We're a Couple of Misfits

<div align=center>"Huh... Well, I never knew that..." Pollyanna mused on the thought, as if to contemplate what it meant. She had never thought of the science or schematics of the arts that she did. Rather, she just did. But her roommate was a very analytical person, while she thought abstractly. A minor difference, but surely it wouldn't get in the way of anything. She looked over at the virtual mural on her walk, chuckling a bit. "Oops.". Eh, it may have used every color she had at some point, but it worked for her.

She shrugged with the mention of a nap. "Nah, it's cool. More of something to pass the time anyway." Though her species was primarily nocturnal, she still slept like a human. The only time she took real naps was when her mind was overloaded and she happened to be comfortable. Or maybe both, like what almost happened.

The question he had asked her had provoked her, triggering more thinking. How was she to phrase this? Well, it was time to be honest. After all opportunities like this only came once in a blue moon. "Well Tellios, I'm sorta new too it too..." She shuffled her wings and looked down. "I haven't made many friends in the past before, and you're the first person I've met who's... Like me... Someone who never truly was..." She halfway closed her eyes as she continued. "And I know, at least from my experience, that my lights could go off at any second because of just what I am. And from what you've told me so far... It seems the same can happen to you." Her tail tucked itself between her legs discreetly, as to show the fear she felt for the future. Her ears drooped. "There's just things I can't let go of, from how I've been brought up. Just used to being a lowly lab experiment is all, and even the man who raised me as his daughter even recognized this. And up until today I haven't met anyone who's been the same as me, which I guess is why I worry when things seem to be going wrong..." But with that, she tried to laugh it nervously off. "Ah, maybe it's just because I'm an overbearing person too at times. Sorry if I get like this, feel free to ignore me when I ramble on."</div>

<div align=center>Despite being only limited to an ambiguously short time on this Earth Pollyanna felt as if she had a lot to live for. After all, things started to look up. She was allowing herself to get more open to her true appearance and was getting some nice new friends in the process. She was glad that Tellios understood her, in words that her easy going brain couldn't express. There was some sort of payback for him in the future, and at the very least he deserved a decent time here. All she needed to be was a good roommate. And friend.

She smiled a bit at his offer and lowered her head, unable to know whether or not to shake or nod. "Well... You don't have to. I appreciate the offer, I really do! I'm just... I dunno, I feel like things with me are the way they are for a reason." She looked up, a little bit of hope in her puppy-like eyes. "But I'm curious as to know what your ideas are."

The hope she had for herself transferred over to how she felt about Tellios. It was sad to be so lonely for so long, it truly was... With his comment she halfway smiled, trying to at least lighten up the scenario. It was a lucky break that the school they were in now would house many opportunities for those inside, including finally starting life the way it should be.

When he suddenly touched her gently, her eyes traced down to the chestnut soft fur that lined her body at this point. It wasn't something she was used to, but... It was nice. Her ears lowered in a calmer fashion, a sign of submitted respect. She looked up to him, trying to resist gushing out emotionally or in tears. She chuckled a bit, rubbing a sniffle from her muzzle. "I'm glad that the feeling's mutual..."

She watched him sit down, her own instinct to sit as well. She rested on her knees, rustling her wings to get used to the sitting position. Looking up to him, she could tell that he was contemplating something. Maybe it was the room... Well, if she were to be helpful with him, the least she could do was switch back to her other from. She was hardly useful in this one... Speaking of which, she laughed aloud briefly, her wing blocking the fact that the fur around her cheeks had poofed up from a 'blush'

"You kidding? I'm the weird kid here... Which makes me like an anti-boy magnet" There were of course some exceptions... But she kept those in mind with high regard. "Besides, I spend almost all my time in this room. I'm not so good with flirting, anyway."
She admired with a shrug, figuring the opposite for her roommate. For a guy new to human interaction he certainly was a pro at wise cracking. Which was quirky. Quirky is nice. "Hey, but look at you. Give yourself a few weeks and you'll probably be swimming in the ladies." Even as a joke, that would be fine in theory...

...Just as long as they didn't destroy their dorm.</div>

<div align=center>As appreciative as Pollyanna was for his help, and truly she was, she couldn't help but to worry as to wether or not any of this would involve hardcore testing. Sure, a quick checkup would be nice, as she never had one before, but the last thing she wanted to be was strapped to a table again and forced to be like a pincushion for unfathomable amounts of needles. That idea alone was enough to give her nightmares.

"Ew." She replied to the list with a small giggle. It would be a little... Awkward to give such things to her roommate. Unless he was 100% sure what he could do, that sort of stuff may have to wait. "Hopefully we can figure something out..." She then smiled and bowed her head out of respect. "But thank you... For wanting to help me."

Of course she needed to return the favor.

