Arber's Repair Shop -- Goro Akechi

## Summary

Goro went to investigate a lead that Aditeya gave him about the first newcomer to Epoche--that she was an Arshan woman who lost her memory upon arriving. After speaking to Eirian, a lesser priestess, he discovered that the woman was Arber, an immensely talented mechanic and the only person capable of reliably fixing a Tempo. He was able to find Arber's repair shop and speak to her, finding out that she doesn't know how or why she was brought to Epoche, but that she has a passion for helping people and fixing things. Along the way, he also discovered a mysterious disrepaired building near Arber's shop, that lesser priestesses don't know where Tempos come from, that the Gods haven't spoken to Arber, and that even Arber said she'd have trouble taking control of a Tempo.

This exploration was awarded 50 AP.

## Transcript

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PANDOR.

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Exploration commenced.

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Goro

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He'd been biding his time for a while, but the answers from the Gods were the last straw in his need to search. Aditeya had told him about a woman from Arshan who was brought here before the big batches of newcomers--that she lost all of her memories upon being brought here--but the reluctance in giving this information told him just how important seeking her out would be. Similarly, Ben had told him that Boryana had seemed sad when she spoke of those brought here in the past. She'd said they weren't like you all. The real kicker, though, was Arshan's answer. He'd been betrayed by his own, and the reason time was stopped was tied to someone from Arshan. It seemed likely the two answers were tied together in some way. It was too convenient that the detective had also learned of this woman prior to that. Aditeya hadn't given him a name or occupation, but at least the search was limited to Arshan. His search will start by seeking out someone who looks like they assist in keeping records for the Vocatum, with the intention of asking if they have a census of those who have been brought here from elsewhere.

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PANDOR.

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Scrolling through the map on your Tempo, you can narrow your best chances down to three locations. In the Commune of Boryana is Quondam Library, the largest collection of records in the city, though not related specifically to Vocatum Arshan. You also recall that on the ground floor of Prospect sits a smaller library, with more specified tomes, though it does give you more of a feeling of being a work area rather than a records archive. And finally, the Temple of Arshan -- with as many newcomers as there are filing through the doors of the Temple, it hardly seems outside the realm of possibility that someone there might keep records.

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Goro

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And so he heads to the Temple of Arshan, thinking that that's probably his best bet for a census of the newcomers. Aditeya had mentioned needing to look at records to see when others had been brought here, which means they do exist--otherwise she could have ended the conversation much sooner by saying they didn't.

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PANDOR.

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There's an odd air around the Temple of Arshan. It somehow feels both frantic and... empty. Passerby linger for a few more moments than they might normally, and the lesser priestesses move quickly through duties that don't require quite that sense of urgency. It's nearly silent, save for the occasional nervous mutter or the sound of footsteps or the rustle of cloth. Somehow, even with the increased citizen presence lingering on the fringes and even with the remaining priestesses carrying on, it almost feels like a ghost town in the absence of Roksana.

A passing priestess notices you, and though she seems in a bit of a daze, she shakes it off and offers a tentative smile.

"Ah... Was there something you needed?"

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Goro

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This wasn't the first time the detective had entered his Vocatum's temple, but it somehow felt emptier than even the last time he set foot in it. It's almost suffocatingly quiet. Still, he looked around for someone to ask--someone who looked like they wouldn't be too bothered by his question. A priestess finds him first, though, probably having noticed that he seemed to be searching. The young man offers her a friendly smile in return and a small, quiet laugh. "Ahaha, I apologize for the intrusion.." he speaks quietly, not wanting to disrupt anyone else, "But, ah... I was curious if there were records of those who have been brought to Epoche and placed in Arshan, and if so, who I could speak to to see them...?"

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PANDOR.

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A solemn look befalls her face, eyes turning down toward the pristine stone and brass of the floor at the question.

"I... um. There... there are records, yes, but..." Another second of silence. "...Roksana tended to those. I wouldn't want to mess with her things." She looks up again, with a half-smile and an uneasy laugh.

