bites.

⠀⠀⠀⠀"I meant you can deliver the mail tomorrow." The postman's words gain the girl's
⠀⠀attention. Her eyes look towards him only to look towards Claudia as he speaks also, "And
⠀⠀make sure to take breaks during work. You just got out of the hospital after all." She merely
⠀⠀stares at him for a moment. "It's not a problem." She insists only to hear a hand slam down
⠀⠀on the table. Both the ex-lieutenant and Roseanne are startled only it doesn't show on her
⠀⠀face as they look at Benedict.

⠀⠀⠀⠀"Alright, y'know what IS a problem?!" His words start but Claudia is quick to shut the man
⠀⠀up, the two of them bickering for a few minutes. The blonde girl sitting there in silence with
⠀⠀her hands sitting in her lap silently.

⠀⠀⠀⠀Once the two of them calm down the president turns to Roseanne. "Now listen Rosie,
⠀⠀go ahead and eat." He instructs realising she'd not eaten a single bite the entire time. "Yes
⠀⠀sir." She mumbled as she picked up the utensils. "You can return to the office after you eat.
⠀⠀We only have space in the attic but you can sleep there. The Parks have agreed to take you in
⠀⠀and have you live with them until you become an adult but it looks like leaving you at the
⠀⠀mansion..." He trails off as she eats, recalling how she'd reacted when he tried to leave her
⠀⠀with them previously. "Yeah, it's a problem." It's Benedict who speaks which earns a kick under
⠀⠀the table from Claudia. "Ow! What was that for?!" He asks almost baffled by the action. "Hey!
⠀⠀I was trying to put it nicely!" He hisses. "How was I supposed to know?!"

⠀⠀⠀⠀After the meal is finished the three of them make their way out of the cafe. Benedict is the
⠀⠀first to walk away. "Well, cya tomorrow." He says parting ways from them. Roseanne's attention
⠀⠀turned to Claudia as he spoke, "I'll walk you." Knowing that the girl was unfamiliar with the area
⠀⠀she'd probably get lost on her way back to the company.

⠀⠀⠀⠀As they're walking under the streetlights along the pavement the man turns to Roseanne.
⠀⠀"What was the last order you received from Gilbert?" He questions out of curiosity. "You have
⠀⠀to live and be free and I-..." She trails off as she recalls his words, hand lifting to rest over
⠀⠀where the emerald broach usually sat on her chest. The look in her eyes was one he'd never
⠀⠀seen from her before. She looked sad.

⠀⠀⠀⠀Deciding it was better to leave it there he doesn't ask her to continue. "You've been in the
⠀⠀army ever since you were a child. You've spent your life fulfilling your duties. However, you're
⠀⠀going to learn many things in the future. Although, it may be easier if you keep living if you
⠀⠀never learn them." His words are something she can't quite understand. "See you don't realise
⠀⠀yet but your body is on fire and it's burning up because of the things you did." He mumbled,
⠀⠀looking forward as they continued to walk. Roseanne looks down at her body in confusion. "I'm
⠀⠀not burning." She states like it's the most obvious thing in the world. "Yes, you are."

⠀⠀⠀⠀It was in moments like this that her lack of social skills and knowledge regarding emotions
⠀⠀and a human's complexity is clear. "I'm not burning. I don't get it." She mumbles, despite her
⠀⠀confusion it doesn't show in her tone or face. "No, you are burning. I saw you like that and left
⠀⠀you alone." Her eyes looked at the back of his head as he spoke. Claudia's mind flashed back to
⠀⠀seeing the young girl on the floor covered in blood, gasps of air coming from her as she tried
⠀⠀to catch her breath. A shotgun resting on her lap. "That's why when Gilbert left you with me, I
⠀⠀thought it's my chance at redemption. Someday, you'll understand what I said and then you'll
⠀⠀realise for the first time that you have many burns."
⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀THE NEXT MORNING !! ᴛᴜᴇsᴅᴀʏ 4ᴛʜ ᴀᴘʀɪʟ 2023 . . .
⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀Waking up at 5 am out of habit due to being in the army led to Roseanne doing random
⠀⠀mundane tasks, while back at the hospital she would either go on walks on the premises or
⠀⠀write letters to the Major updating him on her condition she found much more to do in her
⠀⠀current living situation while being the only person who actually slept in the building. This
⠀⠀morning she found herself cleaning. Having already dusted around and tidied everything
⠀⠀away from the night before.