She laughed a bit again, shaking her head. She wasn't a special person really, or at least she didn't think so. Besides, it was important to be open in any sort of relationship, including showing them who she was. And she knew how well that usually turned out. "Well, glad you think that way. Thanks." She responded with a bit of a tail wag. Maybe she would find someone who liked her enough to go out with her. And he another lady. Hopefully.

"And same to you. My door's always open. Unless it's not." She chuckled at her own knowingly bad joke before shrugging. "If you ever need someone to talk to, I'll be happy to listen. I don't get to help people often, so I like doing it as much as possible." With her wing, she rubbed the back of her ear before continuing. "It's just nice to have an impact on someone, even if it is for something small..." </div>

<div align=center>"Exactly." Pollyanna giggled at the statement, knowing she was good at poorly made jokes. She liked keeping things positive, and didn't want to be a Debbie Downer when not necessary. Besides, being sad didn't feel good. And despite Tellios being a robot he probably didn't enjoy those kinds of situations either.

He still seemed to be against the thought of gratitude however, something that puzzled her. It was like second nature to slip out a 'thanks' or 'appreciate it' to her, but for his sake he didn't need it. Still... There was that sense of obligation there. "Well, let's hope that doesn't happen. Last thing you need is a damsel in distress to have to watch after." She laughed a bit but still was serious. Independency was a must, though friends were nice. She just hoped he didn't have to go out of his way to help her. She didn't want to be an inconvenience. "But I gotta say, I can't complain against a mutual smile."

She cocked her ears in equivalency to raising a brow. "Can't say I have... Doesn't sound good, though!" Though she had personal issues of her own, she couldn't say she ever had to repair her arm. But it was interesting, to say the least. "Well, this one time some kid's dog left fleas all over the student lounge. It wasn't great for the other students, but it was even worse considering I was like this that day..." At least they had some stories to share in terms of being who they are. She chuckled at the now long since gone incident and sighed. "That wasn't fun at all. Luckily you don't have fur though, it can be a real pain sometimes..."

The humorous exchange turned to something uplifting yet serious with Tellios's reflection on the story. She looked down, knowing it was the truth. Which is why it was such a goal in her life. "You're absolutely right." She looked up at him. "That's kinda why I thank you a lot too... It's the little things that bring me up, and send me on my way happily." She stood up from sitting, stretching out her wing-arms a bit. "I hope you find plenty of that here Tellios. Little stuff like acts of kindness is what makes me feel more human than I am." </div>

<div align=center>"That's all I ask for." The best he could do, even if it happened to be the bare minimum, was greatly appreciated. She felt odd asking for his help in something so exponentially important so she didn't truly ask. It would be nice, but... Whatever happened happened, and it would be hard to find a cure without testing. Even if she was locked this way forever she didn't truly mind. For her, being in her 'feral' side was just natural and she had grown accustomed and appreciative of this form. It was others and their own judgement she worried about. As long as she wasn't a 'freak' or 'monster' in anyone's eyes, she was good.

She looked back at her own body, shifting her wings to take in the rest of herself. Sometimes she forgot she ever transformed, minus the knowledge that she wasn't able to properly use her hands. "I guess. At least I never need a blanket!" She giggled a bit before looking at Tellios. "Hey, and your nanites are pretty cool too!" Her eyes glanced to the one given to her, wanting to pick it up to hold it. She learned kinesthetically, and if she held it she would associate more with Tellios and learn something important. And apparently, he didn't take in kindness either.

She frowned ever so slightly, hoping that one day he would learn. Kindness to her was priceless, and it was almost a sure fire way to get someone to smile. But it appeared to her this sort of thing ran deeper than a misunderstanding or lack of belief. It was ingrained in his code itself, how he was made and how he functioned. And this was made even more clear with his voiced thoughts.

Human. What did that word mean? Even she had been chasing this abstract idea for as long as she could remember. She wanted to be 'human' but still 'her'. What defined what? And how much could the both of them strive to be something they weren't created as? "Tellios, it's been seventeen years for me and I'm still trying to figure that out."

She chuckled almost bittersweetly and sat down in a small chair, wings flopping defeatedly upon the floor. He ears lowered as she sighed. "You can ask anyone what they think being human means and they'll tell you something different every time. What we make of ourselves, who we are, our technical species... I don't think there's a right or wrong answer, but the last one seems a bit off." She looked up at him with her animalistic face. "You'll find your place and belonging one day. And that's what I feel may make us human. Drives, ambitions... The ability to love and be loved... All the while having a decent sense of what's right or wrong. Perhaps that's it." She shrugged, looking at him with a small fanged smile. "Tellios, do with life as you wish. It's yours to control, and you decide what you are on your own accord. But no matter what, the hardest thing to ask yourself when thinking about this is 'who am I'?" She paused. "Well, there's no straight answer until you fill in the blanks. But I know one thing about the both of us." Her tail flicked, as she stated simply
"We may not be human, but we're not monsters.". </div>