"She can be stern, you know? Don't want to get scolded when she gets back. But, um. I met a couple of the newcomers when they arrived. Was there someone specific you were looking for?"

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Goro

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He watches her expression sink and his sobers in turn. Of course. It would make sense that it was the head priestess's job to maintain the record of who was brought in, since they watched over their Vocata. "I see... Aha, I agree, I wouldn't want her things to be disturbed without her permission just for me. She likely has enough to do when she comes back without having to reorganize, too." he offers his own small smile. This priestess said when Roksana gets back, which means she believes she will. Goro is happy to affirm those feelings, to show that he has hope too, even if Arshan's answer that no one is looking for her plays back in his mind. "Ah," he pauses at her offer and lets out another small laugh, "Yes, I am... I'm looking for a woman who was brought to Epoche before the large waves of newcomers started arriving. Aditeya told me that she doesn't remember anything before being brought here, but I think it would be helpful to have insight from someone who has more experience in a similar situation as me... I apologize if this is a bother..."

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PANDOR.

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There's a flash of recognition in her eyes, and as fleeting as it is, you manage to catch something akin to shock at the mention of the woman. One more emotion passes before she's able to reaffix a passive look on her face -- she truly looks sad.

"O-Oh. I, um." She clears her throat, pushing back some sort of emotion as her weight shifts from one foot to the other. "That's... You must... must mean Arber."

And she sighs, weaving her fingers together in front of her and looking up and to the right. "We... don't usually like to bother her with things from her past. You must understand, it must be hard, waking up one day and not even remembering your name." She blinks a few times in rapid succession and then gives you a reassuring grin. "But don't worry, she's started to fit right in here! We've taken good care of her in Arshan, and she's done some great things for us too!"

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Goro

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He watches her expression carefully, ready to backtrack if he needs to. She seems shocked, for a brief second, followed by a moment of sadness. Aditeya seemed to have some form of emotions toward this woman, too, despite saying they weren't particularly close. The priestess gives him a name, though, and he nods. She seems uncomfortable about the question, but he appreciates her humoring him at all. When she looks away, he follows her gaze idly. "Ah... I can only imagine what it must have been like for her..." he closes his own eyes for a moment in what appears to be sympathy. He looks back up when the priestess leads the topic to the more cheery present. "I'm glad to hear that. Part of the insight I was hoping she'd be willing to share with me were things like tips for integrating and getting accustomed to being here in Epoche. Haha, on my world we have a concept of 'senpai' and 'kouhai;' where 'senpai' are people who have been doing something longer, or have more experience or knowledge about a situation; and 'kouhai' are those who are new or inexperienced. Kouhai tend to look towards their senpai for guidance and as role models. I suppose I see Arber as my senpai." You laugh slightly at your own wordy explanation and scratch the side of your face. "Oh! What sorts of things has she been able to do? It's comforting to hear that even newcomers like me are able to contribute meaningfully." he adds, as if to dispel his exposition while still tying into it. He smiles brightly.

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PANDOR.

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She still wrings her hands in front of her, rolling her weight from her heels to her toes and then back again. "I haven't heard of that concept but... it seems to be an apt comparison, I suppose."

Her arms shift, crossing in front of her chest. "Ah, well... She may not remember anything from her life before, but she is quite talented with mechanics. Must have been something truly special before she arrived, a bit of a prodigy, really. Near anything that breaks, she can fix right up, just like that. I think she's the only one who can really reliably repair a Tempo, to be quite honest. Others give it a shot, don't get me wrong, but it's a remarkably complex bit of technology. Easy to mess up. But not for her!"

