She chuckled softy at his organisational system, looking around quite cheerily. This was all amazing, and she was enjoying getting a chance to look around. It was definitely different to her own higglety-piggelty method of stacking things randomly and simply -knowing- where they were by virtue of having put them there herself. Then again, for working together with someone, she supposed his organised method was better.

"I'm almost afraid to get into things for fear of messing up your order...but then again it's all based in logic so I'm sure we won't have any trouble. I suppose we should get into the details of what you're proposing before we bring up materials, though. Otherwise we won't know what we'll need..."

Marcus allowed her to roam around, pick things up and such. He himself had everything he needed upstairs at the moment. He didn't really want her to start working right away, he wanted to get to know her first a bit, explain his plan and his experiment. And go to work the next day.
He laughed at her statement of being scared to throw everything off. "Don't worry. This was chaos first class when I got here, I fixed it up in a day. Don't be scared to mix things up, I'll find the things instantly and organize it properly again. " he nodded before he looked at her with a smile. "Well. I wanted to get to know you first, for a bit and explain my first experiment to you today and work on it tomorrow." he nodded.

She nodded quietly, though frankly the thought of 'getting to know' someone was a bit daunting for her. Too many people knew too many things about her, and many of them believed things that weren't even true. She was afraid of what he might already "know" from the tabloids, afraid of what he might think about her.

"Well...getting to know each other might be better for back upstairs, then. Nothing helps conversation like tea and a place to sit..." Hopefully, the -getting- upstairs would give her enough time to psych herself up for dealing with whatever he might ask about her.

Marcus smiled and looked at her. Marcus never really read any tabloids, mainly because it wasn't to his likings. That and if he wanted to get to know someone, he'd rather get it first hand. The German could easily avoid the gossip and things because he wasn't really high in society, people were scared of him. Not that he minded.

Nodding in agreement, he went before her. " Yes, that would be very lovely." he smiled and looked at her. "I just mainly want to know what you are in person, I've heard some stories, but I'd rather get the real story, first hand." Marcus looked at her. " Will you be okay with the stairs or do you want my help?" he asked softly as he locked the door behind them again.

Theta cringed a bit when he mentioned having heard 'some' stories. Some of those tales were outright malicious, and she didn't want to have to contend with defending her honour and sanity right off of the bat. Then again, she supposed he wouldn't have given her this much of a chance if he already believed some of the things that could be said. She took a deep breath and turned her eyes to the stairs, shaking her head. "No, I'll be fine..."

Let it never be said that she was a cripple or an invalid. No matter -what- it took, she was going to do things under her own power. She made her way back up the stairs just as awkwardly as she'd come down...but just as diligently. Once they were back in the office, though, she knew she was going to be grateful to have a seat. She was tired, she was sore, and she hadn't thought that accepting a posting in a prestigious university, even working under a professor for something unrelated to the school itself, would require so much walking.

"You have me at a disadvantage, though. I haven't heard any stories about you at all, just what I've managed to notice about you from this tour..."

Marcus smiled when they had finished the stairs and could walk at a decent pace at last. When she sat down Marcus took her cup and brought it to the kitchen quickly only to come back with two clean cups and a water boiler, one of his own inventions.
He put everything down and readied everything before he sat down on the desk. He didn't feel like sitting in a chair now.

Marcus chuckled. "You are free to ask me anything." he said and smiled at her. "I've heard some very lame stories about you, but, honestly. I don't believe them at all, so I won't ask anything about it." he said before he just looked at Theta. When the bell rang of the water that was boiled Marcus turned to making a nice fresh pot of tea. He had adapted pretty quickly to English customs.

Theta settled in with her tea and smiled cheerily. It was good that he was open to not believing in the stereotypes and fanciful tabloid stories. "Well...I suppose we might start with the obvious questions? How long have you lived in England, and why did you come here?" Again she was being direct and to the point, not seeing much sense in waiting about for nicety's sake when all that meant was that they were wasting time.

Many people considered her to be impolite for it, and if she'd gotten a different air from Marcus, she might have worried about putting him off. But somehow it just felt -right- to speak in such a manner with him, and she hoped he would be so frank with her.

