First of all, Flint's supposed to not know about all this tinker and design stuff. Granted, he could had learned some during the time skip/Hephaestus stay and everyone knows I'm not that good with sticking to what Flint's supposed to know instead of using OOC knowledge or acting OOC, but still, it was a contributing factor.
Second, my character's main focus is CON weapons and DEX followed by a small speech and WILL bonus and some EXO and UNCON skill. Those things would be wasted on Hephaestus since you can produce ten sods that can do the same thing. I'd have to wait for a mission I would be useful to happen and that may take a while.
And even then, I'd probably have to act as a commander instead of front line infantry. And my role as a commander might include me killing humans or ordering humans killed and while I have no problems with killing people, it's one of the few things in Flint's personality I've managed to keep consistent and I'd like to try to keep it that way.
I mean, if Simus or Steve or Miyamoto or someone else in power asks Flint or if he ends up as Squad commander for some mission, he'll lead and accept the responsibility and burden that comes with it, but I'd prefer to get chosen for the job, not volunteer for it.
Plus, I'd feel compelled to leave Gilgamesh behind on the Sword since he would be more useful there while I could easily get a replacement on Hephaestus and that would mean I wouldn't get to try out everything the Rainbow Cannon can do. And I've grown kind of attached to him.
Third, I like fighting and going on missions and doing stuff and not really thinking about the consequences. For example, if Flint was on Hephaestus, he'd probably just grab a MK3, some nukes and a namitethrower and go see what the anomaly is and if necessary deal with it in an expedient manner that would probably put Flint's life at risk. So he's not really the best man for a job that requires a bit more thinking.
Still, part of me did want to stay there.
I like games that let you
manage and build stuff and organize your forces (why I like strategy and 4X games) so having the ability to do that (or even aid in doing that) appealed to me.
Plus, I'm sort of good at solving problems, not because I'm smart or have good ideas or anything but mostly due to persistence and trying to look at problems from new angles. And I love reading about science and technology and I sometimes have some wacky ideas that in rare cases turn out to be useful, so Tinker sounds like something I could do, even though Flint probably couldn't.
And I like the RP aspect of things. It's more relaxed than a mission, you have time and reason to talk to people and Flint would probably enjoy spending some time with Grate and Anton.
And of course there's
failing at courting Simus. It took Flint two years but he got her to give him a sort of hug you get from someone who hates you. Just give him another century or so and Flint might even get to hold her hand!
I had Flint ask Simus if they would need someone to handle security on Hephaestus and say that Flint would stay back if she wanted to. Even had a solution for her tinker test figured out (Note to self: Try solution in VR later, keyword: Icer-D.) But Simus didn't seem interested in having someone with combat experience there and the cons outweighed the pros so in the end I chose the Sword.
But it's all cool. I get to figure out the Rainbow Cannon and try out stuff in tinker and maybe mail it to you (plural) later if it turns out to be useful, so it's not as if I'm having a bad time. And with QEC, I could even send you suggestions, once we catch up in time (unless piecewise accepts we have some kind of fluid time going on, then I just need one of you to contact the Sword to confirm that).
And I may get to fight an Avatar for real, if RC agrees, so that's going to be fun...