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Goro

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He continues smiling warmly as she speaks. He can tell that she still looks uncomfortable with the idea of him speaking to Arber, even after expressing that he wouldn't ask her about her past, so it's clear there's probably another reason everyone wants her left alone. Not that that wasn't clear before. Honestly, the affirmations just keep piling up. Still, she tells him what Arber does and that should be enough to find her. Especially since it sounds like she's the only one who can absolutely fix the Tempo. He wonders if any of the newcomers have broken theirs yet... His eyes widen a bit, seemingly in awe, as the priestess describes Arber's mechanical skills. "I did get the sense that the Tempo was very complicated--I don't even know if I've discovered all of its functions yet--but I didn't realize so few people knew how to reliably repair them... Ah... They come straight from Arshan, correct...? Since they're so complex, is there a finite number of them, or does Arshan make another any time someone new appears...?" He didn't really mean to go off on a tangent, but the question popped up in his head and then it was spoken. "It's just very impressive that she's able to reliably repair something created by one of the Gods like that... Haha, she really is a good role model."

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PANDOR.

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Her brow furrows in concentration for a second, a silence settling between the two of you. And then it breaks as she straightens up, brows arched in curiosity, with a quick little "Huh!"

Her tone is half laughing as she speaks again. "You know, I never really thought to ask where the Tempos come from! I just distribute them to newcomers as they arrive, but... No, I don't really know much more than that! I am sorry, but also thank you! You've given me something new to figure out!" Her grin is genuine, eager at the prospect of new knowledge to track down, new puzzles to be solved.

"Is that... Did you have any other questions?"

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Goro

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He watches her consider his question and blinks as she straightens after a moment. She doesn't know the answer, but is thankful for the question. The detective laughs a bit himself. He guesses it makes an amount of sense that she didn't think about it before. It is just a normal part of their lives here, why would anyone think of questioning where Tempos come from? But, the answer to that question has different ramifications. If there's a finite amount of Tempos--for instance, if the ones newcomers get are just refurbished--then it means that there's a chance someone tampered with them (potentially adding, or messing with Pandor) prior to the newcomers getting them. If only one person can reliably fix the technology, then, it points to one person who would know the entirety of the complexities. Either way, though, it seems Arber is becoming more and more of an important contact to gain. "Ahaha, I'm glad I could offer something in return for your generosity." he smiles brightly. He doubts there's anything else she'd be able to answer for him for now. "Ah.. I think that's all. I wouldn't want to take any more of your time." he pauses "Oh, my apologies for being so rude, though. I never introduced myself. My name's Goro Akechi. It's been a pleasure to be able to speak with you." He offers one more warm smile.

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PANDOR.

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The priestess smiles in return, tucking one foot before the other and bowing into a small curtsy. "Oh, you don't have to introduce yourself, you've made a bit of a name for yourself in the Vocatum as far as newcomers go." She pops back up with a warm chuckle. "But an introduction for an introduction! I'm Eirian."

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Goro

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"Oh, have I?" Goro's eyes widen and he blink a bit. He's not that surprised. He's been pretty active and he's been actively trying to gain a good reputation. But it's still nice to hear that it's working. "Ahaha, well, it is nice to meet you Eirian." He returns the gesture with his own small bow, "I hope I get the chance to speak with you again sometime." And another bright smile, "but for now I will let you return to your work. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me." Perhaps with what he's been able to gather, he'll be able to more quickly find Arber now.

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PANDOR.

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Eirian waves you off before scuttling back into a side room in the temple, no doubt eager to learn more about the question you had posed earlier. If nothing else, you did seem to lighten the mood in the temple, at least for one of the lesser priestesses.

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Goro

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He waves back before turning to go, glancing back once more to see her scuttle off in what seems to be excitement. Well, at least he gave her something to think about. He's already tapping at his Tempo by the time he leaves the temple, checking the map to see if he can easily find whatever the most prominent Tempo repair place is. Either way, he already starts heading to the lower level of the Arshan portion of the city. If he can't find it by Epoche google maps, he can at least ask someone around.

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PANDOR.

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From what you can see, there aren't any shops that specifically advertise themselves as Tempo repair shops. There are a couple general repair shops in the Technological District, though. There is one large one located near the edge of the city, as well as two smaller ones closer to the center.