⠀⠀⠀⠀It was while she was cleaning the front windows that the entrance door opened, turning
⠀⠀her head from where she stood on the couch cleaning higher on the window. Her actions
⠀⠀stopped as the man who entered walked in. "Uhm, Ms Doll?" She didn't respond to his
⠀⠀words for a moment, letting her feet rest flat on the couch instead of reaching up on her
⠀⠀tiptoes. "No. My name is Rosie." She corrected him, assuming that he thought her name
⠀⠀was 'Doll'. "Oh. Well in that case, Ms Rosie. Can I get you to write something for me?" She
⠀⠀blinked back at him in confusion. He wanted her to write something? "Write for...?" Her head
⠀⠀tilted to the side. "Yes, I am unable to write. So, I'd like you to write a letter for me."

⠀⠀⠀⠀Roseanne moved from the couch, feet planted on the floor as she looked straight at him.
⠀⠀"What should I write?" She questioned. "Uh- do you want to talk about it here?" The man
⠀⠀looked slightly flustered at her suggestion but she merely looked unphased by it. "Do you
⠀⠀think there's a problem with that?" While she clearly had no issue with doing so the man
⠀⠀looked slightly uncomfortable doing so, yet she did not react. Being unable to read
⠀⠀another's emotions was something she struggled with because of her upbringing. "Well, I
⠀⠀recently heard that a childhood friend of mine received a marriage offer from another man.
⠀⠀So... I want you to tell her this!"

⠀⠀⠀⠀Sitting beside an Auto Memory Doll with straight black hair the 17-year-old girl looked
⠀⠀between the man and the Doll as she typed away on the typewriter. "You were the first
⠀⠀person who was kind to me. I appreciated it, you were everything to me. I would've done
⠀⠀anything for you. Anything at all. I want to know how you feel. I want to understand what's
⠀⠀in your heart even though we're apart now. I love you." The moment the man says those
⠀⠀words. Those three words. It's like Roseanne is in a trance. Her eyes blank as she thought
⠀⠀back to the Major.

⠀⠀⠀⠀"I love you." Hearing the Doll repeat those words is what snaps the blonde out of her
⠀⠀trance-like state. "We'll end with that. How does that sound?" The words clearly directed at
⠀⠀the man. "Great!" He looks as though he's been given the best news in the world, he's
⠀⠀beaming. "Please stop by the reception on the first floor for delivery." The doll is sealing the
⠀⠀envelope with a wax seal. "Sir, all of us here at the Auto Memory Doll service wish to thank
⠀⠀you for coming in today." She says handing him the envelope and watching as he exits.

⠀⠀⠀⠀The moment that the door is closed the woman turns to look at Roseanne. "So, who're
⠀⠀you?" The question is blunt but nothing the younger girl isn't used to. The question remains
⠀⠀hanging in the air. Silence is shared between them until Roseanne speaks up. "I don't
⠀⠀understand how you knew..." She trailed off, staring directly at the woman's face. Grey eyes
⠀⠀staring straight at her, black hair tucked behind her ears as she looks at the blonde in
⠀⠀confusion. "Huh?" "How did you know, that that man just now, wanted to say I love you?"
⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛs ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴇsɪᴅᴇɴᴛ's ᴏғғɪᴄᴇ . . .
⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀Sitting down in a cushioned chair Roseanne stared up at Claudia Hodgins. "So you
⠀⠀want to work as an Auto Memory Doll?" He questioned, rather surprised by the
⠀⠀sudden request. "Yes, it's still hard for me to hold a pen but I can operate a typewriter."
⠀⠀She nodded slightly, confident in her words. "No. That's not what I mean... I wanted to
⠀⠀ask you why you want to do this work." He corrected himself. Her request was unusual
⠀⠀of her nature. Normally the girl would simply do what was assigned to her, completing
⠀⠀the tasks given to her without complaint.

