Yes, thank you, Jeph. We knew that Melon was...
unique in many ways. What's interesting is the implication: There are commercially available chassis that attract eccentric AIs, sort of like a Bohemian lifestyle and certain fashions. Or perhaps it is like cars that are known clunkers. Some people consider owning and driving them a sort of bizarre declaration of independence and individuality.
This is just me but I suspect that "he's a jerk" is a summary that applies to many of Roko's coworkers. I bet the smartasses like leaving cans of lube in her locker or calling her 'Plastic Policebot'. When she complains, she's told that it is 'good natured ribbing' that she needs to learn to roll with.
Bubbles's reaction to Faye's question in panel 1 is interesting. Just
what was she reading that she should react like that? A guess: "So, you want to attract your human?" in this month's
Robot Lifestyles and Celebrity Gossip.
Finally, Bubbles's way of describing Melon's relationship to her chassis is very interesting, isn't it? 'Inhabitant': To me, this feeds into my theory that the AIs view themselves as naked minds wearing the body they want or need for the day ahead. Yet this is contradicted by how attached to their chassis most AIs seem in terms of it defining them and expressing their identity. So, I conclude that 'inhabitant' is an example of a word in the QC universe that has a unique extra meaning in the context of AIs; specifically, an AI 'inhabits' its chassis instead of say 'is installed in' or 'is stored in', which sounds more technological but is subtly dehumanising.
In the end, the AIs all just want to be accepted as people, don't they?