The meal had been delicious! Even though there was food made for five and only four ate, everything went down. Anna had given her food to Marcus who was pleased with the second helping. Happily he rubbed his stomach once the meal had finished. "It was very delicious, thank you." he smiled at the parents and Theta.
As the offer was made Marcus nodded eagerly. "I'd love to!" he said and stood up and just smiled. "I'm very curious about the place where all the 'magic' happens." he chuckled sweetly.

Anna nodded when Sarah asked her. "Sounds very good. " she said and moved over to the older woman and gently stood by her side.

Sarah moved to lead Anna into the parlour so she could show the girl how to do make-up. She was partially like a girl, and partially like a porcelain doll, and fortunately Sarah was adept at decorating both. "You're very lucky, Anna...the leather for your face is so fine and so smooth, you can do without most things a woman generally needs. It's just the little things that make all the difference." She opened a drawer in the sideboard to pull out a few hidden pieces of make-up she kept stored away to retouch her face in-between visitors. "It's your eyes that need attention, that's all."

Charles led the way up the stairs, while Theta yielded to let Marcus head up ahead of her. It was easier that way, as her gait on a staircase could easily drive others mad. The workshop was just another door in the upper balcony, but it opened into a narrow hallway that led just a bit deeper in. Inside the workshop proper it was a catastrophic mess. Teacups were stacked high on the desks (though there were currently a few clockworks trying to take them away and tidy up), papers had been stuck to the walls, in one case a(n apparently failed) design had been stuck to the wall and pelted with pencils, if the impact points and pile of broken pencils beneath it was anything to show. Theta, however, seemed perfectly at home in her mess, and she retreated over to her usual chair.

"Forgive me, but stairs do take it out of me. Have a seat; the chest there is stable to sit on the papers," she indicated a chest that had been piled high with papers and designs and plans for clockworks and even industrial clanks, though of the benign, English sort. Some of them were already rumpled from having been sat upon.

What a difference between German organisation and British "organisation"!

Anna had followed Sarah closely and curiously peeked over her shoulder. She just smiled. "Hmn, Marcus always makes sure I get the finest leather... He's so sweet. He even didn't eat well once. He had used all his money to buy me a new skin...I felt really bad for ruining the old one." she said as she sat down on a nearby chair.

When Marcus was lead upstairs he just had to squeeze in. Everything was so small and narrow! It was insane!
After stumbling into the larger room, his eyes went wide. What a mess! His jaw dropped and he looked around. This was...he didn't have the words to describe it. If he would make a mess out of his workspace like this, he'd totally get smacked and kicked into the army.
He looked around and just rubbed his head. "I'd rather stand, thank you though..." there was no way he was going to sit down! Ugh, the dust, the horrible and dirty dust and what not else.

Sarah pulled out a red tube of lipstick and considered it, then nodded quietly. "This is for lips, but...your eyes are unnatural at the moment. A woman has a bit of pink around her eyes, not by make-up, but...it's simply natural." She fished around and pulled out a paintbrush as well. "You don't, but we'll fix that easily." She was happy to paint up Anna's face to make her look not only pretty, but natural.

Theta looked at Marcus' stricken expression and frowned, not sure what to say to him. "...Marcus? Is everything all right? You look like you've seen a ghost!"

"I doubt he adheres to our...standard of decoration, Theta. I doubt all of the rumours are true, but at least this I know...Germans prefer order and cleanliness." Charles chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm going to work on a watch I've been wanting to tinker with, you two feel free to ignore me..." It would give them a chance to socialise without being unsupervised.

Anna smiled sweetly and just sat there, perfectly still. "I see." she said softly before she allowed Sarah to come near and have her look more natural. Anna knew what she meant and she knew she did lack that. Perhaps she could indeed fix it herself, if not she would use this to show Marcus how to do it.

When Theta commented his expression, he dropped it and looked at her with a nervous smile. "Well..." he said softly before Charles got in between and said exactly what Marcus couldn't word. He nodded to Charles. "That pretty much is it...Just make sure you never leave me here alone, otherwise I'll create order in this chaos." he chuckled. Marcus then decided that sitting down would be more appropriate, carefully he did move the papers of the chest and put them behind it, carefully, trying hard not to mess it up. He sat down before he smiled at Theta. "I do have to admit...Your home is very cozy. Perhaps it is because your parents are still around. " he said and looked around. Now that he took a better look, this workshop just screamed that it was Charles' and Theta's work area and that it was happy the way it was. A smile crept up his lips when he saw all the clockwork moving around, the ticking...It felt much like his home in Germany.
Marcus had only brought Anna and his clock along because he had to travel light, clockwork wise. "I'm jealous of your clockwork..."

