11th Screw [Voice/Action] - Third prompt is throughout the week

[all_wound_up]

[The remarkable thing about a robotic brain is that it's able to incorporate novel information incredibly quickly.  Typically this is involved in learning new skills or solving complex problems.  Unfortunately, this time that flexibility and flawless assimilation has only served to create a harmonious amalgam of Nano's existing memories with those she's suddenly received from the entangling of her destiny strings with Xion's.  Clearly she was an automaton created by an eight year old prodigy employed by Organization XIII known only as the Professor.  That only makes sense.  The fact that she's only just now remembered that half of her life doesn't seem to be bothering her very much - instead, Nano's getting right back down to business.

There are, however, a few snags she has yet to work out.]

[Voice; afternoon]

[For once, Nano has elected to use the voice function of the COMP network.  Her voice is much more flat and emotionless than usual, though there is a slight tinge of nervousness as she speaks.]

...Has anyone else found themselves unable to use an ability they had before coming here?

[There's a short pause before the next question.]

Were you ever able to get it back?  If so... how?

[Action; Sundown; Shinonome Labs in the Pisces District]

[Later in the same day, Nano can be found sitting on top of her house in the residential area of the Pisces District.  She's wearing a black hoodie and pants, with the hood drawn closely around her face to obscure her features.  She's leaning forward, knees drawn up with one arm wrapped tightly around them as she bites into a frozen treat that may be familiar to some residents of the city.  The only real indication that the figure is Nano in the first place is the telltale windup key sticking out of her back - otherwise, it could really be anyone sitting and brooding up there.  From her posture, she seems lost in thought, just staring out at the sunset as it descends down below the horizon of the city.]

[Action; 13th Hour; Around the City; any day up until the 22nd]

[During the 13th Hour, Nano's out and about in the city, trailing after a small group of shadowy creatures of various shapes and sizes.  She still has the hood up, and appears to be taking pains not to be seen as she runs around after her quarry.  Oddly, she doesn't have either of her Personas out, even though by this point the monsters she's chasing could be easily defeated with a single attack from either of them.  Every so often, she stops and makes an odd gesture with her hand, almost like she's trying to call something out or summon something to her, shaking her head and muttering under her breath after nothing happens.]

Comments

[otakuro]

[The bright red creatures are not hard to spot as they glide aimlessly through the air; neither is the person attempting to stealthily follow them. Atsuro will squint at the cloaked person for a moment or two before approaching.]

Hey, Nano!

[Maybe he shouldn't be talking quite so loudly.]

[all_wound_up]

[The loud call from Atsuro gets Nano's attention almost immediately. Unfortunately, it also attracts the attention of three of the red Emblem Heartless, and they quickly wheel back around to fly toward them. Nano lets out a frustrated groan, flicking her hand out to the side again in a desperate attempt to call forth a keyblade that just isn't there.

She remains otherwise silent as two of the creatures cast Fire spells at her, and one at Atsuro.]

[otakuro]

...Whoops. Sorry.

[And here he thought they were healers. Having just fought a green variant of the same monster a few days ago, Atsuro isn't terribly distraught by the prospect of facing these guys in battle.]

Look out!

[He is too far away to really be able to shield Nano at all, but he can at least try to keep the heat off her. Enki endures the Fire with little difficulty before retaliating with a flood of Malaques at their enemies.]

...What are these things, anyway?

[all_wound_up]

No, wait-!

[But it's too late. These are only low level Heartless, after all. Enki's mighty wave washes the group of enemies away, leaving Nano standing there with her hand outstretched. Clenching it into a fist in frustration for a brief moment, she lets her arm fall to her side as her shoulders slump.]

Atsuro...

[The fact that she's dropping the honorific should probably be the first indication that something isn't right with Nano right now. And she's also avoiding looking at him, pulling the drawstrings on her hood just that much tighter and casting her gaze toward the ground.]

...They're Heartless.

[The answer comes slowly, Nano's voice on a completely even pitch. It's a pretty big change from her usual animated and slightly panicky tone.]

[otakuro]

...

[Atsuro does not feel very enlightened by that answer. Nor does he notice anything particularly bizarre about Nano's voice for the moment. His own tone is slightly out of character as well - more perky, more cheerful, but it's not a terribly distinctive change.]

What's a Heartless? ...And why are you creeping around after them? In a... ninja costume?

[Sort of.]

