[center][h2][color=lightblue]✧ Skout ✧[/color][/h2]
[@Lugubrious][@Ithradine][/center]

	Skout did briefly consider intervening when the mysterious white woman touched Helena physically but stopped himself from doing so; it would not be wise to move in such an open manner when information was so limited. He decided to wait a few more moments, choosing to observe and assess the situation at hand. Helena seemed like she wasn't in any immediate danger. Although her Perception Skills were lower than his, Skout was certain that Helena would not be risking herself unnecessarily. And if situation was to turn sour, Skout had relative confidence that he could get both her and himself out fast enough. 
	
	When the mysterious figure spoke, the strange and alien monotone took Skout off-guard. Even though it resonated with a quaint sort of mysterious beauty, it seemed somehow more barren and lifeless than Skout's own metallic tones. Perhaps just a feeling he had, the more he watched the woman, the less he felt secure in his own skin. Something about her made him feel... queasy. Like she was an unnatural existence who didn't belong here. Skout knew that his own origin and background, as well as the Guilds' members', were all unnatural, dark and twisted but this woman was... different. Even though he couldn't translate her strange language word for word, his exceptionally high Perception Skill allowed him to make out the general gist of her words' intentions. 

	Before Skout could finish contemplating the strange figure's intentions and purpose, Helena dashed back, clearly alarmed. Skout stopped his breath- or whatever his "biological" equivalent was. A heavy split second passed before it was clear that Helena took great offense to the woman's touch and had decided to engage her in combat. Skout hissed out steam from his joints in alarm, his iron core of a heart heating up for what was about to come. He was an immaculate piece of machinery, an imitate humanoid lifeform made of gears and clockwork. He slowly pulled his main firearm out and laid his other hand on his blade. Calculations were in; Skout could fire and hit the white figure before Helena or her could engage each other in melee range. That would give Helena enough time to retreat to a safer distance and rethink their strategies. It was Skout's conclusion that for as long as this figure's powers and intentions are unclear, it would be unwise to engage in full combat. 

	Having made his decision, Skout stood up tall from behind a bush, revealing himself. He braced his metallic body, locking in plates and gears so that his shot may be more accurate. He felt steam building up in his right forearm, as he aimed his modified Steam Pistol that drew power from his own body. The white figure's shoulder was his target, as he didn't wish to kill her so as much as disable her. After a short moment of aiming, he pulled his trigger.