Soon, Sarah had painted Anna's face with the delicate attention of a woman painting designs on fine china. She used a combination of a few different things, including a bit of clear and semi-solid grease that Theta used on her knee, giving Anna's eyes the appearance of being naturally somewhat moist as a human's eyes were. "There. Now...no one should believe you're anything but human unless they actually touch you." She'd also spent the time showing Anna what she was doing and how she was doing it, using a mirror to let her see her face.

Theta smiled gently. "This place is perfectly ordered. Just...it's ordered in a way that only father and I really understand. We love it, though...we live in it." She chuckled amusedly as she looked around at the different clockworks ticking away in the room. "You could always build more if you want more clockwork around you..."

Anna had listened to Sarah and nodded. When Sarah was done, Anna mimicked her motions quickly to make sure she got it right before smiling. "Thank you." she said and hugged the woman gently around her waist. "I'd never thought it would be this easy." she said and stood slowly again. She admired herself in the mirror before she chuckled. "I love Marcus dearly, but sometimes men don't really understand things..." she said softly.

Marcus sighed softly as he just relaxed a bit. He even loosened his tie and opened his jacket. Even though he was a huge fan of being proper, he didn't like the stiffness of some of his clothing. He slowly focussed his attention back to Theta. "I could." he chuckled. "And I think I will make a pet for myself. I mean, Anna is very lovely to have around again, however I'm still a bit scared of taking her out into the open...I mean, in Germany she did everything, from groceries to cleaning. But there it's normal that clockwork just move about in the open..." he stated before he stroked a strand of his hair back. Suddenly he had the urge to sit next to Theta and hold her. It was strange, he never had that urge before...

"Men never do, sweetheart, it's why you need to learn some things from another woman. Don't worry, Anna. I'll teach you."

Theta blushed when Marcus started making himself more comfortable, but she nodded quietly. "It's...not that clockworks are disliked. I can send Fetch-It to the shops for me, and Carry-It comes with me when I'm expecting heavy purchases...it's just how...-real- Anna looks...haven't you heard of the Uncanny Valley?" It was a common principle of clockwork design, and something that most ergaleomancers in England had used as a benchmark for how to plan their creations for years.

Anna smiled sweetly. "Normally, Marcus' mother helps me with things. But, she's all the way in Germany." she whispered before just shrugging and tilting her head a bit. "Thank you very much, Mrs. Buckley. It must be hard to live with two ergaleomancers..." she commented. She then put a finger to her lips. "I kinda wonder though...If Marcus and Theta decide to marry...How will they be able to...You know...make real children? I mean, Theta can hardly move her leg."

Marcus smiled a bit before he shook his head. "No, I haven't heard of it. But I'll make sure to look it up tomorrow." he smiled. Marcus quickly glanced over to Charles, who was too busy to notice them. Quickly and silently Marcus moved over to Theta's chair and sat down on the arm rest. He looked down at Theta and smiled. "It's more cosy like this." he said softly. Carefully he dropped one arm and reached out to take Theta's hand. He was just needy for a bit of touch.

Sarah nearly choked at Anna's question. She fanned at herself with her hand and took a deep breath. "That's...hardly a proper sort of question to ask...I'm sure they'll think of something. If they wish to, that is. I don't think Theta is the mothering type."

Theta looked up at Marcus and blushed deeply, though she did let him take her hand. She wasn't sure what to say, or even what to do with herself. She didn't dislike it, but certainly she wasn't used to being so close to people. "...I...wouldn't say I've ever been 'cosy'...." She looked over at her father, worried he would look over at them.

Anna looked down ashamed. "I'm sorry." she whispered to Sarah. It was obvious that the girl had no idea that these kind of question were not appropriate. "I think they will be curious for such things..." she said before deciding to drop the subject.
Slowly she looked around and noticed the spider that had scared Marcus to death. Chuckling she knelt down and picked the spider up. "Are you happy that Theta gets some attention from a man?" she asked then.

Marcus' thumb ran over her hand, caressing it gently. That was Marcus, sometimes he just needed to touch and be touched by someone. When she stated that, Marcus chuckled sweetly. "well...now you are." he said before he rested back a bit. "I'm happy that you want to go to the play with me." Slowly Marcus glanced at Charles before he turned back to Theta. Carefully he let go of her hand and draped his arm around her, pulling her clsoer to him, but gently of course.

