There is Aether here? [That changes things substantially if true. He hadn't bothered to check as he figured this world couldn't run as theirs did. This must be due to the Prime Timelines... Interesting. Nero drums his fingers along the crystal shard, pondering this new twist on the situation.]

Your idea? If you didn't look like the seven hells themselves I'd mistake you for the Garlond that I know.

[Work on this with Cid though? Ugh. This place was nice because he wasn't going to have to work at with all those people. This was his own ambitious project... And now... This again. Playing second fiddle to someone whose already made the claim of stolen ideas no matter how in jest.]

I'll be honest with you. I'd actually rather farm then do a co-op with another Garlond. It's simply too much.

[He of course would not go that far. He'll be caught dead before he touches a weed on that rotting dirt pile. If he wants that wasteland to look nice someone will be doing it on his behalf. There's no need to go back to the days of poor desolate town jobs and living. He's come too far to go back to that sort of lifestyle.

Electricity though? And something more controlled than ceruleum? Hold on. That's very interesting. He's going to research that as well. Now that would be something so useful to bring back. It's just maintaining that knowledge that's troublesome. Speaking of...]

Out of curiosity Garlond... What is your big goal here? What exactly are you doing? [Nero places his hands on his hips, actually somewhat interested in what this version of Cid is intending on doing here.] Are you looking to bring back technology as well? Or is this a more long term stay for you?

Proper timeline? [What an ugly thing to say. So he'll say something just as ugly in return.] If the proper timeline is the one where you end up like this... [He gestures towards the other.] Then by all means...

But as a scientist would you not think that all time lines have some varying degree of legitimacy? That no one is greater than the other? That's far too narrow minded a course to take. Think of all the technology and new inventions that could be crafted due to slightly different variants of each other that have experienced slightly different circumstances. Loathe as I am to admit it but I am curious what the version of me has done. What has he made so far from duty and loyalty... and was it he that crafted your famous airship instead?

[Why would one be greater than the other when there is so much to make and learn in both? Such narrow thinking does not suit the Cid he knows but, as always, this is far from the Cid he knows. Only proven further by how he intends to hide here instead of face the situation of Omega hands on.]

I've already given a lecture to a Garlond about this and I am not doing it again. But the whining the both of you do when things get a little too hard is insufferable. Pick yourself back up, learn a few things, and go back out there and help The Warrior of Light and all the obnoxious Scions fix the situation that you, if we've truly switched places, may have caused... a little bit.

[A lot bit. That's unimportant. To be fair... it was a decent plan at the time.]

Deal with your issues and beat me in this... contest, I suppose, if that's going to help you sort it out. But as far as I am concerned I'm already victorious. We were in a similiar situation and I've come out on top. The only Garlond worth beating is the one back in Eorzea and you can be certain that upon my return I will crush them too. It's not a matter of timeline. It's matter of individuals who dwell in them, Garlond. Regardless of what you've been through, curses and the Empire, you are still a scientist. So do yourself a favor and act like one. Be someone worth competing against in here or step aside for I have a great deal of work to do.

[Still stuck in a shadow. Didn't even craft the airship. Of course it would be like that. Something things seem impossible to change.

But there's a lot to take note of here. This isn't the first time Cid has called, the people he now works closely with, savages. And while he's inclined to agree to some extent he's not sure if he'd go so far. At least not towards the Warrior of Light... You have to admire all that they've done. From nothing to something is admirable. And fighting side by side with them is rather... well, oddly thrilling.

He's met interesting people here in Eorzea. Those clones that helped save his life, for example... It's hard to think of any of those people as savages. His wandering around that land has honestly taught him a thing or two. Nothing he'd ever admit, of course.]

Are you truly calling me lazy? Because I'm not mining? Seven hells... do not antagonize me in some pit in the ground. [Nero brushes his hands off as he is actually not going to mine anymore. No need to. At least not yet.] Before I gather up a bunch of crystals I do think more research on this world is in order. There's hardly any point in gathering materials if you know not what you're making. Is mining going to fix this arm situation of yours or help your curse? If yes, then by all means... dig away.

[Nero can't help but recoil at what just came out of this man's mouth. Ceruleum? In a usable body part? A body part of an engineer no less. Where sparks and flames are not uncommon by any means.]

Pray that we don't actually find any because I can't think of a less safe substance to put in a working limb. It's near suicidal and very unwise. You do know that, right?

[Far be it for him to lecture a Garlond of all people on the subject of ceruleum but it sounds like a lecture needs to be had.] Why not make a new one that's run on the technologies of this world ere temporarily? That way you don't take out half the town when it inevitably blows up. Why not use that electricity you just spoke of?

[Or common sense Cid, please.]

[Nero wants to retort with a "Do you?" because it doesn't seem like he does with the wanting to find more ceruleum to do just that... again. So...

But every now and then the other does manage to hold his tongue and not spout the first sharp retort he has. But he can only do that maybe once.]

Oh. I do love it when you snap at me for no reason. It's thrilling. You might find this hard to believe but I didn't know that. Because I'm not a mind reader. You pulled crystals out of your sack I made the assumption you were looking for crystals and ceruleum... now.

[He huffs, just a bit and pushes himself off the ground. He's had all he can stand of this mine and present company. But since this is not going to prove as fruitful as he'd hoped it's time to look into other sources of energy however temporary. Would Ceruleum be nice? Of course it would. As would Aether infused crystals. But Ceruleum needs to be refined before it's truly useful. And it's still a dangerous substance that they lack the proper caution and tools to be fussing around with. You still need to be careful.

If Cid strikes metaphorical gold Nero will definitely be back to get in on that. Until then though he will be looking into other things that may be useful. This world buzzes with new technology and he will find out how it works and embrace it as best he can. And the other can call him lazy if he so chooses. That's not what it is at all. It's scouting out far greener pastures. Some of which may prove quite fertile. Living in the past is boring. The ancient technologies are beautiful and fascinating and he carved his name by knowing how they function. But you must take the old and the new and keep striving forward despite that love for it. With what you know of the past you can create something even better in the present and so much more in the future. Ceruleum isn't going to do them any good at present. So instead of clinging to that precious but non existent substance he will look for something new and apply it to what he knows. As any proper scientist should.]

Enjoy your digging. I hope it brings you the peace you're lacking.