⠀⠀⠀⠀It's silent for a few moments before she looks at the man with a look that is almost
⠀⠀sad but the confusion and determination came through stronger, especially in her words.
⠀⠀"I just want to know!" Her voice is raised slightly. Eyes falling down to her hands on her
⠀⠀lap. "I love you... what does it mean?" The words are much quieter this time almost like
⠀⠀she's asking the question to herself. The shock on Claudia's face is evident, it's one of the
⠀⠀few times he'd ever seen her so emotional. It was unusual. "The Major said those words
⠀⠀to me after he gave me my last orders. That was the first time I heard those words from
⠀⠀the Major. I just don't understand what that really means so I thought this might.. help
⠀⠀me learn." She looks up at him with a hopeful look in her eyes. "Normally people
⠀⠀become Auto Memory Doll because they do understand that but... it's okay."

⠀⠀⠀⠀The request was one Claudia knew he couldn't ignore she had always just followed
⠀⠀Gilbert's orders in the past. That was the first time she asserted her own free will.
⠀⠀Everyone said she didn't have a heart but she said "I want to know what I love
⠀⠀you means."
⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀!!⠀FLASHBACK - ᴡᴇᴅɴᴇsᴅᴀʏ 15ᴛʜ ᴍᴀʀᴄʜ 2023 !!
⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀The one sound filling the silence was sobs that managed to escape Roseanne's
⠀⠀lips and the coughing that came from the man in front of her, Major Gilbert
⠀⠀Bougainvillea. With both of her arms lying on the floor the seventeen-year-old girl sat
⠀⠀there on her knees staring at him with tears streaming down her face. He sat there
⠀⠀with his back pressed against the stone wall, a small smile attempting to tug at his lips
⠀⠀despite the blood pooling beneath him as his hand pressed against the wound on his
⠀⠀stomach trying to minimise the bleeding from the main wound. It was one of the many
⠀⠀things Roseanne had been trained to do but her lack of arms made her incapable of
⠀⠀doing so, failing to do one of her main duties; Keep him alive.

⠀⠀⠀⠀"No way! There's no way I'm going to let you die!" As her voice hit the walls of the
⠀⠀stone building that was mere moments from crumbling beneath them Roseanne
⠀⠀lunged forward taking the man's shirt between her teeth attempting to drag him out
⠀⠀of there but she was barely managing to have his back lift from the wall. With the
⠀⠀blood loss getting to her too, two pools of blood sitting on the stone stairs that had
⠀⠀been coming from her arms. Despite his groans of pain she kept trying to move him,
⠀⠀eyes squeezed shut as tears cascaded down her face.

⠀⠀⠀⠀"Stop it..." The Major's voice was shaky and quiet, his own eyes closed due to
⠀⠀the pain. The physical pain of his many wounds hurt majorly alongside the emotional
⠀⠀pain of seeing the person he'd begun to care for so dearly so desperate. This was the
⠀⠀most emotion he'd ever seen come from her. "Stop it already!" His voice raised as she
⠀⠀ignored his first attempt, coughing up blood less than a second later.

⠀⠀⠀⠀Roseanne falls back on her knees sobbing, her head facing the floor. The drips
⠀⠀of blood coming from the open wounds of her missing arms were the only things
⠀⠀heard besides hergasps of air between sobs. Unable to look the man in the eyes she
⠀⠀cried.