Sarah didn't blame Anna for asking; she'd just been a bit shocked by the question. It was inappropriate, but how was Anna to learn what was and wasn't if she didn't make mistakes and get corrected for them. "...A man's attention? I...well...I don't suppose I know what to think about that, Anna, I never thought it would happen to begin with."

The spider rotated its head entirely around to peer up at Anna, wondering why it had been scooped up. It wriggled a bit, trying to get its body to follow suit in turning over.

Theta blushed deeper still when his thumb ran over her hand, and when his arm went around her she could have sworn she was at risk of a nosebleed. She leaned against him, not sure what to do with herself other than to let him tug her close. "...I...really like that play... It...will be nice to go see it with you..."

Anna smiled at the spider and gently stroked it's brass body with her fingers. It was a cute spider, Marcus was to learn that spiders weren't scary. She knew that this fellow was going to help him with that.
She chuckled at Sarah's words. "She might just be lucky. Marcus is used to have different kinds of people around him, to him Theta is interesting and apparently he really likes her. I haven't seen him so...obsessed with anything or anyone in a long time. It's also interesting to see that my theory about him is right." she chuckled. That was because she had always said that Marcus didn't fall in love with one's looks, like 'normal' people did. He saw the beauty within, he liked the person because of who they were deep inside. So he could easily fall in love with a man if he liked the man's personality. But a clockwork with a soul could also get his attention.

When she leaned against his hip and side he smiled. Secretly he wished they were both seated on a couch instead of the chair. "I'm very curious about it." he nodded before he leaned back a bit and closed his eyes. His focus soon went to the ticking of all the clocks and the working of Charles. It reminded him of home. All these sounds were so familiar, it was almost like a lullaby.

The spider rolled over in Anna's hands and displayed its belly, its legs twitching in happiness as it got petted. Just because it couldn't strictly feel in the same way that humans processed the sensation of touch, it seemed to appreciate the attention.

Sarah didn't really know what to say to Anna, she just nodded quietly, understanding the words even if they had left her a bit lacking for words. She wasn't stunned or in shock, but there wasn't anything that really needed said after that.

Things were quiet and still in the Buckley workshop. That could only mean one thing. Theta pulled away from Marcus and stood, wondering what was going wrong. A moment later, there was a terrific springing sound, the springs Charles was working on having gotten too tight and launched themselves at the ceiling. He jumped back to avoid catching it in the face, and Theta couldn't help but chuckle. "I knew the quiet wouldn't last long..."

Anna giggled and just played with the spider a bit, petting it, cooing at it and just having fun with the little thing in her hands. Anna soon enough just held it in her hand and kissed it's head. "You're the cutest spider I know." she giggled before she looked at Sarah and smiled. "Sometimes I wish I had a more grown body..." she said softly. "People tend to treat me like a little girl...However I'm already eighteen years of age." she sighed. "I'm a bit scared to ask Marcus for a new body..."

When Theta pulled away, Marcus was roughly shaken from his light snoozing and shook up. Looking at Theta before the noise was heard. He chuckled and got up as well, stretching his now sore back. He made his way over to Charles and picked a spring from the floor. "You better pay attention to the tension..." he laughed. "I bet you were a bit distracted?" he asked with a grin.

The spider relished the attention, rolling over and over in her hands, sometimes rolling its body and head in opposite directions.

Sarah frowned at the question, though. "Do you want to leave Marcus? Because...that's all the good that will come of having an 'older' body..."

Charles frowned deeply and sighed, shaking his head. "My hands aren't what they once were, that's all."

Theta held her tongue, though it was obvious she was concerned.

Anna looked at Sarah, shocked. "Oh No! I couldn't leave Marcus, not even if he'd force me to..." she said and looked at the woman. "Marcus is like a father to me...But...I just want to have an older body, so people won't treat me like a little girl any more. I'm a bit tired of hearing: aren't you a bit young to travel alone? and so on."

Marcus looked at the man and let out a soft sigh. "Ah. I see. Don't worry. My grandfather is still working. He's well over 65 now." he said, encouraging the man. "You'll be fine, you just need to pay a bit more attention than you used to."
The blonde looked over at Theta, but then he instantly snapped his head back. he had felt his skin rip and it hurt. Carefully he felt his neck and shoulders. The bandage dipped in a herb mixture must've dried out.
Slowly Marcus got his watch and checked the time, it was already half past nine. "Ah, I think I better head home." he stated before putting the watch back where it belonged.