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Goro

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If Epoche google maps has a customer ratings section or like a comments section he casually skims for any mention of Arber or heads towards the one with the highest rating, but if these things don't exist he just heads to the biggest one first because even if it's incorrect, someone there could probably point him in the right direction.

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PANDOR.

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You poke around in your Tempo, but are unable to find any sort of review service or ratings for businesses -- just locations. As such, you make your way to the largest of the repair shops on the outer edge of the city. There's no name on the outside of the building, just large decorative brass cogs with a faint purple glow coming from behind them. The shop, while larger than the other two more "hole in the wall" shops, is actually relatively small, almost overshadowed by the larger building next to it, which is in a state of great disrepair -- at least in comparison to the sleek appearance of the repair shop. A sign on the front door indicates the shop is open.

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Goro

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"Hm..." He pauses before entering, looking around and trying to take note of the location and his surroundings. It wasn't quite what he expected, but it looked promising even if Arber wasn't inside. The more dilapidated building next to the repair shop catches his attention and he takes a quick detour to walk around it and try to figure out what it is, or at least, what it used to be.

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PANDOR.

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The outside of the building is unassuming at best, aside from the stark contrast between the sleek, pristine appearance of the surrounding buildings of Precinct Arshan and the climbing vines and overgrowth on this one. The doors are boarded up, and the windows are shuttered. You cannot find anything that marks what this building was once used for.

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Goro

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He walks around a bit trying to determine anything about the building, but doesn't have any success. Oh well. He can always try asking about it later. Instead, he walks back around to the entrance of the repair shop, replaces his friendly demeanor, and walks in.

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PANDOR.

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As you walk into the building, you hear the clicking of metal against metal over top of the door. The motion of the door opening seems to have set a few gears into motion, triggering some mechanism that makes a chime echo through the dimly lit repair shop. Somewhere in the back, behind a countertop, you can hear the clattering of metal and the shuffle of clothing.

"Coming!! Coming!!!! Just a second I'll -- Ah, shit -- Coming!!"

And sure enough, after a few seconds, a woman comes stumbling around the corner, metal goggles askew on her face and short hair a bit of a frazzled mess. "Hey there, stranger! Something I can help you with?"

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Goro

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The detective looks up when he enters to watch the gears turn and initiate the charm, his eyes then trail down and around, just generally looking around the room. He slowly makes his way to the counter, letting the awe show on his face as he takes in what he can. A woman calls out that shes coming, but before he can respond to tell her there's no rush, there's the sound of metal clattering and her swearing. Goro winces slightly. After a few more seconds, though, she appears--only slightly disheveled. The boy's wide-eyed expression only lasts another moment before he brings back his warm smile and laughs slightly. "Aha, hello!" he responds cheerfully, trying to sound more casual than usual to match her own greeting. "Ah, I apologize if I'm interrupting anything. My name is Goro and... Are you Arber, by chance?"

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PANDOR.

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She grins, adjusting the goggles on the top of her head before planting her hands firmly on her hips. "That would be me! Guess my reputation is getting around, huh?"

With her lopsided smile and messy hair, she takes a few steps forward and leans casually over the countertop. "What can I do ya for, Goro? Bust your Tempo? Or an automaton?"

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Goro

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She confirms the boy's suspicions and his smile expands in response. So this is Arber. He has to think about where to even start. How to approach his questions without causing her distress. For now he just lightly laughs. "It certainly is getting around. I was told that not only can you fix near anything, but that you're the only person who can reliably fix a Tempo, as well. They seem very complex, so that's quite an impressive thing to be known for." When she asks what she can do for him, though, he brings one hand to thoughtfully touch his chin. "Aha, not this time. Actually, I came to ask if you'd be willing to sit and speak with me for a little while when you have some free time."

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PANDOR.

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Her gaze flicks back towards the back of the shop, and she hesitates to respond. It looks a bit like she's weighing some sort of choice in her mind, shifting her weight from side to side.

