So their partners were down those steps, huh..? That Bix guy had said something about them being clingy and that it might have been better to take any time to yourself before hand... Whatever that meant... But--he didn't really have anything he wanted to do. It wasn't like time to himself was going to make him feel better. If anything, it was going to make him brood more.

But this...

Ryan eyed the entrance with a hint of suspicion. He hated going into places like this. It always made his skin crawl. But they were told to go pick up their partner and that was what he was going to do. He had already made the resolution of not going back. His choice was made now... Besides, how else was he going to protect anyone? He couldn't see his family anymore, so what else could he do for them now?

Hah..! You need to start walking properly before you can start thinking of protecting people first, Ryan.

Taking in a nervous breath, Ryan descended down the stairs. His hand pressed against the wall for balance. His body was still feeling a little unbalanced, so this was probably the best way to go. The last thing he wanted--or needed was to take a faulty step that would send him flying down to the floor. Especially in a room so dark... It was like walking into your grandparents old basement, where you swore something was going to pounce out of the shadows at you. ...Which, in all likelihood, was very possible. He didn't know was at this Deus Ex--place very well, but he knew what they dealt with. Or mostly anyways.

He shivered a little and continued on.

Once he reached the bottom, he shoved his foot further out, testing the ground to make sure this was a floor and not just one large step. Though thankfully, it was indeed the floor and as figured, the room was still dark. There was only one torch to offer light. Lot of good that did.

"H-hello..?" He called quietly. There was no answer, but a steady 'hum' like noise could be heard further in the room.

The closer he looked, the more easily he could see the stone tablets. There were a lot of them, all glowing with unique runes and all them silent--save for one.

"Oh... so this is the source of that obnoxious sound..." He muttered. The tablet however instead began to hum louder at his presence. Maybe it was angry that he called it obnoxious?

....Don't be stupid Ryan, its a piece of rock. Rocks don't get angry.

The rune on this particular tablet was strange. The others all looked like weapons, but this one looked like gloves with pointed fingers.

Ah... Gauntlets maybe? But wasn't that armor...

Reaching up, he touched the rune. Expecting to feel a cold smooth texture, but instead was assaulted by voice yelling at him.

:DON'T CALL ME OBNOXIOUS! If anything, you should be thanking me! How rude!"

Ryan blinked.

"...Pardon?"

:You're the slow kind, huh? Let me fill you in. I'm your new partner, Locke. The reason you are awake.:

Partner, Locke, reason he was awake...? Should he be thanking him now? Maybe, but all he could do was stare in mild shock.

:....A name is always nice... OR I could think up one for you. I always wanted to name a pet. How about s**t for brains or---:

"It's Ryan." He said, cutting the voice off before it could continue. The obnoxious little s**t.

:Ryan huh? Pleasure to be working with you.:

"Pleasure... right---wait you're really my partner?" He stared at the tablet and almost burst out laughing. Instead he gave a snort. "No offense, but what am I going to do with a slab of rock?"

:...Pull me out of the wall, s**t for brains.: Ryan swore he could feel the slab of rock roll its eyes at him---if it even had any.

Obeying, he pulled it free, slowly, only for the slab to begin materializing into another form--a form just like he had seen. The runic image.

"Oh, so you are a piece of armor..."

:I'm offensive type gauntlets! Look at the claws! THE CLAWS!: The voice snapped, offended.

"Ah, I see them. So now what?"

The voice gave a sigh, like someone who was worn out from dealing with a difficult child all day. For some reason this made Ryan grin.

:Test 'em. Get the feel for them, 'cause buddy, you're gonna' need to.:

Ryan flexed his fingers, pleased to find that though these looked like old heavy gauntlets, they were actually pretty light. He was also pleased that they barely rattled, or made any clink like noises that armor usually did.

"You're light. Been working out, eh?" He asked sarcastically and was rewarded with a rude noise.

"Y'know what? I think I'm starting to like you." He grinned devilishly at the pair of gauntlets. "I think we can be the best of friends."

:Oh great...: