R2-D2 was fascinating to her. The droid could have almost been out of one of her books. There was a part of her that wanted to see how he functioned, but Helena wouldn't cross that line. Inquire about the mechanics behind it, yes. Deconstruct him? No. Though she kind of did want to deconstruct him, but Helena would refrain herself from such a thing. No, she'd ask about the mechanics later.
"Well hello Artoo-Deetoo, it is a pleasure to meet you," Helena responded with a smile to the chirping the droid gave her. She hadn't encountered a droid before. Dreamt of them and made them up in her head? Yes. Meet one in the real world? No. So this was certainly quite the experience. When she'd come to Anakin's workroom, she had expected to find something to distract herself. Though she hadn't expected to meet a younger Anakin or a droid. But this was certainly turning out to be a good turn of events.
Helena flipped some hair over her shoulder and added the partial circuit board to her pile of parts she was gathering. Turning back to the younger Anakin, she smiled at his question. "If he wishes my assistance on something, I would be more than happy to lend it. Though I am more here to build something for myself." Turning her gaze back to R2-D2 again for some moments, then looked back ato the younger Anakin. "Did you build Artoo-Deetoo yourself?" She was quite curious on the matter, and felt she'd start with that question. Given the older Anakin liked to build things, she was fairly certain this younger version did as well. And perhaps talking about things would help to warm the younger Anakin up to her.