"Err... Well, I've kinda got my hands a bit full today? If you have any quick questions I can help out, but anything more than that will have to wait. Especially if it's Tempo-related, littler things I may be a bit faster with."

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Goro

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He watches her gaze flick back towards where she emerged from and can see the momentary hesitance on her features. He can't help but wonder what she must have been working on when he interrupted. Still, when she finally responds, he smiles gently in understanding. "Oh, of course. I figured you'd likely be busy today. Haha, it's not like I called ahead, after all." a small laugh at his own joke, "But, hm... While I do have some inquiries about Tempos that you might know the answers to, none of those questions are terribly complicated." A small pause as he considers his words, "Ah... What I actually hoped to speak to you about has no real rush to it. If you were willing, I would happily meet with you another day when you're free. Essentially, I'm one of the newcomers to Epoche. When I learned that you were brought here before us, I became curious to meet you. You wouldn't have to talk about anything you didn't want to, of course, but I would be honored to hear and learn from anything you'd be willing to share--even if it's just tips on becoming so successful." He finishes with a full, warm smile, hoping to convey that he means no harm and doesn't have any intention on prying into the past she doesn't remember.

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PANDOR.

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She listens intently, waiting to hear what sorts of inquiries you've brought her way. The question you pose, however, seems to catch her off-guard, widening her eyes and stiffening her stance. Regardless of your warm, inviting stance, this seems to be a topic that brings her at least some form of distress, in one way or another. Her eyes fall to the ground and she lets out a slightly trembling sigh.

"...Right. Yeah. I... don't really know how much help I'll be on that front.  All I know is one day I woke up in a place I'd never seen surrounded by people I'd never seen and they were nice enough to take me in. As for success..." Her gaze remains fixed on the ground, but she shrugs, sort of shuffling one of her feet against the dusty ground. "...Whatever I was before I ended up here, I guess I knew a thing or two. I helped out at The Ranch in Precinct Arshan, and when I showed promise there, they let me open up my own shop. I don't know how I know what I do, but I sure as hell know it."

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Goro

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He watches her expression shift and her posture stiffen without reacting himself. He knew there was a good chance it was a sensitive topic, but the confirmation still makes him feel a little bad for bringing it up. "Ah... Aha, that part I can relate to." He pauses, averts his own gaze a bit. "When I woke up here, I was... More than a little disoriented. I..." He's not sure if it's right to share, having only just met Arber, but he knew about her memories without her telling him, so perhaps it would help to offer something in turn. "I may have been facing my death when I was brought here. I was confused and... scared when I woke up. Greeted by a kind woman who seemed startled and concerned by my presence, then left in a foreign place surrounded by strangers." His smile softens. "I'm thankful everyone has been so kind and accommodating. It feels like there's so much I don't know, though... Did you ever find out why you were brought here...? I imagine it's a different reason than those of us that have arrived recently..." He nods at the tale of her success, his expression growing reassuring. "I think it's admirable to hear how you've gotten to be well known. I imagine it must be... frustrating or frightening to have skills, but not remember where they came from. So I'm glad to hear that you were able to utilize them despite that. Aha, It seems to be something you're passionate about." If her shop is any indication. "I hope I'm able to use my skills, or even learn new ones, to help out as well. Aha, I hope I'm able to follow your example, even if it seems those footsteps will be hard to fill."

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PANDOR.

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She shakes her head, still not quite making eye contact with you.

"Why I was brought here? I don't even know who I was before I woke up in the city. No memories of where I'm from or who I knew or... or what I did. It's hard to question why you were brought somewhere when you don't even know what you had before you woke up." She chews lightly on the inside of her cheek, barely tiptoeing the line between engaging in conversation and being lost in the same contemplations she's no doubt been lost in countless fruitless times before.