[all_wound_up]

I'm sorry, but... I can't tell you that.

[She's doing her best to keep her voice even, but it's starting to tremble as she keeps talking to him.]

[otakuro]

...Er.

[Well. This was a little bizarre now. Atsuro glances down at his friend and rubs at the back of his neck.]

Well. ...OK.

[Another pause.]

Do you need help tracking them down or anything?

[all_wound_up]

No.

[She shakes her head, finally pushing the hood back to reveal a somewhat pained frown.]

Beating them like this isn't good enough.

[otakuro]

...I feel like there's something I'm missing here.

[Enki floats along beside them now and mirrors Atsuro's expression with a slight frown.]

How do you need to beat them?

[all_wound_up]

With a weapon I don't have anymore.

[The conversation isn't doing much for her frustration, but at the same time, she can't bring herself to lie to him. Not entirely, anyway.]

[otakuro]

Ah -- Hold on, that's what I'm out here for, too!

[Atsuro blinks in slight surprise.]

My naginata went missing a while ago. I'm trying to find something to replace it. ...But I've never seen you use any weapons besides your Persona, Nano.

...Actually I thought you didn't really like fighting at all.

[all_wound_up]

I don't, not really...

[She glances away from Atsuro, casting her gaze toward the ground to her left.]

But I don't have a choice.

[otakuro]

...Did one of them steal your key or something?

[That was probably a joke, given that her wind-up key was still perfectly visible, but maybe Atsuro was closer than he thought.]

Hey, don't worry. Whatever it is, we can fix it. Those guys aren't too tough.

[all_wound_up]

How did you know about that?

[Wait, Nano. That's not what he's talking about. Realizing her mistake almost as soon as the words leave her lips, Nano gasps and covers her mouth.]

[otakuro]

...

Your key is gone?

[Atsuro's gaze immediately redirects towards the silvery winder on Nano's back. ...It looks the same as it always did. ...Atsuro didn't survive a demon apocalypse by being slow on the uptake, though.]

They stole the key to your room?

[OK, well. Even genius hackers couldn't be right 100% of the time.]

[all_wound_up]

Not... exactly.

[Nano winces. She's not getting out of this, is she?]

It's sort of a key-shaped... sword. I'm supposed to have one, but I can't summon it anymore and I don't know why.

[otakuro]

You're supposed to have... a key-shaped sword?

[That was possibly the most inefficient design for a sword he could imagine short of modeling it after a tuna fish sandwich.]

And you have to use this key-shaped sword to destroy these guys? ...The Heartless?

[A longer pause.]

...Would it be wrong to ask if you were acting out a game of some sort, Nano?

[all_wound_up]

That's right. And it's not a game!

[Well, that seems to have struck a nerve. After snapping back at him like that, Nano sighs again, shaking her head.]

These ones have to be destroyed in a very specific way.

[otakuro]

What happens if they don't?

...They just come back?

[Because that's what always happens if they don't. ...Nano's behavior, at this point, was beginning to register as incredibly odd. He wonders if something had corrupted her data files somehow...]

[all_wound_up]

There's something I'm supposed to collect from them, that I can only get if I beat them with the keyblade.

[Might as well just be straight about it now.]

Please don't ask any more about it, though. I've already told you too much as it is.

[Nano clenches her fists at her sides.]

But I'm no good the way I am right now.

[otakuro]

...

Nano... this is the first time I've ever heard you mention something like this. I don't know exactly what you're talking about, but it doesn't seem like you to have this kind of... 'secret'. You were so afraid to even tell me that you were a robot.

I think something's going on. ...It might be related to what you're talking about, but...

[all_wound_up]

This... it's an even bigger secret than that, Atsuro. I'm really sorry. I wish I could tell you about it. You've been so nice to me ever since I first came here, and I don't even deserve it.

[The facade of stoicism she's trying to put up is cracking more and more with every second that goes by.]

[otakuro]

A-Ah... That's fine. We don't have to talk about... whatever you need to do, then.

[Still, he's pretty sure something's up at this point.]

...Can I just ask you about those Heartless, then? I thought you said you came from a pretty normal world; have they always been around?

[all_wound_up]

Yeah... for as long as I can remember.

[Which is technically true right now, of course.]

[otakuro]

Huh. ...And they're malicious? You've had to deal with them all this time?

[This was certainly the first he was hearing about this.]