⠀⠀⠀⠀"Enough." Gilbert's words came out in a sob, tears beginning to fall down his face
⠀⠀as he stared directly at her. "Rosie... listen. You have to live... and be free." His voice was
⠀⠀breathy as he spoke, strained as he gasped for air. The blonde said nothing, staring at
⠀⠀him as tears fell down her face as he spoke trying to see past them. "I mean it." A sob
⠀⠀fell from her lips hearing his words, it felt like a goodbye but she refused to believe it.
⠀⠀They both sat there sobbing as they looked at one another. "I love you."
⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀!!⠀FLASHBACK - ғᴏᴜʀ ʏᴇᴀʀs ᴀɢᴏ !!
⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀"Captain Dietfried Bougainvillea, your brother is here to see you." Turning his head
⠀⠀to face the entrance of his office Dietfried nodded his head signalling the other to let
⠀⠀his brother in. Gilbert walked through the door, a blank look on his face. "Hello Gil!
⠀⠀How have you been? You look depressed, as usual. You look just like father." He joked
⠀⠀lightly, the plait braided in his long hair resting on his chest as looked towards his
⠀⠀younger brother. "Yes, well you also look the same. Father would not approve of your
⠀⠀hair for sure. I bet he would've cut it off with a sabre." Gilbert's words earned a laugh
⠀⠀from the older man. "I wouldn't let him." He hummed, nodding his head. A small smirk
⠀⠀tugged at his lips like it was an inside joke between them. "You've always been like
⠀⠀that." The words that came from the shorter-haired Bougainvillea had an amused tilt
⠀⠀in his tone.

⠀⠀⠀⠀"I'm glad he died." Are the words that come from the older male breaking a
⠀⠀moment's silence. "Don't look at me like that. I brought you something nice today to
⠀⠀celebrate your promotion." He quickly diverted the conversation as he was shot a
⠀⠀disapproving glance from his younger brother. While the two men are looking at one
⠀⠀another neither of them hears the rustling that comes from under a red blanket.
⠀⠀Guiding the other across the room he moves to stand in front of the red blanket that
⠀⠀seems to have a lump underneath it. Presumably the newly promoted Major's gift.
⠀⠀"Got it? Only use it as a weapon, okay? Don't get attached. Open it."

⠀⠀⠀⠀Slightly hesitant as his hand reaches out Gilbert grips the red material before
⠀⠀dragging it off gift beneath it. His eyes widen the moment that his eyes land on the
⠀⠀girl, looking no older than 14 years old she opens her eyes looking between the men.
⠀⠀"Hey, get up." Dietfried spoke. The girl listened immediately, the dress she was put
⠀⠀in falling to her ankles. Her clothes, face and hair all dirty. Her arms and face had marks
⠀⠀across them that appeared to be dirt. Clothes clearly second-hand with the rips and
⠀⠀tears in it. "I found her by one of the Southern warzones after my crew became stranded
⠀⠀on Siberut Island, it's only to be presumed her family tried fleeing after the start of
⠀⠀the war. Her name is..."
⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀!!⠀PRESENT DAY - ᴡᴇᴅɴᴇsᴅᴀʏ 5ᴛʜ ᴀᴘʀɪʟ 2023 !!
⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀"Park Roseanne." The blonde girl spoke as she was there standing in front of a few
⠀⠀other women. The women she'd seen around the building the day prior. "She's going to
⠀⠀work as an apprentice Auto Memory Doll, starting today. Please teach her whatever you
⠀⠀can about the job." President Hodgins spoke to the women before him, a small smile on
⠀⠀his lips. "Okay." It was the Doll from the day prior who spoke up, her long black hair
⠀⠀falling below her chest as she looked at Roseanne.

⠀⠀⠀⠀One of the women stared at the blonde without her knowledge, she had short
⠀⠀light-brown hair the green on her outfit being rather eyecatching. She couldn't help but
⠀⠀stare at Roseanne and think; She didn't have any facial expressions, just like a doll. Just
⠀⠀like a mechanical puppet, for which this profession is named after.
⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ᴅᴀʏ . . .
⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀For the first day of training to become a Doll Roseanne was taught how to use the
⠀⠀typewriter properly. Already having an excellent vocabulary helped a lot, the main thing
⠀⠀she'd been taught had been to type like a Doll would. Still being able to type quickly
⠀⠀and efficiently without typingloudly at the same time.