"You shouldn't want to look more than fourteen if you want to stay with Marcus, Anna. Any older than that and you'll be courting age and it will be strange that you -do- stay with him."

Charles turned his attention back to his work, letting Theta bid Marcus goodnight. He wasn't pleased with Marcus, though. Who did the young upstart think he was, telling him how to go about working with clockwork? He knew that it wasn't fair to expect everyone to hang off of his every word when he talked about clockworks; no sense burdening the young with old ideas, but who did this young upstart think he was to lecture him as though he was a doddering old fool who only puttered about with his clockworks to pass his retirement?

Theta nodded quietly and moved to lead Marcus out to the door. Stairs in the way or no, she was going to be polite. "All right, Marcus. I'll see you tomorrow, then?"

Anna looked at the woman before thinking, she was right. It would be odd to stick with Marcus if she got an older body...He was already shunned by the British society, any more trouble would be fatal for his mental health. "Hmn. You're right about that...I think I'll discuss it with him when this skin wears out. I don't want to trouble him now." she smiled at Sarah. "Thank you for your advice."

Marcus had sensed the annoyed attitude of Charles, knowing he was the one at fault. Sighing softly he rubbed the back of his neck, which was a bad idea. After hissing softly and cursing to himself he stood with his back straight. Marcus turned to Charles and smiled one last time. "Thank you, sir. For having me over tonight." he said politely with a small bow of his head before he turned and followed Theta to the door.
Once out of earshot of Charles Marcus smiled at the young lady. "You don't have to see me out." he smiled. "I will see you tomorrow, if my burns don't get any worse." he said softly.

The following day, there was a knock at the door of the workshop a half hour before Theta was due to arrive, though it was conceivable that she'd simply come early.

Anna was the one who opened the door for the knock, expecting it was Theta she opened it and smiled widely at the person. "Hi, you're...not the one that I expected to be..." the girl said and kept the door only ajar.

Marcus wasn't in the room to back her up, since he was preparing his classes for that day. Which were luckily only in the morning. Which was good, since he wasn't feeling well at all.

Anna was greeted with a camera flash. "So it's true, she is seeing a man with a charge. What's your name, sweetheart?" The reporter had a camera, a notebook, and apparently no sense of decency. The moment the door was open, he tried to shove his way in, not even noticing when he tried to push past Anna that she didn't quite feel human.

The flash had put her sight off for a moment, the most crucial point to where the reporter could easily barge into the office. She had stepped back easily but when she got her sight back, she stood with her hands on her hips. She frowned at the man and gave a childish expression. "Excuse me, Mister. You are not allowed into this office! I will not provide you of any data what so ever." she stated in German. When she realized she had said it in that language, she translated it to English and held the door open. "I request you to leave this instance."

His eyes went wide for a moment, then he just grinned, snapping photographs of more of the office and then passing the camera off to a clank that trailed behind him--he'd learned the hard way that leaving your camera where it was grab-able was a bad idea where Theta Buckley was concerned. "Was that German? And your reflex was to speak in that language...and the accent...you're German, aren't you?" He whipped out his notepad to take notes while the clank put the camera into its belly where it would be secure.

"So you and Professor Liechtenhoven are first-generation German, not simply the children of immigrants. Tell me more about your family. Why are you here in England?"

Anna's mouth fell open when she saw that he took more pictures of the office than were necessary. The man was so annoying and obviously Anna had no way of being polite towards the man. "Sir, I request you to leave! This is the last time I ask nicely. I will kick you out!" she threatened, but then again, what was threatening about a seven year old?

That moment Marcus walked in with a confused look on his face. He had realized he had forgotten some drawings that he would need later on and had returned for them. "what's going on? Anna?" he asked the girl who practically ran to him, hugging his waist. She quickly explained what was going on. The with fever flushed German wasn't in the best of moods and looked scary as it was, but now his expression got darker.
"A reporter is he not?" he asked before a dark grin fell upon his lips, his hands rubbing together. "Let's see if we can erase those pictures. You took them without my permission, that IS a violation...Is it not?"
It was obvious Marcus was trying hard not to fall back to speaking German. The bandages he had now went up to cover his entire neck. The burns obviously had gotten worse, but Marcus wasn't going to hold back just because of a little fever and a few burns.