Man & Machine (Strawberry/Abraham)

How could a robot be gulible? A machine designed and modeled after having everything but basic human flaws, easily tricked by some man who took advantage over its initial programming. Perhaps that's why humans created the machines - they were superior in every way, and knew their flaws. While machines may not have "human errors," it's their lack of flaws that make them even more imperfect than those who built them. They could only do one job, and were expected to do that job without fail. However in any other job, they'd probably go to waste attempting to accomplish a task they have no knowledge over. A machine made to sew can't tell time. Sure, some machines were made for multitasking, but not all.

Such was the case of the robot Strawberry, a maid to the guild Grim Heresy. She was built to serve one purpose - clean, cook, and do all sorts of basic maid duties. However, she was also built with multiple other functions, well over the normal amount for a basic machine. But, one of them was blind loyalty and belief, as she didn't even understand the concept behind lying. So long as it didn't jeaporadize someone else's life with her own hands, or do something negative towards her guild's motives, she'd do just about anything. And that "anything" includes helping tidy up a man's "booth" porsay in a dark, shady alley.

"You lookin' for something - huh...? Hey you, lady, are you some kind of... Robot? My eyes may not be the best in this world, but livin' in Motor City's trained 'em to be aware of anything machine like..."

The man must've been able to tell based on the maid's glowing white eyes, and the heavy tap of her shoes onto the ground. There wasn't much more to tell from, without physically touching her. Then, he'd be able to feel her metallic outer shell, or as most call it her skin.

"Y-Yes, Sir. I am Strawberry, loyal maid and servant. May I have your name?"

"Eh that ain't matter... Just come over here, will ya? You said you're a maid, yeah? How's about you do me a bit of a job, Miz Strawberry."

The devilish grin and the wicked cackle were no red lights to the humanoid machine. Instead, she blindly followed, her eyes illuminating the path towards an alleyway, one where there were many other shady fellows much like the man in question. Some looked even more secretive than the others, some looked dangerous while some looked harmless, there were all sorts of different folk. Once the pair were inside, the wicked man led her to a corner with goods, all scattered about. None looked quite valuable - perhaps why none had been stolen.

"Why don't you go about and tidy that up, okay? I's got some preparations to make for you, lady."

"As you wish, I'll tidy it up to perfection!"

The maid went to work, assorting everything into little piles and groups. By color and by alphabetical order, in order of increasing price. After she was satisfied with her job, the maid summoned a magic circle in her hand, chanting a ReQuip spell, until a broom rested in her hands. She swept up the entirety of the wicked dealer's area, and left it spiffy clean... Or at least as close to it as you could get in this dirty city. Strawberry then heard the man's call, and it wasn't until now that she realized that the dealer was no longer there. He had vanished into a pothole beneath a rug, and waved his hand for Strawberry to come down there. The maid in green shrugged and stepped through the hole, thinking the man just wanted to simply have her clean something else.

Boy was she wrong.

Resting below the surface were tons of valuable items. A vault, if you will, probably for those who weren't sucker enough to fall for the outrageous prices for the fake goods above ground. These were the true money makers - machines, lacrimas, hell even drugs. If you were to name it, this man had it.

"How do you think a fully-operating mage robot maid would go for, Strawberry?"

The man's cackle still set off no alarms.

"I don't know, quite a bit? Why do you-hm?"

She was cut off by the man holding something out to her. An orb that glowed a bright blue, reading "Price Negotiable." Just as she was about to ask what it was, the orb released a pulse, and then said pulse began to create some sort of field around Strawberry. She didn't know what was going on - but she didn't like it. She noticed her power supply was quickly draining - close to... Now reaching 5%... 4%... 3%... 2%... 1%....

Black.

The man's laugh boomed throughout the underground vault.

Can't have you's runnin' off before I get a buyer, eh? Donnnnn't worry, Lil' Lady. Your power will be returned to you in jusssssst a bit."

The man stored the device right in front of Strawberry's feet, the robot's husk simply standing there idle. He was going to get a buyer soon. He always did! The man hurried upstairs, then out onto the streets to get a customer.