⠀⠀⠀⠀"Alright, we're done for the day." The black-haired doll wearing red spoke up, her
⠀⠀name had been another thing that Roseanne had learned. Cattleya. The rest of the dolls
⠀⠀that'd been sitting at their own desks began packing everything up getting ready to leave,
⠀⠀slowly but surely leaving the room. Cattleya walked over to the 17-year-old as they did.
⠀⠀"Well done for the day, Rosie." She says looking at the stack of papers that she'd typed.
⠀⠀The surprise didn't show on her face. She was already typing as much as the other Dolls
⠀⠀working there. "You've done a lot and you've improved. I'm impressed." She praised.
⠀⠀Instead of thanking her like most would Roseanne merely looked at the typewriter.
⠀⠀"What's impressive is this weapon."

⠀⠀⠀⠀Cattleya couldn't help but think how strange the choice of words was of the younger
⠀⠀girl but she knew it was better than to speak on such a thing. "Weapon... you're right.
⠀⠀I suppose it's a weapon for working girls like us to go out into society and fight. I'll
⠀⠀have you sit next to a real Doll tomorrow and shadow her. Anyway, I'm going out for a
⠀⠀delivery service now. If someone makes a request we go to their house or workplace
⠀⠀to write for them." She explains, looking at the case in her own hands that held the
⠀⠀typewriter she used during the day.

⠀⠀⠀⠀"Is it okay... if I take this with me?" Roseanne questioned, looking from the typewriter
⠀⠀case in Cattleya's hands to the one on her own desk. "Take it? Where?" The woman
⠀⠀questioned. Looking up from the typewriter to meet her eyes the girl replied. "To my
⠀⠀room. For training, and for..."

⠀⠀⠀⠀'Dear Major Gilbert' Was the first thing that Roseanne sat there at her desk in her
⠀⠀room in the attic of the building typed out on the new piece of paper. After her attempt
⠀⠀at writing a letter had led to her falling on the floor she decided that a typewriter would
⠀⠀be a much more efficient way to write her status updates to the Major. So there sat the
⠀⠀blonde with the moon shining through her window directly where she sat typing out her
⠀⠀letter to the Major.
⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ᴛʜᴜʀsᴅᴀʏ 6ᴛʜ ᴀᴘʀɪʟ 2023
⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀"Address? Gilbert's?" Professor Claudia Hodgins lowers the paper that'd been raised
⠀⠀to his line of sight, now looking at Roseanne who stood there on the opposite of the
⠀⠀desk with her hands clasped in front of her. "Yes. I wish to tell him that I've started a
⠀⠀writing job and begun training. I want to report my current status. I'm sure the Major
⠀⠀is still busy.. and is unable to see me yet, right?" She questioned looking at the man,
⠀⠀head tilting slightly to the side in question. The red-haired male slightly surprised,
⠀⠀clearly taken aback he nods. "Yeah. I understand. I'll send this for you."

⠀⠀⠀⠀There's a moment of silence between them, the man looking at the paper before
⠀⠀placing it to the side. "So uh... how's the training been going?" He asks, clearing
⠀⠀his throat before looking at the girl. "It's going well. There's no problem."
⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴅᴀʏ sʜᴀᴅᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴅᴏʟʟ . . .
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⠀⠀⠀⠀A man sits on the other side of the desk, holding his brown hat on his lap as
⠀⠀he speaks. The Doll beside Roseanne has short brown hair wearing a black
⠀⠀turtleneck with a blue necklace that is rather eye-catching as she types away on the
⠀⠀typewriter speaking after him as she types, giving him insight as to what she's writing
⠀⠀on his behalf.

⠀⠀⠀⠀"Like you already know, it's hard making ends meet every day." He says, the typing
⠀⠀audible but not over the Doll's voice as she speaks. "As you already know, living expenses
⠀⠀are tight." Less than a second after she speaks the blonde girl speaks up. "You made an
⠀⠀error in that sentence." She points out, noticing how the wording is completely different.
⠀⠀Despite the glance sent her way the man continues. "Tell him I'll pay back ninety thousand
⠀⠀won every month." "Every month I-" The doll starts but Roseanne quickly interrupts her.
⠀⠀"If you pay back ninety thousand won every month it will take you 120 years to pay back
⠀⠀everything. Sir, do you think you will be able to survive until then?" Her question clearly
⠀⠀agitates the man as he scoffs.