But she relaxes, even if it's just a little bit, with a sigh of a chuckle as she looks around her messy workshop. "...I don't know why I'm here. But I can do some good while I am, and that's enough for me for now. Who knows, maybe this is why I'm here, to help people out a bit. I dunno. Beats thinking there's no reason behind it all, yeah?"

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Goro

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He quietly listens as she says she doesn't know and that she didn't really question it. He wonders if he'd have left it be, too, were he in her position, or if he would have thought finding answers would have helped with his memories. He pushes the thoughts away, though. There's no use in hypotheticals. Instead, he just nods at her words. "That's understandable..." He responds, trying to offer another soft reassuring smile. She relaxes after another moment and it's a bit of a relief. She really does like what she does here. "Aha, given how much good you're able to do, I wouldn't be surprised if that's the reason you were brought here." The words are accompanied by an even warmer smile. Her circumstances are particularly interesting given that even other newcomers struggle with the Tempo's technology. The Gods didn't actually bring the rest of the newcomers, though, so the detective can't be as optimistic about his own reason for being here. He glances around her workshop a bit, idly, too. "I'm very glad you've been able to make such an impact. From what I can tell, you're quite appreciated, which tells me how much you've been able to help people.." a pause "I... ah... I apologize if my questioning caused you any distress..." He offers a slight bow with his apology. He doubt it fits with Epoche's culture, but it's a hard habit to break. "Hm... You work with Tempos a lot... Do you know if it would be possible for someone to take control of them, or broadcast something to them without being detected...?"

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PANDOR.

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She waves off his apologetic gesture with something between a laugh and a scoff. "Come on, cut all that out, I doubt you'll be the last one to come poking around and asking, now that word's out about uh.... the circumstances of my arrival, I guess. Not that it's really fun to talk about, no, but... I mean, I wouldn't say you caused me distress, that's some pretty strong wording."

Her gaze follows your own, softening as she looks at her cluttered workspace, dissheveled tools and parts all scattered in some sort of chaotic system that you can assume only she truly understood. "...Yeah, I'll let you know if that's why they brought me here if they ever talk to me. Until then, I'm happy to keep it up. It feels right when not much else around here does, so I can take comfort in that."

She ponders your question for a second, her eyes flickering back and forth quickly, as though recalling intricate structures and delicate mechanisms. "Take control...? I mean... It's a communication device, it's advanced, but that doesn't mean it's infallible. It has audio and video capability as well, so I suppose if someone out there was smart enough to hijack the communications and take control of the display, then yeah. I'm not even sure I could pull that off, though." Her posture then stiffens, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"...Why are you asking? Planning something?"

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Goro

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"Ah... It's a relief to hear that I didn't distress you, at least. I think I'm currently the only of the newcomers who know about the circumstances of your arrival, though, so unless others start prodding, it might be at least a little while until you're bothered by someone else." He offers a soft smile. In the least, he doesn't intend to spread the information willy nilly. It was informative to meet her--to find out her identity and determine the type of person she is--in and of itself, but, just as he expected due to Aditeya's warning, she doesn't have any answers either. The detective gets the sense she ties into some of the other mysteries of this place, but outside of that, there's no need to encourage others harass her about her past. "Ahaha, appreciated. I can let you know if they tell us why we're here, too." This smile is a bit playful, the joke being that the Gods tell any of them such things. His expression fades to be a bit more serious at her other words, though. "But... None of them have spoken to you? Not even Arshan?" He asks. That strikes him as strange. Arshan had spoken to him, and he hadn't even been brought here by the Gods. Not to mention Arber's skill with even his own technology. Why wouldn't he acknowledge her? It could be as simple as that she hadn't tried to talk to him, but... It still feels peculiar. "Either way, though, I'm truly glad to hear there's at least something comforting in all of the chaos for you. Having what a calling helps a lot, I imagine." Her considering the other question the boy asked causes him to bring his hand to his chin in contemplation. Not even she could do something like that...? It certainly puts Pandor's existence into perspective. ,

Her counter question knocks him out of his thoughts and causes his eyes to widen. "E-eh?" It's a fair concern, he did ask that out of the blue, but he didn't quite expect it. "Haha, oh, no, don't worry. Not only would I not desire to do anything so disruptive, but I can barely hack into my own social media accounts when I forget the passwords."

