"I'm told that 'advanced' is relative," Shepard replies, warming to the perception of compliment, despite herself, "But it's a bit farther along than a crossbow, I'll give you that."

If Shepard is concerned about him touching her things, she doesn't show it; the sign had invited people to do so, after all. It was what the setup was for. And besides, Sephiroth had been invited more specifically, all above-board and legitimate.

He presses the release and the Mattock springs eagerly into his hands, a blocky, unmistakably military piece of hardware that nevertheless possesses the same basics of any firearm. Stock, trigger, muzzle, sights; even if everything else is different, there's a framework to its operation that is not so easily abandoned.

"Give it a shot, then. You know what say curiosity, right?"