The German smiled at her questions and sipped his tea as he listened. Thank god she wasn't like those normal English people! He hated the fake politeness and the twirling around the subject. She was just as straight forward as a, well German.
"I've been in England for two years and a half now." he nodded before he leaned over his desk to grab his biscuit box and offered her some by holding it out to her. "I decided to move here, because I wanted to really...I wanted to see a different country and learn more about the world than just my own. I've also lived in France and The Netherlands, but that together was just a year. I mainly study and experiment with things." he nodded as he himself got a biscuit and took a polite bite out of it.

His blue hues looked over the lady. " Now, tell me, when did it became clear you were an ergaleomancer?" he asked her in bright delight. "And, you don't have to answer this but, why are you walking around with a cane? No, wrong question. How did it happen? Not right either, but I think you get what I want to ask."

She was blunt, she was very blunt. She wasn't -that- blunt, and the direct question about her leg made her blanch. She'd taken a biscuit for herself and started to nibble on it, but she set it down suddenly at the question, taking a few deep breaths as she tried to think of how to even -begin- to answer a question like that. "I...I...I....I built my first clockwork as a child....I was...seven...." She pressed her eyes shut, trying to steady herself by listening for the ticking of the two watches in the room, trying to listen to...well, anything really. Anything to get her mind off of it. She tried hard not to think about that clockwork, about what it had been and how it had come to hurt her so badly.

"And I've been....walking with a cane since....I was young...as well...."

Marcus listened to her and gave her the time to respond to his questions. Perhaps he was a bit too blunt on her? Hmn...make a mental note of that!
When she began to speak and explain, the two puzzle pieces clicked together rather quickly. "Ah..." was the only thing that came from his lips. "You were quite young when you started to build things. I was two years younger." he chuckled. Smiling he looked at her.
"What kind of things do you make nowadays?" he asked her, getting off the subject o what happened to her. When she was ready, she'd tell him, right? Right. No need to rush.
Marcus soon enough finished his tea and looked at Theta with a smile.

Her eyes widened when he said he'd been younger when he began. She fidgeted nervously, feeling less and less important by the minute. Why had he wanted her here when he was obviously.... No. She stopped herself from letting her mind whisk her off into a whirl of negativity. He'd asked for her because she -was- good at what she did, she was good enough to be worth noticing, and because he was a good enough person to overlook the media frenzy that often surrounded her. She smiled for him, albeit awkwardly, and nodded along.

"That's amazing...here in England I was hailed as a prodigy. But...I hear in Germany schooling begins younger as well..? Mm, no matter. Nowadays I am working on a number of things. My father is having me study the medicinal application of clockworks, no doubt in preparation of passing his job on to me when he retires. Which leaves me very little time for my own research, but...I am piecing together a...well, it's medical as well, but from a less...strictly necessary standpoint..." She smiled, a bit coyly--this was her own secret project, after all.

Marcus smiled a bit when he noticed she got nervous. There was nothing to worry about, she was perfect. That was also why he asked her. If she would've been bad at what she did, he wouldn't even take the effort to call her out. The German was happy she wanted to work with him. She really was a great help!

Marcus listened to her speaking before he chuckled. " Well, in Germany children have to be in school after their fourth year. And that's just kindergarten, to learn how to go along with eachother." he said as he offered her another cup of tea. " But, are you sure you have time to help me out then, if you're so busy with your own studies...If you can't handle you shouldn't help me." Marcus looked a bit worried at that point. But medical application, was an interesting subject.

She shook her head, glad that he was concerned, but also finding it unnecessary. "No, my father has said that if I find other employment that he will back off with training me in his specific field of expertise. Truth be told I don't think I'd ever be able to hold that post anyway--I am too...well known in the negative sense to be able to be one of the Queen's assistants, and unless I can perfect the clockwork I am trying to build for myself...I doubt that will ever change."

She paused for a moment, then sighed. She supposed she'd have to tell him the crux of the matter sooner or later, but nonetheless it was an awkward thing to do. Being blunt about it was uncomfortable, but there was no other way to say it.

When she stated that his eyes opened wide. " The Queen?" he repeated in slight disbelief but more in awe. He then just sighed and looked at her. " Hmn, that is difficult indeed. But maybe I can help you out on it? A favour for a favour?" he asked her before he smiled at her.
The German looked at the girl before him. "So you have some strings towards the Queen? That's quite impressive." he nodded. He then just smiled and moved to his own chair only to sit down and stretch out his arms a little. "The only ties I have back home is with our mayor." he laughed.

