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[ It was one of those times where NOAH was still figuring out their way past the Labyrinth of the Ancients, and Nero was still lingering.

Today, though, he had found himself by the side of G'raha, when G'raha was taking a break. Not that Nero had been watching for it, of course not.

With a soft grunt, he flopped down next to him, holding a few of the tomestones that they'd been tasked to decyther. (Nero, honestly, had been asked not to join in this, but. Nero had waited until Rammbroes wasn't paying attention and stolen these ones.) ]

...You're all struggling with these?

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[he picks up a bit? this… sounds good, yes.] Yes… Well, perhaps not too near, hm? I'm not sure I'd like talking to him in person. [also he's worried about Nero, but hey.]

Very impressive, I'm sure. Feel like talking about those?

[ Oh no, he looks excited - as he manages to stand, beginning to walk quite casually. ] When I was promoted to a tribunus, I was given a quite regular Magitek Armour. But now... well, if the Red Baron could work in here, we'd not need heroes. And then there were my brand new Deathclaws, made of the finest metal Eorzeans would only dream of! They could grip a savage until they died! And dear poor Mjolnir... you'd not imagine the shock they were in for.

Red Baron- you modified it? Hm- but it works fine outside, right?

[there's a little wince at that- he definitely heard about the claws in the Labyrinth, which didn't sound like a good time…]

An electrified weapon?

...So, once we're done here, you'd like a demonstration?

[ Ah, if the power he wants isn't here, Nero will be sure to do that. Or if it is. He might need to fight this man. ]

Not just an electrified weapon - dear Mjolnir could also protect me from those elements. A pity it was ruined in battle.

Well- yes. As long as it's not taking out anything we'd care about.

[he's just a bit concerned.]

Protection against the weather, too-! A fair defender indeed. Could that be given to something else, though?

[ There's a small hm from Nero, as he opened another door - hidden staircases, it seemed. ]

I'd not considered giving it to anything else. But that would be a fun challenge - so many of my men died during the tests.

[well, workers've got to go everywhere.

…ahah. Oh geez- G'raha looks alarmed. Hopefully Nero misses that, though.]

Ah- well, hopefully not so many would on a further trial.

[ Nero rolls his eyes a little. ]

Believe it or not, Raha, I didn't know my limits were beyond your kind. The living ones.

Well- since you didn't know, I suppose we couldn't expect anything else… But it still would go better this second time, right? You've learnt more.

Hah. You make it sound like that isn't part of experiments!

[ But as they get closer to where fighting is happening, Nero suddenly pauses. ]

There. Those walls? They have hidden enemies. But why aren't they striking?

Well, you know. Most of the time, the elders are interested in information getting passed down… Or taken down, at least.

[G'raha stops, ears swivelling to listen hard. No movement…?]

That's… strange. Maybe something was disabled…? But the rest is working well enough, isn't it, so… [he frowns.] Let's have a look- can we do that without triggering any of them?

[ As they investigate, however, the Clockwork Wright seem to look at the two - heads writting to face both G'raha and Nero. They're clearly enabled - and Nero reaches to touch one. ]

...Hah, maybe they see us as allies?

Maybe. Perhaps- since you came from here…? That- well, that other mind didn't seem to identify us as intruders, either…

[but his tail is twitching- there's a little suspicion, back in the back of his mind. Regulus… wasn't it?]

...If you're going to say it's something you've done, [ Nero begins - before feeling a hitch in his throat. He was going to say stop, but... ]

We can figure that out later. From what I've seen - heard - all you've done is exist. But come - these could always take out those heroes if we let them live.

Well- no, I doubt that… I can't think of anything I'd have done, for one, as nice as that might be.

[it's still weird, and his tail's still flicking- a little more slowly, though.]

All right. Don't suppose you've got anything that'll easily disable them in mind?

Guns, I was thinking.

[ He draws his gunblade - but he still feels his hands trembling a little. No. He can't show weakness. Not in front of this man who he feels something for. (What is it? What is it he feels?)

He doesn't move to strike. Instead, he seems to be looking for... approval? Something. (Something which makes Nero want to scream, what is with him?!) ]

Well, you've one up on me there. [but he retrieves his bow, nocking an arrow to the string. Nero hasn't struck, though? That's- strange.

…there's too much strangeness. After they're done here- they'll have to try and sort this out. For now, though- he offers Nero a grin.]

Allowing me the first shot? I'm very grateful. [he's going to take it, after all!]

[ And it seems, since they're not active, neither is their armour. And so, one falls - but then Nero seems to drop his guard even more. Fuck. It's happening again - what happened near to Ultima.

His voice drops. ] Keep fighting, Raha. They're weak. But-- don't mind me. [ As he tries to swipe at one, he can feel his mind screaming at him. No, he shouldn't harm them. ]

[That's- well, that's a surprise, but handy. Nero, though… He reaches for the next arrow, giving Nero a concerned look.]

I'll have this under control in no time. Just- stay with me. We'll see if we can't get something done with these ones after, all right? Get them definitely on our side.

Yes. Stay with him. He won't let himself get lost. But as he manages another swipe: When I first met those heroes, it was nearly like this. There they were, trying to fight me, and yet they left poor damaged Magitek just out of reach.

[ Focus on his past. Focus on him. ] I left Gaius to die, instead of stopping them.

[It was a bit of a guess- mostly educated, and it seems it's paying off. Which is good! Just- odd. That kind of command- really…?]

Hm… So you've always been very focused on repairs, right? [that might explain the oddities, when he was in trouble… He aims for the next Wright.] I don't think I'd heard that part of the story… [or maybe he misplaced it.

…it doesn't sound so good, like that. But-] Well- he was a very capable man, wasn't he…?

That I have. Part of my programming, I'd suppose.

...Gaius was. He cared for me. [ even if he was like this ] And he was with Ultima - I didn't want to go into a trance then.

[ A coward. He was a coward. But even now, he's poking at the broken machines - looking though for any chips, he needs to know if they have a mind of their own. ]

[a nod.]

It's strange to think about… But then, we wouldn't have seen that so much. [there's a little huffed breath.] …no. That would've… taken too long, hm? [to start with.

He squats, trying to see.] What are we after?

Ultima was destroyed at the end of that battle. None of her remained - that would have been the worst to see. So many moons, wasted.

[ But he frowns. ]

...A question, Raha. Have you ever heard of Allag giving their devices free will?

Hah… It would be. That much time…

[he tilts his head.]

Giving them free will- well, no, I can't say I can think of anything I've come across. But you- you're here, aren't you?

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