Enker 🎋 [hiatus]

( All the while, he never takes his burning green gaze off of Phantom; never paying mind to the humming above his head. He can't afford to be distracted. )

( He has little idea what on earth the other is talking about; all he knows in that moment is the terror, both for himself and for his partner, who's just coming to after the fall from earlier. )

( He sends them a silent signal; to /run./ But where to? Kirin's just as cornered. )

( He's forced to stop, facing the menace; his expression still twists into a burning scowl, but the look of /fear/ in his eyes betrays him. He was built for the task of seeking and destroying, but never before had /he/ been the one hunted, and it terrifies him. )

N... Never. I won't go quietly.

( By the time Enker reaches said edge of the hole the constant explosions had made, he's already been worn down by a thousand cuts. So many little hits had piled up, breaching even his reinforced armor, without him noticing until it was far too late. )

Perhaps I was, but... still.

( He lets out a quiet sigh from his vents, expression not changing much except for his slightly tired optics. )

No matter if it does or not, it's besides the point.

It matters much less to me now than it used to.

( He’s lying, but he hopes Maxwell doesn’t pick up on that. )

Ah, it’s nothing, really. There are robots out there who are far more heroic than myself.

( Enker tries to be noble /now,/ but he surely wasn’t back then. He’s just making up for his actions now. )

I appreciate the compliment, though, so thank you.

( Enker gazes away, somewhat flustered. )

I… learned these things from my partner. I wouldn’t have any idea of what to say otherwise…

Not anymore, no. When I was created, the only thing I cared about was my purpose.

Thankfully, I found a better one, and left my creator.

No, not exactly. I was built to hunt down and destroy one specific robot.

( He takes the time to sit down on a fallen log. )

My creator… despised him, for defeating all of his other creations. I was built to be an exact counter to that robot’s abilities.

Hm, I suppose not.

( Despite the uncomfortable feeling, Enker appreciates the other's willingness to answer, as it helps him feel more familiar. )

I have asked many questions, so it's only fair that you do the same.

Ah. I-I'm sorry to hear you're... afflicted with such a condition.

( The sight will stick in his mind for a while. )

And... my apologies for being so nosy.

... I understand. I know how that feels, Darma.

I just hope that you will take care to make sure you do not overexert yourself in helping others.

( That's much more unsettling than the flowers. )

You mentioned before that you were friends with this 'darkness'. Is that why your hands are...?

I-I see. It was impressive either way.

( Still very unsettling, but… yes, impressive. He can read the room, so he doesn’t want to dig further. )

… The way those roses were given life again, for a brief moment… was that your doing?

( He still feels uneasy about it, but it’s going to eat at him if he doesn’t find out. )

( He’s taken aback for a moment. )

I have never seen… magic… like you just exhibited. Naturally, I would have a lot on my mind afterwards…

... I can tell that the weight of battle and its aftermath is heavy on your shoulders sometimes. I know that it does for myself.

The best we can do for Maestro is to help them carry such a weight. Perhaps one day, they'll be willing to emerge again, since they know that...

You and me both, Darma. I empathize with that sentiment... so much.

( He would never complain about his combat abilities; but falling short in comforting others, not to mention being afraid of his own original directive, really sets him back in his own eyes. )

I understand. I hope that continues to be the case, then.

( It's obvious that he has so many questions, but he doesn't want to pry... )

( Do /not/ question it, Enker. Do not make the same mistake twice. )

I... see. Then you have nothing to worry about.

I understand. However, with that sentiment, I am concerned that you are still wandering about so late at night...

Ah, no, that's not my intention. It's simply the way I'm used to speaking.

( He steps back again, signaling that he does not want any kind of trouble. Who knows what he can do with that book. )

I don't tend to run into those with magical abilities, either, so I suppose this creates an even matchup.

You'd be surprised.

However... I've done extensive searching tonight, and I doubt anyone's here, other than you and I.

Right now, I am looking for suspicious robots who are looking to cause trouble in this area.

I didn’t expect to find a human out here this late.

Yes. A Robot Master specialized for combat specifically. Though I do not prefer to fight unless I need to.

( A slight beat, then… )

… You can simply call me Enker.

( His hand hovers near his side, just in case. )

… My name is Enker, RKN-001. I hope that answers your question.