⠀⠀⠀⠀Sitting beside a new Doll, the woman also has short hair although her own is a light
⠀⠀brown instead of a dark chocolatey shade and she wears green and glasses. Quite a
⠀⠀contrast to the previous doll. The next customer that sits in front of them is a lady in a
⠀⠀pink dress with hair hair slick back in a bun. She holds her handkerchief near her mouth
⠀⠀as she speaks. "Normally, she's a very good student. It's just sometimes she gets really
⠀⠀mad." The lady in pink mumbled behind the handkerchief, looking close to tears. "I'm
⠀⠀sorry for hurting your precious child. Please forgive me." The Doll speaks as she writes,
⠀⠀just like the previous one. "Maybe I didn't discipline her well enough..." She trails off.
⠀⠀"Our teachings were clearly insufficient." The moment that the words leave the Doll's
⠀⠀mouth the lady in front of them lets out a sob. "What did I do wrong?!" Her voice
⠀⠀slightly raised, startling the woman in green. "Well you uh-" She clearly is unsure how
⠀⠀to respond, hands no longer on the typewriter as her eyes are on the customer. "Crying
⠀⠀gets in the way of our work. Please stop crying immediately." Roseanne speaks looking
⠀⠀at the woman who looks startled by the lack of compassion and sympathy shown.

⠀⠀⠀⠀The same Doll is next to the 17-year-old as the next customer is sitting opposite them.
⠀⠀Everything while writing the letter had gone smoothly until he had read the entire thing,
⠀⠀slamming the piece of paper down on the desk. "Hey! What do you mean by this letter?!
⠀⠀'I'm sorry for my selfish request.' What do you mean, 'selfish'?!" He yells at the two of
⠀⠀them although his gaze is mainly cast on the Doll with glasses. She's almost folding in
⠀⠀on herself, words barely audible as she apologises. "'I apologise for the delay'?! This
⠀⠀makes it sound like I'm the one who did something wrong! Who do you think you are?!"
⠀⠀He screams. "Her name is Erica." Is what falls from Roseanne's lips which is when the man
⠀⠀turns to her in slight surprise. "Huh?! I didn't ask for her name! Anyway, I don't like this
⠀⠀letter. I'm not paying for this." He says scrunching up the paper before throwing it in
⠀⠀their direction. Flinching, Erica looks close to tears as the paper hits the filing cabinet
⠀⠀slightly to her left behind her. The man turns taking a step to walk away.

⠀⠀⠀⠀"Refusing to pay because you didn't like it is illegal." Roseanne stood up from her
⠀⠀seat, the woman beside her looking at her with wide worried eyes since the blonde
⠀⠀barely came up to the man's chest in height and he was more than triple her weight.
⠀⠀"What is it you don't like about it?" She asks standing in front of him. "Out of my
⠀⠀way!" He barks out as his hand grabs her shoulder about to shove her out of the
⠀⠀way. "Please be specific, give us some guidance." Her voice remained bland,
⠀⠀speaking just as she previously had been, as she knocked his hand off of her,
⠀⠀grabbing his wrist and twisting his arm around his body to his back before pressing
⠀⠀his chest against the desk. The man groaned in pain. "And please be quick about it."
⠀⠀Looking at the scene before her Erica is taken aback, eyes wide as she looks at them
⠀⠀almost in fear.

⠀⠀⠀⠀"We've received several complaints from a few customers." Those are the first words
⠀⠀words spoken as Erica and Roseanne stand in front of Claudia Hodgins, he speaks
⠀⠀directly to the two of them. "Was there a problem?" Rosie questions which earns
⠀⠀hesitation from the man sitting down opposite the two girls standing in front of his
⠀⠀desk. "No. Well... are you okay?" Erica looks towards the blonde as he mutters those
⠀⠀words. "Yes, there is nothing wrong with my health." She responds with a small nod.
⠀⠀"No, I mean about working as a doll." He corrects his previous question. "I'm
⠀⠀training diligently." She assures the man. "Hm. I see..." He trails off. The three of
⠀⠀them remain in silence for a moment, no one saying a word or moving."Um.. we
⠀⠀don't have any more reservations today. We're going to work diligently together
⠀⠀to make the membership list for the Chamber of Commerce after this." It's Erica
⠀⠀who breaks the silence, words directed at the Professor.