She stared at him when he asked about the Queen. Did he really not know? Surely that was the real reason he had asked her to... Well. She wasn't connected directly--her father was the High Ergaleomancer to the Queen, but that was a very close connection regardless. But if she hadn't come riding in on her father's coattails, then... Was he really that impressed by her reputation? Was her own reputation really approaching being worthwhile?

-And- he wanted to help with her secret project? Now that was perhaps too much, and she smiled shyly. "It's...certainly an unusual sort of thing. I...don't think many people would want their names associated with such a thing. It's more of a curiosity, something one might have in a private collection."

Marcus was never that interested in other things than his own clockworks and those of others. He didn't really care about their personal lives or what ties they had with whoever.
The man smiled a bit before he sipped his own tea again. Well if she had ties with the Queen, he would be able to get some more rare materials, right? But wouldn't that be using this kind girl? Yes it would and that wasn't nice was it?

Marcus rose his brows at her explanation. "Well. I can't be more embarrassing than building a well, bluntly said pleasure doll, right?" he asked. Yes he had been involved with something that vulgar. It didn't matter, he only saw the beauty of the works inside not the outside. His head tilted slightly to the side.

Theta was surprised, but certainly not shocked or scandalised. She nodded quietly. "What...I'm working on...will no doubt be used for...similar pursuits, though it is of noble intent that I am building it to begin with." She smiled, pausing for dramatic effect before continuing onwards. "There are...some people in the world, saddled with the horrific trouble of having been born in the wrong body...backwards to themselves.... I myself am among their number, and I would strive to repair the damage that fate has caused to them..."

Just as he had done before, he listened to her plans and her idea's. She felt as if she was born in the wrong body? Well, she didn't really seem like it. Sure she dressed boyish, but she was still a lady in all ways, not just physically. However he did not point it out to her.
"I think I get what you're at. However, will this thing you're working on be permanent or not?" he asked her. Even if he didn't really know what she was making or how it would look he had his questions ready. "But honestly, I don't think it's the wrong body people are born in. I've met a few cases of this problem. I personally think that people are more born in the wrong era, if you get what I mean." he stated softly.

She smiled when he didn't press her for information about the exact nature of it. "Well...once the body has been changed it is loathe to change again without assistance or otherwise forcing it..." Right now it was still in the stages of dreaming about making it, rather than having a solid plan or idea. No, rather she'd prefer to focus on Marcus' ideas and leave her own fanciful imaginings to herself.

"Though the idea of being able to traverse the great epochs of history is no less intriguing, I must say... But I think we shouldn't delve off into the realms of fantasy when there's work yet to be done. Tell me more about why you requested me come here..?"

Marcus just watched her. Seeing her talk about her biggest dream made him smile widely. She had such a passion! It really astonished him that an English lady would have such fire in her body. Most English he knew were fine with everything and weren't that passionate about their work or what ever else they did.

When she brought the both of them back to earth, Marcus blinked briefly before nodding suddenly. "ah, yes. Well. I've requested you, because I need someone to work with. I tend to get really passionate about my project and loose myself in it. It wouldn't be the first time I would end up in a hospital because I didn't care for myself." he laughed. "And the project I want to start, is well big. HUGE actually." he said. "What I want to make right now, to start off with, is an aircraft. Something like a bus that can travel through air, powered by steam of course. And I want to make like humanoids, much like the ones we have in Germany, but the ones I make will be useful in healthcare. They will only know how to help people in need." he nodded.

"Mm...we should probably start off small--there are already dedicated machinists looking into improving methods of transit, especially given that the Empire spans the globe now... I mean... I mean no disrespect, but with only two of us working, it could take months to design an aircraft and then -years- to build...we would be easily outpaced and find the work to have been for naught. But these medical assistants you speak of designing....they would be unique and a gift to the people if they could indeed be produced..."

Theta was relaxed now, and happy to babble on and on as though her opinion was the only important one in the world. She liked hearing herself talk, and she thought her education was quite sound, therefore surely any ideas she had would be good ones!