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PANDOR.

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Her posture does not relax, her eyes do not uncrease at the sides. Up until now, she has been slightly guarded, but never cold or short with you. It seems, however, that your efforts to brush aside your sudden question are not quite enough to reassure her of your innocent intentions... or maybe even the potential threat of something on the horizon to the gentle peace that Epoche seems to have managed to cultivate is enough that she doesn't seem willing to risk it.

"...I really suggest you don't try to pull any shit. I don't know who I am or where I'm from, but the people here took me in anyway, and I'm not gonna let some newcomer fuck with any of that. I've got my eye on you, and I will not hesitate to get the sentries or the priestesses involved if I even THINK you're about to do ANYTHING remotely shady. Do I make myself clear?"

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Goro

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"Ah?" His eyes widen again at her continued defense. Honestly, it's only apt that the time he's telling the truth is when he isn't believed. Later he might enjoy the irony, but right now he's forced into a corner. He'd really like to end up on a good note with Arber. So, he raises his hands in surrender and lets his expression fall from its playful attempt at brushing things off to something more serious and genuine.. "I really have no intentions of doing anything like that. I tend to get carried away asking questions, but that one was just to determine how concerned I should be about the possibility. Other newcomers talk about doing stupid things all of the time, and Tempos seem to collect a lot of personal data, so it's reassuring to have a reference for how difficult it would be for someone to succeed at taking control of it." It's not a complete lie. Newcomers do talk about doing stupid things and he did ask the question out of concern and a desire for a frame of reference for difficulty. He just... leaves out the part about his suspicions that someone may have succeeded. He wants more information before he comes to a conclusion or poses it to anyone. "I can see how the question was cause for concern, though, and I apologize that it alarmed you. The people in Epoche have been more kind to me than anyone on my home world ever has, so I would truly gain nothing from causing problems. You can keep an eye on me if it would help ease any worry, though. Aha, I'm considering applying to be an apprentice priest, too, so Roksana will also be able to oversee me when she returns"

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PANDOR.

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Though she doesn't continue her more hostile interactions, nor does she stop bristling at the continued presence and explanation. "Maybe you should get less carried away in asking questions. Or be careful what questions you ask. I get that you ended up under Arshan, but keep up with that curiosity and people might just think you're one of those newcomers doing stupid things."

With that, she kicks off the wall, seemingly unimpressed with the intentions you've declared. "I didn't know her that well. Hope she comes back okay. Viyana seems nice though." She fiddles with the strap of the goggles resting on the top of her head, then crosses her arms in front of her chest. "That all? I do have work to do, unless you intend to keep me occupied with astoundingly suspicious and invasive questions until I close up shop."

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Goro

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"Ah... You're right, I should think things through more before I ask. Or, in the least, make my reasoning clear. I apologize again for the trouble." He already apologetically bowed to her once during this meeting, but it seems to be a running theme as he does it again. He is at fault, after all. He didn't think about how his question could be perceived. He can't help but be angry at himself for failing this spectacularly. The thing he wanted the most out of this interaction was to at least leave Arber with a neutral, at worst, impression of him, but instead he seems to have found himself suspicious at worst and a fool at best. "Viyana... She'll be the next head priestess, right...?" The question is mostly to himself as he tries to recover from being ashamed. "Apologies." He mutters when he realizes he verbalized it, accompanied by another bow. This one he sustains. "I hope I haven't caused you too much trouble, but I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me. I'll leave you to return to your work."

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PANDOR.

```

"Yeah, yeah," she sighs waving you off and kicking away from the wall. "I better not hear shit about you causing trouble." And just like that, she disappears back iinto the dim lighting of her workshop, the sound of clattering metal and the scraping of tools echo in the empty air.

Exploration ended.