⠀⠀⠀⠀After they're dismissed Roseanne and Erica sit in the writing room upstairs, the two
⠀⠀of them alone as the rest of the Dolls work away downstairs taking walk-ins from
⠀⠀different customers. "Type the company and the address, then the type of industry,"
⠀⠀Erica instructs, placing an example sheet beside the typewriter to show the girl what
⠀⠀to do. "Yes, Ma'am," Roseanne responds, easily picking up what she's supposed to do.

⠀⠀⠀⠀Moments pass between them in silence as the blonde types away, the other merely
⠀⠀watching her in interest. Like she's trying to analyse her and read her mind. "Hey. Tell
⠀⠀me, why do you want to do this job?" She gains the courage to ask removing her
⠀⠀glasses. Pausing her typing the girl opens her mouth to speak. "I-". Both heads snap
⠀⠀towards the door of the room as it bursts open, a woman walks through although
⠀⠀they can only see her shoes beneath the divider as she walks in. "Oh, is everyone
⠀⠀gone?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀"Welcome Ma'am. Do you want to request a letter?" Erica speaks as she moves
⠀⠀around the divider, eyes landing on the woman. She's wearing a purple dress with a
⠀⠀white cardigan on top, a white sunhat with a purple bow on it. Her ginger hair in a
⠀⠀low-side ponytail curled. "Why else would I be here?" She questions, tone slightly
⠀⠀playful. Ignoring the interaction Roseanne goes back to silently typing away the
⠀⠀Chamber of Commerce. "Yes, of course, you're right. No matter what your request
⠀⠀is we're able to write any type of document for you." Erica starts, bowing politely.
⠀⠀"Auto Memory Doll Erica-" She's cut off by the lady. "Where is the doll named
⠀⠀Cattleya Baudelaire?" She questions. "She's on a business trip, Ma'am," Erica
⠀⠀explains. "Oh, I came here because I heard you can never go wrong with her.
⠀⠀Oh well. You see, the thing is someone has asked me out. A man who started an
⠀⠀automobile company. He said every household needs a car, especially with the
⠀⠀way the world is continuing." She speaks moving to make herself comfortable
⠀⠀on one of the couches.

⠀⠀⠀⠀Erica is slightly taken aback by the woman, moving to follow her. "Oh." Is
⠀⠀all she says. "But you know... I'm not such a simple woman. I don't want him to
⠀⠀think I'm easy." As she speaks the lady's cheeks start turning a shade of red. "I
⠀⠀see. So then-" Erica is cut off once again by the woman. "Well, he's not that great
⠀⠀of a catch. I don't have any real feelings for him but if he showed me he was
⠀⠀serious. And if he really loves me..." Despite her words, the blush only darkened,
⠀⠀showing clear interest in this man. The moment that those words fell from her lips.
⠀⠀'If he really loves me' Repeat in the 17-year-old's mind, her typing coming to a halt.
⠀⠀She looks up at the divider that separates her from the other two.

⠀⠀⠀⠀"I want you to write an elegant and romantic letter. Go ahead." As soon as
⠀⠀the request is given to her Erica looks nervous. Her mind raced back to the man
⠀⠀earlier in the day who'd slammed the letter down against the table infuriated by
⠀⠀her work. In the silence, Roseanne appears from around the corner of the divider
⠀⠀walking over to them. "Oh. Are you going to be the one to write it?" The lady
⠀⠀questions, looking towards the blonde. "Yes, I am, ma'am." She salutes like she'd
⠀⠀been given orders. Erica's eyes widen as she looks towards the Doll in training.
⠀⠀