"Though...if you're looking for someone to stop you from getting too absorbed...maybe you should call in another person as well....for I've done the same and I'm sure to do it again with such an endeavour in the works..."

Marcus laughed at her respond of making a full size aircraft. He allowed her to finish. "Hmn ,you're right. It would be too long for just the two of us, but inventing the transmission on scale, that wouldn't be much of a problem right? Even if it were just to be a toy, I would be happy to have that invention on my name and yours as well." he said. Slowly he got up and wandered off to the window, only to glance from it, he wasn't disinterested in her story and what she had to tell, but he heard some commotion down his window. Noise always worried him. Especially here in England. Back in Germany he had wild animals to take care of but here...Here he had to watch his back for the British who didn't like him and would do anything to harm him.
He only saw a group of five young men talking, but once they saw the professor they broke up and wandered off.
Marcus then turned his attention fully to Theta.

"Well...We might want to set an alarm then." he said. My little clock can make quite the noise if necessary. He saved my life once." he said and gave the wood of the clock a gentle stroke. The clock looked up and instantly clung to Marcus' hand.

"As for building plans, I have one for a German guardian, it's only the body however. We can alter it. As for the brains, I'll leave you to that." smiling Marcus looked at Theta. "Only if you want that is. I want Coggy to look at the plans as well, I am determined to get on his good side!" Marcus smirked.

She nodded quietly, thinking more on the idea of making an assistant than she was the idea of building a transport craft. There was nothing wrong with dirigibles as far as she was concerned, and she was more than happy to leave that idea alone. No, the idea of converting a German Guardian into a non-dangerous household servant or medical assistant...that had her interest. That would have her interest for days, weeks, months, -years- even...

She smiled at the little watch's antics, though she didn't speak the thought that ran through her mind--the little machine obviously -loved- Marcus. Most well cared for clockworks did love their masters.

"We should probably start from scratch with the body as well...a guardian is going to be pretty big and bulky, right? Assistants should fit easily in the background..."

Marcus kinda figured out that she would love to build an assistant. It was in a girls nature to help people every way possible. Even Marcus wanted to help mankind with his little inventions. Smiling he just looked at her, her eyes were twinkling and she seemed so pleased with the idea.

The little clock -did- love Marcus. Even though the machine wasn't made with a free will or heart, he had developed one. Mainly because Marcus always had talked to the little clock while repairing or cleaning it. Even when they would be alone Marcus would talk to his friend. Especially since he was in England, his conversations were long with the clock. The big friendly giant, giant for the English of course, felt homesick often. But his little clock seemed to get the man better.

Marcus thought about what she said. "Hmn, maybe not." he said as he got up and moved to, what seemed to be a covered up cupboard. He pulled off the white sheet and quickly folded it into a neat package. There was a huge crate. It had been opened and sealed again by the customs. Marcus opened the crate and rummaged through it. Only to pull out a small clock work body, the body had the proportions of a ten year old girl. The body was damaged, some pieces of skin were torn, the blonde locks were a mess. A typical clockwork machine you would find in any scrapyard. Marcus carefully put the body on the worktable and made sure it would sit up right. "We can use her to experiment on for now." he stated. "I managed to bring her along but the customs -molested- her. They were scared she would do harm. She hasn't moved ever since she helped me." he sighed.

How human she looked...it was eerie. Although it wasn't a law, it was common practice in England to make clockworks not look quite so close to human. The Uncanny Valley was a force to be contended with, after all, and even if ergaleomancers seemed to be immune to its repulsive power, marketing such a thing outside of the fold of eccentric clockwork makers would be difficult at -best-.

Except here she was...a common German model? Theta had always thought of the ten foot high sentinels that stood outside of the gates of German mansions, seen on post cards and in pictures when she thought of German Guardians. Theta's fingers twitched a little bit as she considered the girl. For this clockwork was most definitely a girl... She moved forward and started finger-combing the girl's hair, utterly mesmerised by her creation, even in her damaged state.

"It...wouldn't be right to -experiment- on her per se.... But....if we worked to repair her...perhaps some improvements could be made during that process..." She runs her fingers down the girl's cheek, half expecting her to open her eyes and wake up, though Theta knows better. She hasn't even been wound recently, right?

"What was her purpose...before?"